When Upgrading Their Poor Quality Life Style is of Top Priority.

I have heard of many disturbing stories of “小龙女”. I understand that this term carries some negative connotations. I am merely quoting it and I don’t mean to degrade anyone in any sense.

Lately, I only hear more about it, much like “affirming” such perception? Mm.. Let’s see.

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Tale (1) :

Y was relating her friend’s husband one day got himself quite drunk and in his drunken state he actually brought his mistress back home. His mistress is a native Chinese. Upon entering the house, she actually boldly confronted the 原配. I don’t really pay attention to the details of the confrontation. However, the 原配 ’s reaction was classic.

Mistress : … 叽里咕噜的…
Wife (without losing her composure, in a very calm manner) :
没有关系，你要他，你可以带走。
不过我可以告诉你，他没有钱，他的钱都在我手里。
你不相信的话，我也可以证明给你看。
你可以得到他的人，不过你绝对得不到他的钱。

You know what?
The mistress left the house and the man. True love, or just practicality?

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Tale (2) :

OG’s sister works in one of the country clubs in Shanghai. Obviously, such country clubs are frequented by many (rich) expatriates. OG’s sister put it plainly that the lady workers working at the country clubs are trying their very best to “钓金龟” at the same time.

OG gave a slightly different perspective. It is not easy to survive in the competitive environment of Shanghai or Beijing. Most of people are merely “房奴”. The prices of the accommodation are constantly soaring and a double-income nuclei-family can barely survive on. Literally, most of them slog just to stay afloat. If we think along the belief that everyone hopes to upgrade their life-style, what options do they have? Not too many, I suppose. Even a native Chinese (a present fellow colleague of mine) said to me he would not be able to survive back in his country. This colleague of mine married a Malaysian and is certainly settling here.

Tthere is another clear point to note. The income gap in China is very wide. The rich begin filthy rich, the poor being dirt poor. If anyone were to be at the “wrong” end of the income spectrum, how would he feel? He may be constantly thinking of making a difference in his quality of life. Yes? No? Yet the gap is constantly widening. Is it natural that he may have the thought of taking “short-cuts”? Mm…

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Tale (3) :

G was telling some similar stories. He said in Vietnam, as long as the ladies know you are a foreign, you are sure to have a special treatment. If you wish to date some local ladies out, 99% will be successful. Maybe this G tried dating 100 of them and only 1 rejected him? Mm.. If not how he got his statistics? :P

He witnessed a few times whereby some agencies running some kind of marriage-proposals went there for interviews. The ladies really took effort to beautify themselves, went for the interviews and dearly hope they could be chosen ones. No joke, the queue is damn long okay!

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Maybe it’s the environment forcing these people to be like that.
Who doesn’t want to have a better life?
However, should we measure better life only in the materialistical sense?
Frankly, if we were to be in their shoe, will we be just like them?
I would like to say no.
But we know even better, we need to be really in their shoe, to know the true answer.
The answer we give now is just too fictitious. Mm..

I am not suggesting whether what they are doing is right or wrong. I am merely noting how the environment may affects the way we people do things.

Hence, in the same light, what do you think our local environment has shaped your mind, your soul, your thoughts, your way of life, etc..?

一个想法掠过 …
努力就一定会有收获吗？
就如雨后就一定会有彩虹吗？
然而，收获和彩虹都是人类所向往的。

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有一位圣者这么说：

用日常行饶益，就当服务，人生快乐何其多，无穷的快乐只一个，那就是舍己为人。

如孔子的有教无类，因材施教，周游列国，削迹伐檀，陈蔡绝粮，才有今日的万世师表。

如妙善公主的慈悲为怀，发七十二愿，受考受验，志气犹坚，才有今日的家家户户观世音，名留万古。

人生以服务为目的，服务应存的心态：也就是爱心、耐心、恒心、信心。

吾心信其可行，虽移山填海之难，亦有成功之日；
吾心信其不可行，虽反掌折枝之易，亦无收效之期。

服务他人是应尽之义务，大丈夫者，宁服务他人，勿为人之服务。

服务的真谛，乃是将所拥有的一切，富贵、钱财、地位、精神、时间，甚至生命贡献发挥于世界上，不惜一切来造福人群。

Wedding at a Yacht Club..

