Deepest and Sincerest Condolence to my old Friend, ex-Unimate, Mr. Hon Cheng Teng

When I first heard of the news, I am shock.

Memories ran while, to the time we used to be together, most of the times, 3 of us, and we talk a lot of funny things, gossips, cold jokes.....

that beautiful memories will always stay deep inside me....

And we managed to exchange a few wordings sometime back but not much, and that would be somehow our final few words communicated.....

From this, I know and understood the message, life is just short, and can be as short as you can't imagine off.... and treasure whatever that comes along, cherish the moments, stay joyful final moment comes....

And my prayers for you, Cheng Teng....

May you be happy always, in another life....

Sincerely,

Soon Heng

Meaningful trip to Saraburi and Lopburi

Every time that I have chance to visit Thailand, I am always happy to do so...I just like the feeling here, so comfortable and so warm....

And this time, a short trip though, but a chance to visit this place, Lopburi and Saraburi with Noung (thanks again, he is an old friend of mine here in Bangkok, and has brought me to explore many places, less frequented by tourists.
And overtime that I have a chance to go out with my friend, Noung, I am very happy, honestly speaking as he is simple and a nice person.
And visiting Thailand, sometimes it just allowed me to think life can be simpler and happier, and the definition of happiness can be measured in many different ways, different manners.

And worth to mention the restaurant that we stopped by halfway to BKK, I was informed by Noung it was still at Saraburi. Food was cheap and taste very good and very very crowded (no seat and table available 30mins after we arrived).

There are a lot of semi wild monkeys around this site, and though they are well exposed to tourists, I saw that sometimes they came to snatch cameras from visitors....one have to be careful.

I ordered fried noodles here, though price is high but I like the environment.

This temple at Saraburi, it is magnificent.

With my old friend, Noung.

I like this picture, the posture,..

Super blue and clear skyline.

Choong

7 December 2015

Good-Bye Siew Guat........

Dear Siew Guat,

It has been a while since I got the news of your passing away (even know, it is still hard to use these two words), as it is hard to accept the fact you had left this world....our last meeting was in August together with BM Teoh and his son and the last message we communicate,  to meet each other in my next trip home....hence it is hard to accept the fact that had already left this world....like most friends had said, it was too sudden...and indeed it was.
There are a lot of good memories and time spent with you, whenever I was back to Bukit Mertajam and I was glad (really glad) that I managed to spent so much time with you, especially when I was back to Malaysia for a whole year. And your phone messages,  you would say, "Choong we can meet up for tea, I can meet you up in the afternoon, I will bring to this coffee house, that restaurant....etc etc.." .there are a lot of good memories that I can recall but hard to write all down, and as I am writing this, teardrops fell freely, which I think is a good sign for me, that I have accepted your passing away.....indeed very hard to accept and the mourning phase was very hard. And I have been hoping to write this in my blog, that some day in near future, I can read and recall this chapter of my life,,,,,,

I was not sure if it were you, when I saw that green light appearing in my apartment on 30th September, and I assume it was, cause you mentioned you wanted to visit me in Shanghai for another time... and I was waiting for your visit, and could it possibly you visited in this manner, still keeping your promise as you usually do, but in different way...I do not know, but I assume it was...no matter what, thanks SIew Guat..

There are too many things to say, Siew Guat, but I am not sure where to begin, and where to end...
But my first wish is to visit you, at the temple where your last remains is kept...At least I need to see for myself that you are there, and at least for me to say a few words to you....and to pay my last respect (and I trust you would know why I could not attend your funeral, which was a sad thing for sure).
And thanks Siew Guat, for being a great great friend to me, especially during the time from end 2013 to 2014, where I was facing a very difficult time of my life and you supported me in various ways., remember when you helped me to get my cargo back from Beijing, and the sales mgr was asking if I was related to you, and your concern on the things that was happening during that time, and your emotional support were very important to me.
When ever you have charity events, like for your Spastic centre, Red crescent....you always involved me, in one way or another...I am really grateful for these.
And every-time when I am back, you would asked in advance, if I need my ikan bilis,  dried prawns,...etc, and the meals at different restaurants and tea time at cafes.. and the chats..those are all memories, that I shall remember for life, SIew Guat.

