Okay.... Here we go!!

I'd say last year's resolutions have been achieved 60%....

1。 博士班的名是报定了。要好好充实自己。

at the end, i haven't registered for it yet... TOTAL FAILURE!!! =_="

2。 做一切事情都要全力以赴，事业学业亦然。

probably achieved 50%. i'm more hardworking than previous years...

3。 把身体搞好，吃好的，多运动，生活要有规律。

This one definitely i've improved a lot... not only have i signed up for gym membership, i've been swimming, running, spinning, yoga-ing quite regularly. 80%!!!

4。 多认识朋友，扩大生活圈子。

this one definitely 100% success... know a lot and a lot of good friends, who i can hang out and chat, and also have social activities together... travel, sports, movies, meals... and old friends also i've maintained good relationship and become even better friends. :)

5。 储蓄，置业，投资。

perhaps a 60% success rate... saving wise - not bad, can be improved. also start investing in mutual fund... didn't buy any property yet... :D

6。 保持心情愉快。

100% success rate. i may not say it's a happy-happy year, but it definitely is a calm one. and i think calm = real happiness. i definitely have very very minimal grunting and complaining about anything at all.


And few more things not in the plan have also been done... for example, i've (officially) become a buddhist, turned vegetarian, traveled to so many places etc... Good things have been coming my way, and i hope they keep coming in... but even if bad things are going to happen, i think i have the strength to face them too now.

This year's resolutions:

1. okay... i have to keep telling myself - PhD!!! you lazy bum!!!

2. present paper at international conference

3. volunteer myself to help up in the meditation retreat.

4. smaller tummy and weight = 62kg.

that's all. again, set small targets and achieve them! gambatte ne!!!

Travel Plan for 2010

On previous post, i've summarized my 2009 trips... this post is going to be my plan for 2010!


CONFIRMED PLANS


1. Yogyakarta (Borobudur), Indonesia - 14-16 January 2010

Leaving shortly - next week to Jogja... The main purpose is definitely to see the amazing Borobudur temple! i guess that's the only purpose. hahaha...




2. Taiwan - 5-15 May 2010

always want to visit Taiwan for the yummy food and great books. since now i'm a vegetarian, i think food hunt will be quite limited... but that's not the main complication, sigh... i just found out that the final exam weeks for this semester fall exactly on the planned date!!! gosh... i will have to pay Air Asia to delay the tickets!!! urghhh...... but i'm so determined to go!!! hahahaha....


Taipei!!! see if i can spot some celebrities & singers that i like or not!! and 101 Tower.


Cheng Pin Bookstore that open 24 hours! i'm going to shop till i drop!!! hahaha...


Yang Ming Shan National Park for sightseeing and hot spring! oooo.....


Hua Lien for the beaches and also whale spotting! should be fun!!!


3. Bangkok - July 2010

5 days shopping trip to Bangkok for the second time. i want to buy t-shirts, jeans and so much more!



4. Krabi - September 2010

A getaway trip with buddies to the sun, beach and sea! nothing much to do but to relax and hang out with friends!



UNCONFIRMED PLANS

1. Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai, Semporna, Tawau - really want to go there for snorkeling and possibly taking up my diving license course...

2. Redang or Perhentian - for quiet break away from the hustles and bustles of city.

3. Mount Bromo, Indonesia - breathtaking sceneries... :)

Upcoming event: Vipassana Meditation Retreat

Coming wednesday i'll be going to somewhere near Kuantan for Vipassana meditation retreat... full 10 days of meditations, that would be something new and definitely a challenge for me. i'm looking forward to the experience and possibly inner peace.

so, see you guys next year! an early Merry Christmas and Happy New Year greeting to all. :)

Crazy traveling year 2009

This year i have had a crazy traveling year... so this post is to summarize my trips in 2009:


1. Siem Reap & Phnom Penh, Cambodia: 31 December 2008 - 7 January 2009


Experienced the street party at Pub Street, Siem Reap! Full of people... but it's super fun!


Totally enjoyed myself dancing 2 hours nonstop, drinking long island ice tea from a bucket, and totally wasted! :D


But of course the main purpose is to see this 7 wonders of the world - Angkor Wat. love it!!!


Brought the bear along too! :P


Took the boat from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh and chatted with this swedish guy. Nice tatts!


2. Siem Reap & Phnom Penh, Cambodia: April 2009


Tried my hand on drawing during my second trip to Angkor Wat... i drew this famous Tomb Raider tree at Ta Phrom. and also this:



3. Bali, Indonesia: May 2009


Second time to Bali, still enjoy it very much!! thank you Chee Aik for taking this photo for me, i love it a lot! this is Kuta Beach.


Not to be missed - smoked duck at Bebek Bengil restaurant, Ubud, Bali... super yummy!!!


