Old Friends

Met with old friends just now. Old means we knew each other since primary school.

Seems like it's another time which people are leaving this country for further studies or work overseas. Some have left. More are leaving. And I know, I'd be doing the same.

Years ago, people left for Degree studies. Now, it's the time for Master studies.

Secondary school mates gathering 2008.

They put efforts to apply for university and scholarship. Looking back at myself, I was offered the chance to further studies but I rejected. I was/am afraid to get attached to something for years (at least 3). Such commitment is not part of my plan at this age.

Moreover, I had a very depressing experience doing research. It's a looooooooong story which is sad to reminisce.

Seeing them moving towards their dreams, I feel very happy for them. However, it's kinda weird to find out that, these people are ALL GIRLS, in the past and nowadays.

Our male friends are busier with getting married ^^ (should I say they are luckier?)

Just now, on the way to go fetch my friend, suddenly I had a thought that, when we grow up, we can't get rid of being physically further from each other. Before 17, we were all within Sekinchan - Site A, Site B, Site C. Later, we went to different states - Johor, Penang, KL, Sabah etc.

Then, for studies or work, the locations become like Europe, US, Australia, Singapore, South Africa, Dubai, Egypt, Taiwan, China etc. It's so rare now which we can go back to the "just within Sekinchan" stage.

This is the so-called life.

Primary school mates gathering 2008 - quite a number of people appear in both images.

Nonetheless, I feel grateful that no matter how far are we from each other, the long-lasting friendship still remains. Frequent meeting is not required, but you know, when needed, someone is there for you. He/she doesn't mind to be contacted only at those necessary moments.

I did so to some, and vice versa. They will always listen to me, and so do I.

Sometimes, I fast-forward to 10-20 years later. How and what would we be, at that time?


P/S (Updated on 1 June 2008): Our friend who graduated from Chinese Studies before, has successfully been admitted to the Master in Early Childhood Education course offered by the Taipei Municipal University of Education, with scholarship. So she will be starting her life in Taiwan in September.

When the Right Brain Speaks

万众期待，终于等到了大象的＂我是你肺里的煙＂。


希望你喜欢，虽然你或许不能马上明白。

Ranking

有一次，我和阿姐及一个男同事一起去客户那里开会。

当然是男的驾车，载我们两人。

我俩都是第一次和他出去。由于工作上也接触不多，所以彼此不是很熟。


在车上，后座的我没说太多，只是听他们两个聊天。

男同事说之前他和老婆去泰国普吉岛，有多沉闷，又花了怎样不值得的钱。

我还是静静。心想，你当个典型游客，当然是这样咯，能怪谁啊？

他说，他和老婆去到那里，我看你，你看我，如果是一大班人一起去还比较爽。然后也补充，老婆是学院时期就认识了的。

车上的阿姐是一个已有两个儿子的幸福漂亮女人，虽然她曾很有感触地说过，结婚后的感觉是，you don't know what you don't know。

男同事驾车时看到美女，都会多望两眼，被阿姐察觉到，稍调侃他。

“不看就不正常了”他说道。

我静观其变，没说任何话。


开完会，我们三人又上了车。我开始说话，稍提及之前开会的事宜。

短短的车上相聚，可以知道男同事是爱车之人。

阿姐：车是你的第二个老婆啊？
男同事：不是，是第一个老婆。
男同事：第二个老婆是足球。
（等不下去了）
我：你老婆真是惨哦！

不知道为什么我等不到他告诉我们他真正的老婆排第几，可能怕听到是三甲都不入的那种。

最后，他也没有说到。

“女生都希望是男人心中的第一位”，这是很多书、很多戏告诉我们的。

对这句话我没有什么看法。只能说，不管是男是女都喜欢被重视的感觉。只要被重视，是否排第一也不那么重要了吧。（当然，被不喜欢的人重视也是一种麻烦）


不要认为别人感觉不到你是否重视她。

如果她可以如你所愿，感受到你的爱；她一样可以如你所不愿，感受到你的不爱。

我想，是否在别人的心中排第一位，不是那么重要吧。

重要的是，你是自己心中的第一位。

有谁比自己更可信？

如果没有，就把希望建立在自己身上，不是那些随时可以不说一句、转身离去的其他人。

Memolynn's Blog

今天午餐时间，随便嚼了带来公司的几片面包，就开始读别人的部落格。

不久前，发现了林佩盈的BitterSweet Memolynn，现在才有机会每一篇细读。

老实说，我不懂她是谁，直到读了才知道一点点。我没有看８TV，也没有看东方日报。

读她的文字，让我感到舒服，也有共鸣。这篇＂那是我给你的权力＂，和我之前所写过的很像。当然，她的是更胜一筹。

＂对于一些伤害我们很深的人，我们痛恨过，甚至曾经暗地诅咒着。我们痛骂自己，怎么那么笨。可是我忘了，我让你伤害我那么深，那是因为我给了你的权利。我让你肆无忌惮地折磨着，是因为我用我的仁慈包容你。

