Cross road

Have you ever driving a car clueless of the destination? Let's ponder.

So life is like driving.

When I was a baby, people carry me around. No need to think. Wherever adults go, I go.

When I was a kid, I would ride my bicycle anywhere I like. No destinations. Just wandering around, going up and down, left and right. In the end, you just need to go back home.

When I was in secondary, I rode motorcycle. Now we started to think about destinations. I didn't simply ride my bike without destination.

Now I am driving a car. This is a time you have many responsibilities and stuffs to do. You need more planning. You have to plan your trip.

You already have a big picture of your destination.
And when you drive, you always make conscious thinking where to turn, where to accelerate, where to brake.

Life is similar.

We have our dreams.

We know the destinations we are heading.

But, how are we heading to the destinations?

Me? Right now I am approaching a crossroad. Next, I would have to make a turn somewhere.

I can make a left turn, go straight, right turn, or even take a U turn.

Some people have clear goal, destination. They can drive very fast along the way.
Me I would rather enjoy the scenery, driving at my own slow pace. There might be some small junctions along the way, often ignored by people. I can make a turn and explore, who knows it will lead to a bigger surprise.

Life, take it your way.

***

By the way, the passenger seat is still vacant. I hope she will hop in one day.

Bungy Jump

Going up. Nice scenery looking around Patong, Phuket. Not bad. Cool.

Sunny. Nice weather.

Then. Walking to the edge of platform.

Hmm. Wait, am I going to jump? Looking down. OH MY! 60 meter is 6000 cm is 60000 mm is definitely very high!

So I chatted with the instructor bla bla...

And then one gentle push. 

And then, what happened?

And then WAHHHHHH!

ARHHH!

WOW!

And bouncing. 

And spinning.

And hanging there.

And then pulled to platform.

And there's the bungy jump!

I'm crazy

Recently there's study says taking and sharing photo of foods is a sign of mental illness. Citation needed. Too lazy to look for the source but it's somewhere on the internet la.

So here, nasi lemak on omelette. Yeah, I like to do this. When I am lazy I just get a RM1 nasi lemak and cook an egg or two. And then taking a photo. And then eating. And then digesting. And then disgusting. 

I am crazy a bit lately.

Raining

Let's pray for a better Malaysia!
Let's work for a better Malaysia!

Eh now it's raining I'm listening to radio playing Mayday's song, how appropriate to the gloom atmosphere in Malaysia now.

Anyway, 505 is an incremental step toward a better nation after 308. Not meh? 505 numerically is bigger than 308. If want better election outcome for Pakatan we should have next election date late, maybe 808 because it sounds very prosperous, especially for Chinese (you know, the Cina issue).

Yeah, I have overcome this great sorrow. I'm ready to educate more people about the real meaning of Malaysia.

***

But still there's one thing I haven't overcome. My heart still feels the pain every time.

可遇不可求，无奈。

随笔

星期六深夜
宁静
就这样
忽然变成了哲学家、思想家
思考人生

华文生疏了
但还是觉得华文比英文更能表达与抒发情感

最近的心是烦躁的、焦虑的、惆怅的
想着一个不可能得到的、追求的
明知不可能，为什么还执着呢？

我是理智的，但内心却不听使唤，唉

放下吧

人生还有许多人事物等待发现。

Sarcasm

My students need to be ready with books on desk when I enter the class.

Last Friday, I walked in, Assalamualaikum, Selamat Sejahtera, Salam 1 Malaysia, Salam Perpaduan, Salam 2 Malaysia.

Then me noticing some are not ready with books.

Me stared at their desks.

Me: cantiknya alas meja ni. (with very obvious sarcasm hint hint)

Most students responded with huh? Some said no lah, already dirty, blah blah...

Then this little girl: oh~~~, saya faham!

Quickly grabbed her books from bag and put on table. 

The response so cute can die.

Cravings

I love food, especially on Friday because my name starts with F, food starts with F, Friday starts with F, see?

Back in Ann Arbor, I used to crave for Kroger's two dollars fish sandwich. Right after Friday class is my groceries shopping time in Kroger.

Just $2 for a cheap nice fish fillet with cheese in the bun, and tartar sauce!

So after I unpacked two handful of groceries bags, settled down, get a cup of coffee, or soda, then devoured the sandwich! My typical relaxed Friday afternoon.

