Keep Life Simple

写好人生的最后一章

2026-03-26T11:15:00.003+08:00

我们每一个人，其实都是自己人生的作者。

从年轻到现在，我们一步一步地走，一次一次地选择，慢慢写出了属于自己的故事。有些章节精彩，有些平淡，有些甚至让人后悔。但无论如何，这本“书”都会走向最后一章。

只是，大多数人都不太愿意去想这一章。

我们常说：“以后不要成为别人的负担。”听起来很理性，也很体面。但现实往往没有这么简单。到了人生的后期，很多事情未必还能自己掌控——日常生活、账单处理、看病就医，这些原本普通的事情，可能都会变得不再容易。

就我自己来说，我和太太没有孩子，也没有特别亲近、可以依靠的亲人。走到人生后段，我们大概率是彼此唯一的依靠。

但问题也随之而来。

两个人的人生，真的可以一起走到同一个“结局”吗？

我们会不会那么幸运，可以同步老去、一起面对最后的阶段？还是说，现实更可能是其中一个人先走一步，留下另一个人继续走下去？

人生不是电影，没有安排好的大结局，也不一定会“刚刚好”。

正因为如此，这一章才更值得我们提前去想一想。

人生一定会走到终点，这是无法改变的。但如果我们愿意早点开始思考，至少还有时间去准备、去调整。

就像写一篇文章，我们可以先构思，再修改，甚至请别人帮忙看看有没有需要改进的地方。

很多事情我们无法完全控制，但我们可以尽量让过程更有准备，让结果更少遗憾。

这并不是悲观，而是一种对现实的清醒。

因为写好人生的最后一章，不只是为了自己，也是为了那个陪你一起走到最后的人。

也许，这正是我们一生中，最值得认真对待的一章。

Addiction: Something We Don't Talk About It

2025-11-20T16:46:00.000+08:00

What Is Addiction?

When we hear the word "addiction," most of us immediately think of drugs, alcohol, or gambling. We picture someone who's lost control, someone whose life is falling apart. But is that all?

Addiction, at its core, is when your brain gets so hooked on something that you can't stop doing it, even when you know it's causing problems. It's like your brain has been rewired to crave that one thing above everything else. The dopamine rush becomes so powerful that your willpower just... disappears.

Think about it in real life. One who cannot go a day without his cigarettes? Or that friend who checks their phone every five minutes, even during dinner? Or maybe you yourself - can you go one week without your morning "kopi"? When you try to stop and you feel uncomfortable, irritable, or incomplete, that's addiction.

The Dark Side

Now here's where it gets interesting, and a bit scary.

Think about it - if you can make someone addicted to your product, you control them. They'll keep coming back, they'll spend their money, they'll ignore the harm, all because their brain is hooked. Their own brain does the work for you.

The tobacco industry knew this for decades. They engineered cigarettes to be more addictive. They added chemicals to make sure once you start, you can't stop. They marketed it as cool, as freedom, as sophistication - but really, they were just creating lifelong customers through addiction.

Same strategy in fast food businesses. Sugar, salt, and fat in perfect combinations that stimulate your brain like fireworks. You know it's unhealthy, but you crave it anyway. That's not by accident. In gaming industry, they hire psychologists to design reward systems that keep you playing. Loot boxes, daily rewards, streaks - all designed to create behavioral addiction.

You're not weak. You're just up against teams of scientists who studied how to hack your brain.

History Doesn't Lie: The Opium Wars

The Qing Dynasty in China, once mighty and advanced, fell partly because of opium. But here's what's interesting - it wasn't the Chinese who introduced opium to themselves. The British Empire, wanting to balance their trade deficit (because everyone wanted Chinese tea, silk, and porcelain), started smuggling opium into China. They got millions of Chinese people addicted; officials, soldiers, workers - all smoking opium.

Later, productivity crashed. The government tried to stop it, but the damage was done. The addiction was so widespread that when the government tried to ban opium, Britain went to war to protect their drug trade. Yes, the Opium Wars were literally fought due to drug dealings.

By the time the dust settled, China was weakened, colonized (i.e. Hong Kong), and humiliated for a century. All because of "addiction".

This isn't some ancient history that doesn't matter. This is a blueprint. This is proof that addiction can be used as a weapon to conquer nations without firing a single shot at first. You just need to get the population hooked on something that destroys them from within.

