People Change vs. People Never Change

We always sprout these two statements when we talk sometimes. So how can these two statements be true? A friend raises this issue in one of my egroup recently. So what do you think? Do people change? Or don't they?



My two cents worth on the issue is this; individuals changed but human don't. Since the beginning of time until Doomsday, there will be murder, greed, jealousy, deceit and all things evil, existing side by side with the good. There will be good individuals and the scum on earth.



Individuals can change, from good to bad and vice versa. And they change for themselves, not for other people. So don’t ever hope someone will change for you. It won’t last if it did not benefit the individuals in any way. If you're married to someone, don't expect them to do or not to do this or that for you. Then you'll end up in disappointment.



So if a husband decided they want to marry another, or keeps a mistress or more, do they change or don’t they? You can look at both perspectives.



1) People never change - a husband is a man and it is men's behavior to want women and in most cases as many as they can have.



2) People do change – you said I’m the only one for you. How can you do this to me? Where are all your promises? The correct answer; go back to 1).

Wow... Big Food... Big Food...

Cute baby fishes fighting for food.... "Wow... big food... big food.. its mine! Mine!! Hahaha... I got here first" (imagine the voice sounds like the husky Smegol's voice hehe...). What other thoughts do you think goes through their mind?

Typical!! Typical!! Typical!!

how it begins: few emails saying how unfair and unethical the politicians are, buying votes here and there, ghost voters, etcetera... etcetera... etcetera...



my email: it saddens me to hear all these but i have to remind myself i don't have any proof. i shouldn't make any judgment based on hearsay. if there is proof, do something about it instead of spreading all these rumours. i'm not saying they can't be true but if people just talk without any action, then the public will get bored with the issue. logic will tell, if it really happens, there must be proof. if there's proof, then action can be taken. right?



more email: the problem with most people is they just don't care. why ask for proof and not look for proof?



my email: everyone in the society has their own function. do you expect me armed with my cheap digital camera to be a spy or a reporter and find proof? but if things happen under our nose, then we should do something about it. if you have proof and don't know where to turn to, why not email them to Jeff Ooi. visit his blog to find out about him and what he stands for.



more email: instead of surfing a Chinese website, why don't you surf Islamic UMNO's and PAS' website.



my email: so typical of most people to zeroed on to the race and religion.

...and I raises hand in exasperation... Sorry to drag you into this Jeff. I thought I'm being helpful to people who feels something not right happening under their nose and want to do something about it. But I learn a very important lesson instead. No matter how intellectual or moderate Muslim they claim they are, most will still see the skin color, race and religion first. This particular second class Bumiputra is very disappointed and don't know what else to say. Why second class? That's another story.



Note: I don't want to ask what the person means by Islamic UMNO's and PAS' website. Its enough I know how he thinks.

Hello Everyone, I'm A Waterholic!

Hello everyone, I'm a waterholic! I have six 500 ml mineral water bottles near my computer table and I can drink all of them in a day. That is 3 liters of water per day and does not include the tea or Milo I have for breakfast and the water taken after meals. With that amount of water consumed, I'd thought I have nothing better to do than run to the loo every hour but that isn't so. With a body frame of about 5.3 feet in height and 115 pounds heavy, I wonder where all the water went. I did not sweat that much either. Who can sweat just by sitting in front of our notebook the whole day? Unless my notebook is absorbing water from my body and that is a scary thought.



Is there such a thing as too much water?



1. Water, Water Everywhere: Too Much to Drink

2. Is it possible to drink too much water?

3. Can you drink too much water?

4. The Dangers of Drinking Too Much Water



This really is frightening. Yes I do feel a bit dizzy sometimes and the day before I suddenly feel limp and lifeless; I only want to lie down and do nothing. But how do I stop drinking too much water when my lips feel dry and my tongue feels so parched as if I haven't drink any water the whole day.

Go Crazy With Quizzes

For an unknown reason, I want to go all crazy with quizzes and more quizzes tonight. So bear with me.





You are the chinese element of Wood. People who are under the element of wood are practical focused and like to learn. Wood, you are a natural leader, but you also like to control a lot, you're never still and especially hate to lose. The color of wood is blue/green and your symbol is the dragon. Spring is the season in which wood shines, and it's months are January/February. Your weather condition is rain. Wood is the direction east, and your day is Thursday, while your planet is Jupiter. Animals under your element are usually scaled. People under you are the Mongols. Your sense is sight, your taste is sour, your sound is calling and your virtue is benevolence. Your organ is the liver. You were created by Water and you control Earth.