我什么要赐予你伤害我的权利？就因为我爱你？

如果爱你能够包容我承受的痛，那我想，很抱歉，其实我不够爱你。

原来，伤害自己的人，是我自己。所以，我更应该痛恨我自己。＂

不过我不会选择痛恨自己。（痛...恨...是很严重的）

这样过日子，对自己太残忍，也太没意义了。

那又何必呢？

很喜欢她写的一句：＂流过多少眼泪不重要，如果是苦，希望它可以回甘；如果是眼泪的轨道，那是前往智慧的方向。＂（取自宽容的分数）

Last Badminton Day

今天是在沙登二校最后一次打羽球。

回到家洗了澡，有惬意的感觉。终于不必再去了!

想想，我参他们打羽球至少有一年半了。

开始去时，我是唯一的女生，被其它人杀到惨惨，背负着“球技最烂”的美誉驰骋球场，但一点也不觉得羞耻（有勇气去打就没有所谓的羞耻与否！）。

虽然离开前公司八个月了，我依旧每星期都去打球。不知情的人还以为我仍然在那里工作。


对我来说，那不只是纯粹打羽球那么简单。

还在那里工作时，那是一个运动的机会，也可以籍此更加认识、了解我的同事。

离开之后，它除了依然是一个运动的机会，也让我可以继续每星期定时和旧同事相聚。

我不想一离开，就真的和他们各分东西、什么都完全改变。那么多离职的人之中，我想我是那个最“长情”的了，整整持续了八个月，直到现在必须结束。

没错，我是写了“终于不必再去了”。你一定很奇怪，为什么我好像把去打羽球说成是一个苦差？

我只能说，我可以不必再告诉自己，你不应该为了一棵树而放弃整个森林。

终于，我可以去掉一个理性的“应该”。

Worn Out

累！

今天在公司，没有什么心情想说话。可能是因为前两天没有什么“闭关”到，心理有点不平衡。

很努力地在完成上星期五被突发事件拖延的工作，还有一些今天的突发小事件（每天都不缺）。要快，也不能随便。就静静做、慢慢又快快地做。

整个星期没有写到旅游文章了（除了我自己，还有谁在意呢？）。很想写（重点是尽快完成我的泰北之旅），但真的没有力。

快要放工前又有新的东西进来。看了看，我跟老板说，我晚上才仔细看，半小时后有课，我要走了！

此时此刻，只完成了一个文件，还有一个比较大工程的。我说明天才做了，头脑已经不太能动了！幸好老板是个通情达理的人。

其实，老实说，很多时候我都是自己给自己压力。

求学时期，我会为自己设一个目标，比如说，今天没有完成作业的话，就不可以吃东西。（不是说说而已，我真是＂遵守诺言＂的！）

朋友曾经说我变态，我却觉得还不怎么样。

好像刚才提到的文件，老板也是没有强逼我今晚完成。期限是我自己设的。今晚赶，只是减少一点明天的工作。

对自己有要求，是好的。

对别人的要求，就省起来吧。

希望明天可以顺利完成，那就可以去沙登二校打最后一次的羽球。

Visit to BookFest 2008

之前还在担心星期日要干什么，最后一整天就消耗在KLCC的第三届华文书市。

其实这并不是我原本打算做的事情，但不做那件事，是有某程度上的好处的。

星期六晚韦亦问说，要不要去听讲座？


知道有马家辉和梁文道，而且我本身也已经好多年没有去听讲座，所以就去了。

出发前，心血来潮想用一个新包包。


这是我在清迈买的。收了几个月，终于可以重见天日。

这很便宜又很可爱（跟我很不配哦）的包包，才60Baht！

一去到，就直奔讲座会场。觉得有点受骗的感觉。

第一，那些所谓的大人物迟进场，拖延了开始时间，这已经是很不好的了。

好戏陆续有来。

首小时，被用来推介那两本关于星洲日报的新书。这样的东西不应该是一场讲座会的开场。

好，若真的逼不得以，可能最多应该只用10分钟。

事实却非如此。那些讲座的主讲人（四位）受邀上台“点评”那两本书。问题是，他们在前一晚才获赠那两本书，根本没有时间好好“拜读”（他们用的客套字眼）。那又怎能点评呢？

