Friday, November 09, 2007

Contrast of applying a Police Permit in UK and in Malaysia

This saturday (Nov 10) will be a BIG day for Malaysian people, cause there will be a massive rally (expecting 10,000 supporters) for Free and Fair Election in our homeland. This is a democratic movement. I, as an overseas student, feel like doing something the same here, to voice out and express my views, be supportive to the movement. This also to shows overseas students still do care a lot about the issues back in our home country.

For the information of the event, please check this: http://imperial.facebook.com/event.php?eid=7334771156

We'll do a rally outside Malaysian Students Department, which is located at Queensborough Terrace, Queensway, London , from 2pm to 4pm. We'll hand in the memorandum (same as the one back in M'sia) and take turn to give short speeches in order to voice out our views.

I just want to talk about my personal experience - the first time to deal with London Metro Police to arrange a gathering and obtain a police permit. To my surprise, it's so easy, nothing to be nervous about. They just wanted to know the nature of the gathering (what are we planning to do there), where is the venue, how many participants, what time the rally started and ended, who is the one in charge. That's all, and then they just gave me a Police reference number as an approved permit, asked me to leave them my number and told me to arrange with the traffic police department tomorrow, so that they could co-ordinate the traffic conditions on that day itself. So nice and smooth! I did not get a lot of questions regarding the purpose of this gathering. They just thanked me for cooperating with them and informed them about this. No troubles or intimidation. Wow... I guess the organizer in M'sia would be so jealous about this at this moment.

;-)

Soon many overseas students will be graduated, gone back to the country and serve there. They will be the elites of the society one day. I wish each one of them (including me) will be the conscience of the society and be a part of the change that our country desperately needed. I know many friends would turn down the invitation (as they don't like politics that much), but that's not the main point. At least they know about the noble cause why we want this rally and thus raise a bit of their awareness. My housemate discouraged me on the basis of why bother to ask many of my friends who are definitely political-apathetic to come? My reply is simple: for those who care about politics they already know where they stand, not too much to worry about. Therefore those friends who are political-apathetic, are the group of people we should really target at, to educate them about their rights and raise their awareness. To do that, no other ways, other than approaching them actively (also have to make sure not to bother their feelings too much, to be effective).

I'm still new in everything, just try to do my best for the good future of my country! This is how i love my country. =)

Sunday, October 21, 2007

关怀方式

‘你好吗?’一句简单的问候,同时也可以隐藏着许许多多关心对方的情感。
我们可能在一段时间与某人逐渐熟悉后,就忘记做一些基本的礼仪,说一些简单的问候语。我们或许也开始作假设(make assumptions),以为对方依然是如此对你好,不需多操心了,或者一些举动是多余的。很多时候我们以自己的方式去关怀对方,自以为已达到目的了,没有去检讨自己的方式是否有照顾到或忽略了对方的感受。渐渐地,当体谅和关怀之心已不被对方感受到,就影响了双方的感情,开始出现裂痕。

修补不会难。只要你是用心的,将心比心去聆听对方的心声。纵使他不会直接指出,但以你们之间的感情和默契,你不会太难发现到问题所在。如果你是真心体贴地为对方着想,就多显示自己对他的关心,去慰问他,多聆听他心中的话语。

他需要的也许不是花言巧语或哪些很难办到的事,可能只是你发自内心对他的主动关怀。’Say it when you mean it’ – 说些你真正在乎的话,哪怕那只是‘谢谢你’,‘对不起’,‘你好吗’,‘我想你’或‘我爱你’,让他感受到你的真诚用心。有些关怀方式看似很简单,却不是很多人能了解其用意及真正做到。若你已经麻木了,你可能已把基本的问候关心都忘了。

别忘了基础是你可以在感情上继续往上建筑的原因。一切就从基本做好吧!

Friday, September 28, 2007

你如何爱国?

每逢国庆日,我总少不了抒写我对国家的看法和流露的情感。今年,我是迟到了,但是我还是有话要说。

今年,与以往不同的是,趁大马2007旅游年时有幸招待了来自瑞士和德国的朋友在我的地盘观光。瑞士朋友在这里逗留了10天,我也陪他南上北下在大马旅游。我很敢相信他一定没有看过大马旅游局拍摄的旅游宣传片(即使有也无妨),事先没有对大马存着任何的期望和幻想而来。庆幸的是,之前因为工作实习他有在中国至少呆了整半年,也许更坏的他有见识过了,不会太糟糕。再说,他也对中餐比较习惯了,对于美食他跃跃欲试。

我毕竟不是大马旅游局聘请的,自然会以本地人/本身的角度来介绍和诠释这个国家。无论是褒或贬,好或坏,我都会对他老实供出,借此他也比较能深入地了解这个国家。他会对这里的多元种族社会,和多元文化非常感兴趣和好奇。他所能在这十天里观察到的不过是较表面的。比方说,这里的各种族和谐相处,能共存共荣,一开始他觉得很难得和特别。谈到种族,文化和宗教,很难不从国家的历史,尤其是政治谈起。我常说,这个国家很多方面都很好,就只是政治管理很坏。几乎所有的种族和宗教问题的根源都来自政治。也因为目前政治腐败,经济,教育,治安和人民的生活素质都在下降着。我就表达了我的忧虑和解释了政治如何能腐败。

我批评的语气很多时候都重了一些,尤其是谈到了目前的政府。我的外国朋友们丝毫没有怀疑过这是我爱国的表现,不会把政府与国家挂钩起来。我一直很在意有时他们会误会我的意思,特别是提到了华人社会在大马的处境。我不想要误导他们认为全都是种族问题压倒一切,以为这个国家是马来人欺压华人和其他同胞。平时,我身边充斥太多直接以种族情绪和种族有色眼镜来看待问题的人(包括一些朋友们)。我向他们传达的是,那是很多政党(特别是单一种族政党)制造出来的社会问题。我相信,当我向德国朋友提及和分析国内的种族问题是,他比较有同感,因为在他国家的黑暗历史里已出现过以煽动种族情绪来达到政治目的的章节。

批评不是埋怨或发牢骚,它是积极的。批评是因为爱之深,责之切。批评是因为你看到了问题,意识到有些地方不妥,而想设法去改变现状。批评是因为你有认知和醒觉。若是埋怨或发牢骚,那只是发泄情绪而已,不会有意愿做出什么行动来改善。
比起昏庸贪腐的政客和财主到处释放美好的感觉,其跟随者歌颂起舞,和还有不少不满但继续哑忍过日子的人民,我不平则鸣批判国家社会不公平不正义的事更是一种直接的爱国表现。我真的希望国家会更好,也愿意为它服务把它变得更好。

不少华人有时那样问:‘我爱这个国家,但这个国家爱我吗?’首先,国家不是人物,就好比如,你无法问土地,树林和河流,你爱我吗?第二,为何要这个国家爱你,你才可以爱这个国家呢?我会怀疑你说第一句时的诚意。第三,你爱这个国家的基础是什么?你会继续为它付出(施)吗,还是会因为自己没有得到(受)或得到不够好处而放弃爱这个国家?美国前总统肯尼迪曾说过那么一句著名的话:‘Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country’。若你真的爱上一个人,你会轻易放弃他吗,而不去思考你能为他做些什么?同样的道理应用在国家上。施比受更富有;无法/没有能力付出(施)的人的爱是贫瘠的。

