Bear & Cat Talk

Cat always says the Bear has a lot of funny sound effect. After some time, the Cat got influenced as well.

Cat: Do u know there's another bus crash incident and caused the loss of another life?
Bear: Yah, I read about that. Where is it ar?
Cat: It's near Kelantan there.
Bear: Maybe we should think about our plan to take bus down to KL at the end of September for Papakochan's wedding.
Cat: No, don't take bus... Let's just drive down to KL.
Bear: Oh if you're willing to drive then it's better. More convenient ma. I scared tired only.
Cat: Can la... We drive down la.. [Doing the driving action] Onk onk onk onk onk...
Bear: Hehe... Ei Cat, why is driving sound onk onk onk??
Cat: [Grinning] I don't know leh....
Bear: Cat, the driving got onk onk sound, is it because the steering spoilt already?
Cat: [Started laughing] Maybe the absorber spoilt la... Hahahahaha....

Chinese Learning

EG's mandarin has improved a lot ever since we were together. Now, he could communicate better. The most recent "exam" that he took - fetching & talking to 4 uncles & aunties from Miri without me in the car - has also proven that his Chinese level has improved tremendously. Thanks to ME!!!

There are a lot of incidents when he realised that knowing how to read has a lot of advantages. He has been talking about learning how to write and the plan for the learning has been delaying and delaying, until we walked into Popular last Sunday.

I remember when I was in primary school, I used to write a lot of chinese words in a kind of exercise book that also taught you the strokes of the words (笔顺）. I thought that will be a good start for EG. I was browsing through all the exercise books that I could get from him at Primary 1 section. To my surprise, kids nowadays are very smart. Primary 1 books now are very much more difficult than my time! They have comprehension with questions to answer. 20 years back, I think every chapter only has les than 15 characters

But anyway, I found two books that is quite useful for him to start.

Cover of the books

Contents - Looks Familiar?

EG started writing one page last night, and seriously speaking, his hand writing was not too bad and he's really paying attention to the strokes & the vocabulary.

EG's hand writing - Not bad right? :P

So, I am his chinese teacher at home. He called me "deng lao shi" (邓老师), made it funnier and more interesting. I tried to be strict and told him I'll give him spelling test anytime. And if he didn't write it well, I'd ask him to erase all and re-write everything.

But being as cheeky as he always be, he started to ask stupid questions...

EG (with hamsap look): deng lao shi, ni you nan peng you ma? (邓老师，你有男朋友吗?)

*FAINT*...

Happy 10th Birthday, EPCC

EPCC - my church in PG - celebrated its 10th year anniversary last weekend.

I couldn't make it for the celebration. However, I had a glimpse on the program of the anniversary celebration. I could feel the excitement of the whole church for celebrating the day.

I watched the EPCC 10th year anniversary video done by our Media Ministry Team leader posted at his website. I was truly touched by all these people who never gave up on the tough job - growing EPCC from 5 members to 700 members as of now. That's definitely not an easy job.

One of the many many things that I have always been grateful after I moved to PG was that, finally, I am back to church again after almost 10 years.

Happy Birthday EPCC. YOU ROCK!

轻松。。。 真正的感觉

上个星期，放工回家后，发现手提电脑坏了。

结果
该回复的电邮没办法回
该调查的问题没办法调查
该主持的会议没办法主持
没办法 check email
没办法和身在别的国家的同事跟进issue
没办法知道今天我所support的system有没有问题

一切只能等到第二天。

既然什么都不能做
我... 决定不管了
有人说过这世上没有什么能让地球停止转动
所以... 我....
安心的看电视
安心的睡觉
悠然, 慢慢的起身
慢条斯理的准备上班
轻松的欣赏路边的人, 物, 景

好久没有这种轻松的感觉. 原来真正放开的感觉是那么的... 爽!

后来
手提电脑修好了
恢复忙碌生活
在公司不停的读电邮, 回电邮
放工回家继续读电邮, 回电邮
看电视时想着如何回复电邮
睡觉前看看support的application有没有问题
起身后第一件事又是去读电邮
匆匆忙忙洗刷装扮
快车到公司主持/出席会议

忙... 茫... 盲

难怪现在的人越来越多病... 越来越短命...

Role Switching Game

I was playing a game with EG last night. We called it Role Switching.

