POEM - What is lfe?

Another simple but beautiful and meaningful poem to share with all.......

What Is Life?

Life, cannot be represented by words,
It is something which one feels deep inside one's heart,
One will get the real meaning of life when one has gone
through all that one has to go through:
Like loving other people,
Like frustrating over something,
Like experiencing hatred, sorrow,happiness.........
All that involving the feeling of one,
The heart of one, and the mind of one,
Only one has gone through all these experiences, then
one will realise what is meant by life!
One will,
feel content after achieving these,
See clear this world,
and will value life.
The life that one has finally come to know!!

A Simple Stir-Fry Mixed Vegetable

This simple dish comprises of young corn, lotus roots, brocolli, leek and meat. Though it is just a simple dish but it's nutritious.

Recent studies confirm that lotus roots were found to be rich in dietary fiber, Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B6, Phosphorus, Copper, Manganese, and others while it is low in saturated fat. Brocolli however contains high level of the glucosinolate compound glucoraphanin. A breakdown product of this was found to neutralize damage to cells and so help to prevent cancer.

For infor, lotus roots are used as vegetables in soups as well as sitr-fried dishes. Though it doesn't looks nice but it really taste great. So, lets eat more of these vegetables which are good for health.

Beware of the effects of Price Hike!!

Before the 'price hike', crime rates in and around Kuching City is already on the increased, almost everyday you heard of such happenings in the mass media.......

After the announcement of the price hike for petrol recently, another new crime is at large....... Guess you must have heard of it too...... Stealing of petrol from vehicles with a new technique - Unscrew the tank's screw from under the car, then let the petrol flow out from there!! See how creative human can be when they are in a "devastating situation" - anything can be done!!

Another price hike has been announced which takes effect last sunday - price hike for stationery and printing........ I just can't imagine what will be the next crime then????

Now, if we care to observe in places such as Market, Coffeeshops/Food Courts, Supermarkets........ and even on the road, we will see that there are lesser people compared to previously. With the present price hike situation which resulted in the increased of prices of everything......... guess, this is the time for us all to be 'cost conscious'. The word 'cost saving' should be in everyone's vocabulary for the time being, if we want to have a smooth sailing through this critical situation. Finally, I wish that this situation will finally be over soon and everything will be back to normal.

'May God Bless Each & Everyone Of Us Safely Through It'

From Frustration, Anger......To Self Contentment!

The intention to do a write-up on 'why I give up my working life' has long been in my mind, but just waiting for the right time and mood to put it in writing.

If you have read my earlier blog dated 22nd February 2008 on "A sharing on my working life" you will understand what type of working life I am leading all these years. As mentioned, I continue to be a persistent worker despite all odds. From the beginning of my working life, I don't have the intention to work till I retire at the age of 55, my plan is to have an early retirement when I reach fifty. I have a reason for this decision..... "I don't intend to work till I look old, with grey hair or maybe by then being absent-minded or still working when I am a grandmother" and another thing is "my children would be all working by then, so can relax and enjoy life". Guess you all might be thinking what an old-fashioned person I am but personally I think of it as 'Bitter in the beginning and sweet in the end' - so since I've been working hard at a young age, so I deserve to retire earlier!

Working in a so called 'Giant' Company and in this Globalisation Era...... there are many drastic changes from time to time. Frequent top management changes really makes a chaos not only for the company but also for all employees, especially those of the lower levels! No matter how hard we work, our past records are not being seen as they never knew us at all. What they care is their own personal gain!!

The management have decided to Subsidiarised more of its Units or Sections as an easy way out to get rid of its employees - one after the other!! We can still tolerate at first as Options are given to the affected employees to choose. But situations got worst when management do not keep up to their promise and those who chose not to opt to the new subsidiary company are given Letter of Notice of Termination!!! "It is as good as no option given" - Take or Leave!!

We are indeed lucky as we are Unionised, and with a strong Union behind all it's employees the situations are being pursued. But off course, the affected workers' feelings of anger and frustrations are there with their work morale down!! This is the most torturing situations we've ever experienced in our working life!!

My dear friends, I am one of the affected people as mentioned...... with the Union's effort to settle the problem - the notice of termination is being withdrawn, and the affected staffs being redeployed but...... there is still no end to it!! Wanna know why??? Well.... for my case, I am being redeployed to another Unit, but soon enough that Unit is also being subsidiarised....... It is like a proverb "Out of the tiger's mouth, into the lion's mouth instead"......

See how frustrated the whole situation is???? To be frank with you all..... at first I really feel angry and frustrated for all that the management have done!! But after giving it a deep thought and a good discussion with my husband, and with a new plan in hand..... things seems to change for me. With a strong decision in mind, I decided to leave the company through a scheme called VSS. This is no looking back for me and no regrets as well. Afterall it is only four years earlier than my expected plan.... It is better to leave than to live in stress, working in such an unstable situation!

