Chap Goh Meh

I've never attended any tossing-of-mandarin-oranges event before.

Back in those days, single maidens threw the mandarin oranges into the river, on the 15th day of the lunar new year, hoping that the gentleman who scoops them up, some where along the river, would be destined to be their future husband. These days, we find our own destiny. Single women write their names and contact numbers onto the mandarin oranges and throw them in the direction of the men of their choice. The men would eventually scoop them up, hoping that the woman that they called would be on the good looking side. Even if they didn't end up as lovers, they would still be friends.

This year, out of curiosity (and no, it's not out of desperation), I've attended one of those events at the nearby lake. It was full of people. Lovers enjoying the roses and the heart-shaped balloons. Friends enjoying the food stalls, the games and the wishing candles. Families were just there for the fun and the atmosphere.

The most crowded place was definitely the fountain side, where they had a stage for performances, lion dance shows and games. And so I jostled my way to the front of the lake to participate in the event. I'd planned to toss a few oranges, with my number on them, into the fountain and wait for some guy to scoop them up and contact me. Just like the age old culture, but with a modern twist.

What a disappointment it turned out to be. Entirely not the scene that I thought it would be. First, not many oranges were being tossed into the fountain. And I can clearly see why. The men were not outside of the fountain scooping them. They were in the fountain, picking them up. And the ones that went in were mostly middle-aged men, with huge bellies and their hair dyed gold. Second, they brought huge sacks with them to collect the oranges. For resale I presume. And thirdly, not only were oranges being tossed into the fountain, bananas were being tossed as well. Oranges representing females, bananas representing males. The concept was so wrong and it was a total eyesore.

If you'd want to know, I didn't toss my oranges in. This would be my first and my last time attending such an event. Enough for me.

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Privileged

A friend and I wanted to watch this blockbuster movie. Drove ourselves to Mid Valley Megamall on what alot others considered a holiday still. Arrived to find out the cinema hall was jam packed with people. The queue at both the ticket counter and the food counter was snake-long, which was not an unusual sight at the Mid Valley cinema halls. It seemed impossible to catch the next immediate screening as we had decided on a rather last minute.

But, thanks to a certain benefit entitled, we were able to walk straight up to the ticket counter and got our tickets purchased in a few minutes. It was the same treatment at the food counter. No queue. No cash involved. Good service. Left the rest of the crowd starring in envy as we would've already be seated in the designated cinema with the popcorns and sodas, while they have not even moved an inch. 

Sounds like an ad right? Well, it's not an ad and you'd get the very same treatment if you'd had one of these:

Yeaps. The GSC-EON credit card. Only applicable at Golden Screen Cinemas. Not only are there specific counters for GSC-EON cardholders only, the counters are even laid with red carpets. All you got to do is walk right up, skip all the queue, flash the card and you'd get what you want. Well, literally. Plus, there's a 60% off for every ticket purchase! For more details, please look out for their sales rep at GSC cinemas. I don't want to look like I'm selling the cards for them.

For avid movie-goers like myself, it is so much more convenient. I'm a "VIP" at GSC now. Feels like star with preferential treatments. Just like the ad for the card. Hah!

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Year of the Rabbit

Going oriental in the year of the bunny

By living in the city, we never really did got the real feel of celebrating chinese new year. Even more so when there are not many elders around to tell you what you should do and what you shouldn't. The basic stuffs would be just not to sweep on the first day, not to wear black, get the titbits ready and put on something red around the house. Even the reunion dinner was held outside, as oppose to preparing them and having everyone gathered around the dining table. Tradition is obviously fading little by little in urban families.

To be honest, I've never put on a cheongsam before. So it does feel good to be a little traditional amidst all the jeans and dresses. Feels more like chinese new year. It does bring compliments from the more elderly aunties and uncles. :)

And once again this year, we've found out that we had 'additional' relatives. A distant cousin and her family whom we've never met before. I have another 30 year old nephew. And we said nothing more than a "Hello, Happy New Year".

So, Gong Xi Fatt Chai. May the new year brings prosperity and happiness to everyone. Have a great year ahead!

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Spontaneity

Quit the job. Pack the bag. Bring the passport and the credit cards. Hop onto the next flight. Touch down at some foreign land. Stay on for a month. Hop onto another flight. And land on another foreign land.

No worries about finances. No worries about danger. No worries about shelter. No worries about health. No worries about family. No worries about naggings. No worries about natural disasters. No worries about loneliness. No worries about meals. No worries about missing something behind. No worries about anything. Just me and the world.

See the sights. Hear the sounds. Feel the people. Blend into the culture.

When will I have the guts to leave it all behind and head for something like this? The life with anonymity. The life of adventure.

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Salesmen

We were approached by this salesperson at our regular food joint one afternoon. We were having lunch and the bugger was pestering us all the way. What was he selling? The most common of them all and something that all of us already has, which we do not want another extra. Yeaps. You got it right. Credit cards.