It's a simple game. I just try to behave and talk like him, and he'll do the other way round. For e.g., he asked me what I was doing at my laptop (which I normally will ask him), and I answered him some stupid answer like - something nothing to do with u la... (which he'll normally answer me).

It was funny and things got more interesting.

Then we tried to dig out some other conversation that we had before. For instance, I'll normally start my conversation with some cheeky openings, like "Can I tell you something?... but you don't scold me ok...?". And I'll try to react to EG the way he normally does - "Mai luan la (don't make big fuss :P)", "shut up la..." and etc.

We can really imitate each other. We both had a good laugh.

Then, after the game, we found out how each other feel when we answered or treated each other in this way. And in a way, it can help us to know each other more.

We often take people around us for granted, or treated them badly. When we put ourselves in their shoes, and then we might be able to see things in different perspective and we might behave differently as well.

I wonder, if I can play this game with my boss, how nice that will be! :D

How to Forgive

I have been very angry. Have been complaining. Have been feeling frustrated. For some little things that happened to me. For some little things that someone said that provoked me. For a lot of things.

I asked, how do we, as Christian, deal with these situations? How do we forgive those people who keeps provoking us, again and again?

Until I got the email from my CG member...

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job.

His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him.

He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment and frustration.

Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:

"Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how.

It is not fair Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing I cannot do - Teach me To Forgive."

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt.

He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.

He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.

"Have you ever told a lie?" He asked.

The man answered - "yes, Lord."

"Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?"

The man answered - " yes. Lord." And the man sobbed more and more.

"Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?" Jesus asked?

And the man answered - "yes, Lord."

"Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain? The man, crying now, answered - "yes, Lord."

As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer - "yes, Lord."

Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.

Jesus said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you."

It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is.

Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.

If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.

When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!

My lovely Marcus

Everytime when I show my family pictures to my friend, I get the same response. "Is that your youngest brother? Oh my god he's so big already... How old is he now?". Then, I'll proudly say, he's in Form 5 now. Then, the same comment will come again.. "Gosh, the last time I heard you talking about him was when he was in Primary 3 and he was still a boy....." and it goes on and on.

True enough, time flies. When I left my hometown to Uni, Marcus, my youngest bro, was only 8 years old. He's 10 years younger than me. I used to take care of him - feeding him, bathed him, changed him, almost everything. And now, look, the boy that I used to carry in my arm is now 1 head taller than me.

Why is Marcus lovable? When his teeth started to grow, I realised his teeth look like mine. We both have rabbit teeth! Since then, he became my favorite brother.

I have a lot of fond memories on Marcus when he was young. He used to be silly and stupid - as in very easily tricked. Of course, I am 10 years older than him! However, now he has grown up, my tricks just don't work anymore. And he's 10x smarter than me now!

My memories with Marcus
---------------------------------
1. Marcus is very ticklish. He couldn't stand it when others start to tickle him, and I love to do that. I don't even need to have my fingers on his body. I just need to show my moving fingers, as if I am telling him.. "Hey.. I am coming.." and he'll laugh until he lost his breath, and until my mum started to scream as he has asthma.

2. I have to guide him doing his homework when he was in primary school. Being a boy, he always got distracted. To keep his interest in completing his work, I had no choice but came out with some tricks. For e.g., opening a can of coke and told him.. OK whenever u finish copying 10 words, you get to drink one sip of the coke. When you finish, the whole can is yours! It worked wonders then!

3. When he was 6, I saw him coming out from the kitchen holding a cup. "What's that?" I asked. He held the cup closer to his mouth, and said "Plain water" and he finished the drink. Later only I found out, it was sprite! One year later, I bought some fries for him from Mc Donald (I had to do that to get him to go out with me!). While I was driving to pick my sis, he was feeding me his fries. I asked him, "Do you remember that you never share food with me last time?". He said, "really?" And gave a mischievous smile!

4. When I went home during my semester break, he told me he scored only 70% for his BM paper. "That's lousy! I always scored >90% when I was at your age!" I told him. He said, "The questions are really tough you know. Let me test you!" And he started to take it out and read the questions to me. Of course I could answer them. Then he said.. "Hmm... you're really quite smart....". He was 10. I was 20.

