Getting perspective

This is something from Tickle.com ....
		Getting perspective No matter what difficulties you encounter, you can benefit from clearing your mind so that your true inner voice is revealed. There are several ways of gaining this focus, including physical exercise, meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, and others. The exercise below involves a more active form of mediation that will quickly clear out the noise in your head to leave you with a knowingness that can guide you to right action in your relationships and throughout your life. Step 1: Get yourself in a comfortable sitting position. Step 2: Picture a chord that goes around your waist and into the center of the earth. This is your grounding chord. Feel the weight of it pull you down into the earth, so that you are connected to it. Step 3: Picture green light coming from the earth — the earth's energy, moving slowly from your feet, to your knees, and finally arriving at your stomach. Imagine that it starts a swirling motion in your center. Step 4: Now picture white light coming from above, shining down on you and moving through the crown of your head, to your shoulders, flowing down your arms and also down your spine and to your stomach, where it mixes with the green light you brought up from the earth. Step 5: Imagine a flow of light moving down the grounding chord and into the earth, and let it carry away all the things you are worried about, all the conflicts you have. Picture them in full life form and then watch as they wash away in the flood of light that leaves your body. Step 6: Once you have done this for some time, picture the rest of the light from your stomach moving up to leave through the crown of your head, finishing the clearing of your energy. That means you can stop drawing in light or energy from the earth and from above you. Step 7: Sit in quiet relaxation for a few minutes, noting what it is like to be in a body that is clear and a mind that is without worries and anxiety. If worries come back at you, just note that they are there, and watch as they flow right past you without bothering you a bit. Step 8: Now you are ready to look at whatever issue you are dealing with, or to attend to any questions you might have. For example, if you are not sure about the person you are with, ask yourself: Are they right for you? Is this relationship having a positive effect on your life? Is this person being fair? Are you? This is the time to ask yourself all the questions that have been creating tension for you. Sit patiently and wait as your higher self tells you the answers.

Life in a china-man company

We’ve all heard china man bosses as the butt of many jokes, which as long as I remember, had never come across in any positive tone … like very stingy, greedy, bad English, poor customer service, bad dress sense, lots of gold on them & other stuff.

The last time I worked for a china-man company, I had a lot of bad vibes but still no bust up with management … sure the way they did things were very profit driven & pushed us hard but then again, employees had good benefits & rewards.

As of now, I cannot say the same for someone else. When, where & who, remains to be disclosed.

Employee are the robots & tools of the company … the moment I hire you, you are to do what I want, when I want, how I want & I do not care if you are sick, you die or whatever, the dateline is sacrosanct … should you fail, you shall be subjected to all kinds of company action … officially or unofficially … mwahahaha (please imagine the most evil tone of laugh to go along with my sentence)

What does that mean? Officially means they document every little puny mistake you make, send you a warning letter & hope to scare you off into submission so that you will repent & be a good girl/boy the next time round, hopefully that you will meekly submit to any pressure that is piled upon you.

Unofficially means … you kena abuse la … they’ll say everything & anything to intimidate you for the same objective of turning you into a mouse.

The thing is, there are more china man companies in Malaysia than multinationals … and rightful to say, there are more people working in china man companies than MNCs. It’s therefore deducible that there are a lot of people subjected to ‘torment’ (perhaps this is harsh, but cannot think of any other word) by majority of the china man styled bosses (of course not saying all, but possibly most of them).

Why am I writing all this? Cause I’ve worked for MNCs with western style management before & also for china man boss … and they are worlds apart when it comes to management style. Of course a business is still a business where the main aim is to make money, but from then onwards, they both digress greatly.

The MNC, has more of a delegated approach, the trust given to individuals, the respect & empowerment given out … with lots of focus on development, benefits & rewards, for the simple fact that most of them see workers, not as tools of machines but stakeholders & assets to the organization. It’s not the money, the hard assets but people who drive organizations. It’s people as the forefront of the business.

A classic china man company takes pole position in the opposite dimension … they hoard power at the top, they micromanage, they tend not to trust so much, they focus on datelines & efficiency than effectiveness & results … and in a very simple way to sum it up, the workers are simply machines, everyone is treated the same, the moment I hire you means you belong to me … you are expected to work late with no OT, you are not an asset … but more of a liability where you might slack … you as a worker cannot be trusted … you might join a competitor one day, so I should not train you so hard & teach you so much …

And while we sing praises for the rich china man tycoons & take them as role models, let us not forget that for every Uncle Lim, there are millions of small time kuchee-rat china man bosses. So, not all china man bosses are visionary & successful and like the normal graphs, these top dogs constitute only say … 1%?

