Understanding Malaysians.

Obviously, many people in the world are already aware that we Malaysians are multiracial society, and we have accepted different cultures, beliefs and celebrations in our daily surroundings. But my question is now, yes we have accepted the differences, but do we really understand them?

Last week, my friends and I organized an event which involved many of us, and as always, Malays, Chinese and Indians were there of course. So while the ongoing program was moving on, we served breakfast, which we packed some local 'kuih' which on of them was Karipap. We never knew what was inside the karipap, until an Indian friend of mine said there was meat. She said that some Hindus are vegetarians on Fridays, and she had accidentally ate the meat, and she really felt so bad about it.

Oh man... I felt as bad as she was for not being considerate, a totally ignorance. I never knew there was time when Hindus and Buddhists are vegetarians, which I asked, Fridays for Hindus and during the early and middle of Lunar months for the Buddhists (correct me if I am wrong). I, as a Muslim myself would like my other Malaysians friends to know when we do we perform our fasting, what could be eaten and what not, or everything which involve them. 

So guys, let us be more considerate. We should not only ask people to understand us, we should understand them as well. After all we are all Malaysians.

A First Class Society.

I came across an article in a well known Malaysian blog, claiming that Malaysia is the world champion in corruption. Maybe some people would think that I'm being defensive as a government officer, but I'm so definitely sure that this article is not true and totally unreliable. If there are readers who believed that, then I guess they are like the dust under the bed where all the could judge is the darkness of the surroundings, full of ignorance and I felt sorry for them. If you ever been to the neighboring countries, then you'll know how much we are better in term corruption.

 I wonder how a 1,000 corespondents survey could conclude a whole report only with a percentage of perception? Have you never heard of Corruption Perception Index on which Malaysia is ranked #54 released by Transparency International. It is not established simply with 1,000 corespondents, but it came from 13 well known bodies including World Economic Forum and World Bank. The surveys do not cover only the public, but they include business people opinion and assessment of a group of analysts. I am not saying that we are good enough at #54, but the fact that we are the champion of corruption is not true at all.

The main issue here is not that the news written is a lie, but the way 'some people' think without any critical judgment. What makes it more pathetic is that these 'some people' really thought that this lie should be spread out just to give bad impressions on the government by sharing it online. To me, vision 2020 to reform Malaysia as a developed country is possible, but I doubt that we would have a first class mindset society if many of us would react and accept any negative news about the country without any research or investigation. What is the point of having all the 'world' on your finger when what you do is only sharing lies?

Oh, Malaysiaku.

Cakes : Strawberry Vanilla

Oh, I should have write posts about cakes, because I love them so much.

As I said previously, cakes represent happiness and celebration! Hehe. 

Last week, I had this cake, Strawberry Vanilla by Secret Recipe, and it was awesome. It was not too sweet, just nice. There were fresh strawberry toppings with layers of vanilla sponge, with vanilla cream and strawberry sandwiches in between.

A definitely 5 star cake.

*****

Thank you for the wonderful wishes and presents ;-)

Calypsorous.

100 days ago, I started my 6 months course somewhere in the north. With many unknown faces during the registration day, I doubt that the life here would be something that I like and I wished time would pass by so fast that I would not even realize it. After separated into 4 groups, with 52 of us, we named ourselves Calypso, or Calypsorous as the representatives of the members. We claimed that Calypso means, 'The Cool Leaders', and I guess it is totally true when after sometime, I realized that we never seems to get so eager to achieve anything, but the fact that, we did achieve a lot.

As time goes by, eventually we became so close and it felt like we are a big family. We spent nights and days together, completing assignments, program planning, showcase preparation, camping and of course, 'lepaking'. 3 month may sound so short, but it felt more. During this period of time, we accepted each other's flaws and together we improve for the better. It's ok if we failed or didn't know any particular task because at everytime, there will always be someone who will guide. 

We shared drinks and foods, we went hiking and got lost together, listening to ustaz's tazkirah while leaning on each other because of exhaustion, exercised, studied, having breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, breakfasting, played bowling, went out to Pasar Ramadan, 'berjoget dan bergoyang', performing Veen's movement, laughing at each other's pose while sleeping in class, sharing photos and stories, playing games, gossiping, organizing events and tons more,

The bond was (and still) so strong that we got so upset when we were separated to different groups yesterday.  Everyone's character has blended so well it felt so right to be in the group. My heart literally stopped when someone else cheered for the group. It was the cheer that we created, it was the cheer that we bring to every tournaments and games, it was ours...

