Disheartened

Many I know are fighting for life at this very moment as I type and yet someone very dear to me chose to be disheartened with life itself.  

To say that I felt shocked, sad and worried about what happened tonight would be an underestimation.  

If the person concerned in this incident is reading this, please go take a hard look at yourself in the mirror and see who's looking back at you.  Look around you and see the damage you have imposed to those who love you. 

I shall try to put this away in order not to ruin my mood for the rest of the weekend (that is, if there's any to be left celebrating)!

Trying to Tell Me Something?

I flipped through a magazine today at a cafe for about 10 minutes while waiting for someone who decided to arrive fashionably late. 

In that duration, 

• I came across vital information which can be appended to enrich my customer proposal next week; 
• A face of a CIO, whose name I have been trying to recall for the whole week, popped up in one of the pages. 

As if those were not eerie enough, I gave my monthly horoscope a shot.

"A New Moon in Aries on April 7 will help you start new initiatives in spite of hesitation."

They were spot on - that was the first day I reported to my new job - with some hesitation no doubt.

"This month, three planets transiting in Taurus will increase your productivity, giving you the push you need to make changes."

I definitely have been sensing the adrenaline this month, hence the headache that came in the package as well! 

"Stubbornly clinging to outmoded beliefs isn't going to help you. What you need is a change of perspective and a short-getaway holiday." 

Quite true in a sense that I have been whinging a lot more than my norm lately.  Time for a self-reflection and a holiday is definitely in mind!

"You will face a crossroad in your life as far as investment decision goes, but whatever decision you made will see benefit in the short run." 

Bingo when I relate that to my gold purchases at the beginning of the month.  Should I or should I not monetize profit now?

With all that, despite the fact that this person turned up half an hour late, I didn't mind too much picking up the tab!

Use It Or Lose It

I haven't had headaches for years and in the last few days, I have had headaches on and off which really annoyed me.

The site of pain is precisely where if you place your finger on the top of your ear, and move your finger towards the back of your head to where you can feel the curve of your skull... that's the site.

If it continues in a week from now I am going to have to see my doctor for a check up.  

My hypothesis has always been - use it or lose it.

Either I have been trying to run a rusty engine, or I have been filling the tank with the wrong fuel!

 

Pay Back Time!

Pay back time for all that tax money I paid for!  


I discovered a futuristic swimming pool is under sprawling construction at my locality.  Overwhelmed.

Can't wait to its completion in a year's time when I get to use the facilities as a liberal citizen!

"Asian-Fit"

"Asian fit" spectacles are there for a reason. 

If you are an Asian like me, you have probably tried on an awesome stylish pair of European designer frames, only to be annoyed by the fact that the frame sat on your smiling cheeks rather than on the bridge of your nose!

Frames ought to be stylish and comfortable at the same time because simply - we deserve to be stylish and feeling comfy when carrying that bit of weight there serving its purpose!

TADA ~ my latest pair of Evisu eyewear - down-to-earth enough to be wearing daily.  It has better be worth the money as I was being advised to cut down the wear of contact lenses.

Good Old Advertising Alive Not Dead

The economy remains in tatter and I am not particularly bullish about it but I certainly don't think advertising is going away!

Just look at the marketing for the Iron Man 2 movie opening later this week in town.  It is building a head of steam.  In fact, I heard it’s a $100 million process going on out there for Oracle to try and get associated with the movie.

Here's the cool Iron Man 2 teaser which I love...

And here I spotted outdoor commercials in World Wide House, Central today!

Man. Machine. Hero. 

Software. Hardware. Complete.

Cool advertising or what?

2kg In A Month - Proven

Since I bought this body-fat scale at the beginning of the month,  I have been keeping track of my weight and I am going to share some brilliant discovery here with you about weight loss!  

I have stuck with something really economical and simple called a Morning Banana Diet for the last 3 weeks and have gradually lost 2kg since!

Here's how the regime works: 

• A banana or 2 and drink room temperature water for breakfast
• Eat anything I like for lunch and dinner by 8 pm 
• A three o'clock snack is fine but 
• no desserts after meals, and 
• you have to go to bed before midnight

Hey sisters, you are thinking this is too easy to be true, isn't it?

