Apr 25, 2010

生病记

好久没生病了。

也许一听之下会感觉到很奇怪,可是我是真的这么想。。可能是一个人独自在外生活了那么多年,已经学会了好好照顾自己,绝不让自己生重病。一方面是不想让家人操心,另一方面是一个人生病无人照顾是件很可怜的事。最多就不过是重伤风,在床上躺个一两天,就痊愈了。我对看医生这件事没有恐惧但也不会期待。。普通的急难杂症如伤风、发烧都可以用多休息多喝水来解决,而我的肠胃一向来都还挺争气的,所以需要看医生的状况(感激老天爷)蛮少的。这次,虽然没要卧病在床,但所患的咳嗽却是久久没有痊愈,而是有变本加厉的迹象。

刚开始我是发烧、头痛、喉咙痛,而最要命的是咳嗽。其他三个病症两三天后就好了可是我却一直在咳个不停。就算是喝了小妹帮我买的药水也都无效。最糟糕的是晚上会咳到无法入眠,还连带的干扰到了同房的小妹也不能好好睡。到后来,不得不去看医生。。

结果看完医生的那天晚上,我吐了。也许对一般人而言,呕吐是件在生病时就有可能会发生的事,可是对我来说,“吐”是我从未经历过的。就算是酒喝多了还是食物中毒,我也从不曾吐过。食物只有从口入,从未由口出的。而那一晚还吐了两次之多。。所以可想而知我是咳得有多厉害啊!我可以咳到连肋骨和肺部都会疼痛!真是要人命噢!!!

但让我摸不清头脑的是我这病到底是从哪儿被感(传)染的呢??我已经很少很少很少出门,很少接触人群了,所以那病菌是哪儿来的??是我妹从医院把病菌带回家吗?那我也未免太体弱了吧?她都没病反而是我病得稀里哗啦的。。

算一算也咳了快一个星期,间中吃了5天的成药及3天医生开的药,还是没有显著的起色。。也许还会继续咳个4、5天吧。。唉,也许是人处在一个不开心又无法做自己的状况下,身体就会开始默默地发出一些警惕或是杯葛的讯息来吧。。

Apr 17, 2010

What is the point?? (Part I)

Tell me what is the point..

..of saying so much when a single action negates EVERYTHING??

..of promoting meritocracy when SKIN-COLOR and RELIGION remain the main considerations??

..of shouting "1Malaysia" everywhere and yet still thinks within racial lines??

..of telling their subordinates to be fair and clean when the leaders themselves are corrupted and biased??

..of saving millions by withdrawing basic subsidies while billions are lost through graft and nepotism??

..of staying in a country where one is still regarded as "immigrants" even when our grandfathers were born here while some ministers' fathers came from elsewhere??

..of spending millions, if not billions building impressive "hardware" when there is no "software" to make it work??

..of spending millions helping other countries when there are so many within the nation that require urgent assistance??

..of telling other governments how to run their countries when our own "house" isn't quite in order??

..of teaching other countries what to do with their economies when we are losing FDI every year??

..of boasting our (so-called) progress when we are no longer one of the Asian Tigers and we are even trailing countries like Vietnam and Cambodia??

..of loving a country that doesn't even treat us as one of its own??

Apr 16, 2010

是在沉思嗎?是在沉潛嗎?
我無法繼續沉醉於塵俗。。
只能沉陷在沉重的沉默和沉悶之中。。
沉寂地沉緩地沉郁着、沉痛着、沉浮着。。

Apr 15, 2010

It is spring time in the northern hemisphere.. and I must admit I miss spring.. although not a flower lover, I do miss the sakura in Japan.. and most of all I really miss going to all the hanami (sakura viewing) around Tokyo with my Malaysian friends..

Spring in Japan is also the time where most graduation ceremonies are being held, thus it is also a time of separation.. I got hook on one particular Japanese song last year.. one that was being played many times over the television and over the air waves.. one that would always remind me of the wonderful times I had with my bunch of friends, and especially my housemates..