Fast forward >>>

My craving now is McD Value Meal when I am not having lunch with friends.

Get a value meal, get a Sprite, no ice. Back home, get ice, get orange, get blender, pchewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, the authentic Orange McFizz is ready!

Then all ready to be devoured! 

Little things, happy Fridays.

Nothing is impossible?

"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."

-Albert Einstein [citation needed]

Really?

Problem?

PIBG Meeting

Was is PIBG meeting, or was it lucky draw event?

Total 83 prizes. I don't think even the biggest company dinner has so many prizes!

And I didn't win any. 

But I don't feel too bad because the top price is just a 21" TV, not just ordinary TV, but a fabulous state-of-the-art most advanced CRT TV! At this age still got people buying CRT TV? I'm puzzled. 

Ah Huat White Coffee

I got cheated into buying Ah Huat White Coffee after viewing this advertisement

I need to drink coffee everyday or else ABCDFGEHJI...

My Nescafe Ipoh White Cafe almost finish now stock need to be replenished. By the way, here's the Nescafe TVC.

My favorite was Old Town but recently Tesco, Giant, Carrefour(Bad business went pokai now becomes AeonBig), The Store, GMart (The green and yellow supermarket looks like Giant in Gemas) , Econsave, Mydin, Jusco(I still prefer when it's called Jaya Jusco, now called Aeon, or AeonSmall),  etc etc etc conspirate not to discount the already expensive Old Town White Coffee so I went to Nescafe White Coffee which was really aromatic nice actually. 

Then comes Ah Huat with its bombardment of advertisement in TV days and nights. Oh I thought it's some new coffee company promoting new product, okay maybe I try one day.

Soon enough, the power of good marketing made me picked up one pack of Ah Huat White Coffee. Being a wise consumer I always check the packaging in details. Then I discovered it's made by Power Root, what a disappointment... Anyway I am a person that always try new weird stuffs so no harm trying.

The verdict: meh.

When nobody wants tongkat ali kacip fatimah coffee anymore you come up with new branding. Good move Power Root. 

Fishing + Fishing

Some people fish on the bridge. Some people going to the sea to fish. 

For them, it's their hobby. For them, it's their job.

For me, it's photo opportunity. Ha.

Ouch

Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch

Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch

OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH

Aiyah

hmm

haiz

okay...

Melaka

Roofs of Melaka.

Story to be continued.

Nokia Lumia 620

I think here think there should I get Lumia 920, or just Lumia 820? Then suddenly boom Lumia 620 is here!

Introducing my new phone, Nokia Lumia 620 White. Nice.

New Year Resolution?

I'm keeping it to myself so in case I don't achieve anything no one will know. Evil laugh. Run away.

2012/2013

The Curious Case of Malaysian Education Fixation in Science, and Many Others.

According to this news article it's again brought up that Malaysia needs more and more students in the so called Science stream. Yeah, in Form Four, Malaysia students need to face the cruel decision to choose either science or arts and have to say goodbye to their friends, after all, each of us have different preferences in life right? right?

No, in this weird Malaysia, all top students are expected to go into Science stream. So naturally, all 3 Arif students go 4 Science 1, all 3 Zaplap students go 4 Perdagangan. No need say goodbye to our usual friends.
Want to be a lawyer? Let's go science stream.
Want to be an economist? Go science.
Want to be teacher? Science.
Want to be doctor? Science of course.
Want to be engineer? Science la.
Want to be accountant? Science also.

If you are good student considering accountacy, here's what you hear:
Aiyah no need go account class, that class teacher won't go teach properly one. Come science class, then take tuition at that Mr Lim. He very good one, guarantee A.

So it's not a matter of choice; all top scorers are expected to go into science stream automatically, with only few exceptions when the students and parents know and make decisions different from school arrangement. And that usually put the students in disadvantage in term of learning.

Yeah the school usually assign you into science classes if you score good in PMR, unless you protest.
The top students go science, the rest of the bad weak students go do arts and you are doomed. Nobody will love you because you are in arts class.Because you are bad students, you cannot study.

So where's the point of science and arts streaming? I also don't know. Malaysian education system is a bureaucratic haphazard irrational system for so long. Teachers can sleep in class and won't get sacked. Teachers ponteng more than students yet still get paid. All those over stacking paper woks.

