Quite a Trip!

It was months ago when I first saw Jetstar's commercial about: (1) having Penang-Singapore direct flight; (2) a promotion on airfare. The timing is perfect because the period coincide with Joie's birthday. So I asked him, "Would you like to go somewhere for birthday?" Well, not the first class type of seat but the price is really breath-taking. So he thought for a while and answered, "of course!"

And that just makes us on the mood of counting down the holiday since then.

Both of us are not shopaholic so we do not bother about Mega Sale. Instead we spent much of our time having the pleasure in the museum. Sound boring? Not at all! Because we love taking photographs so our plan was just right for us.

Basically we touched down around 10.30am and it took us less than 30min to reach John's place, right before he's getting off for work. He had a Bali turn that day so we'd see him in the evening. We took a cab to the nearest MRT station, fed our stomach with Mee Siam and Nasi Bali (as John took us to during the previous trip).



We continued our journey (or shall I say "started our journey" instead) by visiting SAM or Singapore Art Museum as well as National Museum of Singapore. Apparently the time wasn't enough but we got to rush home by 7pm as John's coming back so we left and squeezed into the very packed MRT which we realized the train actually arrive every 1min and still full (can imagine how many people actually residing in Singapore).

Had a very delicious dinner at DianXiaoEr. Oh we were too hungry so the food just got down our tummy before we manage to think about taking photographs of them.

There isn't much to say about the following day except we went for a concert. That was explosive! The lighting, the sound and how I enjoyed being carried away by the songs. The night ended by having very very late dinner at McD - 1.30am, taking McSpicy (much better than Spicy Chicken McDeluxe here in Malaysia).

The final day was rather comfortable as we followed John to airport as he's being activated to make another turn and we spent our time in Changi Airport Terminal 3 until boarded. The lunch was very very very great as we're recommended to try some Singapore local food. Thanks Nicholas and Daxter for coming to send us off!!!!

From left: Daxter, Nicholas, Doris, Joie

I Believe in The Wisdom of Experience

I've heard someone shared this saying: Experience is a series of right-and-wrong-doings (but mostly wrongs), that's why one becomes experienced because one has gone through many different events (challenges most of the time).

Approximately one week ago (that's my previous post, I know), I was unsure of whether to set my foot both here and roodo (for my blog writing), or to solely stay under one roof. But today I can be sure that I want to allow myself to dive into a bigger pool to learn from what I will face and see. And so I have made up my mind: Let my Chinese Blog continue it's journey at roodo.

It isn't so different actually, although everything seem not the same. They are different because they're built by different people but they are the same because they are still blog.

So if all blogs are the same why did I leave udn in the first place. I've got to be honest I can't give any explanation for this one. It is the feeling. I've tried (but maybe I didn't try hard enough) to change my blog at udn but I couldn't. The main reason is I couldn't find the place to edit the codes and I have to stick to the preset layout/design that udn has prepared (I accessed my udn blog while writing this trying to find the place when I can change the codes). So I looked elsewhere for a replacement and I found roodo.

I encountered the similar problem in the first place but I slowly figure it out that all I need is a little more effort to learn and understand what I don't know. That's why I have decided to follow that journey which seem not so easy as the one I have figured out in blogger.

I will continue my quest, and also go back to udn to find way to solve the problem I had there. It is not surprise I will be writing 3 blogs someday when I got everything sort out because I know different blogs that I have serve different purposes.

All I need is to really understand is why I am here now.

Deciding the Final Place to Reside

I was discussing with Joie this morning on our way to breakfast whether shall I finalize my Chinese blog's address: at roodo or blogger.

Honestly I have tried out the setting and things over there at Roodo and have found blogger better. But I thought Roodo is a blog made special for Chinese writers so I should settle down there instead of handling two blogs here in blogger. However I somehow realize I have difficulty setting my foot there because the whole layout and interface are not as convenient as blogger. So am still thinking: shall I stick to the choice that I made or to change when it is still early?

What do you think? (My chinese blog address is: http://blog.roodo.com/doris_surf).

Some Adjustment Made

After June I am no longer with Lifeworks in terms of Admin job. Without having to sign in at Lifeworks from 11am to 8pm, I am readjusting myself.

First of all, I need to prepare myself. Although I am very much available for healing that I do ok (don't say best coz I am still improving every way I can) but the most prioritized preparation I need to do is the class I am going to start in August.

