Hippo & Dragon

Made this 2 plush when Nara was away. A hippo & a dragon.
The dragon was made with all scrap material. All batik. Even the spike on her tail are made from batik :)

Hippo was made with all new material, I love how the damask pattern sit perfectly. Who would have known such pattern fits for a hippo!!!

Catch of the Day

Personally, I don't like killing a creature, any creature

During the last dive trip, I saw some senior divers carry spears for their dives, they hunt for fishes

At first, I kinda feel awkward about, I don't think killing is right, yet they need to feed us all

To my surprise, they don't always come back with a catch. Once they just got a medium sized lobster, which hardly feed us all, another time empty handed, and another time got 2 fishes as in the pic. 

We talked about the fish hunting, the instructor mentioned that, some people opposed hunting/spearing fishes for food --> sounds  exactly like me

Yet, people easily buy kilograms of shrimp from fishermen without any guilt. He said, shrimps/prawns are not hunted, they are caught by net. Netting means it will trap and suffocate whatever comes to it. Anything that goes to the net will die, even if it is a turtle. Too many lives sacrificed just for one kind of creature that we desired. Things like tiny crabs, or tiny fishes that do not have economical value will be tossed back to the ocean. Dead. Useless.

He also mentioned about certain kind of fish that he would not eat, because those fishes are not speared, netted or caught by bait - it is by poisoning the fishes. For example, fishes that only eat corals, netting would be hard to be used on corals, yet fishing baits won't attract them; so, they just pour poison from surface and the poor poisoned fishes would float for easy harvest. I then realised, it is true that the certain kind of fish, he mention, really exists in the fish market. Who would have known it is by caught by poisoning (again, a lot other creatures would also died)

While, he said, spearing fish means they aimed for a certain kind of fish - of course, the one that palatable. One at a time, no mass killing or overfishing. And it also means not (directly) harming any other creature that is not the target. They only get 1 or 2 fishes that is enough for the day. Just like the picture.

And, in our dives, we saw a lot of grouper (see pic), all with different patterns and colours. He also mention not all grouper are palatable, some are so rubbery if cooked making it undesirable or impossible to consume. The red grouper in the pic is apparently very nice according to Mom. Aha! I never knew that. I know sometimes, some fishes are less nice. That's all.

It gives me a new perspective, I understand we do need to kill for food, it is very natural. 

But, we need to kill responsibly, not just killing whatever and leave them dead without serving any purpose. 

Me Dive!!!

I just couldn't help it. Need to show off my new experience. Hopefully, I can master it bits by bits :)
Always been fascinated by underwater world shown at NatGeo. Always wanted to see it myself. Now I did!!! Wohooo!!!
Swimming with turtles...
Touching puffer fish...
Saw a lot of tropical fishes that you can only see on TV

And all these beauties are just 30 mins from home. Can you believe it? I should have known sooner!!!

Here I share some of the pics :)

me, underwater :)

couldn't believe this heaven is just a step away from home

Standing on the other side - The Humanity Side

Adm. Tadashi Maeda 
This article was featured in printed version of KOMPAS, on 30th Sep 2014. 
The first time I read this article, I didn't think of much, except the part that Adm. Tadashi Maeda lived poorly that he packed the flight-meal. Is he that poor? I didn't read it carefully, when I want to re-read it, I realised the whole bunch of Dad's Kompas is already gone, maybe sold to flea market.

But then, I kept thinking more and more about it. This guy suddenly stuck in my mind. Had a hard time searching about him on the net. Check out this wiki link. Nothing. I also couldn't find the article anymore on the kompas.com . Until my brilliant friend, AD told me I should have called Kompas. Damn, they are good, all I need is mentioning the keyword, and voilà.... the article is sent to my inbox. How cool is that?

The reason why I was looking for this particular article, cause, I got me thinking, as why did Adm.TM choose to assist Indonesia, rather than sticking to the order of Japan Emperor. In other word, why did he choose to defend an-alien-race, rather than his own race?
His decision tickles me.
He didn't deny his identity as a Japanese, he actually went back, stayed, grew old and died in Japan.
He acted based on his own risky decision, as a military personnel - following superior order is a must, he didn't. Not following an order is a thing, but "betraying" one's own identity to protect/assist/defend an alien race is bigger thing. One need to have a strong principle to commit such decision.

