Beggar vs Peasant

I was reading this novel call 'City of Joy' and I found it very touching especially on the struggle the poorest of the poorest people in Kolkata trying to meet their means everyday. I also learnt the peasants do not beg on the street, only the beggar does.

Today going to work, I saw an old lady knocking car from one to another asking for money. She is unkempt, old and extremely thin. I also noticed she has problem with her vision as one of her eye seems not looking straight. Quickly, I passed a 10 ruppee note to the driver which sat nearer to her and give it to her. She looked very grateful and she walked to the back seater door and kept bowing her head.

I told my friend, something has to be done for their countrymen. I had even saw an old man lying on the street motionless few days ago. The sight of it is really hard to accept and digest. My colleague told me this is an everyday event, and there are too many of them. Just can't help it!! However, on the other hand, I was charged like close to RM1000 a night by these big hotels. I have even read in the newspaper the middle income people are complaining that they have to pay too much taxes which may go to the overpopulated poor people.

I am very sure there are many filthy rich men in India. How do these rich men will feel I wonder towards these people who has such a difficult life. I told myself I will feel very ashamed.

The former dictator Suharto has left Indonesia.

The BBC news was showing the breaking news on the former president Suharto. Since I am young, we heard he was a ruthless leader and had killed many people. He was feared by the nation and also praised for driving the country towards economy reformed.

Later BBC showed an old man was prisoned during Suharto's prime time and how he will not forgive the ex president. He felt ashamed after his release and up to today his family's name has not been cleared. His family could not get any job with the government at all. And then, a BBC newscaster was interviewing a representative from Indonesia and critisizing his family is very rich from corruptions. All in all, it sounded very negative towards the ex president.

Now, take a step back, let's us digest all these information. So, with all these mixed feelings on the ex president, how can this help the current country? When I was young, Indonesia was one of the most prosperous country in South East Asian. Today, is it the same as before? I do not think I have the rights to judge what has happened. But, after the ex dictator has died, I think life still go on. And so with the people's life. The people need to look forward and find something that could lead for a better life with the current situation.

Money buys happiness!

As we landed we were in line waiting to get off from the airplane. That day I was lucky as I was being upgraded to first class. When I was standing on the aisle, I saw 2 chinese nationals talking to each other. One of them asked, how do you feel flying in the first class! The other guy responded, "Of course it's nice, when you can rich you can fly First class, you can have good shark fins soup". The conversation was pretty audible to all of us in the sector. In my mind, I was thinking to myself, is this really what life is? With money you can find happiness?

I am not so sure if I can answer that for the world. However, I know money does buy you a temporary happiness. The happiness that you want other people to look at. With gaya (style), glamour, and I am so filthy rich. But do one ever get contentment in your life with this? People always says, those who hasn't tasted grapes (richness) would not know the grapes were sweet or sour. However, I can only attest one thing, money can attracts unnecessary friends and materials. In the end you may end up do not know any value in life at all. If you are not discipline enough it may drive you to do stupid things.

I would not know if I will have real friends by being rich. Try to declare you are bankrupt one day, you will see some of your friends drop off one by one! Why because you are no longer useful to them. Many of us being friends because we can use each other. However, true friends are really about "giving" and not only "receiving".

Given the chance, I will rather have a comfortable life and still have a sanely mind to understand how to appreciate people and things around me. Money can get me all the material stuffs but it could not gives me what my heart may be longing, "contentment".

Married with Children Vs. Single

I am always being told, you do not understand us who are married with kids. To be honest, I really cannot understand, and not because I do not want to. I understand as parents you need to shower your kids with the greatest love of all. However, the action to achieve that has offended me sometimes, but when I challenged them, they will say to me .. you do not understand ....!

Just last week in Ipoh, there was a chatered bus which will ferry a big group of people from the hotel to the resort where the wedding was held. Some of them have kids with them. After doing a calculation in my mind, I never thought the bus will able to accomodate all of us. So we play wait and see. So as usual, being single, I will let the elderly and parents with kids to go up first. After almost filled up, I decided to go up and see if there are anymore seats left.

The very first thing I noticed was the children. The were occupying the seats by themselves. While the parents were too busy chatting away or even care who else was being left out! Excuse me, if you are civilised, you know there are many people stranded, and can you please put yr your kids on the lap or let 2 kids share a seat together? No .. because you WONT UNDERSTAND US WITH KIDS!

I think this is just a lame excuse! It is really how civilised you are! SO FACE IT!

Oink Oink No More!

I am setting 2 new resolutions for myself this year.

First, I will try not to eat PORK! Yes apparently the scientist found the porkie is smartter than DOG! If I don't eat DOG why should I eat PORK!!??

Second, if I want to GOSSIP. I will GOSSIP in front of the targetted person! Then it will not qualify as talking behind his or her back! :P

Hope I will achive this 2 new resolutions.