Tiny White Flower

Just after a month after I purchased the bulbs from Kyaiktiyo - Myanmar, the little bulbs now grow into a tiny plant and have presented me with flowers. How cute is that?

Conned

Being conned is sucks, it leaves you with torn wallet and a big black hole on your ego.
How could I be so stupid?

The first time I go abroad to study, I was living at a dorm with multinational kids. They were friendly.
One day, a HK friend asked if I can help him, he got himself screwed by spending his money and his dad wanted him to send the bank statement back; meaning he need to get his bank account balance right. So he was short of money and asked me if I can help him. Being a nice friend, I did. and not long after that, he fled. never to be seen again. I was shocked. I was being nice and I simply get conned.
My parents didn't scold me, they just said "the money lost is for your lesson, hope you learned"

Recently, I decided to get a new car, I called up the sales girl and got a quote. I trusted her, I just bought a car from her 2 months ago, she sure knows what I have the capability to purchase more from her, hence she would give me the best deal.
I really trusted her until we had some discussion about some little details, like... what colour of accessories would I like? So trivial that I even asked my drivers to handle it. But then, I found out that she quoted me a f*cking crazy price!!!
Though abit too late, double checked the price and yes, she bluffed me, so I would buy the accessories from 3rd party now, not from her.
I asked her nicely for better price for the actual car, and she turned her back and asked me to talk to her boss. What choice do I have? I called up her boss, and the boss, of course not in good mood (assumed from his voice), but at least he gave me a better deal.
So all is good, right? NO, the sales girl got upset and defended herself saying "that's not fair, I need to talk to my boss"
WTF, making me pay extra USD2000 is definitely not fair!!! Really wanna snap on her. But ehm.... I was as calm as clam. Hahahhaa
I pretended that I dunno what she talked about, why do I have to pay extra for nothing?!
Though at the end I do get a good deal, it actually hurts that someone actually try to cheat you while you trust them

We (or maybe just me) tend to lean to others (ie: experts) for things that I am not familiar with; say like renovating a house, fixing a car, or even having a medical opinion.
My gosh, those so called experts sometimes are really experts... in blood sucking.
Little that we know that we might be bluffed. We are so reliant on them that we hardly get 2nd opinion.
and when we finally did, we realised someone been strangling our neck  and draining our wallet for so long without us to realise

The irony is that, I think I am smart enough to feel, sense, and know that I am being cheated; but the problem is that I was actually being cheated before coming to the realisation.
Not particularly amazing thing, but I consider myself lucky and smart (enough) to at least  know what I got myself into. I do know people that are conned but still thinking they are getting the best deal in the universe.

In this case, I dunno who is luckier, me or them:
I have to get through great deal of remorse to swallow the bitter fact that I've been conned and learn the damned lesson; While those suckers who never realised being conned are actually still brimming with smiles with an invisible victory wreaths on their head.

Special thanks to my guardian angel for the protections and wisdoms.
You have opened my eyes, though it's not a pretty scene that I see now, but I know the big picture will be wonderful. Thank you.

The Three Tigresses

They are famous for their skimpy dress, thick make-up, everchanging-coloured hair and obscene moves rather than their voices. I never really heard their songs before; I am not a music lover and their genre is dangdut, so it's kinda permissible that I dunno them. But I can assure you they are famous in Indonesia

So, the first time I watch and hear their voice was on a live performance.

I was invited to an event where they were the performers.

Amazingly, their voice is incredible nice, they are really good singers. and despite their crazy raunchy dances, their voices even fit for mellow songs (They sang Butiran Debu).

They sang like 10++ songs non-stop, dances non-stop; and I couldn't hear they panted at all.

But what I adore from these 3 ladies was that... they are truly professional

On one song, one of the ladies did a wrong move, so kinda put a strain on her foot... (no surprise here, they were all wearing skyscraper heels)

She quickly got up, kept on singing, walked to the audience, she's really in control of the situation.

Her friends got her cover up with more crazy dances, so people won't focus on the sprained lady.