Why Adm.TM is special, because apart from his personal preferences, he has no other attachment in this country. He didn't have an Indonesia wife, or anything. (Some other deserted Japanese soldiers choose to stay because of personal attachment). Adm.TM could just leave the country and forget whatever happened previously, it is never his personal responsibility anyway.

I am not sure if he ever regret it, I am pretty sure most Japanese do not agree his action. Worse part is that Indonesian don't even appreciate his "life-changing" contribution. What do we remember him for? Lending his house for Mr.Sukarno to type the Independence  speech? Is that all?
When I was looking up for his article, I couldn't find anything... nothing... all article on the net only mention about the Indonesian Independence Day, and Adm. TM is just a mere name mentioned once with no other significance.

Abraham Lincoln
Assassinated for erasing slavery, sounds like an honourable way to die. But it was not, for a lot of people who own slaves at that time. As a white man, as someone who grew up in poverty, if AL then grew up to be someone who utilise his wealth to become a snob and abusive person - it would be 'acceptable'; you know, taking a revenge of what he lacked before. But he didn't.
He died fighting for the freedom of the blacks - a race they once see as lower class. The price that he need to pay was dear. Living in fear, after several assassination attempts, he died -  for believing that human being, despite of their race, should be treated equally.
Some South people still have traces of hatred towards the black freedom, the discrimination is not 100% gone. Although AL died from what he always believe in, his sacrifice have changed a lot of lives, not just for the black, but for other coloured races.


Fatal Encounter
Watched this movie, thought it was a nice one, until I googled up. Damn!!! It is based on true story, true story of Prince Jeongjo. Go read up the synopsis, watch this video.
 I find it interesting, the royal eunuch - who really is an assassin: trained, castrated, and planted in the palace to serve the Prince, to one day kill the Prince; at one point, changed his mind, "betraying" his "Master". And at the end, the-once-was-assassin, after witnessing his prey's good nature, became the one who convinced the Prince that he, one day, be a good King. Historically, King Jeongjo was recognised in good manner.
The part about the King, the assassinations (apparently there were plenty), the palace intrigues, even the ironic death of King's father... all were written in the history. Not sure about "the royal-eunuch-turned-hero" part. But it is surely a touching plot.
Note: The video's subtitle might not be totally accurate, but you will get the idea :)

It is very natural that in society, we act differently to different races, not always because of discrimination. Sometimes just out of habit, we tend to gather with our own kind, being ignorant of others' well-being.  Maybe about another human being, another race, another social status or even another living creatures.
I still wonder about Adm Tadashi Maeda & Abraham Lincoln, how I adore their courage to stand for what they believe in. No matter what the consequences are.

But above all, I wanna point out is, that defending an unpopular principle - no matter how correct and noble it is, might not bring fame and fortune, it might even bring misery and death.
It is a personal choice, a choice to go against the current, against the flow, against the world - it is a choice to stand on the other side: The Humanity Side

Fixing Crooked Feet

Some of my chicks born with crooked-feet. As you can see on the picture above, if left untreated, the chick will grow up with a crooked feet, although it doesn't seem to effect them much - they still walk, feed pretty well; I still want to fix it. Well, not for the grown-ups, but for the newly hatched chicks

So. here is what I do:
1. Clean the chick's feet, dry it up.
2. Prepare the bandage. I am using 3M micropore bandage tape, cut 2 pieces of square, large enough for the whole feet.
3. Put a piece of the square under chick's feet, sticky side up. Try to make the toe straight.
4. Put the other piece of tape on top of the chick's feet (sandwich-ing the feet)
5. Adjust the toes position, make it straight before fixing the 2 pieces of tape together. Stick it tight, so the toes are not moveable inside the tape
6. Trim excess tape
7. Leave it for a week

At first, the chick gonna wobble a little. It will look like a little chick with a duck's feet. Hehhehe...
And the chick will peck on the new feet. But soon will be forgotten.
After a week (or more, for "older" chick), take it off, and the feet will be as good as new.

