Cameron Highlands

Our annual trip up in Cameron last week. There isn't anything in particular that is attractive up there, we just went because we needed a break. Just to relax.
Picture taken in front of Boh Tea House with Panasonic FX8.

Death

Death is a point of no return, there is no turning back. Since papa's sudden death, I feel that I have changed somehow. My perspective of life has definitely altered. Eventhough you are strong and healthy, when the time arrives, there is no escape. I feel that life is so fragile, so meaningless.

Scare the shits out of me!

I was driving back to Penang from Taiping this morning. As a very cautious driver, I adhered to the speed limit of 110kph. Halfway of my journey, there is this one big heavy lorry who was trying to overtake another lorry on the left. Being a fully loaded lorry, I think it was going at 70 or 80 at most. So, I slowed down. And suddenly, there was a loud bang out of no where. One of the lorry tyres exploded causing me to panicked and hit my brakes. The emergency brake caused Sylvester (my softoy) who was sitting at the back seat without the safety belt to fly to the front. It really scared the shits out of me.

Moral of the story: Don't drive too close behind a lorry and never use tayar celup.

1. Don't drive too close behind a lorry - You don't have the visibility of what is happening in front of that lorry. He could hit the brakes anytime, causing you to step on the emergency brake. Especially if you are fetching kids, make sure the safety belt is secured.

2. Never use tayar celup - it may be much much cheaper, but is your life that cheap too? The four wheels are the only contact between your car and the road. Use reasonably good tyres. Do not procrastinate if the tyres needs a change.

NEVER COMPROMISE ON ROAD SAFETY!

Relek la

I am staring at NATK, in search of some inspiration to blog. She's logged out cos she's too frustrated with her customers today. Hell, I am equally as frustrated. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to blog about my customers, so I am unable to share their ludicrous antics. What I can say here is that business is really bad. Both NATK and I didn't participate in the recent PC Fair in Singapore. Hence, we are doomed, as our scores are looking like a sinking Titanic. So, everyday NATK will MSN me telling me how stressed she is as she is getting heaps of pressure from her boss. And me, the relek one, keeps assuring her that tomorrow will be a better day. But, the truth is, I am lying to myself too. Business is seriously bad. Then again, I learnt, that even if I am so stressed out, I will still need to do this job. So just relek la. Right or not?

This is my new motto at work: Relek la. It works... try it! You will feel much more motivated dragging yourself out of bed in the morning. Cause you know that it is going to be a relaxing day.

Hokkien

I am English ed. However, Hokkien is my mother tongue. My family speaks in English at home, I also speak in English with my friends and at work. Today, I learnt a new word in Hokkien. Kok Che. A colleague was explaining to a customer about the products we are selling. It goes like this in Hokkien, "Wa lang si kok che kongsi, beh lau lu eh." Which means, "We are an international company, we will not cheat you." So, "Kok Che" means international.

I feel that Hokkien is a funny languange. It is so unromantic. For instance, I love you, said in Hokkien as "Wa Ai Lu". Which could also mean I want you, if translated literally. Hmm... lets me think of this joke. (The Chinese language can be quite a coarse languange.) I was talking to NATK and she was the one who thought me the new "kok che" word. After the international word was well learnt and absorbed, we joked somemore.

Me: What do you call a washing machine in Hokkien?

NATK: Seh sa ki

Me: Very good, how about a TV?

NATK: Tien si ki

Me: Hey, your Hokkien is very good! Now, give me a toaster.

NATK: Mmm... pu ki

Ash Wednesday

I attended mass at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit last night. This was the first time I went to a church in Penang after working here for more than three years. I'm not sure why, just felt that there was a calling for me. When papa was around, he'd remind us to go to church for any occasions and celebrations, and we are always full of excuses.

The cathedral was really beautiful from inside. When I entered the big wooden doors, I was almost at tears. I was suddenly overwhelmed with an inner peace and serenity. When the hymns were sung, it was inexplicable. I thanked God for everything that He has provided me. Eventhough the church was packed last night, I felt as if I was all alone with God, he took all my troubles and worries away.

Gross

Got this picture from the office pantry. Totally gross. This is the result of soaking your cup over the weekend and forgetting about it later. Even if this cup is washed and sterilised, I'm never ever gonna use it again. I wonder who's cup this is. Who is this filthy person? I just don't understand, what is so difficult to wash a damn cup after using it? This is pure laziness. It takes less than a minute to wash it for Pete's sake. Now that you have bred some microorganisms in the cup, you will need a longer time to wash it clean. Also, all the trouble to sterilise it. Or, you can throw the cup and get a new one. My suggestion, just use recycleable paper cups if you are that incapable of washing up. I am so ashamed to tell out loud which company I work for now. If you intend to breed some pets, do it at home. Don't bring your nonsense to work. It may be disturbing to others.