First Sigh Of The Year

Let me test your sight, do you see anything wrong with the photo below?


Nop? Look again carefully...

WTF!!!

My windscreen was cracked the very first day of Niu year. Not so much of prosperity. Got up in the morning and getting ready to Pai Chia, i was surprised with the sight of my car. Swt...

There was candy (should be lollipop), at the bottom of the windscreen, and i suppose that was the reason of the whole scene. Someone once told me that sweets, especially hacks, could easily break the windscreen. Who's the culprit?

Never mind that, its over anyway and i got it repaired. It cost me RM320, even my angpow money doesnt have enough to cover the charges. Plus, i need to spend another sum of money here and there to get it tinted. *sigh*

My new windscreen

Today is Tuesday. Could it be Choi San, dropping me hints for greater riches? I dont know, but who knows? HUAT AH!!!

Editted: 2nd Feb. It cost me RM130 to get my windscreen tinted. For the first time in Chinese New Year, my car cost me a staggering amount of RM450 in total. Painful indeed... Painful.

Gong Hei Fatt Choy

Ox

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone... moo

In Memory Of Mitre

I had a good game of football today and scored quite a handful of goals. A Pre-Chinese New Year match with only 10 of us turning up for the game. 5 a side and we start kicking.

24 January 2009. That was the last service my boots gave me... Thank you.

Worn out

I guess i wont be considering getting myself a new pair of boots since we seldom play anymore. I'll use other pairs of shoe...

He Who Resembled Myself

Was having my lunch today at the usual spot in Jalan Tengah. Not anywhere near to expensive restaurant, but rather at a local coffee shop for a regular meal. I had Economy Rice. While i was picking out some dishes, out of sudden i saw that kid again. A normal lad who wore a school uniform, from the primary school at the end of the road i suppose. Probably just finished his class from school, walk across the street for a lunch before going home.

Though he was just an ordinary kind of schoolboy with nothing special, there's something inside of him that caught my attention. He resembled someone that i know; someone that i once knew. He remind me of myself when i was small. I saw myself in him.

Taking a plate of rice, he looked around, trying to find something that suits his taste. He seems wanting to have a good meal, however at the same time afraid that it might be costly. I was once that age and i was too, once in his shoe.

While i was paying for my food, i said to the aunty, "I'll pay for his lunch as well".

"Your relatives?", she questioned. I shake my head a little. She continued, "...someone you know?"

"Nop. He resembled myself when i was at his age."

When the kid wanted to pay for his meal, the aunty told him that i had paid for it. He was surprised, and i walked off to begin my lunch. It wasnt much of a good deed that i've done, but i felt contented. Seeing an image of myself in him happily with a free lunch.

While in office later on...
Jessie: His lunch seems expensive leh, RM4! You already eat potato rice liau.
Me: Yea oh. I just realized that mine was twice cheaper than his, and i also got some potatoes as part of my dishes just now. LOL.

To that little kid out there... may you enjoyed your lunch as much as i do. Cheers...

Wasnt A Good Start Of The Year

Chinese New Year is just around the corner. Several days more and we'll be welcoming the Year of Ox. I guess by then im officially 24 years of age in Chinese calendar.

The Year of Ox doesnt bring much pleasant to majority of us, not excluding myself. Looking at it, i could only sigh. Its an inevitable cycle. Balancing the distances and gaps. There's still several items in my things-to-buy list are left unchecked. Never mind i said to myself, those wasnt really necessary and could be left out at the moment. They can wait.

Economy crisis. Its just the mid of Jan and the impact wasnt too significant to the naked eyes, but slowly, and definitely, its wave will hit the shore. Like a chain reaction that cause damages on the houses and beaches, one things after another. Company starts to shutdown, salary deduction and some might even have to lay off their employees, sending out a pink slip.

I could only hope things dont get too bad...

Everything have to be put on hold for these would carries on until the 2nd quarter before it gradually pick up as economist said. No new gadgets, hand phone and laptop. Whatever it is, at least i could experience this economy downturn now that im earning a living.

Life could have been worst, but what we have are already far more better than theirs... Learn to cherish what you have.