Do you know that, every year, during CNY holidays, it has become a routine for me, no matter how rush or how busy it was, I will always find the time to visit you, and I am thankful, for despite your busy and tight schedule, you always find the time for us to meet up and catch-up.I think this year would be a bit hard for me though, as I would not be able to see you in Penang again (but I will send my best regards through my prayers).

And thank you for being a good mentor when I was in Acidchem, and though sometimes, I did "argue" with you, but your patience and your professionalism had really touched me.

And now, I am sure you are happy, together with your mother and please help to send my regards to Aunty too...and till we meet again in near future, do take care and we shall catch-up again, Siew Guat.

May you be happy always, Siew Guat...

Sincerely,

Choong

Assisi

This is a long story to write...and I think I cannot write so much here....too long to write everything.
I first read about this place and also about St. Francesco from books of Dr. Wayne D. Dyer, if you have followed my blog, you could have already known what I mentioned here.
And since my trip here to Milan for my customer's visit and meeting, I think it will be good to take the opportunity to visit, though it is a bit rush to do so, but I wanted to be here so much...hence the arrangement.
The trip first started with Milano Central, then to Florence Central (Firenze) then using regional train to Assisi. The problem starts with the regional train, I booked a first class ticket, and not only the a/c brokedown, I have to move to second class coach, even then, it was still hot inside (and one problem I think with the air-conditioner of all trains in Italy during summer months, I think it is not able to cool off fast enough, may be they should consult us in SEA on how to make the air cold fast and cool enough (if you go to our malls in SEA, most of us wear a jacket, haha).

Assisi, it was very much a kind of soulful trip, a retreat, an exploration trip, whatever you all that. I was meaningful to sit inside the church and also paying respect to St. Francesco....I went there 3 times, and before I left, I still go back to the church to pay respect. And you know what happened..on the final nite, the whole place I stay (I think the suburbs of Assisi, there was no electric supply and water too, for the whole day till close to 11PM. Initially I was upset, but then, a thought came to my mind, and I was telling myself, may be this is a blessing in disguise and true enough, the idea suddenly came about and telling me to just lie down (just find a place and i found one, next to a bridge)....and I just stare at the sky for 30-40 minutes, looking at the stars, and learn to reconnect to this universe...the feeling was so comfortable and I would like to say, it is kind of magical, mystical....kind of hard to describe..but I am thankful for that moment. And immediately, after I went back to my room, electric came back, and I took my good shower, and went back to sleep.

And out of so many places I been to during this trip, the only place I would like to go back is to Assisi. It is meaningful to be here. And I met also a couple from Denmark, and they booked the hotel for a week.
The hotel is called Country house Tre Esse...and it is about 2.5km from the main Assisi station. One thing good or bad, depends on how you see it, is that, it is not in Assisi (Unesco heritage) town centre. It is in the outskirt, about 400m away from St. Francesco church which means on daily basis, you need to walk uphill and downhill, hence I think during my two days here, I walked close to 30km...can you imagine this, but it was fun.... and exploring the whole town, going from one church to another, visiting one saint to another......
And one restaurant I like, just next to the square....I think the price they charge is reasonable, it is called Otello Ristorante....food is simple and good and price is reasonable. And there is one shop that sells good quality leather shoes...you should visit this shop I think...

Choong
Malpensa
18 July 2015

Pisa Tower-17 July 2015

It was a last minute decision to go over and visit...as initially I was not sure if it is nearby to Florence but I remember it was...hence was just checking around with Dr. Devil and also the front desk. hence my booking of the ticket via the ticket machine, cost about Euro 8.50 per way....
But as I said, the train airconditioning was bad, not functioning and when you are inside the coach at this temperature, it is really killing you softly.....
It was 1 hour and 20 mins ride, direct from Florence station to Pisa Centrale and when I arrived I immediately exited and walked roughly based on the crowd, and just a straight walk....haha, actually I didn't even check the direction, just roughly based on two signages and were the crowd were moving and hence I moved along and finally, I reached this place, quite crowded anyway. but glad I came. it is nice and impressive. But as I have only limited time here.  I just walked around, took some pictures and then bought souvenirs, had my simple lunch with a draft beer, and then walked back to the central station...

