Abang dari MAS ke?

I have to write this because this is 2nd time somebody from the food department in KLIA airport. Usually I will chat a bit with the cash register staff that the price in KLIA airport is costly. And it's way too much for a decent family especially those with 5-6 kids. When I was about to pay, the staff will ask "Abang dari MAS ke?" (Do you work for MAS?). I will play on (kiasu) and say "Macam mana engkau tau?" (How do you know?), "Tapi I da henti" (But I have stopped with MAS).

Then the staff will smile, then she punch the cash register then Ka-Ching! Billed spitted out and to my surprised discounts included!!!! Not bad huh?! I guessed I should have applied a job with MAS after I left school, but meanwhile, I can enjoy the discount. Thank you!

社會的缺點 (The Society's Fault)

I always wonder why we act the way we act. Well let's not talk about others, I will dissect my own thoughts. Certain time I found my actions were kiasu. For example, when somebody want to sell something to you, my thoughts will tell me 'He's lying and trying to con my money'! Then when you ask around why this happened, people will tell you it has happened to others or myself, eventually we won't able to trust anyone. So it's the society's fault.

However, what are going to do about it? Are we continuing to act like this? Past from generations to generation expecting human will be living in social ill free? I always believe in the act of Kindness. Whether you are religious or not, it does not matter, nobody wins. It's a human conduct and your willingness to do it. Some people may be religious but their conduct is otherwise. There is nobody to blame but ourselves.

OK back to kindness, I believe through this, then people will disengage and the other party will feel guilt. Through guilt they will be moved and open their eye to see we all can change. If everyone adopt kiasu styles, then it will continue to flourish. If we all hoping our kids will grow up in a low crime less trouble society, then it may not happen. The choice is ours, don't always be too harsh to yourself. Forget about 'I should', 'I must' ... be kind to yourself. What you haven't done may have a positive reason for you not meeting your wants.

I will do my part, but will you?

Money money money!

I boarded a taxi yesterday and in the car, I started chatted with the driver where his car was brand new. Then the conversation turned to another angle, where the driver telling me how difficult to make money and he has 6 young kids at home!! I was like gosh, how can he cope with him being a sole breadwinner. In my heart I really admire his guts (or stupidity which he claimed during his younger years!). Then I probed what is his plan and how he spends time with his children, which I think is important and for their future well being too. He simply can't find time. Today, I spoke to another office colleague and I asked her how is she coping with her kids. She told me she is very busy and she did not spend much time either. Subsequently, the message was the same. Both human I spoke to was too busy making money!

I felt it's a pity, I agree money is important to a certain extent, however, are we willing to adjust a bit to spend time with something which are more precious? For the driver, I was thinking, could the family adjust a bit? Can the wife find a part time job at home, so he can afford to cut down the hours earn less but could give some breathing time for him to spend some time with the kids? How about my office colleague, could she willing to take up a less stress jobs and could lead to lower pay, but again gives her the opportunities to interact with her kids?

I read something in my text book today. The author said, money is just an extrinsic rewards which in long term will deprive you from the real joy. The real joy is at home waiting to be interacted. Will you do some sacrifice on money which lead to real joy? However, at the end of the day, it lies on our choices.

The choices of 'Cham'!

Cham aka coffee mix with tea in the Malaysian Kopitiam (Cafe). I realised how much choices we have these days and eventually it leads to confusion. You may call it my rights, my way, or creatives, but I call it losing in communications.

This morning when we went for breakfast we were ordering our drinks. I ordered 'Cham (with sweetened milk)', then my aunt ordered 'Cham Si (with sugar), and my uncle ordered Cham Min Tim (no sugar). The waiter who took our order then repeat 3 Chams, but I said not the same for all the Chams!

However, what I wanted to point out was, these choices are getting more and more complex. I am not sure if it's for betterment or creating more confusions. The people's communication is struggle these days and add with all these choices, does it get any better? Sometimes, when I read an article saying our lives are getting more complex, I realised it's not just our lifestyle changes, but down to our choices and communications with one another!

The Sotong was Right!! Spain Won

Spain scored a single goal to set Holland off during extra time. I wasn't sure if this was the best match, but guarded their goal post like a fortress, and many yellow cards as expected. However, the sotong was right in it's prediction! Spain won.

Just before this final, there were so many fans were anger by this sotong. Some even tweet and came up with a list of cooking choices on how to cook the sotong! Some want it fried, some want it raw. Well the message is don't mess with fans from either sides. I am sure both want to fry the sotong!

World Cup Fever No More

Half time between Spain vs Holland, and both still could not produce any goal yet. I still remembered about a decade ago, me and family members watched and screamed most of the matches during the FIFA fever.

Presently things has changed. Why? That's because our national TV channels has given limited rights to the matches. Eventually, the spirit was broken though most of the time we can connect the games through newspaper during the next day. In order to watch them, you must either subscribe to the cable TVs with the right or go to the pubs or mamak which put on tent, with the promise that you buy drinks from them for the free view. Well, welcome to capitalisme! The entire mood, fever and gaga over the football has changed for me, simply for not willing to pay the extra cents. For those who pay the drinks and cable tv, be the fever be with you always (with a hole in your pocket)!

In addition, Mandela showed up during this final and left the field during the game. It was a rather emotional closing as this 92 years old African hero has gone through many endurance in the past and present. Bravo Mandela!

Sir, I lost my wallet

Time, 10 minutes to 1pm on 9 July, 2010. Scene, at the exit or Orchard Station, Singapore. While I was waiting for a friend for lunch, I sat near steps. Suddenly, I heard a whispering voice my back, "Excuse me sir, can I speak to you for a while?". We were at a corner near a lift where it was quiet from the bustling crowds. He then sat down next to me and mumbled, "To be honest sir, if you could help me out. I actually lost my wallet and I need SGD4 to take a transport to the nearest police station at Tanglin." Then I said to him, "Are you pinoy?". As he looked brown skins and does not look local to me. He said, "No no no sir, I am singaporean". Somehow I don't buy the story he wants. I took another look at him, he looks pretty decent, not harmful, but somehow I suspect he wants the money for food instead". I told myself, well what can $4 get you? Drugs? No. Gamble? No. So I thought ok I will give it to him.

When I hand over the money to him, I told him I trusted him. Make use of the money wisely. I guess for somebody to ask a stranger, it takes a lot of guts and desperations. The surprise thing it happens in Singapore!