Chinese New Year Away from Home

This is my first time celebrating Chinese New Year away from home, abroad in Austin. Luckily my Penang colleagues were around. How I celebrated my Chinese New Year without my family around?

The celebration started with few of my Penang colleagues having our reunion dinner on Friday night at Ho Ho Restaurant. Eng Yeow's family and Chee Heng's family graciously invited me to had lunch and dinner respectively during Chinese New Year Eve and the first day of Chinese New Year together with them. The Penang team also gathered at Azian's house for Nasi Lemak and Laksa as dinner during Chinese New Year Eve. Eng Yeow and Chee Heng later proceed to my house for some drinking and chatting. My Chinese New Year is not that bad after all...

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy, Healthy and Harmonious Tiger Year!

Below are some photos taken during our dinner at Ho Ho...

Trail to Work

The apartment i am staying right now is just behind the place i work. Hence, most of the time, i walk to work. The trail to work cuts across a small woods and a stream. It was a short trail where it normally won't take me more than 10 minutes to reach office.

A Pleasant Surprise

I went to Panda Express for lunch this afternoon and this is what the fortune cookie says. I do hope so! :D

Two Wolves

One evening an old grandfather told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"
The old grandfather simply replied, "The one you feed."

Can you solve these puzzles?

1. There is a man who lives on the top floor of a very tall building. Everyday he gets the elevator down to the ground floor to leave the building to go to work. Upon returning from work though, he can only travel half way up in the lift and has to walk the rest of the way unless it's raining! Why?

This is probably the best known and most celebrated of all lateral thinking puzzles. It is a true classic. Although there are many possible solutions which fit the initial conditions, only the canonical answer is truly satisfying.

2. A man and his son are in a car accident. The father dies on the scene, but the child is rushed to the hospital. When he arrives the surgeon says, "I can't operate on this boy, he is my son! " How can this be?

3. A man is wearing black. Black shoes, socks, trousers, lumper, gloves and balaclava. He is walking down a black street with all the street lamps off. A black car is coming towards him with its lights off but somehow manages to stop in time. How did the driver see the man?

4. Why is it better to have round manhole covers than square ones?

This is logical rather than lateral, but it is a good puzzle that can be solved by lateral thinking techniques. It is supposedly used by a very well-known software company as an interview question for prospective employees.

5. A man went to a party and drank some of the punch. He then left early. Everyone else at the party who drank the punch subsequently died of poisoning. Why did the man not die?

6. A man walks into a bar and asks the barman for a glass of water. The barman pulls out a gun and points it at the man. The man says 'Thank you' and walks out.

This puzzle claims to be the best of the genre. It is simple in its statement, absolutely baffling and yet with a completely satisfying solution. Most people struggle very hard to solve this one yet they like the answer when they hear it or have the satisfaction of figuring it out.

My First Father's Day Card

Daddy, Happy Father's Day!

Front

Back

Recession or Depression

Are all those news and demoralizing forecasts rumours or for real? Are those mere warning signs or you are already feeling the pinch?

My first taste of economy going south is during the economic downturn in Year 2001 - with 5 days of forced leave for 2 consecutive quarters followed by a 10% pay cut. Sessions after sessions of communications, we were briefed on the conditions of the downturn. Expectation changed from V (a sharp dip followed by a quick rebound) to U (a dip, short recession and an upswing) and later on to a bath tub (a dip, long recession and an upswing). I was happy that it finally recovered and everybody was enjoying life again.

This time around, I was hoping it will be a V curve with a drastic dip but seems like it was not as what we have hoped for. This round of dip has seen some of my closest friends loosing their jobs and still struggling to find one. Former US president Harry Truman said in 1958 : "It's a recession when your neighbour loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours" We understand the situation the best when we are the one experiencing it.

To my friends out there, all the best, don't loose hope and may the force be with you!

Happy Niu Year

It is that time of the year again. Time we set aside to be with our families and friends.

We ought to be thankful to those who have rendered a helping hand and offered us their word of encouragement when we are in need. We ought to be thankful that we are who we are today, count our blessings and make our blessings count.

At this auspicious time of the year, I would take this opportunity to thank you as a friend and wishing you Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity and Happiness in this Year of Ox!

For those who are celebrating, Happy Chinese New Year and Happy Holiday to the rest!


