Yesterday's 1Joke : 10 Sep 2011

Wonder why are there so many funny stories coming up in our country. I think I can soon compile a list of the jokes since the 8 Mar 2008 tsunami. More significant ones were happening in the past 2 years.

I just read another that I do not know will cause any change in the history text books or Muzium Negara exhibits or not. Now only we knew that our country was not ruled at all by British before!! This was informed to us proudly by Prof Zainal Kling that I saw in Malaysiakini.

Picking up a line from those commentator in the Malaysiakini website (which sounded very much true), then why are we celebrating Merdeka?? If we are not sick, we don't go to see doctor. If we are all this while independent, then why need to celebrate Independence le??

Another thing, he mentioned that our history books are wrong and need to be corrected. Then my question is, why only now this was voiced out when he should have known it for a long time? Is it because there is this controversial discussion happening lately? Or because this is a scam to further change our history? How come this was not announced by our famous Prof Khoo since he's a historian?

Does this also mean that Malaysia has been joining the Commonwealth Games and CHOGM meetings illegally?  

Relief

What an encouraging and motivating piece of news for a jaded person like me. This should be the pushing factor to rethink and re-strategize. At the moment, I should discard fear, and dream of tasting the grass outside the compound.

This should also be the relief to the grief that was voiced out in the previous post.

New slogan to tag onto the heart: "I Am Not An Important Person, But What I Do Is Important". Ganbatte kudasai!

Difficult Times

It has been a difficult one year for me, work wise. Felt like I've lost and continue losing lots of things in life. Gone are the days when jogging, exercising, blogging, joining contest, researching and writing articles, and traveling are part of my life. It is now limited to work stuff. Still figuring out how to stay away or leave this threadmill. Would rather suffer similar difficulties but on my own treadmill. At least if there is bonus after each run, it belongs to me wholly.

Stockholm Beauty

Some sharing of the beautiful Stockholm cityscape during the winter and what makes Swedish design so good to own. Hope there's another chance to go back there next year.

> Stockholm city view from top of the bridge at Slussen

> Reputed to be the most interesting shopping centre: NK

> Creatively decorated metro stations at Hornstull

Morby Centrum

T-Centralen 

 

> Swedish design products

 

 

> 7-Eleven

> The shop that we missed: Nordiska Galleriet

> Made in Stockholm product: Absolut Vodka

Felt Sad For Japan

Before the big magnitude 9.0 earthquake happened in Japan on 11 March, there was a quite big one that occurred on 9 March that scaled at magnitude 7.2. Considering all the events that turned up from 9 March till today (17 days time), this ranked as the worse event of the year.

Normally, we only heard about earthquake, and at most with tsunami coming in after that. But this time in Japan, particularly Sendai and Fukushima area, they had 2 big earthquakes, followed by tsunami, knocked-out nuclear plant, radioactive exposure, regulated electricity supply, limited clean food and water supply, and cold weather. Translated into human form, it means getting cold, fever, cough, measles, sore throat, back ache, and stomach ache one after another. Until today, the fear on radioactive exposure is still present and no one can answer when the problem will be solved.

My wife was one of them who got to experience the earthquake, though not during the first tremor. She had seen how cars can swerve on the road, how chaotic the traffic was after the earthquake, how inconvenient not to have phone to use, how scary to feel 16 times of tremor at 8th floor of the hostel, and how discipline, organized and calm the Japanese responded and reacted after the earthquake.

She was considered lucky because when the main tremor started, she was far away on the south western side of Tokyo. She and her group of colleagues reached the hostel in Tokyo safely and managed to miss the heavy traffic jam and road blocks that happened soon after. They eventually got out of Tokyo via Narita airport after stranded for 2 days. After she got back, more bad news about the explosion and nuclear radiation leakage came out and affecting the livelihood of the Japanese. It was also fortunate that her overseas course was planned for 2 weeks, and the disasters happened on the last few days. Imagine if they had another week to complete the course, and all they can do is to stay indoor with limited electricity, risk of another earthquake, further exposure to the radiation and potentially dangerous food supply.

