20 years

I have almost forgotten about it until this afternoon that you popped up the question...

W: hey, how long have we know each other alr?

A: 20 years

W: No wonder... come lets celebrate alr :P

A: How to celebrate???

W: Go somewhere to chill out

A: Haha... Hope can find that time

W: haha... me too

Who would have guess that we have known each other for 20 years already. It seems to me that it was just yesterday when I first got to know you. How time has pass us by and now, it has been 20 years since I got to know you.

I have known some others for more than 20 years but you are different. You have become my brother, my best friend, my partner-in-crime (for non-criminal related stuff like playing a joke on our pet sister) and my best helper.

Truly, it has been an amazing experience so far and I am sure that we have a lot longer way to go. 

Suffocated

There are time when you would feel suffocated. Things just don't go the way you want it to be. Delays here and there. People pushing us around. It sure felt tiring and suffocating.

But as long as we dont give up and continue striving forward, there would be no obstacles too big for us to handle. And unknowningly, some hands are helping us, with or without us knowing.

Believe. That's all you have to do.

Coming Back Here

It has been ages since I last wrote something here.

Well, I am still very much alive but alot of things has happened to me for all the time that I was missing.

Nevertheless, I would try to come back here and write more about stuff that is not directly relation just to get back my passion of writing.

Be sure to come back here often. Updates would be more frequent!

Unexpected

Just came back from Ulaanbaatar a few days back.

A life changing trip I would say as it is not the usual holiday or work trip that I went previously.

I went with the main aim of assisting (in any way that I can) a group of medical personnel (doctors, nurses and pharmacists) to do some medical screening for the poor and/or homeless people there.

It was tiring but rewarding trip with a feel of extreme satisfaction whenever we could help someone in need.

Friendship was also formed among the group and I guess I should say that I gain a bonus on this trip, which is something totally unexpected.

Three more days...

Three more days until my first competitive run of the year and my body is not in the best condition it can be. I was sick for the past one week, started with sore throat, then fever and now a flu that just dont want to stop.

I hope I would be able to get better soon and I definitely want to finish the run.

Wish me luck.

What is a flashpacker, anyway?

Those who know me know that I would not hesitate to hop onto a plane one day and go to a place that is completely new to me. To many people, I am like a backpacker, going anywhere for a trip with just a backpack with me. But backpacker define half of me only. In real term, I am a flashpacker more than a backpacker.

"What is a flashpacker?" you are asking in your head now...

In short, flashpacker is a backpacker who has the ability to spend abit more so that more comfort could be attained during the trip.

Flashpacker would:

1. opt for a private room instead of sharing the dorm
2. travel on a plane instead of overland transportation like trains or buses
3. eat at mid-range restaurant or cafe instead of stall by the roadside

* these are some things that flashpacker may do but it still depend on the person himself

Another way of identifying a flashpacker would be the amount of electronic gadgets he would bring on a trip. While a backpacker might not bring much, a flashpacker would most likely to have the following with him:

1. Camera - dSLR or EVIL are the choice of flashpackers. While some may opt for a compact point and shoot, it would have to be on the higher end camera. Flashpacker would not settle for average. They want the photos to be better.
2. Cellphone / Mobile phone - Another essential for flashpacker as the prefer to be able to stay connected to the world all the time. It helps to be able to contact the hostel or even arrange meetings with friends. Some smart phones are capable to act as a music player, video player or even access to the internet.
3. Laptop - While it is possible to get connected to the internet via your smart phone, its function is still very limited. A laptop would be a better option to connect to the internet. With many hotels, hostels or even public places offering free internet connection via wifi, why not use it to the fullest. Still, some older laptop may be heavy to carry around. Another alternative would the netbook, which is getting more popular nowadays.
4. External hard drive - photos in memory cards is okay but why take the risk? External hard drive offer a great option to back-up the photos, making sure it would be there when you come back. Sure you can use the harddisk drive on the laptop but even that would have its limit.
5. Power adapter - a travel essential since all the electronic gadgets need electric to operate. While you can rely on the long life battery provided with the gadget, sooner or later, it would drain dry. That is where the power adapter comes in. It make sure your electronic gadget would be alive when you need it.

The Mexican Fisherman

In a quiet Mexican fishing village, an American on vacation was watching a local fisherman unload his morning catch. The American, a successful professor at a prestigious US business school, couldn't resist giving the Mexican fisherman a little bit of free advice.

"Hey!" began the American. "Why are you finishing so early?"

"Since I have caught enough fish, Senor", replied the genial Mexican, "enough to feed my family and a little extra to sell. Now I will take some lunch with my wife and after a little siesta in the afternoon, I will play with my children. Then, after dinner, I will go to the cantina, drink a little tequila and play some guitar with my friends. It is enough for me, Senor."