That's why I am taking my blogging time here at blogger to build another blog in roodo (in here). So what's the difference since both are still blog? For the moment of time the only difference you can see is LANGUAGE. That's right, I am using English here but I am writing Chinese in another.

And so why do I have to make 2-language blogs instead of focusing on one? Well, the whole story begins with my mother tongue I would say. I am writing an English blog because I want to polish my command of English whereas Chinese is my main language. I am sticking to my first language because I realized I need to maintain what I am more proficient so that I can improve and learn at the same time.

However the progress in building my Chinese blog isn't very smooth as I intend to create my own blog design and with the no knowledge about computer language I ought to try out every possibility I can.

Anyway, I know I can make it (just like I did this blog except this one is much easier with the help of blogger's structure in its layout and things like that) but I just need to find out bit by bit.

Why make my life so difficult when I can seek help from experts to get my thing done in just a few clicks? I think it is the beauty of learning process - it takes time but I get to taste the fruit after working.

For the time being, pardon me for being slow in updating my blog as I need to split myself into "ENGLISH & CHINESE MODE".

Credibility

Joie's company provides IT solutions. Among the clients from different fields there is one particular type that is very "interesting".

Yep, interesting with inverted commas.

To make things simple, let me put it this way: there are direct customers - ones who contact us directly via leads/recommendations; and indirect customers - ones who represented by somebody (who usually known as "contractor") to become the bridge between two ends.

The "interesting" that I am referring to is the latter, which usually appear in one very common situation - TENDER PROJECTS.

They are our brothers of different race, having the privilege to be involved in business/opportunities without needing any cost, knowledge or skill. All they need is their participation in the tender, win the tender (don't know how), and then start looking for sources like Joie's company to do the work. So what's their role to be precise? They basically take a required specifications from the project, find a few dealers, get some quotations and they will do the easy markup themselves then submit the amount. That's all. They have no obligation as the obligations will fall on the people like Joie's company, who supplies them the goods and services.

Now thanks to the end customer (the government sectors/government involved sectors) who comfortably spending tax payers' money without any concern of practicality and value for money, projects like these always cost a lot of money and not knowing they end up with receiving products that are non compliance to the requested requirements.

For instance we recently received one inquiry from one of the tender projects for a local universities. Some guy has won the tender and found out the product of the price he quoted is lower grade than the required standard. So he went to see the cable guy who he appointed for a part of the project asking this cable guy to help him find the products. The cable guy came to Marvin and Joie found out there is no way we can supply a requested brand and of such standard with the price he quoted for the project because the price he quoted is only less than half of the correct product's cost.

We have only 2 choices: to supply the wrong product (but right price) or supply the quotation according to the right products. We have chosen the latter because we honour the credibility and reputation of our profession.


But how would the tender person able to fulfill the requirement when the products were already quoted wrongly?

July

After working as admin staff for 2 months at Lifeworks, I have finally set my foot right and decided to move on to another stage. Yes, I know the admin work is impermanent as I have been working in admin world for thousands of years and joining Lifeworks is definitely not another place for me to stuck in the same admin job.

So after getting used to the "Chi" at Lifeworks, I am making my another step - stop the admin job and start preparing myself for the thing I intend to do at Lifeworks.

No rush, because I need some time to compile the materials and make some preparation so the whole thing will only start in August. For the time being I'll sink myself down (just like always).

July is a great month, especially 2009's.

It is the platform which I step down from the previous train and getting ready for another ride. It is a solid ground that allows me to feel stable.

"One step at a time," I tell myself.

One step at a time it is...

(*extracted from Jordin Sparks' song ONE STEP AT A TIME)

We live and we learn to take
One step at a time
There is no need to rush
It is like learning to fly or falling in love
It's gonna happen and it's supposed to happen
That we find the reasons why, one step at a time

A Free Spirit - We are the World

I remember Joie woke me up on 25th morning saying, "girlfriend, Michael Jackson passed away." And the first thing that strike my mind when I heard that was, "life has no time." It is like we live everyday very much a blessing because we can never know whether the sun or death is meeting us next.

Today I see a news saying some 1,500 inmates in Cebu, Philippines are paying their respect to the late legend...

