May 31, 2011

Tarot readings.. VII

Another 3 months had gone.. Time for another tarot reading.. :) Using the same application that I did previously to "see" my fortune for the next 3 months. Note that all pictures of tarot cards are from http://phpbb-tw.net/phpbb/thoth/ and there is no intention of infringing any copyright.

又过了三个月。。又是塔罗占卜时间啦。。我还是利用以往相同的占卜程式为接下来的三个月的运程占卜一下了所有的塔罗图片都采自竹猫星球塔罗馆 (http://phpbb-tw.net/phpbb/thoth),本部落并无意侵犯版权。

求職運勢 進行占卜,結果為:
Pertaining your luck in: Job-hunting:

現狀 Current Situation: 愚者 [The Fool]

你現在的心態是很隨緣的,不會勉強給自己太大的壓力,只要自己有應徵資格的工作,你都會去試試。
Currently, you are just going with the flow. You won't give yourself too much pressure and will give the jobs that you applied for a chance.

問題 Problem : 慾 [Lust]

你的學經歷都很完整,甚至超過一般求才的標準,但反而比條件較差的人還難找工作,因為公司擔心你沒有辦法長久任職。
You have all the required qualifications, maybe even surpassing most basic requirements. Yet you faced difficulties getting a job than those who are less qualified as companies are worried that you will not be able to stay long in the job.

建議 Suggestion: 宇宙 [The Universe]

對工作的心態,要抱持一步一腳印、按步就班的心態,對薪水跟職位要求先不要太高,等到做出成績後,發球權就變成在你手裡了。
Try not to over-reach or over-demand. Try not to be too demanding on position or salary. Once you've performed and delivered, you will have the say then.



單身運勢 進行占卜,結果為:
Pertaining your luck in : Relationships (for Singles)

現狀 Current Situation: 死亡 [Death]

你的生活很宅,沒有對外的活動,朋友也不多,可能連走太遠的地方吃飯都嫌麻煩,所以感情自然是在停滯狀態囉。
You are too homey. You do not go out and you do not have many friends. Even going slightly further for meals is a chore to you, thus no wonder your relationship is nil!

問題 Problem: 女皇 [The Empress]

有時脾氣太好、人緣太好,也是個問題,因為你不擅於拒絕別人,反而讓你真正對他有興趣的人,分不清楚他自己跟別人有什麼不同。
Sometimes, being too nice and too popular has its downfalls, as you don't know how to say "No" to people. More often than not, those that you are really interested in are confused and unable to tell where they actually stand in your heart.

建議 Suggestion: 惡魔 [Devil]

愛情不是一個夢,它是一個現實的問題,你應該要去認清人性的真實面,然後接納這一面,才不會總是傷痕累累。
Love is not a dream, it is practical. You need to understand the true nature of humanity and accepts it so that you will not suffer all the time.



健康運勢 進行占卜,結果為:
Pertaining your luck in: Health:

現狀 Current Situation: 倒吊人 [The Hanged Man]

你雖然沒有大病 ( 或是剛從病中痊癒 ),但小毛病會不斷,抵抗力也很差,常常有低血壓、頭昏、或嗜睡……這一類的毛病,但是一直找不到一個可靠的解決方式。
You don't have anything serious (or maybe just recovered), but you kept succumbing to minor ailments. Your immune system is weak and often suffers from low-blood pressure, nausea, sleepiness or similar problems. Yet you are unable to find the cure for it.

問題 Problem : 皇帝 [The Emperor]

這張牌從不生小病,一病就是大病的;平日健康狀況看來完全良好,但是因為太自己疏於保養,不會有慢性病,但未來可能會有來得又急又快的猛爆性疾病。
It is either a big nasty illness or perfect health for you. You are usually healthy. Yet due to lack of proper care, you won't have chronic disease but may contract sudden acute illness.

