Just feel like it

Out of a sudden, I just feel like blogging and I remembered that I had a blog, this blog (which I've abandoned for ages). Yeah, perfect. My mind is pretty much filled with thoughts, endless thoughts about people and the way on how they perceived things. You might question the cause for such thoughts and the motive behind it, but the simple reason is that I feel I begin to see things differently. Having completed semester one of my degree (semester two starts this Monday) and the incidents that happened, I learned a great lesson again... perhaps not from someone that I like, perhaps not the best mentor but I must admit I learned a great lesson and sincerely, I appreciate it and thank you.

Back to my thoughts on people and people's perception. First, I have to say Triumph is in Malaysia, like officially, I think. There is a shop opened recently called Fast Bikes that displays and sell Triumphs in KL. Kudos to them. I couldn't be happier than to see a new Triumph and their modern classic lines up for display at their shops (while I haven't seen them in real life, the pics have already done it for me). Many of you wouldn't understand this joy. After all, for those who really knew me knows that I love motorcycles more than I love girls (oh really? haha). Jokes aside. Dad has been an avid fan of British motorcycles such as Norton and Triumph. It was the same for my grandfather who had at least ten such motorcycles in the past.

Dad has been thinking of trading in his Honda for the Bonneville which really brought up my memory as a kid and the time when he still own a Norton Dominator. Sweet ol' memories sitting on the tank of that Domi, the smell of Castrol engine oil, the thumping of the twin and sweet music emitting through its peashooter pipes. I just wish dad really proceed with his plan to buy the Bonneville. Sure as hell sadden me to chuck off that monster Honda but sorry, Triumph owns it. For sure many would question the decision, I mean a modern 1300c.c fuel injected inline four for a lesser performing bike (100 + hp for less than 70 hp) but I have this to say, people who are crazy about YZFs, CBRs, Ninjas and RSVs aren't really motorcycle riders. They are more racers to me. And sure as hell is too fucking dangerous to race on the roads in Penang (except Tlk Bahang dam and Balik Pulau =P) all thanks to the pathetic road condition. Its really dim wit of those who wants big horsepower and better performance but unable to utilize it; which brings me to such thought that certain people buy certain things not entirely for their purpose. These people buy these things because they stir one's emotion and memories and it was that sole purpose, the reason why it was first created.

On the second matter as a business student, we constantly study job satisfaction, motivation and the likes. It makes us feel as if it made us understand human entirely, their emotion and reaction. But something baffles me. This evening, me and my dad went to this motorcycle shop to have our brake pads changed. It wasn't dad's first visit to the shop, it was my first though. There was four mechanics, all in their late forties or mid fifties working in terrible working condition. They were bare-footed, there was oil smudge all over their body, they were inhaling brake dusts and yet all four of them was so happy. I mean seriously, you can see and feel their joy with jokes and sarcasm thrown on one another, it was like a small family and when dad asked for the foreman that serviced his bike previously, they replied that he has went "back". In hokkien "tui liao", which baffles my dad that why all four was working that hard that the other had went home.

Apparently he died of heart attack (allegedly, he ate too much nasi kandar), a young guy he was, a fat one too and all four made jokes about their dead fat colleague which made the entire shop burst into laughter. It was about 7:30pm and one of them told my dad that the delay was inevitable, there used to be 5 hard working buffalo, one had gone, now left 4 working buffalo (goh chiak lao gu, cit chiak tui ki liao, chun see jiak lao gu). They seem so satisfied with themselves despite the small pay they get, regardless how insignificant their role was, changing brake pads and engine oil. I do not understand where they derive the satisfaction and how, their feeling of content and the motivation that drives them to wake up to such working condition but if I ever had an answer, I guess its the various people that they meet. Thumbs up to the four uncles.

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At last, I found time...

Hello, hello!!! Isn't it weird? Every single time I blog, I always complain that its been crazy long and that I couldn't find any free time to blog until today? Hmmm... It is true, maybe this time. My life's been really busy and hectic. Everything appears to be moving at a very fast pace. The cause, Degree. Wow,when I was in diploma, I did pretty okay. I didn't have any stress, no fear for difficult assignments and definitely no pressure on exams. That made me to believe that degree wouldn't be that hard as what the seniors and lecturers use to say. Well, reality check, I was wrong. Degree is difficult. Believe your seniors and lecturers when they say so. Believe me when I say so. Haha... I suggest you to continue your degree right after diploma (if possible). Why? ...