5. The same year, I brought him for his first movie in cinema. He was excited! He has never been to cinema before. He asked me, so do we get to buy pop corn and coke when we visit the cinema? I was shocked, and asked, how did you know? You never been there before. He answered me, it's shown in the TV. I told him, Well, you know this is Miri. There's no pop corn and coke in Miri's cinema. He just kept silence and accepted the truth. Anyway, in the end, he got his pop corn and coke during the movie.

The list can go on and on. I told someone before, I wish I could go back to the time when Marcus was growing up. I missed seeing him growing up from a boy, to a man (maybe not yet a man?).

Now that he's half way grown up (:P), he'll soon be leaving the family and going to explore the other phases of his life. The thought of him be far away somewhere hurts me everytime. Anyway, as a sister, I'll always love him like when he was as cute as 5, because he's just so lovable!

Bear & Cat Talk

The Bear was accompanying The Cat to the bank to withdraw some money from the ATM machine.

Cat: Did you realize that everytime when we take money from ATM machine, your ATM card will come out first then only followed by the money?
Bear: Ya hor...
Cat: Don't understand why they want to do this. Why can't the money come out first, then only the ATM card?
Bear: Maybe they want to make sure you remember to take the ATM card.
Cat: Hmm?
Bear: Ya, because you'll never forget to take your money. So your card should come out first before your money so that you won't forget to take your card.
Cat: Ya hor! Bear why are you so smart today?! I never know you can be so smart!!
Bear: Hey com'on. I was a Business Analyst before. I drew process flows! Duh~!!

The Cat was hungry. The Bear was preparing to cook a simple fried omelets with ham as an extra dish for dinner.

Cat: <Beating the eggs & adding soy sauce into the beaten eggs>
Bear: Eeee? How do you know you should put soy sauce into eggs?
Cat: Of course I know la... It makes the eggs taste saltier and nicer.
Bear: I thought you won't know since you don't cook...
Cat: Com'on. I know more things that you don't know.
Bear: Yeah right. You don't know about the ATM machine.
Cat: Yah except that one since I was never a BA! Sometimes you can be quite smart also.
Bear: OK, enough. Shut up!

Friends

It has been a very hectic month.

Anyway, it has been a great month as well after all the rushings.

I got to meet up a lot of my old friends, and also new friends from other countries during my business trip. All of them light up my life in a special way & added extra sweet memories into my life.

During my friend's wedding, I never expect to bump into the other 3 of my ex-colleagues from my first job in Vietnam. What a great meet up even though we just talked to each other for less than 20 minutes!

My pretty girl friends & the groom

After the dinner, I met up with my two zi muis (aka sister) for supper. The last time when I met them (if I am not mistaken) was >1 year ago! The meet up was great and we enjoyed all our gossiping & updating.

My sexy zi muis

I flew to Philippines for my business trip on the very next day. I met up with a few of fun friends from Costa Rica. We had great talkings, laughings & dancings together after the daily tiring meeting. Even till now, some of the jokes still crack me into laughter whenever I think about it!

A real funny guy

A very good looking manager & talented singer

After I came back from my business trip, my uni friends came to PG and visited us (those who work in PG) and we had a good time hanging out till 2am for 2 nights continuously! I felt like I am 20 years old again!

Hanging out @ the beach....

Besides, I also met up with others that I didn't take pictures with.

All the gatherings / meeting up make me feel great. Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts.

Life is just great with friends around us. Don't you agree? :)

W.H.Y?

Have not been blogging for almost a month.

Life have been terribly busy & stressful for this whole month.

I over stress myself, causes big ulcer that prohibited me from eating for few days while I am on my business trip (it's really the worst thing you can have since you can't taste anything that company pays for you!), blur like a "sotong" (squid), prolonged headache and stiff neck & shoulders.

I sacrifice my time, my sleep, my health and all my attention to things that no one appreciates (I think), and yet I am still doing it. WHY?

Sometimes I wonder, whether it is worth it to live in this way?

Ya, the answer is NO it's not worth it. But, can I choose not to live in this way?

I don't know.

I guess, I over stress myself again!

Full House

I have not been watching series for a long time. I wasn't Rain's fan also even though i heard of his names 2 years ago. I remembered when a friend asked me if I know where to get the ticket for Rain's concert, I arrogantly and coolly told him I am not his fans.

Lily lent me Full House series before CNY. It's a very old show, yes I know. I think it was shown in TV8 when I was still working in KL 2 years ago. I didn't have time to watch it, and truthfully speaking, I didn't feel like watching it after too much cryings from the other previous series. It's always sad as the main actor/actress will always die - for all sorts of reasons, such as cancer, accident, etc etc.