The Modern Battlefield: Our Children and Screens

Let's observe what's happening right now in our own society.

Have you seen how children behave with tablets and smartphones? You see it everywhere now. Children at restaurants, tablets in front of their faces. In the car, screen time. At home, more screen time. Some kids spend 6-8 hours a day on devices. Give a two-year-old an iPad with YouTube Kids, and watch them go quiet instantly. It's like magic for tired parents, right? Finally, some peace.

But here's the thing - what are we actually doing?

We're creating the same addiction mechanism in their developing brains. The bright colors, the instant rewards, the endless content, the autoplay feature - all of it is designed to keep them hooked. And it works.

Try taking the device away from a child who's been on it for an hour. Watch what happens. The screaming, the crying, the tantrum - it looks exactly like withdrawal symptoms. Because their brain has been flooded with dopamine, and now you're cutting off the supply.

Some parents, just give in. "Aiyah, let them play la, at least they stay quiet." But without control, without limits, these children are being programmed. Their brains are being wired for addiction before they even know what's happening. Their social skills suffer. Their attention spans shrink. They can't focus on anything that doesn't give them instant gratification.

And the scary part? When they grow up, they're perfect consumers. They're already trained to need constant stimulation, instant rewards, and they can't tolerate boredom. Perfect for a world that wants to sell them things, hook them on services, and keep them scrolling forever.

The "Choesay" Conspiracy

Before you dismiss this as just another boring article about technology, let me ask you something. What if all of this is not by accident?

What if, just like the British used opium to weaken China, there are forces today using digital addiction to control us? Think about it. Who benefits when millions of people are addicted to their phones?

Tech companies, obviously - their stock prices depend on "engagement." Advertisers - they have a captive audience. Governments - people scrolling are not organizing, not questioning, not resisting.

A population addicted to screens is:

Easy to track (every click monitored)
Easy to influence (algorithms control what they see)
Easy to distract (just launch the next viral trend)
Easy to sell to (they've been profiled down to their deepest desires)
Easy to control (they're too busy watching TikTok to notice what's happening around them)

Why would China limit gaming time for children to just a few hours per week while Western countries encourage unlimited access? Why would the late Steve Jobs not let his own kids use iPads, while his company sold millions to other people's children?

Could it be that some people know exactly what these devices do to developing brains, and they're protecting their own while letting everyone else get hooked?

We already know social media algorithms are designed to make us angry, because anger creates engagement. This isn't conspiracy theory - this is documented fact.

So here's the real question: Are we choosing to give our children devices, or have we been conditioned to think it's normal, even necessary? Are we parenting, or have we become unpaid beta testers for the largest behavioral experiment in human history?

The Secret Power of Addiction

Here's something most of us don't realize - addiction isn't always the enemy. In fact, if you know how to channel it, addiction can be your secret weapon for success.

Ever heard of people who are "addicted" to reading? These people read book after book, they can't sleep until they finish that chapter, their house is full of books. But look at them - they're knowledgeable, they think deeper, they see the world differently. Bill Gates reportedly reads about 50 books a year. Is he addicted? Maybe. But that "addiction" made him one of the smartest people alive.

Meanwhile, some people cannot miss their morning run. Rain or shine, they're out there at 6am. Their friends call them crazy. But these same people are fit, healthy, mentally strong, and live longer. Athletes train until their bodies break because they're addicted to improvement. Michael Jordan was famously addicted to basketball practice - and that made him the GOAT (Greatest of all time).

The theory of positive addiction shows us that when you're hooked on something beneficial, your brain works the same way as negative addiction - but the outcome transforms your life. You're still getting that dopamine hit, but instead of destroying yourself, you're building yourself up. The mechanism is the same, but the direction is opposite.

Addiction is neutral. It's a tool. Like fire, it can warm your home or burn it down.

The question isn't whether addiction exists - it does, and it's powerful. The question is: Who's in control? Are you using addiction to build yourself up, or is someone else using it to break you down?

More importantly, when you hand that tablet to your child for "just 5 minutes" that turns into 2 hours, who's really in control? You, or the algorithm designed by hundreds of engineers whose job is to keep that child's eyes glued to the screen?

History showed us that addiction can destroy empires. Are we watching it happen again, just in a different form? Are our children the new Qing Dynasty, being fed a digital opium that weakens them from within?

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's all harmless fun and progress but when your child screams like they're in pain because you took away their screen, you should ask yourself: What exactly have I allowed them to become addicted to?