Which of the 5 Chinese Elements Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla



My say:



Surprisingly true in some statement.

Rain??!!! The only way I like rain is when I'm not wet. But I do love watching it.

Scaled animal??!!! I hope this refers to the fishes and not the slithering one.

Sour??!!! Hmm.. I do love Tomyam.



OK! Next quiz please...




Your an ice dragon! Congrats! Out of all the dragons, you are most powerful but do not like to show it. A rare and special creture, you have artistic style and are great at expressing yourself. You think friends and Familly are the most important, and are a hopeless romantic. But of course, as ice goes, you can be a little cold or harsh at times. But not to worry, you always apologize later!



What elemental dragon are you?
brought to you by Quizilla



Heh! No comment on this one. Just moment of self-indulgent.

Tired of Endless Election Talk?

Are you tired of the endless election talk? Let's do something relaxing and fun. I do love water. Rivers, seas, waterfalls, ponds and rain (as long as I'm dry :D)





You are the Goddess of Water. You are a very loving, you show your emotions out in the open. You are full of wisdom. Also dreamy... You would rather be sleeping then awake. But are still very happy. You are most inspiration to the other Four Goddesses since without water there wouldn't be life.



Other Water Goddesses: Aphrodite, Isis, Mariamne, Mari, Tiamat, Yemaya, Ran, Kupala



Which of the Four Elemental Goddesses are you?(With Pics)
brought to you by Quizilla

Feeling The Negative Energy

Sometimes, without any reason, we'll feel someone did not like us, or things are not the way it used to be, or someone is queer or has a bad intention on us. How do we react? Do we dismiss the thought thinking we're just being irrational or hallucinating or it's only in our mind? Most motivational books or speakers will tell us to banish all negative thoughts from our mind. It is unproductive and will not get us anywhere. Positive thinking is the way to go for a happier and fulfilling life. I really take it to heart. That is how I've lead my life until a few months ago. My motto in life is "don't do unto people what you don't want people to do unto you". So since I haven't done anything wrong to people (at least intentionally), there is no way people will do bad things to me. I'm a good listener, very discreet and trustworthy with personal secrets. I still am. But something happens to make me review at how I look at life. This is not Utopia. People have personal interest even if we don't.



This is the thought turning event in my life. I have a friend. Well, I thought she's a friend. There are several instances when we met among group of friends that she'll put on her sour face. Instead of thinking up hundreds of possibilities why a friend puts on a dour face, I'll just dismiss it, thinking maybe she's in one of her moods or something bad happen at the office or something. Whatever it is, it has got nothing to do with me of course. How could it be? I haven't done anything wrong to her. Or so I thought. It so happen that she hated me with all her being because of my relationship with a mutual friend, lets name the person X. She's close to X and I'm close to X but we're not exactly very close to each other. I'm OK with the relationship since there may be some things that X is more comfortable talking with her and some things which X prefers to talk to me. And despite having X as a mutual friend, we just don't hit it off with each other. It's normal and very natural in friendship.



However, whenever she has any problem with X, she'll think I told X some bad things about her. In other words, she's blaming me for all her problems with X and I don't even have a clue. She's not satisfied just blaming me; she'll spread her stories to all our friends, bitching about me behind my back. I don't know how to react to my friend's behavior. Not even one speaks a word to me about it. I assume they're thinking of just being the sounding board to her and then forget all about it. It's not their problem anyway. Since I have no clue, I'll be my chirpy self all the time despite her sullenness and she has no choice but to respond to me as if we're OK with each other. This strengthens my believe that she's just in one of her moods. And we live this farce for several months until she has a BIG argument with X, and openly accused me of so many things. I'm perplexed. No one can imagine the hurt I'm feeling. To add salt to the wound, several mutual friends started telling me of all the things she have said behind my back.