He was selling and selling. He is a good one, I must say. He didn't paused from the moment he started with, "Hi miss, we would like to offer you this credit card...". Before he could even finish his sentence, we were already shaking our heads and mutterred "No, thanks." All of us basically knew what he was going to say next. And since we have no intention to sign up for another one, it's best just to save his efforts on us.Yet, he didn't give up.

"But this is a new design where it is very eye-catching. "
"We already have a few of eye-catching ones...."

"If you sign up, we will immediatelu upgrade you to platinum status."
"We are already platinum cardholders..."

"We can increase your limit to RM21,000."
"Our limit is already RM21,000. How much further can you increase?"

"But you'll enjoy more discounts at our selected outlets"
"We have so many cards. We are already enjoying alot of discounts at alot of places. How much more discounts can you offer? 70%? 90%?"

"For our promotional period now, we give out free pendrives immediately on sign up"
"We have tonnes of pendrives. We don't need another one."

Sometimes, a little white lie does benefit all parties. Seriously, since we are obviously not interested, it's better to hint him to leave us alone and sell his credit card to someone else who might be interested. But yet, he still wouldn't give up. Giving it one last try....

"But then, for our card, it doesn't matter if you don't fully pay your outstanding bills...."

I thought I heard him wrong. "What? Don't need to settle in full? Are you sure? If the bank claims from me, can I mention to them that YOU promised me that I don't need to settle?"

Realising that he had said something wrong, he smiled and quickly excused himself to target the next table.

Salesmen. Capable of promising you just about anything in order to meet their quotas. I enjoy letting them down. It's absolute fun.

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'Dancing' in the rain

It was raining. I was in the office, preparing an urgent letter to be signed by the boss. Letter prepared. I walked to the boss's room, knocked on the door, got a nod from the boss and walked in.

"Mr X, here's the letter. Your signature required."

Boss took the letter, read through it, looked at me, signed the letter and smiled at me. I raised an eyebrow, indicating to the boss on what the smile was all about. Cause if there was something wrong with the letter, he wouldn't have signed it.

"Why do you always seem like dancing whenever you walked in?"

"Huuh, did I? Didn't notice."

"Yea. Seemed to be a little playful."

"Ohh, it's just the way I walk. And to create a more relaxed atmosphere."

"Hahahaha....be more proper when the big shots are in."

"Yess boss."

I walked back out of the room. Was I dancing when I walked? Perhaps I did. Recalled that a previous manager had commented a few years back that I used to skip when I walk. And another comment from a junior a long time ago that I jump when I walk. Alright now, seems that all kinds of words have used to describe the way I walk. History has repeated.

Oh well, I guess it's in my nature to be jolly. But of course, it's with due consideration given to the current position that I'm holding.  =)

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2011 stepped in

New year. New hopes. New resolutions.

May this year bring me favourable surprises!

Meant to post this on the very first day of the year. But due to a string of events, it got delayed. I guess it's not too late now either.

Happy New Year folks!

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Bitter

The one thing I learnt today, is to count on no one but yourself. If you hoped that someone would be there to lend a hand or to save your day, you can keep on hoping. To wait for help to come would be like waiting for rain in a desert. It would be so much better to deal with it on your very own.

They are all so full of lies. Hipocrites on their own being. Families and friends alike. And you can leave those who doesn't fit into the 2 categories, out. They always have this to say, "You can count on me." "You can be rest assured that I always be by your side." "You do not have to worry, for we will always be there for you." Or "Just buzz anytime, we'll always make time for you." Total bullshits!

In times of real trouble, in times of dire need, just how many would be there by your side, holding your hand and guiding you step by step? Just how many would pick that call and come straight to your aid? Face the fact. Humans being humans, are always that self-centred. It's always me, myself and I and no one else.

I will be there if there's something to my benefit. If it's not, then to hell with you. Never mind that I've said that I will always be there for you. Yea, I'll be there alright, if I won't be in a detrimental situation. Who are you for me to waste my time and effort for? So what if you're a family or a friend? In the very end, of course the most important person to me is myself. Not even family. Not even friends. Not even spouses.

The next time you say "You can always count on me", please think long and hard before you say it. If you can't keep the promise, please don't make a dumbass fool out of yourselves.

Yes, I am very bitter here today. Cause I got sick of those phrases, which I fell for all these while. To start of my first new year's resolution, I will count on myself from now on. And I won't be sorry for being self-centred.

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Dear Santa,

It's the time of the year again, where your mailbox is full of letters of wishes. As with the rest of the world, I would be of no exception in dropping my wish to your mailbox this year as well.

This year, Santa, I wish........for all the blessings that had been bestowed upon me, to not be taken away. I am grateful for all that I have. Santa, that's all I want for Christmas this year.

Merry Christmas!

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Fast & Furious

If you want me to slow down and do one thing at a time, I won't be able to. Not only the circumstances doesn't allow it, I am just somehow not associated with the term "slow and steady". I have been taught to be "fast and furious", and that's what I have been doing lately. Being fast....and very furious.

I have these messages laid on my desk for the past week. It was the same caller, who left messages each day to my staff when he couldn't reach me, reminding me to return his call. It's not that I was avoiding him or that the messages slipped my mind. Each time I looked at the messages, I just couldn't get the chance nor the time to ring him back. Guilty.