或许普遍上民众的无力感源自于强势的政治宣传和力量牢牢控制着民众的思想,认为改变是徒劳的。很多人都认定国阵政府会永远执政,及相信无论以后谁来执政都一样。都一样吗?为什么?我的朋友们的答复是:天下的乌鸦一样黑。这已显示了他们已全然放弃了国家政治的改变,纵容人民一再被蒙蔽和欺骗。但是,我们真的需要那么消极吗?要知道,无论什么社会或政治运动,都必须是群体运动。有你的支持和参与,会有一定的分别的。不关心重大的国家社会课题,一直回避它,又要我们怎么相信你是爱国的呢?就好像你的嘴说你多么多么爱一棵树,可是你看到了它感染了疾病,渐渐枯萎时,你又不给它浇水,施肥和施药,你的行动就说明了一切。真正地爱国也不是等待别人劳动,和收割,坐享其成地分享最后的成果。所以,我本身不喜欢有人会有这样的想法:‘唉呀,目前国家那么糟糕,那么乱,我先(到国外)避一避,这些事情(改革)就交由你们来做吧!待情况比较好了,我就回来。’问题是,为什么你不可以一起做,成为他们的一份子呢?我认为参与运动,未必一定要走到最前头,但是你的关心和支持还是有效应和力量的,无论你在哪里。然后,建立起正确和全面的是非判断与分析认知也很重要。要爱国,就要真正地认识它及关心它。

遇到我的亲戚朋友时,当谈起我的未来前程,他们都那么坚决地建议我好好在国外发展。连我的家人都如此说。我知道他们都在关心我,所以我谢了他们。我明白,国家目前的情况,难于阻挡更多的人才外流。不是所有外流的人才都是逃兵,只是暂时的策略。很大的可能性是,我大学毕业后,我会呆在国外发展至少还有好几年。待我学得更多更精深,建立起了一定的基础时,将来对国家会有更大的贡献。纵使我未必会站在政治的前线,我也要尽我公民的责任,为这一片我热爱的土地付出。我不会允许,也不希望看到国家政治政党贪污腐败,及社会存在着不公平的政策和条文。我还要我的下一代在这里住下去,所以我要尽我能力给他们塑造更好的环境和条件成长和发展。要改变未来,就从现在开始!有醒觉的人民组织起来强大的公民力量来撼倒腐败和种族主义的政府,并不是梦。

Monday, September 24, 2007

与杨生见面

昨天,我第二次拜访杨白杨先生。对于他,我一开始就很赞叹他的写作能力。更让我吃惊的是,在国庆日那天,我第一次登门造访他参与一个别开生面的‘国庆英雄大会’,不曾露面的我竟然他也认识。他说,他记得我是那位学记反媒体垄断运动的召集人之一,也读过我写的那篇文章《我曾经沉默,但不是站在你的大多数!...》。就只是因为那篇文章,已对我形成了印象。

当时,与他握手言欢后,很快地,他就问我:“那天在马华党大会那位与黄家定(马华总会长)握手的林志翰,是不是你?”我迅速反应:“哇,那篇那么小张的照片新闻你也注意到!?冤枉呀,他的名字竟然与我一模一样,影‘衰’了我。更巧的是,他的身份也是海外留学生啊!再加上照片拍得不清不楚,我真是有如跳入巴生河水洗也洗不清!”他幽了我一默:“你应该写一封誊清信寄去《当今大马》和《独立新闻在线》,郑重声明写说此林志翰非彼林志翰,请认清事实避免造成不必要的误会”我苦笑说:“是啊,实在应该!”

我实在不敢期望一位写过了八千或九千多篇三十年评论文章,见过许多大大小小人物的他,会知道和记得一位只写过一篇被刊登和转载的文章的我。不仅如此,他还会关心我,同时想知道他自己是否对我看走眼了(针对那位进入马华的林志翰)。

那天的英雄大会,首次见面我并没有与他多谈,因为那天实在太多人了。几乎所有的人都知道他就快要离开大马,举家搬去澳洲与两个大女儿相聚。他在《当今大马》每日撰写的专栏也因此宣告在他的第五百篇国庆日当天停笔。身为他的忠实读者的我(和他许许多多朋友同事),觉得很惋惜但是可谅解他老人家的心愿。当晚,喜欢唱反调的他,听说很多人今年表明不会在屋前挂国旗,他就偏偏要挂。不仅如此,他还找来了一支很高的竹竿将国旗挂起来。讽刺的是,已多年未挂国旗的他,竟在搬去澳洲前一年才做。

他给所有来宾的见面/送别礼是一整套他撰写的书籍。他也满忙的,落力地为每一本书签上他的大名。我在他家呆了2小时左右,就要离开了。所以,昨天通过黄妙仪朋友的亲自安排,那是一个最好的交流交谈机会,也是我回去英国之前和他搬去澳洲之前的最后一次。他还亲自下厨款待我们。健谈和热情的他,使我和妙仪流连忘返,难于拒绝他的好意一直留到了晚餐时间。那七,八小时的会谈,多多少少让我学习到了他部分的人生精华,也让我更进一步认识他,进入了他的内心世界,读到了一般上刊登文章不会写的内容。他的见识,分析见解,和绘声绘影的描述,让我津津乐道。当然我不会在此长篇大论地提会谈的内容。若能够像他那么积极,幽默,坦然地面对人生,活得应该也会开心。

他说,年轻人要多写文章,况且如今文章根本不需经过别人之手发布出去。自从有了部落格后,人人都可以成为作家。好文章的影响力非同凡响,主要在于一种思想的传播和其教育与启发别人的潜能。所以,他说,黄妙仪要写100篇,林志翰也应该写100篇。若更多人加入这行列写作,阅读者将有机会读到更多,思想或知识的传播也变得更广和快,那么就能影响和启发更多的读者针对某些课题的认知。
我想,我可没有把写部落格当日记的习惯,很难持之有恒地写作。(既然那是我的业余兴趣,就可要看心情了)其实我也支持杨白杨先生的观点,希望我不会变得太懒。

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

若要人不知,除非己莫为

'If you want people do not know, unless you don't do it.'

This is a strong advice to the government today which its senior ministers announced the crackdown on the bloggers and cyber activists.

Quote: "We want blogs to be clean, a place to obtain accurate information, a reference point for honest opinion, not a platform to abuse and slander people," Nazri, minister in the prime minister's department, said.

Blogs and cyberspace are the breakthrough to obtain in depth information about the blackbox operations of the ruling party, and some insider stories about the opposition parties as well. One thing to be certain is, the mainstream news is never a channel to provide accurate information in the first place. They lost the credibility to pronounce that because according to the global chart of The Freedom of Press, they did even worse than some African countries. It is such a shame that we couldn't express our honest opinions about the governance. That's why many people are inspired and enlightened by the civil movement that demands a clean, and transparent government and Freedom of Expression, through cyberspace. I am very sure that many well-known bloggers such as Jeff Ooi, they are responsible, credible and mature enough in their writings and most likely could provide us the stories and analysis closer to the reality, than the mainstream media which tries to hide many things. I need not to give many examples, it happens just too often. The possible involvement of DPM Najib Abdul Razak in the Mongolian Murder case is the glaring example how the mainstream medias were instructed to hide the stories.

So, i urge the ruling party and the government to be brave to face public's scrutiny. If you do not do something wrong, let's not be afraid, but please be very afraid if you ever did. No matter how hard you try to hide is in vain. Just wait for the 'judgment' days -- we bloggers will not be afraid expose anything related to hypocrisy and corruption and abuse of power of what you have done. This thing will go down to history one day!

I know why these days you, the ruling party is so impatient with bloggers. Because you are afraid to face the truth now! If you think bloggers are simply slandering, abusing and defaming people, please clarify to us the real story behind which is different than the blogger's version. Come, sue them if you dare. This is still not Singapore, you cannot stop political awareness through cyberspace! Old and corrupt politics must die!

