My First CNY week back to KL

I have to say that this year's CNY celebration has been nothing but fun fun FUN! It is the first year that I actually "commute" or "travel" back to my hometown for the celebration. This made the family reunion even more special than usual.

Then, meeting my aunts and grandma to only have them shower me with so much love and attention is literally wrong to say that I am not loved. Then, it was also the first time I actually did nothing but pure sleeping, eating and skipping gym for the week. To add more pleasant surprises, I have also received my first ever ang pao from my close friend who just gotten married. Her house is stunning! Love the walk-in wardrobe. Ending the holiday, I spent most of my time with friends. To have them walk in my life is like having received a medal or award for life time achievement. Appreciate you guys lots and thank you for having me around even though I no longer physically am available.


Starting off the new year, last minute shopping


Had my sisters to company me for the last min shopping, and the ever famous prosperity limited time only meal at MCD


The CNY eve dinner w family


Mum and sister posing w their new bags on 1st day CNY


Just cam whoring


Just cam whoring again


Just cam whoring with my dog, Tikus


Korean Lunch with YeeYee and DaDa - got a funny Ang Pao too


Pleasant visitor from Singapore, Dim Sum w family @ Puchong


One of my favourite picture, look like some family drama TV series poster


CNY Pai Nien @ Trix new home. R5!


Steamboat with the Boys, then we went clubbing. Awesome night!!!

Then just a few minutes ago, my family and I had a CNY dinner which also coincide with my cousin brother's birthday. It was so joyful and comical to have both the goofy him and his witty brother constantly embarking on conversations that are both hillarious and stomach bloating from laughing too much.


Sisters at the CNY reunion dinner with our aunts and uncles @ Friends, Kota Kemuning


Happy birthday bro!


Cousins. Some are missing ...

Overall, I think this is a great start of the year. May all the good things come rolling more and since it is the 7th day of CNY (which is also the day of everyone's birthday), HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR AND HAPPY BURFDAY PEEPS!

Now to chatup with a distant friend :-)

Jessie J - Domino

I've always like EURO POP more. Apparently their tunes are more addictive. So, the latest would be Jessie J - Domino



BTW, Happy CHINESE NEW YEAR ...

Interest

The term clearly defined by many dictionaries or scholars as the epitome feeling raised of wanting to learn or know or bond or connect or curious or worry or what ever under sky you called it, to someone or something is quite interesting.

I still find the term amusing because in today’s relevance, the term needs to be coiled with two other important word : determination and perseverance. So, I am getting on to a relationship? Nope, you guys got it wrong. Actually it is in every aspect ... let it be interest in someone, interest in a hobby, interest in a new found investment, interest in a fetish perhaps? Or even to put matters in a complicated way because I tend to love that, interest in the disinterested.

While I am munching my dinner, remembering a friend told me to chew more ... I am now in the interest of chewing my food longer in the perception that the amylase from my saliva will digest the carbs and turn it into fats or mass for my thin lean frame. That interest probably will not last

Then I thought about work. It has only been less than 2 months since I started my new job down south here and already the entire company is tagging me with names, more commonly known as small boy and the chosen one. In their interest, I seem like the boy who knows. Their interest in my “quick” change look, my conversation topics, my jokes and some have deep interest in my perception on life as well as demeanour can be quite amusing and entertaining. Not complaining, but wonder when these interests will fade

Interest from other people has always been interesting. It sets motive. It blurs vision and intentions. It changes target and switches mode in expression. It’s intensity often measures the tools and doings a person can act upon to reach the final result. It can also move mountains, some had say ... but ever so the positive inclination of interest can only exist and measured in determination and perseverance of a person’s in contribution of time, varieties of execution methods and lastly degree of impression.

Well at the end of the day. Each individual is different and through time and personality, one can see how much interest is bestowed upon thy subject

I know I sound like a professor giving some stupid unrelated talk. But I just felt that I need to write something deep since I have this current huge interest on the topic and also the interest to fully utilize my dining table. Eating while writing. Wonder how long this interest will persevere ...

Reputation

It's been a very tiring week. Although it is only half way through, I am beginning to feel that my body is shutting down due to fatigue. I am blogging with almost no mind set to write and I cannot possibly shut my eyes. But I want to write, just to quickly update life for those who still reads about me

After arriving in JB for the past two days, I have met many clients. For once, I've come across meeting great clients who actually listen and take note of my presentation. I remember exactly two years ago, I was only doing presentation for two things - one to score more marks for my MBA ... and two to close business deals for my company. Most occasions, I do not think anyone remembers or care. Let it be clients or colleagues

These few days, my presentation was on one strategy and one motive. Information. With the help of strong brand element, it became so much easier to speak to clients and potential partners.