Oh Spring.. how I miss thee!

Apr 14, 2010

Talked two..

During my short-short stay in Singapore, I had two very interesting conversations with two individuals in two situations that couldn't be more different.. which in the end lead me to reaffirm some of my thoughts..

Talk no.1:
During an interview with a fellow countryman who has been living in the Lion City all except the first 12-years of her life.

.....
"Do you plan to convert?"
"Ya, I do and I wanna get a house here"
"Why?"
"Why not? Having stayed out of the country for so long, I realised that I don't want to stay in a place where the law is being ignored, and everything and anythings goes as long as you dare.. I don't want to stay in a country where I have to constantly worry about my safety.. where I can't even trust the policemen.."
"I never thought of converting even as I have stayed here longer than you. I couldn't care less as there is no difference between a PR and a citizen here.. you pay the same tax, can buy house..."
"Different people want different things in life.. I don't feel a sense a pride when I tell people where I came from.. Everything back home is in chaos.. crime rate high, traffic sucks, public transport non-existence.. at least here, the government tries to take care of every citizens.. I don't want to waste my energy worrying about things that the government should have taken care of.. "
.....

Talk no. 2:
On my way back to my hotel, inside a taxi after finishing my interviews, chatting away with the local middle-age driver..

.....
"Everything in Singapore needs money.."
"That's true, but at least your government takes care of you.. unlike my country.."
"but the government is making money from us.."
"but look at all your infrastructures, your public transports and everything.. your government spends its money making life better for you.. you can see where your tax money goes to.. unlike in my country, where the money is lost through corruptions.. all the big projects only benefit the few privileged ones.."
".. true also what u say.."
"over there, some people no need to worry even if they have 5, 6, or 10 kids cos they know e government is going to help feed them.. so where the government get the money? from tax la, but who pays the taxes?? my people paid the most tax and yet they continue to treat us like 2nd rated citizens.. it is fair?? "
"now that you put it that way, it makes sense to me now.."
"Maybe for businesses, go there better cos money can solve everything.. for simple folks like me, I want stability.. I want security.. I want ease.. Here, when u walked down from HDB flat, there is hawker center, wet market, convenient stores etc, all within walking distance.. no need to drive at all.. I feel safe here too.. can walk around at night and not worry about get robbed.."
.....

Apr 13, 2010

Loving Sharks

One of the unexpected things during my short trip to Singapore was that I stumbled upon the Marine Photography workshop and Shark Talk at the National Geographic Singapore Store in Vivo City..

Truth be told that I have no idea who John Scarlett or Stan Waterman is before this nor the fact that they are legends among the diving community. I saw them appearing on Channel News Asia's Primetime Morning that very morning and was captivated by the passion of these two men have for sharks.. although I am no hardcore ocean conservationist, I do try to do what I can.

I stayed for the talk because I wanted to see photos of sharks, because I wanted to hear first hand from people who "hang around" sharks, because I have never attended such ocean conservation talks before, but simply put I was just curious..

After a quick opening by Diego Garcia, the editor of Australasia Scuba Diver, John Scarlett took over the microphone and begun his talk..
First he shared with us how he started diving and underwater photography, and how he got "acquainted" with sharks.. then he moved on to the reason why he was fascinated with these top predators of the sea....which was similar to this YouTube video that I managed to locate over the Net..