Sounds depressing huh? But for all we know … people who are working in them might not feel it, in fact they are probably oblivious to the fact that they are in a hell hole simply because they’re frogs with no idea what’s outside their coconut shell. They probably think it’s normal & that’s the way life should be. They could possibly also acknowledge the fact that there’re not enough places in MNCs for all Malaysians, so why bother being bothered? Life goes on.

I’m not one of those guys who ape the white man mentality & management approach totally, but there are good practices to be taken in & in a holistic view, I’m a hybrid kind where … I am quite kiasu but at the same time, treating competent people as assets is paramount for building the competitive organization of today. In view of that, it’s safe to say that while dollars & cents are the building blocks of organizations, being penny wise & people foolish is often the harbinger for the streetwise china man.

Ps. It’s good to have china man companies also cause that’s how MNCs can attract the best people. We can’t have great people everywhere can we? We just don’t have enough brains for everyone (unlike Singapore who just keep importing brains) … it’s a classic case of Malaysia Boleh!

Books - Veronika decides to die

Someone once told me that in every 2 teenagers, one would have flirted with the thought of suicide. I concur because believe it or not, at one stage of my life, I too had this niggling urge to take the easy way out from facing the future & challenges of adulthood, with perhaps some shortcut to death like jumping off a top floor of a building …

While most people would be quick to dismiss the fragility of youth ego & esteem … who would have thought that the thought crossed the stronger & prominent individuals more than the lesser mortals?

Such is the intriguing take of ‘Veronika decides to die’ … another poetic canvas by Coelho.

As the paperback cover aptly entices you …

“24 year old Veronika seems to have everything – youth and beauty, boyfriends and a loving family, a fulfilling job. But something is missing in her life. So, one cold November morning, Veronika decides to die. She takes a handful of sleeping pills, expecting never to wake up”


Coelho suggests that the more accomplished youth, blessed with many talents, achievements & clout suffer more of depression that they’ve got everything & there’s nothing more worth living … for it’s already the pinnacle of their life. The fear of failure in later part drives the uncertainty & depression suggesting that the time has come to end it all … at the top. And this mentality is what of Veronika, the Slovenian rising star in her own right.

Fate had arranged a strange twist to her decision & rightly so as she’s definitely not the holder of her own destiny … she’s been dealt with the joker in the pack … and voila …

She awakes from a coma, finding out that she has 1 week left to live … and in all places, a mental hospital. The irony? The 1st thing she thought of when she woke up from the coma was that she thought her suicide had failed & she could just walk back straight into her life.

No. She had a few days left.

She thought she could just accomplish every small thing she always wanted to do. No. She was in the asylum.

She thought she could meet the same people who were so full of zest for life, giving her the time of her life for the remaining days. No. she’s in an asylum where most people just want to end their meaningless lives.

Who?

The lawyer who suffered depression. The control freak housewife. The despairing son of a Slovenian diplomat who wanted to pursue a forbidden life of artistry.

This may be Coelho’s most ironic work & Veronika is the tragic heroine who walks the trampoline separating hope, future & aspiration on one side & despair, angst & depression on the other. In perhaps the most appropriate setting, the post communist Yugoslavia state of Slovenia platforms people struggling to cope with freedom of expression & in this case, it’s strongly about expression of madness (or should it be really non-conformism?).



The paradox of this tale is that while life bears despair ... despair in turn bears hope.


Can’t make up what I’m saying? Fair enough, the book bears so many perspectives & interpretations, but for sure it will evoke questions about life and perhaps this is Coelho’s best gift to lost youth. Worth reading & to share because it’s eerily real.


Crazy people always claim that they are not crazy. Normal people will always claim that they are crazy.

Ps. reading this book brings back memories of a sweet girl I knew in Slovakia ... oh I wonder how Veron is doing now?

Books - The devil & Miss Prym

Given the right set of circumstances every human being on this earth would be willing to commit evil

I start this review by quoting from www.book-club.co.nz

~ The stranger is haunted by a tragic past and arrives in the little village carrying a fortune in gold and accompanied by the devil. He confronts the youngest person of the village, Chantal Prym with his proposition. A test - the villagers must commit an evil act, a murder, to receive the reward - the gold. The test is to prove or unprove his thesis that "given the right set of circumstances every human being on this earth would be willing to commit evil". ~

When I completed reading this book, I had 3 reactions

First – the myriad of turns & takes in the book left me clueless how to sum up this story as simply as possible, how else to say except impossible?