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

老朋友们

才在昨天我发现,原来我学记朋友圈的MSN group的网站因为太久没有活动,结果被关闭了。我觉得有些遗憾和伤感。以前我们每年都会举办的至少一次的聚会,现在也没有人再提起了,我能不伤感吗?也许现在我们拥有各自的生活,已失去了过去的情怀。有很多朋友已好久没见面了,不知道他们还好吗?

在两个星期前的小学朋友十年大聚会,原本由于要迁就一些已开始工作的朋友,才从去较远的地方一日游改去吉隆坡一日游。结果那些被迁就的朋友最终还是选择了不露面。相反的,我的小学好友还特地从老远的柔佛士古来工大风尘仆仆赶过来,他的这种精神实在让我感叹 --- 那就是有心人和不是有心人的分别了。同样是已开始工作的另外两位朋友最后也是出席了。我大部分的时间身在国外,我非常希望能乘这个难得的机会见一见大家,有些人还是选择错过了。我觉得很可惜。

虽然地点选择在闹市的广场里和出席人数不是很理想(对于一个被称作‘十年大聚会’的聚会来说),我们同样很开心地度过了那一天。我们上去了KLCC的sky bridge,晚上还去了Luna Bar (那全都是我的第一次)。间中我们有说有笑,感性和疯狂时刻都有。我真的很感激,因为至少我还有一班朋友在乎。吊诡的是,我的小学母校是在巴生,但是当天出席的竟然没有一个人是来自巴生/住在巴生的。以前我小学朋友圈的MSN group网站也是半天掉,总是热不起来,好在这两年来看到了一些热心的朋友参与和贡献。记得去年年底,有一位朋友在我们的网站宣布她的结婚消息,即刻造成轰动!该消息的讨论区的参与度甚至创新纪录,一些从来没有在该网站留言的也来凑一凑热闹,很搞笑!我的老友思满做得最多—他甚至完成了一个不可能的任务--- 他做了我当年六年级M班的通讯录,也包括了部分老师的联络方式。真的不简单。我希望我们这一群小学朋友可以继续联系,来年再举办聚会。我更期待再10年以后会有另一次的大聚会!

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Small thought

Life is a choice. Choose how do you look at 'Happiness'?:

1)Always happy with what you have
2)Always work hard to pursue your happiness

Yea, we shall not trap in the frame of the mindset when comes to choices. Both answers are still THE answer you should select - they are not conflicting at all.

You should be happy with what you have because this belief will not make you easily letting go of something you would probably regret someday; in the meantime, you should always work hard to pursue your happiness, to bring up the level of your happiness, so that you could be happier with what you have achieved so far.

Happiness won't fall just right from the sky. Those who works for it would appreciate it better.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

无奈又失望的三年总结

就在星期四那天傍晚,我的成绩公布了。那象征着我三年来的奋斗,成绩却再次让我沮丧。我已战至最后一天。成绩公布的前一天,我还对我的口试表现满意,有信心可以把握那机会跳跃一级至二级上等荣誉学位。对我来说,我一直不敢冀望一级荣誉学位,因为我明白自己当前的能力到哪里。不是我不要求最好的成绩,只因我从来不好高骛远,只要求自己交出最佳的表现,尽最大的能力去考取好成绩。

我想,在各科分数和研究报告分数还未到手之前作太多的分析是徒然的。目前最大败笔的可疑之处是我的毕业研究。朋友都说我明知山有虎,偏向虎山行—去选了一个打分非常苛刻的导师。那么凑巧的,我的6个选择当中又选中他。我毅然尝试用表现说服他。我看来最后可没有办到,否则也许我都不需要出席第二次的口试。

我不想给什么藉口来推搪,我认为今年可是我表现更好的一年,一切都在进步当中。我一直非常努力地达至我要的基本目标。我承认,我确实还有一些弱点,比如说在语言应用和表达上。这一点,尤其在口试时是不利的事情。有时,我认为,特别是在我的科系,批改考卷时往往会有一些主观意念影响分数。语文仍是我的一个显著的障碍,部分解释为何我难以获得一级的分数。其实我真的很想知道到底发生了什么事,导致我功亏一篑。

对我来说,这不是我想看到的。所以也难以掩盖我的失落。这不是接不接受事实的问题,而是以什么心态来接受。那已是无法改变的事实了,我只能无奈和失望的接受。我真的已尽了我最大的能力了。有这么一种结果,对于别人的冷言冷语和如何看待我,我有苦难言。我要如何期待别人能理解我呢?功利主义和分数至上的人们只会以当前的数字和成绩来衡量。我的努力,奋斗和挣扎,他们会明白吗?目前,我只能面对这一切,我不奢望那些不太认识我,接近我的人理解我,我只求我最亲密的朋友们和家人能明白我的处境。我要的是你们更大的支持和鼓励,因为我还有前路要走。虽然我的成绩如此,但是已让我低飞过关进入我的硕士年。可以肯定的是,硕士年将会奠定我的潜能和最终的兴趣,是否将来会在本行继续发展。

我不喜欢也不认同考试成绩是衡量一个人聪不聪明的说法。考试成绩也不是可以让自己虚荣的东西,它充其量可以是给自己在该科系的一个评估。这次是给我的一个警讯,也给我下一次机会去证明自己的潜能和实力。我一定会很很认真和积极地面对未来的一年。我不甘心。我要证明给自己看,我是可以达到一定的水平,再尝试突破极限。

希望你们在阅读以后,可以在未来日子继续为我鼓舞和打气。有你们的支持,肯定如虎添翼,我的信念会更加强!

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Finally...

It was so tough until i have to fight 'til the last minute to decide the fate of my degree result. I was called for second viva, so i had no choice but to scrap my trip to Lake Constance at the last minute. Well, that's not a big deal for me now. Everything's over, finally i'm done for my undergraduate studies!!! I'll be back for Master degree 3 months later.

It seems like there is no time for me to rest. I gotta move out of house before i can go back home! yea, I'm already waiting for this day for much too long. Looking forward to see everyone i miss. I'll be arriving on 3rd July. So, see ya! :D

p/s: I felt very strange that one day when i opened my mailbox, one of my blog entry suddenly becomes the host of a forum for discussion about my country. Very interesting. Maybe one day i'll answer them.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

My Webshot album is being featured!

Last Thursday, when i woke up, i checked mail. I found that many emails informing me about the guestbook entries for my 'Best 50 for the first year in UK/Europe' Webshot album. It's been awhile i didn't log in there (since my last upload of my new Best 60 album). When i logged in, to my great surprise, my whole album is being view 35000 times in less than a week!!! (current view tally is 40594) I found comments everywhere in my album, they like it especially the 'Morning at Hyde Park' photo. I received many warm and hearty congratulations for that photo being featured in the webshot Member's choice photo in 'Travel' section. I feel so high on top of the world, and very very excited that my photos are appreciated from the people worldwide. (when I told that to my gf, she felt proud of me too.) Since that, i have added 10 fans who tagged me as their favourite photographer.