总的来说，我觉得星洲日报太硬销（hardsell）了，令人很反感。加上迟到的时间，基本上浪费了一小时多。想想在场那么多要来听讲座的人（N人），总共就浪费了1.25*N个小时。

不过，主讲人的演说还是精彩的。马家辉十分风趣（若单看他的powerpoint presentation slide，我应该不会去听，但他真的说得很生动，令听众席笑声四起）、梁文道赤手空拳也可以讲得滔滔不绝，确实真材实料。

后来，也去逛了逛书市。


入门票2元。去年，我还在蒲种的IOI Mall的大众书局拿了这样的一本手册出来（以为是宣传册子），没有付钱。后来，才看到标价两块钱！

幸好那时没有被抓。不然真的是一世英明一朝丧！

但最后我还是没有去，因为去了一趟太平。所以今天是我第一次逛书市。

没有太疯狂，只是稍微买了两本不贵的书。50块有得找。


五年前，在澳洲，中国籍同学心烨借我看“鲁豫有约 - 心相约”，原来现在已经出了很多本！

不敢买太多，因为家里还有很多借来的书没看完，再买的话会觉得很罪过。

在场，也看到一些文人在场销售他们的书，包括观发、展雄（学院时期他俩到学院演讲，我还和他们作过专访），王德志（我以前看《学海》时也很迷他的平旦漫画）及徐有利（《哥妹俩》漫画的作者）。不懂为什么，看到他们现身卖自己的书，感觉很好！


在KLCC呆了整八小时，我们终于踏上归途。要去chow kit pizza hut后面吃辣椒板面不果（不然我连续三天的晚餐都会是板面），最后去了SS17吃糖水。

看到琳琅满目的糖水，很是兴奋。我一次过喝了两碗，还打包了3包回家给同屋吃！

突然间不太能相信明天又是星期一。平时，我总是闭关一两天再开始另一个星期的。

这星期每天都滚出街，有点不惯！

Funny yet Annoying

又好气又好笑

上星期写了一封信（电邮），寄了出去，也知道收信人不会那么快回复我，因为不能上网。

刚才，以为收件人“出山”和回复我的信了。

哪里知道，读下去，才知道回复的并不是收件人。

撑着把回信人所写的内容看完，只有一种感觉：又好气又好笑！

我真的很不喜欢有另一个人看到我只写给某个人的信。但这一切的发生也是如此地阴差阳错。

收件人吩咐回信人代之察看电邮，回信人“不知不觉”也把我写的“非一般”电邮给读了。然后，也忍不住要回信给我。

收件人和回信人，我都认识。和收件人当然比较熟，而回信人则是通过收信人认识的。

信中，回信人不停说，叫我不要生气。不然，一定会令到收件人十分生气！

老实说，我也不知道我是否应该回复回信人的信，继续纠缠下去。毕竟很多我和收件人之间的事情，很难再从头跟另一个人阐述。也就是说，回信人永远不会相等于收件人。

唉，世界就是如此。有很多犯错的机会。

谁对谁错，也很难衡量。

Friday Night in Seri Kembangan

又是个忙碌的一天。

今天一早抵达公司，查看电邮之后，又有突发的东西要做。昨晚老板才在网上跟我稍微提到，没想到今天就是“截止日期”！

做到2点才吃午餐。因为早上打包的炒米粉（要作午餐的）被贪吃的自己在早上就干掉了，所以只吃了一个昨天带去却没吃的大肥梨。

大约5点9，东西做完了，电邮了出去，觉得自己也差不多把所有能量消耗完了。想想，原来计划要今天做的事情，一件都没办到。可是，那所谓突发的事情，做起来也是蛮有满足感的。

我最喜欢那种在很短时间内完成很多事情的感觉。若还能得到别人一点小小的赞赏或认同，就更锦上添花。

驾着车回家。老实说，这是我第一次体验到星期五“到处都在塞车”的城市。从以前的公司回家是不会塞车的，换了新工作，几乎每个星期五，我放工后的目标就是回家乡，那称不上是城市的地方。途中，听着收音机，总是听到说，城中哪里哪里的塞车都很严重。