The richly described emotions, settings & scenes, just put me directly into that dimension, as if I was looking at the story in life unfold before me … and I could imagine the lost feeling Chantal had … just as if I was in her.

A test had been set, the rules of the game subjective to players & a great mastermind, whose twisted mind has all figured out & playing the game to his tune where any misstep is a folly; as aptly named, he IS the devil whose aim is to turn anyone and if possible, everyone into committing the sin. He seems to have calculated every step, from the inception of the game to the coup de grace to his backup plans & escape.

By exploring his demented mind, I made note of a few observations … it’s not only that he’s the devil in setting the entire trap, but also, the thought that if someone can play a game where lives of people are at stake to ‘test’ his theory sounds really sick, he clearly has no sliver of humanity or conscience left in his soul.

But tormented people have this interesting aura, that there could always be another possible side of the coin … and as found out later in the story, he was trying to find a message to redeem himself after a personal loss (for you to read & discover what it is) … but does that warrant such a high price of human lives?

Or could he be possible be the archangel who has placed this test to Ms. Chantal on her morality?

To put it simply … my friends who thrive on thriller masterpieces, enjoy them because of the rush & satisfaction from uncovering facts & twists of wit in their pursuits. When I completed this book, I cannot help but feel the similar satisfaction, except that, the twists & turns are not facts, but realms of the human emotion.

A rich exploration of the moral matters close to our hearts. 4 stars from five.

Notes

from ReadingGroups

The Devil and Miss Prym concludes the trilogy And on the Seventh Day, which also featured By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept and Veronika Decides to Die.

“Each of the three books is concerned with a week in the life of ordinary people, all of who find themselves suddenly confronted by love, death and power,” says Paulo. “When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.”

From Bibliofemme

Human greed, cowardice, fear and the very subject of temptation are dramatised in the most compelling way. What at first appears to be a simple tale of this age-old struggle is in fact something much more complicated - because the choice between good and evil is not always so simple to make.

A truly crazy saturday morning ....

0620 hours, Saturday

Teeeeet-teeeeet-teeeet …

Darn. Time to get up. Time to take the pig to the airport. Sigh, so sleepy.

Actually, do we need to send her so early as we’ve already checked her in last night, so what’s the rush? But a quick reminisce of my folly in Bratislava-Vienna, was the dose I needed to jack myself out of the bed … I did not allocate for the bus to be break down halfway to the airport & also not for the idiotic ground assistant to give me so much trouble in checking in … almost missed my flight back to Malaysia.

So, let’s be early, let’s be safe than sorry … and we rolled down the highway in a normal pace of 110km/h on dad’s car (took it since it’s more powerful than my own drive). Alright, so I drop her there … go home, get the lovely nasi lemak breakfast & newspapers that I’ve been craving for … then sleep, then go out to the Curve … what a great day planned ahead.

If there was a god, he or she must have been cheeky today … just a few km shy of the toll plaza for KLIA, there was a sudden explosion I heard from the engine … and with that, some liquid spewed unto the windscreen … and yes … what drama, cause I immediately pulled the car over …

Piggy thought it might be some ‘water ballon’ we ran over, but I was quite sure it came from the engine … and I don’t recall running over anything on the road … and when I opened, it looked normal … nothing missing, except lots of water spewed all over … until my 3^rd look, which I noticed a piece of tube … but I didn’t see where it fit in cause it was like 10cm long, and nothing within that length looked out … then I spied the radioator with a gaping hole & another hole at the engine … and it should be a much longer tube … did the whole thing burst into many pieces strewn all over the road with only this piece left?

Must be. I just cursed & cursed, why didn’t I take my car? Fuck! Why this morning? I still needed some sleep. Fuck again. Of course I only muttered cibai, hehe.

Ok. Why not call AAM & they tow the car back home? It’s gonna take time, but it sounded most viable. Meanwhile piggy called her friend to take her to the airport … and she’s on the way … one problem solved I guess. And coming back to AAM … told them I got a car busted, asked for some tow truck and ok … I don’t have my dad’s AAM card, but since the car’s registered, I suppose they should do it.

NO. Those idiots need either my dad’s AAM card or his IC. Fuck. I’ve never cursed so much, but the stress of the situation warrants it. Sigh. Can they tow it for a fee? They will outsource to their partners & let them decide how much to charge. Looks like a shortcut to a rip-off … so screw it.

