Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Reflections
I'm trying to be more socially aware around people now. It is not easy for me at first, but I am trying. It is very heartening when friends notice and acknowledge that. I do think that things are changing for the better, slowly, one step at a time.
I'm not sure why, but I am having trouble forming coherent thoughts recently. I think it is most likely due to the stress I have in my life now. I'm trying to cope with the amount of resources I have. Sometimes I wished I have more within me, and do not just have to be at the receiving end most of the time.
Sometimes I cannot help but distance myself from people because I think I cannot give as much as they can to me. However, I've learnt to let go and stop comparing myself with other people. Old habits die hard. I try to focus on the moment and enjoy the company. I feel so privileged to have everything I have now in my life. But that is not enough - I must act upon it. I should do more to express and show this feeling of gratitude to others.
I used to think I know about how to approach life - as what people usually say: be strong, do not give up, etc etc. However, when it comes to actually doing it, it really isn't as easy as what people think it should be.
At some point, everyone will go through tough times. The key is to remain positive and optimistic even in the face of challenges. I saw a quote today:
I am grateful that I am given this opportunity to be in this situation - and I hope good things come out of it. I am my worst enemy - and I will not give up fighting.
Thank you everyone for being a part of my life!
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Life
Things are going okay for me. Have been in Singapore for almost 9 months now, experiencing the life of a working man.
At the intersection between working and studying life. Have been taking language classes after work, going back to Malaysia every other weekend, and generally trying to fill my life up with things to do. It has been really enjoyable, although this is going to end soon for a new life phase coming up ahead.
A big transitional year for me. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Where to study, what to do next, what to look out for and plan ahead.
Enjoying the new found freedom, with the occasional sting of loneliness. I think this is an unavoidable part of us human beings, and I think I have learnt to deal with it much better than before.
A lot has happened recently. I've getting to know myself a lot better, and about life in general. I realised my weaknesses, and how it has affected others. I'll try my best to improve. Sorry if I have not been a good friend in the past.
Life is such an amazing thing to discover. There are so many aspects to it that we will never learn it all. There is no time to waste. Start now. Live. Laugh. Love.
Friday, 20 August 2010
真情流露
原来,爱的力量可以这么强大。
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Recap
To recap on 2nd year, it was really one hell of a journey. Now when I look back, I had mixed feelings - felt phobic and nostalgic at the same time. Let's see how much I can recall.
Start of the academic year. Had my spirits high only to be dampened by the incoming workload, steadily increasing as time passes. Nevertheless, had a fun start to the term with a weekend trip to Oslo, Norway. Love that place. Just cant seem to get enough of travelling. Everywhere I go, there are always new things to be discovered.
However, weather was pretty cold despite me being there in October. Had no idea why so many people made trips there last winter. After me, so many friends when there in winter. Ian told me he couldn't feel his feet and had to beat it to make sure its still there =_=
Start of our Mechanics Design Project. Totally clueless on what to do at the beginning and came out with many random and useless ideas. Was stuck with no proper design in mind right until before the start of the Christmas Holidays.
Germany and Poland Trip. Was really looking forward to this one as its my trip with Premnaath! Has been so long since I've met my fellow secondary classmate. We sat together in class in Form 4. Still remember him dozing off with his pen drawing on his Physics Notes duing Puan Goh Chee Peng's class. LOL.
Munich was white and the town hall was really pretty.
The Christmas markets were also colourful and cosy.
Met Yi En in Stuttgart. Spent Christmas with a bunch of fellow Malaysians who were friends of Yi En. First time baking a chocolate cake too!
Poland was, well, really a new type of country I've been. Its gives a sad feeling with its horrible past. People stare at us because we were Asians. According to Premnaath, they dislike foreigners in their land because it was the foreigners who made what their land look like today. Warsaw was almost 90% destroyed in World War 2. Really sad and tragic place.
Warsaw had a wedding cake - a gift from Russia to well remind them of what happened in World War 2. The older generation really hate the building.
Zakopane is awesome! A cosy little town with skiing resorts and Christmas markets - I just love the atmophere there. Really dont mind retiring there though. Just only the language barrier that matters.
Oh, and I must thank Premnaath for being my translator over there! His Polish is amazing lah. I only know how to say "Jinkuya" (don't think its the correct spelling) when I see people all the time. LOL.