从某个时期开始，我对需要在周末周日也身处在这个城市开始有难以诠释的恐惧感。第一次的留下来，我不是走今天这条熟悉的路（那时去客户公司开会）；第二次，我是夜晚才从飞机场回来，也是不塞车的路程。

所以，今天可以算是另一个“第一次”。

由于平时不太会塞的路段都塞了，心里也在犹豫，到底还要不要去吃板面？从公司出来时，我的信念是蛮坚定的：我要去！从昨天到今天，尝试约了三个人一起去吃板面，都不成功，但我还是想去。

常常，我下了决定就会很坚持。也可能是因为我是一个好胜的人。

去到板面那里，出乎意料的不如平时那么多人。老板娘如常一看到我就知道我会点什么。曾经，我也以为自己不会再光顾那档板面，幸好没有。

对很多东西（当然包括板面），我都是“很爱就真的很爱”。我不敢保证那会天长地久，我只敢说，爱的时候，真的是全心全意的。置于不喜欢，也会很不喜欢。所以人家才会说我很黑白分明。我真的不能容许任何的灰色地带吗？有时我也很疑惑。

菠菜拉面很快就来，色泽依然诱人！看着桌上的辣椒，我还是忍不住。反正很久没去吃板面了，就放纵一下自己，最多等下回家吃药！

吃了一个很满足的一餐：我的最爱，只值RM3的菠菜拉面。

去到沙登这个地方，总有一股亲切感感。今天突然觉得它很像我曾经住了三年的槟城立信花园。这里靠近UPM，立信那里靠近USM，总会看到很多学生，也有很多便宜又好吃的东西（但今时今日已经很多东西我不能吃）。

虽然明天的活动定了，但星期日，还是空空的一天。有计划想做的事但还没有肯定。希望到时真的可以去做。

人生苦短，要作什么都要趁早。

我时常如此提醒自己。

Going to Phayao

Short Note: FYI, Neng has moved back to Klang, and started a new job there. When I wanted to date her for Pan Mee, only I knew these. I'm a bad friend. She's now no longer around the Serdang / Seri Kembangan area.

While researching and planning for my trip, I came through a place called Phayao. It was mentioned by some CouchSurfers staying in Chiang Mai.

According to what they told me, my impressions on Phayao consisted of the following:

Phayao (not in guidebook)

• town itself is facing onto a huge lake - pretty
  
• several Buddhist temples in the vicinity
  
• good Thai food, not very crowded
  
• day trip to waterfall
  
• Wat Analayo (outside the town)
  
• Quite a large Chinese population there – Mandarin & Cantonese ok

Those were the only notes i carried together, as well as a simple map of the city.


Thanks to travelfish.org. Phayao is really not somewhere touristy, hence there is no map available. Without this map, I'd have gone nowhere.

In my plan, it was actually "a place to go if I have time". Phayao interested me coz it's rarely visited by foreign travelers, however it attracts a steady flow of domestic tourists. Sometimes I also couldn't understand why I've so much courage to be adventurous.

The picturesque Phayao Lake.

On the day I went to Chiang Rai, it was a rainy day. On the bus, I met a Thai girl who couldn't speak English very well. It made me a little worried if I should really go to Phayao. Since it's not touristy, a lot of people may not know English, and at the same time, I do not know Thai.

Coincidently, my one-day tour guide, Aof, is from Phayao. After settling the day-tour stuff, we started to talk about Phayao. I told her, I was hesitated to go that place, coz from the Internet, I couldn't find any cheap accommodation. What I got to know was only the Gateway Hotel, which is quite expensive.

She was very willing to help. She called her friend and found out 2 hotels at reasonable price. Not only that, she wrote the hotel names in Thai words for me. Of course, she also told me some good things about Phayao, just like how I always promote my hometown, Sekinchan.


Then, I made up my mind to visit Phayao. Hence, I went to the Chiang Rai bus station to check out the timetable of the buses going to Phayao. It was sarcastic, at the station I was handed a schedule in Thai words. How could I understand?


The only way to get that sorted out was to be bold and ask.

Eventually, I bought a ticket to Phayao, said bye to Aof and Mong Kon at the Chiang Rai station, after I finished the one-day near-the-border tour.