Just then, piggy’s ride came … so off u go … enjoy your flight … while your poor bro has to sort out this mega fuck up on Saturday morning. Sigh. Again I hate this car; I swear never to drive it again, by the moon & the stars & the sky.

Couple of calls, woke up some friends, but no clear solution in sight … thought I drive a few more km to the toll booth … and while I carefully watched the temperature, it looked ok. Well … stopped at the PLUS office, the nice lady said that I can get help from their highway patrol BUT in condition that I must re-enter the highway (I’ve exited the toll).

Ok. Back to highway, check. Inform them to ask for truck, check.

The unexpected saviour ...

Then this cabbie just stopped & slowly reversed back … asked to have a look … so I was in a more chatty mood … so showed him & this guy knows about cars, I can see … he immediately saw the problem & gave me an interesting proposition …

He’ll take me to buy the spare part in Puchong, I pay for the part & for the cab fees to & fro … everything should not cost more than 100 bucks. I was initially reluctant since I rang for the truck to come in, but I thought again … PLUS may not get it back to my home, but only to some location, where I might need to find another truck again. And this guy’s gonna drive away if I don’t get him so I need to make a choice now. Decisions, sigh.

So, ok. Let’s do it.

Hopped on the car, he just sped away on 140km/h all the way … and in a jiffy we reached Puchong, with just a teensy weensy problem, it’s slightly over 0900 hours … all shops looked closed, so we hovered the back lanes & luckily, this store was open.

Now, this guy asks if we could go for some tea & since he’s helping me out, the softie in me just agreed (even though I badly craved some hours of sleep & some nice breakfast) what's in a few minutes of tea?… but it turns out to be some 45 minutes. Fuck man ... I'm so cranky inside now.

Now, without divulging too much, this guy turns out to be a very colourful character … he’s not just a former entrepreneur, but also a grey trader, he’s in some syndicate for smuggled goods & asks me if I had some ‘contacts’ … but it’s still early in the morning, and shell shocked as I was, I’m just my direct self … just said no politely, do I look like your kind of guy?

Then he started talking about women when he saw this lady with huge ass on the street … did a wolf whistle (I just put on my blur look, please don’t involve me dude), then Romeo start rhapsodizing on how he sexually arouses women (details shall not be covered in this release), but he really looked … in a state of high when he talked about it all … but it was quite degrading in some ways. Oh well. I just casually told him ... I'm sure by my answers & reactions, I am definitely & totally inexperienced in sex to have such high level of discussion with you ... hehehe

Now this story is ending soon (finally) … and this guy, not just only fitted the part in, but he also tested a whole lot of stuff … which I thought the money spent was worth it RM95 in total …

Now, as I rolled back home … my tiredness start to creep in & so was my hunger … and as they say, a hungry man is an unhappy man … so we just quickly washed up, dressed up & just rolled out.

It was only minutes later that I remembered I forgot to take out the thrash. Oh well, just fuck it!

Note:

As looked back ... it was an interesting, though largely inconvenient morning ... but meeting this guy was the highlight of the morning as he was an interesting charcter from the offstart ... and he gave me this sense of reality from the man down on the street, making money the way he knows best ... and a huge dose that even for the layman, shades of grey comes in greatly too ...

Time lost or lessons learnt?

17^th August 2006

227 days have passed since the inception of 2006. 138 days left for the rest of the year.

2 days ago, I told several friends that I felt I have achieved nothing in this year. Yes, I’ve learnt a lot, yes, I’ve moved forward but with no significant benchmarks. Work was a burnout & total disaster (which I shall write later once the chapter is over) and personal life was mediocre, 2005 was better.

My MSN hovered this message over the past days … ‘What’s there to move on when nothing really started?’

Perhaps those words were the best way to reflect what I feel about 2006, a TOTAL standstill … a lot of jazz, a lot of promise … but all fizzled out … or more aptly … it totally bombed out. I put so much, I tried very hard for work, but it just fell flat cause this is not what I want to do, nor can I take it.

Personal life started off ok, but with work stress & pressure from MBA just knocked the stuffing out of me … let’s just say when it mattered most, I baulked due to emotional drainage & procrastination (it would have been easier to say physical tiredness, but let’s be really honest, ok?). I would like to say that I had many doubts, I played too safe, but then again, it’s a high stakes game where winner takes all … so …

Like all classic love fools, when I woke up, the train had left … or rather, someone else took my place and this idiot called me, ended up chasing the carriage with flailing arms in despair. It sounds tragic, but you might not think so when you meet me because I act so cool & aloof about it. Is there a point to cry? Depends. Such is me, not just a love fool, but a proud & timid love fool.

