Wednesday, September 29, 2010

New Look, More to Come

I just chosen a new template for this blog, in effort to give it a new face lift.

I'll be posting more things up soon, including the list of blogs i read, websites i visit and of course, more postings from me.

So, sit back, relax and wait. Do read a book (manga, novel, textbook, etc), go on Facebook or watch a movie while waiting.


Love & Peace!~
BC?

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Blessings all around.

The Hari Raya celebration was not celebrated visiting friends or eating kuih raya. Rather, I was at church camp, and it was awesome!

Initially, the camp's theme was Intentional Discipleship, but the camp speaker Pastor Don Barry, instead was prompted by God to speak about listening to God's voice. During the sessions, he spoke about how to listen to God's voice through inner impressions, dreams, signs and through others. I was intrigued and took interest in itm

But I was really caught off guard, when Pastor Don called out to me during the last session of camp, as I was about to take refill water. He prophesied that I would be someone of influence, who would do big things even though it would be unorthodox to the church. He said the word 'Bernard of Clairvoux' came to him, and that I'm someone wise. I was dumbfounded, but I need to seek God to know what His will is in my life.

Besides that, there was a lot of free time in camp, which was either used for meetings, relaxation or playing games. The other groups, which were the seniors and youth really creamed us at captain ball and soccer. Perhaps there was no proper formation or unity among us, or the others were way better than young adults....

But all in all, it was a great camp! And I think I'll upload some photos on this blog soon!

Over the weekend, I managed to attend my former Christian Fellowship advisor Ms Louise, who got married here at the Anglican Church along Jalan Bagan Jermal. Several of my CF friends, like Darren, Jing Hau, Michael, Eddy, Irene, Juliana, Mr Ben and several new friends, like Jane and Joycelin came up for the wedding ceremony and lunch reception. Unfortunately, I had to skip reception as I had church commitment to attend to in the afternoon.

Later at night, we met up to have dinner in Pulau Tikus and later at Crepe Cottage in Gurney Drive, where they serve some pretty decent desserts. Later, Melissa D joined in, and I introduced her to the gang.

I managed to spend time catching up with them, finding out how's life been treating them, work, CF updates and how the others were doing.

I'm blessed to know this group of people, and pray we'll have more chances to meet up in the near future.

Love & Peace!~ BC?

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

How often?

Sometimes, i wonder how often i should update my blog?

Some friends i know update it almost everyday, filling it with every bit of (at times, unnecessary) information of what they do in their life.

Others, updates their blog once a week or a month, but write substantial, mind-provoking and brain-cranking stuff.

If i were to go by the first group, i would post something like;

"Today, i managed to contact the person i need for my work before having lunch with Melissa D at New World Park! Had some dodol later in office while Facebook-ing. *Bliss*"

But by going on the second way, i can post something like this;

"Being a minority isn't always easy, and this was proven when i buka puasa with my fellow friends last night at Seoul Garden in Gurney Plaza.

Being the only one who can consume non-halal food (get the drift), i was surrounded with counterparts from various organisations and dined with them. I even 'break fast' with them as the clock striked 7.28pm, and tried to get to know a couple of them better while feasting.

I would have been the second Chinese person among them had Melissa D joined me, but she had agreed to a meeting prior to the invitation to buka puasa.

Between cooking, eating and interacting with them in their native tongue, i realise they are a nice bunch of people to hang out with. Sometimes i wish i had more non-Chinese friends.

Don't use the 'racist card' on me, but i rather have friends from various background, races, religious and belief than to be stuck with the same group of people. Nothing wrong with being with people of the same creed, but there is no other way to understand another culture better and to broaden your horizon than to miggle with many different people.

As we left, i wished my friends Selamat Hari Raya and a safe trip back, while one of my friend's kid salam-ed with me, and kissed my palm, a sign of high respect for those who are older. I felt honoured, and proud that my friend has brought up great respectful children.

As a nation striving to unite under the 1Malaysia concept, it's good to understand, tolerant and respect one another as we coexist in this wonderful country."


Well, i try to maintain it as much as i can, but i need to change the layout of this blog. Should try and get it done by this month!




Love & Peace!~  
BC?

Thursday, September 02, 2010

MyVi: My New Ride.

After running around from point A to B with a car, a few years younger than me for the past four years, I finally got a new set of wheels!

After driving a 19-year old Proton Saga, i'm now a proud owner of a (somewhat) new Perodua Myvi, SE!


My new car, Werb Boom Boom!

Yup, now both Melissa D and i have the same car, but mine's newer and is the Special Edition, which has the leather seats and sporty body kit.

My trip down KL a few weeks back wasn't solely to meet people, but to retrieve this baby back here for work.

My previous car was giving me a lot of problem, and i had to settle this problem soon, as not to affect my work, mobility and our upcoming wedding.

Hence, purchasing this car from my step-mom was the best decision to do lah.

