Joke Of The Day

WIKIPEDIA: I know everything.

GOOGLE: I have everything.

FACEBOOK: I know everybody.

INTERNET : You are all nothing without me.

ELECTRICITY: Keep talking. 

REMEMBER - NEVER TAKE THINGS IN LIFE FOR GRANTED AS NOTHING IS GIVEN.



 

Shooting Arrows In Life

My friend practises archery and I on the other hand, have scored ultra high in Wii Sports Resort, but have never tried picking up a real arrow nor a bow at all.   He was explaining to us about the basics of shooting arrows (the real ones), the stance, the technique, the pulling back, the letting go.

He said the letting go should be the most important bit - the energy, the focus and the goal are there but it is in letting go that the arrow reaches its target.

What he was saying was the need to focus intently, but to focus on the path and not on the destination!   

Such an ironic theory that was. 

I went home and thought about what he really meant.  A lot of the times we all failed in some aspects in life because we tried too hard in taking aim and totally missed out the point about perfecting the shot. 

No practical skills attained in that archery lecture after all, but the concept itself warranted a blog post here because I have one crucial pearl of wisdom to share - an achiever seizes more from life only when he or she has mastered the hang of - letting go. 


Pretty amazing what I can pick up from shooting some arrows!  I hope you do too. 

3 Idiots

Many of my friends recommended this Hindi movie 3 Idiots where I thought it will be just another comedy made for a good laugh.  It turned out to be amazingly inspiring and I can't be more thankful for their great recommendations.


The plot deals with a lot of reality on familiar grounds: it speaks of the importance of education, the need to have friends.  How we value our family and how fears and doubts could make us live life poorly.  And that quitting is never an option, and true love will always find its way.

I was literally laughing my head off a minute and shedding a tear or two the next. Wonderful stuff and it was able to inspire me in several a way too.

• All is well - When the going gets tough - the though gets going.
• Constant learning - If you have the will to learn, there is a way.
• Be innovative -  nothing wrong with challenging the status quo.

Do what your heart desires and it is success redefined - don’t run behind success, let success run behind you!

Go spend 3 hours with 3 idiots if you haven't already.  Trust me - you will not regret it as long as you have a large-size soda, popcorn and some Kleenex.

Every Motorist's Nightmare

In this busy life of ours, while there are buses, trains and taxis, having a personal vehicle is an added advantage.   Cars have grown from the likes of the 'rich and famous' to the 'must have commodity' for most.  What has held me back from owning one has been the maintenance and repairs as the juncture where the headache lies.   Not to mention the skyrocketed fuel prices!


Bumps, potholes, drains and huge puddles - mix the entire lot together and you get an instant picture of typical city roads.  Add in the rain in peak hours goes a step ahead in creating a grid lock.   Just picture that scene.   Now add a punctured tyre and a stow to the scenario.  Isn't that the worst nightmare any motorist can have?


I was in my friend's car and while I was just commenting on how skillful she is in her driving, very ironically, that was when her car got jealous and decided to kneel down and have a rest!   And technically because she's skillful, she was able to pull over in time not to obstruct the traffic.  

I felt terrible as I had to leave my friend alone at the scene for a customer meeting.   Thank goodness we were nowhere near the worst scenario I just described above, but we are still talking about stranded in the middle of a motorway for crying out loud - pretty hazardous when I came to think about it now. 


I am still acclimating myself to the stress of the what-ifs and the fact that I didn't offer an extra pair of hands to direct traffic, help make the necessary calls, or simply just be there for her.  I would regret hugely if something unfortunate happened to her after I left.


Yet keeping everything aside, you drivers out there - please remember - servicing your car at regular intervals and taking the appropriate care help the car operate smoothly and function at its best.


And go look for an idiot-looking icon like this in your car now - if you didn't know what that is - it is the universal tyre pressure monitoring system.

And please pay attention when they decide to speak to you - there's reasons why they grumble.  

Blogging Is Graffiti With Punctuation?

I went to see the movie “Contagion.”  It was passable as disaster movies go but there was one thing that got me thinking and it really had nothing to do with the main plot.  It was about blogging.

In the movie, Jude Law was being told that blogging isn’t writing.  It is just "graffiti with punctuation".

Graffiti with Punctuation. 

I happen to love graffiti as they can be quite artistic and thought provoking.  And when I came to think of my own blog as a wall for me to scribble the often unconsolidated thoughts and an outlet for sharing my perspectives, may be there really is a certain resemblance with Graffiti.  

I don’t have a million hits a day on my blog like Jude’s character (I am lucky if I have a 100).  Nonetheless, I am not controversial and try not to rant.  I don’t gossip, spread rumours, nor do I accuse anyone of anything and I don’t curse on my blog.  Even if no one reads my blog, at least I know I have tried my best.  


As long as I am able to fling my pearls of wisdom and wish to make an impact of a positive kind on that giant planet we call - Earth, I think I am going to continue blogging - as often as I can manage.  


And you.  Yes you. Thanks for stopping by alampy's space every now and then too! 

Things I Ponder While Waiting For An Elevator

In a typical building in mainland China, floors 4, 13 and 14, 24, 34 are often missing because there is similarity phonetically between the word 'four' and 'death' in Chinese.  

Kids learning how to count will sure find buttons panel like this most confusing.

They will even be more confused if brought to Hong Kong, as some luxurious residential apartments such as The Arch skipped all the floors from 40th to 49th, so immediately above 39th comes 50th.  Conceivably good news for the acrophobic but I am just saying, the 14th floor STILL is the 13th floor realistically speaking so.     