Wedding at a Yacht Club is certainly quite a cool idea.

Perhaps..
- I just like the alfresco setting too much.
- I am just tired of the boring four walls in hotel ball rooms.
- Overlooking the calm waters and the stately yachts, enjoying the soft touch of the evening breeze at the same time while we dine is quite a nice combination.
- It’s just romantic.

Besides, I’m often quite impressed b the restrooms of country clubs or yacht clubs. We will appreciate better why the name rest rooms. Oh. Nope. I did not rest inside. :p

Another draw for the night would be..
Sx, an old pal of mine, is a pilot. Needless to say, there are noticeable dashing pilots and gorgeous air stewardess among his guests.

Wa. This Sx good ah, arranged me to be seated on a table where I know no one. But again, I know no one in his entire guest list. Haha.. Should I feel a little honoured to be the only one from xx unit where we first came to know each other, like more than 10 years ago? It’s alright, being talkative myself, I have no problem breaking the ice. It turns out that, the person seating right in front of me is the son of one of my fellow colleagues and his brother-in-law is my primary school classmates. Small world? Indeed.

Sx and Co, they looked so blissful tonight. :)
Congrats!

A View of that Yacht Club by Day

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有一位圣者这么说：

要求别人，是别人成就；要求自己，自己提升。

They Say They Wanna Meet the Terrorist

They say they wanna meet the “terrorist”. And today, their little dream came true. Yes, they met the “terrorist”. They refer me as their “terrorist”. Heh.. That’s the way they put it. So crude. But so cute. Haha.. Oh yes, in a way I “terrorised” them.

Just some days back, they had decided to hunt me down. I was hunted. So today, we dined and we talked the evening through. We ate so much. We talked so much.

They are the *little pals that crossed my path in year 2000. Ha.. The ladies are already in the work force contribution to our country’s GDP while the guys are just about to embark on their 3rd year in the university.

After JC, they went separate ways. How wonderful to learn that they are still so close to each other. They meet up so often. And all these years, they play, they dine, they wine, they take, they share, they give. Wow! Happening.

So many years apart, and frankly I still find them charming.. ha.. especially the ladies. Maybe because they were my first complete batch. I mean they were the first batch I followed them throughout their entire stay in JC. Hence, they had left quite a wonderful impression.

Ha.. Again, they were ever so eager to meet my better half. Let them continue to imagine. Haha..

We will meet again.

A quick check :
Jx, being a broker
Ck, studying life sciences
Jo, studying accountancy
Jr, studying architecture and will be having a study stint in Korean soon.
M, studying medicine in KL.
R, being a teacher,
S, working in Aust, ...

He Has His Ways of Doing Business..

I vaguely remember going to this shop at Orchard at most thrice. Every time, it was with a pal as he was checking out something, or buying something. I was never the boss’s economical focus when business is concerned, as I merely tag along, look see look see. I can’t even engage in meaningful conversation at those moments as their conversations were too technical. Ha.. I can only smile along, I guess.

I need something simple and I happened to be at Orchard area today. Naturally, that store came to my mind. The minute I walked in, I can tell from the warmth of the boss’s smile that he can recognize me, though not by name (we were never formally introduced mah.. haha.. no need lah). He attended to me straight away. He didn’t have what I requested, yet he spent a bit of time suggesting logical alternatives. But I really don’t need anything that high-end. So immediately he sent one of his guys to get what I want from another stall and sold it to me at really reasonable rate (significantly lower than the rate published in hardwarezone), without any need for me to bargain at all.

From the way I saw him doing business with a pal of mine, and from the way he did business with me, erm… I think I will go to him again, if I ever need any other related accessories.