I realize that this boils down to reputation. Same with brand, a person is treated so with dignity, respect and a sincere relationship based on their reputation. To even put the word judgement into that is an understatement.

Whether one creates a strong positive reputation or the other really depends not only of a person's intentions and actions, but also evaluated across time. Time tell all tales. And with time too, you can see a person's true self. That helps with clarify and quickly predicting the other party quite simply and naturally. The reaction towards treating or handling a person than becomes the fundamental affect of again the starting point of reputation. Are you one that walk the talk, or just basically talk?

To make it simple, a positive reputation is coherently connected to the actions one take reflecting their basic ideas which then creates an arena of acceptance and submission from another. I am re-reading the sentence and realized that it wasn't quiet simple. Hmmm

Time for bed.

Cash and everything budget

I can never keep track of my expenditures and financials. I guess it really requires commitment not only to keep track of daily debit and credits but also the will to sink your wallet deeper in the pocket when you need to take it out for payment purposes. I often wonder why people would eat less during lunch or dinner, or opting to fly low cost in long hauls, or even subject to getting counterfeits for movies or music (OK THAT LAST ONE IS DEFINITELY A LAME EXCUSE) ... but where I am getting to is the fact that money is so important these days, but how come when you use financial trackers or budget ... it always end up increasing the budget in the edit session???

I guess personal will is to be blame? Or has lifestyle demands so much of a person? Should we look to blame the economic and how the government has stir us to a middle income trap? Or are we just content with life that whatever comes - whatever goes ... including our financials? Or is it just living in the south demanded more cash?

I ask a lot of questions. Perhaps there's not much answers to them or perhaps the answers are obvious but knowing humans, we are ignorant?

Personally, I realize I am no different from my previous few months state. In fact, I think it may have just worsen a bit. I clearly recall before I made the decision to move south, I was rigorously and vigorously plotting numbers in excel to evaluate and cross evaluate both the financial occurrences if I made the decision. Putting my financial, accounting and budget skills from my MBA course, I was certain that I may have lower the risk and evaluated a decision better. Obviously I was a weak student. I am wrong

So with just like 2 weeks after payday, I am almost completely taken aback by the amount of cash crediting to my accounts. As how Alford would love to put it WTF ... LOUDLY. So how is it so? I need to track my records yah? But it doesnt seem to answer my uncertainty and question. Sigh. I am so so so broke till the extend that picking up a part time job was needed to accomodate my lifestyle down south. I say, I have myself to blame for overspending... and looking at the chart, it seems that I need to repay one particular debt before CNY and also incur an incoming expenses of "fixing buffalo"... BUFFALO IS NOT CHEAP DAMMIT!

HMM

I better return to my financials and work out a solution before I start requesting the company for an advancement. How sad...

One things quite in shock, I just finish writing an interview article for a local magazine in Johor and I swore just an hour ago I will not type or write something! But here I am on my blog, completely writing a different topic ... Hmm ... Have I found a new love for writing or am I just too bored after gluttoning down a bowl of pan mee?

Picking someone from the airport?

I was at Changi Airport today. After landing in Senai, my company's transporter told me that he was going to pick up my brand manager after dropping me off. Out of the blue, I agree to following him into Singapore. I did not have any plans so it seems giving my manager a surprise guten arban will do the trick.

Since her flight got delayed for over 50min, I transformed myself into observation kin. I started studying closely of people behaving at the arrival hall. Those who are sitting down, those who hold name boards, those who are lingering, those who are on duty, those who are walking out, the tall short pretty normal looking, everyone.

Everyone was there (or mostly) for one occasion. Reuniting with someone.

I notice that reunification of two individuals require a lot of resources. Travel time for one is crucial since most airports are really far from residential areas. Not to mentioned that with aviation consequences, one may bear the extra hours of waiting and swinging their leg if flights are delayed.

But I observe overwhelming power of patience and anticipation.

The smile of the flying stewardess walking out the gate only to be greeted by her caucasian boyfriend is all it takes to make the day. They walked hand in hand to a nearby cafe and it seems that she is catering to his need now of having something pretty western. Ironic that she should be tired since she had at least a few hours clocked into work, she seem to look good. OK, maybe it is make up.

Then another air steward was reunited with his family. His wife and daughter. Wife took the coat, he held the daughter and they were kissing. This is rare I thought. I am sure mr. air steward fly often but to have his family pick him up and greet him with such warmth, I know the kid had good parents.

All the couples were doing the usual, kiss hug kiss again and then help the other pull their luggage. But seeing this girl cried because his bf brought her favourite flowers was interesting. I can't help but feel romantically involved. They were definitely spreading love

Mum was brushing his son's hair, sister was ransacking her parent's "gift" paperbag, friends were chest bumping and bear hugging, colleagues shook hands and welcome their stay, backpackers begin to open their map and discussing their destination are so common these days.