Most fortunately … my closest friends have been my light at the end of my tunnel … for as many times as I could remember this year, they appeared at times when my mind was submerged in the pits of the underworld … and helped me forget sorrows & remember the good things in life such as good friends.

At many times, I just wonder … how I would survive if not for the trip to east coast, the movies, the paintball, the caving trips … because I’d be wallowing in my pitiful life with burdens of the mind. Which reminds me, should involve myself in more activities, less thinking about the worries in life.

Conclusion?

I may not have moved or started or even taken off, but a change in direction may be just the tonic I need. Even if it means sacrifices to be made.

Makan: Italiannies

~ nice smooth tiramisu ... mmmm ~

I’ve been to this restaurant a couple of times, mostly at the 1-Utama new wing and I liked the place a lot … generous portions of Italian stuff … and the most delectable tiramisu … so yesterday for a family dinner, with dad, mum, piggy, granny & Chloe (the girl my mum baby-sits), when we could not go to Marche (they had a buffet spread promotion, which we were not interested) … we just walked further down the Curve for Italiannies … it’s new & I’ve not tried this place yet

We had pizza, mussels, salad, bruschetta & tiramisu to wash down the meal … pizza was ok … you know it’s a pizza from a restaurant & not the factory mill pizzas like Dominos or Pizza Hut … the salad was great … fresh, good mix of green with calamari, & not too much dressing … bruschetta was great as the bread was fresh … and served with generous garnishing … so what’s left was the tiramisu … smooth, just right mix of chocolate & other elements … and the décor was with a rustic feel of European stone dwellings … a reminiscent of underground pubs I frequented in Bratislava. Just brings back a lot of memories …

The place is still new … but it’s more spacious than the one at 1-u, the aircond was cooler & the music … was a good feel of jazz & lounge music … (not so Italian, but it’s good enough for me)

It all came up to quite a bit, but the food was good, the atmosphere was nice & this would be something I don’t cringe to pay for once in a while, as compared to Mum’s Place … 4 stars for food but be warned, it’s not somewhere the layman should dine often

Makan: Farmland Porridge Steamboat

Porridge Steamboat (SS18, Subang Jaya)

Steam boat has enjoyed a rave revival over the past 10 years especially since the idea of buffet & Korean BBQ burst into the scene. Since then, I’ve enjoyed lots of memorable outings with the steaming pot, stashed with lots of stuff.

Now, porridge steamboat has been around for some time, I’ve heard of it & read about it … but never really got up to try it since reviews were mixed … my family are skeptical on new food & unenthusiastic take from my friends.

So, when AL thought of buying me a belated dinner for my 28th, the idea for this seemed brilliant. And best of all, this place is just at my backyard … just a few minutes breeze from home … so convenient … at the end of Jalan Jengka … on SS18, if you are coming from Subang Parade, it’s on your right side, almost at the end of the stretch.

Got there at 7pm … AL’s late, but since there was no rush … I just went thru the menu … 1st thing, it’s not a buffet (only the porridge is free flow) … standard set is RM14 per head … with lots of add ups. The standard set has no meat, lots of those fishy bally stuff … vege, eggs & 2 prawns … so with minimal crustaceans, I am sure my buffet maximizing friends like DL, KF & YL may not approve this place since they can get more value for money from the usual steamboat or Korean BBQ digs. And the add-ups are not cheap if we order them bit by bit ... ranging from RM5 to RM20 (for scallops)

AL’s the boss, so we went for the standard set … and as they brought out the porridge, it’s the type I liked … thick as broth … then adding the stuff looked interesting (as I usually had this type of porridge with pork, chicken or fish, but not those what-nots I mentioned earlier). Hmmm …

Curiosity, minor skepticism was duly overturned as I took the 1st sip of the porridge … very sweet from the ingredients (does not taste like MSG, though I am sure they would have put some) … and I liked this very much.

And when I felt like I was semi-full, then came the coup de grace … AL ordered yee-meen to be dunked into the porridge … and I was like … whoaaa!!!!! This really is stretching the borders of my culinary imagination … but you know what? It tasted cool!!! Strange as it sounded, this was another something new I tried … in a space of a few hours.