建議 Suggestion: 死亡 [Death]

因為大多數的養生法,都補救不了現在的日常生活模式對你的損耗,所以除了一般醫療保健之外,建議換個不耗體力的工作,或是住到空氣比較好的地方,從根本做。
As most of the usual health regimen can't replenish what you are wearing out on a daily basis, thus other than the usual health care, it will be better if you could change to a less taxing job or move to a better environment once and for all.



財運 進行占卜,結果為:
Pertaining your luck in : Money Matters

現狀 Current Situation: 皇帝 [The Emperor]

你賺錢都賺得很多,但也花得很兇,而且你也沒耐性去理財或節流什麼的;財運起起伏伏不穩定,有錢跟沒錢時的落差很大,但大致上賺錢能力是很強的。
You earn a lot of money, yet you spend a lot too, and you do not have the patience to manage your finance or control your expenditure. Your money luck is volatile, and the difference between having money and having none is very big, but generally your ability to earn money is very strong.

問題 Problem: 教皇 [The Hierophant]

薪水是固定的,也沒有多餘的時間兼差,更不太可能轉行,所以除了可以預期的固定收入外,沒有其他賺到偏財的機會。
Your income is fixed. You do not have the time to do part-time or freelance work, nor will you change your job. Thus other than the fixed salary, there isn't any opportunity for any side income.

建議 Suggestion: 永恆 [The Aeon]

你的財務狀況很混亂,有必要好好的檢視一下帳目,如果有債務,必須做整合規劃。或許可以考慮換個跑道或自己創業,徹底解決財務問題。
Your financial situation is in a mess. You need to examine all your expenses. If there is debt, you will need to consolidate and plan. Maybe you can think about changing jobs or set up your own company, this will allow you to straighten your financial situation once and for all.



人際運勢 進行占卜,結果為:
Pertaining your luck in : Human Relationships
現狀 Current Situation: 調整 [Adjustment]

你的生活很規律,跟朋友的來往模式、聚會時間也很固定,來往的對象也就差不多是那些人,不挑剔的話,應該算是有個穩定的社交圈吧XD?
You have a very structured life. The way you interact with your friends and the time spent are very fixed. It is always the same few people. If you are not choosy, this is a rather stable group of friends, isn't it?

問題 Problem: 女教皇 [The Priestess]

在朋友群中,你比較不是愛跟一堆人玩鬧瞎攪和的那種人,喜歡看書、做自己的事,但因此會有些朋友覺得妳冷淡或無趣。
Among friends, you are one who dislike mindless ramblings and time wasting with a whole bunch of people. You like to read book or do your own thing which might cause some friends to perceive you as being cold or uninteresting.

建議 Suggestion: 月亮 [The Moon]

或許你對朋友有什麼不滿的地方,很想爆發,但是很多事一講就會撕破臉,還是先觀察狀況再說吧。
Maybe you are not very happy with some of your friends and you will like to vent your frustration. Yet you know that once you tell them, things might get out of hand and turn ugly, so it is better for you to just wait and see before reacting.

May 30, 2011

going under the knife?

When this blog gets published, I should be in the middle of my consultation with an ENT specialist about that lump behind my right ear.. and most probably schedule a date for an ops in the next 2 weeks..

After the biopsy almost 20 months ago, I didn't really do anything about that lump.. I had wanted to wait till I settle down in SG before I go and find a good and reliable SG surgeon to get it out.. that was the plan, which like many of my other plans did not go as intended..

The specialist-cum-surgeon said, after a very brief visual consultation last Sat, that the lump looked more like a pleomorphic adenoma (in layman term: a tumor) of parotid gland than an overgrown lymph node.. again, he can't really say for sure until a CT scan or a FNA is done. So it is up to him to decide the next course of action after he sees me today.. he might request for more tests/scans so as to determine and gather information about the tumor (well, I have to call it for what it actually is and stop referring it as a 'lump', right?) or he might schedule to operate on it immediately, since regardless of what that tumor may be, it has to be taken out.. if it IS indeed a pleomorphic adenoma of parotid gland, the chances of it turning malignant gets higher the longer it stays inside my body (2% for less than 5 years and almost 10% for more than 15 years).. As I've had it almost a decade ago I need to get it out asap.. :x :x

No matter what his plan is, I will update it on this blog when I get back from the hospital..


