Sunday, June 24, 2007

It's (finally) over.

Due to time constraints and that whole compartment of laziness inside of me, I haven't had the time to properly blog. And neither have I had the determination to properly pen down thoughts into the keyboard in front of me.

What I set out to do, what I came here for, its all in front of me. I can see it now. Heh, excuse my mindless rant. =p But yeah, 4 months and 21 days now, from that very special date =D and also that quite sad date for me, to leave it all behind. To finally return back to Sydney.. I don't know if I should use the word return, is it for good? Or is it just a studying thing? Maybe studying and working? Only time will tell.


An empty KLIA waiting lounge ler. Was waiting here at approximately 5a.m man. Sucky flight times. Bah, stopped in KL en route from Vienna, can't expect too much I guess.

And just the experience of being here. The exposure. The 4 seasons. The language. The slang. The ppl. (being in Msia would have never allowed me the chance of meeting Viets, Thai, Koreans, mainland Chinese, Japs, Indos, HKers, Philos, and well of course the angmohs laa. Eheh. Got ppl from Iran also. And India. The food. Cultural barriers and borders. There is really nothing like studying abroad. Wholesome experience.

But apart from all the culture shock experience that I got, there is so much more that I've learned.

To wash my own clothes O.o

(in the washing machine I know la, but still) last time dunno also k?
To hang it dry with pegs (yea i know its easy but I did not know that also hmmph)
Now winter, must use dryer.
The dryer is this really cool invention like a microwave where u ptt-ing and throw ur clothes in there and take it out later. It comes out all warm and crispy crisp. Cool eh?It really helps during winter since clothes dried out in the sun will probably take a gazillion years or more. Not much sun btw, temperature is down to single digit numbers.
To vacuum the rooms and the lounge
To take out trash
To sweep the kitchen floors
To mop the kitchen floors (we do it every day k, dont mess..)
To change bedsheets O.o
I lurv my sheets, they're matching and they're awesome
To clean toilets.
O.o just cleaned it a few hours ago. It's all FRESH, and sparkle-y clean now.
Hey cleaning toilets are hard k! It's not rocket science but like figuring out what a squeegee does and the grouter, and which cleaner to use, Handy Andy vs Jif vs JapWCCleaner. Bah. But there really is nothing like doing ur business lol using a beautiful fresh toilet. Heh. And because the toilet is my OWN, I have extra incentive to keep it clean all the time. It's all good.

And finally, the achievement I'm most proud of. Coming up : in my next post, cooking.

P.s I lurv one of the rare moments that I talk to me parents on msn. Like my sis says " Mum asks what is L-O-L-S. And what is S-O-Z? sauce?"
And I have this rily cute emot of "haha" which is this smiley which laughs and all but instead has a veggie stuck in its teeth, and one tooth missing. My dad tells me to ask him to see the dentist. SWT. One of the reasons why I love my parents so much. BWAHAHA.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Happy Daddies Day

I think I'm a bit late but oh well...

Yesterday was a special day for my dad not only because it was

FATHER'S DAY

but also because he turned 50.

Half a century old..!

O.o

So Happy Father's Day and Happy Birthday!

Why does my dad's b'day always fall on Daddies Day..?thank you for everything you've done for me, blessed me with, and the continuous joy( and nagging) that you bring to me and LX. Haha now that I'm here cannot nag me anymore..

In the boat on the way to floating market,
- Bangkok, Dec06 -

In front of the longest tree in the world. Heck, that tree is really really long.
- Guangzhou, Dec06 -

In front of ancestral home
- Guangzhou, Dec06-

Saturday, June 16, 2007

How many ppl can be proud of a 1.3mp camera phone ?


I know I can.

I insist you click on the pic to see its full magnificence. Oh boyy autumn those were the days..

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Dewpoint - 6.7°

Bahh, at this temp means i can only stay in me room. Cannot even go to the lounge for ME FOOD unless I wanna die a COLD death.

I need more Mother™.

Hate overnighting I tell you.

When I go back to kl, I promise to NOT complain about 32°, how hot it is everyday etc.

Hmph.

But does that change anything for now ? Doubt so.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Inspiration

Don't know what got me into blogging bout this, probably the exam stress i guess. Not even s'posed to touch the computer in fact. But then, I see I get easily distracted. Anyway,

I got to learn more about a certain Tibetan Buddhist monk. His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His teachings and his quotes do inspire. They really do.

