Life has MeaningS.. 寻意记 = =

Yes, meet again..

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 03:44:00 PDT

Woonam Dojang

I was thinking just take a break because of my studies and not very convenient, but after some time I decided to go and have a try, it turned out to be unbreakable.. Every Saturday I went for Aikido training and the memory is still vivid whenever I think back.. I remember every Saturday afternoon, sitting in the bus, passing-by where, going off at which bus stop, walking through a university, where was the training center, and after that another an hour route by town bus back to my dormitory. I remember my first time looking for the exact place was confusing, even though I had arrived in the area with google map easily. On the way back, I remember one time I fell asleep when I woke up I was at the last bus stop and that was the last bus of the day.

Of course the people at the training center and the time we spent together there were most unforgettable, from the first day we met to my farewell day. A lovely teacher, special seniors and students.. Weekly a few hours of training together in the class and occasional trip to other town, seminar in Seoul for training and relax purposes in the weekend, for around 18 months, and I really had great time. I remember the first few months when I couldn't get what my teacher was talking, other students looked up the words in English using dictionary and then teacher tried his best to explain together with body language he could use while I was seriously perceiving the exact meaning. Later, things had become a lot easier as I learned more, and I was so happy to have met them and Aikido training and we were like a family. Now I miss them, and have been recalling about them frequently. Well, until next time I visit them, and I did promise to fly there again..

What is right?

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:07:00 PDT

There was this PERSON once proudly told me that he usually just pay a little to the officer in charge and get away from receiving big penalty! Apparently I was meeting him after I had just paid off an expensive fine for speeding (partial intentionally). Opps..

Then, there was another PERSON proudly shouted at me that she usually just cut queue, don't care about others, it's all about skills! Obviously I was driving in a congested traffic and waiting in a long queue. She was sitting at the back in the car and suggesting me her (creative) cutting queue techniques that I couldn't perform until she got frustrated because she had a TV show to catch. Opps..

Also, there was a PERSON proudly presented to me how lucky he had picked up someone's lost phone (a nice touch phone with 12MP good camera, not the latest though) and the fact that he returned the storage card to the owner (found his address in the phone) just in case the owner saved important stuffs in the memory card. 'That's too... thoughtful of you', I said (unbelievably). Opps..

Now, THESE PEOPLE have been again proudly sharing to me many stories of how wrongdoing the nation, and the government, and the people are, claiming that someone must be just not good, many things must be just not right (I bet it's imperfect).. Okay~ I doubtfully asked, 'What is right?'...

Stories of the Stories of the Stories..

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:07:00 PDT

Back to all the stories again.. If one has to go over all the stories (old to new), it probably takes one's life span (okay, half). I realized I actually had had few years of good silence moment, and now here we go, stories of the stories of the stories.. It goes very often like this, 'someone talked about somebody who spoke to someone about something that another someone said about the something which is somehow next someone saw and another heard from someone else..' so? Oh, come on~

This much complicated stories are not only hard for any skeptical person to know how true it is but also which is original and what is behind all that. Since true story is usually dull (maybe people hardly accept) and similarly original food is usually tasteless (not all though), thus spices added in, creativity and imagination incorporated in for any sizzling effects (pro or against) that individual or group liked. We'll never know how the consequences (physical and emotional) of "spices-added" ultimate stories go, pretty NICE to listen though (sometimes no..). Oh, isn't it extremely too many stories..

Well, I'd better take good care of my own story (everybody has a story to tell), and perhaps at some point, when the right time comes, I will be able to appreciate stories of the stories of the stories..

On the way home!

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:21:00 PST

AirAsia X

The time has come to go home! I had made one terrible decision by mistake, but then somehow I have made a pretty lucky decision ever just by chance. There were happy moments, there were special moments, and I recalled of the HAPPY and SPECIAL one (luckily I still have one) when I was heading to Incheon Airport.

Moving my luggages (made up ~50kg) and a wooden sword to express bus terminal was extremely challenging! Imagine that you bring a 30kg big luggage (with wheels), a 8kg hand carry, a 7kg backpack, a 6kg souvenir bag, and a 1 meter long wooden stick.. All with two hands only! I managed to somehow.. Obviously, I would have problem with the luggage and the wooden sword at airport and as the result some negotiation were going on at the check-in counter and I had to pay... After settling overweight luggage issue and wooden sword issue, i noticed it was Saturday night, most souvenir stores were closed and so I only bought "Soju" (Korean alcohol, ~20%) for my parents. Well, good enough for a drunken night...