So this is what happens when we ignore the negative thought and energy we're feeling. The hatred she feels for me is so strong that I can feel the negative energy vibrating from her. My mind forms question marks many times due to her action but I dismissed them as quickly just as it emerges. Suddenly I feel very naive. How can I think everything is fine when I've received signals that they're not? I am not sure how I've survive living in this world for so long with such naivety. It is mind boggling to me but I've survived. I've learned a very important lesson in the process. Listen to Feel the energy we receive from our surroundings. Sometimes a place makes us feel creepy. Sometimes someone has a way of looking at us that makes us feel uncomfortable. Listen to our subconscious thought. It might be telling us something. It might even save us from being hurt. I'm not saying we should now deposit negative thoughts in our mind all the time. But when we feel the negative energy and as our subconscious mind tries to tell us something, listen to it. Become more aware of the happenings around us and we might be able to protect ourselves from getting hurt too much.

Seksis

Anita Sarawak can always WOW me with her strong vocal and energetic performance. This song makes me feel like one of the Angel girls or the Amazon woman. It gives the don't-you-dare-mess-with-me feeling :)

Artist : Anita Sarawak Song : Seksis Bila ku bersuara... kau kategorikan sebagai meleter Bila kau tercabar... sebelum bertarung pun ku dah kau singkir Tika di jalanan... cermat ku cuai Di stereotype 'lady driver' Bila tunjuk pandai... lagakmu hebat Mengalahkan seorang profesor Oh mana keadilannya Balik-balik kita saja terkena Dahulu hingga kini Kau memonopoli... cuba menguasai Duniaku ini... oh mana aci Korus: Jangan pandangku sebelah mata Hanya kerna namaku wanita Walau ada kelemahannya Engkau pun apa tidaknya oh Jangan pandangku sebelah mata Nanti kejantananmu tercabar Takkanku menyerah kalah Kerana madahmu berat sebelah Tohmahanmu akan ku tepis selagi persis tak terkikis seksis Pabilaku ramah... manis lidah Kau tuduhku bagai perempuan murah Namun bila kau menutup helah Katamu mengikut sunnah Andai ku meniang rumahtangga Jangan harap ucapan tahniah Hujung bulan tiba... ku tuntut nafkah Kau buatku macam peminta sedekah Oh mana keadilannya Balik-balik kau juga juara Asyik kita beri saja Melayan takhta... siang malam buta dan penuh setia... bagaikan raja KRU Records

Update: Just found out tomorrow is Anita's 52nd birthday. Happy Birthday to the diva! -08:48pm-



Related Links:

KRU Music Group - Definasi Lagu Seksis

Anita Sarawak :: Unofficial Website

Ringtone: Mesra.net

sun2surf: Gutsy Anita

1st Prize for the Winner is to Work for the People

Pak Lah has just taken his oath as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, again. I'm no political analyst but I'm going to put in my two cents worth analysis in anyway. The way I see it, BN's big win is due to Pak Lah's clean image and the changes we've seen ever since he became the Prime Minister. Otherwise, I strongly believe the opposition will win big simply because people are just pissed off with existing corrupt politicians. Some are still not satisfied since they expected him to do more. I wanted to see more changes too. All I can say to these people, 'Be reasonable!' He can't change all the past wrongs within 3-4 months. Not even in a year. But we've seen him moving to the right direction and now we shall see what he's capable of in the next 5 years. Though I'm not one of the lucky recipients of personal email from Pak Lah, I'd like to extend my heartiest congratulations to him. Kudos to Pak Lah. BN owes its win to you.

Tribute to Tan Sri P.Ramlee

Today in History: On Friday 1929, Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh was born. He is known as P. Ramlee since 1947 and Malaysia's film and music industry has never been the same ever since. There are 66 films and 359 songs recorded in The P. Ramlee Cyber Museum. Among my favorite movies are Tiga Abdul, Ahmad Albab, Nujum Pak Belalang, Madu Tiga, Musang Berjanggut and Pendekar Bujang Lapok. If you all notice, all are comedy. My heart couldn't take his emotionally moving serious movies. Nevertheless, I really appreciate him as a versatile artist. The legend passsed away on 29 May 1973 due to heart attack at age 44.



Related Links:

P. Ramlee: The Living Legend

The P. Ramlee Cyber Museum

Arkib Negara: Pameran dan Memorial



Note: This used to be a good website on P.Ramlee, 'The P.Ramlee Project' but for an unknown reason, they have decided to discontinue maintaining it. To Farah Aqil Nayli, if you happen to stumble upon this blog, all I want to say is you've done a good job and I hope you'll continue doing it for the sake of P. Ramlee's fan.