While I took a break and had dinner at the food court, I notice the air filled with people spreading joy. They were mostly enjoying their meal with someone. I notice that singaporeans are also quite the romantic type. Most tables are filled with pilot, flight attendants dining with their loved ones (couple, partners or friends) and they are not dressed in uniform. So, it got me thinking ... people who pick someone up from the airport (despite those on duties) are usually "love" related.

But my case is coincident. My manager was shocked beyond the point to see me. She couldn't believe her eye when I greeted her. She was frozen, took few seconds to digest before flashes a smile and quickly asked, did i drove the company's taxi here?

LOL ... it was awkward 10 seconds before me moved on.

That aside, back to my earlier observation...I also begin to notice the soloist. Those who quickly adjourned to taxi stands, avoid eye contacts and just smiling to others waiting for the relative was equally a lot. And so I thought, have I been travelling alone most of the time? While on business trip, I always had mr eagle along. Whenever I travel, he will come along to save cost. We plan our trips in that sense. Hardly alone. Only occasions. Rare. Even when i flew alone, I had someone at the other side waiting. My most recent memorable occasion was of course having MC waiting for me early in the wee morning of a cold day in Beijing. Such a sweet heart and all the 6 hours of painstaking sleepless flight was flushed away when he flashes his smile, hugged me and helped with my luggage

So that's how it feels like having someone to pick you up?

I wonder if my friends ever feel that way when I make my way to the airport. I knew MK is very appreciative. He would thank me for the first few minutes, probably 15min and then thank me again non-stop when we are 15min away from his home. I picked Mr Watch before and he is always fun to pick up. Always have surprises and usually happy ones. Don't think I ever did pick him up from the national airpot itself though. Who would forget K then. Picking him has been the most fun of all ...

I guess when it comes to that, it boils down to how much you want to see and do for that person. It is always thoughtful but when the gesture is sincere and filled with anticipation to see the person walk out the gate and all ... people usually dont really care if they are tired, late or even if it logically consume time. Well, I will be happy to walk out to see someone giving me hug and welcome me. I mean, who doesnt rite?

So all that said, I don't know why I am writing such post. Maybe it is a sign for me to travel again soon ... to somewhere friends are waiting :-P

Sorry for wasting your time reading this. lol

The brand new year

Officially 2011 has passed. I guess many would have pondered in the last few minutes before the clock ticked 12 to celebrate the coming year, what significance have they achieved in the past months? Have they kept their resolutions? Have they fulfill promises made in year 2010 while ushering in 2011? Have they obtained or complete certain goals? Have they increase or rather nicely put, improve?

I guess nothing beats the celebration than giving yourself a pat on your shoulder for any occasion worth celebrating and remembering. I am not a big fan of festive or celebration. Every year I did it for the sake of just doing it. I guess it is because of that I never really do get invited for any form of countdown or party if any. This year, I had my parents on eve and when it was nearing 12, a phone call from a great soul wishing me the best and the rest was with Kurosaki San, famously known as Ichigo - Death God

So while dad snores away after his toast to new year with Teh Tarik and peanuts (so chinaman), I lay in my bed blogging with my iPhone thinking what have I achieved in year 2011. Am not even sure if I am proud of myself but one things for sure ... Many things happened, and time flew past ...

So some random not in order memorable moments was

1. My best girl friend and pet sis got married. They are close to heart and I dare say closest ever to me getting their knots tied first! Felt old

2. Completed and graduated from my MBA. Didn't know how it felt but I am happy I did it, met new friends and had my fair share of bitterness

3. Bought a house, and currently responsible for it. Fully and entirely random!

4. Decided to move south to a less hassle town and got into a surprise job doing something quite out of the box for me

5. Met a great date who made me believe that it is worth trying again. Although it didn't last, it was such honor to have you as a great supportive friend

6. Considered to bump into an old friend who is a true inspiration for me. Your courage, sincerity, love and strong will keeps me alive everyday. I am so happy to have met you after so many years again. Music lives!!!

7. Having a special someone requesting to sing for my first attempt of creating music. Not sure how it will turn out, but you had put me to tears so many times. You keep me swimming! You keep my soul alive!!!

8. Had so much laughter and fun in Sunway Lagoon! Cannot believe I sort of conquered my fear by accident in one of the ride. Will always remember the feeling of hanging up side down!!! And cursing !!! And then crying!!!

9. Climbing the great wall of China when I went to Beijing. Special thanks to my best buddy! You know who you are and hope to dine with you soon again, ala "our style" ... Hugs!

10. Receiving a surprised gift, wrapped in a turquoise box. Thank you so so much and I look forward in meeting you again! Owe you a big nice gift and dinner ...

Sending my appreciation to those who has made my 2011 both so good and bad! You guys complete Me!!! So the only things to do is getting use to writing the year date.