Surprise can...

I have dinner appointment with my APIIT frens this evening. I met them when I was pursuing my master. I don't know how, but none of them was from my batch. I got to know them through pure fate. For example, I got to know my photography guru cum APIIT fren after I joined his class (I delay that class due to unforeseen circumstances at that time) for one semester.

But they are really a bunch of good people. The six of us can click quite well. We share knowledge. We help each other through the toughest time. I must say, without their supports and constant encouragement, I might not be able to complete my dissertation so smoothly. Without their help in providing me the notes and exam tips, I might not be able to pass my exam with flying colors.

After our graduation, we still make the effort to meet up, maybe like once every 3 months. We all almost never talk to each other during this period. It is fortunate that we have the Raleigh cum photographer cum researcher lady who is very very good in arranging get together dinner. Without her I doubt the group can sustain.

So today, we have our usual meet up. We have not seen each other... well I am not sure, but at least for 6 months already I reckon. Frankly, I was a little reluctant to go at first. Maybe is the headache (I have difficulty sleeping again the night before). But I know I should go, for good old APIIT time sake.

As usual, I was late. I got the time wrong. Everyone was there. We started to chat. Since there are 4 photographers (including me.. ehm!!!), the photography topic will be the main course. Then we chatted about what's everyone is doing. I was rather shocked to hear that the Raleigh cum photographer cum researcher lady is applying for phD. Is she crazy or what? Well, I deeply respect and admire her determination. But no way I am going to endure another madness like I did while doing my master.

After about one and a half hours, I can sense that the topics are getting dry. I think it is time to go home. I can sense everyone's body language that it is time to leave. Some looking at phone’s watch. Some making stretching (me me me). Some giving plain look (I think me too).

So finally someone signaled the waitress to bring the bill. Then, out of the blue... a cake was brought to our table, and my APIIT frens started singing happy birthday song... to ME!!

What a pleasant surprised! I didn't even know they knew my birthday is coming! We all never celebrate birthday together before neither. Although they’ve kindly forgotten my age, I was happy. Although I was embarrassed that they sang birthday song in front of so many people, I was happy.

And you know what, I don't even know any of their birth dates. I feel guilty and I feel ashamed. I have to improve my skill in maintaining friendship. No choice can, must learn ok.

I think I am always lucky to have good friends around. Although I do not have many friends, but my friends are good friends!!

Science is like a thin sheet of ice

The debate has been going on for some times now, at least for a few years now. The news appeared in the headline again today. Is it a planet or is it not? Yeap, the ninth planet in our solar system seems to be in shaky position after a new icy rock was discovered. What so intrigue about this icy rock, known as "2003 UB313" or "Xena" is that it is actually bigger than Pluto. In fact it is 70 miles longer in diameter than Pluto.

The big question now... to demote Pluto or welcome Xena as the tenth planet?

Come to think of it... science is rather vulnerable... a principle or a theory is true until it is proven otherwise.

This is scary... yet this is exciting. Imagine, someone might discover some new evident that may just refute the Einstein theory of E=mc^2. What about if someone was able to create negative mass, travel faster than the speed of light and thus allowing human to travel back in time?

No doubt, we are in an age where science is at its most exciting stage. I believe we are no way near the end of Science. The reason is simple, we still can't find a unified theory or the fundamental law that governs our world and universe. But yet, we always seem to discover new things everyday and more experiments are carried out in labs around the world to strengthen Science and to bring Science to the next level.

dream will be dream...

I got my hair cut short... I got my hair cut bloody short. My hair stylist (ehm!!!) keep asking me "Are you sure you wanna do this?" throughout the session. But I was determined. I was determined to change my hairstyle after having it for more than 10 years.

Why do I decide to change it after all these years? Maybe is the feeling of reborn. Maybe is the feeling of change. Maybe is the feeling of don't bother. Well, I don't think that I am not bothered with the way I look. I am no metrosexual man... but I do like to look my best... yea I guess that's how we human survive evolution... We always try to look our best to attract the opposite sex... damn, how do I come to this statement...

Anyway, I really feel that I need some changes in my life. My life is not pathetic. Not yet at least... but it is getting no where either. I really need to go backpack and trek the mountains soon. I seriously feel that I need to get that part of my dreams fulfilled before I can move on to other things...

Now I wonder, is that an excuse? Is that stopping me from moving forward? I am not sure... I am good at contradicting myself. I guess too much thinking will do that to you. Arghhh... I think I should think less, exercise more, and work towards my goal... I'll do "almost" anything to step my footprint on the basecamp of the Mount Everest and take photos so nice that even National Geographic also can't resist.