End of holidays and start of the term. I guess I was just lost in my academic work during that period. Can't really recall much as my daily life has been going to lectures, doing the Mechanics Design Project and attending Japanese lessons.
Japanese lessons were like a haven for me during the tough times. It was sort of my source of entertainment/relaxation at the same time a place to venture deeper into a new culture. I realised how much I love Japanese culture. I love their healthy food, their polite demanour, their work ethics. I love the beautiful scenery and places they have, their technology, and them taking pride in the culture they have - anime, manga, otaku etc.
For this I must also thank Miwa sensei for her teaching - it was one of the best tutors I have ever had. Ever friendly and cheerful, and never failing to answer any queries I have. Made me amazed and interested in Japanese language at the same time.
I hope I wont fail you, I can still remember some of the things learnt! :p
Mechanics Design Project was the highlight of 2nd year. For my group we were assigned to design an artificial knee, mainly for landmine victims in Manipal, India. It was something I had not done before - coming up with a design and actually manufacturing and testing it. Special thanks to Marcello, Tazeen, Kavitha who had made so much contributions to the group. It was really fun to work with you all and I am really proud with our work. As proven, we won the design project prize! Let's hope the patent can go through.
Still remember the days which I spent hours on SolidWorks, editing tables in the report, doing animations for our design, attending countless meetings throughout the week. It was really both phoobic and nostalgic at the same time. Now when I look back, it was really bitter-sweet - but I didn't regret it.
Spain and Portugal Trip with Edmund. This was one of the trips that I enjoyed the most. It was only the 2 of us - we could go anywhere and do whatever we wanted, and we pretty much did.
Barcelona was an amazing city. I just don't know how to put my love for the city in words. Let the picture do the talking.
Las Ramblas, the main tourist street (something like Jonker walk in Melaka)
Port Vell and the amazing beaches - and lying on the lazy chair for free only to be told off by the guards! :P
Plaza Catalunya - my FAVOURITE spot in Spain. Birds flying around and towards the people ready with food, people relaxing, couples kissing, teenagers showing off their skateboarding skills, young children with ice-cream running around.
Madrid was pretty much a city like London - busy people walking without a second look, and nothing much to do.
Gran Via - the heartbeat of Madrid's night life.
Portugal was also pretty awesome.
Portuguese egg tarts which is something very different - I felt out of this world when I tried it - it was just something I had not tried before - really really good.
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Malaysian Night 2010!
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Malaysian Night 2010
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Singapore-London
Flew from Changi Airport, transiting at Dubai, and then to London. Feels nostalgic because it reminds me of how I departed the first time of London, especially at Heathrow, the corridor where I first walked past, the customs, everything looked the same, just that I was not lining up at the first-time students queue anymore. Gosh, how time passes by.
Bumped into Kenneth when I alighted at Earls Court Tube Station. Found my way to our new place. My room was still empty! Thanks Kenneth for helping me move my things from the senior's place to our flat! Really appreciate it.
Moved furniture and cleaned my room for the whole of Sunday. I practically assembled my room from scratch!
I was so happy with the new place. It's strategically located next to Earls Court, where all the food are found, and also 5 minutes away from the Sainsbury that I always shopped at. I used to walk 20 minutes carrying heavy groceries back to my hall, and now it feels great to be able to save the trouble.
South Kensington is really dead, now I have seen Earls Court. No food, no stores, nothing. No wonder I used to have a bad impression of UK food. Not anymore! Maybe I can even stay near to Chinatown/Oxford Street next year!
The construction of Eastside hall is completed. Reminds me of the days where the construction noise wakes me up for the day to get ready for school. No need for alarm clock. Now my room faces a backyard, which gets creepily quiet at the night. Nevertheless, I enjoy this. Peace and quiet has always been my thing.
A fresh start of the term greets me with newly refurbished lecture theatre RSM2.28, which is now much brighter, yay, but lower seats, which make a tall guy's back ache everytime after a lecture. LOL
Lectures are geting tougher by the year, and I just got my Mechanics Deisgn Project, which is to design a transfemoral prosthesis aka artificial knee for amputated victims in India. One of the more interesting modules of the year.
