Ouch, ma' finger!

Ouch! Accidentally cut my left ring finger while preparing to cook. Funny but true. Have been thinking of knife lately, dunno why. And the thought of cutting oneself is so scary considering that I cook alot. So, I guess the day has arrived and it's today. Premonition? Sometimes I think of better not to pre-empt some events occurring. Afterall life is full of surprises.

Blood

I still remember the phrase from kungfu panda. 'Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift coz it's present.' I am always grateful that I wake up everyday noticing that I am still alive. Dunno why but I am simply being realistic. I have seen alot of deaths, young and old, healthy and sick. The recent bombing in India, the protests in Thailand, and the death of a zoo keeper in Singapore. Sounds gruesome but these are all lives. Imagine being trapped in those situation knowing that one is not going to live in a matter of minutes. These minutes can be like years if not equally to decades of sufferings. I heard the latest movie QUARANTINE is something like that. Haven't watched it.

Innocent lil child.

But so what. As long as we live life happy today and be grateful to have savoured every minute of life, there shouldn't be much regret. I have big plans and I shall work on it. Whether it'd be accomplished, I hand it to the Above. I read on a blog: If your prayer is answered today, He is showing His love to you. If your prayer is answered later, He is testing on you. If your prayer is not answered at all, He is planning something better for you.

Something to ponder

PS: Sunday is always so relaxing and sentimental...

Nature is da best...

It feels abit unusual going back to the quiet life. Nature is so much closer than I thought. Waking up with the chirping of the birds and looking at the greens just behind the window. I had almost forgotten where I was. The feelings are so much stronger than before.

Reminiscing the beach time

My long absence has surprised my dear neighbour who saw me going out this evening. "You are back! Where have you been?" It felt so nice that people actually noticed what happening over this side. While I was standing behind the gate to cover my unkempt look, quickly I replied that I was away for a week-long course in the city. We chatted a while and I guess he is going back to his hometown with his family soon during this school holiday.

Look closer, you see a guy in the blue shirt on the tree

Yesterday while on our way back to home, we stopped by at one of our district stations to relief ourselves. I was led to the backyard where there was a big 'rambutan' tree. Judging from the look of the rambutans, we could figure out how juicy these could be.

I told you it's really juicy

True enough, big and juicy, yummy. 2 boys went up the tree and plucked the fruits for us. Although abit shy, I couldn't refuse the rambutans that were given to me. That reminds me of another rambutan tree at one of my stations. Very tasty indeed. Whitney should know it better.

Another guy in action

So I am back home struggling to keep my short attention span over the books for the coming exam. My motivations are not getting anywhere further. Just waiting for a long break from work and studies, so that I could concentrate spiritually and recharge my energy.

Blood stain on the floor of the hotel lift. Dunno what happened but there was also a shoe left behind. Kinda mysterious...

Who wants more..

It was a sunny afternoon when I decided to skip one lesson and went with Whitney and Patrick for a search of big clams. I was actually craving for seafood coz it was so difficult to get at my place. So, we arrived at this stall. Many huge clams were exhibited just in front of the stall. I was sooo hungry at that time, so I ordered 2 baskets of clams- medium and large sized each.

Preparing the sauce

Whitney quickly ordered a hot burnt coconut while patrick was busy preparing the sauce for us. Some limes with chillies to the perfection! Trust me, I was so shocked when they brought us 4 big trays of clams. I was asking myself if that's what I ordered. It seemed true enough. 1 basket was about 10bucks.

Told you it was alot!

Then my coconut arrived. I peeled off the top and the vapour started coming out. It was really burnt hot! My fingers, ouch! Then I slowly took a few sips. Tasted like chinese tong sui, sweet water. Without much of a delay, we started eating the clams. The juice was perfect, grilled with ?ginger. It still preserved the natural taste of seafood.

Clean!

I ate the most and I could literally feel it's up till the neck. I was wrong to think that eating clams cannot be a main course. But it was really filling. Eating under the hot sun was another challenging task. Later, I had this cooling coconut milk puding...so syiok! Ok, I see saliva is drooling everywhere, hehe...

Yummy...

It was a nice experience and it's really worth eating. I wanna eat more next time. The night before that, we went to this club, so boring, I tell you. The phi....band sang like k-oke, was so busy entertaining the foreigners that they ignored the locals. So pathetic you know....coz this big f*t foreigner was sitting at the bar when they were trying to pull off her attention. She didn't even care bout them and they were trying so hard to proof that they were friendly to foreigners.

Tropicana that small one

Ok, I had tropicana, and boy, I got urticarias everywhere that same night, haha. It was really strong one. Then we proceeded to curry laksa coz patrick said it was really tasty. Err...it was ok.

Curious kids

Met Firdy last evening. Went for a movie and the night market. It was a busy and smoky area. You find huge grilled fish everywhere. We decided for 2 fish. Not so cheap! But couldn't stand the temptations. So, it's all about seafood, yummy.