The bus was better than the one I traveled on from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. There was a person serving the passengers, by providing drinks, blankets and biscuites. In addition, the driver was like a pilot, doing his task in a "covered" area, without being seen by the passengers.

When biscuites were served, I was the only one not getting a pack. I was curious. Hmm... maybe coz the others traveled long journey but I was not (just about 2 hours). Then, when giving blankets to passengers, the person looked at me without saying anything. I did not know if I was quick enough to respond with an expression indicating "I don't need a blanket" or he assumed so by himself.

I didn't get a blanket from him, and in fact, I did not need it too. So I felt okay.

While reaching Phayao, I noticed another monk who got the given biscuites got down at Phayao too, same as me. I started to wonder why I was treated differently? Coz I was a foreigner? Anyhow, though I was a bit hungry on the bus that time, I also had my own chocolate biscuites. I just couldn't understand why I was "discriminated"...


Another funny thing on the bus.

On the way, a movie was shown via the available TV on the bus. However, it was a 18SX (for 18+ with non-excessive sex scenes) and 18SG (for 18+ with non-excessive violent/horrifying scenes) movie. I watched a bit but it really made me very uncomfortable, with blood everywhere and also chopped off hand or leg.

There were quite some monks on the bus, sitting just in front of the TV. They seemed to enjoy the movie a lot. At one point, at a "climax" 18SX scene, the front most monk stood up, adjusted something, hence blocked all the others, making them quite disappointed.

I was not sure if that was done purposely. However it was a real fun watching the people on the bus.

The Wattana Hotel I stayed. Photo taken on the next day (I arrived at night). See, there are Chinese words!

After I arrived at Phayao, I hardly found a man (bus station staff) who understood English. Then a motorcyclist approached me, I showed him the words "Wattana Hotel" written in Thai characters. I agreed to go with him (by paying him 30B) after some bargaining (the man at the station witnessed it, and told me it's okay to follow the motorcyclist).

Reaching Wattana Hotel, the hotel staff couldn't speak fluent English as well. I had to communicate with them using simple English words (basically, no sentence was formed). The motorcyclist helped me a little, till a room was inspected and I agreed to stay.

100B per night. What I like the most is the table. I could sit nicely and write my diary.

It's a room with fan only. I didn't need an air-cond.

Being in somewhere with people who cannot really communicate with you is kinda scary. Therefore, I didn't go around that night, but just wrote a post titled "On the Road (Day 4)" in a cyber cafe.

I was scared that time till I finished the Internet session, after expressing my feelings.

Realization in May 2008

今天在公司，小息的时候看了小娴的新文章，《無限寬廣的世界》。

觉得很感动。所以，第二次给她留言。

真可怕。我写了第一个，再写第二个，相隔只有一分钟，中间就已经有好几个人。




看起来我好像那些幼稚的小美媚（美？？？），给偶像写崇拜的字句。（我从来不相信我会做这种事！！！）

除了朋友的部落格，我最常留言的就是左眼的博客，近来又多一个小娴（虽然静静地读、默默地欣赏很久了）。

还没有读完那篇文章之前，很怕她会说，小娴部落也从此会消声匿迹。幸好没有！

“人們常說，上帝關了這扇門，會打開另一扇門。我看到的，卻是人生的波譎雲詭。

我埋下一顆種子，一直用心澆水，以為那朵花會在我跟前綻放，所以一直死心眼地守在那兒。然而，我等了又等，終究沒等到那朵花。

就在我差不多想要離開的時候，一轉身，才發現那朵小花兒原來悄悄在我腳跟後面探出頭來，而且比我想像和期待的要漂亮許多。”

看到他们有新的尝试和突破，我也很开心，虽然我并没有什么看女性杂志。

最近，不懂为什么会“良心发现”，觉得自己应该做更多的善事。除了把部落格帮我赚到的钱全部都捐出去（至今未曾把钱cash out），还应该把日常赚到的一部分也作同样的用途。