Flying with AirAsia X was my first time. It was a different feeling from the experience flying with regular airline. It really saves a lot to go home now. With AirAsia X, I will be able to go home annually if I will study aboard somewhere. Ahh, I want another oversea study.. another adventure! A more interesting one...

Late stage Homesick

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:36:00 PST

Finally, I have to return all the books to the library and says bye-bye to the only place that can provide me a lot of English books because I can hardly find elsewhere (Thanks~). Although usually only librarian and I were there, it is my favorite place (yet a little lonely) and I always had a little rest there while trying to borrow some books. I started missing the book stores in Malaysia!

It is the final week before returning home country. I celebrated a little with some friends, not for my leaving (initial intention though), but rather importantly for the effort we have been putting in so far in everything here. In addition to that, I have to eat all my favorite food that I wanted to eat once more before leaving.. Okay~ 2 years study aboard, close file..

Now, what's in my head is, first thing the Malaysian food! It keeps coming up the food name: curry mee, nasi lemak, cendol, in the top 3, and what's more, asam lasak, prawn mee, chaw kuei teow, bak kut teh, rendang, roti telur, hokkian mee and many many, even the Maggi mee (my mum's version). Moreover, I think I'm having hallucination, I can smell durian, taste teh tarik, KFC, keropok.. This is typical symptom of someone missing home, homesick. There is no better effective cure so far than GO HOME! And after that...

Quick and Simple Meal

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:35:00 PST

Q.S.L.N.T. meal

Finally, I found it~ A guy who don't know how to cook well but can make food himself in less than 5 minutes. It is not easy to be away from home (studying or working), especially without mum's cooking (more...)! One, hard to make time to cook (but surely will have time to eat); Two, lack of experience in cooking (but really love eating). That's why I need quick and simple...

Happened to be here for a not long yet not short period of time, I have been eating something that I had never eaten before. These are new food, new sauces, new style, and also new term such as kimchi, bibimbap, samgyop-sal, bulgolgi and more.. It has been 'tongue-opening' since so many nice food, in addition to eye-opening! No matter what, I know I need tasty and healthy...

Having practiced some skills from my mother before (though not really relevant here..), plus my experiences and needs, I finally made a meal which is quick, simple, good looking (colorful), quite nutritional (no scientific proves yet), and (I think it is) tasty too! BECAUSE all are instant food (rice/noodle, tuna, meat, sauce), an egg, lettuce (uncooked), using microwave oven~ and then with a newly learned way of eating (the lettuce?). This is how I'm going to eat for my Chinese New Year here.. because I don't go home (will be slightly late for CNY). Hopeful that when I got back there are still CNY feeling and food at home! = =

Drinking in the Campus

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 05:16:00 PST

Beer vending machine~

One day I was walking around the dormitory looking for vending machine. I went to the one that I had never gone to, hoping to get other choices of drink. Okay, something different.. didn't expect though, it was 'Beer', about 4%..

Before coming here, I had never drunk more than one cup or one can at a time, just a few sips occasionally for testing the taste. How much I have drunk in less 2 years here has far exceeded the summation of all sips that I happened to take in about 25 years. So, it has been record-breaking! Now I can take one or few cups of beer in an outing, and occasionally drink wine or mixed one. I even have a chance to experience a mild drunken effect, an unknown phenomenon to me at first time, mmm... dizzy but relaxing somehow, and just want to sleep. Then, a good sleep I had~

One more month left, I have cut down on drinking since it isn't a habit that I would like to preserve. We know drinking has no all healthy, also no all bad, doesn't mean fine either, but people drink in a scary amount and frequency! Several reasons: celebration (why not drinking water?), releasing tension (too much does not), culture (you drink I drink).. As for me, I insist to drink a little, but no sipping. So, I put some coins into the vending machine, had one can, then found myself a little poetic, reciting..

" 抽刀断水水更流，举杯销愁愁更愁。

人生在世不称意，明朝散发弄扁舟。"

..after that, slept through the snowing night~

The Theme of the Year...

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 18:45:00 PST

Just a common word? But out of nowhere.. No detail.. I can't explain how because if I try to elaborate it won't be easily understandable, if I briefly mention it will sounds like magic. Mmm.. It usually happens around Christmas-New year holiday after some leisure time and when it comes, my year begins. 'Revise'.. the word for the year came into my mind like planting a seed and my thoughts started flourishing. Well, the phenomena itself has made me clueless, trying to understand the word is another, and what it is going to do to me or my year is the most intriguing.. Every time it is as mysterious as but more REAL than prophecy I could get from expert's book that I happened to flip through.

