旅人

我们都是人生的旅人，有人走马看花，有人盲目地前进。我想不如细心欣赏一路的风景，因为它可能人生几许，一瞬即逝，像我们的青春。不想以后回头再看时，只看到忙，盲，茫，的自己。

憧憬

昨晚睡到饱饱的，精神饱满确不错。不懂今天又有什么人生体验呢？对自己的人生充满憧憬。虽然并非每次都如意，却庆幸自己已经有了最好的一切。会珍惜。。。

Breakfast

It has been a habit for rich breakfast since I moved here. You can find me in the nearby kopitiam almost every morning around 9am.

A cup of Teh C, is my morning’s routine.

And for today, pan-fried dumplings and double half-boiled eggs!

最长的电影

我们是否也曾经错过了什么。。。？

突然好想你

最怕突然 聽到你的消息。。。

为什么许多人都对爱情执着。。。过去最好还是收在回忆里吧！

My First Court Experience

Woke up 5:30am in the morning for preparation in order to leave house early so that I won’t be late for today’s court case. I put on a proper attire to pay respect to the Judge in charged hoping that I won’t get a bad penalty.

I was actually representing the company for a pesticide summon which happened in the store I in charged around almost 2 years ago. Before I go, I snapped a photo for Facebook using my webcam. I was in fact not nervous about attending the court.

The rain was heavy since last night and the whether was so hazy. Heard that there was a sun eclipse today. Know that it’s rare but I had no time for this. Reached Jalan Duta Court Complex earlier than expected and was checking around the building.

Ivan joined me soon after. We went to Civil Magistrate Court 8 and waited there. Before we waited long, a Malay lady approached us, “Are you Dr. Chong?” I said “Yes!” and wondering why she knew my name? She then told us that we were in the wrong place.

The young pendakwa officer brought us into Criminal Magistrate Court 8! We never thought our case was under criminal! She checked whether we want to admit guilty and actually taught us how to rayu for a minimal hukum!

The court was freezing cold! But we were not alone. Most of them were same as us, representing their companies for summon. Many pendakwa officers, lawyers and a few court clerks. With the bell sounded so sudden, everybody stood and bowed when the Judge in.

Upon calling up our case, I stepped a front representing my company to answer the call. Tuduhan was read out and I was asked whether to admit guilty. The clerk then read “kalau bersalah, boleh dihukum 3 tahun penjara, atau dende 10 ribu ringgit, atau kedua-duanya… Masih mengaku salah?” I replied “Mengku salah!”

It was the company’s decision to admit straightaway. And our legal advisor was so eager to represent us in court. But we refused him and I was elected to represent the company in this case. And this is the reason why I was standing here in this scene.

Then, it was an embarrassing moment, which the pendakwa officer threw out the evidence, packs of confiscated flea and tick collars on the table. And after all, it was my rayuan time. I spoke a few simple words as suggested by the pendakwa officer and ended with “Itu sahaja.”

Soon the Judge read the hukum which I couldn’t hear clearly, “…dende xx ribu xx ratus ringgit xx penjara 4 bulan…” My heart was almost stopped for a while when I heard the word penjara! While still in hesitation I was asked to sit a side to wait.

Cases by cases passed. I was thinking “Am I supposed just a wakil for my company? Then, what is this penjara all about?” I was also thinking why the Judge asked for surat wakil from other cases but not from me since I was also a wakil.

It was a deep worry if the court had make a mistake and the case was charged on my name! Oh, no! Remember, I was just a wakil! Who is going for imprisonment for this! But I couldn’t get a clarification as other cases were going on like Rush Hour in the court.

It was almost an hour waiting before the Judge took a break. I rushed to the pendakwa officer for clarification. I asked her what was the hukum. And she replied “Saya pun tak dengar jelas. Apa yang you dengar?” “Emm… I dengar tak tau seribu dua ke empat ratus…” “Tak apa, I tanya dulu…”

The case ended with a fine. And it is charged under the name of my company. Not my name! I was relieved! The whole thing settled by paying up the fine at the payment counter. Case’s closed and over! And this is me in front of the Court Complex.