Update @ 3.10pm
After waiting for 1.5 hrs, I finally got to meet the specialist. 
He took a FNA which was super bloody painful, as he jabbed the needle into the tumor and poked around a couple of times to get as much tissue as possible for analysis.. :x :x :x He then smeared the tissues onto a few microscope slides and sent them to the lab.. At the same time, he is trying to get me an appointment to do a CT scan.. 

Oh ya, he took a few photos of my tumor - "for educational purposes" which I didn't mind at all..

So I can only wait and see... 

May 29, 2011

Sunday Serenade: sweet serendipity

After realizing and acknowledging the crisis that I'm facing (that is, no doubt, of my own doing), I need a feel-good or positive pick-me up song to cheer me up this weekend.. and this song happened to be playing over the radio.. instantly, I like its uplifting lyrics and the singer's voice..

The chorus seems very comforting...
And I'm doing just fine, I’m always landing on my feet,
In the nick of time, and by the skin of my teeth
I ain't gonna stress cause the worst ain't happened yet
Something’s watching over me like Sweet Serendipity
And I shall trust that "the worst ain't happened yet".. :) Although I will know come this Friday if I need to execute my Plan B... So wish me luck!!


Sweet Serendipity
written by Lee DeWyze, David Glass, Jordan Lawhead

I ain't got no car
And I’ve got one pair of jeans
They've been stretched too far
And now they're weak at the seams
I can't say what's next
And I got nothing up my sleeve
But I don't lose my head
‘Cause it ain't really up to me

And I'm doing just fine I’m always landing on my feet,
In the nick of time, and by the skin of my teeth
I ain't gonna stress cause the worst ain't happened yet
Something’s watching over me like Sweet Serendipity

I don't ask for a lot
No, nothing more than I need
Because I love what I got
Don't need to play the lottery
I just wanna be strong
At the end of the road
I don't want to hold on
I want the strength to let go

And I'm doing just fine I’m always landing on my feet
In the nick of time, and by the skin of my teeth
I ain't gonna stress cause the worst ain't happened yet
Something’s watching over me like Sweet Serendipity

And what will be will be
In the nick of time and by the skin of my teeth
I ain’t gonna stress cause the worst ain’t happened yet
Something’s watching over me like Sweet Serendipity

Don't look fate can only find you
You can't choose for something to surprise you
Set sail without a destination
Just see where the wind will take you
You never know where you’re gonna fall
But I’m not worried, oh I’m not worried at all



You can check out Lee Dewyze's official website.

Have a great week ahead!! Stay safe and cheery!! :)

May 27, 2011

how much... (III)

Transportation..

When we say "transportation", we usually mean cars and sometimes motorcycles as there is no other viable public transport to talk about.. The LRT and KTM networks can only serve limited areas, and there is no connecting service (by buses) to ferry people between these train stations and their final destinations (aka their offices) to make it a comprehensively convenient transport system..

Every Tan, Din and Samy has to own a car to get to work and to get around.. not everyone who is fit to drive has to do it as there is no alternative.. you have to drive to go anywhere, even just to get a loaf of bread or a packet of nasi lemak.. Thus it is no surprise that among the unavoidable essentials of living in a city like KL or Penang, car ownership is a must.. And car mortgage takes up a huge portion of one's disposable income..

Some prices of new cars:
Proton Saga (1.3L Auto) - MYR$ 40,548*
Perodua Myvi (1.3L Auto) - MYR$ 46,400*
Hyundai Getz (1.4L Auto) - MYR$ 59,618*
Toyota Vios (1.5J Auto) - MYR$ 75,294*
Honda City (1.4L Auto) - MYR$ 85,480*
Nissan Latio (1.6L Auto) - MYR$ 89,980*
* prices taken from official websites and are correct as of May 23.