I first ran to an Oxford English dictionary to confirm the meaning of the word, 'Revise', that everybody knows, and see if there is different perspective. Coincidently, I have been doing revision, of my work especially nowadays.. and the good thing is I finally received some feedbacks from trustworthy persons which have helped me to complete my DIY full-cycle training in a quite Professional way. I suppose there are many things I should revise during my (again) 'mini-retired' period in 'the Year of Revision' ! ..from head to toes.. back to front.. inside to outside.. left to right.. every dimensions huh?.. Oh yeah, time to get moving~

Hibernation for better..

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:01:00 PST

Snowmen X'mas 2011

Finished defense, finished thesis, finished Master's! But I'm not finished.. I need to hibernate because the weather is colder and it snows heavier than last year here. This winter we have more Malaysian to make 2 better-looking snowmen and have fun.. The last month of the year, now indeed last few days we have.. Looking back the year, after adjusted what to achieve in year 2010, (sadly) lowered my expectation to a more reasonable due to unbelievable encounter (not very bad, not so good neither), while widened my exploration to find new niches (the interesting part).. though a bit stunned growth, well, guess things have gone pretty well overall~ Still, I will be thinking a lot in December as usual.. why? why? how? how? Don't know what theme for next year, no clue yet.. got to go HOME figure it out.. Before that, it is time to hibernate, and come out as a refined person with a brand new plan for new year 2011! hey, Happy New Year!

Screaming 'Wait' at the 'No Wait Mountain'

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:32:00 PST

It seems I have missed a November post.. realizing I really had nothing to write whenever I tried to squeeze my brain to at least start some words.. It was really a final month to actually put an end on something. Looking back to my November, I recall about 'No Wait Mountain' translated from 無等山 (무등산, 'Mudeng-san'). I took a local bus from the first station to the last station early in the morning to meet a few quite important people I ever met here. We do Aikido 合气道 together including my beloved teacher, and we challenged the 'No Wait Mountain'. It was my first time to do hiking in my 2 years here, well, just a WALK, through some staircases, through some routes that never parallel (or get any closer) to the water surface level.. As the result, I was the last person following the group, silently screaming 'WAIT' at the 'No Wait Mountain', while panting heavily.. ended up we had to turn back before even to reach half way. Anyway, clearly it was not reaching high that counts here, it was the good feeling of the family trip like outing, and the beautiful Autumn scenery with trees covered by either yellowish orange or bloody red color leaves, then a simple lunch.. and also our bonding memory at least captured in the form of a bit 'emotional' photography~ and make sure we have chance to meet again.. Yes, started writing, so.. what's on December?

The Zen Feeling in University Campus

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 00:14:00 PDT

Buddha in the Campus

Last week I went Seoul for a quite important English exam (IELTS) which I think was well done, perhaps.. The exam was held at a hilly, different looking university which has a big Buddha statue at the center of the university campus.. When I was entering the campus, not only students but a few monks and nuns coming in and out, thought I was going in a temple. Hah, no wonder a strong Zen feeling there! Haven't had this kind of Zen feeling after more than a year living here, also haven't involved myself in charity and volunteering activities like I did with Tzu chi in hospital services previously. Well, it doesn't seem that this kind of work is the local norm here despite so many cultures, surprisingly~

Zen~ Tea house

So, took some time to get flooded by this Zen feeling in the university, and it recalled me about the dharma talks or books I had come across.. well, I'm not really a prayer (did wish everybody do well in the exam though) but perhaps a learner (of the philosophy). I started remembering the teaching that I had forgotten mostly or ignored, and also some maybe I'm practicing.. Terms like middle path, karma.. anyway the simple 'take home message' I gain every times is - Just be a human, yet may not easily be understood indeed, strange huh~ Siting at a nearby Zen style tea house for a coffee, reading a book, listening soothing instrumental music, I thought of a lot of things.. thinking of the past (not all fortunate), the next destination (not all predictable).. importantly the present~ feeling Zen..