Bonjour Paris (Part 2)

I'm dreaming of a white Paris
Just like the ones I used to know...

Despite my white Christmas doesnt came true in Newcastle, but this little wish of mine blooms itself in Paris. A white Paris. It certainly got me excited since it was my first encounter with snow... and it taste like cold sprinkle of water. The streets covered with snow and all you could see is a piece of white land across the town. Its lovely.

motorcycles were well blanketed with white snow

a white Paris

Our first destination of the day is Cathedral of Notre Dame. Do you remember Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame? It was the first time i was exposed to this classical Gothic cathedral by Victor Hugo. Since then, this would be the place i want to visit if i ever have a chance to go to Paris.

gargoyle, said to scare off evil spirits, as a form of protection

...and this gargoyle looks to be shivering and freezing in cold

does it look familiar to you?

I guess many do recognize and came across this place. Yes, its the Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre) that is housed in the Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre). Nearly 35,000 objects from the 6th millennium BC to the 19th century AD are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet).

at the Pyramid

Sphinx from Egypt

Venus de Milo, an ancient Greek sculpture
believed to depict Aphrodite the Greek goddess of love and beauty

Diane de Versailles

Pan

one of my favourite, the Nike of Samothrace (winged victory)

the best of all, the Mona Lisa from Leonardo Da Vinci
okay... i was too far to get a proper nice picture of it

one of the masterpiece from Pablo Picasso

David and Goliath painted by Daniele da Volterra

Its probably one of the biggest museum i've ever visited so far, we spend 5 hours inside and still havent finish the tour. We then head over to one of the most recognizable icon in the world, the Eiffel Tower.

at the bottom of Eiffel Tower

Now to what phenomenon did I give primary concern in designing the Tower? It was wind resistance. Well then! I hold that the curvature of the monument's four outer edges, which is as mathematical calculation dictated it should be (...) will give a great impression of strength and beauty, for it will reveal to the eyes of the observer the boldness of the design as a whole.
- translated from the French newspaper Le Temps of 14 February 1887.

Despite many critics from all around the world, Gustave Eiffel and his co. still continue their shocking and daring exponential shape building the tower. Certainly there's many to read from its history, but this mega structures is part of a new revolution in the world of engineering. Challenge the limit.


Paris is such a lovely place. Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Moulin Rouge, cathedral of Notre Dame, Musée du Louvre, Eiffel Tower and so much more. Words and sentences couldnt express nor portray how beauty it is in Paris, you just have to see it for yourself. It is certainly a city worth coming. No regret. I love Paris. Je t'aime

Bonjour Paris (Part 1)

Its around 2.30PM local time when EuroStar finally reached its destination. Certainly the 2 hours ride doesnt seems too monotonous, well, i dozed off minutes after the departure. Its 2 degrees outside. Putting on the jacket and coat, getting ready to step down from the train, he then say...
BONJOUR PARIS!!!

Finally i managed to set foot in the land that i much idolized back then. Since when? The time when the French starts to revolutionize. Till now, its been a cliché to see them dancing in the pitch though the younger generations are still miles away from the Invincibles. Others may wonder the point out of it, while some could see right through it. What was i saying? LOL...

this is where im staying, Hotel Nord Champagne

With a help of a tourist guide book, we are nowhere near lost in Paris. We use Metro as our main transportation in this lovely city, almost everywhere we want to go is within out reach, well, except for the part where i dont understand and speak French. Pardon.

Shu dear with the Metro

at Jardin des Tuileries

with a small glimpse of Eiffel Tower

As the sun starts to take its rest behind the world, we head over to the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Its the most prestigious avenue in Paris for its filled with luxury specialty shops. With the rental clinching up to USD1.5 million a year with just a thousand square feet of space, no doubt its the most expensive strip of real estate in Europe.

night scene at Champs-Élysées

Louis Vuitton (LV), Gucci, Prada and whatever expensive grand brand that came across your mind are listed along the street. Its like walking in paradise, just to realize that for all you could see, you could not have enough to buy. Just a bag from LV could easily cost you 2-3 months of salary, and that is how expensive everything is.