Having the chance to visit this place, one of the 7 wonders (if this stays true still), if really a kind of achievement...I really like this feeling....haha. So good, though a bit rushing but one can always come back for a revisit, can one not.


Choong
17 July 2015
Florence

Florence, Italy

Wow, finally, my trip is close to the end for now.
Florence, heard so much of this place, but first impression upon arrival was this place is very dirty, with rubbish all around...... And the station is quite unfriendly to commuters...I think, to come out, you need to look for the underground elevator to make sure you can walk out easily from from the station without the need to carry your luggage using the steep stair case.

Initial response, the hotel is not so nice, it looks a bit dry for a start, coupled with the rubbish being strewn around and you seem ti be walking around looking for the hotel, as they have a few hotels around this area, under Hotel C club, and this hotel I am staying is just opposite the station.

Going around is also a challenge, as it was hot and I hate to follow exactly the map, so just explore around. And guess what, I walked close to 15 KM on the first day, despite the heat and close to 14 KM for the second day... amazing is it not.

                                          Palazzo Pitti.....The palace as I understood...

Il Bisonte- My doctor bag, always like to have one, and finally got this.. and this pair of shoes, from the local shoe shop called Rive Gauche... I just love the design

Duomo

                                         So hungry when I just arrived and glad that I managed to go into this shop, the lady was so nice and food taste okay.....I was more hungry and thirsty during this time...

There are more pictures and I think enough have been posted. I just want to put some remarks for my own record here.
1) Weather is extremely hot, close to 40 degree C
2) train is without aircond, the regional trains to Pisa Centrale....I almost suffocated. And the same goes for the train station at Florence
3) One thing good in coming during summer months is that the day time is very long and you have a big crowd even at very late nite, it is fun. And I think the final nite where they play the orchestra at Palazzo Vecchio was so fun, and I guess it could be a life time experience, really....you have so many people dancing along and the seeing the crowd enjoying if really something amazing for me...
4) There are many life concerts around in the city which is good, if you are a music fan
5) It might be some summer vacation for people from different countries, hence you can see this city flooded with people.....plenty of them, everywhere.
6) I found that Koreans like this city or in general Italy a lot, besides Japanese. I think chinese are here too, but more in the city of Milan, and they can shop more, haha.

The dancing was fun, enjoyed songs like Dancing queen, Jude, I just called to say I love u,...etc

And I think the food at this restaurant, Pescheria which is near to Hotel Club and I just love the Tiramisu....

OK, enough of Florence. Good memories and I remember that I changed my clothes a few time....

Sincerely,

Choong

Hotel Club

Florence 18 July 2015

People Come, People Go.......

People come to this world, people leave this world at the same time.....that is the way it goes here, in this temporary world.....And I think as you grow older, you see more of these occasions if you have big extended family members. For my father's generation, now, we only have 2 uncles left with their spouses and another aunt. Other have left this world, 4 uncles, aunts...one after another.
This time around is my 3rd aunt, someone I can consider biologically close to me (perhaps one of these days, I will write another novel about me, and my 4 mothers...but that will come in near future).
I just want to put a simple note here to remember her....so that in future these is a record about her here.

I remember during my school says, having her next door to us, most of the times, she will invite  or call me over when lunch is cooked or done, and usually I will "cross over" for a meal. And during special festive seasons... when most of my cousins are back to home, again, I will be there to "take advantage of the meals" she prepared. I like the duck sour vege soup she prepared and also the fresh grounded turmeric  chicken.....

Glad to be back to Malaysia this time around, to have the chance to visit her once before her last breath and again, to pay my final respect to her (by lighting incense to her) for the final time, Regret that due to my job arrangement and commitment, I have to be back and hence cannot escort her in the final journey to the resting place. I just wish her well, in her final resting place and may she follows Buddha's light to the land of Nirvana.