Pina Colada

I have not drunk a sip of liquor since my last oversea trip. It was not intentional. But during the dinner with my dog fren pig fren, the topic of chill Carlsberg was brought up. Somehow or rather, another 30 minutes later, I found myself sitting at a bar drinking beer with my dog fren pig fren.

It was pretty early when we reached there. So, not "much" is happening. After a class of chilled Carlsberg, I continue with Pina Colada (For some weird reason, I just love this drink). It was getting no where by this time, I think all of us were sort of getting bored and so we started to play five-ten. That was painful for me. After a beer and Pina Colada, it is not easy for me to think, to strategize or to act wisely. Although I didn't lose every time, I did manage to get myself in the state of intoxication.

So today, I woke up with a little hang over. My head felt heavy. My eye lid felt heavy and my legs felt heavy. Astro was on the entire time. I remember I was watching tennis when I must have dozed off. I switch to CNN. Hm... news on terrorism. For the past few days, the world was shocked again after the UK authorities have managed to halt a suspected "terror in the sky" plot by the Islamic extremist. 24 people were arrested for investigation and most flights were cancelled. I think as 9-11 date approaching, the western world leaders are getting panic. Well, who wouldn't be? If the plot for "terror in the sky" does happen, I am sure more wars will be waged.

People people, grow up can...

Eureka!Eureka

He jumped out from his bathtub, run naked in the street of Syracuse and shouted”Eureka! Eureka!” He is one of the great Greek mathematician, physicist and inventor. He is Archimedes (287-212 B.C.)

His principles on buoyancy make him famous. But I must tell the truth. I always get mixed up this person and the foremost Greek hero of the Trojan War, Achilles, the son of Peleus and Thetis.

Huh? You might think that you do not know who Achilles was but you must surely hear of the Achilles' paradox. The paradox stated that the "faster runner can never catch a slower runner because he is forever arriving at a point the slower runner has just vacated". Very interesting paradox… simple but it does make you stop and think for that few minutes.

Anyway, I was thrilled to learn from the news that the researches at Stanford University's Linear Accelerator Center have successfully using the X-rays to decipher a fragile 10th century manuscript that contains the copies of some of Archimedes' most important works.

This is very exciting. With the modern technology we are able to rediscover some of the greatest works that defined science and humanity. The discovery might not change the way we talk or how we live our life, but it is the discovery of human history and how we evolve. Without people like Archimedes, our human history will be less colorful... sounds a bit dramatic, but I firmly believe so lor...

She grew up...

Last Saturday I got a surprised call from my old old classmate. It was a surprised as I have not heard anything about this dark skin, thick hair, pretty but very “garang” look person. To tell you the least, she did make my life in those primary school days interesting. I can't recall much but I think we never see eye to eye much. Maybe she had a crush on me or maybe she really loathed me, she always asked the girls not to talk to me. Yeap, that’s how much I can remember…

Anyway, the reason she called was to ask me to go back for our school's gathering or the so call alumni.

Apparently she has been doing very well to her life. She is driving a BMW now. Oh wait, let me rephrase, she goes around places in her BMW... yeap she doesn't drive because she has a driver okie... She has a condo in Mount Kiara, and is one of those people that buy a house and decided the house looks so not to her taste that she would tear it down and rebuild again from ground up. This is not all, she knows all the top people in this country. She has private numbers of top executives of many big corporations which include those in the dragon marked bank. She would tell you all the inside stories nobody knew.

HM... I am rather shocked to hear that at first. Deep inside, I do admire her capability. From what I heard, she no longer the person I remembered. She was no longer the girl with dark skin, thick hair, pretty and a “garang” look. Maybe she is still pretty. But she is very fair nowadays and you will not find any coarse hair in her hand, face or legs (I am not sure of any other places okie...). Hm... life sure has changed.

I am. I am really happy for her. She just ditched her boy friend and is single... and she kept asking me to find her for hi-tea at her place. Hm... Well, I know what you guys are thinking. But I am not sure... I think she is not that simple. How can a single lady able to be so "powderful" by just selling dresses... if you know what I mean...

I think sometimes when we are too focused and eager in achieving our goal, we lose our own identity along the way... I do hope to see her again... as an old friend. I would love to hear her stories about all the places that she has been too and how she has transformed herself. But I sincerely hope that she is truly happy.