I couldn't cut down the sweets, but seriously, if you don't hate bananas, why not give it try?  

A Password Driven Life

I think my life these days has become largely dependent on passwords, whether I am checking emails, transferring funds or shopping online.

I'd say a password-driven life for me is pretty accurate, as oppose to Rick Warren's best-seller "The Purpose-Driven Life"!

Today at work, I was being reminded once again of these tips for setting strong passwords for my single-sign-on. 

   1. Password should have at least 8 characters
   2. Password should contain mixed case letters
   3. Password should contain at least one special character or at least one numeric character
   4. Is not the same as user ID or any part of it
   5. Is not a word in any dictionary
   6. Is not commonly used combinations such as guest3, welcome1, password5, oracle, oracle1
   7. Is not the user's birthday, or a related person's name or other personal facts

Man...I am basically running out of juice whenever it comes to a password renewal!

If you haven't come across, below is the top 10 most commonly used passwords online. 

1. password
2. 123456
3. qwerty
4. abc123
5. letmein
6. monkey
7. myspace1
8. password1
9. link182
10. (your first name)

If everyone is avoiding the top 10, I reckon I should just pick one from the above list.  Sorted!

The Mutated...To Be Continued

The answer to yesterday's post is...

"A Tomato".

Right.   It wasn't anything fancy at all.  

I know.  I know.

The straight forward answer might have disappointed many of the readers because I am sure some of you had that answer in the first instance and you would have thought it has to be something else other than the very obvious to make it a question worth pondering.

Well, I apologise for an anti-climatic answer and in order to compensate, let me tell you a story of a mutated tomato.    

A father decided to cook her daughter's all-time favourite tomato soup one evening when he was told that she would be home for dinner.  Amongst the bag of tomatoes he bought from the market, he discovered a cute-looking one.  

He knew her daughter would be thrilled to take a photo of that cute-looking tomato and perhaps that can be interesting enough to make it to her blog, so he kept it for her instead of chucking that into the soup.

Her daughter, for the first time, was touched by the terribly sweet act of his father.  

All these years, the daughter knew her father loves her, but she was brought up in a way that's never too fond of expressing the message of affection and appreciation to the father, in particular.  

She found out however, that she can express herself much better in writing.  

A father's seldom-spoken love
can't be clearer through the years.

Sometimes in peals of laughters,
sometimes through tears. 

Perhaps they have to speak their love

in a fashion of their own.

Because the love that fathers feel

is often too big for words alone!

The Mutated

What do you think this is?

Simply Godsend

This sake wasn’t like any other sake I have tasted before.  The first impact in my mouth was just SENSATIONAL! 

Served cold, it has some sort of sweet citrus fragrance and full of sweetness that both my friend and myself couldn't quite describe.  

To our surprise, this didn't pair that well with neither sashimi nor sushi, but it was godsend when it went an extra mile in my throat with the Japanese ultra sweet tomatoes.  

I decided I better jot this down before I forgot how good it tasted.   

I tell you what could be a better deal.  

Can someone smuggle some of this from Japan please?

Joke of the day

I was gracefully having an afternoon tea with a friend until he told me this joke which really cracked me up and I lost all the etiquette of savouring afternoon tea like a fair lady should.

So here it is, allow me to share with you joke of the day and please tell me if it cracked you up!

A man and a woman who have never met before find themselves in the same sleeping carriage of a train, after the initial embarrassment they both go to sleep, the woman on the top bunk, the man on the lower.

In the middle of the night the woman leans over and says, "I'm sorry to bother you but I'm awfully cold and I was wondering if you could possibly pass me another blanket."

The man leans out and with a glint in his eye, says, "I've got a better idea ... let's pretend we're married" 

"Why not," giggles the woman. 

"Good," he replies, 

"Get your own *!#&%* blanket!"

Irresistible Deep Fried

Just take a look at this.

It was sooooo irresistible that I went for two consecutive nights of Tonkatsu! 

What I ordered last night was premium cuts of pork loin, breaded with homemade breadcrumbs for the batter, fried in cottonseed oil that is transfat-free and then served with a bundle of shredded cabbage. 

It wasn't exactly healthy food of cuz, but washing everything down with an icy Asahi beer or two, I tell ya...even I am feeling like a lump of lard now, it was worth all the queuing, just for the taste of it.