Well At least I know Malaysia produces lots of brilliant students and becoming the best of the best in various industries, but the problem is they are not serving in Malaysia. Where? Singapore. Also UK USA etc. Why? Malaysian government is stupid. Yeah they are stupid enough to pay millions and billions for scholars yet can't retain many. Yeah and here is no meritocracy, here no appreciating talents. Until we need a thing calls TalentCorp to help Malaysia getting back talents yet still not really successful.

Oh why we still fail to fulfill the 60:40 quota? I don't know. Even the so many Education ministers also don't know how I know. When I was studying they already want 60:40 and what I see was/is good students go science, weak students go arts. And Science students become successful business persons, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders.

And Muhyiddin, we don't want so many science students who don't even know what science is about. It's not about the quantity, it's about the quality.

So I heard ministry is going to recruit only the top 30% graduates to be the teachers. Well I say let's open our eyes and see.

I only speak for myself from a narrowed point of view. I want Malaysia to be a better Malaysia. Change is very much needed.

Don't throw rubbish from your car - Part II

We have new winners! Congratulations to the drivers. Please claim your prize as soon as possible.

This is the prize for you to claim:

One mini  waste bin for you to conveniently keep your rubbish!

And the winners are:

JKA 7503

BKV 6086 with evidence

WUU 5822 

MBS 2673

NBF 7050

How to enter to win exciting prizes?

1. Drive any vehicle.
2. Throw rubbish from your vehicle.
3. If you are lucky, a photo of your vehicle will be taken and published here with no prior notification.

Terms and Conditions:

1. Make sure you wipe your vehicle registration plate so we can identify clearly. Void if number unclear.
2. We value your privacy; your face will not be published unless with consent.

Thanks to my new informer for submitting the first two photos. Please send me photos if you manage to capture them*. Thanks :)

I'm looking for future sponsors as well.

*Please do not risk your life. I'm not responsible for any injury occurred if the driver you captured realized you took a photo and stop the vehicle and come toward you to throw rubbish at your.

i'm lovin' it

02/12/12 @SS15. A laptop, a wrap and a latte. Assignment. It was a productive session :)
  Hey McCafe come to Melaka soon please. I have no money for Starbucks Coffee Bean.

A Reminder To Myself

To become a good educator.

Else this happens!

***

So I want to share a story of a professor I had for a short course on contemporary issues in geography.

Caution:
My points here can get over exaggerated.
I do not mean to defame this said professor, I treat this issue as a systemic issue prevalent in our education system in which she came from.

Please read with open mind.

"In KL no fresh oxygen, that's why I easily get sick here"
Alright, oxygen is oxygen. We can have fresh or polluted air but oxygen is oxygen.

"Pagi itu sunrise; waktu petang itu sunset"
Correct! But we are postgraduate students.

"Where we get our solar energy from?" She asked, I didn't answer because I'm confused and didn't know what she expect from us
"The Sun"
Again, correct! But we are postgraduate students.

"Males are more suitable to use Geographical Information System (GIS) because males' imagination much better than females"
Oh really?

We have this slide (she got from a random US university and presented to us unmodified) mentioning about UPS/Fedex shipments using GIS.
"Kalau tak ada GIS itu barang tak tahu akan belayar ke mana nanti..."
Yeah don't think she's making a pun and I think she get the shipment word out of context.

And this is classic, when she tries to say "air berkorbanat" in English
"Instant water" !

And
"BN, Barisan Nasiaonal is very helpful when there's flood, they help people"
"During BN, a lot foreign investment, but in states of Pakatan, foreign people afraid to invest there"
"During Dr Koh Tsu Koon Penang very good now under Pakatan very bad"
Hello I know you are BN supporter but keep it to yourself I know how to judge. Please speak with facts and figures not just follow blindfolded.

"There are many tornadoes and hurricanes in USA, don't know why, why always there? It could be because they legalized gay marriage, some people say"
I guess she wants us to believe so as well. Hello you are a geographer (?) and you can't explain the facts with geographical knowledege?

And
"selagi hari kiamat tak sampai, kita masih perlu belajar tentang penduduk."
Speechless...

And many more.

***

Not the end. The battle to educate Malaysians is a long long journey. Your help is very much appreciated to save Malaysia.