2009 July 22, blackout night

昙花

妈妈不大喜欢在没准备的情况下面对镜头。也许她觉得自己花颜不再吧？妈妈有一张旧照，非常喜欢。曾对我说，他日故去，也将用作遗照。

嬤嬤在她不能活动的那十年里，可以说是从未踏出过家门。无论如何鼓励与劝说，都无法打动。她说，怕丑，害怕别人看见她坐在轮椅上围着沙龙的模样。翻开嬤嬤的旧照，发现她年轻时，是个美人儿。曾问爷爷，当年为何追求嬤嬤。他说，因为她的美丽。

她们都曾经花样年华。到最后都不约而同的察觉自己的年华渐去。也许她们会缅怀过去的青春纪事；也会感叹岁月对她们的无情。也许她们会惋惜自己的一生，像昙花一样，虽然美丽，可惜短暂。

难道昙花一时的绽放，凋谢后真的无痕？它不也是为了奉献而匆匆一现的吗？

她们把青春毫不吝啬地挥洒在那延续自己生命的新生代上。她们脸上的风霜，记录着匆匆一生的耕耘。难道年轻的脸庞，不曾对她们呈现感恩的笑容吗？

欣赏过昙花的人，无不惊艳。一瞬的芳香扑鼻，无不难于忘怀。

无人嘲笑昙花的短暂，只有惊叹它的璀璨。虽然匆匆，也为我们奉献了一份美。

谁说昙花虽然美丽，可惜短暂？

我说，昙花一现，到死都璀璨。

零七宣言

新年快乐！

２００７年，相信这是关键的一年。

过去已不能追回，未来却能被我们掌握。不断地缅怀，或叹息，只会浪费更多的时间。

过去了的，想深一层，也不能称之谓浪费。经验与教训，很多时也属无价。

没有过去的任何一个过程，亦造就不了现在的我们。

没有永远的敌人，也没有永远的朋友。这句话亦说明无常。无常看似带来恐怖，但亦带来希望。

希望：

迷失的，找到方向；

孤独的，找到所爱；

饥饿的，得到温饱；

没目标的找到目标；

没真爱的找到真爱；

没希望的认识希望；

执着的可以释怀；

哭泣的重展笑颜；

失落的看到骄阳。

祝自己幸福快活！

日记，２００７年１月１日

Ao Phai, Koh Samet

A gorgeous island you must visit!

It’s easy to travel from Bangkok to Koh Samet by bus. First, go to Ekkamai BTS station where Eastern Bus Terminal is just walking-distance. Then, get a ticket from Bangkok to Banphe. After around 2 hours to reach Banphe, take a ferry for about an hour to Koh Samet.

Tuk Tuk is available to take you to your destination of beach (all started with Ao-something). Island entry fee is chargeable to visitors, at 20THB for Thai and 100THB for farang (foreigner). If you are phenotypically looked like Thai, pay 20THB and don’t speak a single word! Pretend Thai and get yourself in silently…

If you are still not sure, refer a reputable guide book like I do.

My destination was Ao Phai, quite near where our culinary trip began. Nice silvery white sand, fine and best-experienced with kaki ayam. Not too crowded with tourists, yet the facilities are completed with bungalows, restaurants and various beach activities.

Choose one restaurant to dine at night. Choices are many.

 

Pictures tell a thousand words.

Here is our menu for the 2 day 1 night stay…

Lunch… on arrival

Phad Thai and chocolate milk shake, for me.

Cheese burger with fries and coconut milk shake, for Nat.

A guy selling fruits at the beach!

Barbeque Seafood Dinner… at Jep’s Bungalows

How’s the dining atmosphere? Nice ler…

Choices of BBQ sets… yum yum!!

Our choice,

Siberian Seafood Set and grilled potatoes and breads

Mackerel Kebabs Set with grilled potatoes

Coconut lassi and Tequila Sunset (cocktail)

Chocolate mousse and tiramisu

And the beachside fire-twirler show…

Walking and enjoying lights along the beach…

Drinks after dinner

Star-gazing at Lamp Bar.

Leo beer…

Breakfast next day…

Nat’s cereals and fruits with yoghurt…

My breakfast: 2 hams, 2 bacons, 2 English sausages, 2 eggs, toast and butter, with coffee and orange juice.

Lunch… again at Jep’s Bungalows

 

Chicken sandwich served with fries

Coconut shake, MUST TRY!

And Opera cake.