What SAY you?

Durian Feast 2024

2024-09-02T21:51:00.002+08:00

The Durian Spread

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over our backyard—the very same car porch where we’d gathered countless times before. But this time, it was different. This time, it was a durian feast. The air buzzed with anticipation, and the fragrance of the spiky fruit wafted through the air, promising a taste of heaven.

We had an array of durians laid out on the floor, each one a unique character in this fruity ensemble. There were the creamy kampung durians with custard-like flesh and D24s, with their bittersweet notes. As we cracked open the durians, the sound echoed like a chorus of happiness. Sticky fingers dug into the soft, fleshy pods, and suddenly, we were all kids again.

Ah, the little ones—the heart and soul of any family gathering. They circled the durian table like curious bees, their eyes wide with wonder. So there you have it—a glimpse into our durian-filled family gathering. May your own memories be just as sweet, and may the next durian feast bring you joy, laughter, and sticky fingers. 🌴🥭❤️

Erasmus+ International Training Week at University of Economy in Bydgoszcz, Poland

2019-08-28T19:18:00.002+08:00

The Erasmus+ programme under the European Union's strategic framework for training and education for the Europe 2020 Strategy, together with Berjaya Unversity College has allowed me to attend the International Staff Training Week at the University of Economy - WSG (Wyższa Szkoła Gospodarki) in Bydgoszcz, Poland on 3rd – 7th of June 2019 June 2019.

I am so grateful to be able to participate in such an eye-opening programme, hosted by the friendly staffs from WSG International Affairs Office. The participants were from all around the world such as:

Baku Business University, Azerbaijan;
Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Finland;
Sokhumi State University & Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Georgia;
Amity University, India;
Berjaya University College, Malaysia;
Gumushane University, Turkey;
Almaty Academy of Sport and Tourism, Kazakhstan;
Transbaikal State University, Russian Federation;
Victoria Falls University, Zambia and
Universitatea din Oradea, Romania.

Here, I would like to share some highlights of the programme:

A nice riverside campus

WSG oldest building, since 1862

The Photography Museum of Bydgoszcz hosted by the University of Economy WSG

Welcoming Participants by the Director of International Affairs Office: Mr. Marek Bogusz

Ice-Breaking Session: Gastronomy Fair

Experiencing a unique wine tradition: the art of Georgian toasting

After the Gastronomy Fair, we had a session on presentation of participating Universities

The next day, we were invited to attend the International Science Conference: horizons and platforms in science, culture and enterprising - 30 years of shared experience hosted by WSG University

Opening Speech by the President of University of Economy WSG Krzysztof Sikora

Attended the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial & Engaged Universities (ACEEU) Workshop by Professor Dr. Thorsten Kliewe

That's me contributing some ideas during the workshop

A pleasure to attend a workshop with so many international academia

We all enjoyed the performances by a group of young talented students from kazakhstan while attending the Integration Meeting and Picnic event.

Picnic time! It is an honour to dine together with the founder and president of WSG University. Cheers!

The next day. we had a half-day Bydgoszcz City Tour

We were invited to join the gala dinner for WSG 30th Anniversary Celebration

Great musical performance by the singer and band.

Great hospitality and helpful assistance from Julia Mulyk, International Affairs Office

On our last day, we had a campus tour and meetings with the Directors from IT Department and the the Faculty of International Business

A fruitful and memorable experience for me to learn from the host and all the participants. I hope more institutions around the world can benefits from the Erasmus programme.
Thank you :)

Tribute to Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

2019-04-18T22:27:00.004+08:00

Notre-Dame de Paris is a medieval Catholic cathedral consecrated to the Virgin Mary and considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Glad that we had a chance to visit this amazing French Gothic architecture in 2016 but was saddened by the news of devastating fire 2 days ago. These are my photos taken in 2016 for the tribute to Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris:

Sketch 1.0 - Inspired by Disney's upcoming adaptation of “Dumbo” 2019

2019-03-28T16:48:00.002+08:00

My attempt to sketch Dumbo with just a ball pen

Quick facts of Dumbo:
Dumbo is a 1941 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Productions. it is based upon the storyline written by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl. The main character is Jumbo Jr., a semi-anthropomorphic elephant who is cruelly nicknamed "Dumbo", as in "dumb". He is ridiculed for his big ears, but in fact, he is capable of flying by using his ears as wings.