The place is funny … you come at 7pm … it starts to fill up by 8pm … and by 9pm, came in another huge bunch of people … so I also thought, if they were not Chinese, then fine, but more & more Chinese are eating later (it seems so un-Chinese-y)

Anyway, to finish this story off … the experience was cool … the food was cool, but if you were to look at it from a purely industry point of view, you are paying for the niche taste … but if u think that a steamboat is buffet all-u-can-eat & all-u-can-choose, then this is probably not your cup of tea. It’s a nice experience … something you don’t try everyday, but you don’t get the best mix of stuff as u like from Korean or normal steamboat.

Even so, you can choose to have normal steamboat or porridge steamboat at this place, Farmland Steamboat.

Give it a 3 stars.

Movie: Jasmine Women

One of the privileges to be registered as a GSC online member is the birthday gift they dish out … a free pass to a movie, and this is the 2nd time I got it.

So, when I used this privilege this year, I was given 2 choices, Pirates of the Caribbean or Jasmine Women (ok, and a 3rd Malay movie, which was not something I want).

Jasmine women it is … and what did I know about it? It’s starring Zhang Jiyi and it’s about 3 generations of women spanning 3 generations. What I didn’t know also is that she also portrayed the role of the daughter for every generation, so you will see her as 1st, the rebellious actress, then later as the illicit daughter of the actress and lastly, the granddaughter … so you will see her in 1920s, then in 1940s, then 1970s … such is the versatility of this acclaimed actress.

I don’t want to give too much away, but note this … the movie has an intriguing storyline, much less characters than Joy Luck Club, although running in the same vein with fiery & tragic mother-daughter relationships … and the twist of the whole thing is, they more or less had their own grieves to fight with.

The rich colours of the bygone ages will bring back a lot of memories and connect you seamlessly with the sentiment of each period … and the strong portrayal of Zhang just makes it easy to believe (though you might need a second to figure out that she’s playing the daughter over & over again)

I would recommend for most people to take your mum to watch this with you … and from my observation, I was the only one who watched the movie without my parents … so it’s really all about maternal bonds. Nice movie for the weekday nights or weekend afternoons …

Short description from GSC (www.gsc.com.my)

Jasmine Women" tells the story of one family's struggle to overcome its tragic history, as each daughter repeats the mistakes of her mother. Veteran cinematographer and first-time director Hou Yong (Cinematographer of Zhang Yimou's "The Road Home" and Tian Zhuang Zhuang's "The Blue Kite") sets his film in the 1930's, 50's and 80's against the backdrop of an ever-changing Shanghai. The film is all the more remarkable for the fact that Zhang Ziyi plays three roles. Zhang Ziyi plays the young Mo, the young Li and Hua.

Makan: Taste walking café

I’ve been to this place for quite a few times, ever since SF introduced it to the MC gang. It’s a fusion food eatery, nestled in the midst of messy Sri Petaling township …

What can I say about the place? I like it’s simple & cozy ambience … and most of all, great food, which is also eye candy at an affordable price for food junkies like me who demand top quality at good prices …

Went with dad, mum & the royal piggy … and we had … beef & scallop set … Portuguese baked chicken rice, crab omelette & Korean Kim chi noodle … and it was great fun to not ust see how the food is nicely decorated, but also to taste the fusion of food, especially like mine …

Check out the photos from my albums … you’ll be nicely surprised & enticed.

What I liked most form the place is the Korean styled rice omelettes … so watch out for them, they are the cheapest, but the best (it suits my taste)

I recommend you to check out this place … it’s due to move sometime in November to elsewhere, so do catch it before they leave. 4 stars … affordable, nice food for the taste buds & eyes.

45 Jalan Radin Anum 1 Bandar Baru Seri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur

Extensive personality test at Tickle.com

I did some test on Tickle.com & it came up with some results … the tests are extensive & what I like about them is that despite they are long, but the more questions, the more possibility that the results are accurate. Especially when they use sophisticated tools like ink-blot tests … so I think that makes it interesting … check it out …

http://web.tickle.com

The Zodiac Match Test - Date the Right Sign For Your Personality

Jason, the best match for your personality is Sagittarius

Sagittarius, the Archer (November 23 to December 21): This intellectual and independent partner is just your type. Initially, a Sagittarius may catch your eye with their knack for witty conversation and flirtation. But as you get to know them better, you're even more likely to be drawn to your Sagittarian's adventurousness and unhesitating willingness to take the risks necessary to keep life fun and free. People born under this sign are typically both enjoyable to be around and interesting to talk with. Be aware that Sagittarians do have a tendency to become restless at times. However, this sense of adventure will help keep things exciting in your relationship. In the bedroom, you'll likely find that the Archer is sexually creative and will keep you happily engaged. This is simply a natural extension of the Sagittarian nature. Overall, they want to get the most out of life and are always on the lookout for exciting new adventures.