And more thing... a very important one: their Attitude.

On one scene, they all moved up to VIP guests, asking them to sing along with - a normal interaction in such events. Many many (usually male audiences) were dying to sing with them.

Then, one singer asked a  VIP guest... "OK, miss, what song would you like to sing next?"

the VIP guest said "I dunno".

Singer: "Come on, there must be a song that you know. let's sing together"

VIP guest: Hey, you are the one getting paid to sing. not me!!! ---She answered rudely while microphone was still sticking on her mouth

The singer still cheerfully replies "Oooppsss.... oh no, how could I forgot, let's sing (saying to her friend)...get back to the stage"

I think the VIP guest was very rude... and she actually had the whole park to heard her.

But being a true professional, they took control of the situation and didn't even show any negative emotion at all.

I salute them. Behind their make up, hair-do, and skimpy dress, they are really confident and lovely ladies.

They really can sing, they really can dance, they are true performers and they are as calm as a Zen master!

Click here to see who they are :)

Where Ghost Stories Come From?

I haven't had my proper office at our new showroom yet, so I am still sharing a room with some of my staffs.
I easily overheard what they chit-chat during work.
Girl 1: Did you guys know that, "ABC" (our male staff) was locked in the toilet, twice? 
Boy 1: Really? How?
Girl 1: He just couldn't open the door, it was just locked. There's no one outside, it's just locked.
(ABC is a clumsy boy, he usually become a target of other boys' pranks)
Me: Someone is playing prank on him...
Girl 1: No... Really, there's something/someone that locked him. When he managed to get out, but no one is outside there (talked in mystery tone)
Boy 1: Did you guys smell jasmine? The smell is getting stronger here... seems like something is not right!
Girl 2: OMG, I thought it's just me! So something is really locking ABC!!!
Me: Sigh... I have a box of jasmine here, I just brought it down, gonna deliver it to temple later. I need to finish some work first.
Girl 2: No...!!! Not that, you put in box, the smell couldn't come out (spoke in mysterious way)
Me: Gee!!! I opened up the box to prevent the flower to sweat inside the box.

Gosh... luckily I am not stupid enough to lose my senses. These kids are just creating stories, and yet still manage to wet their own pants.
Many of ghost stories coming for mere imagination added with fear spices. The more they spread, the more fear-spices added into the stories.
And it got far... faraway from the real thing.
Btw, I never heard ABC complained about getting lock. and he looks totally fine to me.
I just couldn't let them create silly stories for my new premises.

Talking about ghost stories, it's funny that those who spread them are loud people, and usually comes with a brain that doesn't process much.
Last time when I was in Europe with our tour group, the bored tour leader was trying to kill sometime before we were dropped at hotel (I think he tried to buy some time, the hotel rooms were not ready for us yet)
So, he took us to drive around to see some buildings and castles. And he said "On the LEFT side is hundreds years old castle, which is now used as a hotel... bla bla bla...; and we kept on driving, and on the way back, we saw the same castle again, and the tour leader jokingly said "Ahh... magically, the castle is now on your RIGHT side"
No one really laughed at his jokes...

But the next day, a lady (Lady 1) was loudly saying "How come Western people have ghosts too? Lucky we didn't stay at that hotel, though it looks luxurious" 
Lady 2: Ghosts? What ghosts?
Lady 1: You were sleeping yesterday in the bus, didn't you? Don't you know that there's a castle full of ghosts?"
Lady 2: Castle? Ghosts?
Lady 1: Yesterday we passed a castle which is now a hotel, the tour leader said, your bed can moved from left to right when you were sleeping. You'll wake up on the other side of the room. The ghost moved your bed. I don't think there are any guests in that spooky hotel!!!
Lady 2: The left and right thing... The tour leader just made a lame joke about the castle was on our left, and we made a U-turn, and it was on our right. Nothing spooky. When did you heard about the bed moving stuff?
Lady 1:  (laughing sheepishly) Well, .... I thought he talked about ghost

WTF!!! See what I mean? These are just little example of people who loves gossips could exaggerate stories into irresponsible ones. These people should be banned from talking.
Lucky I wasn't fool enough to believe and get scared.