Cover for 但願人長久 by Hana (跳躍生命線 - Life on the Line" 插曲) with lyrics

2018-11-07T13:41:00.000+08:00

I personally think that there are many nice theme songs produced for TVB dramas recently. One of the song by HANA 菊梓喬 - 但願人長久 (劇集 "跳躍生命線 - Life on the Line" 插曲) is my favourite; and this is my cover of the song:

"跳躍生命線 - Life on the Line" is a drama that reveals the life and work of paramedics, through medical cases based on real-life stories and experiences. It has dramatic yet informative scenes for the audience.

Lyrics of the song:

借夜闌靜處獨看天涯星
每夜繁星不變每夜長照耀
但願人沒變願似星長久
每夜如星閃照每夜常在
漫長夜晚星若可不休
問人怎麼卻不會永久
但願留下是光輝像星閃照
漆黑漫長夜
但願人沒變願似星長久
每夜如星閃照每夜常在
漫長夜晚星若可不休
問人怎麼卻不會永久
但願留下是光輝像星閃照
漆黑漫長夜
漫長夜晚星若可不休
問人怎麼卻不會永久
但願留下是光輝像星閃照
漆黑漫長夜
但願人沒變願似星長久
每夜如星閃照每夜常在

8 Must-Try Food and Drinks in Hong Kong (2018)

2018-05-08T15:54:00.001+08:00

Hong Kong is a place where there are just too many choices of food and beverages for anyone at anytime. Personally, I think these are the 8 Must-Try Food and Drinks:

1. Hong Kong "Cha Chaan Teng" Ideal for Breakfast and Afternoon Tea
a) Kam Wah Cafe & Bakery (金華冰廳)
You cannot claim that you have been to Hong Kong if you didn't try this restaurant. Best for breakfast and afternoon tea, especially the all time favourite Bor Lor (Pineapple in Cantonese) Butter Bun and egg tart.

HK Chicken Wing (Left) and Bor Lor Yau Bao (Pineapple Butter Bun)

Two morning breakfast SET C for HKD$64

Address: G/F, 47 Bute Street, Prince Edward, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 6:30 am – 12 am midnight daily
Prices: 20 – 40 HKD per person

b) Chrisly Cafe 華星冰室
There is another option in Mongkok for breakfast and tea that is also very popular for celebrities to visits because this cha chaan teng owned by well-known celebrities in Hong Kong (Gotcha!)

The famous "Headmaster" (Alan Tam) toast

Must try Milk Tea!!!!! A MUST!

Address: G/F, 107 Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Mong Kok
Opening hours: 7:00 am – 11 pm daily

2. Hong Kong People Like Porridge: Fukkee 富記粥品
Usually I don't favour porridge but this restaurant is making me regret not to like porridge. It is hard to find the type of porridge served here in other places, so smooth and tasty. Another thing to highlight is the typical HK-style of how this restaurant operates. Be ready!

Address: 104-106 Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok
Opening: 7.30 am - 11.30 pm
Price: around HKD$20 - 40 per item

3. One Michelin Star Roasted Goose: Yat Lok (一樂燒鵝)
Roasted goose is one of the most famous food in Hong Kong. It is like the must-try "Black Pork" in Jeju. I personally think that Yat Lok serves the best roosted goose. The One Michelin Star is definitely not over-rated.

No word can describe.... :P

Address: Conwell House, G/F, 34-38 Stanley St, Central, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 10 am – 9 pm on Monday – Saturday and 10 am – 5:30 pm on Sunday
Prices: Around 50 – 100 HKD per person, or more for a full goose

4. Fish ball noodles @ Tsui Wah Restaurant 翠華餐廳
When I wanted to go for a quick lunch with Hong Kong style, Tsui Wah is a great place, a restaurants chain with many years of history in Hong Kong mainly serving local food, from rice to noodles and pastry. The one we went this time is at Tung Chung (nearby City Gate Outlet Mall).

Look at it also feel hungry already.... :P

5. Dinner: Yuet Wah Hui Seafood Restaurant 越華會海鮮小館
At least for once, must try to have your dinner in a seafood restaurant here because they have so many different specialty that you may not find in other places. There are a variety of dishes to choose from, depending on your preferences. But why here? we heard that a Hong Kong celebrity often visit this restaurant because he is the boss...but no luck for this visit.