老实说，一直以来我都是蛮吝啬的。平时很省，只有把钱花在自己喜欢的东西上，比如旅游、跳伞、相机这几个较明显的地方。什么令人看起来威风的身外物对我来说都不重要。

刚刚在网上和名僖提到，他调侃我说，一定是平时做太多坏事，现在想补偿。哎，我就是平时没做坏事，遇到困难、需要帮忙时身边总会出现好人，所以我一直都认为自己很幸运。

既然我那么幸运，我是不是应该去帮忙那些不幸的其他人？

有时有想过去呼吁或召集其他朋友（尤其那些也是部落客的）一起来开始，可是呢，我想还是先把自己做好，才有资格去召唤他人。

凡事从“小”开始。这个道理我最懂，因为如果不是很多的第一步，我也就没有今天的一切。

Golden Triangle & Chiang Saen

Short Note: Received a mail with 2 Travel Preview magazines and a A-Famosa FOC accommodation voucher yesterday. Very quickly, the voucher was given to Desmond, as I previously offered and promised. Hope he has fun there with his family. I'm like always giving away vouchers nowadays, why eh? ^_^

From Mae Sai (湄塞), we were off to the next destination, the Golden Triangle (金三角), a roughly triangular zone in the highlands of Southeast Asia that overlaps Burma, Thailand, and Laos.

A pretty good sight? In the centre it's the mighty Mekong river.

On the way, the air-cond of the car did not work well. The driver was feeling bad and tried to continue turning it on, with a hope that it would become cooling. It was actually much better to just enjoy the natural breeze.

They were hesitated to roll down the car window till I voiced it :)

Someone "bright" (I don't know who) came up with an idea of putting up a sign saying "Golden Triangle" for the foreigners flock to have cheesy photos taken in front of it.

Does this serve as a better description?

The real scene of the spot where you can see three countries at once.

You're in Thailand but Burma is on the left (the building with orange-colour roof is a Casino)...

...and Laos is on the right - a country that's much poorer.

Though the Golden Triangle is divided among three countries, it is a region that shares significant attributes - opium production, remote upland terrain, mountain minority populations, extreme ethnic diversity, mass Christian conversion, and a long history of insurgency.

Based on what I read, poppy cultivation is still going on in remote hill side villages on the Burma side of the border and a bit less in Laos. Thailand has just about wiped out all of the poppy fields on its side of the border.

Walking around, there are some golden buddha statues.

It's quite a common scene in every part of Thailand.

Prayers are everywhere, too.

Honestly, I really hope someday, I could just go, visit all these countries, till I feel wanna stop, then only I come back.

Eh.. noticed another spot...

...which seems to be quite a typical photography point.

So I asked Aof and Mong Kon for a photograph together.

The enormous Mekong river I snapped was much "cleaner" than the one I saw (photographed by Adam) before starting the trip. I wonder whether it's the effect of the polarizing filter he used, or the colour of river changes in different seasons?

After the Golden Triangle, we paid a quick visit to Wat Chedi Luang located in Chiang Saen (清盛). There is a 88m Chedi, which si the tallest religious monument in that area. The main hall and other surrounding Chedis have all fallen in ruins.

Chiang Saen is the royal capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom.

An impressive moss covered chedi dating back to the 13th century.

After snapping some photos, it came to the end of the day trip. We hopped on to the car and off to Chiang Rai, hoping to catch the 6pm+ bus to Phayao.

Let's Do It Together

Just now, around 10:30pm, I felt a slight swing of the ground. My parents felt the same too.

Since the happening of the disasters in Myanmar and Sichuan, people have started to put icons on messenger.


Honestly, I used to doubt if putting the icons really help. However, I'd say it's still better than doing nothing or being ignorance.

That day, I left my first comment to Siu Han on her blog. Today, I saw her reply. The nicest thing about Siu Han is she replies to EVERY comment from her readers.



Then, I browsed through mybloggercon.com (大马部落), they mention about the donation to Sichuan 512 earthquake refugees, which can be done electronically, by just few mouse clicks. Since I was doing some banking stuff, I took the chance to request for another TAC and donate my part.

I've been thinking to do this for some time, and meanwhile, I've also been dragging it till today.


If you wish to do the same (donate to Tzu Chi - 慈济) but do not understand Chinese, the translation is as follows:

1. Transfer the amount to Maybank account number 114851047366 (Account Holder: Kok Heng Ling)
   
   Note: Kok Heng Ling (Jasmine) is the deputy treasury of mybloggercon.com
   
   
2. Send the following details to jasmine@mybloggercon.com, with Email Subject "四川地震筹款确认"
   
   * Donated Amount (round figure such as RM10, RM80 etc is preferred)
   * Fund Transfer Serial Number / Transaction Number
   * Fund Transfer Date and Time
   * Your Name or Your Blog Name
   * Your Email
   
   Note: If a receipt is required, please provide your Full Name, Fund Transfer Evidence (e.g. a screen capture of the Fund Transfer Receipt), Tel Number, Address. The receipt will be sent to you via post.
   