My d5000

谁明白我的苦恼？还未能让它现一现本领。对它的怀才不遇，我深感抱歉！我的d5000，忍耐下吧！我们将并肩作战，周游列国。。。

 

Who can understand my feeling? Yet to let you perform as you were destined for. Sorry, my d5000! Hold on, my pal! Here my promise, we are going to explore this world, through your eyes…

Love Formula

它是生于这世上的其中一个理由。只是对个人而言，它是你生存的重要理由，抑或是次要理由呢？

它的出现，应当由两种主要的情感部分组成。爱情＝爱着＋被爱。

当你遇上你爱的人，而你也感到被对方所爱时，爱情的感觉也就出现了。哪怕那被爱的感觉只是出于你的一霜情愿，抑或只是你的幻想，当你发现自己爱着了，你也就陷入了这场有趣而往往让人不知所措的情感特区。矛盾情感，惧怕情感，及其它的复杂心理副作用也将一一登场，为这场挑战加强了戏剧性。

所以，爱情是个人的，是私密的，也是最不得他人谅解的。其实，那也不需谁人来谅解。它没有固定的形式，也没有预设的套路。世俗中美满的爱情，可能需要双向的努力维系。但是，不计得失的情感付出，哪怕只是单方面，也能为心中带来这微妙的情感幸福。

所以，只要爱过，已经是最幸福的事。。。

最幸福的事

你有多爱一个人，就有多痛苦。。 爱情路上，有人追求轰烈，有人为他们的平凡而感到欣慰。至少他们躲开了情路上的风浪。然而，无风无浪的爱情，是否又缺了什么呢？爱情为什么总让人甜蜜，却又总让人苦涩？总让人因为爱过而今生无悔，却又总让人痛不欲生？只要爱过，已是最幸福的事。。。

为何而活

每天一个总结，每天一个开始。我们就是这样日复一日！
 
是停留抑或进阶，在乎于我们的心。
 
有可能“阶段”也为我们带来不自觉的包袱！
 
当人走到最后一刻时，你想留给即将烟飞云散的自己什么样的总结呢？抑或你想为你爱的人留下哪种思念呢？再伟大点，你想为这社会或世界留下哪种贡献呢？
 
可能这就是我们这一生的使命吧！

Wong Kok

I was once dislike Wong Kok as I found Kim Gary did much better in their food. But I discover lately that Wong Kok has actually improved! There are more creative choices in the menu and the taste and presentation of food got better!

Ginger Calamansi Tea… sounds fancy and brave! However, read my Mom’s facial expression, you can guess how it tastes! Not my taste at least…

I would still go for the more conventional one… Chocolate Ice Cream Milk Shake… Enjoyed its rich chocolate flavour and smooth texture… It’s just yummy!

My nephew will never try new things! He still went for his favourite Yang Zhou Fried Rice (no vege and no onion!) and Watermelon juice.

Chicken Ham Rolls with Thousand Island Sauce… Look yum? The core is one small cube of green apple, making these ham rolls more refreshing with fruity taste.

Cheese Baked Rice with Fish Fillets in Pumpkin Sauce. Mildly fried rice with fish fillets incubating with pumpkin sauce and onions under a crispy canopy of cheese.

Baked Cheese Chicken Wings, which Seng refused to share with others!

And my Mom’s choice, Fish Fillets with Fruit Salad. The fillets and fruit salad were properly prepared, and I like the mashed potato with strawberry jam that served with the fillets. Chunks of strawberry awaited close contact with our taste buds! And they have won with honour!

Khmer Children 高棉的孩童

Before I went to Siem Reap, friends described how eager children are to sell things to tourists. I specially spent some time in Jusco to get them some candies before I go. Thinking it may be a good idea to make them happy as well as to distract them from selling.

The first child I saw was a cute bottomless boy in one lorong in Siem Reap town. The granny spoke a few words of Mandarin whose I believed was a Chinese descendant (may be I was wrong cause apparently there are many Chinese volunteers giving free Mandarin course for locals).

Here is a boy riding on the motorcycle.

 

Children are many in historical sites where tourists are abundant.

Children help their family selling souvenirs to tourists to earn a living.

Some might think children here have lost their innocence in face of harsh living condition. Here at Sras Srang, one kid was so thankful that I gave him some candies. He gave me a small bracelet in return of my kindness!

A Vietnamese school boy riding boat to school.

I miss the children there! I saw dream and belief in their eyes! They must have dream in chasing a better life, and they must have believed that they are capable of changing their destiny.

Ganbarimasu for these children!

高棉的孩童，加油！

I’ll bring them some stationery on my next visit.