Other than Stan Waterman, looking kinda cool with his eye-patch, who took the podium sharing with the audiences his sharks adventures, another one of the world authorities on the great white shark was also present, Rodney Fox.. He gave us a brief, non-gory account of how he survived one of the world's worst non-fatal shark attacks..
Then a Q&A session followed.. Many questions were posed, from how he felt being in such close proximity with sharks, what was his thoughts on the yearly shark attacks, how he took certain photographs of the sharks, where is his favorite diving place to capture these magnificent creatures, what to do when one comes face to face with a shark and his thoughts on the challenges of saving the sharks.
There were around 30 of us in the audiences but many were friends, associates and acquaintances of the speakers.. each of us were given a free copy of Australasia Scuba Diver and a free entry ticket to the Asia Dive Expo 2010.. too bad I was leaving the same night, else I would have made a trip to check the expo out.. also enclosed was a seafood guide that was edited by WWF Singapore.. a really useful guide to help consumers identify and purchase from sustainable sources..

Some food for thought..
Humans have been exterminating sharks at a rate of about 20 to 100 million per year, while shark attacks against humans occur at a rate of about 10 per year.

For more information on sharks, visit these sites...
Shark Information
Shark Savers
Shark Trust

Apr 12, 2010

one of those days..

It's one of those days,
where everything seems gray;
I try hard to break away,
yet it seemed like it's here to stay..

It's one of those days,
where there is many demons to slay;
I try hard to make headway,
yet all seemed so disarrayed..

It's one of those days,
where good things seem faraway;
I try hard to play or pray,
yet nothing seemed quite okay..

It's one of those days,
where there is nothing but dismay;
but I will continue to hold sway,
that the day will eventually go my way....

Apr 10, 2010

Another quick hop-over

Went over to Singapore again last week.. this time for 2 interviews.. both scheduled on Wednesday..

This time round, I put my status on Facebook and MSN.. and the ironic part is I didn't meet up with any of my friends or ex-colleagues while I was there.. I stayed in the room most of the time, except when I went out to get food.. maybe one of the main reason is that I was staying in a not-so-convenient place, Balestier, which doesn't have any train station nearby.. I am not really a bus taker, as I prefer trains more..

The two companies that I interviewed for are big MNCs.. one is in the financial-banking sector, while the other is from the telecommunication.. I can't really gauge how I fared in the interviews as I am reluctant to hold any expectations less I get disappointed.. I have done my best during the interviews, being frank and truthful with my abilities and comfort level, so the ball is now in their court.. and all I can do is to wait..

The hotel room that I stayed in reminded me of my hostel room in Japan.. it was very small, fits a Queen-size bed and nothing else.. even the bathroom-cum-toilet is smaller than the one I had in Tokyo.. but again, I don't need a fancy suite since I was going to stay only 2 nights.. as long as there is Internet connection, a comfortable bed and a clean bathroom, I am okay.. :)

Had some food that I missed staying in Malaysia.. Hainanese chicken rice, Wanton noodle, Lor Mee, Carl's Jr burger and some local kuih.. As the hotel didn't have any refrigerator, I couldn't buy any fresh fruit juices which is usually my way of getting enough Vit. C while traveling..

Although the overnight coach trip wrecks my sleeping pattern, these short "get-away" are something I really look forward to.. Can't wait for my next trip..

Apr 3, 2010

再回首

作曲:盧冠廷
作詞:陳樂融
演唱 : 姜育恆


再回首 雲遮斷歸途
再回首 荊棘密布
今夜不會再有 難舍的舊夢
曾經與你有的夢
今后要向誰訴說

再回首 背影已遠走
再回首 淚眼朦朧
留下你的祝福 寒夜溫暖我
不管明天要面對
多少傷痛和迷惑

曾經在幽幽暗暗反反覆覆中追問
才知道平平淡淡從從容容才是真

再回首 恍然如夢
再回首 我心依舊
只有那無盡的長路伴著我

============================================
1989年的经典好歌。当年的我,虽还未经历过什么大风大浪,却已经钟情于这首歌了。。现在再仔细聆听,感触更是良多。。

p/s: MV里的那座城堡好像是松山城。。

Apr 1, 2010

R.I.P.

永远的“哥哥”。。One of the things I didn't manage to do while working in the ticketing company.. catching one of his concerts..

Rest in Peace..