I supposed to take the before & after pic for this post. But I couldn't recognise he/she anymore, now that they all have normal feet.
Mission accomplished :)

Kathina Piggybanks

Another proud moment :)

The idea sparked as a fusion of what I saw previously in Taiwan & my friend's proud testimony of her daughters.

TC kids lining up to donate their piggybanks for greater good.
Can you see the National Flag piggybanks on their hands?

Last time, when we visited TzuChi at Hua Lian, we were lucky enough to witness lines of TzuChi students came to donate their piggybanks. They were super cute. I was told, the kids feel very proud that they donate from their own pocket money, in their own piggybank. There's a sense of belonging and sense of responsibility about what they can do to ease the pain of the world.  

The money from the piggybank will be collected by TzuChi volunteer, and all the kids will be given a receipt. It's professionally done. Although they are kids, we need to treat them as professional as we treat adults. Cool, huh?

The testimony from a friend, her daughters wanted to donate robe for monks in Kathina festival. Her kids were old enough to know the importance of the sacred event. They actually begin to collect their pocket money, a year ahead. After a year, they used up all the money in their "Kathina Piggybank" to get robes for monks. And what's better is, it was the kids' idea in the first place!

I was so touched by the testimony that I thought, we need to infect other kids too

So, here is the result. The beautiful drawing was done by Ying. Very cheerful and lively, isn't it?

Her sis, Hny, helped me for the printing and stuff. And PJ crews for helping the tedious labelling task. Thanks a lot :)

Actually, I'm not quite sure how well accepted this idea. But, I am glad that things were finally done. I hope the kids will understand the importance of our contribution for Kathina.

Cannot be more true

People buy things they don't need,

with money they don't have,

to impress people they don't like

-couldn't find the original author, but it is so very true-

Beauty Shopping

I had a day of misery when I was in Seoul. It was the whole-day-full of shopping day.
The first stop was a "small" duty free shop where they sell skincare products.
Being loyal to SKII, I haven't been shopping other beauty products for years,

I was really amazed about ODBO products, so magic, esp the peeling gel. It instantly peel off (or so you see) your skin, and leaving it fair and moist. Mesmerized, as if I saw a magician pulling out rabbit out of his hat, for the very first time. They have these few sales person explaining how magical ODBO is.
A fool I was, I succumb to the "seduction" of the sales person. Totally hypnotised. I end up buying the peeling gel. And nothing more....Hehehe

Other friends were buying A LOT, that they got suitcase(s) & freebies. I bet, it lasts for more than 5 years, if they ever use it daily.
Thx God, I still have my common sense.

Myeongdong Beauty Street

But... But... after a whole day stroll, I realised that bloody Korean are crazy about skincare and cosmetics that you can find the beauty stores in every corner of the street (or maybe just the streets they took tourists to), it's just like 7-eleven!!!
The place call Myengdong, it has a whole street of Korean skincare shops, some are repeating itself on that street.

I didn't plan to buy anything, so I didn't buy anything, apart from very little things that I need for gifts. So I was attaching myself to my shopaholic friends, whom happened to look like just released from North Korea and having unlimited shopping spree

And I saw more and more similar product. My bad habit, always wanna check out more and more....
Then I realised, almost all Korean skincare brands carry a peeling gel. Each claimed it is derived from different fruit, but I doubt it.

I spent the rest of the day "regretting" my purchase. It wasn't much in monetary term. I just feel very annoyed that I actually lured into buying it.

ODBO Peeling Gel vs. Skin Food Pineapple Peeling Gel

It also made me wonder, why, despite being tested on the same spot of my hand, the peeling gel still produce debris that resembles dead skin rolls
Even if I use the same product on the same spot again, again and again. It still give the rolls...
After extensive research on net --> yes, those are not rolls of dead skin. but it does exfoliate, explaining about the fairness.