Well, I would advice all my friends to continue degree right after diploma. There really isn't any solid reason why. It just that I feel its easier for us to catch up considering that our mind is still fresh, able to receive input and learn. The longer we wait, the harder it seems to apprehend all those subjects. A good example would be me. I took my own sweet time right after diploma. 7 months to be exact. My study life took a hiatus of 7 months after my diploma in KDU and the moment I stepped into Inti for my degree, my brain has pretty much slept itself off. It was empty, blank. Any new information, knowledge... I just couldn't understand. Now that its been more than a month, I am glad to say that I have found that balance. Any later and I would be in serious problem... (failing a subs is not what I want, or wish for).

The big question mark. How is Inti? I can say that Inti is okay (though I'm anticipating that their capability is going to deteriorate). The lecturers seem to be very professional and you can actually believe that they know what they say. On the contrary, their facilities is way behind and I mean way way behind KDU. Over the entire month, I could not find a place where I can quietly study or revise. Despite the many tiny cubicles in L3, 6 partitioned areas in L4 and 3 in L6, I just cannot get hold of them. Full time, and I mean from morning till mid afternoon, all of it is being used up.

There just isn't a system like KDU's discussion room rule set in place. Some idiots just leave their bags there and its theirs for the entire day. I even resulted in breaking in into empty classrooms but failed. Why? There isn't any empty classroom to start with. From 8 until 5, all the classrooms are being used up. One class out, the other is in. And with the numbers of new students getting in, I am worried its going to be too crowded and way too few resources to share with. BTW, their library sucks big time. I think I better stop there. What else can I do, I am going to be there for the next 2 years.

Now to my private and not student life. Hmmm... nothing to blog about. I am after all a dull and boring guy. But just a few notes.

Finally, I manage to get my bikes front forks polished and lacquered. My Revere 650 looks different now with the polished forks. If only I have the resources, I would drop the engine, have the frame and rims power-coated, and maybe go a lil extreme by opting for 750cc blocks and 38mm flat side carbs and refit it back. But if only...

Dad just got a few parrots. Love birds to be exact. Noisy but cute seeing two birds kissing one another... hahahaha...

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Happy Chinese New Year

At last, I can finally find some time to blog and it so happens to be the day before the big day. Hmmm... guess you know what I mean. Its Chinese New Year tomorrow. Wooohooo!!! Anyway, perhaps its just some lame excuse that I couldn't find other suitable time to blog, or maybe I was just putting on hold, hoping to find more things/nonsense to blog about. First up...

First up is definitely about college. Guess reality finally struck me. It finally came to my senses that there aren't really any good colleges or universities here in Penang. You can use whatever attributes you want to gauge the colleges here in Penang. Price, facilities, campus, lecturers or any other attributes and you still wouldn't find one bloody hell kick ass education institution. Seriously!!! The age old perception that price equals quality or "you get what you pay for" is nothing but bullshit relatively speaking. At the end of the day, it could only be just me. I mean I could probably be the one and only person to have problems and that just doesn't justify to other people out there.

This was how the story went. I went to my new college for the enrollment the other day. Being a new student there, I didn't understand and wasn't aware of how things were run in that college. Certainly, I was hoping for the best. Well, the staffs I spoke to, my friends and current students gave nothing but good reviews about the college. Obviously, the degree program seems to be good and I wanted to believe that the lecturers there are good. So what could possibly go wrong? Hmmm... It all boils down to human attitude.

Have you been in a situation where it wasn't something you said? It was the way you said it. That is the problem. I filled up the forms, tick those boxes, registered the subjects that I was ordered to and everything went well. Up until the moment where I completed signing all the form that I was asked (in a very funny manner, in front of quite a number of people), "Are you going to pay up today? Please proceed to the bursary to pay up no later than tomorrow or you won't be enrolled". Just what I needed. Coming out of a college that prioritize money more than the students' well fare and going back into another one. Hell yeah, I am going to pay up today... can you stop being such a bitch?