Lucky me, as just before I left I managed to voice and pour out all my frustrations and anger through the two rounds of picket which our Union organised. I really feel satisfied!!!! Oh..... What A Big Relief!!!! It is through all frustrations and anger that I finally found self contentment........

"Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and a happy purchase" ~ John Balguy

"If you are content, you have enough to live comfortably" ~ Plautus

"Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty" ~ Socrates

My 100th Post..........

To imagine myself writing my 100th post today is unbelievable....... When I started writing my first blog on 30th January 2008, I am just giving myself a try, and is having this second thought of whether I will continue or not.

Each passing day as I set my mind into thinking more ideas seems to come into my mind and it really helps to boost up my determination to write more. My sincere thanks also to those who get to read my blog and give positive comments. It is indeed a nice feeling to know that people from near and far care and love to read my articles and giving me encouragements to write more.

"Kind Words Are The Music Of The World"

"Kindness In Words Creates Confidence"

Before I end this blog, let me share with you three very meaningful quotes. Once again, thanks and hope that you will all stay with me. Regards and God Bless!!

"A man can do all things if he but wills them"
~ Leon Battista Alberti ~

"When a man feels throbbing within him the power to do what he undertakes as well as it can possibly be done, this is happiness, this is success"

~ Orison Swett Marden ~

"Success doesn't come to you....... you go to it"

~ Marva Collins ~

Singing not as a career but a hobby........ (Part 4)

With Karaoke lounges everywhere, people tends to have more opportunity to show-off their singing talents. Unlike the olden days..... they can only sing in the bathroom when they take their shower...... What a great difference indeed!!!

In my working days, I tend to sing out my frustration, tension and stress when I'm off from work...... most of the time at home with our very own 'Home Theatre'...... or once a while with friends/colleagues at Karaoke Lounge. Today, though I am not a worker, I still Karaoke but not for purpose of releasing stress, frustration or tension BUT for enjoyment instead!! Whenever I have the mood, I'll just pluck my MIC into the system..... and off I sing!

Music has been in my blood since when I was very young, so I really need music no matter what I do..... when I am doing housework, cooking, cleaning or even writing my blog...... I will sure turn on some music to go along with it........ Oh....... what a relaxation environment indeed!!!

Let me share with you this short poem by Stacy Heller about Music.......

Music,
Music is Life,
Without it we would be in strife,
Music is my whole world,
Without music my life would deserve to be hurled.

Music is love,
Music is like a dove,
Music is passion,
Where do you think everyone gets compassion.

Music is what keeps us alive,
It helps us thrive,
Music consumes you,
It never wants to say adieu.

Music.

Oh..... What A Building???

Have been keeping track of the progress of this 'giant' building for quite a while...... The picture on the left is taken last year 2007 and on the right just last week. In the beginning, the building seems to look odd though...... but today, with it's building structure and shape in place, guess...... not bad eh!!

This 9-storey high building covered 172 acre and situated at Pangkalan Sapi on the banks of Sarawak River, Petra Jaya, Kuching, will be the venue for future Sarawak's State legislative assembly sittings - "The New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building".

Guess what??? I've found out some great infor about this building...... The distinctive "payung" (umbrella) roof of the new DUN Complex is an icon for Sarawak. The architecture of the complex combines unique elements of Sarawak's heritage with State-of-the-art intelligent building automation systems, multimedia communication facilities, and environmentally-friendly features.

So...... will update you all again with more fantastic photos when the building is fully completed. Stay with me my friends......... & take care always........!!

The Day & Night View of 'The Astana'

The Astana (palace in English), situated on the north bank of the river, opposite the waterfront, is a majestic building with a romantic history. It was built in 1870 by the second Rajah, Charles Brooke, as a bridal gift to his wife Margaret.

Today, it is the official residence of the Head of State of Sarawak. As it is an official residence, the Astana is not open to the public. Visitors are allowed the pleasure of strolling around the Astana's beautifully landscaped gardens, which are decorated with ethnic artifacts.

I couldn't help sharing these two photos with you all as it is indeed a beautiful scene, especially the night view with the reflections on the calm and peaceful Sarawak River.

Learning To Learn From Experiences..........

I would like to share this 'Note from the Publisher' of a Women Magazine which best describes today's highly competitive work environment. I sincerely hope that it will also be a form of teaching for us all, so as to better improve our working life for the benefits of all........

In the humdrum of our daily work, we are often confronted with issues, concerns, problems and challenges. In many ways these are learning opportunities. We go through many experiences in our work life, and no two experiences are exactly the same.

However, you often find people making the same mistake twice even though the first experience would well have taught them and wised them up in preparation for the future. The difficulty is that, not all of us have learnt to learn, particularly from experiences. Learning to learn is becoming a critical skill in today's highly competitive work environment. Having a lot of experiences in itself is not a guarantee of having a lot of knowledge or wisdom. You may possibly have a person with 10 years experience, yet fairs much poorer as a performer than someone with less.

In my experience, there are certain not-so-desirable habits that Malaysians have when it comes to learning from experience:

Firstly, we have a tendency to focus only on the content of an experience rather than derive principles or insights from it, for example, focus on what and who rather than why. If something goes wrong, we tend to find out what and who were responsible, and then we stop at that. The "why's" are not asked at all, and hence, no real learning occurs. In post mortem meetings of events (if at all carried out), people focus on what happened rather than why it happened and how to ensure it does not happen again.

The second habit is a tendency to discount other people's experiences as irrelevant or inconsequential to one's own scenario, primarily because the "content" is different. So often, when I present concepts and principles to managers based on certain experiences or cases, the tendency to say "Oh, but we are in a different industry (or country)" is often there, before we can even sufficiently reflect on these experiences to derive learning points.

The third is the tendency to look for the "right answer", ie, what we should do rather than how we arrive at the appropriate action. Perhaps the habit stems from our schooldays when our teachers would ask us a question and we were expected to give tham a "right answer". We are taught to regurgitate rather than to think. In the real world, there may be more than one right answer, or maybe none at all.

"The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn"
~ Alvin Toffler ~

Stamp Collection - A one time hobby

Stamps Collection is a one time famous hobby of many people, but for today's younger generation it seems to be fading off....... This hobby is no more popular but I still believe that there are still someone out there who still enjoys keeping those collections and even exchanging them with those who are having the same interests.......

I would like to share with all my readers 'A Commemorative and Special Issues of 1998 Australian Stamps' which was given to me as a souvenir while attending an International Women Workshop years back. I sincerely hope that readers can view it clearly as I've to scan it for purpose of this sharing.

Maritime Heritage: The Romance of Sail



(Left) Australian Olympic Legends (Right) Queen's Birthday

(Left) 50th Anniversary Fleet Air Arm (Right) Heart Health

Farming Australia

(Left) Australian Rock 'n' Roll: The Early Years
(Right) Endangered Birds

(Left) Australia-Singapore Joint Issue
(Right) Youth Arts Australia

(Left) The Teapot of Truth (Right) Butterflies of Australia

Bass and Flinders

Planet Ocean


(Left) 50th Anniversary UN Declaration of Human Rights
(Right) Christmas

I am indeed very honoured to have this special collection, not only the unused stamps but also the full descriptions of each category as well as the issue date of each stamps and also the name and photo of the designer. Special thanks to my friend from Australian Post!!

Sharing a Quote

"Flowers....... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world"

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

I believe that by looking at the picture above, you will all agree with me that this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson is really meaningful.

In today's modern world which is full of competition in all areas, thus resulting in so much stressful lives, and people living a hectic lifestyle day in and day out...... well..... we really need to refocus our minds and very self to something else which can makes our life better. Flowers or plants can be one of the best remedy to it.

During weekends or public holiday, if you do drop by at the pottery shop on the way to airport, you will sure find many Kuching Folks buying pots, plants, flowers, earth, fertilizers, etc..... Gardening is a very good form of hobby.......furthermore if the flowers in your garden blooms..... your life too will be happy and cheerful. As Hans Christian Anderson says...... "Just living is not enough........ One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower"

The Beautiful Hockien Garden

This lovely and spacious 1.54 acre Hockien Garden, situated at Jalan Padungan, is co-funded and jointly implemented by Kuching City South Council and Kuching Hockien Association. The State Government have two important objectives in creating a Garden City - to strike a balance between leading a hectic urban lifestyle and keeping in touch with nature, and pursuing economic development and preserving our environment.

The Hockien Garden, which combines elements of Hockien history and architecture in a beautifully landscaped environment, will provide the people with a clean, green and serene atmosphere for recreational activities and relaxation after a hard day's work.

Let me introduce you all to Kuching's very own 'Hockien Garden'..........

The Garden features 6 pavilions which represents the different districts of the Fujian Province in China, interspersed with interesting sculptures and murals depicting the rich history & cultures of the Hockiens, who made Sarawak one of their homes more than 165 years ago.

This beautiful garden is also accompanied by the twelve concrete statues of the Chinese Zodiac animal signs........ how unique indeed!! Let me show you some of them.......

Let me show you a close view of one of the Pavilion with the beautiful paintings on its ceiling...... It's really facinating.........

Well..... Kuching Folks, have you ever been there??? If you haven't then try to make an effort to go, who knows???? After your first trip there, it will be your popular jogging or brisk-walk spot!!

A Famous Spot To Remember The Old Days.......

This famous spot always reminds me of my old days when I was a child. As there is no big Shopping Centres at that time, guess..... this is the only place that my mum used to bring me there..... Oh!! What a memory to recall indeed!!

Mind you this building is still standing strong until today...... with it's name still maintain 'Electra House' and also the popular eating place 'The Open Air Market'. Lots of food lovers still come to this place for nice food such as Rojak, Kangkong & Cuttlefish, Beef Mee, Kolok Mee, Pau, Seo Bee, varieties of rice dishes, Ice Kacang, etc.... etc......

Another thing that reminds me of this place is the Bus Station. I used to travel by bus when I was young, so this seems to be the most popular place for most people as it is the center point for all bus users.

With the bus station being relocated years back, today this place is a parking bay for the licensed Vans for rental or known as Kereta Sewa in Malay.

No matter whatever changes takes place in this one time popular spot, it will always be in my memory and recalling it can be down memory lane...... guess not only for me but all the senior Kuching Folks as well........

Reptiles, Aminals & Birds Lovers.......

If you fancy yourself to reptiles, aminals and birds, well...... there is a place in Kuching which will sure attracts you.... Jong's Crocodile Farm!

Only 30 minutes from Kuching, Jong's Crocodile Farm is nestled among tropical fruit trees and greenery and is the haunt of over 1000 crocs. In addition to these fearsome reptiles, visitors can also view monkeys, bearcats, barking deer, pheasants, leopard cat, monitor lizards, birds, etc.

If you want to find out more, gear yourself up with your camera and find your way to this famous place of interests and excitement.......

Poem - SUNSHINE......

SUNSHINE.....

Sunshine in my life
is a beautiful smile.
Such goodness that lasts
for more than a while.

Sunshine in my eyes
is the look of love.
It brings forth comfort
in times that are rough.

Sunshine on my face
is a feeling of happiness.
Special kind of temper
To bear good manners.

And.......
Sunshine in my spirit
is a good sense of humour.
A super talent
that causes laughter.

Old Market To the New for Kuching Folks!!

The old Gambier Market which have been constructed since 1935 have finally close down for business effective today, (Sunday) 15 June 2008.

This market place is the busiest as it is situated in the heart of the city and Kuching Folks from all over the place tends to get their marketing done each day. You can purchase everything there, poultry, pork, vegetables, fish, prawns, etc..... as well as stalls selling all types of local cakes, which locals call it 'Kuih Muih'.

From the pictures above, traders are still seen busy doing their business despite that it is their last day that is 14 June 2008. These photos were taken on the same day at about 12 noon, as we take a stroll through the market place for the last time.

However, with the closure of the old market, Kuching Folks can now look forward to the new 'Stutong Community Market' which starts business today, 15 June 2008. This new market should be able to attract more people as it is spacious, big, new, clean and off course more parking space for all.

Happy Father's Day.....

As today is a day specially for all fathers..... let me share with all the special fathers out there these three very short but meaningful quotes......

"Blessed are the man who hears many gently voices call him father"
~ Lydia M. Child ~

"Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance"
~ Ruth E. Renkel ~

"I love my father as the stars - he's a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart
~ Adabella Radici ~

I would like to take this golden opportunity to wish you all "Happy Father's Day" and may our good Lord always shower His abundance blessings upon all of you....... Enjoy your day!!

Wanna see Orang Utans??

Only about half hour drive from Kuching you are able to have a chance to see the semi-wild orang utan, ranging from tiny infants and boisterous adolescents to dignified mature adults, enjoying life in a secure natural habitat.......

This interesting place is the Semengoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, established in 1975 and is located within the beautiful Semengoh Nature Reserve.

A permit and payment of a norminal fee is required for each entry. Visitors are encouraged to follow nature trails to reach the Wildlife Centre. The best time to visit this centre is during it's feeding time. It provide a unique opportunity to view the orang utan at close range. The animals usually spend considerable time feeding in one place, either on a wooden platform, in a nearby tree or hanging from guide ropes. Visitors therefore have an excellent view, a remarkable photo opportunity, and ample time to appreciate the intelligence and beauty of these facinating forest creatures.

Visitors are seen curiously waiting for the orang utans to appear during feeding time. The orang utans are seen in action, while visitors are busy capturing photos of them. Guess everyone must experience this once in a lifetime opportunity...... so if you are free and happens to be around in Kuching City, care to drop by...... the orang utans are sure to welcome you to their home and will also enjoy your presence........