Is the omission even necessary?? 

Traffic, Traffic, Traffic

Beijing - a developing city with pace and power, has over 5 million cars.  Although limits have been put on new car purchases, it is not difficult to spot brand new luxurious cars zooming in and out of the capital city. 

Correction, I shouldn't use the word "zooming", "stuck in second gear" is more like it. 

I was stuck in traffic jam on a bus for a good 30 minutes today and that wasn't even at rush hours.  I overheard a passenger behind me say "I will meet you some time between 4-5pm". 

Wow, he was granted with an hour's buffer!   The person on the other side of the phone was certainly generous. 

I wonder if all Beijingers are that forgiving.   I mean seriously, can they afford to be 30 minutes late for an exam?   Do they get to tee off 45 minutes later when they are supposed to arrive by 9am?   Can they just blame the heavy traffic whenever they run late for a job interview or a client's meeting? 

Who needs an accurate time piece when planning of time around the clock is freakingly out of control anyway?


Never underestimate how bad Beijing traffic and how crowded public transport can be.  It really takes TIME (and plenty of irritants) to get from one place to another. 

A perfect place to train my patience nonetheless.

Fake iPhone (5)??

Some of the counterfeit gadgets and knockoffs one can find on the streets of Beijing are truly astounding.

It often doesn’t take too long for Apple to release a product before images of home-grown imitators start making the rounds.  In some cases, such as the iPhones or iPads, counterfeiters got to work well before the device was even released.

Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting you herewith hiPhone 5.

Unlike the actual product from Apple, the hiPhone can accommodate two SIM cards and has a built-in radio receiver - all for the miraculously low price of about US$78.00 only. 

Even they look bulky and incredibly ancient, you will be surprised how many would believe it to be an iPhone 5, went and bought it.

Welcome to China, buddy.  They sell like hot cakes in here. 
You interested?

Breakfast in Beijing: Jianbing

I must have been born under a lucky star, at least as far as friendship is concerned. I have friends everywhere, and where I don’t, I have friends who are happy to share their friends with me. This is what happened when I went to Beijing where I had introductions to the most delightful people who have shown me their local delicacies. 

I became Jianbing addict when I first discovered them in Shanghai but in this trip to Beijing, my friend told me these are actually icons of old Beijing - a typical local dish in fact.

Craved for that comfort of brilliance during my last visit in the coldest days, I basically have been having it every single day now because I know I can't find it anywhere back home.  The French Crepe equivalent is made from pancake batter spread ultra-thinly like a membrane, wraps up with fried eggs, green onions, a crispy dough and a savory spicy chilli sauce.  Simply delicious. 


However much I want to see its replicate in Hong Kong, can we also duplicate the smile of the chef because his intense concentration and the joy in seeing how much we foreigner liked his product melts me.  We just don't see that sort of smile often enough in the customer service scene these days, too bad I can't take photos of him he says. 

Oh well, a shot of my breakfast then. 

A Chat With Martini

One evening while imbibing cocktails, Martini questioned my monotonic admiration for Gin, and asked why I never lay eyes on Campari or Negroni.

"Little can go very wrong with Gin and T", I said, as it doesn't need the best ingredients to turn out a good tipple, nor does it want to be shaken or stirred. It requires no garnish either.

Boring as it might sound but to me - it is simplicity at its best.

Martini, on the contrary, is very delicate and needs to be handled with precision and care.  Real difficult for me to even think of calling Martini when in a place that one can only describe as - dubious.

Talking of which, Vermouth is another I wouldn't normally go near as it is fortified and live a rather short and miserable life. We have no way of telling how long that poor Vermouth has been sitting on that shelf crying.

A chat with Martini has made me realise: 

1. I have basically come too far in my career to accept any substandard concoction
2. I am in such an old age, I no longer feel shy in asking for a glass of water with each alcoholic beverage I order.

Thanks Martini and cheers to life's little finery! 

The Slightly Future Me?

Getting in touch with the inner wisdom we all have is a tricky business but could well be a good way to get a different perspective on the problem at hand. 

Who can say the reasons why things unfold the way they do?  I believe it all happens for a reason, even if I don't understand what that reason is now.  What I do know is that this experience, and others to lesser degrees, taught me to identify intuition and have respect for it.

People always say: trust your inner knowing because deep down, you know what is best for you.  That's by and large - intuition - something you just don't question. 

I always wonder if I could get an email from myself ten years from now, what advice might it have for the current me sent from the slightly future me?

I just hope if the gift of intuition comes and kindly offers to guide me, may I be awakened enough to hear and respect its voice loud and clear.

Have You Had Horrible Bosses?

Went to watch Horrible Bosses and this is one of those movies that you knew it is going to be absolutely cracking funny for the stated subject matter.  Perfect material after a long day and I was really in for a good laugh.

I haven't had that many bosses in my life and fortunate enough not to have come across a Psycho, Man-eater or some really trashy ones (touch wood, not yet).   But let's just say you do.  I mean, do you really go plot a plan to "take them out" when they are standing in the way of your happiness? 

The movie was a bit over the top - outrageously.   The good thing is, you began to think your bosses aren't that bad after all.  I do have faith that there are lots of really good bosses around.  


Take a look at Fortune - they have an annual survey that lists the "Best 100 companies to be working for".  You pick samples of those companies and you will find one thing in common:  They spend less time focusing narrowly on quarterly profits, and more time thinking about how they can improve people's lives.

I'd certainly hope to see the company I am working for, make it to the list one day.