   
3. The donator's name or blog name will be updated to mybloggercon.com once the amount is received.

If you are earning your own moolah, please don't say you are poor and unable to do that. It's not the amount that matters, it's about "many a little makes a mickle", and you definitely are a lucky one to help the others who are in need.

YOU WILL NEVER BE POOR BY DOING CHARITY.

I know there are a lot of ways to donate. Pardon me that I don't have a full list. However, this is the first I come through that accepts Maybank direct debit - the easiest way for me.


P/S: Heard from radio that the swing just now was due to the Sumatra 6.1 earthquake.

Thai-Burma Border

Short Note: It's Wesak public holiday today, so one more day at hometown. My horoscope says, "...it is a week when you can do anything as long as it doesn't involve standing still. Harness the powers in the others and look at where you want to make a change. You know it's not going to happen by itself, so…"

It's again, time for my own effort :)

Still in Mae Sai, here we are near the border crossing over to Burma/Myanmar from Thailand.

When one does a "border run", that means he has been in Thailand for quite some time, hence is required to renew his visa by leaving and re-entering the country. I used to stupidly think that's a running competition around the border :) how silly was that!

People on the border-crossing bridge.

Looking towards Myanmar from Thailand.

The bridge is adorned with both Thai and Myanmar flags.

Before the Thai side of the border bridge crossing, there is a sign indicating "The Northern Most of Thailand".

It's a good spot for a souvenir photograph.

There were usually monks, Karen minorities, Thai, ethnic Indians, Chinese, and even beggar children streaming back and forth across the bridge, though not all can be seen via this picture.

A jujube seller did not let go any business opportunity by approaching Aof.

The Mae Sai Customs House.

According to James, before entering the tall archway on the Thai side of the border, you must pay a small fee in Baht to the Thai immigration officers set up in a kiosk nearby. You'll then be waved through the Thai border after handing in your departure card to the Thai authorities.

Before you cross under the large blue "Union of Myanmar" sign you'll have to stop by a small room designated for collecting fees from foreign visitors. You'll have to pay the Burmese guard $5 USD and leave your passport with them.

Most people crossing at this bridge will only be allowed to stay on the Myanmar side of the border until 5 pm. You can re-claim your passport upon exiting Myanmar.

As mentioned, I didn't cross the border. Aof finished her shopping.

A big picture of the King of Thailand. This was the last photo taken before we left Mae Sai for Golden Triangle.

Belong to Nowhere

All this while, I know one's thinking can be the key determining one's perception, mood and life. When I feel I'm at the negative side, I'll try my best to locate myself at the opposite (positive) side.

I experienced this many times. It really makes the difference.

I'm not sure why, today I feel like I'm more suitable to living alone - with no one around who is related to me, nobody knows me, I've no responsibility towards anyone, and there is no chance for me to persuade myself to do something or to tolerate, coz of a person's relationship with me.

Meanwhile, I clearly know that the prices to pay include the lack of warmth, sense of belonging, and the need to confront with loneliness.

Sometimes I'm really unsure, what kind of life I'm pursuing? Why am I always so lost?

Today, I've a strong feeling that I do not wish to come home. Then I asked myself, since I also do not want to spend my weekends at Seri Kembangan, what other places can I go?

Suddenly I wish that everyday is a working day. So that I can go to company, fill myself with a lot of tasks. I think it's not because I'm a workaholic, but I like the feeling of having the time flies, without much notice from me.

Sometimes, I also wonder if it's time for me to leave this country? One day, when I've gotta live in Aussie again, where will I go? Will I go to the places already with some people I know? Or I'd choose a place which is totally new to me, and start everything from zero again?

Why nowadays, everywhere seems to be not a good place for me?

Where do I actually belong to?

News to Share

This morning, at 10:47am, while I was on the phone with colleague, my mobile phone rang.

It was a call from the chief editor of a local travel magazine, Travel Preview (旅风). Previously I submitted 2 articles to participate in their travel article writing contest, organized by Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association.

The first article I submitted was about Yellow Mountain. When I got to know we could submit multiple articles, I submitted the second, about Wuyuan. The Wuyuan article then won a third prize :)


It's not exactly the same as what I published in my blog. I slightly edited it for the submission to that contest.