That time i was still using my previous camera. I'm still not satisfy with my current semi-pro camera. Now it seems like i have good excuse to request for a better pro camera. :P

If you haven't visited my webshot photo album site, here's the link:
http://community.webshots.com/user/cheehan1985

I will continue to contribute my effort, for the art of photography and the pleasure of the viewers. This is the only art i can do the best. ^_^

Looks like a deserted place? Update bout my recent life

yea, it's been a month since my last post. My final exam is officially over. Now it's time for my final year project which carries 15% of my degree. I gotta work hard, though. I'm not sure whether i have regretted my decision to put that one of the six choices of project, and got that my least favourite choice. However, that only means that the challenge is tougher. My current project supervisor is a strict guy. I heard many friends and coursemates giving him negative feedback. They said, usually he tends not to give good marks to students. If this is so, i'm in a disadvantageous situation, coz he's the one who does the first marking before passing it to the external examiners during my viva (oral) exam. Up 'til now he's still patient , kind and nice to me, but i'm already feeling very much pressure on me. My other friends, majority of them are working under supervisor's postgraduate students, but i'm directly under the guiding of my supervisor. This could be considered lucky or unlucky. Actually this should be the right way to access every student's performance and ability. I have no choice but to face the challenge and do the best, and be careful enough not to make serious mistakes (to avoid being scold :P)

Exam and further studies

My final exam was not too bad. There's very high chance that i can pass the minimum requirement to enter my master degree in Imperial College next (academic) year. Let's pray for me too, when the time comes (result comes out at the end of June). However, I failed to make it to Oxford University, haih... rejected even before i show my exam result to them. Nevermind. I'm quite happy to stay in Imperial College.

Moving House

The next thing is the mission of house-hunting. I'm confirmed moving out next year, to a new house. Since that possibly could be my last year of studying (unless i go higher to PhD), i might as well change the environment and aim for better living standard. After two years of staying 'underground' (basement flat), it's time for change. Some good and bad about this house. Furthermore, it's not up to us to decide whether we could stay. The house condition is much worse since the first day of moving in. Especially for this year. I have 'no eyes to see'. I already do my best, but when cleanliness and thriftiness are not other housemates' top priority or concern, i would just give in. Not that i did not do the role of controlling and correcting the situation, just that a habit is still a habit to some people. Now i wonder if we can return the house to the landlord as what it is like when we move in.
I will push harder prior to the date of moving out.

Once my senior had given me this advice, when he first moved out of this house. He said, it's not that this house is not good, but that was his housemate's decision. He said: 'It doesn't matter with which house you are staying... Good house is not hard to find, more important is who are you living with. Good housemates are not easy to meet and also each one is not easily replaced.' That sounds right to me now, i realize that some role of a member in a house are not just easily replaceable. Now i miss Andy. hehe
At current stage we have settled the group of housemates for next year. The only thing left is the house, since we're quite happy with each other (future housemates) now.

Ok. Update until here. I do have much more things to say, including some interesting stories...hehe. That's one 'scary story' happened at the 'backyard' of my house last time during my exam days. Want to know? tell you next time :P I have some thoughts to share about the current affairs of my country too, but once i start writing it, i'm afraid i just can't stop. I'll save it for next time.

Don't think i have nothing to do, this 6-weeks project is crucial to me. I'll keep myself busy with that. In the meantime i will update my blog once in a while.

Friday, April 06, 2007

我的领悟

有时一个坏习惯,你不觉得是坏,因为你已经习惯了。你不会去改变它,也是因为你已习惯了。

好习惯未必让你的感受好,但是它最终带来的好处却会让你欣慰。如果要看到正面效果,就必需要有纪律去坚持地执行。

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Chronology of notes Borrowing

Since first subject started last October, i didn't manage to make my full notes during the lectures. But my friend, who is my neighbour and my coursemate, can. Then after christmas holiday and i came back from Malaysia. Both of us share the same 3rd subject again. This time i'm better in making my notes (also largely due to it's involved the studies i have interest in and many thanks to the good course-governer/lecturer).

1) During that time, the first time i asked her about the first subject's notes borrowing. In principle, she said ok. But she was using it, she claimed. Then she told me to ask again when she finished revising on that subject. I agreed.

2) She took quite a long time, until we moved on to the 4th subject. This time we were parted. While i was busy with my coursework for this subject. She came and told me i could borrow from her now. But i really have no time to start revising on that subject while i totally lost the pace in this final 4th subject. It's meaningless to have it. Therefore I asked her whether i could borrow it later when i finish this course. She was not so happy and can't give assurance or guarantee.

3) Ok. Finally, i've done with all my final coursework (computer project) and German language tests. By that time the term ended, our Easter holiday starts to kick in. Now i want to start my revision on the first subject. Again, i called her up one afternoon, and wanted to talk about borrowing, she said 'I'm busy!' and shut me up without giving proper reason (or even excuse) on what she's busying at. I was irritated. I hate people, especially who i consider as friend being insincere and not honest by giving me excuse to muddle through (敷衍)me. If she told me she was using it or want to use it that night perhaps i could understand. But when i asked her, she said she didn't use and not using. When I offered myself to collect it at her door, she kept on saying 'I'm busy! no time!' and hung up... it's been such a long time i have no friend really treat me like this impolite. I was angry…really angry…grrr…

4) Later the next day, when we have our regular dinner (kitchen group) meeting, she handed the notes over to me, but ‘warned’ me that I could only use it for ONE DAY. I already ‘put off’ my fire, and asked her what happened to her yesterday. She said she’s just busy studying, didn’t like people disturbing… She implied that, when she said she’s busy, she’s studying…. Oh then only I understood bout her term used. I don’t ever know her ‘busy is only equate to studying’. She also mentioned that, even though she was not directly using it, she needed it for ‘cross-referencing’ (wow… what a nice word). I lamented her on that point, how come she couldn’t spend just few seconds explicitly said that and explained to me, so that I don’t feel insulted? Dave also joined in, said that she was selfish, coz she is only willing to lend me in less than 24 hours (even Library short loan couldn’t be any shorter than this). She rebutted, saying that no one can ask her to change or affect her study timetable, she MUST study according to her own schedule. Fair enough, she couldn’t just give me few lecture notes in parts (even I offer myself to give it back to her immediately to her room when she needs it), don’t allow me to photocopy her notes (scared that I will spoil her notes). I am speechless… damn, I said to myself, this is really really the last time I would borrow anything from her.

5) That night/day I was rushing like hell… could only manage to finish 6 lectures (12 hours of lectures), but only 1/3 of the whole subject. And then I returned it to her on time in the next dinner meeting (that was Tuesday). I was waiting the next time. She told me to ask her again on Saturday ‘night’. I said ok.

6) On Saturday, I called. She said cannot, tomorrow. I said ok lor (what to do?). On Sunday, I called again, she said she’s still using it, tomorrow again…

7) And today I called her around dinner time (7.30pm), she was angry… she meant that her ‘night’ is ‘after midnight’, asked me to take it from her that time. I couldn’t stand all her ‘weird’ definition of the term she used.
I caught fire again… Almost burst… (ok… after I am writing so much, I feel much better…) We shall see the next episode ‘tonight’… But if she didn’t keep her words again, I’ll tell her to eat her own notes!!! (it’s not like I don’t borrow I’ll die)




UPDATE on 1.07am

Finally, she lent it to me. At last she kept her word. As a true friend, keep a promise to me is very important. : ) Be frank and honest, is equally important too.
So, u guys know the way to upset me liao... haha, better don't if u r my friend~ :P

Monday, April 02, 2007

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Way to remember an order of sequence

Just a moment ago, I gave myself a task to remember a very important order of addition of Transcription factors of RNA polymerase for the exam.

The order is like that:

(TF)D-A-B-F-(RNAP)-E-H

I tried my best to think of a way to link all words beginning with the alphabets in that order in a sentence.