And this "fucked up" attitude just wouldn't go away. I found out that there was a clash in my time table. I went back to the college, approached one of the assistant, told her my problem and you know what she said? "Ohhh... I see, well, you've got to sort that out with your lecturers." Straight up, I couldn't apprehend what she said to me. I was in rage. It was as if the college has washed its hand and has nothing to do with the students' problems. There you have the nerve to tell me to pay up today and you wouldn't help me to sort this problem out? What the hell is wrong with you people?

You (the office/head of program) chose the subject for us, arranged the time table and if there's a clash its our (the students) problem? What's your purpose then? We wouldn't need the head cause she would be doing nothing. She was lucky she gave me her word that she would help me to sort that problem out once the semester commenced. It is only fair then cause if we had chose the subject on our own discretion, it would have been our own responsibility. Anyhow, we'll see how it goes. *Fingers crossed* This could probably be just a glitch. I hope I am not in bad luck ending up in a shitty college again. I want to believe that it is a good college just like the words out there.

Next up, its about shitty people who just wouldn't stop taking advantage off you. No names are going to be mentioned here, but if you think its you, its you. This is how the second story goes. A group of friends hanging out in a club. Some contributed cash while some provided transport. Others threw in their connection. So its a fair game. Everyone has something to offer to that group. Up until one bloody asshole, who happens to be loudest but contributed nothing. Not cash, not transport, not even connection. And it didn't happen only once. It continues to happen and I'm getting sick of it. For someone who seldom goes out like me to get sick of you, damn... I don't even know what to say.

Seriously!!! If you are in someone else car, be grateful. Show some gratitude and stop complaining about the car and especially the driver. If I was the driver, I would just hit the brakes, unlock the door, dump you in the middle of the road and just drive off. So don't play with me (haha). And if you are drinking someone else liquor, go ahead and drink but don't the hell brag about it as if you've paid for it. Last but not least, if you bloody hell have no connection granting access to where the group wants to go, then SHUT UP. This kind of people, they are just a pain in the ass. If you see them, you just want to avoid them. So to all my friends reading this, don't be this guy. Never ever be this guy, okay...

Lastly, the third and final story.....

Well, I guess I better save up for next time or I wouldn't have anything left to say next time...

So until next time, this is See Kay and I've had enough rants today. Happy Chinese New Year and enjoy the holidays... Adios..

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It makes no sense, so help me understand

I'm back in the business of blogging... soon at least. There's pretty much nothing to blog about actually. Nothing interesting or worth mentioning happened lately except that I've been fishing a lot, I'm starting to consider fishing as my second occupation after being a student. Well, I get to keep myself occupied, flex some muscles, stay healthy and earn some side income from it. So I see no harm in continuing to fish for fish, prawns and crabs except the sunburns (which are killing me). Since CNY is just around the corner, it has come to everyone's expectation every year that prices of seafood and other groceries to shot up tremendously and it did. Prices of the all time favorite seafood during CNY such as promfets and prawns has hike up at least 30%. This is due to increasing demand and very very low supply (laws of economics, shortage/scarcity), not because the fishermen are not working but there aren't really much to catch nowadays. Bad news for you guys, good news for CK. Hehehehe...

I don't rely on the market to get my seafood. I catch my own seafood. Hahaha... It is something that I take pride in doing because I rarely see any young Chinese teenagers out there fishing here in Penang and I really have to stress on it racially because I believe most Chinese teenager would probably spend time at shopping complexes or cybercafes. Anyhow, I've been catching a lot of prawns and fish lately. In fact me and my dad caught more than enough prawns to feed the family, we sell them to our neighbours of which half of the money comes to me. Yes... !!! And to my surprise, the earnings that I've collected through fishing was enough for me to pay for my bikes insurance and road tax. I didn't have to go beg mum for the money needed to renew my bike road tax and insurance this year but then I'm broke. I got zero money left as all that money gone... habis... kaput.

Next thing I am going to blog about is about my bike. My 1993 registered Honda Revere 650. Probably one of the (less than 3,my guess) surviving ones here in Penang because I've never seen one before other than mine. Well, talking about renewing my insurance and roadtax, I can't believe the insurance company. I mean the people who calculates the premium, they are true geniuses reaping profits from people. The cost to insure (3rd party) for my bike is more than RM200. I mean come on, its a two wheel transport, fetching no more than 2 people at one time (of which I rarely do) and hardly carrying any luggage.