So... peeling gel. I bought the most expensive one among all peeling gel that I saw from store to store. I paid mine the ODBO for ₩30+k (small fancy tube of 60ml), and the cheapest was Skinfood's Pineapple Peeling Gel at ₩8k, a bigger humble tube of 100ml.

My heart was breaking, after long flight-hours of tourist experience, how could I be fooled by a duty-free-salesman.



But yeah, Korean are really crazy about beauty. The girls are pretty with white porcelain smooth face, and the boys are no different. Making us, the SEA girls looks like... God's by-product. Sob... sob...

Oh, btw, I googled about how good ODBO is, and all I could find is that... it is made only for tourists. That explains about the persuasive multilingual sales person & high price. But it is seems to deliver what it claims.
So... OK lor. C'est la vie.

Calendar of 2015

Couldn't be prouder that my work were featured in PJBI's 2015 Calendar
The photos were taken on different occasions: in Myanmar, India & Taiwan
Haha! So proud about it :)

My mind, My desires are all in your command?

My life and my joy are all in your hand

You are my lord

I stumbled upon your feet

I won't let go

You are my light

I will serve you all my life

Use me, for I am your device

My mind, My desires are all in your command

You are the one to direct my destiny

My destiny to glorify you

These are a loose translation of a song that I happened (to be forced) to listen over and over again the last week. I have no grudge about how and why this song kept being played. 

What bothered me most are the lyrics.... Is this a song about the monster who loves its creator Dr. Frankenstein? Is this song about a slave loving its master? or a suicide bomber?

What is wrong with the whole lyrics?!!! Why are they happily surrendering their mind, desire and action to someone who have a magic remote-control upon them?

I know it sounds beautiful if your mind, desire and action are totally into good deeds, but isn't it super "lazy" to ask someone you worship so much to just puppet-ing your life?

Isn't that insulting the creator? He created you as an intelligent soul (or so it's written) for God's sake!

What if your life doesn't go as smooth as what you thought He planned?

Would you blame him? 

Don't get me wrong, I was tempted too. It sounds "good" to surrender yourself and get a insurance policy. Beautiful life plan was written beforehand, all you need to do is just ensure you are alive to enjoy the perfect plan.

My life was always above average, so it feels good to be one of the chosen ones. The creator loves me. But it was too good to be taken as it is, isn't it?

Just like a manager, sure he/she will direct you to achieve a certain goal. Commands, rules, SOP and target!

Whether the goal is achieved or not, depends on the work of each individual in the team. The manager expects everybody can do their roles independently and responsibly.

There is no way, the manager micro-managed every single soul in his/her team. If he/she need to do so, why would he/she hire you anyway? Would it be better if the manager do a one-man-show, rather than babysit others?

I haven't no problem at all with other belief, I just find this particular song offensive and degrading. It is actually counter attack themselves. By now, sure you realised it is a worship/gospel/religious song. 

Whatever what your belief is, your mind, desires and action are totally your responsibility. 

Integrity, Courage and Persistence

In the past years I have come across some people that I admire most for their integrity, courage and persistence. Something that I don't have much in me.

Facing a situation where they were being held up against difficult situations: giving up to what "society" dictates and expects you to do, or hold up your chin and walk against the wind.

These people I mention before, actually braved up themselves and stand up for their idealism despite being labelled as the snobs. Maybe I shouldn't use the word "brave". It is always been their characters to stand up to what they believe in.
Brave... is something that I lack off

In their conquests, sometimes... they lose "friends", sometimes... they draw friends and foes to be a constructive life companions. I am always amazed... it is a gamble.
I hate losing friends, even asshole ones. Not that I love assholes... but there are not many of genuine friends out there; by implementing their strict attitudes, I would be left with only a few souls beside me.

But then again, they have proven that life would be better off without dragging a huge cart of "useless" friends. Life would be much better with friends whom we can walk together hand in hand.

Easier said than done, for me. Not easy. I now look like I am throwing a circle of salt to ward off demons. A total paranoid.
But they have proven that this idealism can be done. They survived it. They lose "friends" along the way, but none of them regret of the loss.

It is a glorious win, it is never a loss.

Giraffe!!!