Alfie

Despite the medication and whole day of working, I found myself not able to sleep yesterday night. This is a bit odd. Yes, I was thinking about work and my future but it was not very intense.

Anyway, after 1.5 hour of trying to sleep, I finally gave in and turned on my Astro to watch whatever program showing. As I was surfing the channels, for some unknown reason I ended up at HBO and started to follow the movie. The movie was entitled Alfie, starring Jude Law.

Jude Law plays a womanizer who was forced to question what he really wanted in life after a series of fail relationships. After finished watching the movie, especially at the end of the movie, it started to make me question about myself too. Maybe not about relationship, but life in general.

"What have I got? Really? Some money in my pocket, some nice threads, fancy car at my disposal, and I'm single. Yeah... unattached, free as a bird... I don't depend on nobody and nobody depends on me... My life's my own. But I don't have peace of mind. And if you don't have that, you've got nothing. So... what's the answer? That's what I keep asking myself. What's it all about? You know what I mean?"

So, do I have peace of mind?

I think God purposely not letting me to sleep so that I could watch that movie... how cruel okie, now I have to use my brain to think even more...

Me and my contradiction

I am feeling a lot of negative energy coming my way. This is bad. The vibe is just plain weird.

I am assigned to a new project. And on top of that, I will have to support my current project. This can't be good. This can't be true. This can't be happening.

Getting calls at night from your colleagues oversea is very stressful. Getting popup instance messengers from your colleagues oversea is very stressful. Getting emails from your colleagues oversea is very stressful.

My dog fren pig fren kept telling me to relax and don't too stress out. Don't run in a circle one would always said. But what can I say, I am just a damn easily stress out rabbit.

Although I am worried about the coming weeks and months, deep down inside I am still excited of the new project. Excited about the opportunity that was given to me. Sigh, talking about contradiction. Sometimes I don't even know what I want.

This is sad. This is pathetic. This is pitiful. Somehow I feel like I am not the captain of my own life voyage. I need to be the captain that has purpose. I need to be the captain that knows what he wants. I need to be the captain that able to explore the world with vision and determination.

My photographer guru has started his own company. My x-colleague who is not very pure Chinese has came back from UK and work in the environmental companies researching on worms. I think they are following their dream.

To say that I am not living my dream is a bit unfair. I have worked hard to be where I wanted me to be today. I was in manufacturing industry be fore I decided to switch to IT. I should be proud I think that I am able to do what I had planned 4 years ago. In a way, I am able to make thing happen too. I might not be the best captain but I am not too bad either. I think at this moment, this captain just need a little more patient. The voyage is only a damn good one if it sails through the thick and thin, the high and the low, the stress and the excitement, the frustration and the happiness.

Maybe a little patient and a lot of determinations can bring me to a voyage where no man has gone before...

Mclaren... Slowly but surely...

After 5 months of racing, my favorite team and driver Kimi finally gets his first ever pole position in F1 qualifying.

Although sensing that it was too good to be true... I was still happy. I was still thrill. I was still excited.

Well, true enough, due to low fuel, Kimi was able to run a very good lap during the qualifying. During the race day,however, the strategy proved to be not very wise as he was dropped to third placing after the two red scarlet.

Nonetheless, It was a good showing overall. Kimi is back on the podium and Mclaren gets valuable points for the championship.

Go Kimi! Go Mclaren!!

Flu flu go away can...

I sick again. Yes I am. Somehow it seems like I am always sick.

But after looking through my blog, I am quite amazed. Guess what? I last MC due to flu or fever was way back in early March. That's 5 months worth of healthy living. I must not complaint.

I used to sick like at least every 3 months. 5-month is a rather good number for me. I used to get sick when friends around me got sick. Yea it was (hm... maybe still is) that bad. I wonder why. Maybe is the work stress. Maybe is the irregular meal intake. Maybe is the lack of exercise. Maybe is the filter apartment.

It is always time like this make me feel like I need to change my style living. Exercise 30 minutes daily. Eat healthy food. Sleep early. Learn to de-stress. And clean my apartment everyday.

Somehow I believe these thoughts will vanish once I get back to my own feet again. How I wish I could really have a healthy life style...

Life without Astro

I woke up considerably early (09:30) today after working until the wee hours the day before (technically is this morning la). I knew I have about two and a half hours to kill before I heading to the office again. I was happy. I can unwind a little I told myself.

