Like most participants, Mr. Speed choose to use the North South Expressway so that he can reach the destination at soonest possible. At the starting point, Mr. Speed was ready to speed away in his turbo-charged sport car. He carried no passenger so that the car is lighter, thus consume less petrol and make lesser stop at the petrol station. To reduce the traveling time further, he pre-packed all his meals in the car so that he can eat and drive at the same time. He was fully prepared and confident to be the first to complete the journey.

The moment the cars were flagged off, Mr. Speed stepped on the gas and accelerated so fast leaving the rest of the participants including Mr. Fun far behind. He doesn’t mind breaking the speed limit as long as he achieves his goal. As expected, Mr. Speed finally reached the destination in a record breaking time. He basked in his glorious achievement. Everyone congratulated him and he was famous for the day.

Unlike Mr. Speed, Mr. Fun decided to take his family along in his sedan car. He also started the journey using the North South Expressway. However, he exited the first toll to have that famous seafood in Bukit Tambun for lunch. After lunch, they stopped by at one of their relatives’ home.

As time goes by, Mr. Fun has lost sight of other participants but that didn’t concern him. Instead of picking up the speed, he detoured to nearby Pangkor Island for the sun and the seas. He was very happy seeing his family members had a lot of fun on the beach. Other than Pangkor Island, they also visited Cameron Highlands to enjoy some fresh air, shopped in Kuala Lumpur and visited some historical places in Malacca.

Other than having fun, Mr. Fun also stopped to help any motorist that needed help along the way including sending an accident victim to a nearby hospital in Malacca. In return, he made a lot of friends. However, he never gave up his goal. He still looked forward for the day he reaches his destination.

Two weeks after Mr. Speed arrival, Mr. Fun finally reached the destination. No one was there to welcome him. In fact, everyone including Mr. Speed has gone back to their normal lives in Penang. All that Mr. Fun has at the end of the journey were traces of sands in the car, bumper stickers from the interesting places they visited, bags of souvenirs, stunningly tanned skin and lots of laughter from his family members.

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Between a notebook and a PC desktop, I decided on the desktop because…

• It is cheaper for the same computing power and cheaper to maintain.
• Easy to upgrade. Just buy, plug and play.
• Can last longer. My first desktop is still working fine until today even though it was bought one year earlier than my wife.

The only qualms I have for desktop are…

• I am stuck at one place in the house to work. It is not portable at all.
• Always worry of power blackout. I can buy a UPS unit that gives me few minutes of power backup but still not as good as notebook.
• More cables in my already messy room.
• It tends to collect dust over time.

Initially I had my eyes on HP Pavilion p6150d desktop PC. It costs RM2,688 (fair price), it has all the specs I wanted and it looks great. But because I already owned a new 23″ LCD monitor and I cannot downgrade the bundled Windows Vista to Windows XP, I decided to build my own PC so that I won’t waste my money on something I don’t want. Further more, I love building my own PC. I don’t know why, but I feel PC that I built myself is longer lasting compare to those ready made PC. For example the home PC I built back in 2005 is still working as good as new right now.

Assembling a PC is not rocket science. It is as simple as plug and play. When I am stuck, I can always refer to the manual that comes with the components. Normally the steps come with easy to follow diagrams that a 3-year old kid can also understand. However, the real challenge is searching for parts. I have to check compatibility and functions of each component out of thousands of options. It is even tougher with limited budget. To make things easier for me, I use the specs of the HP desktop to narrow down my options. First, I choose the same processor; Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400. Then I search for compatible motherboard. The motherboard must meet this criteria; has a lot of USB ports and support DDR3 memory. After 2 days in PC fair, I decided on Asus P5P43TD. It has 6 USB ports at the back and can support up to another 6 USB ports at the front. Once I have determined the processor and motherboard, the rest is simple. I just need to find the right memory, graphic cards, hard disk, optical drive, casing, power supply unit,  fax modem and other accessories. At the end, this is the list of components I got at PC fair.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 processor (RM608)

Asus P5P43TD motherboard (RM329)

Kingston 2GB DDR3 1333MHz memory x 2 (RM290)

Gigabyte Superb 550 power supply unit (RM185)

Asus EN9400GT 1GB PCI-E graphic card (RM180)

Cooler Master Elite 335 casing (RM135)

Western Digital 160GB 3.5″ hard disk (RM127)

LG Internal Super Multi DVD Rewriter 22x optical drive (RM75)

Sensonic Slim Keyboard U3 (RM53)

Additional fan for casing (RM30)

Aztech 56K Internal Modem (RM20)

All in 1 Internal Card Reader (RM14)

Plus the cost of my existing Acer 23″W LCD monitor (RM688) and mouse (RM65), the total cost of my brand new PC adds up to RM2,799. Yeah, I know. It costs almost the same with the branded HP desktop. So, if you are not someone who finds joy in building your own PC, I suggest that you buy the branded PC right off from the shelve. You will save yourself plenty of time and still get technical supports from the company.