However, the thing that keeps me looking forward everyday is Japanese lessons! Its the most fun, most interesting, and most awake lecture I have ever had! I managed to learn to read and write Hiragana so far, but there is still so much more to learn! So exciting! Asian/Oriental stuff appeals to me more, as usual. ^^
Sometimes I think whether I made the right choice by going into chim chim sciences/engineering stuff. I feel like I am losing my interest in Science when it comes to abstract ideas like modern physics or computing protocols. I used to love Science/Math so much in A-Levels, its the simplicity and the ability for me to relate them in daily life thats sustains my interest in all these subjects. Now Japanese is the one doing it.
There is something dampening my interest in learning what is being taught. Is it the university education system ? Or the British education system? Or the lecturers' accents which I sometimes find hard to understand? Or the abstract content? I really dont know.
On another note, Hanyang, YiJet, Ting Yu and me went to Oslo, Norway during the 2nd weekend! No one cant resist the temptation of a 16pound return flight to Oslo, so I skipped my last Solid Mechanics tutorial on Friday, just for the trip. Will post more pictures up soon!
Friday, 11 September 2009
Looking Back
Learning to use a whole new programming language to write brain programs for the lab is actually quite an achievement.
Going through thousands of data to derive statistical models for future reference is actually quite meaningful.
Having crazy lunch partners talking about random things and ocassional *censored* topics is actually quite fun.
Squeezing myself into packed sardin MRT trains every morning, listening to the humours of morning DJs and observing the daily busy-fast-paced-solemn-tired-face-hectic life of working Singaporeans is actually quite interesting.
Feeding the head with another kind of working experience is worthwhile. Life is all about lifelong learning!
1 week left to the end of my internship. School, Hospital, Working Office and now Research Laboratory. What's next?
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
1Malaysia
Monday, 10 August 2009
Take a look at the following two scenarios which were spectacularly contradictory to each other:
Scenario 1: Prime Minister Najib Razak’s wife Rosmah Mansor put up a stellar performance in a charity dinner that helped to raise RM 2.3 million for a Chinese primary school in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur on Aug 6. Rosmah not only serenaded the audience with a popular Mandarin song (which alone netted RM 200,000), her group of ministers’ wives gave rendition to four songs each in a different language - Mandarin, English, Malay and Tamil - to give full expressions to her husband’s ‘lMalaysia’ motto. She heaped praise on the Chinese community for their unfailing generosity to support Chinese education and urged other communities to follow suit in the spirit of ‘1Malaysia’.
Scenario 2: Almost at the same, mass circulated Malay paper Utusan Malaysia, which is UMNO’s mouthpiece, spat racial fire through an incendiary article. Writing under the title ‘Melayu jangan jadi bacul’ (Malays, don’t be cowards) on Aug 4, journalist Noor Azam accused the Chinese and Indians of wanting to “destroy Malay political power held by UMNO since independence” with the help of Anwar Ibrahim and PAS. This supposed power grab was pursued with Chinese-dominated DAP manipulating the Malay leaders in Pakatan Rakyat. The writer further claimed that “The attacks and the hatred shown by the opposition and Chinese and Indian political activists towards the Malays have worsened”. To goad the Malays into action, he even went to the extent of calling them ‘cowards’, saying “The Malay race has become stupid cowards, and people who are cowards will die before even their deaths.”
Such bare-faced incitement of racial hatred and racial clash should have landed the writer in lock-up and the newspaper’s licence revoked under Malaysia’s repressive laws, particularly if they are on the other side of the political divide, but Noor Azam and Utusan Malaysia not only escaped untouched, but had the honour of being defended by none other than the UMNO’s Deputy President and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin who ridiculously and inexplicably blamed the opposition for causing such heightening of racial temperature. That Noor’s racist blast bears the stamp of UMNO’s policy is unmistakable.
The objectives of this two-pronged strategy are obvious. Strategy 1 (Scenario 1) is meant to coax the return of Chinese and Indian votes which had exited the BN pen in a mass exodus in the 8 Mar 08 elections. And Strategy 2 (Scenario 2) is geared towards splitting the opposition and re-uniting the Malay electorate under the UMNO canopy by appealing to the primordial instincts of race and religion through pressing the panic buttons of lies and deceit, of which the nonsense of Scenario 2 is typical.