This was so unlike another stall I visited within the same complex. The lady salesperson started off my proposed deal of a small item by first stating an unreasonably high selling price. When I try bargaining, she only insisted that her stall is different / unique as their stocks are all of high quality. High quality? Erm.. I was touching the items. Why the need to elaborate? Because the fact their goods are of high quality is not obvious? Haha.. I hesitated. Maybe my hesitation was unnaturally long and she gave in a little and even proposed (in the plainest tone, with no facial expression, not looking at me) to sell the item to me at warehouse price (so she claimed), if I’m really interested. But while I was still thinking, another pair of couple walked in, obviously more eager than me to get some much bigger items. The lady salesperson actually just walked away to attend to them. Wa.. How am I to going to feel interested in her goods? Haha.. Anyway, I think I don’t really need that item. The push-sales-factor then was also that lacking. I just have to put the item down and I so believe I can find better equivalent somewhere.

The GSS is on…
- To get things from the first stall, I don’t even have to wait till GSS.
- It is the GSS, yet the second stall fail to close a deal (that I was partially interested in) at warehouse price.
- It is during sales time, we spent the most. Yes? No?
- I didn't know I also can be drawn by it and I actually purchased quite many things already.
- I hope the amount "saved" from the discounts can cover the petrol, car-parking and ERP charges.

Sales is indeed quite a 学问, I think.

2 “Weird” Encounters

An Orange Coloured Merz.
To many people, the orange colour may be rather cool. I think I like it too. But I hardly associate this colour with an automobile, a merz. This orange coloured merz was just passing by me. It appeared like a big toy car being remotely controlled by some big-kid nearby.

Intuition Tested.
I was a little bored. I noticed a particular blog was updated by more than 1 person. I predicted that the user name and password must then be quite easy-to-remember kind. OMG, at first try, I broke into his blog. My intention was only to test my intuition and not to perform any damage. I left the scene quickly. Strange. There are actually people using the password as the username, when the username itself is already an obvious part of the URL??!!

Weird, Unusual, Outstanding, Unique, Special, Exceptional, Uncustomary, Atypical, …
We may call them synonyms, but we would agree that the connotations differ quite significantly.
Sometimes I asked, “Who are we to judge?”

In the above-mentioned encounters, I am not really “laughing at them” or “questioning their mental faculty”. I am looking at my own threshold level of what I deem a little strange. Heh.. Oh sure I can still accommodate them all, no problem. Anyway, I'd left a little note to the author of that blog, confessing my discovery.

Oil Bath

Have you experienced an “Oil Bath” before? Yes, I literally mean almost “submerging” yourself in (special) oil and let it slowing nourishes your skin. I don’t think it needs a big brain to understand its moisturizing properties. Your skin, how not to feel smooth, tender, soft after the treatment?

I had just done the treatment. Wow! The entire skin bag of mine was somewhat covered in a thin layer of protective nourishing film after that. Yup! So now, the skin is truly smooth, tender and soft to the touch. Erm.. You are not allow to verify the previous statement, unless you are *ahem. :P

If you think I am describing a SPA treatment I had just enjoyed, you are only partially correct. It’s SPA for me (no doubt), but it isn’t the “Salus Per Acquam” you are more accustomed to. Haha.. I shall talk about this later.

I was instructed by two skin specialists to use an emulsifying ointment in place of the harsh, over-drying soap when taking a shower. My skin is deemed to be a little sensitive lately. One specialist thinks the condition is residing and is under controlled, the other more senior one overrules and suggests to play safe, a biopsy ought to be done. Erm.. A biopsy is the removal of a sample of tissue from the body for examination. Small thing lah, I guess, in the beginning. But the feeling of the small-thing-ness was quickly dissipated when I heard them talking about stitches and all.

I asked, “How big is the sample you are going to take?”
She replied, “Oh, just a small one.”

I insisted, “How small? Need stitches?”
She replied, “Oh just a 4 mm circular punch.”

I inquired further, “A punch? How deep?”
She replied, “Up till the fat layer. So it will practically leave a hole there. And therefore it usually requires about two stitches only.”

Alemak, I thought it is going to be just a scrape. My skin is so thick, so well-enriched with fat. How? It must be such a thick layer they will be expecting. Aiyo, must go under the knife and all again?! Mm.. How to hit the beach as planned?! Haha.. Bah.. Small thing lah. I don’t care. I am going to postpone the biopsy till term starts.