Chaos at the Polling Center

Dear Pak Lah, your call for people to go out and vote did reach the people. Malay, Chinese (those are the races I saw at my polling station), they all come in droves and they come very early. But all that come to naught as the SPR did not look like they're prepared to handle the polling exercise. The problem and hassle at the voting center droves quite a number of people to leave the center without voting. Here's my story...



Mom and I reached our polling center at Pandan Indah at about 8.30 and we were greeted by a huge crowd and several long queues. Upon overhearing people mentioning about 'numbers', I decided to check at one of the SPR table what number are the people talking about and was informed that we should check our room number at another queue since the two queues nearby are already very long. There are 11 rooms for voting at the school so we have to check the room number where our names are and go to the respective room to vote. So I went to the other shorter queue which looks very very chaotic. Nevertheless, I managed to get the room number for my mom and me. Mom's at room 2 and I'm at room 1. After a while, I saw my mom talking, almost like arguing, with the people in room 1. Then I saw her voting. It so happen that her name's not in room 2 and was asked to check at room 1. So she barged in and asked them to check for her name. She didn't want to queue and later find out her names not in room 1 too. They find it and let her vote.



I'm still in queue and the situation's heating up. Several people related their experience of being sent from room to room because their name's not in the list. Some tried to ask the SPR people in room 1 via the back door about their names since they don't want to have to queue again only to find out their names not in the list. I can understand why they don't want to queue. It is a very long queue. Most of them are the elderly. When the situation starts to get out of control, the SPR guy in the room shouted at the crowd and closed the back door. The situation gets more tense among the crowd lining up for room 1 and 2. Most are chatting like good friends about their problems finding the room to vote and some who's queuing for their 1st room is getting more and more worried whether they can find their name in the list.



A guy smartly dressed in Ferrari red shirt and cap sat at a nearby bench looking fed-up. Some people getting so irritated given the run around they throw their numbers away and said they've had enough and is leaving. Several votes are lost there. All the hard work of our ministers and the candidates to encourage people to go out and vote is wasted because SPR didn't do their job properly. Then another guy saying loudly, if you're of the ancient category you should line up at room 1. That's what he's been told by the people at room 2. He repeats it to every one, and some people even thought he's one of the SPR guy. He annoyed me since he's only adding to the confusion to the already confused crowd. What if people takes his word to heart and not queuing at room 1 and their name actually is in the list in room 1? I told him exactly what I thought. That did quiet him and I don't know where he went next. My turn finally comes and my name's not in the list. So the annoying guy is right. Since I'm not in the ancient category yet, I queued at the wrong line. I was told to go to the next block.



There are two queues at the next block and since the queue is relatively short, I decided to try my chances and join the first line. The girl in front of me pointed out that she's told this line is for those with IC number starting with 74 until 79. Just in case, she asked me to check at the door and I did. Yes it's written there in pencil, like an afterthought. It's room 5. So the list is according to the year of birth. Why didn't they say so in the first place??!!! So troublesome to queue to find out which room you're in and ended up queuing again for the wrong room anyway. Just write down at the door lah this room's for people born in which year. This is the 3rd room for the nice girl in front of me. She said her husband registered with her but his name is not in the list at all so he can't vote. But that's another story. Then her turn comes. She looks so dejected when told her name is not in the list. I feel for her and getting quite worried if my name's not in the list too. So is the list really based on the year we're born? I don't want to go hunting for my name at another 9 rooms. That nice girl have to find the 4th room to queue. I wonder whether she did go to queue or went home like some people who gets so fed-up running around looking for their names.



Lucky for me, they found my name. I feel like jumping up and down there but keep my composure, do my duty and then spread the word to other people. My mom and I went to the table where they give the number and told the workers there they give wrong room number and their list is worthless. Of course they have no answer to that but since they've been given the task, what can they do? Keep on giving wrong room information to the people it seems. We leave the place at about 10.00 a.m. and I consider myself lucky not having to run around very much and not having to wait longer like some people. So that's it. Now I can sit glued in front of the TV to watch Formula 1 race. But before that, I have this message for Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, "You screwed... and screwed big. So much for all your big talk about being ready and all. The SPR is NOT ready, incompetent and totally unprepared. Period!"



Note: I did bring my digital camera with the intention to capture the voting scenes but ended up not taking any picture at all. I've no mood to take any with the chaos around me. All I'm thinking is I want to get it done and get back home.