Work was too stressful and I finally watched it last weekend to relax myself.

As a very predictable person as usual, you can guess! I LOVE THE SHOW TO BITS!!! Before I finished the series, everytime I wake up in the morning, I think of the show. When I am working, I can't wait to go home to continue my series. I have to finish at least 1 DVD (4 episodes) before I go to sleep. If not because of heavy workload here, I might even watch till 4am just to finish it! I even thought of bringing the DVD to office and watch it. And I watched the last episodes 2 times!! Now you believe how much I love the show? :)

It's a comedy. It's about Rain & Song Hye Kyo got married on a contract, with their own hidden purposes, but later on fell in love to each other. Standard plot, I know. But when I watched it, my feeling grows as their feelings for each other grow naturally, from hatred on each other, to concern and slowly become love. It's just too sweet for me to take it. Too sweet!

My emotion followed the series. Whenever Song Hye Kyo cries, I'll also cry, so badly till I got headache the next day and gave EG a big shocked as he never thought I could cry that bad over a series! I can feel her heart pain and the hurt when Rain was trying to deny his feelings for her. Their behaviors which truly show their love for each others unconsciously are just so natural that it can easily bring a smile or even tears to my face. When Rain finally faces himeself and confesses his love to Song Hye Kyo, I almost melted. Is this a girl's thing again? Hmmm...

Anyway, now, Rain's stupid smiling face is stucked in my head. I can't get him out. He's not a romantic guy in this series, but at least he's cute, very cute, and very the-man. *Blushed*

Word can't describe how much I love the series, you got to watch it yourself. If I like Sonria Pasta for 80%, then I LOVE Full House for 200%!! For those who love romantic comedy, this is definitely not a miss!! You just have to watch it!

EG? Ahh... He asked me never watch this kind of series anymore as it's affecting our relationship. *wink*.

My First Lucky Draw

I never win a lucky draw in my life before. I never win any lottery as well. My car plate number never appears on the Magnum or Toto result board before. Somehow, I have accepted the fate that I will never have the luck to win anything without spending effort on it. That's why I don't gamble because I know I won't win.

I used to read Nu You (Chinese version of Female) last year. I bought the magazine every month and for once, out of the blue, I submitted the lucky draw forms attached at the back of the September 2006 Nu You. I submitted 5 different forms in total, prizes include perfumes, one night stay @ Genting, etc.

I forgot about it totally after few weeks.

Last few weeks, I got a letter from Blu Inc (publisher of Nu You) and it said I was selected as one of the 40 lucky winners for a Wacoal hamper worth of RM120. Note: HAMPER.

Since I cannot claim the HAMPER from KL, so I paid the money order and asked them to post it to me. After 2 weeks (TODAY), they sent it to my office and I got a PARCEL.

So, what do you think WACOAL will give me? Hehe....

This is the parcel that I got.

Before I open it, I kept trying to guess what's in the parcel by feeling it through the plastic, hoping I don't feel any wire. (You should know what I mean... :P)

Viola! My first "sleeping dress"!

I had a peep when I was in the office. I didn't dare to take it out as I wouldn't know how my colleagues will response. I couldn't believe that this piece of thin cloth cost RM120!!

Anyway, this is my first lucky draw that I have ever won after living for 26 years. An early wedding present?! Way too early!! EG said it looks very old, like an auntie. You think so?! Guess I'll give it to my mum!

Visual DNA

EG told me he added a new post in his blog and asked me to go and have a look. He said it's interesting. As being obedient as usual, I did. :P.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

As a result, I find it really quite interesting as I always wish to know more of myself and often get fascinated by those surveys or horoscope thingy that could actually assess me accurately.

OK a quick summary of my visual DNA:

Mood: Easy Rider
Always taking life how it comes, and living in the moment. They don't get fazed by life.. they just breeze through.
Penguin~: Ok, this is somewhat true....

Habit: High Time Roller
They are only seen in the best, and the finest, they love top quality, high-end glamour. Always adding a touch of sophistication to the proceedings.
Penguin~: Erm... I didn't know this... You think so?

Fun: Escape Artist
They are forever slipping off, getting away from the rat race, and recharging those batteries. Independent, and thoughtful - they know themselves well
Penguin~: Erm...?