First, i noticed B and F are together, almost automatically i filled in 'Boy Friend'. Then, i know i gotta add two adjectives in front. First, i put 'Dedicated' echoes to the characteristic of BF (hehe). Next, another adjective... hhmm... at first i can't think of many choices...then i went 'google' it. Almost instantly i got my result, with a page of adjectives all starting with 'A' ... wow... 'Amazing' is the first word i think is very nice. A lot of choices but I picked 'Awesome' :P

Next thing, after RNAP (RNA polymerase), should be a verb starts with a 'E' and i want the word of the following 'H' to be 'Her'...
So, again, i was puzzled. I can't think of many words, except 'eat' :P (well... a dedicated awesome bf can't 'eat' her/his gf). Then something funny came to my mind...'educate', 'eliminate', 'embarass'... all are not suitable, then i googled it again but without any immediate result. I sorted to find it in dictionary to see which is my best and favourite word. In the end, you know what? i found 'embrace' ^^

(a)' Dedicated Awesome Boy Friend (RNAP) Embraces Her '

Wonderful, isn't it? ; )

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Das Beste

~ Du bist das Beste was mir je passiert ist,
es tut so gut wie du mich liebst
Vergess den Rest der Welt,
wenn du bei mir bist ~

* Dieses Lied wird nur für meinen Liebling gewidmet. : )

Song can be downloaded follows the link below:

Silbermond - Das Beste

Monday, March 19, 2007

给我的一位好朋友

只要保持健康的身体,健康的形象就好了,不必强求自己必须符合某社会一群人的标准--那都是他们的标准.
肥胖的问题哪有男女之分? 还有,不是每个人都喜欢瘦巴巴的身材,也不是每个人都特别注重身材的.再况且也没有人对标准的身材有一定相同的看法. 我本身不认为有那种必要去认同某些人的定义或看法—审美本来就是多元化的。
或许有时过于在意外在的分别(轻重一两公斤),会忽略了本身(内在)的特色。
依我看,如今你看起来还好好的,外在内在都很正面啊!继续保持健康吧!不必怀疑自己,更不必讨厌自己的性别。从我认识你至今,你给我的印象都蛮好的,当然也有一定的异性吸引力啦(不然你也不会有你现任的男朋友追求,是吧?)!
当你要顾及每个人对你(可能)的看法和感受,你就应不暇接了,笼罩在恐惧和担心的负面情绪。那些都是无谓的。你应该把你对自己的满意度置于别人的看法之上,而不是相反。别人的看法可能可以塑造或影响你的满意度,但自己还是要有独立的思考和自己的价值观。

对于肥胖的科学与心理研究,我其实略有读过也有些心得,改次等我考完试后再拿出来与你分享!期盼看到你早日摆脱受罪和混淆的情绪和感受。

Monday, March 12, 2007

Update about my life

It's a very long absence in posting new post, isn't it? Paiseh :P

Here's my little schedule for the upcoming events in the next few months to go (to finish off my undergraduate degree):

March:
16/17th- Presentation of a research paper (not mine)
20th- an Interview for my Master degree in Imperial
21st- German level 2 oral exam
22nd- German level 2 written exam
26th- Deadline for computer lab project
April:
23rd-27th: Final exam for all 4 subjects for this academic year (45% of my whole degree)
30th - June 14th: 6 weeks Final year project (15%)
June:
15-19th: Viva (oral exam) bout my project
20th- 30th: holidaying + packing to go home! :) --> so looking forward to this!

I'm expected to be back in M'sia in early July.

For all these reasons, in this meantime, i gotta be serious. Honestly, i'm still lagging behind in studies while the final exam is only 6 weeks left. Although this is the last week of my last subject,and i will have a long holiday but i don't feel anything. Just a bit of anxiety and worries whether 4 weeks of intensive revision is sufficient to get the result i want? i don't know but hopefully the answer is 'yes'.
That's why i resist a lot of temptations asking me to go for holiday break (andy: Milan, Italy ; Lip Shien: Scotland). No way, study is more important :P will enjoy life to the fullest after my degree (in that 3 months summer holiday before the hell routine of my master starts kicking in).

I can't say i won't post anything during the meantime, but who knows? i always have things to say/write in my mind to share with all of you. Sometimes it just needs some motivations for me to take the initiative to do it!

It's actually quite spectacular that i almost completely disappear from many club and society activies this term. It's especially my favourite Dance!!! It ain't no fun when dancing becomes another source of burden or stress (as i proceed further to advance level). I also hate myself for not completing Latin dance as what i wished earlier on. I always 半途而废 (10 mins passion), *sigh*

I also need more and more motivation to push me harder for studies too. The current status is still not looking good. : (

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Personality tests

Test 1:





My Personal Dna Report

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Test 2:



Your Dominant Thinking Style: Modifying

Super logical and rational, you consider every fact available to you.
You don't make rash decisions and are rarely moved by emotion.

You prefer what's known and proven - to the new and untested.
You tend to ground those around you and add stability.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

22年来的第一个情人节

当我正在写这篇感言时,正好情人节刚过去。

今天的我很开心,因为她也很开心。这是我与她庆祝的第一个情人节。那也是个隔着7000里距离和8小时时差的情人节。这两个因素加起来,就是我与她度过的情人节的特别之处。特别在于其中包涵的意义--这是我22年以来第一次拥有情人,真正体会到与情人共度这节日的意义。其中掺杂了不少徘徊在心头上的情感和思念的味道。

真的很想留在她身边与她一起度过昨天的每一刻。虽然无法见面,但是我通过电话陪伴她一直到她昨天节日的最后一刻。听到她说打开我送给她的礼物满心欢喜的那一刻,我很欣慰,顿时紧张焦虑她不喜欢我送的礼物的心情也云消雾散。她甚至要我回来时为她亲手戴上去(那对耳环)。^ ^ 我相信她明白我非常重视这日子,和体会到我为她用心构思的每一个点子和努力,包括情人节倒数至前夕的创意‘活动’。

说真的,昨天我看到校园内和到处都有人(包括朋友们)都成双入对的,我心里蛮羡慕的。前晚更听我的屋友qi zhen说要给他的女友一个surprise trip到巴黎去度过情人节,我都快要眼红了。其实,也许是因为有了分离才体现出相思的价值,更懂得珍惜在一起的日子,学着怎样体谅和迁就互相配合对方。或许就是在这种情况下,心灵上更为接近对方,更能肯定对方在自己心目中的地位。

在我与她还未开始这段恋情时,我们已清楚即将面对的严峻的挑战。在鼓励我,祝福我的当儿,身边的朋友和家人都好像在好心劝我别太认真和投入。我的屋友甚至举例很多他认识的朋友的案例都几乎全以失败告终来说明长距离恋爱的存活率近乎零的残酷现实。我不愿去相信,因为那些个案都是人家的,我与他们未必相同。再况且命运是掌握在自己的手中的,如何经营,发展和造化一段感情的方式和观念因人而异。距离和时差是两个具体现实的限制而已(physical limitation),不是决定一段感情持久与否的必然条件。君不见即使居住在一起的情侣也可能不合而分手,为什么感情出现问题就要怪距离和时差呢?我已算是幸运了,虽然聚少离多但是还可以至少每年回国见面几个月。我相信那是上天给我们的感情的一个考验。真金不怕火炼,经得起考验的感情更显得珍贵和璀璨!

