How More Actually Means Less

Today we have bigger houses,

and smaller families.

More convenience,

but less time.

We have more degrees,

but less common sense.

More knowledge,

but less judgment.

We have mor experts,

but more problems.

More medicine,

but less wellness.

We spend too recklessly,

Laugh too little,

Drive too fast,
Get too angry too quickly,

Stay up too late,

Read too little,

Watch TV too much,

And pray too seldom!

We've multiplied our possessions,

but reduced our values.

We talk too much,

we love too litle,

and lie too often.

We've learned how to make a living,

but not a life.

We've added years to to life,

but not life to years.

We have taller buildings,

but shorter tempers.

Wider freeways,

but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more,

but have less.

We buy more,

buy enjoy it less.

We've been all the way to  the moon and back,

but have the trouble crossing the street to meet our neighbors.

We've conquered outer space,

but not inner space.

We've split the atom,

but not our prejudice.

We write more,

but learn less.

We plan more,

but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush,

but not to wait.

We have higher incomes,

but lower morals.

We build more computers

to hold more information,

to produce more copies,

but have less communications.

We are long on quantity,

but short on quality.

These are the times

for fast food and slow digestion.

Tall men

and short characters.

More leisure,

and less fun.

More kinds of food,

but less nutrition.

Two incomes,

but more divorces.

Fancier houses,

but broken homes.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

This one is taken from Inspirational Quotes, a FB page I liked:

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday with all its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday had passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. We cannot undo a sinfle act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone forever.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with all its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promises and its poor performance; Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet to be born.

This leaves only one day, Today. Any person can fight the battle of just one day. It is when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down. It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad, it is the remorse or bitterness of something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

Let us, therefore, Live but one day at a time.

I Choose....

Another interesting quotes found from FB:

I choose to live by choice not by chance,

To make changes not excuses,

To be motivated not manipulated,

To be useful not be used

To excel not compete.

I choose self-esteem not self-pity.

I choose to listen to my inner voice

Not the random opinion of others.

Bull Shit!

Those who are close with me know that I have short temper. Sometimes I have greater tolerance but usually when I can't take it any longer, all hell breaks loose. Don't step onto my tail and I won't bite you back!

What the hell! Suddenly called me and asked why issue batch A and not batch B when there is no instruction to say cannot issue batch A. Suddenly said already informed my boss when my boss didn't tell me anything. Last time when asked said customer is ok after blend product 1 with product 2 batch A. So sure la I assume it is ok to give batch A.

I really lashed out at the senior just now. I didn't give face at all. Not done on purpose but I just can't take it when you don't communicate properly and then later you call me to blame me on the spot just like that. It's very rude to talk that loud with such an experienced senior but don't always think you all can treat junior like that.

We also contribute to the company, we are also in the learning process. And most importantly, I am not someone who takes up the entire blame if it's not due to me. Stop that. Real damn pissed off! Arrrrggghhhh!

Bloody hell betul! Where is my EQ. Perhaps today I am not really in a good mood some more. Dahlah the application for CFS from MOH is delayed, this some more! Sorry for the backlash but you deserve it. Though things might be better if I reacted more subtly. Don't care lah.

%$%^*&*^&%^#$%@#%$@#$!@$

Bangkok Trip (20/10/11 - 25/10/11)

 Bangkok 20/10/11 - 25/10/11

1. Taxi from airport - take taxi at the bottom level for metered taxi rather than airport limousine, much cheaper. But another thing you all don't know is that, should ask the driver to use meter. This round, the driver asked me: You want to use meter or flat rate? Lagi tell me it's the same. I know it's not the same and meter is cheaper because the hotel I stay is also near Phrom Phrong station so should be < THB300. But I just let him use flat rate, i.e. THB400. There are two of us so doesn't matter lah, let him untung a bit lah. I think that is why last time my UFM classmates were charged THB450 while I was only charged THB280. Because my taxi driver used meter while theirs don't.

2. Reached Check Inn Phrom Phong, something like apartment suite, but small and a bit old. Overall is OK if not 'yim chim' but I won't really recommend it if you really want good facilities. But the rate is cheap la, ~RM115 for 5 days because I booked through Agoda.com. But I like the staff there. Because it's small, you feel closer to them and imagine my surprise when the manager can speak Mandarin and is a very tall and handsome Thai young guy. I was mesmerised by his 'handsome'ness. Especially his eyes, really knows how to 'fang dian'. The staffs there are helpful, handsome and pretty. I like the people there. I thought wanna take picture with the 'shuai ge' but better don't be so 'hiao'. I didn't bring laptop but hotel got 2 PCs, just nice for us to use and luckily no other hotel guests use the PCs. So that's why I can online.