The boss Bobby Au-yeung Tsan-wah (歐陽震華) and this restaurant is famous for the Hong Kong typhoon shelter crab

First time having this. Its called

How can we miss this out when having such a lovely dinner...

Address: 2/F - 3/F Chung Wai Comm Bldg., 447-449 Loackhart Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Causeway Bay (Nearest is to use Exit B Causeway Bay Station)
Opening: 5.50 PM - 3.00 AM

6. Hong Kong Wanton Mee: Chee Kei 池記 (Langham Place)
Ranked 600 of 8,918 restaurants in Hong Kong, it is something that worth trying if you like wanton noodles. I prefer the noodles with beef briskets in soup. This restaurant is inside the Langham Place shopping mall and menu are very systematic (in English too).

Address: Shop 10, Level 4, Langham Place, No.8 Argyle Street, Mongkok, Hong Kong
Opening: 11:00 AM - 11:00 AM

7. Dessert: Yee Shun Dairy Company 港澳義順牛奶公司
Every time I visit Hong Kong, I always go for desserts after meal, specifically the double-boiled milk. Yee Shun have many branches all over Kowloon and Hong Kong island (in Macau too). Normally I will go to the one in Mongkok but this time, I went to the Causeway Bay branch.

If you don't like milk, there are boiled-egg, coffee, chocolate and many more.

Address: G/F, 506 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay
Opening: 12:00 PM - 12.00 Midnight

8. Trending now: Blue Girl Beer
If you notice, Blue Girl beer appear in every TVB Hong Kong drama at this point of time. They are the sponsor for the drama and it is a hit now for the local. Try to pair it with some curry fish-ball (both can easily found in any convenient stores)...excellent!

Why am I not recommending dim sum? Well, I think we can also find very nice dim sum in Malaysia and other countries too. I prefer something that we don't often get in our own place.

My First Experience with Cathay Dragon: Very Good!

2018-04-15T18:36:00.001+08:00

We booked the flight to Hong Kong through Cathay Pacific website but it was a Cathay Dragon that we boarded. The last time I fly with Cathay was three years ago and I think at that time, Cathay Dragon was known as Dragonair. It seems like they have rebranded Dragonair into Cathay Dragon and make it more identical to Cathay Pacific.

For a return flight from Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong during the Easter Holidays weekend that only cost me RM708 net, it is more that what I can expect. The staffs are very friendly and the seats was comfortable, spacious, and clean. The entertainment system was good with some new movies and shows. Not bad at all for the meals too.

Breakfast

Opps, turbulence...

Dinner

My favourite desssets

San Miguel Beer, a must have when flying to Hong Kong. I wonder if they have Blue Girl Beer?

F39 BMW X2 Launched in Malaysia at Lot10 Bukit Bintang

2018-03-21T16:52:00.000+08:00

This morning, BMW launched their first ever X2 model in Malaysia at Lot10 Shopping Mall, Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur. A very sporty and muscular crossover, built with refined BMW powertrain. All these come with a price tag of RM320,800 on-the-road without insurance. For now, the X2 is only available in CBU.

Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling in Love (Cover)

2018-02-19T16:35:00.000+08:00

Sometime, I feel like playing the oldies because it is so relaxing. This is one of my favourite from Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling in Love.

Best Nike Ad: Nothing Beats Londoner (2018)

2018-02-12T16:51:00.001+08:00

This new ad is awesome! Nike just released this new ad on 9th February 2018 to celebrate diversity in London. The ad features London natives like Mo Farah (Olympic hero) and Harry Kane (Footballer).

Screenshot from Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=184&v=n0j_CX1S2es

The uniqueness of this three minute advert is the featuring of 258 young Londoners and its campaign the seek young athlete to post their scene from the ad on Instagram; creating a social media chain.

Do you like it? What say?

Berjaya Times Square in Chinese New Year Mood (2018 CNY Decoration)

2018-02-01T15:22:00.000+08:00

This year Chinese New Year, Berjaya Times Square shopping mall is bringing you to go back in time and experience the old Chinese shopping street. The decorations are so real where you can see how the stalls are being setup in the old days. It brings back a lot of old memories to many and let the younger generation to see how shops and products look like for their grandparents time.

This is one of the best CNY themed decoration I have seen so far for Berjaya Times Square. Come see it yourself.

Locating Berjaya Times Square Shopping Mall?