I first learnt about him when I bought a poster of all his famous quotes and its hanging behind my room door now. :-) Every day I take some time to look at it and ponder on the depth of those words..

Ahh, my favourite quote by him and if you have my msn you already know:
" Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. "

So true in so many ways. But this is what he had to say which I got from here

Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.


I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion, and elimination of ignorance, selfishness, and greed.


I am open to the guidance of synchronicity, and do not let expectations hinder my path.


I am a simple Buddhist monk.


Human beings are of such nature that they should have not only material facilities but spiritual sustenance as well. Without spiritual sustenance, it is difficult to get and maintain peace of mind.


From the viewpoint of absolute truth, what we feel and experience in our ordinary daily life is all delusion. Of all the various delusions, the sense of discrimination between oneself and others is the worst form, as it creates nothing but unpleasantness for both sides. If we can realize and meditate on ultimate truth, it will cleanse our impurities of mind and thus eradicate the sense of discrimination. This will help to create true love for one another. The search for ultimate truth is, therefore, vitally important.


I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.


Each of us in our own way can try to spread compassion into people’s hearts. Western civilizations these days place great importance on filling the human “brain” with knowledge, but no one seems to care about filling the human “heart” with compassion. This is what the real role of religion is.


I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we all are seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness…


Be kind whenever possible…It is always possible.

Basically we are all the same human beings with the same potential to be a good human being or a bad human being ... The important thing is to realize the positive side and try to increase that; realize the negative side and try to reduce. That's the way.


As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery…we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger and attachment, fear and suspicion, while love, compassion, and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.


All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness ... the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.


As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery… we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.


A new way of thinking has become the necessary condition for responsible living and acting. If we maintain obsolete values and beliefs, a fragmented consciousness and self-centered spirit, we will continue to hold onto outdated goals and behaviors. Such an attitude by a large number of people would block the entire transition to an interdependent yet peaceful and cooperative global society.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.


For those who may not find happiness to exercise religious faith, it's okay to remain a radical atheist, it's absolutely an individual right, but the important thing is with a compassionate heart -- then no problem.


In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.


We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.


The Dalai Lama was in Melbourne yesterday, and he is coming to Sydney. I might even go for his talk. Yepp, the Australian tour here.

I feel motivated. And inspired :D

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Exam period

Regarding the above title, yeaaa..

hmm, its already week 14..

i.e last week of lects n tutes..

quite the sad. hate parting n shite.

such sweet sorrow

even though ur not close to the ppl there

just got to know them what..

14 weeks (3+ months) is just a too short time to get to know ppl don't u think?

so yea applause applause for all the lecturers

exchanging msn's and contacts with ppl u've gotten to know..

and finally CRUNCH time

wait i think my last few posts were similar

but haven't exactly felt the pressure yet

WHY LA WHY?

i NEED the stress

but then like no one around me is like that

so oh wells

but Owh owh

when u feel like you've lost hope of ever waking up on time nemore (:s)

feel like u've lost the motivation to study..

wait did it ever come?

it's times like these you realise how useful and lucky u r to have ur hsemates

ONE offers to keep ur AC (adaptor for lappie)

so u know u can only survive on the lappie for so long, and after that, it will conk out. What? give it 4 hours max?

no need to hide the lappie wan, AC is enuff *grins*

And u know its hard to get back anything, for that matter, from this housemate. (based on experience)..

oh oh, PLENTY of experience

your OTHER housemate, seeing that ur alarm is of no use to u anymore,,

placing the phone right next to u, on full volume,

and when it wakes the whole house up,

yes the WHOLE house,

everyone BUT you,

that's when he offers u,

a computer program for setting alarm clock on the comp,

and a collection of his fav DEATH METAL songs..

now now, it won't be that hard to get up anymore should it?

Oh wait, but then I don't have me AC..

ERM? Dilemma..

Hmm...

....

...

What's Plan B again?

.....

swt.


On a diff note,

Handy Andy showed me you-tube videos of this girll...talented young singer..

a lil stiff but very touching the song she sang

Luther Vandross - Dance with my father (I LOVE this song)


Sunday, June 03, 2007

WOO HOO!



Cuz' I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don' t know when I'll be back again...

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Pictures..

Lynda sends me some cute funny pics in my e-mail..xD








And talking bout sales, I need MORE retail therapy :P