Komen: Should I look only for Sagis? Come to think of it, I clicked quite well with my Sagi friends

The Super IQ Test - How Smart Are You Really?

Jason, your IQ score is 133

Your overall intelligence quotient is the result of a scientifically-tested formula based on how many questions you answered correctly. But it's only part of what we learned about you from your answers on the test. We also determined the way you process information.

The way you think about things makes you a Creative Theorist. This means you are a highly intelligent, complex person. You are able to process information of nearly every kind with ease, using both creativity and analysis to make sense of the world. Compared to others you also have a very rich imagination.

How did we determine that your thinking style is that of a Creative Theorist? When we examined your test results further, we analyzed how you scored on 8 dimensions of intelligence: spatial, organizational, abstract reasoning, logical, mechanical, verbal, visual and numerical. The 3 dimensions you scored highest on combine to make you a Creative Theorist. Only 6 out of 1,000 people have this rare combination of abilities.

Komen: No wonder I feel so alone at times, when people do not understand my humour

Tickle's Original Inkblot Test - Reveal Your Subconscious Mind

Jason, your subconscious mind is driven most by Curiosity

You are full of questions about life, people, and your own potential. You spend more time than others imagining the possibilities for your life — and you're open to things others are too afraid to consider.

You have an almost physical need to know and do more. It's only through new experiences that you feel a greater understanding of yourself and the world. You also have a rebellious streak that shows up when you feel unable to truly influence the world or circumstances around you. Your appetite for novel experiences also shows an openness others don't have, but wish they did.

Your psyche is very rich; the more you learn about it, the more you will understand who you really are.

Komen: I wonder if this is true ... I can quite apathic when it comes to certain stuff, so I am sure my curiousity was not aroused

Career Interest Inventory - Take Stock of What You Really Like to Do

Jason, based on your responses, your top career area is Writing and Journalism

Careers in this field often demand that you possess exceptional verbal and written communication skills. You have a natural talent for articulating a message in a way that resonates with other people. Writers and Journalists not only understand and appreciate the power of the written word, but are able to harness that power and use it in their own unique way. Most likely, you enjoy sharing your opinion and perspective with others.

Komen: well .. kind of true ... spent quite some time on the blog

PART ONE – The sinful soul

This is a spiritual assessment of myself at this point of my life this year in 2006

As I write this … it goes with a heavy heart with my realization of where I am now. If I were to view myself simply by the 7 deadly sins, I am a great sinner, if not to others, then surely to myself. The damning self assessment, the bitter medicine at the doorstep.

The Seven Deadly Sins (http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/)

• Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.
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• Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation.
• Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.
• Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.
• Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.
• Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual.
• Sloth is a spiritual apathy that affected the faithful by discouraging them from their work

Guilty as charged …

I am guilty of pride, as described, excessive belief of my own beliefs and true as stated above, it was the root of the other evils that have consumed me over the past months. I had this belief that I am very capable, I can do a lot of things, I can change things, or things can change for me … it is because of pride, I for several times had not admitted my mistakes openly … it is because of pride, I have not revealed my true feelings, for the fear that I can be hurt, that I can be torn apart. So much fear arising from pride. So I am not brave at all.

And as such, it led to envy … I started eying others & what they have with a lot of jealousy, feeling that I deserve that (to some point true), but as I said, it consumed me & made me reach out aggressively for ‘my share’ of the pie. Some people had some lucky breaks over the past 1 year, & seeing them where they are, and comparing my ability, I felt that I lost out over that … but I failed to see that luck & other human factors play a part.

Gluttony … I admit that at many times, I took more than my plate can hold … I want to do everything, I want to have everything, but in the end, my face fell flat in the ground. Embarrassment is not exactly what I feel now, but perhaps ashamed of myself because I failed to draw a line for myself when it mattered most and because I wanted to surpass others, failing to remember that I am human after all, with faults, limits & weaknesses.