Myanmar - Photos of People

Pilgrim lighting candles in front Hanging Rock, Kyaikhtiyo

Pilgrims from the whole country gather up at Kyaikhtiyo to chant, light candles and meditate throughout the night.
Armed their faith and devotion, camping on site in a freezing night is not an obstacle.

This little boy, out of devotion, along with others, arranging and lighting candles resembling Burmese characters in front of the rock.

How do I look this morning, Kyaikhtiyo

Pilgrims come with their extended family, camp for a night, and get ready for morning prayer in front of the rock.

Here, with the help of her mom, a little girl is getting ready for the day in a break of the dawn.

Samanera & Samaneri to be, Shwedagon Paya

The Samanera & Samaneri to be, with their proud parents - Shwedagon Paya, Yangon

Parents take a big pride to send their children into monastery. They are dressed lavishly and paraded together with their family members. Parents carry their basic necessity such as robe and alm bowl.

The Sweeping Troops, Shwedagon Paya

Cleaning the most visited Pagoda in town is a hard work, unless you do it in an organised, properly equipped troops.

The result is impressive, despite having hundreds thousand of visitors daily, the 2600 years old pagoda is clean and very well maintained.

Nuns taking excursion at Shwedagon Paya

Though not as many as those in saffron robes, nuns are essential elements in spreading the teaching too.

They have to take 10 percepts and plenty of moral conducts in their daily lives; and just like the monks, they too have to shave their heads and have celibate lives.

Birds for sale at Chauk Htet Kyi Temple, Yangon

A common practice among Buddhist practitioners: to release living creatures back to freedom. Many vendors are selling birds in front of temples; and though irrelevant, many visitor bought those birds too.

In this picture: The lady is selling pigeons to be released by visitor.

a little novice and his umbrella - Maha Aungmyae Bonzan, Ava

I really like this picture, the samanera happened to pose near a traditional umbrella, one that they usually carry around.

(to-be) Enlightened One, Amarapura

In the local monastery, the little samanera is sitting in a classroom along with his novices and lay friends.

On the day this picture was taken, they learned to chant parittas from a senior monk.

Little novices and their patta - Naga Hlaing Guu Monastery

These cute little novices stand in-line waiting for devotees to fill up their alm bowls.

On that day, the monastery received a food donation, so the monks, novices and nuns didn't have to go out for pindapatta.

The Morning Alms Round - Kyaikhtiyoe

The little novice at front was to ring the bell while shouting "The Morning Alms Round" (in Burmese, of course), while other monks walking behind him with their pattas. Devotees will placed the food donation into the patta.The food gathered will be shared once they are back in their monastery.

The little novice won't go hungry :) -- I was somehow concern about it, since he didn't carry his patta.

Anjali - Maha Aungmyae Bonzan, Ava

The picture is actually a stolen scene. The little novice was actually posing for a local photographer, I was lucky enough to take a few shots.

The smoke was actually an incense lit by other little novice for the purpose of the photo session.

The Food Offering 

Some holy sites are for men only. No clue why there is discrimination in holy places, in this temple, the forbidden area is the altar site. The lady, a devotee asked a monk to placed her offering on the altar. The monk did just that. They both are strangers to each others.

If I were to tell you that I was so touched by the action, would you believe it? I almost cry to see her devotion and his humbleness.

Baby and her thanaka make-up

The baby's face was heavily decorated with thanaka - a paste mixture of ground tree barks and water; which is commonly used by kids and ladies in Myanmar.
Apart from its skin-care properties, it is also serves as sun-block. The paste is applied on face and left to dry, sometimes, before it dry up, they draw up patterns on the face, just like what we see here.

The Packed Taxi, Bago

At this moment, the public transport in the country seems far from comfy, but the locals seems OK with that.
Just like this little truck, no matter how packed it is, the driver insists there still spaces for another passengers.

in the classroom - Amarapura

Little novices take lessons from a senior monk in an Amarapura monastery. The "school" is open for lays and novices. Lessons are around Buddhism.