Today's 1Joke : 23 March 2011

This was the news of the day yesterday, and another that involved DS Anwar Ibrahim. I just do not understand the Malaysian law because no action is or will be taken to someone or a group of people who played porno video clips to the general public, for confessing of having possession of porno video clips, and openly said they are involved in filming someone in private (or voyeuring).

It seems like politics is above everything because people are allowed to do such things when you are on the "right" side. Remember Gary Ng, who was caught and put behind the bars for filming his own "adventures" and possessing porno video clips, and the HK guy who was caught for releasing Edison Chen's photos.

Kita memang Boleh!

Back From Cold Winter

Got back from another once in a lifetime experience trip to Stockholm. It was the 2nd time going there on business trip during winter, but I do hope the 3rd time would happen in summer or spring time. Going there in winter was a big challenge for us, Malaysians especially when we were exposed to the chilling wind and winter temperature of between -5 and -10 degrees. On our last day there, the temperature dipped to -18 degrees. Even Stockholmers thought we were tough and surprised that our winter clothes can keep us warm.

We took the cheapest way to go to city centre from Arlanda Airport, that was by Swebus that only cost SEK89. It is advisable to either purchase the ticket online or from the counter because buying from the driver cost an unbelievable SEK110. The place to stop is Central Station, which consists of train and bus station, and metro on the opposite.

We had only few days in Stockholm, and covering Gamla Stan (Old Town) and visiting design-related shops were our other targets. Of course, first priority was to finish off our work and do what we were assigned to do. This time, I didn't find Gamla Stan as interesting as the first trip. We reached early, but found almost all the shops were not opened until 10am.

The things in Stockholm were extremely expensive, and I think our high paid executives will also feel the pinch. This made us think that shopping in Malaysia is still not too bad, but better still if it was done in Thailand. This was also why Swedish likes to go to Thailand (other than the other reason best known to them).

Some interesting facts were learned this time.
1) There is only 1 company licensed to sell liquor, and Absolut Vodka originated from Stockholm Reimersholme area. However, it was cheaper elsewhere in the world (Thailand airport and Malaysia) than in Stockholm.
2) The things were expensive in Stockholm not because of the taxes imposed on the goods, but because Stockholmers can afford to pay the high prices.
3) Stockholmers seldom eat Swedish food when dining outside, but like Thai, Chinese and Japanese food a lot. Food prices were comparable to those in Hong Kong.
4) You can still find many people using Sony Ericsson handphones, besides iPhone. iPhone is called iFynd in Swedish.


I found 2 reasons why I should visit Stockholm again, and hopefully in next year with my cool colleague. It would be good if we could extend my visit to cover Copenhagen or Oslo.
1) To visit Nordiska Galleriet- a design-themed shop
2) To visit Skansen- an open air museum (not advisable on winter)

Eve of Holiday Is Always the Best

Started my holiday break a week earlier, but it felt like CNY has already started from the first day of my break. I usually worked until the eve of CNY, and when this break came early, the festive mood came early too. As usual everyone was eager, energetic and the festive mood had set in, though the actual day was another 5 days to go. This year, I spent my CNY at Sarikei, and tomorrow it is time to continue celebrating back in my hometown in PJ.

It's true that when New Year comes, you will get to eat stuff that you hardly has chance to taste throughout the year. This year, to me, the main course is the Sarawak layer cake. You can see it in almost all the house, and it is a must have like pineapple tart, prawn keropok or kuih kapit to Klang Valley folks.

Many people may have seen the famous Indonesia layer cake and thought that the Sarawak version looks the same. But they didn't know that Sarawakian are a creative lot, with many unthinkable colors added into the cake such as blue, pink and black. For them, rainbow consists of not only 7 colors. The only downside is the taste, as different colored cakes may end up giving the same taste.

In Klang Valley, green cake is 99% pandan flavour. But in Sarawak, it could also mean peppermint or just plain natural.