Look what I whipped up on weekend... a striking red orange-y giraffe

And what's more rewarding is that lil' Nara loves playing with it :)

Next, look I made from my fabric scraps... a bigger giraffeeee!!!!!
I think I did quite well... for giraffes. Need to move on.
Hope my mood stay longer this time so I can make more handicraft

A New Perspective

Got this from the net.
Seeing in a new perspective.

More Blacks: Ayam Cemani Teenagers & Babies

teenage ayam cemani

One month old chicks are ugly. They look slightly bald on their back, pointy spiky neck, long awkward legs. They just look odd... Hahaha
But they are so sweet, maybe cos' I handled them since chicks, they are just super friendly. They peck food from my hand. They let me stroke and carry them. Super sweet!

I have 3 teenagers at the moment. This is what a teenage ayam cemani looks like :)

ayam cemani babies :)

And I have more a-week-old chicks, 5 at the moment, hopefully more to come.
They was incubated by surrogate mother-one of the White ladies, again.
Very cute! They look like a charcoal-cotton-balls, if it ever exists.
Here are some of their pics.


The reason why there are only small batch of chicks, ie: 3, 4 or 5 chicks per batch, is because our Mrs.Black laid A LOT in a clutch, and I think it is just impossible for her to warm all her clutch. So I share her eggs to White ladies. Since Whites are ayam kate-smaller breed, I only give 4-6 eggs per brooding hen.

Saggy Belly?

Here is a recent pic of Mrs. Black. See her saggy belly and the down-molting? I was kinda worry about it.
Is it normal for an old hen to have saggy abdomen or losing a bit of her luscious down?
But she's not even old, she's only 2 years old (or a bit less)
My other 2 cemani hens are younger, so I don't have enough samples to compare their body shapes.

So, a few days ago, on one fine morning, I get her and feel her belly, it was not rock hard nor squishy soft. It was as firm as other part of her body, Good measure for normal muscle.
But then... at the afternoon, I found her laid an egg. I couldn't feel it in the morning! How could it be?

I end up googling the net for more references. It is scary, some said it's a sign of egg binding, sick hen, or water retention...

I had whole morning watching her today. She looked totally fine, doesn't seems to have walking/standing difficulties, still very active, feeding very well. But she did go up and down to nesting box.
So, I tried to get her again, and this time, I put my finger into her vent (that's what those people on net do for their sick hens!!!) And I could feel an egg. Yey!
I realised why I couldn't feel the egg before cos I was stroking her underbelly, but apparently the egg is a bit on top, near her vent.
And her vent looks very nice, no blockage. It is very clean looking.

After the "assessment" session, to apologize for all the discomfort that she might feel, I gave her more snacks, which she happily nibble. No hard feeling, k?
And not long after that, she went back to her nesting box, and laid another egg.

So, I guess it is just her body shape, eh? Just a post-natal figure in humans?
Am I worrying over nothing?
She is a heavy-layer, she usually produce 40+ eggs in a clutch. Her egg-laying pattern is a bit messed up, not everyday - she does it every alternate days, sometimes in the morning, sometime in the afternoon.
Maybe she's just having a hormone imbalance. As long as there's no harm to her.

Mr. Black Ayam Cemani - The Macho Man who attacked me

Oh, one more thing.
During the vent-assessment, she made panic sound, which is understandable. But, Mr.Black came and attacked me, a few times. Gosh, he is so furious. It kinda hurts when he attacked me. But it is a good thing to know that he is such an alpha-male that protect his ladies :) Nice huh?

You must love me!

Alone I am, though surrounded by those called themselves angels
Living in paradise, lullabied by heavenly music
How lonely and boring can this be
I look down to see those suffering creatures. Sigh...
If only they worship me more religiously
They often forgotten me, making me so upset. I need to remind them "Hey, I am here"
These creatures don't deserve to be happy. You are not created to be happy.
Your only purpose is to glorify me. You are my minions.

They ignored me... So, I remind them. Again and again.
I sent some disasters... flood, earthquake, war...
I took their loved ones
Then they prayed, but still, I need to warn them... I need their worships to be alive
I longed to be needed and adored

You must love me!
You must need me!
You are not supposed to breathe without praising my name!
You can't live without me!
I am your saviour!