If we assume the interest rate to be fixed at 3% per annum with payment period being 5 years and you paid MYR$ 2,000 as deposit, you would need to pay MYR$ 740 (for Proton Saga), MYR$ 850 (Myvi), MYR$ 1105 (Getz), MYR$ 1401 (Vios), MYR$ 1600 (City) and MYR$ 1686 (Latio) per month.. You can calculate your car loan payment here

And here is a hypothetical look at the cost of using a car in the city:
Traveling distance to office (assumption) 15 km -> 30 km a day
=> 600 km a month (20 working days per month)
Fuel efficiency for Proton Saga (urban driving) -> 7 km/liter
Petrol @ MYR1.90 per liter (the price of RON 95, for now)
Petrol cost => (600/7) x MYR$ 1.90 = MYR$ 160

So if you get a brand new Proton Saga, your monthly car-related expenses will be at least MYR$ 900, without taking into consideration of the annual motor insurance (at the very least a 3rd party cover) and other ad hoc fees incurred (parking, toll, maintenance and repair).. So don't be surprised if all these would add up to a third of your salary, or even more!! Don't forget, all those are just tangible cost.. what about the intangible cost like time wasted when stuck in traffic jams, mental stress and attention drainers, possibility of accidents and theft, etc..

Bright and clean train carriages in Brisbane
If there is good dependable public transports available, these cost could be cut down dramatically.. The highest fare on LRT is MYR$ 2.80 (one way), so you would have to pay MYR$ 5.60 a day. Then for a month, you would be paying MYR$ 112 to go to work.. Even if you have to take a bus (maximum fare is MYR$ 3) and then the train, you would be paying MYR$ 11.60 a day, and MYR$ 232 a month.. It is not even a third of the expenditure if you were to drive to work!!

You can read a book, listen to music, watch (online) news or other videos over your 3G/4G phone, take a short nap, enjoy the scenery along the way or just simply relax your mind if you taking a comfortable and reliable public transport. Maybe you like to drive, but there is no denying that driving zaps your energy.. Won't you want to reach your destination relaxed and without getting stressed out?

With less cars on the road, there will be less road accidents (less work for doctors so they can treat REAL illness and not self/other-inflicted injuries, people won't have to die unnecessarily and people don't have to pay for repairs), less road rage (less work for the police so they can go and catch REAL criminals), less traffic jams (less time and energy wasted so people can have more of those to do REAL productive work and a smoother journey for those who really need to drive) and less pollution

There are thousand and one beneficial reasons to have a good public transport system, but as long as the government remains as it is now, it won't happen. And that means we have no choice but to continue paying, not just with $$ but also with human lives, to own a car just so we can get around..

Food cost is up next..




Disclaimer: I am not an economist nor am I (formally) trained in finance.. The figures above are my own estimation which are based on data gleaned from my family/friends and the Internet. I am just stating my observation, experience and thoughts, as I had lived in 3 different Asian countries/cities in the past 20 years...

May 24, 2011

existential crisis..

I think I've been suffering from an existential crisis since I graduated with my Masters more than a September ago...

I always had things to do - a job to go back to, a degree to earn or something to call my own.. now, I have nothing that I MUST do.. nothing that defines me, like my job had done for me since 1998 or my studies a couple of years ago.. I am no longer a manager, an engineer, an analyst, an executive nor a grad student...so who am I? what am I? what is the meaning of life, or more specifically what is the meaning of my life? why do I exist? Religion is unable to give me a convincing explanation, and the many scientific points of view are equally depressing..

I know that I am still me.. I know that I've definitely gained more knowledge (not just work/academic-centric but everything in general), more insights into how things/people work and also what make me tick (or not), more understanding of things outside my usual comfort zone and a couple more pounds :( in these past 4 years.. yet I am not able to reconcile what I've learned with what I'm supposed to do.. Life has become, at least now that I've the time to ponder upon this question, a big scary unknown..