The first thing I did was to switch on my small small old old cheap cheap but square sqaure silver box to watch Astro. Sunday morning means more cartoons for me. To my shock, there was nothing on in my small small old old cheap cheap but square square silver box! I was panic. Then I tried to check the configuration and found out that there's no signal coming in! This was like Paris Hilton having a bad hair day. Life without Astro is unthinkable to me. I am doomed.

After being stoned and stunned for about 15 minutes I gave up and started to read the newspaper. Although feeling empty, I read the newspaper as slowly as I could. After another 45 minutes though, I felt lost again. So I decided to go and take a dip in the swimming pool. After that, I found myself starring in front of my small small old old cheap cheap but square square silver box which read "Services Currently No Available".

I miss my Astro can...

The service industry...

It started well. I woke up fresh after hectic work in the office the day before. I went on the pick up the Java Guru to play Malaysia most popular sport and in the same time send my small small old old cheap cheap but tough tough vehicle for servicing. I have not sent her for servicing for a long long time... way over due if you ask me.

I had some good games today. I don't play pretty well this so call Malaysia most popular sport. Maybe is my height. Maybe is the old racket. Maybe is just not in my blood. I don't know. But I do enjoy playing this so call Malaysia most popular sport. After two hours of running, hitting and jumping, I was very very tired. My shirt was soaked with my sweat. But it does feel good. At least I felt I have done something healthy.

Then I went on to have sumptuous lunch - porridge fire wok with my Malaysia most popular sport kaki. Yeap, nothing beat a good meal after exercising I tell you. I ate and I ate. All of us are so full that we felt guilty right after that. It seems like the hard work of running, hitting and jumping has gone down the drain.

After the sumptuous lunch, I went to pick up my small small old old cheap cheap but tough tough vehicle. To my shock, the mechanics still have not serviced my small small old old cheap cheap but tough tough vehicle. This is like after 5 hours can. This is so unacceptable. I have to cancel the service as I need to go back to the office. This really spoiled everything and I have to make another appointment. I am not happy. My small small old old cheap cheap but tough tough vehicle is not happy either.

relax? ticklish

After we have completed our assignment on our oversea trip, few of us decided to relax and unwind at this looks 5 star spa hotel.

After negotiating for time and package, we all went our separate room for the massage service. This is my second massage. I did once like 5 years ago when I went to our neighbor country up north for a short holiday.

Compare this time and the last time I went for massage, I was definitely more prepared this time. I was determined not to get embarrassed again this time because of the ticklish sensation. I couldn't help but giggling every time I was being "touch", the tights, the stomach, the neck, well it was really embarrassing. It was more embarrassing when I was called "baby" and the masseur kept saying "Baby don't laugh, baby don't laugh"

Having that experience in mind, I went in the small chamber with a. The masseur was a sweet girl... I was happy. After I changed to this disposable undy, and pretty much see through, I let the masseur does her thing. She started with the right leg. She started with the toes and started to move upward. I was lucky I think. Oi... not that kind of lucky can. I was lucky because my face was facing downward. When she massaged my right tight, I started to chuckle laaaa. Luckily I was able to control it and I am sure she didn't notice that I was giggling. Steady I must say!

After she has done with my back, she started to massage the front. Oh no... There's nothing to cover my face already. Everything seemed fine up until my upper body. Aiyooo I tell you... very very ticklish can!!!!! I was no choice but bust out a laugh. Seeing me giggle, she smiled back. So embarrassing I tell you.

The whole session lasted about 1.5 hours. It was really relaxing. Although kind of embarrassing on my part, but I felt rejuvenate after that. Will I be going back there? Well you bet I will. And I am really determined not to embarrass myself!! And who knows, maybe I'll be ready for the Turkish bath one day...

The girls are back

To my surprise, the reality show hosted by Tyra Banks was back on Astro. After season finale of Ghost whisperer, I am glad that my Monday night is back to action. Well, not really action’s action, but I am happy that I will be looking forward to Monday night again.

The great dutch painter

Yesterday marked the 400th birthday of one of the greatest painters of all time, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15, 1606 – October 4, 1669).

You must be wondering how come I know this painter. I took the Introduction to Art class in fall 1996. It was one of those classes that you choose to take because you heard from your seniors that you can pass easily.

It turned out to be quite and enlightening class for me. Although I cannot remember much from that class, there are a few names that I am able to remember even now: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Rafael and Rembrandt.

I believed the fact that the Rembrandts, the band who sang the Friends' theme song chooses the same name as Rembrandt made me paid extra attention in class.