Louis Vuitton, 4-5 times bigger than the one in Edinburgh

Arc de Triomphe, one of the most famous monuments in Paris

The place that i next visit would be the Moulin Rouge (or Red Windmill in English), is known for the birthplace of the modern form of the can-can dance. The show girls. Lady Marmalade.

Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir? LOL.

This is something blizzard which i happened to realize when i was in Paris. In the hotel that we are staying, or rather hostel, there's a television with a selection of 10 channels. Its not something worth complimenting from me since every word that came out of it is French. However towards midnight, there's a channel airing porn with a little sign of 16, which i assume it means 16 and above. So kids who cant sleep at night might just switch on the television and watch porn. Swt...

Maybe its a norm for them to have this kind of entertainment. Its Paris anyway... =P

Going to put a break now. Next entry would be on the Cathedral of Notre Dame where we might just find Quasimodo, the bell-ringer. Not to miss... the Musée du Louvre and Eiffel Tower! Thanks for reading. Messi

P.S. Oops, my mistake. Merci

Thank You EngHoo

This entry is a special tribute to my colleague, EngHoo, also known as Fish. Today is his last working day in Renesas and he'll be leaving us for a better prospect at other company. Thus this post is to thank him for being a very good friend as well as a teacher to me. Earning the title of the Strongest, no doubt he is the AngKong in our team.

He is the one who shows me around in the company when i first got in
He is the one who teaches me about IStar and Loftware label print system
He is the one who coaches me on how to maintain the label print program
He is the one who guides me in programming world
He is the one who aids me in SQL queries, table structure and architecture
He is the one who helps me to create a printing log database
He is the one who assists me in reporting and database
He is the one who provides me with the technical expertise
He is the one who advises me in the nation and market news
He is the one who jokes and laughs with me

He who influenced me the word, "KEK AH!!!". Infect me with the Wars of the Gender, "YAO YU HOR!!!". Scrappy and CoCo. Chun Em Sai (in Canto). Chou Yan Mou Meh Keh, Mat Yeh Tou Yiu Si Ha (in Canto). Pointing a wood at me, as a sign of my stupidity... LOL.

He is a great colleague; a teacher; a good companion; a friend; a joker; a table tennis player; a hangout buddy; a karaoke KING; an advisor; a good listener; my client in Heroes series, music and movies cause im the supplier; my HengTai in company; and part of the family. He's also my breakfast and lunch member also consist of Joyce (resigned), SzeSze (resigned), BeeLean and Koed. So now we are left with 3 lunch gang including me. *need to recruit some new members*

To him, i want to say... THANK YOU!!! All the best in your new company *censored* and your future undertakings.


A thousand failures will lead to a success!!!

No Place Like London (Part 2)

Waking up in the morning bright, whats ahead of me is another sight.

Big Ben

London Eye

Westminster

Westminster Abbey

Our next stop was the well known Buckingham Palace in the City of Westminster, which is the official London residence of the British monarch. Located in front of the palace is the Victoria Memorial. Considering many tourists gather around the palace, wont the residence inside be distracted?

Buckingham Palace

The Green Park

Do you know... According to Wikipedia;

For football stadium in Newcastle Upon Tyne, its St James' Park
For football stadium in Exeter, its St James Park
AND for the park in Westminster at central London, its St James's Park

St James's Park, the oldest Royal Parks of London

the lake was frozen due to the extreme cold weather

photo with Sherlock Holmes's statue

Madame Tussauds in London, sadly the queue was too long for me to enter... *sigh*

but still i manage to have a photo with Charlie Chaplin

went to Portobello Market for some window shopping

Last but not least, here comes the Emirates. It's the second stadium of Arsenal FC with the capacity of 60 thousands seats. It was originally known as Ashburton Grove until the Emirates Airline made £100m sponsorship. Would have sounded better with Ashburton Grove. Hmm... should have visited Highbury as well.

finally i've reached Arsenal FC

Thank GOD Van Persie managed to lead Arsenal FC to Cardiff once again after outbeat Plymouth Argyll by 3 goals to one. Afterall the sight and sound, London was quite a nice pleasant place to visit. Uniquely special. Next stop... Bonjour Paris!!!