Love: Love Bug (I like this!!)
They are the type to fall in love a thousand times a day. Their feelings snowball quickly, and they are full of passion
Penguin~: Oo-Ou... This is not the first time I get this kind of result. Doesn't sound like a good thing right? :P

Hmm, I am not sure if all these are true. You can give it a try by just clicking on the title. I have embedded the link. Have fun knowing yourself more!!

Sonria Pasta / 微笑Pasta

I have been noticing about this Taiwanese series showing in Astro AEC from 9pm - 10pm daily. My first impression on the movie was, another lame movies with lame jokes and lame conversations, or another Meteor Garden (which I was once fell in love with).

When I have the control of TV remote at home, I don't know why but I'll switch to this channel and watch it. And guess what, OK, I am addicted to it now.

It's a sweet movie. OK, like I said, the plot might be lame, but things that they said touched my heart. It's really sweet and I can easily fall for all these things. I don't know why, but it's just ME.

In Sonria Pasta, it's about a sweet "war" between Cindy Ong and Nicholas Teo. They quarrel everyday, but yet they like each other so much till they want to force each other to confess. It brings a smile to my face after a hectic day. Somehow, I think I been through that when I was once young. Another thing that touches my heart is how supportive Cindy's family is in the movie, that caused her to be so determined in everything that she does, no matter how stupid it is.

All in all, I am touched, by all the little little things that are done by both Cindy and Nicholas to show their love to each other, subconsciously -- that's the sweetest part. As said, to touch someone's heart, you do not need to do any big things, but it's the small small little things that will touch them deeply. I think, it's fully shown in this series.

And I also fell in love with the ending songs - 北极星的眼泪. I managed to download it this morning, and I'll just keep listening for the whole day, week, or even months, till I am bored. Well, that's just ME again.

Alright, it's just a girl thing then.

2007 New Year Shang Hai Trip

For the whole February, I think I spent half of the month overseas. 4 days after I came back from Cavite, I flew off to KL to meet my family and flew to China – Shang Hai to spend our Chinese New Year this year.

This is the first time my whole family went for a trip together so all of us were kinda excited. The tour agency told us that the weather in Shang Hai will be cold and we’re fully prepared with all our winter clothing, gloves, scarves, socks and everything that can keep ourselves warm.

It was 8 days 6 nights trip (2 nights on the flight) and I really enjoyed it. I have always been fascinated by China histories, and when I went to the real place, the feeling was just indescribable and I was just amazed and enjoyed the stories told by all the China tour guides when we visited each place. Believe it or not, I actually bought a notebook to write down the stories when we went to all the places as I really wish to remember all of them.

Of course we did not spend our full 8 days in Shang Hai itself. We also went to other places around Shang Hai, i.e. 苏州 (Su Zhou), 无锡 (Wu Xi), 南京 (Nan Jing), 杭州 (Hang Zhou). The places are full of people and the mood for Chinese New Year was just great. You can see lanterns everywhere, and fireworks almost every night. Besides, it’s winter (3 degrees to 10 degrees) and it’s really a total different experience for my whole family. Besides, our mandarin improves tremendously after the trip as the local tour guide used the most correct mandarin while explaining. My family had a real tough time understanding their mandarin as all the 8 words, 16 words, or even 32 words idioms / poems came out in almost all their sentences! LOL....

I can't tell you all the details of my trip. It'll take few days. So, enough crap. Picture time.

Our flight was at 2am on 15th Feb. The flight took 5 hours and we reached China Pudong Airport at around 7am+. And straight away we started our visitings.

Clockwise from top left: View from the flight at 5+am, @ airport waiting for our tour bus, my parents in Pudong Airport, a glimpse of Shang Hai traffic


Clockwise from top left: 上海城隍庙，上海黄浦公园，猪脚，苏州古运河

Top: They said Emperor Qian Long was lost here for 2 hours, 蚕丝(silk worm?)
Bottom: Fantastic place where the Romance of Three Kingdoms was filmed.

The only fireworks pic captured by my bravo bro and sis by standing outside the hotel, freezing and shaking, in the middle of the night on first day of CNY.

