New Shopping Place In Beijing-South

So far, this has been my first visit here, but very nice place to find nice stuffs, in the Beijing laojie.
Will share more later.

Choong

Today, In SEoul

Hari ini dalam Sejarah... nope, Berita Terkini

I woke up at 6am, Korean time, which means 5am our time, breakfast at 7.15am, checked out at 8.am, coming to our Seoul office around 9am, and then discussion, lunch, continued with discussion, which ended at 3.30am, non-stop, and that was for the FIRST session. And we are explaining and reexplaining the same topic about BSA concept, again and again. And I think Markus is slowly talking like an old man, elaborating and elaborating........non-stop. I am a bit out of patience, actually with this. Who isn't. We are working, also need to perform and achieve new targets set, and despite all these, we still need to make justification on all these jobs to be done. A bit sick, right? I am totally exhausted, physically and mentally. So I makan 'goek pia la, dari Starbucks, kalau tak, lagu pressure. Relaks arh,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,tak kisah eeeeerrrrrrrrrrr,

Ok ok, not wanting to complain further. That is part of job or working, or is it not, because sometimes I feel some people do not really care or affected. And must job comes with pressure, otherwise it is not called jobs? Or human beings created this? Hah, I am a bit confused, must be the crazy discussions, and hence ada sikit sikit pening lalat...........:)

Ok for now, ciao.

Choong, Busan

GrandHyatt, Seoul

I am back to one of my favourite hotels, GrandHyatt, Seoul.
And first time swimming with Markus (my colleague since Wolff Cellulosics' time), for 1 hour, and that was back in year 2006. And now, close to 4 years later, we are swimming in the same pool. I told him, that before our real retirement, may be we will be swimming in the same swimming pool, and he was laughing. He said, probably we need plastic or cosmetic surgery, and I said no, I will accept my growing old, gracefully. Important thing is, I remain fit and he agrees lah, but also getting worried may be on his look. So, start using creams like Biotherm, slowaging creams, etc etc.
Should start selling all these products to rich and metrosexual men, I think most men are very concern on their looks and start to pay a lot of attention..............

Choong, Seoul

Happy National Day, China-国庆节快乐

Since I have little left now, just to wish all Chinese nationals and friends and colleagues in China, a Happy National Day and Happy holidays too, as most will have close to 10 days in total for this coming holidays.
Having spent sometime here, and being able to understand China more, I wish to congratulate them more for this coming National Day Celebration. And moving around certain parts of the city, I think they have prepared it well to celebrate this 60th anniversary.
Some pictures I have taken near my house to share with readers here.

Sorry, quality of the pictures is a bit poor because they were taken using my blackberry (I hope they can come out with better phonecam soon. And it is a bit foggy this morning, as weather is changing, going into Autumn now).

Ok for now, will keep you all updated with more news later.
Getting ready to go to Busan soon.

Choong, Beijing

Korea-Gwangju ( 光州)

Sorry, not so nice picture, taken during the trip to Gwangju and also a market in Seoul.
Just to share some for the weekend. Will share more when I have the time, but looks like it will be a busy schedule for me, for the coming weeks and also going back to Penang.............

OK, have a good weekend.

Choong, Beijing

Hi From Korea

Too tired and too busy to write anything, but just to update a bit here and there, otherwise, it seems like my blogsite is non-active at all.
In Korea now, going around the places, Guangju, then back to Seoul. In between, managed to squeeze sometime out, 1 hour exactly, and within 30 minutes, bought to shirts, 1 jacket and a tie, 'incredible'....choong, isn't it :), amazing............. My last record was within 2 hours, managed to get a jacket, two shirts, and a belt, that was last Autumn in HK, and oh yeah, two packs of cookies.
And looking at the mirror now, my eyes again, look bad, my friends will usually say "panda eyes".
OK, short means short lah, so, time to get some sleep soon.

Oh gosh, I actually wanted to take some photo on the fruits I managed to get from the market today, it is the 'apple season, delicious ones, but I have finished the grapes that I bought, so, no more photos.

Will update when I am back to Beijing for another 2-3 days, then back to Korea, then to Dubai, and to BKK, and then, okay, back to Malaysia..............truly Asia.............. Syukurlah...............

Choong, Seoul (Holiday Inn, Doksan)

Selamat Hari Raya-Eid ul-Fitr

Those all Muslims celebrating Raya, Selamat Hari Raya and Eid ul Fitr.
In China, we have also quite a big population of Muslims here, and hence, taking the chance to wish them the same.

Choong, Beijing

Happy Malaysia Day

As a Malaysian, this I will not forget. So, to myself and all other Malaysians, Selamat Hari Malaysia.

But one announcement made in the Star newspaper today which mentioned that the right to use the word Penang now belongs to the state government? If we organise Penangites dinner in Beijing, how do I go about that? Penang dinner in China? Penang Fried Keow Teow nite in Chaoyang park?
Penang nite for Penangites, do we need to apply in advance? It is a bit weird, though the intention is partially understood. But is this not controlling and subjecting us to more problems?
If someone wants to organise a trip to Penang, say Team building in Penang from a company in China? In India? In S'pore? do we need to apply for the permission? I am not sure, but personally I think we are not heading towards the right direction. A point to ponder.......

Happy Malaysia day....