A Milestone for Practising the Art

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 23:57:00 PDT

'WHAT?! Don't fight?', 'No competition?'.. These were a few of my first questions when I started the training of this Martial Art, which initially thought I could kick some butt. No, No~ Have you ever come across with Martial Art that says to you don't fight? ..and even it has to be one, still you want NO fight? There are some other martial art too though.. So then I asked HOW, and in fact I have been asking the same question of how until now.. even though knowing more about the WHY~

It has been so lucky for me all the time to have met passionate teachers (sensei) and many practitioners (even though different background, language, culture, nation), sincerely sharing and training together along the way, in addition to my passion about this, so called, 'Art of Peace'. Finally, becomes the student of Aikido 合気道 ..and just got my black belt last weekend at an Annual Seminar of all Aikidoka in Korea, after years of practice, Yeah! This is another start, and it isn't just a martial art or self defense anyway..

You know what, the most inspiring I find about Aikido is, the falling and getting up and falling and getting up again, just like in reality, because one throws and another gets thrown during the training.. Oh, really not able to tell how many thousand times I have fallen down in variety of ways, and get back up right away ~ Whatever it is, just have to get back up!

The 'Moment' of a Graduate Student

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 06:40:00 PDT

It is a very hot summer, ..tasting a cup of my favorite White Coffee, Old Town hazelnut flavor (instant packet I brought from Malaysia), it is like calling me to take a break and feel the home taste and then I will be writing something here.. Not until the white coffee, which I make once a month due to limited stock~ Just realized that I have been experiencing the 'Moment' of doing research I guess.. around 2 months it seems to have taken.. A period of time a graduate student have a bit hard time that you are surrounded by questions about your work like what have done, what have not done, what to do and above all, so what? It is also a period of time where you have to read and seek.. to cover the what should have known about your investigation and to search what is so big deal about. That is the 'Moment' that have kept me away from writing here as there are thesis to write and presentation to prepare instead. Therefore, when you're reading this post I should be in the 'almost there' state! Next week is the day to end this and I really wish this is it, thesis done, viva/defense finished, and everything over. But no so fast, because it was just a proposal for another few months work before reaching another 'Moment' again before graduation. After this, it repeats at next level (hopeful at another interesting place), and then, it will become just a common things.. a long journey to become a Neuroscientist~

The Last Samurai Team of Asia..

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:34:00 PDT

Oh.. have never watched the team's matches I realized myself. The blue team.. What?! They defeated Denmark with 3-1, an impressive score indeed.. Can see their Honda's deadly free-kicks in highlight video. Though lost 0-1 to Netherlands, still looks competitive, isn't it.. So, tonight there is a game! I'm especially attracted by the word, TEAMWORK, that has been mentioned by their coach, Takeshi Okada. What does it mean actually? And, they are like already have their way to play, and even to win the game. Warrior spirit, really? Let see.. Looks like the Samurai team is going to make it ~

Since I have missed all their matches, tonight will have to keep an eye on the last Asian team against Paraguay. Ya, all qualified teams were down, and many did not even qualified their participation in World Cup. Sounds like a very difficult game, dangerous opponent they are up against with, but WHAT IF.. they happen to win the game? It must be a really intriguing match tonight ~ Hopefully the TEAM spirit works.. Hope to see a breakthrough from Asian team.. just one more!

Found my GOAL in World Cup!

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 06:20:00 PDT

GOAL~ 4 years of a forgotten game, 1 month of news about the game everywhere you can see, 90 minutes of sitting around, listening fans screaming crazily, and occasionally I shout madly when getting a goal! That's world cup I used to think, and now still anyway.. as I never have watched the game seriously, I play basket ball, okay.. BUT for the first time, I watched world cup 2010 last Saturday night! It was pretty nice play~ and, the excitement of watching through big screen with the crowd, over some nice drink.. (though world cup is also HOT in Malaysia). Yeah..

Now I found my GOAL, not big, not small, just want to watch World Cup 2010 (Malaysia team?)~ hey, isn't it I suppose to work hard in the lab, Mr. Scientist? Well, finished my 3+1 'solo show' (enjoyable class presentations) in 2 weeks, take a break for tomorrow night match! Besides, scientists here also crazy at World cup. Guess what team's jersey I was wearing in the photo? There I'm staying now, and going to watch.. and also GO all Asian teams~

55% of the Audience walked out.. Haha

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 06:05:00 PDT

The presentation was started up nicely, people laughed, and then a bit hard sell by the speaker though, but the funny thing was it ended up 55% of the audience walked out.. Because it's too LONG! Yet, people still smiled.. It was my first time talking this much, well, had not completed the preparation indeed. See, to present somebody's story is easy but to create a story is really headache! It's interesting though. The point is "Evidences over Argument".. or here "Evidences over Lengthy TALK". haha!