It is definite that I desire material wealth greatly … ever since I left AIESEC, and I just wake up thinking each day on how I can earn more & more money, & get more & more power. Such is the level of greed inside me. While I do not deny myself of spiritual discovery, I failed to create connection between my greed & spiritual needs. I was using it more as a healing source, rather than a driving force in my life. And I realize now that at this moment, at this breaking point … my greed has pushed aside the spiritual part of me … and it’s a joke cause all the time I say, just for a few years I ‘sacrifice’ to earn enough money to start my dreams in the future.

Living for the future is one thing & living in the present is another. My greed has sold my present life cheaply in the name of my future. There has been many days of my life when I just toiled past them mechanically without joy, but full of boredom, hurt, boring process & no spark … I miss the times when I woke up each day with so much empowerment of myself … with passion … belief that I can do a lot, I can change things … and I believe in what I do & that I love what I do. Not now.

Wrath. I hate a lot of things, a lot of people and at some times, I hate myself. I hate people for surpassing & being better than me. I hate others for being richer than me. I hate people for pushing me, for making my life miserable. I just wished they would die. Or just give me a gun & in a few rounds of impulse, I’ll just shoot them all to death. A quick round of satisfaction & condemnation to hell.

I confess … sloth has always been a part of me … there are many things I want to do, but there’s this apathy somewhere in me that whispers … it can wait, just chill around. But when I woke up today, when I saw something … I know that I’ve lost something I loved because sloth made me laze in unforgivable apathy … and ignoring the opportunities that has crossed my path just too many times, has finally moved on from me. I want to cry, I want to sink in depression, but my other sins, especially pride will probably keep me from doing that. But only for how long? The tears, the screaming agony will come out soon. It’s inevitable. Probably will drive miles & miles away, scream all I want …

But what else can a sinner such as myself say? What’s due is due. Is there redemption? Can I even hope for it?

Paintball at Kuang ...

Paintball is something I’ve wanted to play for sometime, but somehow I’ve always missed out the fun … so when unca Lim & Ah Teck came up with a plan for this, I just had to go, especially when exams have ended.

So, what’s paintball about? You can find out from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paintball) and it’s simply a game when you have teams, every player has a gun that shoots mini paintballs … as elimination is by having shot someone, there are many variations the game can be played.

We went for a more exotic location of Kuang (off Sungai Buloh) to play than the more famous places of Sunway, Taman Desa & Bukit Tinggi … and the journey was quite interesting as we passed long jams & winding country roads to get there.

The place is called Mudtrekker (www.mudtrekker.com) … nestled in a corner next to a stream … lives up to it’s name along a very dusty & mud trailed road …

Before

I’ve heard horror stories from AJ (annjet.multiply.com) as she got a bruise as large as her fist and also from my brother’s GF, so kiasu me dug out my old winter vest & plunked it on to protect myself. Not so bothered by the mosquito threat as I suited myself top to bottom in black … so here I am … READY for the challenge … let’s go shoot some people, HOHOHOHO!

Going

After several detours & wait-ups we finally left for Sungai Buloh … and after the long town jam, we crawled into more country roads that had a lot of ‘invisible’ bumps … and big big lorries … but my navigators were very good (the directions were quite accurate too) since the place is quite far in & complex to find …

Reaching

The place was across a stream, in a plank bridge (didn’t bring camera as I was unsure about safety & security, so I shall be descriptive). Crossed over, I found myself in an enclosure with trees & open space too … I expected some long lalangs as Budak said there would be such, but did no see any (they must have cut it in case of snakes).

Starting the game

Didn’t rent the jumper suits (RM10 for each set), so they have the suits in 2 colours (black & army green), so we divided teams & suited up … then finally got the guns on my hands (ooh, the sense of power … mwahahaha). The game was very simple; each team took an end of the field … and the objective was to get their own flag placed into a tyre placed at the open centre of the whole place (without being shot). So … it sounded easy, but when you have ammo flying around at all times, it’s different, especially when they hurt & bruise a lot …

Well, I got only 1 shot one me & it was on my hand (unprotected) and left a circular shaped bruise … it does not ache, but hurts when you touch it … and my idiotic brother just pressed it & asked ‘oh, you mean here?’ … JACKASS!!!

Ending

As we were all amateurs (maybe except ah teck who had army training) … we ran out of ammo quickly & since we had only ordered a limited number, we finished the game way before our time of 2 hours … sigh. But it was good fun, hiding in a corner, shooting at people … getting the adrenalin rush … so if you wanna just blow off some steam, doing this is a good way …just pricey .. RM65 per head + RM10 for suit rental.

I liked it a lot & will remember this game … and will be back (when I have more money)