Visit Akihabara: Anime and Manga fans Favorite Destination (Tokyo, Japan)

2017-10-14T12:05:00.000+08:00

What to do in Tokyo? Well, if you are a fan of anime or manga, Akihabara is must go place. It is a district in the Chiyoda ward of central Tokyo. Akihabara also known as the 'Electric Town' for its famous history of selling cheap electronic gadgets and accessories. Now, it is well known for the stores collector's toys, merchandising, videos, games, and more...

Mega Don Quijote is here too! Check out my review for this discount store >Here<

Two of the main highlight of Akiba is the Gundam Cafe (must come early for the queue and product availability) and the SEGA arcade game centre.

By the way, I was lured to this little shop by the smell of their cheese tart. Pablo, a famous Japanese cheese tart chain.

Although Pablo is available in Malaysia too but I think having this mini cheese tart in the origin country taste better (perhaps...).

All Nippon Airways (ANA) from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo

2017-09-15T18:42:00.000+08:00

I always thought that flying to Japan can be very costly and the better option would be to travel with budget airlines. This time, I prove it wrong because for my recent trip to Tokyo in mid-August 2017, I have chosen All Nippon Airways (ANA) instead of budget airlines. The return tickets cost RM1,596 as compared to other airlines (including budget airlines) ranging from RM1,900 - RM2,400 for economy seat.

ANA allows up to two free baggage check-in per passenger with maximum weight of 23KG each. This is more than enough for a week trip, including shopping for lots of stuffs to bring home. Other than that, the seats are comfortable, spacious, and in-flight entertainment.

There is no shade on the window. It turn dim automatically.

The meal was okay (depending on individual taste and preferences) but the beverage menu is awesome.

Snacks!

Will I want to fly with ANA again? The answer is definitely yes. By the way, for some of their route, there is this Star Wars-themed aircraft!

Hotel Monterey Hanzomon (Tokyo, Japan)

2017-09-15T18:03:00.000+08:00

Ranked #17 out of 75 hotels in Ryokan, Chiyoda on Tripadvisor, this hotel is worth to consider when visiting Tokyo. It is located near (walking distance) to the Imperial Palace and easily accessible via subway, and convenient to and from the two airport in Tokyo (Narita and Haneda). I managed to book this hotel from Expedia.com for only RM250 per night. Here are the pictures:

The hotel main entrance

Unique designed lift

Inside the lift

Walkway to the room...

Coming into the room, it is clean and comfortable, although it is quite small

Medium size bed, just nice for 2 but best for 1 person...

Standard hotel room accessories with 2 bottles of complimentary mineral water daily.

This is interesting. The pillow is quite comfortable and I think it is with some treatment function as per this description card. Maybe someone can translate this to English.

The bathroom is the best in this room, nice interior design and clean. Good water pressure for shower and a bath tub (for a small room in the city center of Tokyo with reasonable price, it is a bonus)

View from the room, nothing great but at least there is a window.

The Hanzomon subway station exit #5 is just opposite the main entrance of the hotel. This exit is with lift, easy to access with luggage.

Overall, this is a great hotel to stay in Tokyo. There must be a reason to be ranked 17th in Tripadvisor. I bet it is very expensive during the Sakura blossom in Spring because of its walking distance to Imperial Palace.

Best Discount Store in Japan: Mega Don Quijote (Mega ドン・キホーテ)

2017-09-07T19:41:00.005+08:00

If you wonder where is the best place for a tourist to shop for 'everything', this discount store is the best place. Mega Don Quijote, also known as Donki is a 24 hours (not all stores but most of it) convenience store that have everything you need, from groceries, household items, clothes, bags, shoes, watches, toys, bicycles, stationary, adult toys, cosmetics, skin care, off-the-shelf pharmaceutical products, electrical appliances and others, to take-out sushi and prepared food. Well, basically from a few Yen until thousands, non-branded items to luxury brand like Louis Vuitton, Rolex and Chanel.

Not to forget that this is a discount store. Meaning, many of their products are on sales with attractive discounts. Also, they have tax refund counter in the store for immediate refund (must show your passport to process for refund).

Simply type Mega Don Quijote on the map and the navigation will lead the way. They are located at major prefecture in Japan. The few that I went were in Shibuya, Shinjuku and previously in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Go see it yourself how amazing is this store where they managed to utilise the limited store space to display almost everything you need. Seeing is believing!