Well maybe you can. But I will never ever let you to forget about me. Never!
I kept sending messages. I sent them diseases... a little suffering won't hurt, right?
After all, I am just testing their faithfulness to me.
Prove it! I really need your prayers, begging and sacrifices to keep me alive.
Don't let me die.

Please remember, I never give a test that surpass your ability
Well, if it does, well, you'll be graduated and be given a seat beside me.
On my right side.
Isn't that what you always wish for?

Sometimes I wonder, is this what you always called "Superhero Syndrome"?

or am I having "Angel of Mercy" syndrome? Haha, well... I am full of mercy, right?

You! You need to suffer more!!! I will make you suffer...
So your tears, bloods, prayers, sacrifices, screams...make my Holy Throne shiny and warm
I am the mighty one
Worship me or I shall punish you

3 Colours, 3 Smiles, 1 Dhamma

Visiting  Ven.Guo Yuan at DDM - JinShan, Taiwan in Feb 2014

One crazy idea

A gut to ask

Friends supports

Parents' blessing

And a bunch of love

All that happened was beyond my imagination. I still couldn't believe that I can whipped up the Taiwan trip with such low budget. Thanks to AK & BS for bearing the whole "hardship" during the trip. Haha! 

The poster for last weekend Dharma Talk. Cool, huh?

And I couldn't believe Ven. Guo Yuan's visit to PJ happened this soon. Couldn't believe the event attracted so many people. And I couldn't believe it was successful. Well, at least, in my eyes, it is. The talk was sharp, clear and inspiring - an eye opening talk.

I am so blessed to have this opportunity, I have to thank my senseless gut, my super supportive friends, and my beloved one... without your support and encouragement, none of these would have happened. 

3 traditions in spreading Dhamma :)

*tearing* 

*deep bow*

Thank you for the opportunity

May this be a start for a stronger tie and mutual benefit in spreading Dhamma

You have done a very great job :D :D ;D   Love You :)

Patched Patch Patched and Repatched

It finally ripped off :(

Ask any girl, you will know how hard it is to find that one special comfy jeans.
I had this one for more than 5 years and been wearing it almost everyday unless it is in the laundry.
When I first bought it, it has a little cool wear sign.
But then, it gets bigger and bigger... so I patched it with a white brocade piece.
After years of tear and wear... The patched patch finally gave up, leaving a big wide hole on my knee. It ended when I was having my last trip in Taiwan.
Too much kneeling, I think.




It stays that way until I found a perfect piece of Batik.
So, here it is
Don't you think it gives a little ethnic vibe? Pretty isn't it

How I did it, was ironing the batik patch to the jeans using a iron-on adhesive before sewing a zigzag circle on the hole. Hope these pics help :)

KitKat Ice Cream Cone

Look what I've found in Bucharest!!!
Well, maybe it is available in the whole Europe land, but last week.... I found it a Bucharest's supermarket
What a delightful sight

Rum and Raisin KitKat Bar - Tokyo Edition

This is easily voted as my favourite, I always love rum & raisin. Always..
The taste that I can only get while eating icecream now comes in a chocolate coated wafer bar!
It's amazing how the flavourists in Nestle managed to create this beautiful flavour.
It has a little baby kick of alcohol too. It stated like 0.056% which is easily negligible. Hahaha
I wish they put some raisin bits in the bar. It would make it more real.

Wasabi KitKat Bar - Shizuoka Edition

This is the one KitKat that you should try! Who would've imagine a Wasabi KitKat?

Here it is! What does it taste like?

Well, it tastes like... eating a white chocolate with a generous portion of ground wasabi :)

Is it hot? No.... wasabi is not hot. It just send a burning fume to your nose and make you tear. Attack!!!

Seriously, it's not hot at all. It has the smell, the taste, minus the fume

Almost fooled by the light green colour, for a sec, it looks like a granny smith apple flavoured bar.

Ichimi KitKat Bar - Nagano Edition

Remember the movie "Chocolat"? Remember how Juliette Binoche create a chocolate with a hint of pepper & spiced up boring town-peoples' lives with it?