Seafood!

In the city yet again..

Brr...this aircond is freaking cold at the motel's reception. I arrived late last night when the rain was pouring on our way to the city. Later we met up with Patrick for dinner. I stayed over this lil motel overnight as the course will commence today. It wasn't bad at all. Cleanliness a BIG plus! Price is very reasonable. I am so impressed with the modern outlook and facilities provided.

At the reception, brr....

Decent clean room with aircond and new furnitures

Nasi lemak, newspaper and basic drinks

Slept very well last night. Woke up and greeted by a piece of local newspaper and a pack of nasi lemak for breakfast, inclusive, not so grand but it was ok. Then, I went straight to the beach. Weather was really good! sunny and quiet coz it's Monday. So, I rest while reading my paper. Er... looking forward to get tanner.

Lying chill

Looking at the sea

Cleaning in progress

Kids and family at the beach in the morning

Ei... these reception people are talking about going for a visit at the brothels in KL, shame on them, so loud somemore. But the funny thing is that this Mr.renovator is talking how grand he was during his time in KL with gangsterism and prostitutions. He actually slurred abit, so fake, hehe.

Okla, dun wanna care bout ppl's business. Wanna go for a quick shop and then check into the course hotel. Tired but chill... Ok, really need to go, I am really shivering now coz of tat aircond, brr...

At McD while waiting for patrick yesteday

Looking here n there for inspirations

Packing bags again...

Back to packing again. Getting ready for another week-long course in the city. This is the one thing that makes me tired. I barely came back 2 weeks ago and now I have to be away again for a period of time. Oh yes, the test I took last week is finally done! Glad that it wasn't as bad as I thought. Even, I think I had so much fun and learnt so much despite not very well prepared. Proud that I did it again. Another test coming ahead after the week-long course, so I am gonna do more readings.

Puppet show

Attentive audience

But all work, no play makes Dan a dull boy. Not really. Whitney was around and I kinda had to show her around. Guess she had a great time here coz she really saw so much in such a short period of time. We even went to the river in the afternoon, the funfair, the puppet show last evening, and then dinner with my frens at permata club. Later we joined another group of frens for steamboat. But I guess, we really had a tiring day. While I had to juggle among study, work, and being a tour guide, haha. It was fun when everything turns out well.

Fun fair

Besides I am hoping Fred's arm is getting better and things will get back to the previous plan. As for Ady, she is having a real tough time now. I really understand how she feels as well as her family. I can see so many people around her care for her so much. I am crossing fingers so that things will become like before. Be strong guys.

What a piece of art

As for me, I still have so many things to deal with. Work and personal stuff but I am glad that the holiday is around the corner, hooray. Gonna have a relaxing time.

Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool...

Ok, back to packing....

Something to ponder..

I just found a nice article from a friend's blog. Something for us to ponder:

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, "If I could only see the world, I will marry you."

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her, "Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?" The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.
Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: "Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine."

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift

Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.
Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around.

I PRAY THIS MOVES AROUND
THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE...

Books!

Oh boy, I didn't realize that I wasn't blogging for quite sometime already.

Unlike any other morning, today I woke up a lil early to catch up on my reading. I was invited for a course to attend this week, but I was only informed last friday. Basically, I have less than a week to prepare. There is just so much to read, 2 books with a cd.

Since I got back from my previous course 2 weeks ago, I have been working alot to compensate for my long absence at work. I didn't expect for another course-oriented exam so soon but I couldn't reject this offer coz it is an opportunity. So, I got to juggle between work and study. Bearing in mind that I have another exam to sit for next month, goshhh...so busy preparing.

Last Friday, we organized a community project at a remote village here. It was a hot scorching sunny day but an eye-opener. People had been walking for a day from other small and far villages just to come to this centre of the village. It went well and kudos to all the staff. I will try to blog more on this next time.

Time to get back to my books!

My new encounter

I was driving home from a nearby shop when I saw these smiling souls filled with freedom in the air. In my uttermost imagination, they almost seemed like gonna fly into the sky. No, they were not angels. Neither did they have wings on their back. They were merely normal peasants you could get in the most remote places in the country.

They were walking out from St.Anthony’s like any other Sunday morning. They were holding hands, smiling and giggling like small lil’ school girls. In fact, they were the coloured people here, so to say. Their dark brownish skin glowed under the bright sunny sky. I was amazed and captured at this picturesque ‘kodak’ moment. I could smell freedom, harmony and peace in the air.