I Don't Like To Remember Facts

Knowledge is only potential power. Knowledge is power only when put to use-and then only when the use made of it is constructive. The story is told that the greatest scientist Einstein was once asked how many feet are in a mile. Einstein's reply was, "I don't know. Why should I fill my brain with facts I can find in two minutes in any standard reference book?"



Einstein taught us a big lesson. He felt it was more important to use your mind to think than to use it as a warehouse of facts.



One time Henry Ford was involved in a libel suit with the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune had called Ford an ignoramus, and Ford, a man of great respect said in effect, "Prove it."



The Tribune asked him scores of simple questions such as "Who was Benedict Arnold?" "When was the Revolutionary War fought?" and others, most of which Ford, who had little formal education, could not answer.



Finally he became quite exasperated and said, "I don't know the answers to those questions, but I could find a man in five minute who does."



Henry Ford was never interested in miscellaneous information. He knew what every major executive knows: the ability to know how to get information is more important than using the mind as a garage for facts.



-Excerpt from "The Magic of Thinking Big" by David J. Schwartz-

No one can imagine how relieved I am when I read this part from the book. Now I can give a perfect excuse on why I don't remember things. For example, I have to write stylesheet using XSLT and CSS in my work and I never remember how to do it. Codes that I often use, I'll remember without having to put much effort and codes I rarely use, I'll always refer to my notes, books, and from the internet.



They are so right. I don't want to be a walking dictionary, World Fact Book or encyclopedia. Googling can always help when we want to find almost any information without having to burden our mind with facts we will not need.



It is more important for us to be able to think and to know where to find the information than to memorize facts. Sadly, our education system has not emphasized on the thinking ability but rather the memorizing capabilities. I come from the same education mold too. How I survive my exams? I crammed as many information as I can at the last minute and expelled all of it once exam is over :) Luckily now, I need to use my brain to think more than to store facts for my work. I never have any problem saying "I don't know but I'll find out" to my boss or the company's clients.



An interesting article: Cooperation And The Mind Alliance Principle

From My Inbox: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. There are two days in every week that we should not worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension



One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed, forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. Nor can we erase a single word we've said - yesterday is gone!



The other day we shouldn't worry about is tomorrow, with its impossible adversaries, its burden, its hopeful promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is beyond our control. Tomorrow's sun will rise either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds - but it will rise. And until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.



This leaves only one day - today. Any person can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down. It is not the experience of today that drives people mad - it is the remorse of bitterness for something which happened yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.



Let us, therefore, live one day at a time!



- Author Unknown -

My View on Election

Everyone's talking about the upcoming election. The flags are everywhere. The newspapers and TV are full of election stuff that I prefer not to watch or read or hear any of it. Luckily, this is the shortest campaigning period ever or I'll have to bear with all these for a longer period. Some party did complain about it but hey, you have 5 years to win voters heart, not just during the campaigning period. The defamation, scandals, slander are not as important as what has been done or not done for the people. Only the people will know.



I view whatever's going on around the election period as just 'noise'. I did not want to abuse my ears, my heart, my mind with all the insults, personal attacks and 'cakap tak serupa bikin' of some and also the biased interview done by the media. I might appear as not interested with what's going on during election. You're right I'm not. But I am interested with what's going on around the country all the time. That is my basis for choosing whom to vote.



Some people said they vote for the people and not the party. If they don't like any of the candidates, they will not bother to vote. I think this is the wrong attitude. If you don't like any of the candidates, take the next thing for consideration that is the party. If you don't like any of the party, you still have to make some decision. Find the best among the worst. Otherwise, I don't think you're entitled to complain about what's happening around the country ever.

From My Inbox: How To Install LOVE

Tech Support: Yes, how can I help you?



Customer: Well, after much procrastination, I've decided to install "Love". Can you walk me through it?



Tech Support: Yes, I can help you. Are you ready to start?



Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?



Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?



Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?



Tech Support: What programs are running ?



Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now.



Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off ?



Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?



Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your Start Menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.



Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?



Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you only have the Base Program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the Upgrades.



Customer: Oops! I already have an error message. It says, "Error - Program not run on external components ." What should I do?



Tech Support: Don't worry. It means that the Love Program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to love yourself before you can love others.



Customer: So, what should I do?



Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self, Realize Your Worth, and Acknowledge your Limitations.



Customer: Okay, done.



Tech Support: Now, copy them to the directory,"My Heart" . The System will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.



Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor, and, Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?



Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes a while, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.



Customer: Thank you, Sir.



-- Author Unknown --

Hope for Malaysian Guys Yet

Sometimes, people can really surprise you. There are bad surprises and nice surprises, and I'm referring to the nice surprises here. When you go out with girlfriend or boyfriend, they'll be extra nice to impress each other. That is expected. Not much wonder there. When you just go out and hang out with friends, you don't expect to be treated extra nice at all. In fact sometimes I expect to be treated just like one of the guys or something like that. But when someone is thoughtful enough to do the little things that you don't expect to feel such a pleasure when someone do it for you, I don't know how to describe it but it gives me such a special feeling. If anyone thought someone is trying to impress me, I assure you its not. It is just a plain and simple act that is done almost without a thought. It's a caring that I don't expect at all. There IS hope for Malaysian guys yet he he...



Afterthought: Sometimes a man can be a great friend, a best buddy BUT a lousy boyfriend and husband. That's talking from my own and other people's experience.

Holding Back

Adriene said this in her blog, "We would be doing our children an injustice if we held them back from all the beauty the world has to offer."



I thought that is very nicely said but how do we tell this to our overly protective parent? How do we tell this to parents who have been making our business their business since we're born but now our business is not supposed to be their business anymore? They can guide us, advice us, but not make the decision's for us anymore. I knew of a friend whose mother wants to follow her in one of our girls outing. Can you imagine that? Both her parents are working and staying in KL. The mother should be well aware that what she wanted to do is totally out of the norm. I've not been keeping in touch with her after she declined several of my invitation to go out. Well, I know the reason and I can't ask her to disobey her parents.



Though deep down I've been thinking that we need to break away from that bond while we can or we'll never be able to. Speak up what's in our mind; make the point that this is how things will go. There will be parents who can accept it, there will be those will not and will keep fighting all the way. But you know you can have a piece of yourself when you want to. If they can't accept that, too bad. Probably one day, these parents will realize that you're only doing things that will make you happy. I don't know of any parents who don't want their children to be happy. I wonder what will these children think when they're 40, 50 or on their deathbed and realize all this while they've only been doing what their parent wants, what other people wants and never what they want.



I face the same predicaments too though to a lesser degree than my friend. And to think I'm going to be 30 in a few months time. Some people advised that parents will be parents no matter if you're 30, 40, even if you have dozens of grandchildren in tow. But it gets tiring to remind them you've been independent ever since you're 13 years old and staying in a boarding school, later staying in hostels during your university life, now you're earning your own keep, or even managing million dollars or multi-million dollar project, so just have faith you'll be doing the right thing with your life.



How much of the parents concern are real concern and not envy anyway? "I worked last time too but not as busy as you are or I always stay at home during holidays and spend time with my family. So do as I do!" Or, "Don't do as I do. Do as I say!" There are mothers who like to refresh your mind ever so often on how they spent nine miserable months carrying you around and the sacrifices they made to raise you for how many years. That is like a badge of honor giving them the privilege to meddle with your life all they want. If parents want to complain about all this, don't have children in the first place.



Sometimes people forget that parents are human too. At the worst end are lowlier than animal being who raped their own flesh and blood. Second in place would be mothers who turn a blind eye knowing the husband is raping their own children. These are parents at the worst end as a human being. There are parents at the opposite end (almost angelic), and there are also parents who are in between these two extremes. As a parent, where do you stand? As children, where do you think your parents stand?

Girls and Shoes

Picture Source

Hmmm... everyone seems to be talking about shoes lately. Check out Najah's, Pickyin's and Zsarina's blog. It is a girl's privilege to have more shoes than they really need at any one time. No question about that. And handbags. Lots and lots of handbags :) But back to the shoes, I have two favorite shoes at the moment, and several more in their boxes under my bed and some in the wardrobe. Those kept in the boxes have their own specific use like weddings or special dinners where you know you'll be sitting most of the time. My general rule on shoe shopping, strapped, open toed shoes. My feet gets claustrophobic in toe covered shoes :)

For fun, check out this quiz from Quizilla, "What Kind of Shoe Are You?". I'm ballet shoes.