"Listen to me, my friend." said the business professor. "If you stay out at sea until late afternoon, you will easily catch twice as much fish. You can sell the extra, save up the money, and in six months, maybe nine, you'll be able to buy a bigger and better boat and hire some crew. Then you'll be able to catch four times as many fish. Think of the extra money you will make! In another year or two, you will have the capital to buy second fishing boat and hire another crew. If you follow this business plan, in six or seven years you will be the proud owner of a large fishing fleet. Just imagine that! Then you should move your head office to Mexico office, or even to LA. After only three or four years in LA,you float your company on the stockmarket giving yourself, as CEO, aqa generous salary package with substantial share options. In a few more years - listen to this! - you initiate a company share buy-back scheme, which will make you a multi-millionaire! Guaranteed! I'm a well-known professor at a US business school. I know these things."

The Mexican fisherman listened thoughtfully at what the animated American had to say. When the professor had finished, the Mexican asked him, "But, Senor Professor, what will I do with so many millions of dollars?"

Surprisingly, the American professor hadn't thought the business plan through that far. So he quickly figured out what a person would do with a millions of dollars.

"Amigo! With all the dough, you can retire! Yeah! Retire for life. You can buy a little villa in a picturesque fishing village like this one, and purchase a small boat for going fishing in the morning. You can have lunch with your wife every day, and siesta afterwards with nothing to worry you. In the afternoon you can spend quality time with your kids anad, after dinner in the evening, play guitar with your friends in the cantina,drinking tequila. Yeah, with all that money, my friend, you can retire and take it easy."

"But, Senor Professor, I do all that already."

WHY DO WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO WORK SO HARD AND GET RICH FIRST, BEFORE WE CAN FIND CONTENTMENT?

~from Opening the door of your heart by Ajahn Brahm

Nike City 10K KL

I went for the second run for 2010. I was looking forward for it for weeks even though there were a time when the prospect of going for the run was almost down the drain. Had a injury on my left leg about 2 weeks back when I hit my knee when trying to save a smash during a badminton game.

Luckily, it was not as bad as I have expected and I managed to recover to at least 80% and a day before the run, I decided to go for it. I did promised myself that I would not continue if the pain become unbearable.

I managed to run the first 3km with a few short walk but by the time I reached 4km, I have no choice but to walk only as the pain from the old injury (from 10 years back) makes it impossible for me to continue running. Still I walk faster than usual and in the end, I managed to finish the run in 1 hour 30 minutes.

At the starting point...

Glowing people

this show that I finished the run

Well... one last thing I should says... I didnt expect myself to be able to go for 2 runs in one year... it is definitely better than last year... Cant wait for the next one (next year)

** 13th October 2010 - Suddenly, I remember a few interesting runners atthe run. There was a guy that has this message at the back of his t-shirt. It was written that he is running for his birthday that day. I wished him happy birthday and I was glad that he is happy about it. I also saw an elderly man getting ready for the run before the start of the run and half way thru the run (after my knee start giving me pains), he overtake me then... From what I can see, he dont run. Instead, he walk extremely fast. I must respect him for this.

Donkey in a Hole

There once was a little donkey that worked on a very large farm. This donkey was a very hard worker, and was very much appreciated by his master who knew he could count on him do any manner of odd jobs and farm duties.

One day while hard at work, this donkey fell into a deep pit that the farmer had been digging to use as a well. The donkey cried and cried, and the farmer frantically tried to figure out a way to get the donkey out of the deep hole. However the sides were just too unstable to lower someone down with a rope to tie around the donkey, and as the donkey was panicky and thrashing about, the farmer had the additional concern of one of his farm hands being injured and stuck down the hole too.

Finally, with a heavy heart, the farmer decided it was best to bury the donkey and put it out of its misery. So he and several of his farm hands started shoveling dirt back into the pit.

However, after a few minutes of shoveling, the farmer noticed something. The donkey was shaking off the dirt and stomping it into the ground below him. As it dawned on the farmer what was happening, he called the rest of his farm hands to help shovel, and shovel-full after shovel-full of dirt, the donkey stomped it into the ground making the hole shallower by the minute. Soon the well became nearly filled with dirt and the donkey climbed out to the great relief of the farmer and his workers.

The story of the donkey in the well is timeless, and has circulated the internet more than I can even count. Its message is enduring, for many of us, too, have found ourselves stuck in a situation where we just didn’t know how we’d get through. The metaphorical dirt was poured over our heads, and we either got buried by our problems with no hope of rescue, or we shook the dirt from us and pounded it into the ground to rise victorious.