有时在谈及我的感情展望的言语中,朋友都批评我过于理想化和乐观。我知道,而她也知道,要破除因距离时差而产生的恐惧和不安定感,需要保持一些正面的因素(feel good factors)和对这段恋情的期望-- 这些在日久以后可以让感情有个方向和目标。与此同时,我们对感情的信念和坚持在有了目标和方向后,会显得更具体和有意义。理想化和乐观,并不代表不考虑现实层面,也是要常提醒自己要有上进和进取心,努力不懈地朝向理想走去。这样才有真正实现的一天。若两人都有同样的信念,就信任对方吧!

这些想法都是在我这段感情发展时累积下来的。我也曾与她真正讨论和交流过我们彼此的想法。我认为,能够在恋爱时保持一定的理智是很重要的。

无论如何,我真的希望能与她继续走下去直到最后。: )

对于尚未有情人的朋友们,我也祝福你们 yo!!! ; ) 大家加油吧!

p/s: 上个星期日是我的一个小学朋友的婚礼,看到我的朋友们一班人去捧场祝福,感觉很温馨!虽然知道那新娘子朋友应该不会阅读我的部落格,我实在替她感到高兴!=D

Friday, February 09, 2007

大学生真的不会闹事?

A good article from a Malaysiakini.com reader (in reader's comment section). I hope Yeoh Cheong Ee doesn't mind to share his articles with me and all of my friends who are still studying... : )


大学生真的不会闹事?
YEOH CHEONG EE
07年2月8日 下午2:24
:
我刚在网络上读了一篇关于台湾知名作家龙应台的大作:不会“闹事”的一代。觉得那篇文章写得很好,点出了现代教育体制的不完整导致现代的大学生都普遍“幼稚化”,也同时指出大学生们“事不关己,己不劳心”的利己态度。

虽然台湾和马来西亚是两个不同的国度,但在教育大学生这方面,双造都面临一样的问题,就是:没有培养出一群有独立及批判性思考的大专生。

当然,大学生逐渐变质也是因为我国“大专法令”的缘故,此恶法导致学子丧失了结社自由、言论自由、集会自由并扼杀校园民主的进程!恶法使学生们不敢公然表达自己的不满及意见,因为他们怕会被校方秋后算帐,更怕被学生理事会欺压!

所以,面对种种不公、不义的现况,他们逐渐变得冷漠了,因为他们不再相信自己有改变困境的能力!

这也是我国学生运动逐渐衰落的原因,从以前的奋斗不息转变为现在的妥协跟随。是谁说大专生不够成熟、是谁说大专生血气方刚、又是谁以上述理由来打压学生们为弱势群体鸣不平!?

在“血 腥星期天”我们看到勇敢站出来为受剥削的民众打抱不平的大专生被镇暴对殴打、驱逐;在“博大暴力事件”我们再次见证校方借学生理事会之手打压欲为新生服务 的博大前进阵线;在苏淑桦的案件中,我们又看到了校方欲借“大专法令”之手对学生进行迫害,企图制造“白色恐怖”,达到杀一儆百的效果。。。

身为大专生,我能做的只是不断向身边的同学强调执政当局欲借恶法来打压学生的民主及人权意识。。。

但往往我获得的会应都令人失望!因为大家都不愿去碰这些“沉重的课题”。。。

难道争取大专生的应有权力、塑造一个民主的校园、对国家现况发表意见。。。真的有那么难吗?

US people are stupid?

My friend featured and linked this video from youTube to his Facebook page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhh89RVs3ps

I think this street interview video is bias… First, it’s not appropriate to say that American people are stupid because they do not know some general knowledge or current affairs (although I must admit that some of the questions are really basic). They are just ignorant, living in the world of their own. Second, most of the interview took place in the Texas state, which mostly consists of rural or partially-urban areas. The samples they chose do not reflect the whole USA. Moreover, they may crop out some interviews with the interviewee providing the ‘positive’ and correct answers.

Basically, I think what is fair to comment and criticize about is their education system. All these embarrassment, ‘stupidity’ or ignorance could only be displayed with the US education system which failed to emphasize and engage their new generations to the global view and general knowledge.

For many other questions about the current affairs, I believe there are always correlations of the habit of reading news (international and national news, rather than entertainment, sport, or local news only) with one's knowledge about current issues. I really think that it is not difficult to follow and keep up-to-date with what is happening around us in this world (in a larger scope, roughly). It’s the mind of ‘not my business, I don’t care’ or/and ‘I have no interest’ that bars them from this daily simple effort. No, to me, it’s not about whether you have interest; it’s your obligation as a global resident and a good citizen in your country.

Well, don’t only mention about USA, if you go elsewhere in the world, you will still find a portion of people are ignorant to some general knowledge and/or current affairs (although the level of ignorance would be varied). It may be laughable but that is not funny. If you do the same survey in Bukit Bintang shopping district, then you might find a large number of teenagers or grown-ups are ‘immune’ to these knowledge. Nevertheless, I bet their knowledge on world map couldn’t be any worse than those US people in the video, >95% people could give the country starts with an ‘U’ correctly (you should understand sometimes the interviewee could be nervous and gave the wrong answer at first, that does not mean they don’t know) and >95% people know UK currency is Sterling Pound and Tony Blair is UK prime minister (the latter I have less confidence). All should know how to answer ‘How many sides are there in Triangles?’

For further questions about current issues in today's world, I have doubts. ‘What is the religion of Israel?’ the chances are likely that more muslim could answer it correctly. ‘Which countries are termed by G.W.Bush as Axis of Evil?’ could prove to be difficult to answer on the street. ‘Who won the Vietnam war?’ – Don’t expect too much, even if you ask them about the recent local war history ‘When is Malayan Communist guerillas ceased fire with government?’ , they could totally don’t know about this very important chapter of nation’s history event, not surprising at all. So, we must not be ’50 steps laughs at 100 steps’ (a Chinese idiom). It seems like a general trend that many people in this world (especially youngsters nowadays) become more ignorant, not because that they don’t have the access to information (excluding the factors of poverty and lack of formal education), just that they are becoming more individualistic/ self-centered in this neo-liberal world.

call him Snowboy... coz he's small !


Let my little snowman aka snowboy to say 'Hello' to all of you! With his arms wide open, he's welcoming you to witness the heaviest snowfall in London since i came to London!!!

His eyes are made of two 5 pence coins, and his nose is actually Queen's face 1 pound coin!!! This is just a 5 minutes effort though, 'coz i was then rushing to attend my lecture. :P

Below is one of my Hyde park winter shots, just to contrast with the same picture (in my best 50 album) i took in Spring last year!

Thursday, February 08, 2007

For good laughs... haha

It was since my birthday i didn't update my blog. But today i really cannot tahan when i see this picture i obtained from some random website. I laughed until my stomach makes hole...

Title: how to hit aeroplane

ermm.... should be interesting, 'cause it's a Military book, published more than 40 years ago. :P

what do you think? guys out there, would you buy if you found one? *wink*






Waooo...what a nice car number plate!!! Lucky Penang lang!!!

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Thank you!

我的生日才刚过了一天。虽然今年的生日不像第一年时搞得热热闹闹,很多人为我庆祝,然后较多的贺卡寄至我宿舍,但是那不是重点。重点是,今年我也很开心,因为我还可以继续收到我好朋友们的真挚祝福。即使是有些平时都没什么机会碰面讲话的朋友,也会通过email, Friendster, Facebook, sms, e-card,或在MSN祝我生日快乐。无论是什么方式,最重要是有诚意。所有有诚意的祝福我都会感觉得到,和深深感动。

首先,我要谢谢婉仪。你提早为我用心制作的精致和充满心意的生日礼物,我无法带上飞机与我飞行伴随着我。我只能将它拍摄下来,然后将它小心翼翼地放在安全的地方。还有你同时为我准备的生日贺卡与里头藏着的小信,我在生日当晚才拆开来看。真的谢谢你,因为太感动了。

我也要谢谢Andy,Dave(近来他比较喜欢我们叫他杰伟),和Tong。因为他们送我这个‘特别’的背包。hhmm... 那书包外形,设计,和素质都看起来很不错。不过,好玩的是那背包上的图形里的文字有点,err...那个。知道顽皮的他们是这样的啦,不过有时背着它出去时怕会被人笑咧!