Ballet shoes- beautiful, graceful, and creative, you enjoy dancing writing and music. You are often very poetic and sometimes dramatic. You keep to yourself aside from a few close friends that you can relate to.



What Kind of Shoe Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

At 3500 Feet Above The Sea Level

Bukit Tinggi welcomes my friends and I last Sunday with a very nice weather, cloudy though not overly gloomy, and windy. It was perfect for a long walk that we have to do to explore every nooks and corners of Bukit Tinggi. Colmare Tropicale, the replica of a 16th century French village is touted as the main attraction in most of Bukit Tinggi write up in the media. But personally, I love the Japanese Village the most. The multi-colored buildings of Colmare Tropicale are not as soothing and relaxing for those seeking complete relaxation of the mind.



The sound of gushing water from the mini waterfall, the melody of the forest's insects and the birds chirping, the fishes swimming freely in the ponds, the luxuriant green moss covering the rocks and the soft breeze... everything is perfect its almost magical in the Japanese Garden. It feels very enchanting and I will not be surprised if the wood fairies appear, playing happily around the trees and the ponds. If I'm the wood fairies, I would want to have this beautiful wood as my playground too.



The best part of the visit is when we're in the woods and the wind blew so strongly that the many Japanese bamboo tree bends with it. The wind rustles through the lush forest leaves until it sounded like a heavy rain. All of us are rooted to the ground, listening to the sound of the wind enveloping us. I almost expected the splatter of the rain drenching me as it sounded so real. Realizing it is just the wind makes me appreciate the moment even more. Just let the soothing sound surrounds me without having to get wet :)

Notes: The highest peak in Peninsular Malaysia is Gunung Tahan situated on the Titiwangsa Range. It is about 7175 feet above the sea level.

I'm Back!!! I'm Home!!!

Today I feel like I've come home or should I say 'balik kampung' :) The hosting server has been down for the past few days. Not that I've much to say as I've been busy myself. But knowing there is something wrong with the server and I can't post whenever I want despite being busy is like there's no 'kampung' to go back to. No place for me to rant and rave all I want or just write about small and silly things in the cyberspace.

Just like you bring your handphone around but don't really need it for the day but once you leave it at home, there's a dreadful feeling. You keep worrying what if you need to use it.

Now, just imagine I'm holding out my hands wide, embracing the feeling of the winds and the sun on my face. And then kiss the ground as I've missed it so much. It really feels like that. I'm back! I'm home!

Following Footprints and Letting Go

Once, someone walk and leaves behind a set of footprints for me to follow.
When she stopped, I'll stop too and look up into her eyes, all the time knowing she'll continue after a while.
Maybe she's tired, or maybe she's evaluating which is the right path to pursue.
But when a path is chosen, that is the only way to go, the right way to follow.
She's the only guiding light, illuminating the path.

Occasionally, she'll discover the route she's taking may not be the best option to take.
As a result, she'll tirelessly advice me not to repeat the same mistake.
Sometimes, curiosity will get the better of me and I'll wander off a bit.
She'll quickly admonish me and said I'm not old enough to know the dangers awaits.
But when will I be old enough to comprehend?
In which she said the time will come soon enough for me to learn.

After some time, I had my chances to acquire the knowledge,
that will help me set my own trails and avoid the pitfalls and mistakes.
Upon realization she will be full of delight and exclaimed...
Oh my dear baby, you're now old enough to be creating your own footprints.
It will not be easy and sometimes you'll take the wrong lane.
But fret not dear child, for I'll always be here, no matter which path you've taken.
For knowing the right path to take, is the lesson you'll have to face your whole life's long.
One step at a time, you'll learn as you go along.

For some, the story will have to be retold.
For the one who was following the footsteps will now be the one with someone in tow.
But for some, the story never ends. She whom once said my time will come for me to learn and it has.
I've learned and am ready to begin my journey, but she can never let go.
Why can't you trust me to know the road I'll be taking? For I've learned from you and I've learned some more.
It's a journey everyone has to take and you shouldn't worry yourself so.
I can't even explain why I believe this is the way to go, because you'll not hear any of it, you'll immediately say No!

I'm sad and at a lost of what to say. We can't respect each other's values and agree to disagree if we have to.
For I will still follow my way because I've learned from you and learn some more.
Trust me I know what I'm doing. You have given your very best so please let go.