This explains why Najib’s new measures are mostly ad-hoc, piecemeal, populist and election-centred – every move calculated for electoral gains.
My Personal Opinion
I don't usually like to talk about politics, but looking at these depressing Malaysian news like the article above almost everyday, I would also like to share my perspective regarding this matter.
Let me bring in the concept of the "invisible hand" by Adam Smith, which I strongly believe in. Things work naturally to bring maximum benefit to society.
In ecology - the prey-predator mechanism maintains the balance of the ecosystem.
In metaphysics - there are attractive and repulsive forces balancing each other in the most fundamental level of matter.
In economics - the "invisible hand" drives the demand and supply of a free market to achieve optimal price and quantity.
The biggest problem now lies in the fact that the affirmative action policy of Malaysia is resisting the natural tendency of this "invisible hand" to drive Malaysia's economy to greater heights.
In investment - companies listed in the KLSE must find bumiputeras taking up a minimum 30% of equity under this policy, driving away foreign investors and funds, resulting in reduced foreign investment.
In education - this affirmative action policy is draining away local talent by having quota on public tertiary education and scholarship opportunities, lowering the standards of education (e.g. poor command of English, the Science and Math issue), increasing unemployment rate etc etc etc.
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad has bemoaned the extreme reliance of Bumiputras on their privileges. Of course he has to say it nicely to the people first, and he couldn't remove this policy right away, otherwise he wont get to say it again after the next general election, you know.
THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
Do the leaders truly want progress for our nation, or remain popular among the people and continue to stay in office?
Thanks to this policy, the mentality of being complacent and taking-for-granted-because-the-government-will-give-me-what-I-want is already deep rooted among the people today. And the Prime Minister is having a hard time dealing with this mess. I am not sure if beliau is really trying, but based on the article I just saw above, I am quite convinced that it is more towards rallying support from the people and prevent the repeat of the 08/03/08 election loss. Ever wondered where will Malaysia be heading to in the future? Now you know. Quite sad huh.
As what I have learnt to write as conclusion for my Economic essays on free trade - "Protectionism may be necessary to let infant industries grow amidst a crowd of economic giants, but may breed inefficiency and complacency in the long run."
OK, now let me rephrase:
The affirmative action policy may be necessary to help the bumiputeras escape poverty during the post-independence era in the 1960s, but it is breeding inefficiency and complacency in the long run, which is NOW, TODAY, SEKARANG. With news like Anwar, Teoh Beng Hock and the ISA, YO, the people up there, can you see the current situation already? @_@
Please, for optimal benefit for the people, the economy and the nation, just scrape it.
Just my two cents worth. What do you think?
Saturday, 8 August 2009
新加坡
My favourite national theme songs of all times.
龚诗嘉 - My Island Home/幸福的图形
孙燕姿 - One United People/全心全意
Monday, 3 August 2009
成长

我发现在工作界高层的人士一般都不比平凡的打工仔生活得开心。反而在剧中的家庭主妇们最真实,不假作,有话直说,虽然对一些人来说会显得很粗俗,不太雅观,但这是我佩服她们的一点。
随着岁月的流逝,随着时间的推移,我们一天一天的长大,慢慢地成熟懂事,但我觉得我们已渐渐失去一样东西,那就是纯真。我们开始接触社会,看到它真实的一面,in response 就得跟着社会的某种方式行事。我们一定要上学读书,做工赚钱,建立家庭, 这是society 对我们的expectations。
人懂得东西越多,想要的也就更多,因为人的心总是不会满足的。这就是人的本性。我们总是提醒自己做人一定要知足,一定要珍惜身旁所拥有的一切,因为我们是不会自动这样子想的。虽然是个很悲观的想法,但我觉得这就是事实。
有时候,没有学问的人讲起话来会比我们读书人讲得更有道理,因为他们单纯的思想点到了许多人生的道德观念,反而我们被社会的许多东西(金钱,地位,名誉等)模糊了眼睛。
我真的希望能够回到以前小时天真无邪,无忧无虑的生活。我要求的只是一个简单、平凡、快乐的生活。为什么一定要跟着社会的步伐走呢?