And the thing is the bike is in complete good roadworthy condition of which would very unlikely cause any harm to other road users. Worse still, the bike despite its age, holds its value pretty well, which means the rider/owner would probably be extra careful when riding therefore poses less danger to other road users. I mean come on, would you want to drop your bike? It will cost thousands to fix it back and that is if you are lucky enough to find parts for it.

So enough complaining and ranting. The thing is, the point that I want to make clear here is, insurance company are a rip-off. Because the government requires all on the road vehicles to be properly insured, we are somehow bound to them. Without the insurance, you can't use your vehicle. Besides that, the premium charged for the same vehicle by almost all other companies are the same. There's no point choosing which company to insure with because at the end of the day, you end up paying the same amount of money.

Well, I do hope someday, somehow, insurance for such motorcycles are calculated based upon their condition, usage and likelihood of being involved in an accident. Although one cannot predict the likelihood of accidents happening, I believe that whatever the insurance company is charging for mopeds and cubs are far more unreasonable, not because its too expensive but because its too cheap (people riding mopeds and cubs will kill me if they see this, though I also own a moped. I am merely making a comparison). The stats always proves that more than 80% of motorcycle accidents are contributed by mopeds and cubs. So what's the rationale of charging the big bikes more when obviously, they are paying out less (3rd party point of view, not first). Big bike hit a car, and small bike hit a car, what much of a difference does it make? Yes yes yes, people here in Malaysia will say that, you can afford the bike, you sure can afford the insurance. Duh, its not the matter of affording it or not, its a matter of the insurance company being fair to us.

And I'd have to blame the government. It is all because of the stupid stupid government protective policy that causes the prices of bikes to be so expensive. AP this AP that. All AP... Aku masuk Pocket dulu. I am a dumb fellow so that to me is AP. You make the big bikes expensive. Then you also charge expensive road tax. I mean WHAT THE HELL? On what basis does the government justify in charging expensive road tax on bikes? RM250 for 501c.c < 800c.c bikes while a <1600c.c car is charged RM90. Come on. How "much" road does the bike occupy compared to the car? Considering that fuel is a subsidized commodity, how "much" fuel does the bike use compared to the car? It just doesn't make sense does it? A vehicle that uses less road, less petrol but is charged more for road tax. Well, its Malaysia. We can't really complain. Even if we do, we are rarely heard because the leaders and policy makers are too busy with other agendas. Its again, the classic case of if you can afford the bike, STFU and pay the road tax.

*stretching my body*

Now that I've express everything, I feel much better. Malaysia is a really weird country. Well, I don't know how road tax are calculated in other countries, I do hope Malaysia have one fair system to calculate road tax be it a car or a bike for private use. If it is to be based on engine displacement, a 650c.c bike should be equivalent to a 660c.c Perodua Kancil and therefore should be charged the same amount of road tax. That is to be fair to everyone. This should be a free country. We are suppose to be free to choose what we want. I see no reason why a weirdo like me, who prefer bikes over cars should be charged extra. Why should I be penalized because I prefer to use a big bike. And the excuse of being able to afford the bike so I should be able to afford the road tax is plain stupid and doesn't suffice. If big bikes are to be charged in such a manner, because their owners are rich buggers, then the government should not call them road tax but "Because You Are Rich and You Chosed a Motorcycle" tax. The end.

P/s: I am selling off my moped in case anyone is interested.
Yamaha Lagenda Z 110 with electric starter, 2006, 26000kms, Good condition (I assure you that), Accessories includes Racing Boy 811 alloy rims, Givi E26 top case and monorack. I am not putting a price to it. If you're interested, give me your best offer. If its reasonable, I will definitely sell it.

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My motto for this year

I took this from Facebook. It was written by a friend of mine during his class. Well, why don't you check it out? I figure good notes should be shared with everyone.

CLARITY ABOUT THE FUTURE

One day, a man faced God and asked, God what future do YOU have for me?

God answered, Son, if I showed you your future, would you still be the man I want you to be?

Just like this man, we are all so eager to know our future. We are so impatient for life to unfold in front of us. Yet, if we really knew the future, would it bring us comfort or only the crushing of all hope? By knowing the future, wouldn't all the mysteries and infinite possibilities of life fade away?