Let me just call them the ‘hidden people’, the illegal immigrants. Miss Anne is another usual hidden people here. She dresses up so elegantly everytime she comes to my office. I am really mesmerized by the way she smiles. Her spirit just puts me into a charm. I feel sympathy but I know I never will. Being a normal peasant who works in the plantations, she is the prettiest peasant I could ever seen. Her long braided hair and her well-contoured body. Her confidence and her pose hide her insecurity and lower class status. That one thing I learn so much from her. Material is just a piece of fabric, the heart that matters. She listens to me attentively and she always wishes thank you before she leaves the office door.

In comparison, these chauvinist local citizens who don’t even know how to spell ‘GRATITUDE', step into the office, act like the boss, reap off every service they could have, walk out of the door without even glancing at you and think they have every right to do so coz this is ‘MYland’! Two extremities, one is not educated at all, another is of educated.

Moving back to these hidden people. Like Anne, there are so many beautiful spirits living around us. It’s just that lil’ Kodak moment that we missed to capture, or is it that life’s too busy to even noticing their existence. Their humbleness, their joy, their simplicity, and their generous smile can even transmit right up to your spine, yes, that’s so infectious.

Today, Ms.Jay, a 20-year-old mother came by. My heart just wrenched when I knew she gonna be back to tell me that she had to stop coming by due to financial constraints. I looked into her eyes. There were so many uncertainties. She is so young and naïve. But her hidden status is the biggest brickwall separating them from the rights of the chauvinist id**ts. I am like other human. I am made of flesh and blood too. Besides our skin colour difference, we are still very the same inside. I have experienced and I have seen such difficulties myself. Nevertheless, I pray inside my heart solemnly for these innocent souls.

Later this morning, Ms.Anne stopped over. As usual, we had this lil’ chat. Her wide broad smile reminded me of this Kodak moment at St.Anthony once again. These ladies, men and children, walking side by side, smiling at the most decent way, so harmlessly that you feel you are obliged to reply them with a smile. They really made my day, a delighful sunny Sunday.

Working non-stop makes Dan a dull boy

Exhausted.... a word that describes a thousand expressions, hehe.

This lovely pic taken literally at the pond of a temple. The hue just shines by itself. Strange? Better believe it.

Time to rest.

Main Course!

Ok, so it was really a long course away from work. I have to admit that I was hesitating to go initially coz I was supposed to be on a holiday. Nevertheless, had to brave myself and stick to it. After sometime, really felt that it wasn't that bad at all.

This was once where I slept. Wa..so nice, everyday got housekeeping, hehe..

8 o'clock, that's when the day started every morning

It was fun. Getting to know many new friends and they are all professionals of various professions. But during this course, we were asked to surrender our titles and yes, we were treated like other school kids. That really reminds me of school time. I really miss school so much. Attending lectures, doing assignments, group work, interactive sessions, etc. Most importantly, I don't need to worry bout work back home, haha.

This was what I did during boring lectures. Inspired by the surroundings..

Food, and food again

Basically we stayed in a hotel and most activities were done here. So, it's really convenient. Waking up in the morning, having heavy breakfast, then singing some motivational songs, ehem..., attending lectures, eating again, lectures, eating again, projects, eating again, interactive sessions, eating again, night lectures, and yes...eating again. Let's count again... we actually had 6 meals a day. What I like about this is that I was never hungry that time! coz we were filled all the time, hehe.

The underdog? hehe

So when the exam day arrived, everyone looked so stress, just a while, haha. Ok, you see.... We had less than 2 weeks time to learn things that we never learnt formally before. And there were 3 thick textbooks to refer to. Besides, we had so many assignments, projects, interactive sessions, etc to attend to. So we had to spot questions, and guess what, most questions came out were new and sooooooo NOTpredictable at all. As for me, I have done what I could eventhough it's not 100%. So, I am actually crossing my fingers but not too hard la.

Thick and sturdy, how to get ready?

I think I put on some weight in the end. I am also getting fairer, lack of Vit D. Ok, that one I also want to complain. You see, we spent so much time in door, so we decided to go outdoor to the beach. Guess what. It was raining most days except exam day! The next day, I planned so hard to go to the nearby beach but guess what again.... it rained!!! How to get tanned? I don't care. I am gonna go and get so tanned this weekend at sue's b'day near the river.

We managed to pull it off finally!

Oh yes, I still had time to visit some of my friends in town. So nice to meet Ferd and Zreen again! That Japanese food was quite nice and zreen's friends were making me comfortable as well. So nice of them. Oh yes, to my new friends: Eup, Eelin, Mek, Om, Redi, Zhunie, Rob aka Pete, Tun, Yeti, Yip, Flori, Li, Saf etc, etc, so nice meeting you guys. Eup, don't forget to send my pics k.

Look who's talking...



At least we won the overall sports day

So, I spent 2 days to do house chores and still there are so much to be done. I am just exhausted and I guess I have done most things for a week supply already. I am expecting a friend to come over next week for attachment. Until then, I shall just rest and relax abit now.

Japanese udon..

Adios!

P.S: Still awaiting other funny pics from the others...