..can't believe that I used whole week for the story, two sleepless night to think of how to and then to make up the presentation.. drained up BRAIN energy and BODY strength for the preparation. Nonetheless, did LEARN along the way.. but was too late to make modification, or at least shorten up the content. Well, had got to take the lesson. At least an important feedback I received, and still thinking the how-to. Therefore, now really need to sleep on it for few nights..

Although the assigned work has been like a 'Just for Fun' type sadly (waste of time..), but I took it seriously and that should make it different, and for learning (with fun huh).. Anyway, had done my best. Hah~big GOAL has become small goal, and now have NO expectation. This is just an experience, at least to realize something.. something~ Okay, have got to make good use of time. ..noticed that my initial

Always Remember & Appreciate Them

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Sun, 09 May 2010 01:37:00 PDT

Remember him my first mentor from oversea I ever met, an ambitious, diligent, young passionated scientist.. Always wish I could visit his home country, either together with him ,or my backpack travel, or for Aikido training (at the Headquarter), but never have had the chance, nonetheless, I will. Remember I used to ask him how can he keep his DRIVE in his work everyday, knowing what to do next..? ..unlike me, at that time was an overly-ambitious yet BLURRY 'Science kids', almost fell sleep, and never had a clear mind in science, in my work or while reading journals; His reply has been of great HELPFUL. Remember the promise we made but was not able to, and I have to continue my journey myself and happy to have made some progress.. Even though more difficult it seems to be for the moment, and many changes have to be made, but I will fulfill the Promise!

Remember his wife, a very hardworking, responsible, tough women scientist.. and I respected her attitude and dedication at work, after had gone through her past experiences. She was TOUGH as she had to deal with his graduate study, take care of family, while in parallel had to get used to a brand new environment for them (in Malaysia), at an 'Imported' international university.. I get to know a little about the culture of their nation, particularly the 'system' of husband-wife, the Funny and lovely part ~

Remember another senior scientist from the same country that full of culture, though wasn't my direct mentor, whom we used to have lunch-dinner together everyday and he had always tried to guide me, a beginner - 'Science kids' like me.. really had wonderful time of sharing stories, listening some stories about his country, and his interesting work on migrating Salmon fish in his old day, especially loved his exciting Marine trip, his team went to the ocean tracking Salmon fish.. Remember one time I was frustrated about my work claiming that it was my bad luck day, but I was convinced by what he said and how he demonstrated to me that there was NO bad luck ~

Yaa.. an old time ~
Oh, I also miss my parents, it's parents' day!

What's the Next..

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 01:30:00 PDT

A long freezing season has come to an end, a season with the least colorful, but white snow, or just brown soil and leaf-less trees.. and, due to the freezing weather, despite the most standard life of a science graduate student (work hard in the lab), my brain has been 'frozen', and hence have lesser writing ~

A more colorful season has begun and I gain more exposure to warm sunshine, and every where are flowers for some photographing, also feel more energetic and the sun 'wake up' especially early (5-6am) here in Spring.. and, due to early 'morning call' by the sun, have to start my day in early morning. This is something new I noticed during my time here that my own Bio-clock is the light-sensitive one and I usually sleep over my alarm clocks in raining day ~.

Recently have sit for language proficiency test of my 6th language. WHAT, another language?! ..used to wonder why Malaysian knows so many languages, but think more of it, nothing bad anyway, and it is fun too (though not in science). Well, I still remember that I have come for scientific research, have things to focus on, and getting more urgently is.. what's the next?

LangDetectko>en GoogleDicC

[부정(不定) 수량의 선택에 관하여 써서] , [남의 직업 등을 물어] 무엇을 하는 사람, 어떤 사람, 얼마만한 가치[의미]를 지닌 것, [감탄문에 써서] 얼마나 많은 양[금액], 정말이지 많이, 얼마나, (…하는) , [관계사절 안의 be의 보어로 써서] (…인) 바로 그 사람[그것], (…하는) 것은 무엇이든지[무엇이나](whatever);…(할) 만큼의 양[수], [A is to B what C is to D의 형태로] A의 B에 대한 관계는 C의 D에 대한 관계와 같다, [독립절 또는 삽입절을 이끌어] (게다가, 더욱이) …한 것은, [간접의문절을 이끌어] , [감탄문에 써서] , ━ , [일반적으로 의문문과 함께 놀람 노여움을 나타내어] 뭐라고, 이런, 아니, 설마, [문미에 덧붙여 상대방의 동의를 재촉하여] 《영》 응, 안 그래(eh) 《다소 예스러운 표현》, [the ~] 본질, 정체;내용, ‘what’이라는 의문[감탄], You use , You use , You use

Realizing what I don't know..

