Saat-Saat Terakhir

Hari ini, sehari sebelum hari natal, aku sedang siap-sedia mengemaskinikan bagasi aku, barang-barangku yang akan dibawa balik ke Beijing. Masa berlalu dengan begitu pantas, dalam sekelip mata sahaja, aku akan bertolak. Kali ini, walaupun singkat, tapi banyak perkara yang telah dilaksanakan, aku gembira, dan mempunyai peluang pergi ke cafe dengan kak, abang ipar and anak-anak saudara ku, memang merupakan satu peristiwa yang aku kenangi untuk selamanya, haha. Seperkara-lagi, membeli dan mengguna telefon-pintar (smartphone) memang juga satu cabaran bagi aku, pada peringkat umur sekarang. Nasib baik, anak saudaraku, mereka banyak menunjuk-ajar cara-cara menggunakan setiap ciri khas dalam telefon supaya aku lebih biasa and cekap meggunakannya Kemudian, menggunakan fon telinga, atau aku rasa lebih tepat lagi, audio telinga, Beats memang merupakan satu lagi kenangan istimewa untuk aku, haha.

Choong Selayang 24 December 2012

May You Rest In Peace

I do not know him personally,but from a bit far away, as a Minister, reading articles of him in newspapers and interviews in TV during the 80s and early 90s. But I remembered very clearly, I think in one of the Palm Oil's exhibitions or seminars in KL, he was one of the key guest speakers. And I really like the sense of humour he has, even when he was giving his speech....that I remember until now. 印象太深刻了。 May you rest in Peace, Mr. Lim. Choong KL 23 Dec 2012

Little Things That Makes You Feel Happy

Today, we came to this Dr. Cafe for our usual lepaking, and I feel happy, esp Nancy and Chai is joining us. It is fun to be here together. Memories that I shall treasure forever, haha.

Choong Kuala Lumpur 22nd Dec 2012

Peter Pan-Panyuwen's new album, listen to the clock

All, I bought this CD a few days ago, and I think I like this whole album. after listening for a few times, you will like it.

Try this album out, thanks. Choong KL

Pineapples Trees

These were planted before my late small uncle passed away, and after close to 3 years, you finally see the fruits of the labour. The sense of happiness is hard to express it out here. ANd I want to record this down for my own memory recall, one of these days. choong Dr. Care KL

回家感觉真好

It is good that the wireless allows you to use your internet wherever you are, and it conveniences a lot of people I suppose and I am one of them. Right now, at home, seating at the seat in the dining all, exactly the seat my late dad used to seat, and lots of memories.... ANyway, I have no time to write much, as it was busy, in KL, for one day, rest a bit, then a telco, and then driving back, along the highways, have to be extremely careful with the so called cameras installed as I understood. Hence, even when overtaking, we have to make sure that it does not not over exceed the limit, just in case. And now reaching home, last nite rushed to Monee's home, my niece that is getting married today, for dinner. And tonite another dinner. Reason of coming back to attend her wedding is because of the fact that she is close to us when she was a little girl, and you feel that the closeness means something, and that is one of the reasons (the main one) that I am home this time around. This morning, have a short chance to walk around, the housing area, with a light jogging, feels good to be back, to see things that I am familiar with....but one thing is, I think our facilities/infrastructure is not improving that much as yet, though it is improving for sure, esp in BM. One thing I see is, our KLIA airport, I think it needs a little bit touch ups, and cleaning up here and there, as it is a bit messy and not clumsy. I think it does not look that impressive, with so many stalls being built up here and there. That is just my personal opinion. ANyway, putting that all asides, I am looking forward to eat the food that I want to eat, haha, the curry mee, the nasi lemak, teh tarik......dan lain lain lagi. Choong Bukit Mertajam 15 Dec 2012