Would a sunrise be more majestic? Would a feast be more scrumptious? Would I be loved more just because we know my end?

Knowing the future is a paradox wrapped in an enigma. For in knowing more, the more we also fail to understand. Even if the the future was laid out clearly for us, seeing leads not to solice and acceptance but only to despair and doubt. Despair that we know so much and can do so little, doubt that we see a destiny but grow powerless to change it.

To know the future is like realizing approaching death. And just like death, its realization comes in five stages, DENIAL, ANGER, BARGAINING, DEPRESSION and finally ACCEPTANCE. Denial that it can't be so. Anger that every road leads to one destination. Bargaining for just a little more time to turn things around. Depression that we deserve so much more. And acceptance that all hope has been extinguished.

Then maybe ignorance is indeed bliss. And perhaps we do not need to know the future to have clarity. All we might need to know is that we do not have to walk alone along future's dark hallways!

What says you? Do you agree? Well, I agree. Its true that as human we are always driven to know more, it is as if knowing more, knowing what the future has install for us will give us more power or control. Perhaps its human nature that we become restless when faced with the unending uncertainties. Sadly, the irony is the future is just too hard for us to handle. Just like what was said in the note, if we know our future, will it bring comfort or will if crush all hopes? I mean if you know that you're going to be married to a very fat and ugly wife 5 years from now, will you just commit suicide jumping off a cliff or the Penang bridge cause its not your college or high school sweetheart? Now that's a good example. Or perhaps if you know that you're going fail badly in life despite all your academic qualification, will you be happy knowing that for the rest of your life, you'll be stuck in a small cubicle doing admin stuff earning peanuts for your family? Now that certainly kills the fun in life.

Who knows what you'll find at the end of a corner? It might be a wall, it might be the end the road or maybe there's still a long road ahead. Just accept what life throws at you and save yourself the grief. My motto for this year, Just let it be and go with the flow. I'm so tired of planning this and that, wanting to do this or that; I figure why don't I just live life one moment at a time. If its mine, its mine. If its not, then I will just have to learn to let go and forget about it. Ever heard of the saying, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life"? Wow!!! Nevertheless, at the end of the day, its always comforting to know that there's always someone beside you, guiding you, supporting you... someone to always share both your sorrow and happiness.

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2010... 2 more years and we're dead... (hahahaha)

Its the year 2010... Wooooo!!! and we are one year closer to the end of the world which is 2012. Hahahaha. Anyway, I was just bullshitting. Plus, I don't really believe that the world's going to end in 2012. Okay, back to topic. So, how was my new year celebration? Well, it was pretty dull. I visited a friend, dropped by his place and got some "tapau" from him. Thanks to him, I was treated to a super delicious meal. Naughty people bailed out on him LAST MINUTE but he had already prepared the food. Seafood pasta and grilled chicken stuffed with mango just to name a few. And don't get me started on that wonderful homemade ham with pineapple which got my entire family giving praise to it. After that meal, I was completely knocked out and I bid adieu to 2009, sleeping like a dead pig of which I woke up at 8:30a.m this morning.

Anyhow, my Christmas eve celebration was much... errr... not better... just more happening/dramatic. I went to UPR and entered MOIS with my ex-classmates. Hell it was packed that day even though I was in the VIP area. I soon joined my other group of friends (from college) at Look Bistro. I remain that I didn't drink a lot that night, just a few glasses of liquor, and maybe 1 glass of beer. Well it was after Look Bistro where things started to get interesting. LOL. I am not going to fill you guys up with the details. The classic case of drinking too much, getting drunk and doing stupid things. Full stop. And what an achievement for me. No ciggy for like ages already. I couldn't even remember the final time I puff. Hahahaha...

And days back, before Christmas, I followed Connie with her friends to Butterfly Farm. Duh!!!!! Funny bunch of people with unstoppable humour. They can joke for hours non-stop and hell yeah they can eat. It been awhile since I've seen a group of people with such good appetite chowing down on laksa and nasi goreng. Nevertheless, that's it from me for this post. Happy New Year again guys. May 2010 brings more happiness and joy to everyone.

P/s: More often that not, in the process of seeking something new, something better, we lose something which has far more value to us. Ourselves. Keep that in mind!!!

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