Choong, Beijing

Incredible China

It gets me crazy again, and I do not know, for the last 2-3 months, I have spent a number of hours in most major airports in China, and also in the plane. So, I do not know what else I can say.
My flight today from Chengdu to Beijing was suppose to be at 5PM, then when I was at the airport, the counter staff told me, the aircraft has not arrived yet. And propose to have my flight changed to 7PM. Then I called my secretary to find out more details, and when I went back, she told me, all seats have been taken up.
And then I asked my secretary to book Sichuan airline for me, at 6.40PM, thinking I could depart on time. Before that, the aircraft will fly from Xian. Then, flight delay. As at now, I have been informed that the flight will only arrive around 7.25PM to Chengdu, then cleaning, then depart, I suppose and PRAY hard (by keeping all my fingers crossed, that it will depart around 8, arriving before 10.30pm. And guess what, another flight operated by Southern Airline, code sharing with Sichuan airline departing at 7.25PM will be leaving on time. Does this make you crazy????????????????????

Ooooooooooooooooo, aku tak tahan. If the airline does not have enough aircraft, then do not promise customers with so many flights. Just cancel it and have the courtesy to inform customers by calling them, which they never do so until now. I have highlighted many times over on the failure of Air China, but I have a question to ask Star Alliance, if one of their members cannot meet the expectation of customers and service level of the industry, will they every fine them? or will they give better recommendation to the team members on how to improve further?
Do they provide some course to the relevant team members to improve further in terms of their service level, for example, to have the courtesy to inform their customers about cancellation of slight and to provide alternative solution. Of course everyone says Chinese market is big, etc etc, but if the service level does not start from now, then when would be the right time to do so?
When will they reach the expected service level? I am just wondering.
I really hope I can see the service level improved as soon as possible.

Frustated Choong in Chengdu airport still.

Choong, Chengdu

Hangzhou Trip (Thousand Islands Lake-Part 2

Team Building Trip To Thousand Islands Lake (4th-6th September 2009)

Last weekend, I was with my team of about 36 people in total in Hangzhou's 千岛湖, which was quite nice, though very tiring for sure. Place and hotel is quite nice, but was extremely hot, because it is located in the Southern part of China, may be about 200KM away from Shanghai city possibly. About 6-7 years ago, I was here for one time, with I think my ex-colleague in Acidchem, Chan, and with our Shanghai agent at that time, but was just a short trip anyway. But this trip, we explored a bit, on some of the islands, for examples, the 'locks island', snakes island, birds island, fish rearing, etc etc. Food was quite nice, of course in a place next to the lake, you could expect a lot of fishes, in fact, every meal, you will have fish. I like the soup they boil it with Tofu, and fish bones, which is very sweet indeed. And the best part is the Kampung chicken, it is superbly done and taste very delicious, just like what my late Aunt, Tua-em cooked, I just love it.
Overall, the team enjoyed it well, I would say it was quite a succesful team building activities, though my team members might not be fully understood the real meaning behind this trip. Of course some do, and some will appreciate, but not for all, this I can be very sure.
But we made the impact, I think and the organisation of the whole activity was overall well run.

Some colleagues were trying to 'kill me off' by asking me to drinking or coming over to my dinner table and give me a toast, to officially thank me, for all sort of reasons. For two nites, they tried to challenge me and wanted to make me drunk. First nite was rather terrible for me, because I was late for dinner and before I could start to eat something, already colleagues came and offer the toast, one after another. My stomach started to bloat already, with the gases and the liquid.
Second nite was better, because everyone offered me some bbq and then the beer part came in later. But 'killing me with beer', haha, thanks to Choong's family's drinking (alcoholic) gene, I am doing perfectly fine. Syukurlahhhhhhhhhhh.

Enjoy the pictures posted here.


Choong, Beijing

It Is Sad Remark, Isn't It?

http://rights2write.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/hishammuddin-you-are-an-irresponsible-home-minister

http://saltpepperandalittlekicap.blogspot.com/2009/09/hishammuddin-can-you-stomach.html

Again, I am not a politician, neither am I a member of any political party.
But I think the remark or comment made by our Home Minister is rather, irresponsible, if you may allow me to use this word. I think as a Minister, making such a comment will make one wonder, what is he talking about here after all and is he not the Home Minister for all Malaysians? Or could be wrong. Anyway, I am quite surprise by that remark/reply, based on what I read in Malaysian Insider.

I have made two links to the two articles written, when you have the time to read it, please do so. It will allow you understand more of what I have mentioned here.


Choong, Beijing

Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep

This was forwarded by Devil, my friend, when I posted an article on my Pa's passing away.
And soon, early next month, will be 100th day of my pa's passing away.
When a person has departed, and for us still living in this world, what we can do is to recall, to revisit our past, to mourn, to remember, to be in memory of, to look back, 回顾, 想念, 思念, 回忆, mengingati, dalam kenangan, merindui, ................................!
And this will happen and keep on taking place, on and off, until the day someone else put this message or poem on our behalf. Perhaps then we will weep happily, because we meet them.........


Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the star-shine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.


Missing.........

Some Pictures From Old City In Anhui

Too many writings, hence it will become too boring. Thus, sharing of photos, occasionally is important. So, these are some photos taken in an old, historical city, ANHUI (安徽). Please take a look at the architecture. Enjoy.......

Choong, Beijing