H.I.S Pocket Wi-Fi Rental for Tokyo Trip

2017-09-07T18:38:00.001+08:00

To travel around Tokyo with high speed data connectivity is a must if you want to use the Google Map for navigation or check on the train services. Of course, the ideal is to stay connected all the time even when we are travelling so that we can upload pictures and posts about our visits instantly. Although there are many free Wi-Fi hotspot around Tokyo such as in the subway station, some convenient stores or shops, it is still more convenient if we our own data connection.

There are many options now available to use data when we travel. There are SIM card from various telcos or rent a pocket Wi-Fi router that can be shared with multiple devices. During my recent Tokyo trip, I rented the H.I.S LTE pocket Wi-Fi for just RM15 per day. For my 6 days trip, I only pay RM90 in total (deposit not required as they only need a copy of the credit card, in case of lost or damage of the device). The plus point of their rental policy is that they only charge for the number of days in Tokyo but we can collect the device 3 days before the date of departure and return the device within 3 days after our trip without any charges.

This device uses Softbank 4G LTE high speed network, unlimited data usage and allow connection of up to 10 devices. We are satisfied with the battery life which can perform very well up to 8 hours for 2 connected device (advertised on their website: up to 9 hours).

I have not tried other providers yet but I can happily say that I am very satisfy with this one. The connection was fast and stable, even in the underground street. Most importantly, it only cost RM15 per day which I belief is very reasonable for unlimited data usage.

In case if you want to give it a try, this is their website: http://www.his.com.my/pocket-wi-fi-rental/

6 Days Ramen Adventures

2017-08-30T17:40:00.000+08:00

For my recent trip to Tokyo, I managed to try out different ramen each day. Here are the 6 different ramen I had in 6 days:

Day 1: Ramen Kagetsu Arashi @ Narita InternationalAirport

Arashi is a popular ramen noodle shop all over Japan. The secret to its popularity is soup created from large portions of pork back fat stewed slowly over a low flame. Kagetsu's No.1 dish: Ramen noodles with garlic cloves.

Day 2: Afuri Ramen Tokyo @ Roppongi

Afuri Ramen is famous for their special Yuzu Ramen. I tried the Yuzu Shoyu Ramen and it taste good. Something that I won't get to taste elsewhere, refreshing!

Same like other ramen restaurants, ordering has to be done with this machine.

The menu...check out the drawing at the bottom that says "Sold out". Kawaii!

Day 3: Baikohken Tokyo @ KITTE

This ramen reminds me of Asahikawa. Baikohken ramen is from far north of Japan, Asahikawa. It is pork-based shoyu ramen with a more stronger salty taste. Anyway, the specialty of Asahikawa ramen is the butter and corns in the soup.

Note that there is no English menu in this restaurant but we are glad that the staff can speak good English and explained to us their specialty ramen. Located at the 5th Floor KITTE shopping mall, it is a worth trying ramen restaurant with some nice selection menu and Tokyo Station window view.

Day 4: Ichiran Ramen 一蘭 @ Shinjuku

No doubt, this is the best tonkotsu ramen that I ever had, especially when I can customise it according to my taste.

Since it is one of the Japan's best ramen and it is so popular among tourist, don't expect to get into the restaurant without a long queue. This is just part of the waiting line...

Yup, the restaurant is at basement so another half of the queue starts here from the ground entrance.

Took us nearly 1 hour to get into the restaurant and purchase the tickets at the machine. Still got to wait for seats here....

Despite of the long waiting time, it is worth it.

Day 5: Rokurinsha つけめん六厘舎 @ Skytree, Oshiage

Okay, Rokurinsha is best known for Tsukemen (Special Dip Noodle) but I wanted to try their Soy Sauce and Pork Bone Broth ramen instead. Taste Good! By the way, this is another long queue famous ramen brand in Tokyo.

Day 6: Rokurinsha つけめん六厘舎 (Yes, again!) @ Haneda International Airport

This is the famous Rokurinsha tsukemen. I need to try it myself after seeing many people enjoying it at the Skytree restaurant. The noodles are thicker (like udon) and the dipping soup is very rich of pork bone broth. Personally, I prefer their their regular ramen more than this dipping tsukemen.

That's all for now. My ramen adventures will continue....

Preparing UCC Drip Coffee from Japan

2017-08-30T15:30:00.001+08:00

Let's look at how to prepare a cup of UCC coffee from Japan.