3. Some of the updates you can see through my FB, posted when I was still in Bangkok. My first tour was to Chao Phraya river. Was worried about the flood but we decided to check out the river water condition. If really cannot, then decide to take taxi to Grand Palace and other Wats. Luck was on our side, although water level is high the boats are still operating. But up until now, I still don't know whether it's a one-way or two-way plying route. Logically, should be two-way but I hardly see any boat coming against our direction. So it remains a mystery to me. But I must really count myself lucky because 2 days after that, the river cruise operation was halted.

4. Went to Grand Palace and as usual, lots of tourist. Very hot. One thing I did wrongly was I forgot to take camera from my brother so I was without camera. I can't experiment with my camera and luckily my friend let me play with her camera awhile. Come back here I am dark like hell. You know why I know? Because now I have different skin tones on my body, much more than during the Ancient City trip back in July 2011. I loved Wat Arun. I wished to stay up there for long time but can't because the boat crossing the river closes at 6pm. When we went back to Tha Tien pier (across Wat Arun), the pier was already flooded slightly. Count myself lucky.

5. Wat Pho I feel like so-so only. Maybe that time not enough battery already since the weather is so so hot. Went to Chinatown and was slightly disappointed because it wasn't like what I was expecting. But it's big lah. Nothing too special about it if you ask me. I don't like that place. Seemed too busy. Perhaps also because we met an unscrupulous tuk-tuk driver to Chinatown and a conman when walking from Grand Palace to Wat Pho. Oh, but there is one feature I like about Wat Pho. I like the part where you put one coin each into the long lines of bowl. Very cute, at first I thought there was a construction going on because you can constantly hear the 'ting ting' sound made when coins fall into the bowls. When I walk to the other side of the Sleeping Buddha, then only I know it's the coins.

6. Visited MBK, Chatucak and JJ Mall. Bought a one day BTS pass, on which date I forgot already. So we utilized our day pass kaw kaw. We decided to visit Patpong, wanting to see what is so special about that. My advice... better don't go. Sellers are dishonest, marking up the price like nobody's business. When you bargain for lower price, they pulled long face like very 'bo kam muan' and worse still, they will scold you or pull you if you walk away after asking price or asking for discount. We totally don't like the atmostphere there. Lagi got people sell porn DVD and asked me want to buy or not. Cilaka betul!

7. Walked the area of Central World and again met conman. Either I wear betul-betul like foreigner or my face looked like stupid enough to be conned. Friend bought very cheap sports shoes during the promotion period there. Real worth it. 2 Nikes and 1 New Balance at ~RM450. Real good promotion man! Went to Platinum and Pratunam. Really rambang mata there man. They are wholesale centres, where most of the stuffs there are sold in bulk at very cheap price. Lucky I don't have enough money already, if not sure I sapu more. Now I know what it feels like to shop. Really crazy ah! Also went to Siam Paragon. We were a bit tired towards the end of the day and we didn't explore too much there. It's very beautiful especially the water fountain there. We didn't visit the Ocean Water Park though. Ticket so damn expensive, beh tahan.

8. Went to Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre, just opposite MBK. Ngam ngam got painting exhibition and also got mime show. I like that particular day. It's not in our itinerary but I really like the free and easy feel lah. Just don't know my friend enjoy or not because she didn't talk much. But don't care lah. If not happy, direct tell me. If you don't tell me, I assume everything is OK.

9. Planned to watch the famous 'Calypso Cabaret' ladyboy show in Asia Hotel but ticket was priced at THB1200. Super expensive if you buy direct from Asia Hotel. And since I forgot to bring the name card of Ms Bond, a tour guide in Bangkok, we didn't watch. Ms Bond told us last time that if we book through tour agent, will be cheaper, only about THB600.

10. On our last day, I realized that the 5th floor of Emporium, where the food courts are located, are so fun to explore, especially with the different international food around. Last time we don't know how to walk so that's why we didn't find it interesting. No wonder the Philippines team like to go to Emporium for dinner last time. I had a lot of Thai milk tea in Bangkok during this trip. Just felt like it.

11. I found fried insects sold in front of the 50, 60, 70 THB shop accidentally while strolling the street at night. The man was selling them on a stall attached to a motorbike. Imagine how happy and excited I was! I bought 2 of each insect, for me and my friend. I am really grateful to go for the trip with this friend, because she willingly accompanied me to do those stupid stupid stuffs. We ate fried grasshopper, larvae and cricket together. Dare not eat cockroach and frog though. Geli! Uwekk! Also visited the Benjasiri Queen's Park again. All the posters of Yingluck and Abhisit had been taken down already. Of course also brought my friend to Naraya. Didn't buy too much though. Patterns are still the same, nothing much different.