Clockwise from top left: They said this is the 8th son of the dragon, Nan Jing's rocks with the names on it, Hang Zhou Tea Farm, Hang Zhou Xi Hu

Last but not least: Shang Hai Night Views

During the trip, we had 2 digital cameras, and guess how many pictures we took for the 8 days trip? 1200++ pics, about a total of 1.6GB. Hmm... I am still thinking of how to filter the pictures to share with other friends. I guess I'll just share through my blog. :D

OK, finally all my holidays are over! It's time to concentrate in work as there're tonnes of things waiting for me to complete!!

Oh ya, before I forgot my promise on my Oakley's picture:

My sister, my china tour guide, me with my Oakley and my mum

Lastly, before the CNY ends, Gong Xi Fa Caii to everyone. Wish all of you have a blessed new year in 2007!

Trip to Manila / Cavite *again*

I just came back from Manila last night. And yes, this is the 2nd time I went to Manila to attend a training in Cavite. Despite the fact that we only have 5 hours sleep as we need wake up at 4.30+am to get onto the shuttle at 5.30am (the journey from Makati - Cavite is 1.5 to 2 hours..), the two trips are totally different experiences.

The first time when I went in March 2006, I did a lot of shopping and spent most of my times walking around the shopping malls near Makati - i.e. Glorietta and Greenbelt. The shopping malls are classy, big, and with great sales. We had good food and took a lot of pictures with a few great restaurants.

As for this time, it was a totally different experience as I went again with two of my good friends from Kulim and ChengDu. We have decided to be more adventurous by going around Manila. On the first Sunday, we took a taxi down to Intramurus. We walked around the area for almost 2 hours (it's a BIG circle) and we went pass a few old churches, and Fort Santiago. The weather was not as hot as I experienced last year. The locals said it's the cold weather now so it's quite a pleasant walk around that area. I have taken some pictures at that area.

San Augustin Church outside.

San Augustin Church inside.
Someone just had a wedding there.

Fort Santiago @ Intramurus

We walked on it. It felt real good as you can see great views over the fort.

Views over the fort. A lot of couples were dating there.
The weather was good with fresh, cooling breeze. The walk was just very relaxing.

The grand old Manila Catheral

On Thursday, we went to another place in Manila which is called Quiapo. It's a free market underneath the bridge. Apparently, the hotel people was telling us it's not recommended as it's kind of crowded and it's not safe. But, being adventurous, we got on a taxi and went there after our breakfast (Training was in the afternoon). I won't say it's impressive but it's another experience. There's a market nearby so it's dirty, smelly, crowded, and hot. I had to be very careful when I am walking as there are pot holes everywhere and you wouldn't want to step on any unpleasant things.

One of the streets @ Quiapo Ilalim

Clockwise from top left: Quiapo Church, Statues of Christ, Street snapshot, Kids playing on streets

On Friday, most of us have used up all our cash. We wanted to go somewhere further or different, but the day tour was just out of our budget (~USD100 per head). Besides, the weather also turned hot. So, we only went to China Street at 4pm. Well, all I can say it, it's quite a bad experience. The place is crowded, noisy and smelly. And the place was just filthy with all sort of people all around. Buses and jeepneys stopping everywhere and shouting for passengers. I had to be extra alert while I was walking as I could trip anytime. The shops are small, and you have to give way everywhere you walk. It's just not a very pleasant experience.

Clockwise from top left: Statue of Ong Pin (I guess it's a hero), carriage on the street, fire engine out of no way, Binondo's church

On the street in China Town - looks crowded to you?

Welcome to Manila China Town

Lastly, when we tried to get a cab back to our hotel, we couldn't get a taxi. How great right? Ended up we stood and waved for almost an hour then only we managed to get into a taxi, and paid the driver almost double the taxi fare as he said the traffic to Makati is terrible. Out of desperation, we did. Anyway, the taxi fare wasn't that expensive.

I can't imagine that I need to go there again in April. It will be my third time in Manila again and tell you what, I have decided to stay just in the Hotel and maybe just do a little shopping like dried mangoes and pearls. I am not coming out ANYMORE!!!!!!