To be honest, I haven't read any issue of Travel Preview magazine, but I'm going to do it soon. According to the phone conversation just now, they publish 4 issues per year, and the subscription fee is RM12 yearly. (see details here)

The results will be in the June issue. My "award-winning" (hehe, make it big) article will be in the September issue. I'm quite glad with the news. It's been years I never win any writing contest (coz of no participation also).

I know good things will keep coming. I will tell at the appropriate moment, just like now :)

Last but not least, a sincere appreciation goes specially to Feng (now in NZ), for suggesting to go to Wuyuan last year.

Mae Sai

After some strawberries shopping, we hopped on to the car, headed towards Mae Sai, the Thailand's most northerly town.

Aof told me, there was a big market, and things were sold at very cheap prices. For example, she said she got the above sunglasses at just 40B (approximately RM4)!

We still met a lot of roadblocks on the way. Mong Kon, the driver, would say "SAI KAP" to the police. I asked what did that mean. Aof told me, SAI means Mae Sai, and KAP is a courtesy word said by a man. Overall, it meant, we are going to Mae Sai.

If a woman were to say the same, it would be "SAI KAH".

Reaching Mae Sai. To be honest, previously I thought it's a downtrodden town, but it was not really so.

We got off from the car.. and the shopping spree started!!

Too much choices, but limited time and money?

Pardon me for bombarding you with lotsa photos again. There is really not much to talk about. It was just a simply walk around.

Aof had got a list of items to shop. I asked her to buy the things first whilst I'd just tag along and take some photos. She actually felt kinda not-so-good, but I told her, no worries, just do your shopping. I don't have any specific to buy.

The area was loaded with cheap goods from China, Thailand, and Myanmar.

Since the cheap stuff might not have very good quality, perhaps buying some junk food is not a bad idea.

The passion fruit.

The stalls in Mae Sai are even more "multi-lingual" than those in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Eh, where is the person-in-charge?

A chestnut stall.

Originates from China, right?

Out of somewhere, this little boy followed us, asking for money. Aof told me to ignore him, by not giving any response.

All the while, I only heard "Chinatown". I first encountered with "Chinesetown" at Mae Sai :)

Ah.. we saw a stall selling sunglasses. We were curious if we could get a pair of sunglasses at 40B, as what Aof told me earlier.

Finally, we got it! Bargain is a must when you shop here! However, the man scolded Aof for helping a tourist (me) to bargain. I didn't know what his exact sentences were. I don't understand Thai.

Aof bought 12 of this for 100B. She said, at Tachilek (Myanmar - priced in and payable in Thai Baht), the same price gets you 3 more packets.

A very happy character with nice smile.

Three for 50B!

Is she a Thai or a Burmese?

While writing this post, I realized that I missed something. If you get to Mae Sai next time, don't forget to visit a temple atop a hill to overlook the town - it's a Thai market town built around a river, which cut through the middle of it.

Photo by Adam. In this picture, the top half above the river is Burma and the bottom half below the river is Thailand.

"Everything looks normal at first glance, but when you look closely you can see a bridge over the river with no vehicles, just lots of people carrying luggage, and a checkpoint at either side. And Burma is so close, you feel you can reach out and touch it." ~ by Adam

Read more about Mae Sai here

Blog to Mention

今天心情好，所以多写一点。

还不是时候说为什么心情会好。只能说，一步步向梦想前进的感觉真的很好。

多希望人生中的每一刻，我都可以那么积极、上进、快乐。

时常浏览右下角那blogroll的人，一定会发觉近来多了个“忆静当下”。由于拥有者是我从小就“玩到大”的老友，所以一定要特别提一提。


她的文笔真的很好，最主要是不像我那么啰嗦。不信？看看她曾在这里发表的留言，就知道我没有骗人。

我一直都很鼓励别人写部落格，不是因为这是现今很流行的玩意儿，而是因为这是一个很好的互相了解、保持联络的管道。之前Sam少说他也是受我影响，当时真的有点受宠若惊。哈哈！

这一次，我还特地弄了个wordpress的帐号，来协助她学习写部落格。

认识我越久的人，再浏览一下我的blogroll吧！你会有更多的惊喜。

因为当某人开始写部落格，通常我都是第一个被通知的。

对于如此的“虚荣”，老实说我是很光荣的 :)