RIP my dear aunt....and wish you a good rest and leave behind whatever unhappiness  you had in your journey here, this temporary world and glad that finally, you are with 3rd Uncle now.

Sincerely,

Selayang 

1 July 2015

I AM worried and My Wish

I am from the generation that support Malaysians concept a lot, and proud to be called Malaysian first. I have never called myself even  as a Malaysian Chinese, but when people ask for more information, then I will explain from my ancestry aspect to let them understand that we have Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans....etc etc.forming the complex structure of Malaysians.
I am also very proud of our national language, because I think it is important to have our national identity as Malaysians, though mastering other languages is a must, esp with this so called globalisation era....
And when Malaysia was building new ports, airports, we were hoping Malaysia will stand out on its own, and capable of providing good services internationally...

But lately, with so so many things happening in Malaysia, that you have become disillusioned....with many issues.
I am a bit disillusioned with where Malaysian is heading.....I am lost
I am a bit disillusioned with the way our economy is being run...what are we targeting to be?
I am a bit disillusioned with the capability of our younger generation to think critically....it is very important for the progressiveness of Malaysia, to become a developed country..
I am a bit disillusioned with the capability of our fresh graduates to communicate efficiently, especially in using English, internationally...I have come across many, are not able to express themselves well, we forget about 3rd language for now
I am bit disillusioned with our the present living standard and livelihood of general Malaysians....it seems everything is getting very expensive, and sort of not under "proper control", from my experience so far...fresh flowers increasing from RM12 per bunch to RM 14.50, a bowl of noodles from RM 5 to RM 6....etc etc. I am just wondering how our new graduates coping with this. I think my niece and nephews are not able to stand on their own if they are not staying with their parents...
And I am also disillusioned with the property market... why are they so expensive when in general the salary level of our workforce in general have not increase so much as yet....
And there are many more disillusion......

I can only wish it would be better in the coming months, coming years......and I still hope it Malaysia will still be one of the best country in Asia, if not in the world, to live in, to work, to conduct business activities, and proudly identify myself as a Malaysian


Choong
Selayang
1st July 2015

I have NOT written For so long

I have not written on my blog for sometime, not because I was lazy, but as you know I cannot use this while I am in China.
As we grow older, there are more thoughts coming to your mind, lots of them, and now I understood, on why as you free older, you have more grey hair (grey matters.....).

I have no particular topic to write, just that my fingers, they felt itchy, and I have to write something, just scribe something.....

This time of my coming back mark the sixth year of my dad passing away, time passes. And you know my dad's passing away date is around Fathers' day and it makes it very hard sometime, seeing all people celebrating and wishing their dads etc, and, both sis and myself, we have none to call our own....that is life I suppose...I am used to this, and I accept everything that is happening, but once it a while, you will "whine" a bit, to make yourself feel normal...

And when you know in this world, you are no longer (though you are mature and old enough to be on your own since a long time ago) having your parents around you, and you are technically, known as an orphan, sometimes, you feel very much you are the single entity in this universe, without any connection left for you, except may be the universe itself. That kind of feeling is kind of hard to explain if you have not reached that stage, or ever experience this.....but once you have it, you will understand what I meant. It is a kind of lost that is very hard to explain, and very hard to replace too....
But being a Buddhist you console yourself that you should not and cannot attached to anything ,...even your parents, hence perhaps it makes things better for yourself...haha...

And I think relationships sometimes is also not easy.....for some people. it happens easily....for some, it is hard....But I guess this is part of your destiny (your karma) and you cannot run away from it...

Good nite.
Choong
BM

Short Note For My Trip To Southern Parts of Taiwan-Kending, Tainan

A short note for myself.

During this 3 days trip with Longsheng, and later with the guide of Professor Irving Fan, it was a meaningful one, to explore Southern tip of Taiwan, the area of Kenting and also Tainan.

It was very rush, but meaningful, and also lots about foods and temples.......

I just love Kenting, and really hope to come back or get a small property here, may be, who knows....

But thanks for introducing these parts to me, in more deeper sense.

Choong

Taipei