Whereas for me, I find satisfaction from building my own machine. It reminds me of the joy of playing Lego during my childhood. Each parts are useless and meaningless on their own, but when combined together, they become something wonderful. Even after I completed combining every parts together, I still do not know whether it will work or not until I powered it up. That is where the anxiety arise. As soon as the final part is in place, I anxiously press the “ON” button and hold my breath until I see the BIOS setup page. It was like waiting for my exam’s result. I was over the moon when the result was out. I passed with flying colors.

Behold the end result…

My black beauty

Maybe it is the smell of fresh electronics, or maybe the sight of shiny metal and the scratch free plastic without a single speck of dust on them, or maybe the clicks that I hear when I gently push each components into their designated slots. But whatever the reason is, I know everything inside there is how I wish it would be. Nothing more and nothing less. Now I wish I can do the same for a real wife.

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Even though I didn’t know her well and I never see her before, I could see that she has touched the life of many people even at such as a young age. People from all race, creed and color came to her funeral today to send her off. I was there to offer whatever support I can offer to my friend. No word can describe the grief that my friend and her family has to endure.

All I can hope for are…

• To all the drivers, please drive carefully. My concern is to the life of innocent soul that you robbed due to your recklessness.
• To all the riders, please ride carefully. My concern is to all the parents who has to bury their own children.
• To Vivien and family, you have my deepest condolences. I hope you have the strength to pick the pieces and move on with life soon.
• To Sharon, may your soul rest in peace.
• To the driver who may have caused this tragic accident, please come forward and face the music. Don’t live with blood in your hand.
• To anyone who has witnessed the accident, please let the truth be told and bring justice to the innocent.
• To everyone else, please don’t take your life for granted. Don’t know when you are going to die doesn’t mean you can live up to 100 years old. Start do what you wanted to do, complete what has to be completed, achieve all the unachieved dreams, feel things you never felt before, see things you never seen before and love the person you love because when it comes to the end, all that matters is you and everyone around you letting go with a content heart.

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Girlfriend Wanted

Responsibilities

1. Talk for hours on the telephone
2. Cuddle together on the couch when watching movies
3. Travel to strange places and get lost in the world of our own
4. Sharing dreams and achieving them together
5. Holding hands in the park or in the car
6. Steal kisses in public places
7. Supporting each other during difficult times
8. Do most things together such as sleeping, bathing and eating
9. Laugh at my jokes even though it is not funny

Requirements

1. Applicants must be older than 21 and not more than 29 years old
2. Applicants must be willing to stay in Penang
3. No experience needed
4. Applicants must be attractive with appropriate height and weight
5. Applicants must be willing to work at odd hours
6. Preferred spoken language: English/Hokkien
7. Minimum academic qualification: bachelor degree
8. Good personality, intelligent, kind and understanding
9. Advantage will be given to applicants with additional skills such as cooking, house cleaning and childcare
10. Applicants must enjoy outdoor activities such as sports and traveling

Interested applicants, please submit your resume with your most recent photograph. Successful applicant will be considered for life time contract after 1 or 2 years probation period.

I bet most girl will run away after looking at this. It sounds like the worst job in the world. High responsibilities and demanding requirements without remuneration certainties.

In real life, it doesn’t work that way. No one can put condition for true love because love works in a funny way. I may fall in love with someone older, someone who stay faraway from me, someone who is not considered attractive in public opinion because beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, someone who can only speak in language that I don’t speak, someone who is not highly educated, someone who does not have the skills and quality I’m looking for or someone who is not active because for all I care, she is the right one when…

1. I can’t keep my eyes off her because just looking at her make me feel my life is complete.
2. I like doing things I never enjoyed doing before just because she likes it.
3. I will think of her and wonder is she doing OK whenever she is not around.
4. I feel comfortable being with her.
5. All problems seem solve by itself when she hugs me.
6. I wanted to kiss her every morning when I wake up, every night before I go to sleep or whenever I see her regardless where we are.
7. She can cheer me up just looking at things she does naturally. No effort needed.
8. I feel she is the most important person in my life and life will not be the same without her.
9. and most importantly, she feels the same on me.

I felt all that before. They are my ex-lovers. Life being life, nothing last forever. Even something as beautiful as love has to come to an end one day. However, that is not an excuse for me to avoid love. It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

So on this Valentine’s day, I would like to wish all my ex-lovers…

1. I hope you have found true happiness wherever you are and whatever you do.
2. I hope you will grow old together with your love one and have a happy family.
3. I hope you have moved on and let go of the past just like how I did. Life is too short to dwell in things that have passed.
4. I hope you live the life you are proud of. If you find that you are not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.