Jump Start The Day

This morning, I discovered the caffeine rush from this small can was surprisingly decent and it happened to be just the thing I was looking for before I embarked on my hiking journey. 

The drink contains 130mg of caffeine and carries the typical Starbucks coffee taste, with the intensity mellowed with a touch of cream. 

Definitely quite something that can get you going. 

Think Twice When You Call Someone An Idiot

Some people are very intelligent (competent, efficient) when it comes to completing certain tasks but surprisingly inept (dare I say, stupid?) when it comes to others.  Let's take me as an example. 

Some might suggest that I am reasonably intelligent when it comes to writing, communicating but if those same bunch of people saw the quizzical (confused, lost, stupid) look on my face in any movie with a plot more complexed than The Departed, they would probably conclude with reasoning that I am a moron!  

Ok, let's face it, it is only fair to assume that I won’t be recruited by the FBI or NASA any time in this life.

Yep, smartie comes in all shapes and sizes. 

Sometimes you won’t realise how smart somebody is until you are stuck on an island with them and they build you a house, catch you some fish and save your life.  And this could also be the same person who struggles to spell or calculate simple equations.

So, be forgiving.  May be you ought to think twice the next time you wish to call someone an idiot.

Pen & Padfolio

I personally think there is something incredibly romantic about pens. There is something different that happens when you put pen to paper. It is something that feels more important than an email.   

Flattered to receive this engraved pen and imprinted Padfolio as a gift from my auntie - just in time for my new job!

I always find it interesting that our previous generation loves giving pens as gifts. 

Does it make their generation that bit more romantic than ours?

Possibly. 

In that sense, may be I belong to the previous generation.  

Why Do People Love Adidas?

May be because Adidas gets soccer and...Nike does not? 

If that is so, this is going to change this Summer.
 

For decades, Adidas was practically the only brand in soccer, providing the World Cup's match ball for 11 tournaments in a row.  The sport remains by and large, a significant segment of Adidas' business.  

At the World Cup this year, Nike has elbowed its way in and will sponsor nine teams including the United States, the United Kingdom, Portugal and Holland.   

Can't wait to see the jerseys swap out Adidas's triple stripes for Nike swooshes!  Yeah!

Sake Wine Tasting

When I was asked to join this Sake Tasting event in this restaurant, I hesitated because honestly, even with that price range, I am sure I won't be served with premium sake out of those 6 they are featuring.  

From past experience, I know very well if Sake wine isn't distilled in the most premium and purest form and after a whole night of mix and match - it will only get to your head the next morning! 

My advice - we all deserve to go for the best, if not the very best, when it comes to Sake.  

The Coolest New Year Celebration

For obvious reasons, Thais in Bangkok will not stage its famous Songkran (Water Splashing) Festival this year, but nothing has stopped the Hong Kongers dousing each other with water yesterday!

Thai's population is certainly not a large proportion of Hong Kong’s total population of 7 million or so. Yet the Thai influence in Hong Kong is quite noticeable, especially during their new year, if you walk past a Thai restaurant in Kowloon City, you may just find yourself soaking wet.

 

 

Thais celebrate their New Year with a huge water fight in the middle of the street as a way to wash away bad luck!   I was there yesterday and I think this ought to be the coolest New Year tradition in the world.

The Habit of Dipping Fingers in Ink

Yesterday, I was on about an idea of using an iPad for perusing newspapers, but as soon as I woke up today, I knew my habit of picking up the Sunday Post won't go away.

Simply because, I do not want to abandon a dedicated time slot for reading newspapers.

Sunday's the only day when I can sit poised and do nothing but read the papers.  When I said nothing, I meant nothing during the period of time when my fingers are dipped in newspapers ink!  

You see, I do not want to touch anything else with my ink-stained fingers and I honestly won't.

I won't be allowing myself to crack my toasts, type on keyboards nor play with the remote controls.  

Working with that rule, I know for sure I won't get carried away and that I can totally devote the time to reading my papers. I can then finish the full stack of papers in one go, off I went to wash my hands and for the rest of the day, I won't touch the papers again.

A ritual I thoroughly enjoy, which can't be replaced by iPad just yet!