There's nothing much we can do about it, but to put this into a positive perspective. Maybe now we're no longer a group that were once put together, but from now on, it's a friendship, brotherhood that I've buried deep inside my heart. Only within this short period of time, I've met with many talented, inspiring, good and kind people and I love to have them as friends for the rest of my life.

Eventually, we became the person of whom we spend most of our time with. 
Someday, I may forget the good times we had together, and I hope this post will bring me back to the past and relive the moments.

Thank you Calypsorous.

Once a Calypsorous, always a Calypsorous.

A Good Advice On Marriage.

source:  Love Story From A Male Perspective

I read this article on a blog via Facebook. It is a good reminder for every husbands to cherish their wives for the rest of their lives. A good reminder for me as well as a new husband. ;)

Beautiful advice from a divorced man after 16 years of marriage

My advice after a divorce following 16 years of marriage, by Gerald Rogers.

Obviously, I’m not a relationship expert. But there’s something about my divorce being finalized this week that gives me perspective of things I wish I would have done different… After losing a woman that I loved, and a marriage of almost 16 years, here’s the advice I wish I would have had

1. Never stop courting. Never stop dating. NEVER EVER take that woman for granted. When you asked her to marry you, you promised to be that man that would OWN HER HEART and to fiercely protect it. This is the most important and sacred treasure you will ever be entrusted with. SHE CHOSE YOU. Never forget that, and NEVER GET LAZY in your love.

2. Protect your own heart. Just as you committed to being the protector of her heart, you must guard your own with the same vigilance. Love yourself fully, love the world openly, but there is a special place in your heart where no one must enter except for your wife. Keep that space always ready to receive her and invite her in, and refuse to let anyone or anything else enter there.

3. Fall in love over and over again.  You will constantly change. You’re not the same people you were when you got married, and in five years you will not be the same person you are today. Change will come, and in that you have to re-choose each other everyday. SHE DOESN’T HAVE TO STAY WITH YOU, and if you don’t take care of her heart, she may give that heart to someone else or seal you out completely, and you may never be able to get it back. Always fight to win her love just as you did when you were courting her.

4. Always see the best in her. Focus only on what you love. What you focus on will expand. If you focus on what bugs you, all you will see is reasons to be bugged. If you focus on what you love, you can’t help but be consumed by love. Focus to the point where you can no longer see anything but love, and you know without a doubt that you are the luckiest man on earth to be have this woman as your wife.

5. It’s not your job to change or fix her… your job is to love her as she is with no expectation of her ever changing. And if she changes, love what she becomes, whether it’s what you wanted or not.

6. Take full accountability for your own emotions: It’s not your wife’s job to make you happy, and she CAN’T make you sad. You are responsible for finding your own happiness, and through that your joy will spill over into your relationship and your love.

7. Never blame your wife if you get frustrated or angry at her, it is only because it is triggering something inside of YOU. They are YOUR emotions, and your responsibility. When you feel those feelings take time to get present and to look within and understand what it is inside of YOU that is asking to be healed. You were attracted to this woman because she was the person best suited to trigger all of your childhood wounds in the most painful way so that you could heal them… when you heal yourself, you will no longer be triggered by her, and you will wonder why you ever were.

8. Allow your woman to just be. When she’s sad or upset, it’s not your job to fix it, it’s your job to HOLD HER and let her know it’s ok. Let her know that you hear her, and that she’s important and that you are that pillar on which she can always lean. The feminine spirit is about change and emotion and like a storm her emotions will roll in and out, and as you remain strong and unjudging she will trust you and open her soul to you… DON’T RUN-AWAY WHEN SHE’S UPSET. Stand present and strong and let her know you aren’t going anywhere. Listen to what she is really saying behind the words and emotion.