I had the time to think about what I don't want to do - going back the humdrum banal life of an IT engineer.. I don't know what I am supposed to do with my life.. whether there is a higher purpose to my life.. if I've passed the "test" of life.. I know I can do so much more in life, yet I can't decide on one single "thing" to dedicate my life to.. in fact, I feel trapped and frustrated.. what is the use of gaining all these knowledge when I can't use them for the betterment of the society and the world?

I want to mean something to some people.. I want to be of importance or of value to my family and/or friends and if I can I want to leave my legacy to the future generations.. maybe literary or artistic creation(s), valuable and unique insight(s), applicable and pragmatic theories or any other beneficial gift(s).. I want to be remembered as someone who did good and made a difference..

I have several options to get myself out of this.. Reading helps.. especially Desiderata and this article.. so is understanding Frankl's Logotherapy and Satre's Existence precedes essence... but most importantly, I know I need a plan of action.. a plan to get myself out of all these.. a plan that I will need to execute soon..

May 23, 2011

slave to technology.. (I)

Is checking your mobile phone the first thing you do after opening your eyes every morning? Do you have to check your SMS every other minute? Do you bring your mobile phone into the toilet/bathroom? Are you afraid of missing even one phone call/messages? Do you get anxious while in places where you need to switch off your mobile phone? Can you even leave your mobile phone aside for an hour without checking it? Can you leave your mobile phone aside totally during a dinner with family/friends?? Can you even imagine the life you had before mobile phones??

I don't know about you, but I can live without a mobile phone... and frankly, I am more than happy to live without a mobile phone in my life..

I think my family got our first land line phone while I was in secondary school.. Even then, it rarely rang.. I don't give out my phone numbers to my friends and I think my brother got more phone calls from his friends than I did... when the phone did ring, you won't see me rushing to pick it up.. in fact, I always wished someone else would pick up the house phone when it rang.. cos truth be told, I dread answering phones, even now..

Maybe I am old guard/stick-in-the-mud and definitely not a tech geek.. I don't like mobile phones.. because most of the times, I don't like to be "found" nor do I like to be disturbed, unless I want to.. with mobile phone, it is as if you are granting permission to be contacted by anyone, anytime, anywhere.. of course, the reverse is true too.. rarely is one not contactable these days...

I prefer SMS to direct phone calls, since I can answer them at the time of my convenience and with the correct mental state.. I can frame my words to convey what I really meant without having the wrong emotions attached to it.. On the phone, tone and pitch convey attitude and emotions that could be misinterpreted.. I have a loud voice, and to some, that loudness might be intimidating or rude and they might get offended/annoyed by it.. again, these could just be my own misgivings and uneasiness..

Other than the communication aspect of the mobile phone, who could ignore its entertainment features.. With smart phones being the norm nowadays, many are addicted to those silly little time-wasting mobile games like Angry Birds.. Have you been to a function where everyone is staring at their mobile phones instead of paying attention to what is actually happening around them?  It is as if their bodies were there but their minds are occupied by what is happening on their mobile phones.. They are "there" but not actually "there"..

Thus I refuse to get a smart phone, even though it will allow me access to the Internet satisfying my hunger for information 24/7. I want my freedom - the freedom to engage and disengage with the external world. I want to be present 100% (both physically and mentally) when I am doing something, like meeting with people or having dinner with friends/family.. I don't want be distracted nor disturbed by incoming calls or messages..

Who is the master? You? or your mobile phone?

May 22, 2011

Sunday Serenade: Born Free

Heard this song over the radio.. and a thought came to me.. "This would be a cool song to play at my funeral!".. It might seemed macabre to some, but I am seriously thinking about it.. :p

Again, it was the lyrics that caught my attention..

You can knock me down and watch me bleed
But you can’t keep no chains on me.

Looking and waiting for a chance to get those "chains" off me...


Born Free
performed by Kid Rock

Fast, on a rough road riding
High, through the mountains climbing
twisting, turning further from my home.
Young, like a new moon rising
Fierce, through the rain and lightning
Wandering out into this great unknown.