The movie is what I have in mind the first time I tasted this bar. It's not as sweet as other fancy KitKat variants - afterall,  it is a dark chocolate. It tastes beautiful and smooooooth, and just when you finished a finger, the "mild" pepper tastes started to linger. It has a very unique state yet yummy.

I don't understand why it calls "ichimi" - 1 taste? Is that the pepper's name?

 It also said "hot". I find it not that bad, not that hot, it's mild.

The package also writes "Yahataya Isogoro".I managed to decode the kanji character, but I have no clue what it means. 

Google translate, why U no translate?

Sakura Matcha Kitkat Bar

Imagine yourself having a piece of white chocolate, accompanied with a cup of Japanese Green Tea in a park full of sakura/cherry blossom. And the cool delicate spring wind blows, creating a shower of pink cherry blossom petals.

That's exactly what it is! This piece of KitKat can make you feel like a Japanese princess :) hehehe

It tastes much milder than the Uji Matcha KitKat, with subtle hint of a cherry blossom perfume - not much of a taste, but it has the beautiful smell.

Green tea-Good. Sakura-Pretty

I should eat more of this

Uji Matcha Green Tea Kit Kat Bar - Kyoto Edition

I just realised there are some different kinds of KitKat Green Tea. Well, what I have on hand right now is the famous "Uji Matcha". Uji is a district name in Japan, famous for its premium matcha (ground green tea).
It tastes like green tea, hehe... which is a bit "green", it's not grassy, but does have a leaf taste, which is nice; so yeah, it tastes like a slight grassy white chocolate.
While eating this, bear in mind that Green Tea is a good antioxidant, good for your body :)

Strawberry Cheese Cake Kit Kat Bar - Yokohama Edition

Well, it tastes like white chocolate with a fragrant strawberry flavouring.
Its dominating sweetness is kinda overwhelming for me, esp. when it is compared to its tangy Strawberry KitKat counterpart.
And it looks so pale, which just killed the "strawberry" look

Strawberry Kit Kat Bars

It has a kicking tangy strawberry taste, which is awesome! It has a good balance of sweet & acidic taste.
Look at the bar, it has red dots over the deep pink chocolate, it must be the strawberry bits.
Kinda have an illusion of a healthy snack.
Healthy it is... I am trying to hypnotize myself. Hahaha

I am not quite sure why none of these Strawberry Kit Kat packaging are exactly the same.I guess there are some messages written on it. I know the one on top right, saying "Thank You"... for being mine forever.... Hahahha

Cookies & Cream Kit Kat Bars

The whole tastes like a crunchy Oreo, the vanilla taste is quite strong.
In fact, it's taste & look like Oreo's filling sandwiching the cookie :) Hahaha... Inside Out Oreo

Here is what it looks like :) Yum!
I love the contrast of the black wafer & the speckled white chocolate.
Simply beautiful   

Under the Sea

Always been my dream to explore under the sea... under the sea... Gosh, I am starting to sing Ariel's song in my head.
So, the 1st step: buying the brand new expensive manual --> as, you can see here. Done!

Now the next hard part is, reading it ...>.<~~~ maybe tomorrow, if I have the mood
and next, I need to conquer my laziness and get myself to go for the training ....
Sigh, kinda wish I can just have ability without much work. Hehehe...

Things Change

May 1998, things were in chaos.  Heard rumors other cities been in riots – looting, raping, burning, all those things that you thought can only be seen on TV and would only happened to someone else. Seen semi-military (or so called legalized hitman) people been gatherings. Things were not good. Most of my Chinese classmates been skipping class for days, some even moved the whole family to neighbouring countries.

One day, my school really closed down, situation was really critical at that time. It was like a ghost town. Our shop were closed too.

I remember, a  Moslem highschool friend called me that afternoon, to ask if me & my family were alright & even asked if we have a place to run or hide from all those riots.  Even the mother was very sincere and concerned about us.