Add iPad to Coffee

Enjoying a leisurely Saturday afternoon, sipping my coffee while perusing the latest from magz and newspapers alike.  Staying online with my phone at the same time seemed like a viable option too.

May be this is why I should look into a combined gadget and this is when an iPad might come handy!

Art Attack on Note-taking

I am constantly jotting down stuff. Whether it be for my blog, work, meeting, new ideas, or just basic notes.

The more I look at my scribbles, the more I love them.  Don't you?

A Mecca for Locals

The obvious touristy places in Hong Kong are definitely unique such as the Star Ferry, Peak Tram, Stanley Market and not to mention all those gourmet food that tempts you to the full.  

If you ask me what about the non-shady stuff which rarely makes it to tourist guides - Here's one I love.  

This leisurely promenade spans from Repulse Bay to Deep Water Bay, and to me, not only has it got an enchanted view of the bay area, it carries a lot of fond childhood memories where I used to spend many Sunday afternoons with my family.  

I went for a stroll yesterday and it was a refreshed reminiscing journey on a broadened and much nicer walkway than what I recalled.  

I seem to remember it took much longer than 20 minutes to complete the trail.  I must really have grown taller since my last visit...some two decades ago (no kidding)!

 

A Nifty Little Hanger

I guess no one really like eating bruised bananas and yet they often come in a big bunch.

With this nifty little banana hanger, you can sure extend their freshness at least several days more. 

A few of my friends haven't come across this utensil before and here it is.

Give it a try!

Your bananas can definitely last longer if you hang them instead of letting them lay over a surface.

Can I really trust this thing?

As a means to welcome this summer, I went and bought this Body-Fat Scale today.  

In the last 4 hours or so, I have been jumping on and off the scale with disenchantment.  

I puzzled not at the high-level of my body fat percentage, but the range it showed from a low 24.5% to a high 26.8%.

Does it occur to you that it is highly unlikely I could have up to a 3% change in body fat in a night?!

Simply malfunctioning, or can I trust this digital lier afterall?

Coffin Sticks

If you ask any regular smokers, none of them would say the tobacco packaging warning messages have ever deterred them from having a puff, a drag, a fag, whatever you like to call the ordeal. 

Whenever I returned from my trip, I would get my dad some cigarettes from the duty-free shop at the airport. 

This move has always been a tough dilemma.  I mean, they are called "Coffin Sticks" for a reason and yet, I thought, if he's going buy those at whatever price anyway, why not help him purchase at a cheaper price when I can?

This time, I got him this pack here which says "Smoking Harms Your Family".  

It suddenly strikes me that this warning message is meant for smokers and also for non-smokers too - such as buyers who buy coffin sticks for his/her family!  

Wisdom From The Chinese Tea Culture

This Chinese word shown here means "Tea".

For the Chinese-reading audience, allow me to explain to you something I discovered in awe from a contemporary tea-drinking resident of the Mount WuYi in China.

If you disintegrate all the strokes of this Chinese word from top to bottom, you get a "twenty",an "eighty", plus an "eight".

Now add all these up, what do you get?  You get 108.  

Whoever created this word thousands of years ago, must already have the insight as to the health benefits associated with tea drinking.

A cup of tea a day, not only keeps the doctors away, it grants you 108 years of age! 

Rejuvenated & ready for a resurrection

"Let go of your work; let go of your worries; let go of your burdens. Take your time and drink a cup of tea."

If I have to name a memorable experience during my trip to Mount WuYi in mainland China, I have to say it ought to be the grand outdoor gala performance Impression, Da Hong Pao, where I attended under torrential rain!

The larger-than-life show is the fifth installment of the Impression series directed by Zhang Yimou - the man behind the opening and closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.  

If you have watched and liked the amazing opening and closing ceremony on TV, I can assure you will be thrilled to see the same director telling the legends of the Chinese tea culture in this 70-minute show, staged by the green mountains and blue serene rivers, employed hundreds of actors, and where the most ingenious technologies in lightings were deployed.

The heavy rain that night created an added dimension which was really fascinating and it definitely formed a visual feast experience I have never had before.

Now that I have spent a few days at Mount WuYi and back here rejuvenated, I think I am ready for the big resurrection at work!