4. Hainan, China: September 2009


Enjoying Yalong Bay at Hainan. We stayed in Holiday Inn and lazing on this private beach... amazing blue sky, white sand and jade sea...


5. Salsa Cruise Asia, Singapore-Port Klang-Phuket-Singapore: 22-27 November 2009


Such a luxurious king size bed... my first time staying in a 5-star hotel - Ritz Carlton Milenia Hotel, Singapore...


First time seeing christmas deco at Orchard Road, Singapore. thanks Ken for accompanying me in the wee hours of the morning. forgot to take photo with you because everything's a rush!... so regret! next time lah! :)


first time going on a cruise trip! super excited.


Not to mention first time learning how to salsa! and first time winning such a luxurious trip! memorable indeed!

新年快乐！

洋人新年我在柬埔寨渡过，来不及写新年展望。乘着已丑年的到来，就来写写未完成的展望吧！

1。 博士班的名是报定了。要好好充实自己。

2。 做一切事情都要全力以赴，事业学业亦然。

3。 把身体搞好，吃好的，多运动，生活要有规律。

4。 多认识朋友，扩大生活圈子。

5。 储蓄，置业，投资。

6。 保持心情愉快。

就这样。哈哈，不算太贪心吧？

在此祝各位牛转乾坤，哈皮牛耶儿！

This is MADNESS!!!

I just came back from Festival Filem & Video Pelajar Malaysia Ke-6 at UPM co-organized by FINAS & UPM. Me and my colleague called our dean at once after all the awards have been announced - omg... we won big!!! BIG!!! Our dean Dr. Carmen was pleasantly surprised and totally proud too! out of 33 awards, we won 14! that's more than 1/3 of all awards given out tonight!! and most exciting thing is we swept all big prizes!!! Best Documentary, Best Short Video, Best Production Group --- all these awards come with HD camera each --- Best Short Video being the biggest award made one of my student a proud owner of a brand new RM20,000 HD video camera... lucky bastard!!! hahahahahaha!!! i'm so happy and proud for these hardworking & talented students, they definitely deserve the prizes & recognition as they have worked like donkeys for the past 2 months besides their studies & exams... SO PROUD!!!! hopefully i'll get a good pay raise & 4 months bonus!!! (yeah how i wish!!!!)

The list of all the awards received by UTAR tonight:
Anugerah Perdana (Super Pitch)
1. Best Short Video
2. Best Supporting Actor
3. Best Editing (short video)
4. Best Documentary
5. Best Directing (doco)
6. Best Editing (doco)

Anugerah Cipta
7. Best Production Group
8. Best Music Video
9. Best Promo/Advertisement
10. Best Directing (short video)
11. Best Cinematography (short video)
12. Best Art Direction (short video)
13. Best Editing (short video)
14. Best Audio (short video)

Photos to come after i got them from my students.

What a good beginning for year 2009!!! :D

哈皮冬至

祝大家冬至快乐！吃汤圆没有？

昨天去了同事家house warming 及提前庆祝圣诞节吃火鸡。对他家的圣诞装饰大感兴趣，播给大家瞧瞧：


ho ho ho!!! 圣诞老人入侵民宅。真的好可爱呀！当然，最主要的目的还是跟朋友同事聚聚聊天打屁bbq。度过了蛮开心的冬至前夕。

今天则没有那么悠闲啦，必须把明天截止的论文edit好，否则将赶不及submit给有关journal。
加油加油！

乱语

三毛说，当人生已不再精彩，留在世上就不再有意义。

我也曾经在忧郁时闪过自杀的念头，但稍纵即逝。所以，我能了解，但无法认同这悲观的想法。

不认同的是，活着真的只为了精彩吗？而人生必然有高潮低潮，难不成每次面临低潮时都要寻死？

我选择了，也宁愿相信，人生是平淡的。没有事发生，就是好事。我对自己更没有过分的要求。

对感情我也秉持同样的态度。我不要轰轰烈烈，只要细水长流。虚拟的完美伴侣，只会彰显现实真实的不足。人的欲望是可怕的，当有不满足的黑洞在心里扎营，渴望将无止境的扩大。长一大把年纪，我已不相信完美的伴侣，只有方便的伴侣。好的人比比皆是，能契合的人也多不胜数，哪一个才是你的完美伴侣呢？难道要骑牛寻马，永远的活在前方还有更好的心灵黑洞中吗？

说着说着，我有点混淆了。安定的生活，安定的伴侣，其实也是一种不切实际的苛求吧！？苦苦追求安定，不也让我这几十年来吃尽了苦头？不也让我心里不得安宁？这是何等的矛盾，何等的无奈。

活着，就已经是美好了。