9. Be silly… don’t take yourself so damn seriously. Laugh. And make her laugh. Laughter makes everything else easier.

10. Fill her soul everyday… learn her love languages and the specific ways that she feels important and validated and CHERISHED. Ask her to create a list of 10 THINGS that make her feel loved and memorize those things and make it a priority everyday to make her feel like a queen.

11. Be present. Give her not only your time, but your focus, your attention and your soul. Do whatever it takes to clear your head so that when you are with her you are fully WITH HER. Treat her as you would your most valuable client. She is.

12. Be willing to take her sexually, to carry her away in the power of your masculine presence, to consume her and devour her with your strength, and to penetrate her to the deepest levels of her soul. Let her melt into her feminine softness as she knows she can trust you fully.

13. Don’t be an idiot…. And don’t be afraid of being one either. You will make mistakes and so will she. Try not to make too big of mistakes, and learn from the ones you do make. You’re not supposed to be perfect, just try to not be too stupid.

14. Give her space… The woman is so good at giving and giving, and sometimes she will need to be reminded to take time to nurture herself. Sometimes she will need to fly from your branches to go and find what feeds her soul, and if you give her that space she will come back with new songs to sing…. (okay, getting a little too poetic here, but you get the point. Tell her to take time for herself, ESPECIALLY after you have kids. She needs that space to renew and get re-centered, and to find herself after she gets lost in serving you, the kids and the world.)

15. Be vulnerable… you don’t have to have it all together. Be willing to share your fears and feelings, and quick to acknowledge your mistakes.

16. Be fully transparent. If you want to have trust you must be willing to share EVERYTHING… Especially those things you don’t want to share. It takes courage to fully love, to fully open your heart and let her in when you don’t know i she will like what she finds… Part of that courage is allowing her to love you completely, your darkness as well as your light. DROP THE MASK… If you feel like you need to wear a mask around her, and show up perfect all the time, you will never experience the full dimension of what love can be.

17. Never stop growing together… The stagnant pond breeds malaria, the flowing stream is always fresh and cool. Atrophy is the natural process when you stop working a muscle, just as it is if you stop working on your relationship. Find common goals, dreams and visions to work towards.

18. Don’t worry about money. Money is a game, find ways to work together as a team to win it. It never helps when teammates fight. Figure out ways to leverage both persons strength to win.

19. Forgive immediately and focus on the future rather than carrying weight from the past. Don’t let your history hold you hostage. Holding onto past mistakes that either you or she makes, is like a heavy anchor to your marriage and will hold you back. FORGIVENESS IS FREEDOM. Cut the anchor loose and always choose love.

20. Always choose love. ALWAYS CHOOSE LOVE. In the end, this is the only advice you need. If this is the guiding principle through which all your choices is governed, there is nothing that will threaten the happiness of your marriage. Love will always endure.

In the end marriage isn’t about happily ever after. It’s about work. And a commitment to grow together and a willingness to continually invest in creating something that can endure eternity. Through that work, the happiness will come. Marriage is life, and it will bring ups and downs. Embracing all of the cycles and learning to learn from and love each experience will bring the strength and perspective to keep building, one brick at a time.

These are lessons I learned the hard way. These are lessons I learned too late. But these are lessons I am learning and committed in carrying forward. Truth is, I loved being married, and in time, I will get married again, and when I do, I will build it with a foundation that will endure any storm and any amount of time.

If you are reading this and find wisdom in my pain, share it those those young husbands whose hearts are still full of hope, and with those couples you may know who may have forgotten how to love. One of those men may be like I was, and in these hard earned lessons perhaps something will awaken in him and he will learn to be the man his lady has been waiting for.

MEN- THIS IS YOUR CHARGE: Commit to being an EPIC LOVER. There is no greater challenge, and no greater prize. Your woman deserves that from. Be the type of husband your wife can’t help but brag about.

The Pity Face

I am currently at the Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri waiting for my Setem Hasil. I will be leaving for a 6 months course next week and I am now finalizing the agreement.

Sitting right in front of me is an old lady trying to fill up her form. I don't know why, but I do feel so sorry for her, without any logic reason. It's just her face that made me feel so. Everything she did make me even feel more sorry. I wish I could help her fill the form, send it to the counter and send her home. Haha. I know it sounded so wrong! She is not even handicapped, she can fill the form well.