Queueing

While onboard a plane for my oversea business trip, I came across an interesting article. This article talks about how bad luck keeps falling into you. Particularly the most interesting staff was how he was always queue at the wrong line.

While I was reading it, I keep nodding my head. I can't agree more. In fact I just experienced it again this morning while waiting in line to get my movie ticket. There I was waiting at the cinema ticketing area. I tried to observe a little while before deciding on the line I should join in. After few minutes of scrutinizing the lines, I decided to join this particular line as it seemed to be moving quite reasonably and that the queue seemed to be the shortest. Happy with my decision I waited patiently in line. Just as I joined the queue, the unthinkable thing happened. The line stopped moving!!!! It stopped for at least 10 minutes (seemed eternity). Nothing was moving but the other two lines.

I was getting desperate inside. I was struggling whether I should jump to the other moving lines. As I was thinking, more and more people joined the other lines. Seeing no choice, I stayed put on my line, waited patiently. The decision seemed fatal when I saw people came and went off in front of my eyes.

This really sux can...

Getting bored...

I am always willing to give my all to the work I am doing. Although I might not be the best person for the job, you can be rest assured that I will give my all. A wise bold man once told me, don't just think that you are working for the company, but rather to think that you are working for yourself. That's how you learn and how you grow as an individual.

Well, it make perfection sense. Most of the time. If the situation is not complex and there are no other variables affecting the contents, then everything will be fine. When the money you earned is not enough, the situation gets a bit more complicated. When you do not get along with you colleages, the situation gets more complicated. When your hard work does not follow with appreciation, the situation gets very very complicated.

Sometimes I am wondering whether I have worked too hard? and my best is just not good enough... this is definitely not very motivating.

Rushing...

After returning from my very first business trip, I was flying off again to the same place in a span of less than two weeks.

Before this, I always wonder how it feels like to be able to attend oversea business trip regularly... Now that I am in such situation, I can seriously tell you that it is not as glamorous as I thought.

Everything is in such a rush. I was told about the trip after lunch. Then immediately I have to fix and test a bug. After the bug was fixed and tested successfully, I have to rush out to get a Malaysian copy CD to be brought over to the client site. Then I was expected to go back to the office and test the new deployment. Finally I have to burn CDs with all the necessary information for me to bring over to do my work.

After rushing this and that in the office, I still find myself rushing things at home. I was trying to pay online bills and credit cards debts in order to keep myself away from embarrassment if I need to use my credit cards during the trip. After that I have to do my packing. Now, how do you pack your bag if you do not know how many days you will be away? It was a bit tricky for me. If I packed too few I might find myself wearing the same clothes over and over again. If I packed too many clothing then I might face teasing from my colleague for taking too much. You know, colleagues can be very cruel sometimes ok!!!!

After everything is in placed, I only got about 5 hours of sleep before rushing to the airport to catch the early flight.

Life is strange

Life is strange. Life is unpredictable. Life is perplexing.

Could it be the aura surrounding people that making thing so complicated? Is it due to the birthday date or the position of the planet surrounding your birth that is making life so complicated?

Although we are in the same project team, I do not have much contact with this person. I believe I have never spoken much about this person to any other person I know. In other words, this person is just a colleague and nothing more.

Yet, time after time, I find this person just being plain nasty. I tried to be nice, and this person will give harsh comments. I tried to reason with this person and this person will get frustrated and refused to at least digest what I have to say. I try to start small talk with this person and this person would just give me the "couldn't be bother" attitude.

It is getting more and more frustrated and difficult to work along with this person. I am blaming the star sign, the birth planet and the human aura for this condition I am in... as I can't figure out a single clue of what's going on here...

my first business trip

After working for about a decade, I finally got my first oversea assignment. Although this is not my first business engagement oversea, this time is really about work. It used to be just attending training before this.

Am I excited? Well, to be frank, I wasn't. I was there to interview potential candidate to work in our country and to solve some technical issues on the system I was building. As you can imagine, there are a few things at stake here. One thing for sure I won't have the time to snap around the city.

Fortunately all the anxiety diminishes when my colleague who is one crazy and self-proclaim the world most unpredictable person keep sms me asking me to bring my camera and swimming trunk. I guess sometimes it is good to be less uptight and be more relax. And towards the end, I found myself getting more excited as I was doing my packing.

The trip lasted for 4 days. I am happy that I survived the trip. Another Triumph!!! Thanks to the great accommodation and "nice" colleagues, I must say my first oversea business trip was pretty interesting.