At the time being, I was therefore given the 2 tubs of emulsifying ointment, the 3 tubes of moisturizers + +. I am supposed to use them, apply them daily. So SPA to me is “Self Prepared Application”. Argg … What a SPA with no hot babes?! Haha..

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车子虽然蛮快速的掠过
我不会认错
好熟悉的身影
本想再转个弯
至少打个招呼问个好
可我真不想让他为难
所以最后却加速前进
边看着望后镜
脑里浮现许多回忆
我 …
我不懂还能做些什么
还是我什么都不用做
就这样默默的祝福吗
他过得好就好 …

I was Touched for some Different Reasons...

It was OJ farewell gathering. W volunteered to do the planning. The date was selected and the venue he picked. And so today, we were all led into this amazing place : G. Village. W came to know about this place as it was recommended by HER WORLD magazine, which he is a subscriber, so he claimed. Haha..

Ulu maybe an appropriate term to describe the place, no joke. The road leading in was pretty dark (most of the street lamps were not even working), but once we reached the place, there were many eateries glittering with welcoming lights. Cool! Just along the narrow road, we have by its side many different restaurants each having an unique “theme”, drawing different crowds. There were so many diners too.

W had selected and reserved a particular one already. Glad that the "main star" of the night likes the venue. She was touched I guess, with the roses and card presented to her. We had a pleasant night eating away, chatting away.

I was touched too, for some different reasons.

- OJ knew that I am joining. She thought that there might not be any vegetarian dishes in that restaurant. And so, along her way there, she bought some snacks from a vegetarian restaurant and brought them along, just in case I starved when they get their tummy filled.

- I only learn when I reached that W and F had already checked out the place (in person) a few days in advance. They chatted with the person in-charge to ensure that the chef in this particular restaurant can prepare a wide variety of vegetarian dishes.

All those were done without me requesting, without me knowing. I was only thinking : since I was invited to join, I will just go. Once there, I will just talk to the waiter or chef or whoever in-charge to see if things could be fixed (i.e. prepare some vegetarian food). If not, I would just go for the desserts and drinks. It is their company I enjoy and food is not really of top-priority to me.

OJ, All the best to your future endeavours.

They are friends indeed.
This harsh world may become much more bearable, when people care for each other and appreciate each other, in however little ways.

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有一位作者这么说：

大自然不因为花不如树实用、草不如树高大而冷落了花与草。

大自然承认花、草、树之间的差异。它知道花又花的艳丽，草有草的幽香，树有树的伟岸，它不要求草长得如树般高大，也不要求树如花般美丽，于是树便是树，花便是花，草便是草。

When in Emergencies, Dial...

Woke up at 0500h (after 4 hour of sleep), just to make sure I can be in time to fetch two *little pals for CIP, as the reporting time was so unearthly and the reporting place was so far. Ha.. That’s how much I like driving - sacrificing a little sleep is fine. :)

But ageing is really taking a little toll on me, I guess. Just after noon, I no longer can hold the defence of the attack by the mighty z-monster. I had to take a nap, and I did, but not for long. My phone rang shortly after. A polite request was delivered. I jumped up, get changed and sped off to fetch a *little pal to meet his injured friend who had sent him a SOS. I doubt they knew I had just jumped up from a nap. Haha.. I think I have more or less mastered the skill of not sounding too sleepy even if I am. By the way, we just felt glad to learn that the injured pal of his was/is managing quite well.

Wa.. I felt like doing CIP myself. :)

Anyway, I don’t mind the trips to assist them in my little ways. I enjoyed the trips actually, since time allowed (at the moment). Besides, I find it interesting that I was the one they approached during such “emergencies”. Oh well, I must keep upgrading myself to keep up a “professional” image lor.