And I don't want no one to cry.
But, tell 'em if I don't survive

I was born free!
I was born free
I was born free, born free.

Free, like a river raging
Strong as the wind I’m facing.
Chasing dreams and racing father time.
Deep like the grandest canyon,
Wild like an untamed stallion.
If you can’t see my heart you must be blind.

You can knock me down and watch me bleed
But you can’t keep no chains on me.

I was born free!
I was born free
I was born free, born free.

And I'm not good at long goodbyes
But look down deep into my eyes
I was born free.

Calm, facing danger
Lost, like an unknown stranger
Grateful for my time with no regrets

Close to my destination
Tired, frail and aching
Waiting patiently for the sun to set

And when it's done, believe that I
will yell it from that mountain high

I was born free
I was born free
I was born free, born free

I will bow to the shining sea
And celebrate God's grace on thee





Have a great week ahead! Stay safe and cheery!!

May 20, 2011

brace for more..

Have you noticed how fast the prices of most things are creeping up lately? Noticed how the government had increased the price of two essentials, petroleum and sugar, without any warning seemingly overnight in the past 3 weeks?? How some things can cost an extra 10, 20 or even 30% more literally overnight? How a 10 or 20 cent increment in petroleum no longer provoke long queues in gas stations?? Are we immune to rising prices of consumer products that we just accept them silently??

The government kept telling us that we are heading towards a high income society.. yet they never say how we are going to do it... our FDI is falling behind our ASEAN neighbors each year (meaning we should get more than we did).. our brain drain getting worse... seriously we need all the brains and brawn we can muster to weather this, and the next and the following many more, economic downturn/restructuring (or whatever the experts call it)..  yet our "leaders" continue to keep their heads firmly in the sands (or maybe even in concrete, which would kinda explains why they can't get their heads up and see the truth, however obvious it is)..

Even in a well-managed country like Singapore, the common people are feeling the (bad and unpleasant) effects of global competitiveness.. they want the good things that globalization brings, and they expect the government to minimize the negativity that came along, or the very least provide safety nets in case they fail/fall.. and they are not afraid to let the ruling party know about their unhappiness.. the PAP government vowed to re-look at their policies and take better care of its citizens after securing the lowest mandate in its history.. will this happen here? I doubt so..

Ringgit is strong, yet prices for almost everything is higher and is rising.. it doesn't make sense since logically our 'strong' currency is supposed to allow us to buy more with less.. On one hand, the government tell us that since Ringgit is strong, the country is doing great and 'semua okay'.. on the other hand it 'informs' us that we have to stop being "addicted" to subsidies else we'll go bankrupt in 2019 (one year before we're supposed to reach 'developed' state.. Mmmm...)..

When world oil prices goes up and Petronas is making loads of money, the government just kept quiet about the profits (and the massive corporate tax it is supposed to pay the government) but instead cuts fuel subsidies and increase electricity tariff (cos another GLC that is 'suffering').. When the prices goes down, the government again kept mum and start 'creating' multi-billion projects.. So do forgive me if  I tend to believe him more than him..

And seriously, I think the country has nothing left in its treasury.. the government is doing everything it can to continue to wring more money out from this country, into their own pockets and their cronies', before the country reaches the point of no redemption.. Else, how would you explain, among other things, our sudden willingness in agreeing to that asylum swap which came out of nowhere ( read here and here) and the planning of another bond sale (expected to fetch $1 trillion) after one (worth $1.25 billion) was just sold a year ago..

I am so sick and tired of all the "nice pictures" painted by the government.. everyday, there will be some billion ringgit initiatives and/or projects being launched with no clear tangible indication on how these will bring in the promised benefits.. All previous mulit-billion projects would just fade away from collective memory, together with all the money poured in, making some cronies richer and everyone else poorer.. There is a Masterplan here.. a multi-billion ringgit project here, there and there, just to name a few... And how is it that the subsidy spending could still grow when prices have been raised for so many essentials?? