A matter about Hong Kong that you don't know

Today my dad came across something about Hong Kong in Malaysia Today.net. and I was very happy to read it. It was a simple article by Simon Templar who recently went there and had many good things to say about it, which of course was being compared with Malaysian qualities, which in my opinion has very little qualities to be said about ( unless you really really don't realise what Malaysia actually is )


I was happy to see that articled because now I can happily go there without any fear whatsoever.


Some people, no actually Alot of people have always told me how rude HK people were and that I shall suffer studying there. No matter how much I try to bring up the subject of it being Asia's First Top University this year, or that it's standards were undoubtly unmatched by our Local unis ( no offense to anyone, our uni's are good, but not like HKU) there was always this underlying fact that it's a doggone chinese country full or rude and mean people.


I myself was worried about that. But I feel deep down inside that there really won't be any problem if you don't put the block about it within you. When you really start thinking things will go wrong, then it will. When you have no preconceived ideas of anything, then things happen almost well for you.


But let me be frank.


I have no right to boast nor am I exeptionally trying to impose my arrogance on being given a place in a prestigious university. I suppose I was lucky, or maybe the selection commitee saw something in my essay or my credits that made them accept me hence. I believe if anyone of my friends here had applied there this year, with their abilities and credentials, they would also have landed in HKU. Trust me, HKU considers everyone who has something unique to offer.


This is what I observe about it.


To me, I am very honored and very indebted to HKU for giving me a chance to be in it. I Swear. So, I won't waste time suffering where I can instead can be doing well.

This is the main building of HKU

Nonetheless, every university is unique in its own, not just HKU or Ivy leagues or Oxbridge level universities. As long as you graduate and work with rewards ( where its expected ) it's all worth the while. We just have to make use of the chances presented to us.


I suppose many people would be wondering WHY I chose to apply to HKU, instead of UK universities, or Australian or even European ( I can't apply to US unis cause they Want only SATs... ). Why the chinese university of all places?


I say Why not?


It's a good university, which is worth my parents money, It's shorter in duration and it's a country of chances. We should all expand our horizons and not just limit ourselves according to the society's interest. Following the society only leads to our stretching our selves to fit in and risk loosing our happiness along the way. I learnt that as well.


But just to add,
I don't fear being alone in a place where all are chinese, I've been in that shoe many times before and I guess it's just fate and now it's not foreign for me. Nevermind that I'm vegetarian, I'll manage, somehow, maybe I'll cook or find a muslim shop to eat Malay like food. And I don't mind having no family backup nearby to run to ( like other Malaysians here who often seek out family support wherever their kids go to ) instead I can be the family member situated there for others coming what?




:D Hehehe

I've stopped fighting what comes. I guess my experiences in the past has taught me well. :D

To my friends studying here and relations, you're all welcome to come to HK anytime ( flight is cheap via airasia) and be sure that I will be glad to take ya'll around ( places to visit and food ). My cousin and his family will be coming in November, so I'm glad that's one family group I get to see before I come back ( if I decide to ).


Here's an excerpt of what Simon Templar wrote:

Hong Kong used to be known as a country of rude people. If you had gone shopping there years ago, browsing and flipping through items have better led to a purchase. Or else you are gonna kena from the auntie manning the store. Waiters and waitresses were infamous for throwing dishes around the table. And talking very loudly too as well. But Hong Kong today has left behind their arrogance and poor manners. The people of Hong Kong have changed to survive.....

Click on his name in this article view the whole piece. It's good read, trust me. Very short too

My Long Love

This Deep Green Forest was one of my all time favorite pictures when I was 12 years old.

I always associated this path lined with those great boughs of fresh ancient leaves with my all time love LOTR. That was when I was reading the book before the movie premiered. Ahhhhh....

Nostalgia.

Just wanted to share this piece of my Love. At long last I found it.

My Mandarin Class, wo de hua yu shangke.

I should have blogged about this weeks ago, but I forgot, following some interesting things that diverted my attention.

Presenting my Mandarin class, or wo de hua yu shangke. Sorry , the pinyin is inaccurate. :D

I ended about 3 weeks ago, somewhere in June. So now I can speak, read and write basic chinese. Sorry, I can't hold a full conversation, but it's a great survival tool. I mostly recognise the words, but since I have the basic and can write it, I'll probably continue on in HKU later. They give these classes along with our degree! Hahaha XD

So, wo hui shuo hua yu, dan shi,wo shuo yi dian'r!

Don't worry, my tamil's pretty solid too. No, I can't speak it well, but I can understand and read every single word! And can more or less understand. :D
Alas, this is nothing great when compared to some of my friends already into their 6th language course. But At least I can go about the oriental world and know a few sentences to help me get information straight.

Besides, I'll be forced to learn cantonese at HK, so better for me!

:D

My picture with my Lao shi and my Tong Xues'


Me and Madam Liu, my lao shi. She thought me Hong Kong lifestyle and the dos and don'ts. Their culture as well as Mandarin.
Those few of my classmates who followed the class until the end. In the begining there were 12 I think. At the end only 4 of us remained. It was funny at the beginning. The pakistani, the yemeni, the korean, really sounded strange speaking mandarin ( not to mention me ) but they dropped of soon.
Jonathan took this shot. On my right, Clements will be joining me at HKU next year! I inspired him to come along. Hehe and the other guy is Win kit I think. He hurt his ankle the week before, so that's why the crutches are there.

All in all, I had fun with them!

Oh My God!

And here I am taking that freaking exam in a few weeks,and people in my class finds great pains to understand its components!
WTH and WTH?!

Real brilliant girl.

A nine year-old girl in India named M. Lavinashree has passed the
Microsoft Certified Professional Exam, becoming the youngest person to
ever pull it off (smashing the record previously held by a 10 year-old
Pakistani girl). The youngster has a long history of making records in
her short life — including reciting all 1,300 couplets of a 2,000
year-old Tamil epic at the age of three — and now she's now cramming for
the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Exam.
When Lavinashree was one and a half years old her mother, M.Induleka,
began to teach her English alphabets playfully. The alphabets were
plastic toys and when her mother dictated the alphabets one by one, she
pointed out them accurately. She also learnt to identify the symbols of
our nation, national anthem, national song, flags of various nations,
leaders of our country, countries and their capitals, fruits, vegetables,
flowers, shapes and many others.When her elder sister Lavanya started
studying Thirukural, Lavinashree forced her mother to teach her the
kurals and started repeating the words effortlessly "We never forced her
to study. She developed her own interest and we only acted as
facilitators," says K. Munisamy, father of Lavinashree.


Her site:

Rest In peace Michael Joseph Jackson

I ain't a big fan of the man, but you gotta hand it to him, his music really is unique. And though he should have cut another 2 or 3 more albums, but the ass-holes who gave him all hell, more or less denied his genius from shining through again.






Here are some of my favourites:

Black or white
Smooth Criminal
Earth Song
Rock with you
Thriller

These are my most favourites. The rest are good, but I like these most.

Now that he's dead, let's hope he reincarnates into a better life and somehow creates more better music. Out beating even his own at present.

And truth be told, there is NO one else who can possibly do what he did in the music world. His dance, moonwalking, his choice of words and the music melody-that is unparallel and impossible to achieve.
He's next to Elvis, Lennon and Sinatra, and the Beatles.

But I believe there's always someone out there to take over. Just not the current contemporaries. They are cliche members of society.

I bet you, the next few days, fans all over and also non fans would be listening to his songs. And instead of crying like hell, people will be reliving the feelings when they first heard it years ago. Just like me and my family.

I think his death isn't a sad one, but rather a joyful one!

So, here's a little to think about MJ, until North Korea and Iran take over again.

Good God the Goat's Gone!

I realised something today, about how diverse English was in reality. Just a little thing to share here.

I found out there were 5 levels that you can say something in English.Here's an example I use related to time:

Level One ( Also known as the socialite and high class English- or Tolkien Hobbit's English): I would like to ask, if you will, as to what is the time now, please? Thank you very much.

Level Two ( The level commonly known as the upper middle class ) : Excuse me, May I know what is the time now Please? Thank you.

Level Three ( This here is the middle class or business level ) : May I know what's the time now ? Thanks.

Level Four ( This is ordinary English, curt and simple ) : What's the time now ?

and last and least is level 5

Level Five ( Also known as Malaysian English- or Singaporean English ) : What time now ar? or What time now? Time now what ar? Now what time? What's d'time now?

Cool huh?

XD

Well, anyone's free to dispute. I'm no authority on English. It's just what I observed so far.
And say nothing about the title I gave. I just feel like saying it.

General for now

Okay, my dad took a look at my blog and commented on how extroverted and general it is. He said I should be more introverted, and speak a bit about myself, like Meena.

He is right.

After all it is my blog, where I had intended to write down my personal feelings. Alas, how some of my feelings backfired on me on some occasions.And some exaggerated on irrelevant occasions. I didn't mean to hurt people in my writings but sometimes, I tend to exaggerate.

So the block on writing my mind out in the open has come about.

I have nothing to say about myself at present. Because a lot of me is seething at some cruelty and insensitivity I see done on innocent people.

And deep down, I want to really do something about this whole thing, but what can i do?
Maybe for now, I'll be extroverted, but when everything is better or maybe when my circuits are fused, I'll be a bit introverted.

For now, everything will be above ground level.

What would you do "If today was your last day" ?

One of my favourite Nickelback songs.





Think about it. What would you do?



My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?
What if, what if, if today was your last day?

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are

So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
'Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

The Power of Words

Let me share with you something I learned recently about the power of words.

I got a first hand experience of it and I must say, despite what you may think of it, a single word can lead to a catastrophic damage in a person's life or the greatest blessing ever bestowed upon.

A lot of successful people will readily agree to this statement that words, meaning what you say, think and hear will readily affect your subconscious mind so deeply and so silently. A single statement said will lie dormant in a persons mind until he finally reacts to it unconsciously.

Just like what Rudyard Kipling said, "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."

And indeed, it's the most potent and desirable thing used by many an individual for their uses, good and bad. Let me indulge you here on what I mean by it.

How did you think Hitler got all of Germany up and raging to annihilate the Jews? He spoke. Words that many don't dare to utter in those days for fear of the government. He tapped into their subconscious, digging up their dislikes on their then economic predicament and what they should do about it. Simple and yet disastrous. There was no other way the Germans would have accepted his ideas were it not for his choice of words and the way he phrased them.

His words moved them, and subsequently gave them reason to kill, in the honor of his words.

Another example is Gandhi. He used his words to create the desire for peace. His humble manner of speaking greatly elevated and contrasted by the dark disposition that the angry Indians were put into by the Damning British residing there. He spoke words that gave them reason to fight without violence. He gave them courage and they protested vigorously till they won, by the might of his most wise words.


These are just some global examples of the Good and bad of Words. But in essence, a word is nothing more than just a few alphabets or strokes ( as in the oriental languages like tamil, mandarin, japanese..)

But what about the minute everyday words said by ordinary people? Oh, they have the greatest impact on anyone's life. In the working place, in school, and at home, the words you say can either divide or unite the people.

One person can be bad mouthing about his colleague or school mate, gain all the glory of his words from other fools and cause intense disaster to the person he speaks of.

Another person can disastrously break down a relative's ambitions and good hopes by simple hopeless statements that will stay embedded in their mind and eventually cause a hell of a problem on their path!

Word is man's greatest tool for doing plenty in his life.

Let me now tell you what a word can do to make your life better. This I got from a few self help books, which can help by the way. A few simple steps to see how powerful words really are:

1) For the whole day today, keep repeating to yourself that everything is alright and nothing is wrong. Don't stop and don't let your mind go back to being all gloomy and forlorn.

2) For another whole day try thinking all the dark and bad things you can about yourself and don't stop! Do it for about 20 minutes. After that see what happens to yourself the whole day after.

3) Now think about all the good and the brightest things about yourself! See what happens later. You'll feel better.

4) Speak all things good and positive to your family and friends. Don't bring up negative things and news. If possible break bad news positively.

5) Say positive things to yourself in the early morning after your coffee, about your financial status, family problems, friends and what else. And believe in it!

And then watch what happens.

But be warned, words are powerful. Any one word is a special tool in itself. Things like Can't, No, impossible and not possible, difficult, hard to say holds unique understandin in your mind. So refrain from saying that at all.

Nice words like Can, Definitely, thanks, good for you, wonderful, go for it, keep it up, you can can do wonders in the biggest ways.

Keep around good company who help built you up with their goodness and gracious words and you will reap the benefits.

Oh, yeah. Listening to good music with absolutely great meaning works just as well!

Now,
Just like this word here, you've automatically absorbed this into your mind now and somehow it'll work throughout your day. Seriously, today will be a relatively relaxed and calm day for you. You've just got to believe it!

Stupid UN, Stupid World.

Confounded!

That's all that I can say now. Certainly I can spurt out four letter words, and every other kinds of words, but the reality is I am an insignificant little girl whose blog is not even seen by anyone beyond her circle of aquaintances. Some may read it, but it's of no consequence.

I'll write what I want anyways.

I had always had the confidence in the UN, for being responsible, at the least sensible of what is just and what is absolutely wrong.

I was mislead by their involvement with Jews and Arabs, Moslems and Christians. Vietnamese and Africaans.

I thought they had their brains on their spinal cord. Seems otherwise.

Just reeling from the shock of thousands of dead, lost relatives and friends, and the loss of a solid leader, ass holes in Suits decided to vote against the Tamils and declared Sri Lanka Victorious.

They said the Sri lankan government was right in Shelling, and bombing and burning the tamils to clear the terrorism in their country. The countries to vote for this were China, Brazil, India, Pakistan, some others and South Africa.

Okay China was expected for they only wanted to keep their favouritism with Sri lanka since they wanted to build some god forsaken port in that country, And India being Assholes never liked Tamils and the LTTE for some stupid assasination on Rajiv Gandhi, Pakistan? Well They just didn't like want to seem supportive of Terrorists at the moment.

Here comes South Africa. when I read that they voted against the tamils I went " what the hell?"

They, who went through Apartheid, discrimination and stuff are for the the very kind of discrimination and killing done on Tamils.

And to think we were sorry for these no good blackies.

Like hell I'll ever try to be helpful to Africans anymore. Ya'll can rot all ya'll want.

It seems the whole world is against tamils. Okay, including some selfish tamils themselves. Loads of wrong was done on these earthen colored folks. They didn't do anything! All we wanted was our own land. Nothing else.

Our fights, struggles and deaths was for our own home. It's not lie the Al Qaeda or the taliban who are intent on carrying on the crusades war. No!

We just want our home. And together christians, moslems and buddhists held hands and sang Hallelujah, Allahuakbar and Om Bodhisattva to our downfall. Oh, very nice.

And to think, Sinhalese whose religion is of Buddha's teachings violated it all by killing and not showing compassion. You have brought shame and disgrace to the name of buddha and all Buddhists on this earth. I am disgusted to even acknowlegde any Sinhala as buddhists.

I want everyone to know that when tamils are oppressed the least bit. One hint of challenging us in anyway, one slip up, one mistake in killing our people coldly and brutally, you can be damned sure that we'll get up and stamp all to their places. Thereis no stopping this. You unleashed the pogrom on us, acknowledged it as just and right and closed all eyes to the obvious and tomorow you'll wake up to find your entire state trashed to smithereens. I meant this metaphorically of course. We'll work out a way to show ourselves wisely, unitedly and ultimately unviolently.



Now, look at these pictures and ponder. You are that, that child and that man, those people. And were you that, what would you feel, what would cross your mind then? Fear? Confusion? Tired? Loss of hope.

No, you can't feel this now. Your money is important. That wealth and comfort you garnered. Current work problems and god forsaken issues. That matters, not some nonesense from some unknown place in Asia. Heck, asians always have trouble. They don't know how to be professional and diplomatic. Always fighting for stupid reasons like land and rights. We have courts and laws for that. Etc, etc and bla bla bla..

That's what you say and think.



Think Again.


She could have been happily playing with school mates and eating good food made by mom.

To think those were once homes, neatly arranged and grown by a close knit community.


I wonder what that boy feels now," Taking more pictures? "


People see this and say," eh, that isn't genocide." Excuse you.







I doubt anyone would change their minds. People are so conceited in their gross mentality to feel anymore compassion or remorse. So, basically this post is meaningless in all it's existence. Just like everyone else.

Just know, that these here aren't the worst of the lot. There is much more.