As I recall, a song I like-Maafkan Diriku

This song was sung Elaine Kang, and this song is one of my favorite until now... Elaine Kang Maafkan Diri Ku Kiranya hatimu terluka lagi Maafkan diriku wahai kekasihku Kerana bukannya aku sengaja Namun hatiku masih menyayangi Entah mengapa di ketika ini Hatiku resah dan rindu padamu Sesungguhnya ku tak rela kehilanganmu Kerana aku sangat menyintaimu Namun begitu kutabahkan hati Untuk berdua selama-lamanya sayang Dihatiku hanya kau milikku Sehingga nafas aku terhenti Kuharap dikau maafkan diriku Ku berjanji tak akan mengulangi Semoga kali ini kita bahagia Wahai kekasih yang kurindu dan kusayang

Ivy's Visit To Beijing

Ivy and her family's visit to Beijing reminds me about CheeSoon's visit with his family about 2 years ago. And a photo showing us, the close 4, but we have no chance to travel together, except Cheesoon and myself, we have been to Borobudur together in last summer. Hopefully, one day. Here are some pictures to recall.....a meaningful one, haha

A Welcoming Nasi Lemak

Got back to KL today, and sis made a nice surprise, nasi lemak, ikan bilis, sambal udang petai, and ayam masak rendang style....that is a welcoming home meal I suppose. A point to record down here, for my memory.....haha. Thanks, sis. Choong 13 Dec 2012

While My Guitar Gently Weeps-Karen Mok

All, listen to this version by Karen Mok. I love it..... Choong Kuala Lumpur 13 December 2012

Balik Kampung

Aku sekarang tengah berada di lapangan terbang Changi, Singapura. Tak sabar-sabar nak sampai ke Kuala Lumpur...aku nak makan nasi lemak, minum teh tarik.....harap-harap hajat ku ini boleh dicapai. Oh,rasa aneh, sebab aku sudah lama tidak menulis dengan Bahasa Malaysia. Aku sekarang sudah bersarapan, and sedang bersiap sedia ke pintu penerbangan E20, untuk pernerbangan ke Kuala Lumpur. Hanya secubis khabar berita dari ku buat masa ini. Choong 13 December 2012 Lapangan Terbang Changi, Singapura

Making Lor Bak Gou (Radish cake

Choong

Flowers From An Old Colleague, A friend

Nice isn't it? I like this.....and it is meaningful Choong

At Taichung

One of the oldest store, at an alley, selling the best red tea, enak sekali

Noodles, also at one of the oldest store in the old town section of Taichung

Fresh cooked cuttle fish, with some noodle and soup

Fried-fish in starchy gravy, taken with vinegar

Very nice and good food here. I like the red tea, I think it is well done and taste so good, it must be also the good tea leaves they have. Food here is a bit sweet, at least for me, but overall, it was very delicious and I appreciate having the chance to eat in various stalls here. It is very much like the hawker centres and food courts we have in Penang. Choong Taipei 21 Nov 2012

Having My GreenLatte

One of my biz trip at Nanjing, and what is memorable is the evening at this Starbucks, which I think is quite spacious.

And I like the smile of myself in this photo, very natural, haha:) Choong Tango Hotel, Taipei 21 November 2012

Separate Ways-My Observation

Actually I have written this article, quite sometime back, but since I cannot publish this, I waited until now, and the article should read" Being Dumped". This is what I have written: Being dumped On the way back from my wet marketing/shopping, I saw near Guomao,a car was sort of, parking in hap-hazard manner, and initially, I thought an accident has occurred. Then a lady or a girl, in all blue (not in blues), blue shirt, blue plants, blue high heels, blue handbag was swearing, was very angry, and in her eyes, you can see, confusion, lost, ashamed, sad, wanting to ‘kill’ the driver. The car then just swayed out, reversed, and drove off, and from what the girl has murmured, I can guess that she is saying “你以后别找我了“。。。。。and was staring in disbelief (that the guy actually drove off, kes nanyah) Even after the car has drove off, she was just there, staring, still lost, and trying to regain her composure. I happen to be in the car with my driver, stopping next to her, but I do not feel good, to look at her. I do pity her, for being left in the middle of the road, and I think it is improper for the guy to behave in that manner, but somehow, here, it is quite a norm. Nothing surprising. And that anger in this girl, and the guy too perhaps, how will this affect in their next cycle of birth, with that anger in them. I only can pray and wish them well though, and hope that Anger will be reduced. Why must love turns into anger and hate? If two parties do not love each other anymore, can't they part in peaceful manner? I am not sure, as I am past that age..... May both of them are at peace now........