Grow Old With You

I like this song. It's so cute. :)

Grow Old With You (by Adam Sandler)
I wanna make you smile whenever you're sad
Carry you around when your arthritis is bad
All I wanna do is grow old with you

I'll get your medicine when your tummy aches
Build you a fire if the furnace breaks
Oh it could be so nice, growing old with you

I'll miss you
I'll kiss you
Give you my coat when you are cold

I'll need you
I'll feed you
Even let ya hold the remote control

So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink
Put you to bed if you've had too much to drink
I could be the man who grows old with you
I wanna grow old with you

So sweet... *blush*

后悔

曾经，自大的说，我的字典里没有后悔这两个字。

曾经，自大的说，所有发生的事情背后都有它的原因。

曾经，不可一世的说，不要回头后悔，要勇往直前面对未来。

事实上，当意料不到的事情发生时，一切已经后悔也来不及了。

第一次深深感受到如此的无助。

狠狠的哭，后悔，懊悔，忏悔。

无补于事。

如果一切可以重来，那，结果会不一样吗？

曾经何时，也说过，这世界上是没有如果的。

歌

那天，找到了旧的CD。里头有周惠和燕姿的MP3，让我忆起在越南工作的时候　－　那时的伤心，压力，沮丧，放弃的心情，仿佛我又回到那时的生活。

我喜欢在工作时听歌，陶醉在自己的世界。喜欢听伤感但却又有震撼的歌词。就像周惠的这首：

话题

面对面坐着的是不是你,
爱情还在不在进行.
想问你是不是想要放弃,
却害怕你也在问自己.
分手是我们唯一的话题,
却没有人愿意提起.
如果一开口变成了结局,
我的心就会离开身体活在过去.
爱不爱结果都叫人伤心,
我不知道该怎么做决定;
分手应该是要先哭泣,还是先忘记.
你是否也有相同的难题,
你的勇气里有我的命运,
我不知道你会不会决定.
我想我现在还不够清醒,
该爱着你,该离开你,
还是继续--逃避

听了应该有３年了吧。还是那么喜欢。多么真实地感觉。多么震撼。尤其是那句　“你的勇气里有我的命运”。

燕姿的我不难过也是一首让我深深感动的一首歌。

又站在你家的门口 我们重复沉默
这样子单方面的守侯 还能多久
终于你开口向我诉说她有多温柔
虽然你还握着我的手 但我已不在你心中
我真的懂 你不是喜新厌旧
是我没有陪在你身边当你寂寞时候
别在看着我说着你爱过 别伤痛
我不难过 这不算什么
只是为什么眼泪会流 我也不懂
就让我走 让我开始享受自由
回忆很多 你的影子也会充满我生活
我并不懦弱 你比谁都懂
虽然寂寞 这会是我最后的宽容
抱紧我 再抱紧我
这一份感动 请你让我留在胸口
别再说是你的错
爱到了尽头 是非对错 就让它随风
忘了所有 过得比你快活
不要再说 或许这是最好的结果
现在分手 总好过你不爱我一拖再拖
松开你的手 离开你左右 我向前走
这会是我 真正的解脱

多么真实。每次听到这首歌，我的心里就会有一股暖流流过。那种感觉，非笔墨能形容。

最近吹起了失恋风。常常听到谁谁失恋了。希望失恋的人们能重新找到他们新的目标，重新站起来，面对更多的未来。也祝福那些在热恋的情人们能恩恩爱爱，长长久久。大家加油！

The Flight That Fought Back

I was watching Discovery Channel in Astro last night.

The title of the show was “The Flight That Fought Back”. On 11th September, 2001 attacks (also known as 9/11), the terrorists hijacked 4 flights. Two crashed into World Trade Centre, one crashed to Pentagon and one more - United Airlines 93 – crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

In the show, they reconstructed what happened on United Airlines 93 from the phone calls the passengers and the crews made through the GTE airphones. They played the actual recording of the phone calls.

Those on that flight fought back, as stated in the title. They fought against the terrorists and took the last bet trying to save their own lives.

Everyone knows the ending of the show. Everyone knows that there’s no survivor from the crash.

It really moved my heart. I feel so sad everytime when I tried to imagine how they felt on the plane when those on the flight called their loved ones – their partners, their families – to tell them they love them at the very last moment of their lives. My heart aches everytime I recalled the looks in their families’ eyes when they tried to recall the incident that day – when their love ones called them from that flight.

My imagination started to run wild and I started to think what’d I do if I am on that flight? Who would I call? What would I say?

I just… feel so sad….

Life is just so unpredictable. No one in the flight would even expect that. I remembered one of the passengers said “I can’t believe that this happened to me”. We never know what’s going to happen in the very next seconds.

So, like what a friend told me before, live everyday as if it were your last, then you’ll appreciate more.