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:03:00 PDT

..got to remember my new experience, it was a HAPPY weekend trip to Seoul, for two days Aikido Seminar, and a party! My friendly Aikido sensei and cute senpai and I used 'creative' combination of the languages we learned before, mixing English and Japanese vocabulary with Korean grammar structure and vice versa, for optimum conversation, (though in kind of amusing way) which sometimes burst into laughter. Never have realized that it works (sort of).. During the training (seminar) and party, I felt so great to meet people (of various backgrounds) who were willing to communicate at least, even though language was an obvious unavoidable barrier. The Aikido training seminar was in Japanese and Korean, Oh, both languages I'm still learning yet not keen at.. Luckily, in Aikido, students need primarily the sensitivity to different forces or the feeling, rather than listening, therefore, still managed to learn something valuable. Nevertheless, through the special training, I realized I still stuck at the understanding and the how-to of a basic principle of this Martial Art - 'use no extra strength' and 'be relax', which I thought have been (sort of) knowing it.. well, apparently, will have to really figure it out~

"Play-boy"-like.. haha~

Hot day and a Strange taste

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:56:00 PST

新年快乐~ Happy CNY~ Wah, Malaysia has a HOTTER weather than before, hasn’t it? I have to wear the thinest clothes, and expose my slightly muscular yet slightly slim looking body (if not going out) and sweat all the time, in order to survive the hot days (~ 30^oC)! Before returning home for Chinese New Year (CNY), I have to wrap myself up, wearing at least 3 layers of clothes plus a thick coat (when going out), to tolerate with the freezing weather (~ 0^oC) in Korea.

"大日子 Woohoo!"

It was strange in the first day of my return because I can’t fully TASTE Malaysian food, ~50 % milder than the taste it used to be, something happened to my taste buds while I was away. Anyway, the real taste came back in the next day, only then I can enjoy the familiar home-made food with family during the festive CNY period!

The familiar faces, the familiar languages, the familiar environment, the familiar places, the familiar buildings, the familiar flora and fauna, the familiar diversity.. hah, everything is just so familiar, so 'boleh', and the feeling is like so “Connected”! ..will "hibernate" with the familiar tastes for a few more hot days~

A Late-comer to Sherlock Holmes Adventure!

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:12:00 PST

..remember she was the one who introduce to a quite boring guy he used to be about Sherlock Holmes in a common conversation at an unusual occasion, and the topic was brought up indirectly.. At that time, didn't realize the awesomeness of Sherlock Holmes, although a great briefing she had given, but he was attracted by other topic or perhaps the somebody there (err..). Okay, few years had passed, the latest hot and 'talkative' movie (less hot than Avatar) recalled him. Now, completely gets into the classic Novels and Stories, as well as the related Anime, Detective Conan!

The ways of Sherlock Holmes (the apprehensible ones).. his impressive observation and deduction.. does suit the taste of a neuroscientist-to-be guy, a something to LEARN from.. Even though, no fancy complicated philosophies that most people enjoy listening and talking about, but the fancy simple reasoning to solve problems (not easy to learn though)! Anyway, philosophy do very inspiring sometimes.. The DEDUCTIVE reasoning is about seeing what is behind an event or a result we observed, for the truth, by demonstrating clear evidents. Unlike the more popular INDUCTIVE reasoning, which is prediction or creation of many possible results or stories (sometimes could be political or personal) based on what ones see or hear. Just to point out the difference (Wikipedia.com) of the complementary skills..

Hey, the He and the She get on? Something to start deduce about...

Skiing: the dreamed and the reality..