Regards,
Chia Wei & Family

My hat off...

You have probably read about the current Penang Chief Minister, YAB Lim Guan Eng who fly with MAS on economy seat and have dedicated your deepest respect.

At this challenging time, our respectable YAB has gone one step further. It' my honour to be on the same flight with YAB on Air Asia budget airline (my trip to KL on 20th November 2008). Probably too tired with his hectic schedule, YAB slept through his whole journey.

Keep up your good work YAB. My hat off to you!

I have a dream...

I was in the US when the last Presidential Election took place in year 2004. As I was travelling alone, TV is my only companion in the hotel room after work and hence I was following the election progress quite a bit but who really win doesn't really bother me. At that time, I was just hoping that whoever took over the White House, can treat us more nicely - at least speeding up the secondary screening whenever we were to enter the US. During my first trip to the US, I have been waiting for 5 hours at the LA airport for the secondary screening process and in the end, missed my flight to Denver.

I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican supporter. But for the 44th Presidential Election that has just end, for the first time in my life, I rejoiced that Senator Obama made it to the White House!


The Kenyans got to enjoy a day of holiday due to Obama's victory, Indonesian school children gather to celebrate the success of their senior who once sat at the same desk and Japan's Obama town dances for US namesake. Well, some politicians in Malaysia celebrate the fact that Obama's brother-in-law is actually a Malaysian based in the states - well, that is a better reason to celebrate than announcing to the world that the reigning Miss Georgia 2005 have half a Malaysian blood (father is from Johor) and the big hoo-haa!

History is created as the son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, the Democratic senator from Illinois sealed his victory by defeating Republican Sen. John McCain in a string of wins in hard-fought battleground states. Barack Obama was elected the United States first black president in a historic triumph that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself.

" I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today."

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America"

-- President Barack Obama

Martin Luther King's dream came true; the American's dream came true. When can the Malaysian's dream be realized? I pray that it won't be far.

Festive Greetings...

It is now a day past the Nine Emperors God Birthday, one week past Hari Raya and I know, it is WAY past the Mooncake Festival…

I was tidying up the SMS in my phone and think it is not a bad idea to compile the wishes received during the Mooncake Festival to be shared!

Happy Belated Mooncake Festival!

*****

中秋临近白花香

一条讯息带六香

一香送你摇钱树

二香送你贵人扶

三香送你工作好

四香送你没烦恼

五香送你永安康

*****

我将真心的中秋祝福装进玻璃瓶，

愿我在乎的朋友都可以得到中秋祝福。

于是瓶子飘啊飘。。。

如果你收到这封手机瓶中的信，

你就是我在乎的朋友。

*****

花好月圆圆又圆

圆圆月饼到处见

七彩灯笼挂满街

又到中秋好佳节

轻轻向你说声中秋快乐

让你平平安安，称心如意。

*****

送你一个有名堂的月饼

外层关心，

一层理解，

二层宽容，

三层健康，

四层快乐，

五层平安，

六层如意，

七层成功，

八层幸福，

九层甜蜜。

*****

我要送你一个特制的灯笼！

点燃你的路，亮着你的前途，

在你需要温暖的时候，让你保温！

也送你以关怀和祝福为馅的月饼，

配一壶温馨茶，祝你中秋节快乐！

*****

星星月亮天上挂

嫦娥奔月了牵挂

牛郎织女谈情话

月老红娘是神话

有个傻瓜不说话

拇指不停往键按

眯着眼睛看电话

等着我跟你说 《中秋节快乐》

*****

I look at the moon, the moon is beautiful…

I look at you… i… i… I’d better look at the moon again…

Happy Moon Cake Festival! ;)

*****

月到中秋分外明

嫦娥下凡送月饼

吃了月饼庆团圆

送你一个好月饼

吃在嘴里甜在心

幸福美满在心底

事事顺利永如意

脸上永远笑嘻嘻

*****

男人要成功，靠的是两粒：

第一粒是努力，第二粒是毅力。

女人靠的那两粒更大粒：魅力和耐力！

笑什么？ 四粒加起来就是一盒月饼了。

过节咯。。。 中秋快乐！

*****

人生吧，0岁出场，1岁快乐成长，20 为情彷徨，30 基本定向， 40 拼命打闯，50 回头望望，60 告老还乡，70 搓搓麻将，80 晒晒太阳，90 躺在床上，100 挂在墙上。