12. We went to 7-11 to find mineral water and were looking to buy the famous Mama noodles especially its pork flavored noodles and were surprised that we couldn't find it. I was thinking "Wah, Thai people so healthy one meh? They don't eat one ah?". Later on only it occurred to me that people had been stockpiling the dry foodstuff in order to prepare for the flood situation. So blur of me!

13. The situation in Bangkok airport is the same when we reached or leave Bangkok, very crowded! I guess when we reached Bangkok, most people are like us, not too worried about Bangkok flood situation. But by the time we wanted to leave Bangkok, many people started to panic and wanted to leave Bangkok as fast as they can, because the AirAsia counter is jammed and packed. Long queue for each line.

Nevertheless I really count myself lucky because now the Bangkok flood situation is very bad. And I do hope it won't get much more worse than now because I like Thai people. They are humble and down to Earth. Especially my Thai friend, Ms Lek and Tom.

No pictures posted on FB yet because I didn't bring camera and the stupid me forgot to bring hard disk to save them from Yong's camera. But I still managed to write such a lengthy post. Seemed like my memory is not too bad, haha! I think you will either give up reading this till the end or you will curse me by the time you finished this, since it's so long. But I think the second option is more likely than the first one :)

How To Stop Procrastination

I read about this from http://www.realsimple.com/. The entire link is www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/time-management/how-to-stop-procrastinating. There are a total of 7 steps outlined in the webpage.

1. Do The Worst Thing First

We usually have high energy level at the start of the day. So, start the day with the least favorable thing and by the time you are done with it, you will feel satisfied and has high sense of accomplishment for getting rid of the tough and unpleasant tasks you hate so much. By the time you get down to finishing more favorable and easier tasks, you will be able to do with pleasure. What else do you want?

2. Start Your Day Over at 2p.m.

Break your day into two. One is before lunch and another is after lunch. Evaluate your first half of the day and alter your to-do list in order for you to tackle more important stuff first. This is called improvising with flexibility.

3. Make The Job Smaller

This is a matter of "Shrinking the forest and forgetting that it's made of trees". Shrinking task or breaking it down into several smaller tasks will help susbtantially especially when we all should be reminded about quality rather than quantity. Some tasks warrants perfection while some might not. It will be better off to shrug off the perfectionism in you slightly and concentrate more on perfecting the important task rather than perfecting EVERY SINGLE task you are assigned to. Learn to say NO when you are already overloaded, don't force yourself to take up every single job just to impress others.

4. Create An Audience

When we announced our plan to others, we tend to follow closely with the plan. Why? Because we are already held accountable for our actions and the thought of a potential embarassment is a powerful motivator to stop procrastination. That's for sure. I mean who wants to be jabbed by the elbow and being asked: "What happen to your so-called 10 days diet plan?" for example.

5. Race The Clock

Had trouble beginning? Start the time for 10 minute and work in a focused manner. You will find yourself getting engrossed and work longer without you even noticing it. This will help you get past the initial paralysis and called for implementation intention. Instead of just identifying the goal, you can focus on establishing how and when to accomplish the goal. Something which most of us are lazy to do while giving lame excuses that we don't have enough time for thinking. Think, without proper thought, what you do might actually worth nothing.

6. Don't Interrupt Yourself

Stay away from the electronic or digital devices such as handphoens, email, Facebook etc. You can try checking email only at certain time of the day or perhaps even thrice a day only, i.e. before start work, after lunch and before heading home. Of course, it still depends on your job nature. Some people work with emails so in that case, it's not applicable. There are even softwares to help restrain access to link. One example is you will have to take all the troubles to reboot your PC if you return earlier to your PC than planned.

7. Plan An Unprocrastination Day

This is a good one but I find it not easy to do you know? Especially when most people are so used to being a multi-tasker. But worth trying for those with many pending items on the table. Gather the most neglected task and make sure it's a no-nonsense companion day for you. That way, you can concentrate on productivity.

All these are really helpful but "What you know or believe is of little consequences if you don't put them into action". I always call myself as King of Procrastination and this bad habit really dies hard. Don't follow my bad example please. I do hope I can procrastinate less by reviewing this post from time to time.

Living A Life

It is a trend in Facebook nowadays to post motivational or self-help quotes. I had copied down a few which I think is meaningful and had 'liked' a few pages related to quotes as well. This is one of them:

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person who wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will.

You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. you'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by.