Some reporting say our legendary pop star is still alive and there are plenty of sayings that he's in different places. But I think what matters is not whether he's alive. Cherish and appreciate life as well as see and treat the world with our heart. We can make the world a better place by living in harmony, understanding and true respect.

May you rest in peace, Michael.

1958 - 2009

Types of Sensitives

Many days ago I heard of some interesting names and I could only remember one - Clairvoyance. Today out of sudden I just type "Types of Clair" and I got this result by the title of "types of Sensitives" instead. So I click into that page to check out and learn more.

TYPES OF SENSITIVES (click to enter)

1. Clairvoyance
2. Clairsentience
3. Clairaudience
4. Clairalience
5. Clairgustance
6. Claircognizance

The world is full of interesting things and one thing we can do is to not limit our heart from accepting things as well as always clear our mind for more rooms for others than our own beliefs only.

Pleasant Surprise

As Almine's workshop finished on Friday, I got back to Lifeworks the same evening to do the work for Joan's Belly Dance Workshop and Saturday for Joie's Samadhi Dance Workshop. The weekend went off pretty fast when it's filled with duties but little did I know I had a surprise waited for me to conclude it.

We attended Jay's wedding luncheon at ParkRoyal and Joie took off for his photography session after he dropped me back to Lifeworks. GinLing and Moon came by too after Jay's luncheon and so the Sunday was pretty comfortable.

Joie came back to pick me up at about 7.45pm. I told him that mom called as the dinner is served at home but he told me we can't do that and ask me to inform mom that we'll eat the dishes the next day. As I entered the car he opened up the secret which he'd hold for a week - he'd booked a hotel room for us.

I was pretty surprise and asked, "that is very very sweet of you but why?" He replied because he saw me kind of in a not-very-good mood when I was clearing and sorting thoughts during the break so he decided to do something to cheer me up.

Well it was very funny because things got a little messy - he thought I would to have the break till Sunday so he thought he could bring me straight to the hotel after Jay's wedding reception but my break lasted only until Friday so I have to work on Sunday until 8pm.

The thing turned out a little topsy-turvey to him but he finally still manage to pull it through and he suggested that we go Batu Ferringgi and act like tourist.

That's how I wrapped out my a very ordinary weekend very extraordinarily...

Thanks honey for showing care and love, most of all the attention you pay in feeling me (that's what a cancerian is good at).

Love you da a lot a lot~~~ muah~

Beautiful Angels

Approximately 3 years ago I had my first experience of lifetime - to work with a group of special kids - autistic children, to perform for the founder on her birthday dinner. That special day where all these very beautiful flowers bloomed was my birthday too.

3 years later I get to have another opportunity to work for another very meaningful performance. Performed by a group of special needs children including those with down syndrome, autism, domestic violence and also some main stream young artist from Anak-Anak Kota, this performance was organized by BOLD, choreographed by Aida Redza, and music composed by Junita Batubara.

I saw a group of happy and cheerful little angels presented their best to their parents and caregivers after working closely with BOLD, Aida and Junita for 12 weeks. I did not spend much time with them because I was involved in Production & Backstage works but they offered me their warm hug when I first entered the room (Choon Ken and Lee Sen, both down syndrome), gave me the most beautiful smile in the world and whispered in my ear reminding me to kiss my boyfriend on my wedding (Eunice, also down syndrome), greeted me with friendly talk telling me they remember me from the performance HOPE (Raj, Arvien and Kesa, all from the Home of Shan).

They (the down syndrome children) might not know much about life and they may not be able to live long enough to see what this world is all about but deep in their eyes I saw the glow of life that they have the purest heart and most innocent soul that can hardly be contiminated by this world of chaos.

I have my tears of joy shedded when they finally finished the performance and received a very big round of applaused from people who love them. I've learned one very precious thing: that life isn't beautiful because of how much you get but how much you are giving, especially the most truthful and priceless love.

This is the very beautiful song the kids sang together for people who love them and care for them...

HOPES & DREAMS

Wordless you are always available for me
I need you care and love, if I've a chance to choose;
I want to be like them, could do everything
My hope and my dreams
Give me your care and love
Do you see my hopes
Do you see my dreams

written and composed by Junita Batubara
Music Composer from Medan (North Sumatera) Indonesia

Written and given as a souvenir to me by Junita


Our helpers' ID, a sticker. I keep as memory