Take a look at this bag i received from Dave, Andy and Tong:



Then take a closer look....



wahhh...i don't know what it really mean....i don't know/want to translate in Mandarin, please...

还有,谢谢你,嘉惠!你的西班牙牛奶巧克力很好吃。你又知道我好吃巧克力?嘿嘿,我知道那一定是你从上个月的西班牙之旅带回来送给我的。当然,更有份量的是里面的藏着的小信。
别怕明年后我们不能为对方庆祝生日,只要有心,何怕你我在天涯海角,我都会将温情祝福往你寄送!认识你是我在英国念书的其中一大收获,能做你的朋友更是我的福气,记得把握这段得来不易的缘分喔!(你真的是从网上学习做芝士糕的啊?那么厉害?不如也给我那网页吧,看我能不能做得比你更好吃?:P )

谢谢陪我吃生日晚餐(然后陪我玩扑克牌至深夜)的朋友,还有谢谢我的屋友Qi Zhen和Logan (not in the picture)晚上给我的惊喜蛋糕:



(the birthday cake is cute, isn't it? Dave is also...hehe)

Lastly, and not least, i want to thank all my friends who took efforts to wish me happy birthday in many ways. I appreciate it very much, even though it's just friendster message/testimonial, or Facebook wall message. Why? 'coz not everyone did it, but at least you show me that you do sincerely want to wish me. Among many, there are also some who i didn't meet or talk to often. For those my good friends who are still in M'sia who sent me sms, thank you so much -- i can feel the warmness of the sms flying 7000 miles across the continents (pls leave ur name there for me to identify you in the message -- coz the number from m'sia will only be displayed as UK no. most of the time)

Thank you everyone for making me a wonderful birthday. I was and am happy (until now).


B'day card front cover from darling ^_^

My bro & co 's homemade short film : Gotparted

Before my younger brother, Chee How is leaving to US, his secondary schoolmates/friends and him decided (after a 'serious' meeting) to make a holiday project together. (His gang of friends is called 'GotBird' , named after their soccer team formed last time in school) Then they had this idea of making a (parody) movie based on the storyline of 'Internal Affairs / Departed ', and then they explored themselves in this new area. My brother took the role of Wong Sir (Originally by Wong Chow Shang). They shot the movie at various places, including my house too. And i know many of his friends, that's why when my brother told me about this, i'm actually quite looking forward to watch it.

Finally, their movie is finished and made the first premier at one of his friends' house. I was one of the lucky guests to watch it, and had fun. Honestly, for a bunch of guys (yes, the whole movie is without even a female actress) who did it for the first time and spent so little money in the production (just merely RM35++, with almost all the equipments they already have). Later, when they were getting more serious, they even wrote the soundtrack especially for this. 3 songs were written by my brother (all music; lyric and vocal), and his friends (vocals, and lyrics). They went into studio and had their songs recorded (in a full band, formed by the members of the same gang). Also they made side-products such as advertisements and Behind-the-scenes shoots. Many videos are already available on Youtube, and Google video.

I salute.

Here's their friendship site: http://gotbird.blogdrive.com/ which contains the movie and the details/descriptions. You can watch it there.

And all 3 tracks of their soundtrack (in English, Rock/acoustic) can be obtained here.

My family on Sept 24, 2007



This is one of the most recent family photos. I can also call this as a reunion photo. We took this in September, before I go back to UK for my third year of studies. Initially this is my mum's idea to capture this moment when we are still altogether. She is getting a bit emotional when asking us to do this favour.

This photo is valuable, because I don’t think in these few years to come we could come altogether to take this photo, as my younger bro’s away to US to pursue his studies recently, while I will still be in UK for sometime.

Next time, when we have the opportunity to take this photo again, some of us may be different. Maybe my elder is married and have children? Maybe my younger brother won't come back and settle in US? Or i will spend quite sometime also in UK (if i consider to study phD)? My parents will then be/look older than now. Just hard to imagine how the future will change us.


(from left: my dad, my mum, my elder brother - Chee Keong, my younger brother - Chee How, and me)

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Club 22

Today, I join Club 22.

Any significance? Every year is different, 'cause we're all growing up, and thinking not the same than it used to be. One year, can make a lot of difference, sometimes even one month or less you could see how a person turns into another (better or worse or unknown) person.

This year, a different situation. First of all, i feel like bearing a bigger responsibility to accomplish my mission of my life in order to move on to another, before i could ever fulfill the bigger meaning of my life. Basically, when you come to this stage of life, your past is somehow shaping your future (although you still have some degrees of freedom), paving the way that you've already made up your mind. Well, in a way, this isn’t bad at all. This is the process of knowing yourself – what you want and who you want to be.

My wishes for this year, could be no more simpler than sailing smoothly on my studies, my relationships. I know I’ll also face the time when I bid farewell to some of my dearest friends during my IC years. Who knows what future will bring? Maybe one day we’ll be meeting again, and we’ll be more different than we are now. Maybe some are changed, and some are not --> that’s your heart, what you believe in, and have faith in. I really believe in friendship and will still give my true heart to treat you as my lifetime friend, as long as you were once in my heart. Good luck, and keep in touch~

On another note, to someone I love. I don’t care how far is the physical distance between 2 continents, because the real distance of relationship isn’t bound by the distance I just mentioned, but the distance measured between hearts. ‘Coz I can feel instantly when you send me your love, like I don’t feel any distance between us. What I know is, time flies, just like I spent the one month each in September and December back home. 6 months will be over very soon, and I’ll be graduating as Bsc. That’s all. ( It seems like I’m more looking forward to future than what I am doing now. However I must remind myself that I can’t have better future without handling well about the present.)

OK. Today’s just the first day of being a club 22 member. I only have a year to find out what’s in store of club 22. Hopefully it’s a good club (year) to stay and full of wonderful memories.

柬埔寨游记

记得在上个月,我与母亲到柬埔寨的吴哥窟去旅行。那是我母亲很想去的地方,却又找不到朋友陪她去的地方。我也觉得,她也应该是时候到那里去了,不然年级再大一些可能就爬不上很多的寺庙了。(当然我也目睹很多老当益壮的阿公阿麽爬上爬下,厉害得很!)

这里,我只想要分享旅程中发生的两件事和我的心得。

买画记

我妈很有兴趣买一幅描绘吴哥窟的油画。在游客区,到处都可见到摊子摆卖油画与其他艺术品和纪念品。当然,我们也看过不少画得很精致细腻的画,只是当时可能不方便购买或我妈还没下定决心。

直到了最后第二天,我们停驻在一间餐厅用餐。享受了还不错的午餐后,在餐厅外面路边有一摊卖画的。那时我们所在的餐厅地点偏离主要的游客区。我与妈看中了其中两幅,然后就在那里讨论应不应该买一幅。那里顾摊的小女孩见到有机可乘,就趁热打铁游说我们购买。她开价30美金。开始时,我认为该画应该值15美金,而我妈却叫我开更低至12美金。我那时想,不会吧?那么大幅的油画(宽长5尺,差不多我妈的高度)才值12美金?再况且那女孩(和她的家族)也只不过是中间人而已,我就斟酌思考那可怜的画家的卖出价。我以为我妈开得太低了。

但是,杀价还是要有功夫。我妈不会说其他的语言除了中文(与方言)。杀价还是由我亲自出马了。那位女孩还会说少少中文单字(用来接触游客和简单沟通的我亲眼看到很多兜售纪念品的年轻人和孩童可以口操七,八种语言(简单几句)--实在惊讶!)