If you have the time, please watch this movie, esp in Cantonese version, I think it is one of the best movies in recent years. Watch the scene when Aaron Kwok argues with Leung Kar Fai, I think it is one of the best scene in this movies. Happy watching. Choong

Oh So good to be able to write my blog

I miss my blogsite, a place where I can voice out my opinion as and when I like, but I can't do this for the time being while I am still in Mainland China, but now, since I am out, hence I am writing again. Arrived here today, and manage to meet Devil, nice to meet old friend, as we always have topics to catch up, anywhere, anytime and this is what I called friendship. And as you get older, then you will treasure more of your real friends, and these friendships are important for our life-journey.....they will accompany you throughout the course of this....haha. I have a few articles I want to write before I get back to Beijing this coming Thursday. Choong Taipei Tango Hotel 19 November 2012

My Otherwise Perfect Trip To Poland and Southern France

I would summarise this as one of my best trip ever, if not because of the VAT (tax return issue here in Warsaw airport. And the service attitude of the officers and persons in charge, really left rooms to be desired. I am trying not to let my whole trip spoilt by this....really related issues. Choong

Premier Tax Free SA and Global Blue Tax

I am now at Warsaw Airport, and I was just being informed that they do not have any service provider here, to return the VAT/Tax to us? Is this amount to cheating, I do not know, and I will send email to them when I am back to Beijing. It is not right as no one inform us about this. I did my Purchases at Nice And Cannes, and when I checked with Nice customs, they asked me to claim at the last airport that I will be exiting in Europe, and I told them it is Warsaw and they mentioned is clearly that I have to claim this tax return at this airport. At this airport, they told me, there is no such service provider here, hence, I would love if Premier Tax can explain to me on this matter. Secondly, for Global Blue Tax, they have the counter here. And since for this claim, I will have that refunded into my credit card directly, hence, I have to send the form after custom's rubber stamp. And I was informed that they do not have a postal box in the airport or inside the airport. In Nice they have that, as I have seen one. So, that is the problem, may I know. And finally, no one inform us, that all the items and goods must be shown to them, before the custom is wiling to put their Rubber stamps on the tax return forms. No one again informed us, but luckily, I brought all items in, except one, a bag for toiletries. Who will bring that bag in, and despite my plea and explanation, the custom officer in charge say no, it is not his problem. And fine, I do not want to argue with them, because this is Poland, this is their country, I have to respect that, BUT, if the tax return is part of European Union, then why was this not being standardized. I would not be fair to us, the consumers, we spent the money right here in Europe and not being able to get the money back, simply there is no service provider in this Airport? I am just wondering and I shall write email to Premier Tax and Global Tax accordingly. Thanks for reading Choong Warsaw Airport Poland

Krakow-Finale

Krakow, is so beautiful Krakow, her people, are so nice and friendly Krakow, is a great gem Krakow, I would love to be back again.

There are many old cities, historical cities around, and this one, Krakow is one to the nicest I have ever been too. Life here is simpler (in my opinion) and they are still not charging so high price and quality of life is good. You don't see people crazy so much about holding Iphone 4, 5. You don't see people crazy about which camera model they are holding. You don't see people waiting their good. You see that they welcome you. You see that you are in general able to enjoy some restaurant food. You will see that they sell a lot of books every where. You see that they love gardening, in fact I think their gardening comes from their hard, a simple house looks great when they plant some flowers and a few pots surrounding their houses. That to me is beauty.

And Polish are ever so ready to offer assistance not unless they have problems speaking English themselves and I don't feel that they use the kind of 'eyes' to see you, like u r some kind of Alien or do you have that status to enjoy something..! No, everything is great. The hotel Sumadi helped me to book was great, initially, it was Cracow old town guest house, and they are managed by hotel Elektra, and by chance of luck or what ever positive vibration you called that, they offered me a hotel suite, it is really a suite and I can believe that when I check-in my room, haha. Pics are here. And all came to around Euro 91 for two nites, including breakfast and wireless internet which is superb.