I didn’t take the offer. We believed we’ll be OK.
My friend said, "Call me anytime you need us, you can come here anytime you want"
After Mr.Suharto stepped down, things turned out to be OK. We continued our studies, until we all graduated and walk on our different paths.

A few weeks ago, finally I met my highschool friend again,  we haven’t met since our graduation day, it was like 15 years ago. I guess none of us ever changed, we still chat like we what we were years ago.  Only now with stable job, family and kids. Happy life J

It is until I added my friend on Facebook then I realized things were not like it used to be. Apart from the wedding picture, the Facebook page was full of radical Moslem ideas, like wanting Syariah Law to be implemented, hating other religion, Israel vs Palestine things. 

I don’t understand why someone who was able to concern about me - a Chinese minority’s safety 15 years ago turned into a die-hard someone who want to turn the whole country into a hardcore Moslem nation.

What has happened in the last 15 years?

Why did you lose your sincere humanity?

I hope it is just on your Facebook page; cos I still find you very warm and polite that day.

I really hope it wasn’t you who write all those hatred stuffs on your page.
I really hope so...

"I am changing. You are changing. Let's not be disappointed when we find each other different"

My Dearest MVP

undated

undated, Japan

undated

with King Norodom Sihanouk, Pnomh Phenh. GANEFO ASIA 1966

 Indonesian Basketball Team  - GANEFO ASIA Pnomh Phenh 1966

undated, with Presiden Soekarno

another year older...

13 June 2014

Camera Guilt

I have been on constant search for a perfect camera over these past few weeks. I've been reading more camera reviews than I ever been my whole life.

Yesterday, I was reflecting my fate with camera, then I remember my dark past about it. Something that I put aside on my memory.

Years ago, when I was still in my uni, I worked part-time as a waitress at a small Malaysian restaurant. That restaurant somehow cater as a black market too. Maybe because most of its customers are Asians, we are somehow fond of something illegal. Apart from super delicious foods, my boss provided whatever you need for.

So, they provides non-taxed cigarettes, perfumes and liquors (usually bought from Airport Duty Free Shops & carried by students or stewards/ess)

Then, they also sell stolen goods. U can get any kinds of second hand phones, laptops, even projectors. All are stolen goods. Some are password-locked, but you can easily unlock it somewhere in Chinatown. I once saw the "thief" delivered a plastic bag of stolen goods. It was sold per bag! (which easily contained 20 or more phones). The prices were crazy! 

One day at work, I saw a SLR camera. At that time, there were no such things as digital camera yet. I was really fond of that camera. So, I bought it from my boss, I can't remember how much it exactly costs me, maybe around AUD200 (maybe more). It was a big money for me. I can't remember the brand or the lens too. I did a lot of thinking when I wanna get it. It was beautiful, came with a seasoned leather case. 

I brought it home and opened it up. Don't ask me why I didn't check it at the restaurant, I don't know why I didn't. So, I opened it up, and what I saw is... someone put a name & a phone number on the camera. Also on inner side of the case, it was written "If misplaced or stolen, please contact xxx on xxxx"  (well, not the exact words, but something like that). I felt very very guilty holding that camera.

I wanted to call the lady (yes, it was a lady's name), and give it back. But I also worry about my hard-earned AUD200. 

If I returned the camera to her, Would she give back my AUD200? 

Would she ask me where I got it? 

Would she think I was the thief? 

Would my boss get into trouble?

I was in limbo! I brought the camera back to the restaurant, a friend saw it, and said "I wanted the camera, but you bought it first. Do you even know how to use it?"

I told him about the name & phone number inside. I told him I wanted to return it. He said I was an idiot, cos I would go to jail, cos I bought stolen goods. I was scared. So he gave me AUD200 and took the camera away. 

Now that I own a proper camera, I can totally feel the pain of losing such precious device. 

I should have returned the camera to her, right? The guilt is still lingering after years.

miniature Ice Cendol Cart

My biggest regret on my Bandung trip is that I didn't buy those amazing clay kits.

I would love to make my own clay creations :(

I got this miniature "Ice Cendol Cart" on my meeting. Making me more and more eager to create my own stuff :( 

Look how cute and realistic they are!