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:15:00 PST

..finally had experienced skiing since my home country has no winter, and it was awesome! As a first timer, I got to have some short lessons on the spot by an assigned coach from High1 Resort before stepping in the slope that lead to the bottom of the mountain (well, not all the way down). Basically, I already knew and quite confident that I can ski down the slope (of course unpredictably low survival rate), however, I needed very much to learn the most useful technique, how to brake and the most effective learning path to become an expert, to FALL! After gaining enough skills.. how well I can do? Oh.. very well~

See, like the charming handsome guy in the above photo, in white coat and yellow trousers, steadily snowboarding down a slope, making his turn precisely 45 degree angle toward the right side (of the photo).. that is me, no doubt~

Haha, that was certainly what I dreamed of, and I took a snap of the guy (not sure a guy or lady) when I was still lying comfortably on the snowy ground after a wonderful fall, several rolls and.. Okay, the reality is in the next photo, this was real me, in orange coat with white trousers, a charming guy too, was apparently stunned right there for a moment after looking at the slope he was to going in!

No problem, skiing is just great fun game after all, though countless falling, knocking people quite occasionally, even kids can do better and overtook me unmercifully all the time.. Should try out snowboard next time~ and will have to take more falls (smarter one) in order to bring together the dreamed and the reality...

Welcoming New Tiger Year...

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:14:00 PST

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year & Wonderful Holiday! December is a month.. we feel like not going to work on the present or the ongoing (partly because of holidays), while our brain will be very frequently running with many thoughts about the past and uncertain plans about the future. Let's think about it..

It has been a more drastic yet mostly expected CHANGE this year (2009) to me, in terms of.. the surrounding, the seasonal weather, the new experiences, the culture (though some similarities), new friends, and myself, compare to last year (2008) was another change (of direction) I had to expect. Even the unexpected ones so far have already convinced me, as I don’t want to do the same thing over and over, while expecting different results. In general, it has been a better year here (especially new people), though the progress is a little delay as expected.

Next year 2010 would be.. a Tiger year, huh~ I will have to plan ahead and set some new goals during the break before 1st of January. The year 2009 for me, the theme is a Year of Growth; next year, I say it’s a Year of Expansion. Don’t know why, the unreasonably set theme every year has always worked on me accordingly. So again, what is it the Year of Expansion in 2010 I have no idea..

Okay, should work out this word ‘Expansion’ which it just popped out at me in a snowing night while I was feeling almost frozen walking outside.. Now, there has been one small difficult plan of mine that has not finished the way it should be for a couple of years due to a couple of reasons. Therefore would have to FOCUS a little bit on it! ..have got to make it happen~

My First Snowman ever made

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:40:00 PST

This is first time seeing snow, and my first winter! White color, light and fine ice-like little things falling from the sky! Okay, keen observation... It was quite a heavy snow shower in the weekend, exciting of course, and well, finally got my snowman ready. It took me an hour of exhausting ‘skillful’ activity and really ‘creative’ thinking to make this snowman-like ‘creature’ (above photo), under an extremely freezing morning like this. Its name is.. whatever

Anyway, looks good the snowman, though a little deviated from the image of a typical snowman we has been expected.. hey, good job for an amateur maker. You know how hard to make a compressed tough-enough snowball into your preferred size and shape? ..from this light and fine, little snow. Give it a try.. I shall make a better snowman during the winter vacation as a mark of a better new year 2010! Yea..

What is Malaysia? He doubted..

noreply@blogger.com (Chong Yee Hang) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:53:00 PST

A few quite big exams are coming in this week, but he still went out for an unfamiliar yet worth going dinner party held by again unfamiliar yet worth knowing non-profit organization - UNESCO. A cultural party which many people from many countries (in Western, Euroasia, South Africa, Asia Pasific region) attended.. and everybody were given a chance to briefly introduce their own country!

A young Malaysian Chinese he is, away from home for some months in Korea, realized that he has not really had known much about or had that much desire to know more about his home country before. Since then, he has been trying to get to know of his nation a little more and in the cultural party just now, he took up the opportunity to tell something about Malaysia in front of the multi-nation crowds.. obviously the traditional culture.

However, wait.. at the night, he doubted.. err, Malaysia consists of 3 major ethnics: Malay, Chinese and Hindu, so which one is Malaysia? ..got stuck for a few minutes about what is Malaysia? Indonesians will present about Malay's culture, China people will talk about Chinese's, while of course, the Indians will share about Hindu's. Therefore, as a Malaysian..? Oh, it was almost his turn to speak, the doubt unsettled still, and finally..

Yes, "a complete MALAYSIA is.. Malay, Chinese, and Hindu's with their different cultures well preserved an well mixed!", that's what he said and no doubt, that's Malaysia, huh..