And the exchange rate they gave in Krakow is so reasonable, from the low of 4.03 to the high of 4.1. In Warsaw, the best I got was at 4 to one Euro at Warsaw central station, and worse was at the airport, I think it was around 3.3 (but I hv no choice as I need to buy ticket to go to the airport during that time). And I go some nicest porcelain, not cheap, but I would say reasonable and I love them a lot:), pics here. Hope I can use them in my next week meal preparation.

Oh yes, meeting Yuki-San is also making this trip more fun, as we go to outside, exploring the city and the camp together, though we don't talk much as he is talking less in English and use some Japanese. But it is fun.

And this morning before taking the train to Warsaw, we went to the market, the pictures are here. Again, I think the market is clean and beautiful.

Now that I am on the way back to Warsaw, seeing the tree leaves changing color, again the view is superb and fantastic. And tonite and tomorrow (1/2 day), my final exploration with Warsaw. So far, I am satisfied and I am happy with this trip. And I am contented, and my special thanks to Sumadi, and the other three gentleman I met, Janek and Yuki-San and Gary Thanks for making my trip meaningful in Southern France and Poland.

Terima Kasih.

Krakow To Auschwitz-Birkenau

I didn't write anything last nite and the nite before simply because I was a bit exhausted, mentally, after visiting the Nazi camp at Auschwitz.., I just don't feel good after that, and I need sometime to re-compose myself. Sceneries along the journey are beautiful, sunny and blue sky. It was a good day except after seeing the pictures at the camp and explanation given by our tour guide, Anna, and a little bit of my high school history recalling, it sort of makes me understood more that the whole incident. It was more serious than I can imagine it to be, and very much inhumane if you may allow me to say that. I mean how can people do this to other human being, who has done nothing wrong. And I love some quotes I saw during this visit which I would like to share here.

During the 3 hours tour, I was just praying and praying for the souls to RIP, I guess this is all I can do.

I also saw some Israelis (as they are holding the flag of their country), lots of them are there, listening to the explanation given by their teachers. I guess this is an important lecture they have to go through and history that they should not miss out. At the same time, I also saw some Germans visiting too. I think all of us, if we ever have a chance, should be there to understand this once. I am sure, though out mankind history, genocide happens to be in almost every part of the world that has gone through war, but might not be as serious as this one, and might hv not been studied and highlighted as detailed as this one. Anyhow, the key point is, this should not happen at all, as every human being, every being, should have the room to coexist without hurting one another. Coming back to the present, I hope the world is really as peaceful as it seems to be.

Amitabha Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu. Choong Krakow, Poland

Of Krakow, Of Autumn

Started the journey from Platform 3 at 10.35am, and arrived at Krakow sharp at 1.35pm. Along the journey, have chance to see the country views, and I think the scenes are exhilarating. It was rainy, but the feeling was good, seeing the color of leaves changing and some already start falling down. Out of sudden I feel that time passes very fast, only around this time (in December last year) I was in Prague, and now it is Autumn turning to Winter soon. 秋去秋又来了。。。。。。不知不觉，又一年了 说快那就是快， 那就不说好了。。。。。。 要记得拉丁语有个说法。。。。Carpe Diem!!!!!

Lunch, tried out the beet they have (too strong) and also the food where every 100g is charge at PLN 3 (close to 3.2 Ringgit).

A picture of Autumn is coming and since it rains this afternoon, it is Winter-like, esp when I do not wear enough clothing. Tomorrow shall wear more...

Went with Yuki-San, having a cup of tea, though expensive but since it is at old town, for sure the price is higher, but worth it, especially the weather was so cold and a cup of warm tea is welcome. i

Oh yes, today I bought a ceramic bowl and Amber....this will be shared later at the Glamorous J when I have the time. Nite. Choong Krakow, Poland 8 October 2012