Kids will be kids, though wearing a robe, little novices can be playful and sometimes having a cute mischief.

My Strong White Teeth - Amarapura

Retreated at the back of his classroom, the shy little novice bared his strong white teeth.

Myanmar - photos of places

End of 2012, I went to Myanmar - a land that is so beautiful in its pristine heaven, and the people are so nice.
Here are a few places that I visited during the trip

Chaukhtatgyi / ChaukHtetKyi Paya
Housing a giant reclining Buddha statue, encrusted with thousands of precious stones. Though the face is mesmerising, move towards its left, a stage is prepared for visitor for a better photos' taking.

ChaukHtetKyi Giant Reclining Buddha, Yangon

Shwedagon Paya

This pagoda is probably the first thing you have in mind when you visit Myanmar. The pagoda is believed to enshrine strands of Buddha's hair. It is covered in real gold, making it casts different dazzling appearances any time of the day.

Shwedagon Paya, Yangon

The Hanging Golden Rock, Kyaiktiyoe

It took me almost an hour to climb up the super-steep winding track, but the reward is so amazing. The hardship makes me feel like a real devotee. Hahaha. The rock too is believed to enshrine strands of Buddha's hair, which is believed the reason why the rock hangs magically on its seemingly unstable base.

I was there during pilgrimage season, the devotions of thousands devotees adds more charm to this unique holy site.

Kyaiktiyoe, the Hanging Golden Rock - in the morning

Kyaiktiyoe, the Hanging Golden Rock - glimmering in darkness of the night

Shwethalyaung Paya

The legend said that the giant reclining Buddha was built out of a king's repentance for his evil wrongdoing. Walk to the back of the Buddha and you can see whole legend is pictured in narrated reliefs, English subtitle available.

Shwethalyaung Paya, Bago

Hanthawadi Palace, Bago
You can see a glimpse of Shwethalyaung Pagoda (I think) from the palace. Inside the palace they have replicas of royal stuffs, like pots, bowls etc. But what interest me most is a pair of flip-flop with a sole of solid gold (Thx God, it is a replica, brick of gold is too tempting!), somehow the shape and the thick sole resembles the modern Fit-Flop. I have no clue how the king can walk in it, must be super heavy.

Hanthawadi Palace, Bago

Shwenandaw Monastery

Also called "The Golden Palace Monastery", the building is actually a few of surviving original wood palace (made of teak). Whole part of building is a wood carving masterpiece. Still very much in use until today.

Shwenandaw Monastery, Mandalay

Kuthodaw Paya

Tripitaka was once written on palm leaves, but it didn't last very long. To ensure it will last forever, King Mindon Min ordered the Tripitaka to be carved on slab of marbles and filled the inscriptions with gold. The gold are no longer there, it was looted by British. Sad. Total of 729 slabs there, each housed in white stupas.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay

Maha Aungmyae Bonzan

Used to be a royal monastery 2 centuries ago, the temple seems to be well preserved. There are plenty of tunnels below the temple, a fun place for taking photos.

Maha Aungmyae Bonzan, Ava

Yedanasini Paya
The ruins of the brick stupas seems gloomy. Walk around, explore, and you'll find a lonely Buddha statue fanned by palm trees, just like in the picture.

Yedanasini Paya, Ava

U Bien Bridge

I really wanted to take the signature photo of "Monks walking on U Bein Bridge", but I didn't get any, there were too many tourists on that day :( 

But at least I got this stunning sunset photo, taken from the bridge. Breathtaking, isn't it?

Sunset, taken from U Bien Bridge, Amarapura

Shwezigon Paya

It looks like Shwedagon to me, it seems like Myanmar always have enough gold to cover her pagodas. It is believed to enshrine Buddha's tooth relic.

me in front of Shwezigon Pagoda, Bagan

a flock of birds flying over Shwezigon Pagoda, Bagan