Like a race car drifting down from a hill, I have been "drifting" in and out from one agenda to the next. Discussion with the programmer to improve the existing system. Meeting with boss to set the prices of a new service. Meeting with a vendor to renew a contract. Meeting with a service provider on a fee settlement issue. Meeting with the consultants on the ISO project. Initiating and coordinating a new team in conjuction with the same ISO project. Providing counselling to problematic staffs. Draft the terms of another new agreement. Complete the annual staff appraisals. Research on some tax issues which was raised by the boss. Tighten up the controls on certain areas and to re-educate the relevant staffs. Solving the issues of the other departments. And the list goes on....

Finally, when no one was knocking on my door and that all emails have been addressed, there came the call from the banker for some urgent information. Or the call from the lawyer for some updates. Or the call from the insurance agent. Or the call from the next department asking for some references. Or the calls from ex-colleagues for technical advices.

While I was "zoom"-ing in and out to get things done, there are people who doesn't move on the same pace that I am, which could be very very very frustrating. Reports required not submitted to me on time. Previous agreements could not be found. Appointments not arranged. Policies were not read. Relevant approvals not obtained. Instructions not conveyed to junior levels. Letters passed to me at the very last minute.

Just like on the hill, while I'm "drifting" downhill with high speed, there are these balls laying around, stagnant, blocking the way. I've got to kick them in the right direction so that they'll roll out of the way and move on. And not just one kick, I've got to kick them numerous times to keep them up to my pace. When the kicking doesn't work, I've got to start throwing out my temper and raising my voice. Then only they start to move a little. OMG! Really OMG!

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Wimp

"You obviously know that this is not it. You obviously know that your heart is telling you to head some where else. And not only you, those close enough to you is able to tell that you do not want this as well. But yet, you choose to remain where you are. There is no wall in front of you. Nothing is holding you back. There is literally nothing that is stopping you from pursuing your desires. You just can't let it go. You can't bring yourself to lay down all that you've acheived so far. You can't accept what society might perceive of you. By doing so, you are just living the life as in the eyes of others. You are not living the life as the way you see it. A better way to say it is that you are conservative. The harsher way would be that you lack the courage. You didn't dare to opt for a change. You didn't dare to take a detour in life. You didn't dare to gamble your future. You'd rather stay unhappy in your current comfortable position than to pursue a more satisfactory but riskier path. But life is what you make out of it. Life is how you mould it to be. Think about it. And see whether you still want to stay on or move on. There is always a choice. And the choice is always yours to make."

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There's A Place For Us

Of the soundtrack from the latest Narnia installment.

I've never really fancied kiddy movies. Maybe I've grown up over fairy tales and magic. But the movie proved to be rather inspiring - if you apply certain parts of it into reality.

Enjoy!

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CPD

Totally forgotten about my CPDs for the year!

Don't know what it is? It's those points which you've got to accumulate in a year in order to retain that membership to a certain professional body. I need 40 points! Which I've totally forgotten about after I left EY.

So now I've got to cramp 40 points in one month. To be exact, less than a month! Oh boy!

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License to dive

Next year. Armed with an oxygen tank, a wet suit, mask and a pair of fins, I'll be able to experience these marvelous underwater sights. Imagine to be able to swim along side barracudas, hawksbill turtles, eagle rays and scallop hammerhead sharks. And maybe if I'm lucky, I might be able to touch one of them, without losing any part of my body, I hope. Yay! It's scuba diving man! It's gonna be one heck of an experience.Wait for me!

Well, NOT! With just a word from the doctor, I've got to thrash the entire idea into the bin. Along with part of the cost paid. The reason : Scuba diving has health  implications, if you don't do it properly. So, it is unwise to take the risk. Damn! There goes the clown fishes that I was anticipating to play with.

It's one of the top diving spots in the world, with hundreds or maybe thousands of international divers diving in its waters each year. And yet, as a Malaysian, I've been ignorant of its existence until a friend suggested for a trip there. Just as I was getting to know our very own Sipadan Island, the doctor said no. Some luck! So near yet so far.

Thus, as far as I'm concerned, the beauty of Sipadan and all underwater wonders shall forever remain where it is - under the depths of the sea. Undiscovered.

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Changing times

3 years ago, on a night like this, I would have been out partying. 3 years after that, on this night, look what am I doing? Lazying at home staring at the computer screen.

3 years ago, on a night like this, calls would be coming in for dozens of activities which I can't even decide which to go to. 3 years after that, on this night, I've got to make calls to find my own activities and I'd be lucky to even get one.

3 years ago, on a nght like this, most people would be keen to head up to Genting Highlands for a cup of Starbucks in the middle of the night. 3 years after that, on this night, most people woud prefer to hang in front of the TV to catch the latest TV series.

Times have changed. No longer are we gathered in a large group. Some have left the country. Some have gotten married. And the rest are out there busy continuing on down their own paths. It's time we do the same. It's time that I do the same. To carve my own path. And to live the life I want.

I'd like to know what would I be doing 3 years later, on a night like this?

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