And now, i have my own car... which i bought with my own hard earned money! And i can't simple drive this car recklessly, or like there's no tomorrow anymore. *sigh* But it's all good. Gotta take care of it, for the next ten years or so.

Check it out!

Compared to my previous car, this 2-year old car is way better.

Clocking only 30,000km when i was driving it up back to Penang, i finally get to experience what it is like to drive at an average speed of 110km/h, which my old car would have violently shaken (and possibly explode) before hitting 100km/h!

If i could drive my old car off a cliff (with me jumping out of it before it goes off the cliff, of course!) and watch it crash and burn, that would be spectacular. But it is a waste of money, pollution to the earth and it could still be used by brother. So, it lives another day.

My complaint is that the boot space is small, and i need to be extra careful with the car leathery interior and all. But i enjoy driving my car around!

There are still many features and i have yet to push, or in this case, drive, the car to its limits. I'm looking forward to many, many driving days with it!

*vroom vroom*

An accessory in conjunction with our 53rd National Day. Merdeka!



Love & Peace!~  
BC?

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Nightmare before Merdeka.

I was shocked to read this, and seen this posted many times by friends on facebook about an alleged racist incident on the eve of Merdeka recently. Check it out:


The typical Merdeka Eve night started with an urge to watch the fireworks celebration in KLCC ended up in a racist attack by a group of teenagers. So, me and a friend of mine thought of a good solution to avoid the traffic jam in that area by walking from the office in Jalan Imbi through Pavillion, to Jalan Kia Peng through Convention Center to KLCC.
Sounds like an ideal plan as the path is a frequent walkway and is even advertised in Pavillion as 'Bridge to KLCC'. (Just to note that we didnt go into any dark alley)

At 10.15pm, we started walking towards Pavillion, stopped to get a drink at Starbucks and proceeded ahead. As we walk, we came across people from various races and foreign tourists along the way.

On Jalan Kia Peng, we walked past Novotel Hotel, Hakka Restaurant, Menara HLA and was reaching the junction of Jalan Pinang when a group of about 10 teenage Malay youngsters walking from the opposite direction. They looked like typical youths, giggling and talking to each other.

As we walked past them, suddenly one of them turned around and started to make a flying kick to my friend. Noticing the 'fun' he is having, his other friends started to do the same to me. It was so sudden and all I was thinking at the moment was, "What the hell did we do to them?"

Both of us ended up kneeling on the ground for a moment before more kicks and punches came flying in. Even though both of us had our tripod strapped across our shoulder, we were too shocked to react to it. Eventually one punch landed right on my right forehead and I started to bleed profusely. Seeing that they eventually stopped and walked away.WALKED AWAY, damn it. They were not even afraid to run but justWALKED AWAY like winning a game or something.The last thing I remember hearing from one of them was "Baliklah ke negara asal"
Imagine hearing this statement on Merdeka Eve.

I knew I was bleeding but I didnt know how bad. I could feel the right side of my head swollen and wet but I did not try to look at myself through a mirror. My friend also suffered bruises on the body and face.  By that time there were more people walking around us but they did not stop to see what was wrong. I don't blame them, it was a poorly lit area just in front of Menara Pinang. We recovered and continued walking towards the Convention Center. The guards were symphatetic to let us in to use the washroom to clean up. It was then I saw my bloody face.

I did not take a picture of myself then as it is not my intention to send a horror message. This is not a message of sympathy. It's a account of a random person walking on a street.

Eventually after cleaning up, we walked back to the Police Booth in Pavillion to relate the incident. The response from the officer: "This cannot happen, we have all our men on the streets" (Well, not on the street we got beaten up ...)

Apparently informing the police booth stationed in a public area is NOT MAKING A POLICE REPORT. WTF? Apparently we have to go to a Hospital, get some treatment and make a complain/report at the police counter there. I would be dead by then, ain't I?

Is this how the police maintained that they have improved  street crimes? By not noting down petty crimes like gang bang which did not result into hospitalization? Would we be taken seriously if only we landed in the hospital?

What we did was, we went back to the office, rested til this morning, went to a nearby clinic to get some bandages and medic.What else to do? I can't identify my assailants, and my wounds are not death-threatening.

If I had not wanted to celebrate Independence Day, would I walk or drive to the venue?
If I was not thirsty would I stop for 5 mins to get my drink and missed them completely?
If I had held my tripod as a defensive weapon earlier, would I save myself or get more beating instead?
If I'm not Chinese, would I get the same 'treatment'?



It's scary if this had happened to you. But shouldn't we, as Malaysians, respect and support one another? Isn't our blood the same red blood when anyone of us bleed? Where's the 1Malaysia concept which has been talked about?

Where are we heading? Happy Merdeka Day anyway.

What we can do, is pray for unity, peace and mutual understanding among all Malaysians.



Love & Peace!~
BC?