To those who have found the magic of Valentine’s Day with someone special, appreciate the moment and be thankful because it is just another ordinary day to some people.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

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Even though there are some firecrackers and lion dances, but the atmosphere here is not as happening back in Malaysia. However, Chiang Mai is quite lively especially last night. It has one of the biggest and most colorful night bazaar I have ever seen. It definitely put our local pasar malam in Malaysia to shame. Practically the whole Ching Mai was on sale. I walked until my legs crying for massage; which I obediently obliged. After all, it was only 120 Baht per hour.

Foot massage on the street

The notorious chicken embryo eggs

Camwhoring with Annie

After that, I had a great dinner that serves northern Thai cuisine with some friends from China I met in Bangkok. It made I missed reunion dinner at home.

Cheers! Happy New Year everyone!

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I shall know how it feels to sleep in public place tonight!

After a good night sleep (hopefully), I will embark on a journey that means a lot to me. It is not merely about climbing the giant steps of Angkor Wat or the cheap traditional Thai massage or cruising down Mekong river. It is a journey more for self discovery than sight seeing.

How does it feels like to be on my own?
Is my career truly portable?
Is it fun to travel alone?
Can I be independent?

These are some of the questions I hope to find the answer during my journey and I shall share them with you. So stay tune for more updates. Coming up next: Angkor Wat! Until then, good night everyone.

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NOT OK!

Can’t understand what he is trying to say. The only words I managed to get are “I am Jack, #+=@#*^%?~$# because, it is my dream. OK?”

So who do you think is the worst?

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take a dose of Brandon’s smile daily!

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Most of the wonderful things happened to me were the result of my spontaneous decisions. I’m not the type who likes to make detailed plans. Most important for me is I know what I want and let my desire brings me to where I am now.

These are few of the spontaneous decisions I have made throughout the year.

Made the most expensive purchase of my life. Yes, you may have guessed it; a new house for my family and yes, I did not plan for that. If you want to know how spontaneous I could be, this would be the perfect example. Went to see the show house (encouraged by my brother) and few weeks later, signed a paper that basically mean I have sold a very long period of my life to the bank. I didn’t even compare other housing projects. Luckily, I haven’t regret this decision and I hope I won’t.

Visited Hadyai, Thailand for the first time as a weekend breakaway.

Decided to visit my friend in Vietnam and embarked in 3 weeks backpacking adventure across Vietnam, China (Zhuhai to be exact), Hong Kong and Macao.

During the adventure…

… I have (accidentally) eaten dog meat

… had coffee, Vietnamese style.

… swam in cold water of Halong Bay.

… rode on a scooter along busy roads of Hanoi.

… had romantic moments beside Hanoi’s West Lake.

… took a long bus journey to Zhuhai and back

… bet on a horse in Sha Tin racecourse

… saw panda bears in Ocean Park

… had the most breathtaking view on top of Victoria’s Peak

… bought a netbook in Wan Chai

… gambled in Grand Lisboa casino in Macao.

… drank herbal tea with insect legs in it.

… unexpectedly met a friend in China (imagine 1 out of more than 1.3 billion of people)

In time to come back for my brother’s wedding. Not long after that, I have a nephew.

Visited Singapore again.

Then I volunteered myself as a St John Ambulance member; learning new skills and most importantly, making new friends.

Celebrated Merdeka in Langkawi with booze on the beach with the new found friends from St John Ambulance.

Rafted down Sungai Sedim with Launi and Wan Chun.

Did some charity works with Lions club.

Launched a new online Penang travel guide to help fellow traveler to my beloved hometown.

Appeared briefly in one of the Astro’s program.

Did a flying fox and wall climbing in Pulau Jerejak on my birthday.

Family wise, I am glad that I managed to spend more time with my family now thanks to the decision I made more than 2 years ago to become self employed.

2008 was also a year filled with many wedding bells. Recently, I became best man of Nam Soon’s wedding. He is one of my best friend from uni. From the wedding, I get to know a few wonderful people from both the bride and the groom’s family and friends.

Not to forget Yap’s wedding early last year.

Before I ended the year, I managed to meet few of my best buddies from uni. We had a great meal in Midvalley’s Delicious. We chatted for hours catching up with each other on what’s going on since we graduated 6 years ago. Most importantly, we have rekindled our friendship.

Even though I have met new friends along the way, but I have lost some as well. I don’t dwell into it and just move on with life because life is too short to live in regret. All I can learn from it is not to repeat the same mistake again and be forgiving when the opportunity arrive. So, I am sorry to those whom I have offended or hurt last year. What can I say? It is not my intention and I am not perfect. Mistakes happen.

Like last year, I won’t make any resolutions this year. Yes, there are still many things I haven’t achieve, goals I haven’t reach and places I haven’t visit. Like every year, I will work hard to achieve them and take pleasure to enjoy the journey toward my goals. It is the journey that brings me true happiness. Even though there are a lot if uncertainties this year, I am sure I will be able to ride it through as long as I keep a positive and open mind.

With this, I would like wish everyone a Happy New Year!

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