我出招了。我就依我妈, 从12美金开始喊价。她摇头说不可以,然后说便宜给我卖20美金。我摇头。我再提高1美金,她说不能,说最低是18。她说,该画是好画,是老师亲手画的,不是学生画的。我就与妈再去‘检视’该画。我们就开始‘投诉’他们没有好好照顾该画,一些地方皱了有痕迹,然后还有其他地方尤其是该画的底端有很多沙尘。我妈怕买了这幅画那些痕迹沙尘不能脱,破坏了美感。他们说不会,然后那女孩还真恐怖,拿块湿布就往那画拭擦!我们大叫,说我们还没决定买的。他们说没事,示范给我们那些沙尘是可以去除的。但是那些皱痕却没有办法虽然也不是说很明显。然后,我们好像决定要走了。那女孩就与家人讨论一下,脸上挂着了无奈与挣扎的表情,才咬紧牙关说13美金也卖!哇,我也被吓到,没想到我妈的眼光比我准。他们把画卷起来,拿条塑胶圈就这样捆住它了。我与妈都觉得不妥,就要求要画套。他们说要加1美金。好啦,这次我很快就让步,最后14美金成交。

过后,我与妈就一直讨论这个话题到底那个画家卖多少钱?之前13美金都可成交,我想那画家应该只有10美金的收入。非常可怜。我看,如果我给你马币35令吉要你画这么大幅又那么漂亮的画,不会有人理睬我。我觉得那价钱很剥削该画家,但是这不是我们的错。我们也不是不愿意付更多钱给该画家,只是不需要对中间人太客气。若不是地点和他们门可罗雀的关系,他们会给我们割喉价只赚那么区区的34美元吗?反观我们的嘟嘟车(德士)司机,包他一天他就稳赚10美金了,成本只是一点的摩托车油。他可以带我们到他相熟的餐馆,本身可享用免费的一餐。我们在观光时,他可以有更多的时间休息,与他的朋友聊天快活。我想,如果我是柬埔寨平民,我宁愿做一个嘟嘟车司机,或导游(一天25美金,讲其他语言的还有额外收获)。

游船记

同一天,我与我妈到闻名遐迩的洞尼萨湖(Tonle Sap Lake)。给了不少钱上船,结果那一小时的航行有点让我们大失所望。我们看到的海上村庄,有点像大马吉胆岛的景象(除了更落后)。那天下午的游客不多,船只更多是闲着在那里。结果他们让我们两人一条船。陪行的除了该船的司机,还有一个小孩。那小孩说他是那司机的儿子。OK。他用还过得去的英语简单地介绍沿途的风景,还有指出他就读的小学。间中他会问我们一些问题,和关心照顾我们乘船的舒适感。

我与妈就觉得这个人的角色很奇怪。我们并没有要求导游啊!还有那孩子平时放学后有时间,怎么不花多一些时间读书或做些更有意义的事情,与其陪不相熟的游客闲聊?当大家不讲话的时候,他就在那里呼噜大睡。

在折返码头的航线,我与妈就好心想要给他一些小东西,包括一支原子笔(因为他是学生嘛!)和一些我们随身携带的零食(小孩嘛! 总喜欢零食的,对吗?)。怎知他接受我们的小礼时,脸色一沉,目无表情很不开心的样子。就奇怪了,我们不明白。

过后,他出声了。他问我们,可不可以给他爸一些贴士?哦,我与妈懂了,原来他要钱。给他爸贴士确实没有这个必要,因为我们已缴交了一笔为数可观的数目给他爸的代理公司了,况且他打工的。我们想,这笔钱其实应该是他要的啦!我妈刚好用完了小钱(美金),又不愿意拿出10美金给他。她就问我有多少小钱。后来我们发现各自只有柬埔寨钱币小钱(4000= 1美元)。我们想,惨了,他一定会不高兴的,说不定他会到处传马来西亚人很孤寒吝啬。看到他那张已失去童真,陷入成人的充满臭铜味的金钱功利世界里,其实也怪可怜的。可能家庭太穷了?还是他爸被公司剥削?真的不懂。

靠岸时,他也一再提醒我们给他爸贴士。顿时我妈才发现她还有一些美金藏在她的暗袋,就决定只拿2美元出来,不管他高兴与否,上岸时就头也不回地‘跑人’。

Haih… 柬埔寨的小孩年纪轻轻就被迫找吃了。他是个我懂的个案,我在那里看到还有其他的孩童,放学后兜售产品给游客。我实在怕了他们死缠烂打的招数烦死人!看来,柬埔寨的孩童也不怎么开心和幸福。但是,金钱是否就能买到快乐呢?

Thursday, January 11, 2007

A decision seemed so right at the beginning...

You can never know what happens in future, nor can you predict it well. I just want to tell an incident which happened to me on the day of flight back to London.

That early morning, i was awaken by my mum. After wash-up, then i ready to go to leave home and go to airport. (I finished packing last night, and damn, i still have few kg space for the first time).

My flight was at 9.40am. Initially my mum said she wanted to bring me to the airport to have my breakfast, and then she and her friend will have their breakfast at Seremban. I came to think about the decision, and suggest another --- cause the food price at airport is at least 3 times higher than other place, thus i asked if she can bring me to a mamak restaurant (tanjung, 24 hours) at SS14 before i departed to airport.

I thought this is the best decision (at that time). Later when i reached airport, i found a long long queue to MAS counter for check-in purpose. When it's my turn, cialat, the computer system was down... i can't check-in and even get my boarding pass for at least 45 mins, standing in front of the counter. Bored at their problem.

Next, the flight is delayed. i was the last few 20 passengers who boarded the plane late. The whole plane was full, and all the rest of the passengers are taking their rest while waiting for the 'latecomers' like me. The aeroplane took off almost an hour behind the schedule. Also because of the weather condition, the plane had to slow down a bit because of the strong wind it experienced. Therefore it's one and a half hour late. Not my fault.

On the plane, i was so sick...sneezing all the way of the journey. Luckily there's a very kind and friendly Irish passenger sitting next to me, taking care of me by offering me some pills and tissues (i used damn a lot).

When i arrived in London, i called straight to my mum and my gf at the airport, telling them i was late and was fine. My mum was aslept and my gf was still waiting for my call before she can sleep. OK. After the immigration control point, the next bad thing happened is, my luggage was not there at the baggage pick-up point!!! omg... then i filed a complain at the service counter, and they reassured me that once they found it, they will deliver to my uk house. The reason it might get lost, i think it's because when the computer system was down, the check-in system also in disorder and confused. I suspect it gets to another plane to China (2 previous flight and one after are all to China).

Haih... so, if i decided to reach KLIA earlier to check in, i'll sure avoid all these problems. I don't have to stand for 45 mins in front of the counter like an idiot, and have plenty of time resting at the plane. My mum and friend can go to Seremban early and not wasting time waiting for me too.
And then i don't need to get that shock of losing my luggage. Luckily it arrived at my door today as promised. This is a good example of a decision made that changes the entire consequence. But who knows? i never regret of the decision i made at that time, cause it sounds more reasonable to have breakfast at Tanjung.