We always have the choice to be victim or victor. So next time it feels as if you are in that well with no chance of being freed, think of the little donkey who refused to accept that his circumstances were beyond his control; he didn’t give up and he didn’t give in, and you don’t have to either! 

*I look up for this story in the middle of the night because I am in need of inspiration...

Knee's Injury

I have been suspecting the seriousness of the injury and even though it is not being confirmed by a doctor, I understand very well that it is very serious.

I have been having problem trying to sit in crossed-leg posture since that incident and the more that I am thinking about it, the more that I think I should retire from running and all the other sports. Maybe I should take up swimming...

Let's just see what is in store for me...

StarCraft 2

I was a fan of the original game back in the old days and I, just like every other fan of them, have been waiting for it for buddha-know-how-long... In the end, it finally came out...

Hell, it is about time...

And it didnt disappoint me or any one that is playing this game... In fact, I am loving it...

Restart

It has been so long since my last post....

I know I have neglected this blog for a very long time.

Alot of things happened since then but I guess I am back.

I have restart my other blog not too long ago and I guess it is fair for me to restart this one as well.

So, please stay tuned as I would post more frequently once my home's network start running.

:)

The World Through My Lens

My new photoblog....

The World Though My Lens

Please feel free to visit and give comments... Thanks in advance...

Golden Nikon

Nikon FA and FM Special Edition in Gold

As a Canon user, I really am jealous about this...

Solar Eclipse

Did you see the total eclipse yesterday? Here is how it looks like somewhere in China.
Eclipse is a very nice name... hmm....

Celebrating Growing Old

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio.

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone…
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay cheque.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry..!
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
14. journey is all about.
15. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
16. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
17. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
18. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful..
19. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
20. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
21. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
22. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets and wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion, today is special.
23. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
24. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
25. The most important sex organ is the brain.
26. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
27. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’
28. Always choose life.
29. Forgive everyone everything.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Time heals almost everything. Give time.
32. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
33. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
34. Believe in miracles.
35. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
36. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
37. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
38. Your children get only one childhood.
39. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
40. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
41. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
42. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
43. The best is yet to come.
44. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
45. Yield.
46. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”

My say:

Some younger people may think that this article is irrelevant to them as they are still “young”. But if you think of it again, everyone is growing old as well. It is a fact of life that we may not realize…

Thus, I believe that many of the above lesson is very relevant to everyone (some apply to female readers only ) but that should not stop you from celebrating your life

Dengue

Talk Out Loud: How I wish I can go out shooting...

................................................

I couldnt believe it but yet, it happened.

I was so positive that I didnt hav dengue that my mind couldnt register how it could hav infected me. Anyway, in a twist of fate, I found out that I did hav dengue.

Difference is, it was a mild one and it didnt really affect me in anyway except for the rashes that suddenly become visible one afternoon.

But by then, I am already recovering, as what the doctor stated.

What surprise me is that I am able to run in a marathon for 11km when I am having that dengue.

As for the record, my platelets went down to 128 level only. (I cant remember the equation at the back...

Being a Photographer is not that easy

Talk Out Loud: Boss went outstation and I am in charge of the dept... Muahahahaha... but that means I would do all the works... T.T some more, I have feeling feverish le.... no good no good...

...........................................................

Believe me when I tell you that being a photographer is not that easy. Dont believe what I am saying? Take a look here and you should get the idea.

Back from Bali

Talk Out Loud: Holidays over! Back to reality.

……………………………………………..

As some of you may know, I went to Bali last Saturday.

After a five days holidays, I am finally back in Malaysia yesterday night.

It is another one of those great trip that I went on…

More posts and photos on the trip soon… (I captured all the photos in RAW mode… Thus I would need more time to work on it… Will start my work later today!)

I did many new things there… more info? wait for my upcoming posts…

Want to go for a movie

Talk Out Loud: Feeling sick again... why......

....................................................

I have not step into a cinema for a very very long time. I cant remember when was the last time either. I guess it has been too long...

Now that "Summer" is here, alot of new release of movies that could be consider good are starting to show in cinema. And I wanna go to watch...

Sniper (Cantonese) - Now showing
Knowing (English) - Now showing
Angels and Demons (English) - 14 May 2009
Terminator Salvation (English) - 28 May 2009
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (English) 26 June 2009

I may consider the below as well...
Push (English) - 14 May 2009
Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian (English) - 21 May 2009
Monsters vs Aliens (English) - 28 May 2009

So, if you are going for any one of the above and you dont mind a company, let me know...