Saturday, 1 August 2009
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Highlights of Holland and Belgium
Capital of the Netherlands. Dirty, dodgy, nasty, messy - all the bad things you can think of. They have Coffee Shops - which sells drugs by the way, Cannabis College, Marijuana plant shops, sex shops, live prostitute displays at the Red Light District - the Geylang of Singapore, or Soho of London. Why is it that prostitution and Chinatown are always side by side?! Same goes for London and KL. So the name 红灯区originates here in Amsterdam, although only the ones in Amsterdams really have red lights.
Pee deflectors - set up at "attractive corners to the drunkards for peeing at night" to prevent them from dirtying the town. They get the pee all over them instead.
Well I wasnt brave enough to try the muffin (with marijuana!) sold the the Coffee Shops, but according to Junyi he had a really bad headache the next day after eating it. He was supposed to get HIGH but didnt happen. LOL
We rented bikes and cycle to see Amsterdam - passing by a Windmill, a Jewish ghetto, the Heineken beer factory, many canals and also the big words "I AMSTERDAM". Nice experience!
Scheveningen Pier - a windy beach facing the North Sea. It was freezing cold!
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
もう一つの氷輪丸
Although the plot seemed pretty clichéd like a typical anime storyline, the action and graphics were awesome! This movie just reignited my long-lost interest in Bleach, right in the middle of my final exams @_@
Anyway, the Humanities Department just offered me to take up Japanese in Year 2! I'm so gonna learn what this blog title means. I know there's a 1 there and is that 氷water?
What an irony - ever since I came to London, I have been working on every language - Cantonese, Chinese's Chinese, Malay, Japanese etc except English. "Cheers mate!" or "How is it going dude?" just doesn't appeal to me lah, you know. I guess Asian culture is deep rooted in me after all.
Just my opinion - I just can't seem to find much beauty in English. Which explains why i blog mostly in Chinese. Personally, I think Chinese is a very "feeling" language, full of 名句精华 or 优美字句 expressing emotions with elegance. Cantonese and Japanese sound polite too, Malay can also berpantun-puisi-syair-whatever. English, on the other hand, is a "oh-so-i-need-to-make-you-understand-what I'm-trying-to-say" language, used in everyday life in banking and commerce, science and technology etc.
Maybe I'm being biased because I'm not from an English background (but I'm in London now!) but I think each language has its effectiveness and limitations. English is not effective in expressing our truest and deepest emotions, and similarly Chinese is not suited for things like scientific terms (try the Periodic Table!) or names of non-Chinese people. Hah, let me test you! What's Arnold Schwarzenegger or Tōshirō Hitsugaya in Chinese? (Hint: Scroll upwards)
Right now, I would rather memorise the names of the 13 Bleach Captains and Vice Captains than study for my next paper =_=
Monday, 11 May 2009
Sunday, 10 May 2009
母亲
妈,祝妳母亲节快乐!
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最近从电台听到了一位听众为她母亲送上的祝福语:
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我没钱买按摩椅,但我可以当妳的按摩椅。
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好温馨的一句话,我也把它送给妳!
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我好想念和妳谈天的时候,看妳喝guiness喝红脸high的样子,我们聊啊聊啊就聊了一整晚。
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我好想念在家帮妳做家务的时候,有时还站在厨房看妳炒菜。我这一次回去要拜你为师,毕竟我在这里自己做饭的技巧也真够烂!
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我好想念我开车妳在旁边 ngi ngi ngo ngo 的时候,有一次差点“动”到另一辆车,和妳闹翻脸,也差点把妳弄哭了。
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每次有烦恼或不愉快的时候,妳总是当我的出气筒。
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我:“我每次有事就complain给妳听,妳会不会听到sian啊?”
妳:“只要听到你投诉给我听,我就知道你没事啦。”
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每次即将面临紧张重要大事,妳总是当我的护身符。
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我:“我明天有面试咯。”
妳:“我等下回向给你。”
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妳总是在我背后默默地支持我,祝福我,看着我逐渐长大。
没有妳,就没有我。
我真的好想好想快点回家见妳!
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妈,我爱妳。
介绍
看了好几位朋友的blog,被他们所写的一些文章打动了,觉得把人生所经历过的点点滴滴记载下来,的确是个很不错的idea。我也想要分享我对人生的看法,我这一生的所见所闻。
又开始对写作提起兴趣了。
各位,拭目以待吧!