Some people have this pity face. It is actually an advantage that people will be nice to you. My eldest sister also has this kind of face. But as I said, it is good for her.

But still, I really wish that makcik I met just now well.

Gwiyomi?

Apekebende semua orang cakap pasal gwiyomi nih?

Gwiyomi ni sebenarnye lagu, tapi dengan mimik-mimik muka yang comel. Then banyak laa orang dok tiru worldwide neh pasal gwiyomi nye gesture ni.

Tapi kalau tengok video-video gwiyomi ni kat youtube seriously addicted weh.

Mungkin owner lagu ni dah bomoh siap-siap lagi ni bagi addicted. Baru-baru ni Nora Danish pon buat Gwiyomi... Nora nora... dah comel buat lagi comel.

Wawa Zainal pun buat. Tapi tak kenal lah wawa zainal ni... orang kata pelakon..

me>

Dan ni yang comel jugak...

Macam Siti Sifir dok mengajar mengira pun ada bila pikir balik.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Reunion?

The past week, the photo above caught everyone's attention and has been an internet frenzy to many. The way I see it that there would be a reunion on next year's thanksgiving, as what they would always did in the show, the thanksgiving dinner. Arh, How I wish it was true.

Unfortunately, it is not. The creator of the show denied the rumor, as well as Chandler (Matthew Perry) and the beautiful Rachel (Jennifer Aniston). But I guess it is for the good. It is better to leave the show with many speculations what would happen next to the 6 awesome characters. Some might want what would be on the possible reunion, but some may be disappointed as it does not turn out to be their own expectation. 

Friends is ultimately the best comedy series so far. Friends may not be the funniest, but the value of family, friendship, love and togetherness make it one of its kind.

They stop the show when it was at its peak, and since then fans (including me) have been waiting for a reunion. But as much as I wanted it to happen, I guess it is for the best to let the series end as it was, and remain as one of the legendary show.

The return of BIG thing does not necessarily be the best option to regain fame or fortune. Michael Schumacher for example, he returned to the F1 circuit after years when he decided to retire. But his return was not a success, only a couple of podium without any win, he then decided to retire once again. At that moment, some people (not all) would have forgotten that he was actually a legend, with a whopping 7 times world champion.

I am hoping the return of Star Wars would be as good as the previous one, if not it will totally be a bummer.

A legend should stay a legend.

The Bro Code : Ted Mosby Theory.

Guys, this is Ted Mosby. Why I would like my guy friend to know him, especially those singles guy friends, no... it is not because that I thought you may like him and print a poster of him on the wall... but because of the principles that he hold to with friendship. Actually, he is only a character in How I Met Your Mother, if you know... 

Ted Mosby is the guy who tell the stories on how he met his wife to his kids. He has a gang of close friends, a couple of Marshall and Lily, then Barney and Robin, who both ended together and got married as well. So yeah, he is surrounded by couples, and yet, he is the only one who remain single till the end of the season of the series. But why do I make him an example in my version of Bro Code, he stick with his friends, even when they are all married. He try to tag himself along and be apart of the growing family when Marshall and Lily started having a child, even sometimes he feel alone. But he will always be in the loop and eventually, he became a family as well.

I know when someone got married, the single guy friends, especially the close one would keep a distance to give space as he might thought that he will be no longer needed as a wife is already there from his friend, but the fact is that a guy friend, will always be a guy friend. Some things could only be shared with a guy friend. So, just tag along. Well, to tag along 24-7 is not cool laa kan as the friend is married, but keep yourself in the loop always. I am sure, till the day when you find the right girl, you'll still have the friend. And the friend will still need you in his life.

"You can ask the universe for signs all you want, but ultimately we'll only see what we want to see... when we're ready to see it. - Ted Mosby

Clothes You Should NEVER Wear.

I was surfing on the web when I found this photo. 

I've seen Justin Bieber wore this before, then again, and again. Then I found this actress Halle Berry also wore it. And I just want to say that this pants, which is called the Harem Pants by the way, is completely, utterly ridiculous. At this moment, this is the number 1 thing on my list of clothes that you should never wear. Seriously Bieber boy, that is so so so so so so not cool. 

Nama pon harem, harem! Blergh. Macam ikan kembung pun ada tengok rupenye.