• So take too many pictures,
• (I used to do this a lot and it's a joy to browse through the photos while thinking of funny funny captions to go along with it)
• Laugh too much,
• (I laughed only under certain circumstances but it really feels great to be able to laugh freely and loudly too!)
• Forgive freely, and
• (Can forgive but hard to forget, luckily I don't have anything or anyone to forgive currently, it's a terrible feeling to teach yourself to forgive)
• Love like you've never been hurt.
• (This is the hard part, getting committed is always something I had dreaded since the beginning)

Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. You just have to:

• Live life to the fullest,
• (Compared to last time, nowadays I did something out of the spur moment just for the sake of wanting to do it to avoid any regrets later on)
• Tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off,
• (Very hard to me, I need to learn to express inner self more. Imagine this, just wanting to say I LOVE YOU MOM also I feel shy)
• Speak out,
• (Depends on the occasion, I prefer to listen rather than talk)
• Dance in the pouring rain,
• (Haven't really done that deliberately, but I missed the time when I used to take school bus and had to run all the way to home when it rains. The warmth after a hot shower, accompanied with hot drink, heavenly!)
• Hold someone's hand,
• (Nieces, nephews, mom, grandmother, friends - done. Only one not yet done - boyfriend. Wait till I found one first)
• Comfort a friend,
• (Friend is the best when they listen, comment and complaint together with us. It's comforting to know that we are not the only one facing troubles and we are not left alone to deal with it)
• Fall asleep watching the sun come up,
• (Never had this luxury before and never had the intention to do this)
• Stay up late,
• (Recently always do this, perhaps procrastinate too much during daytime. But I always feel like my most productive time is at night time, weird...)
• Be a flirt and
• (With my niece and best friends, can lah! With boyfriend or other strangers, not sure can or not)
• Smile until your face hurts.
• (Remember what people say about moderation? Don't over-do then you won't smile until your face hurts already right?)

Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back.

So Dear Heart, Fall In Love When You Are Ready, Not When You Are Lonely...

Time Flies, It Really Flies

No wonder I felt like I haven't visited my blog for a very long time. There wasn't even an entry in October! I just had the sudden urge to visit my blog today. As the title suggests, time really flies. I was loaded with activities, starting with September, up until now. Some is work-related while some is purely personal.

Let's see. It all started with Starwalk > SNI audit > Management Review > HACCP audit > SIRIM audit > Bangkok personal vacation > Annual dinner > Bali work cum vacation. No wonder I forgot to visit my blog. I wonder how those super busy vice-presidents manage to juggle their time for work, family and personal self. Unless they really work and sacrificed the precious time for family and personal self lah. Inevitable i guess.

I watched Real Steel yesterday and it was sort of an awkward cum funny moment. Well, we are sort of in the middle of courtship (can I even call it that? I think so) and I can actually sense what he wanted to do. I just don't feel like playing along because to me, a guy should be daring and aggressive rather than beating around the bush. Haha, so sorry, I am a typical girl but somehow the way I react to things might be unpredictable at times. I do feel sorry for him but that's just it.

I am not the expressive type nor the romantic type. I tend to play the 'tough' card hence if you want me to step out from my territory and to be the sudden graceful and playful lady.....ewhh, very hard I will say! I know I know. I should change my mindset right? If not sure will end up being a spinster later. Trying hard lah! Each time I will be eager to meet him but the moment I met him, I will just chat casually just like how I will chat with my close buddy. I am not pretending, it just comes naturally.

I don't think I can utter those mushy squishy words, if write, can lah. Which is why I wrote a blog in the first place. I am always better in writing than verbal when it comes to expressing my inner feelings. Except when I am angry but it still depends on whom am I angry with. If it's at work, I made no effort to hide my disgust or anger at all. If it's friends, it depends on which type of friends. With some, I will not bother to show my true color and ignore the useless friend, while with some, I will try to conceal my anger for the sake of everyone present.

Close one eye and open another, and it's almost end of the year again. This courtship works real long and still hasn't bear any fruit. Hoping for it to bear a fruit or two but at the same time am afraid of the new commitment. I used to do what I like without caring about what others think of me too much (yes, I am a spoiled brat and insensitive too) but you can never ignore what your other half thinks about you, that one I am very sure.

Enough with that, I really spend less time with my family, especially my mom. The kids back at home, though noisy, adds up some color to the house each time I went back. Even when I was in Bali, I missed them so much. Hadn't really sit down for long at home and chit chat with each other properly. As the eldest, perhaps I didn't play my role the way I should, but I am not used to this warm social thingy. My sister can do it very good but hard for me. Perhaps I shall put that as one of my resolution?

All in all, I am very grateful for such a wonderful year of 2011. What will happen in 2012, I don't know but I will prefer to think that things will be good for everyone. At this time of writing, my heart ached for those affected by the Bangkok flood because I was just back from there. Counting my blessing that the flood was still under control during my stay there. Now, the situation is threatening and may get worse soon. Catastrophes happen everywhere and even Turkey was struck with earthquake. I dread thinking what will this world turn into later on.

As for now, I just want to be the simple person who thinks of nothing big but to live a simple and contented life, with her loved ones. Bear in mind that loved ones doesn't have to be your other half only. Loved ones also refer to your family, friends, pets etc.