Step 1: Tear from the top of the packaging to retrieve the coffee bag

Step 2: Follow the arrow direction at the top of the bag, tear accordingly.

Step 3: Open up the bag using the side grip and keep the coffee powder in the bag.

Step 4: Place both sides of the grip on your cup.

Step 5: Finally, pour hot water into the bag slowly and let the coffee drip into your cup.

There you go, a nice cup of drip coffee!

Manchester United Casillero del Diablo Red Wine

2017-08-30T14:29:00.000+08:00

I got the chance to try out the Casillero del Diablo legendary collection of Manchester United red wine. Nice packaging and taste great!

My Good Old Memories: 2007 Formula One Malaysia Grand Prix

2017-07-26T22:05:00.000+08:00

On the 8th April 2007, I had the opportunity to watch the Formula One motor race in Sepang, Malaysia live. This was my first and only experience so far to experience such an international sports event.

Yes, this is the Panasonic Toyota Racing, debut in 2002 and left the Formula 1 in year 2009 after 8 seasons.

The winner of the race, Fernando Alonso and second place, Lewis Hamilton, both from McLaren while Kimi Raikkonen at third. Can you imagine Alonso and Hamilton?

This is truly a lifetime experience and will never be forgotten, especially when the lights turn green!

My Good Old Memories: Colleagues and Students (Part 1)

2017-07-22T14:20:00.000+08:00

Some time ago, there were no such thing called Social Network or blogs to share our exciting moments. Finally, it is time to do so for all these amazing memories that I have long kept in a disk drive. This will be the first posting and more to come.

Annual Dinner & Dance 2001 for ABE, CIM and UAD students @ Renaissance Hotel, KL

Miss your morbid questions, Mr. Christopher

Door gits for everyone: Goody Bags by sponsors

The UAD gang!

We miss you Mr. Malick

Nescafe KickStart Campaign 2004 @ Pacific College

We all love free beverage.

The ever supportive students in any activities.

Inter-College Soccer Tournament (ICST) 2004 jointly organised by Pacific College and Metro College

The VIP speech

Price before GST era.

We even got coverage by TV3.

More to come! Follow this blog for updates.

Tourism Event at Pavillion KL - Wonderful Indonesia 2017

2017-05-19T11:49:00.000+08:00

Check out this event at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur - today is the official launching.

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

168, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Opening Hours:

10AM–10PM

Searching for Penguins at Asahikawa Zoo (Hokkaido Winter 2017)

2017-02-01T16:00:00.003+08:00

The highlight of our trip in this winter is to visit the northernmost zoo in Hokkaido, the Asahikawa Zoo. They are famous for the Penguin Parade in Winter only (November until April).

We bought the tour from the Tourist Information Centre at the airport. It is a package with transportation and entrance fee all included for ¥6,130 per person.

The zoo opens at 10.30AM and close at 3.30PM in winter so we have to be there very early to catch the first penguin parade of the day at 11.00AM, or else the second session is at 2.30PM.

To get there, we left the hotel right after our breakfast, which starts at 6.00AM. We took subway from Nakajima Koen to Sapporo Station, which cost ¥200 per journey.

Then we headed to the platform 8 for the train to Asahikawa

I really like the public transportation here. The train arrives on-time and depart on-time.

They have very comfortable seat and spacious too.

Throughout the journey, the views were stunning.

After around 1.5 hours, we reached Asahikawa Station and got into a bus to the zoo. It is another 40 minutes journey to the zoo. The bus tickets comes together with the package we bought earlier. If not, it cost ¥440 per trip. (Bus #41, 42 and 47)

An we arrived at the bus stop outside the zoo.

Here I am, Asahikawa Zoo, after more hours of travelling from Sapporo.

We managed to watch the first morning session of Penguins Parade.

and I continue to be amazed by the animals in the zoo - choegraphy in full force!

Some highlights in the zoo

Up the hill in the zoo, we found a rest area (looks like another entrance to the zoo). We had our lunch at the Garden Terrace Lion where they serve this special Ramen with butter - taste really good!

It is sunset for another day...

We are glad that the weather was good whole day and -1.3 degree was much better than we saw on the weather forecast the day before (-7 degree)

Asahikawa Zoo unlocked! Goodbye!

Waiting for the bus to Asahikawa Station

Tickets ready! Back to Sapporo