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小故事、大启示。

小丑肩挑着花色布包，徒步走向下个城市途中，有辆马车从身旁飞速超过他。马车夫看起来十分着急，大声问他：「到下个城市大概还有多远？」

「如果你们开慢一点，大概只需要半小时，如果你们开得很快，大概就需要半天！」

「你这个笨蛋！」马车夫边骂边不断鞭打马匹，从他旁边急驰而过。

小丑继续慢慢向前走。这条路上沿路布满坑洞、高低不平。

一个钟头之后，他再次遇上这辆马车，因为路况差，马车前轮已经断了，马车夫正忙著抢修。

小丑从马车身边走过：「我告诉过你的，如果你慢慢开，只要半个小时就到了……」

即使你经常迫不及待地去拉扯橄榄的果实，它们也不会比较早熟。　　　
－－托斯卡尼谚语

A Big Boss Asked to See Me.

Wa.. This G is so busy in his business and I was so surprised he initiated a meet up with me. There must be a reason, I guess. Mm.. Even his wife (L) questioned him, “Why you want to see Nanzi?” Dotz.. Haha.. His reply to his wife was, “Why cannot? He was my room mate leh”, spoken in his most loving manner. Haha..

Apparently, G is overseas (on business) most of the time, and certainly L wants more time with him when his is back.

Anyway, we met up and we talked over a cup of chocolate, about the good old days. Glad to learn that he is really doing very well. He may be a big boss but nice to learn that he doesn’t carry the “air” around me. He is just more formally attired all the time.

Oh, he did have a special “reason”. Almost towards the end of our conversation, he introduced me to a health product, something his wife is bugging him to get also and he believes so strongly in it. But the stocks are yet to be imported in (exclusively by his company) yet. So, there might be an official launch of the product soon.

At one part of the conversation, he was going through the benefits of the product with him. He was reading from a long list printed on a brochure.
.. promotes eye health
.. promotes better concentration
.. etc.. (the list is really long)

But when he came to one particular item in the middle of the list, he skipped and commented that “this one doesn’t concern you, you don’t need it” and continued with the rest.
Silly G! He thinks he knows me??!!

Probably he is right.
That item on the list was “promotes sexual health”.
Haha.. We were laughing out loud actually. Argg..

Didn’t want to take up too much of his time. Sent him back to his wife. :)

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Okay, sharing with you a clip showing you an unique swallower.

Any Value in Marriage?

I know A, B, C and D since my first year in university. Okay, we were classmates. They got along very well and not long after we had graduated. A married B and C married D. Glad for them, in a way.

Yesterday, in a large conference, I met A and B. But they were not walking together and they seemed to be busy with their own activities. During break time, I was seated with L and A walked over and talked to L (our common friend too).

L was asking, “… How’s B? …”
A replied rather expressionlessly, “… that was the past… ”, and she moved away.

Only then, I learnt that A and B have separated. They have at least one kid. Mm… While I was having casual talks with A and B, separately of course, I do observed eye bags, dark circles, tiredness, etc being worn on their faces. Haiz..

While talking with L, I further learnt that C and D have parted way too. Again they have at least one kid. I am not saying “kid” MUST be a kind of measure of “should” or “should not”, but… my feeling is for their kids now.

I didn’t ask them what went wrong. We have not been in contact for so long and I don’t think I am in any appropriate position to discuss that with them, unless they wish to discuss it with me. Mm..

In general, it left me thinking :
- Is there any value in marriage? I dearly hope the answer is an affirmative YES.
- Is it okay that when the “feeling” is gone, couples may just go on separate ways? Some argued that responsibility should not be a “binding” factor in a relationship. Oh well, I agree that responsibility is a natural consequence of love and usually not the other way round. I then question why there is a change of hearts in the first place?

There will naturally be signals along the way. Yes? No?

I am trying to imagine…
Even if the signals are staring at their faces, some may chose to talk about it, communicate in the good spirit of trying to work things out as nicely as possible. Some may keep quiet about it, keeping things in their hearts, allowing things to get out of hand, and erm … heh. That will be a sad "mis-management". But again, it takes two parties to work out, perhaps. I am not in any position to judge and I wouldn’t want to. These are just random thoughts crossing my mind at the time of typing.

Sad for them, in a way. Hope they live on well.