生得伟大，死得凄凉，所以该吃就吃，该喝酒喝，遇事别往心里搁。

洗着澡，看着表，舒服一秒是一秒。。。

能牵手时牵手，请别只是肩并肩，

能拥抱时拥抱，请别只是手牵手，

能在一起的时候，请别轻易分开。

祝中秋节快乐！

*****

天上月圆，人间团圆，

家庭情圆，心中事圆，

左右逢源，愿你在每一天中，人缘，情缘，福缘，财缘，缘缘不断，事事如愿！

*****

我要送你一个灯笼！点燃你的路，亮着你的前途，在你需要温暖时让你保温！

也送你以祝福与关怀为馅的月饼，配一壶温馨茶，祝你中秋节快乐！

*****

中秋节要到了，我送你一盒特制月饼，

里面有幸福金翡翠，快乐黑豆沙，健康万紫千红，平安冰皮莲蓉！

祝你幸福快乐，健康平安！

*****

秋风清霜入月花，

中秋花诞共丽莲，

碧夜良宵何处去，

斟盏遥约望月圆，

月圆齐全，家国两团圆，

花好月圆团圆夜，

思念千里梦甜甜。

祝合家团圆，月圆人更圆！

*****

好累啊！我和太阳打了一天架，想抢个月亮送给你，

没想到那家伙不给我面子，我一气之下把月亮采成月饼，

不介意就收下吧！

*****

亮亮的蜡烛，

亮亮的灯笼，

亮亮的大街小巷，

八月十五，我祝你说有的希望都如愿，收有的梦想都实现，收有的等候都出现！

*****

八月圆圆是中秋，月亮圆圆天上挂，

月饼圆圆桌上摆，杯子圆圆盛香茶，

灯笼圆圆放光芒，人在圆圆地球上，

用手圆圆画圈圈，万事圆圆又满满。

*****

月饼香，月饼甜，

我家的月饼有甜也有咸。

哪怕吃多也不会嫌，只怕多吃变圆圆。

变天...

当大家公认的世界各所顶尖大学不惜派发奖学金，拨出名额，广招天下英才以期能够持续进步的同时，有所高傲大学，被呼吁开放十巴仙名额予不同种族血统的学生以加强竞争力，却校长学生齐齐大呼小叫，上街游行示威。

当世界各国极力招揽各界人才以期发展各行各业，加强在地球村竞争能力，美国正准备迎接史上第一位黑人总统的同时，有些人还在为你到底是不是寄居者而争得面红耳赤。

当韩国总统李明博就政府的宗教偏向行为向国内佛教人士道歉，要求所有公务人员必须遵守宗教平等原则时，有兴都庙宇被拆除。

当大家都在大力鼓吹公开文明对话的同时，某政党青年团领袖却说公开辩论政纲是脱裤让外人看屁股。

当大家都想多学些语言以便走出世界的同时，有人认为我们应该只有单一源流的学校。

中国的嫦娥奔月计划成功了，国家购买军事配备，交换条件，一个太空人得以乘搭他人的火箭升天，大家引以为荣。

当世界提倡人权，法律面前人人平等的同时，有人未经审讯而享牢狱之灾，有人在皇家调查报告出炉了却还逍遥法外。

当大家面对万物通膨生活压力剧增的同时，有人正担心会不会变天...

Lucky Households

According to census, only 5% of households in the country have a monthly income of RM10,000 or more. There are about 4 - 5 millions households in the country, so we are talking of just 200,000 to 250,000 households with income of more than RM10,000 a month.

Judging from the number of super condos and gated community launches, I would definitely think that a substantial number of the aforementioned lucky households must be in Penang! Don't you think so?

Why Blog?

Someone asked me why i suddenly started blogging...

Actually i have created this blog sometime ago. I tried the first public post sometime in 2007 but the blog (empty :p) exists even longer.

When i first created this blog, the reason is just to stay abreast of the technology and see how a blog is actually being posted. Since everybody is talking about blogging, would just like to at least know how to officially create one. :)

The reason i started blogging now is because i found out that it is the best way to keep track of the photos that i have taken and follow my own progress if i have made any improvement along the way!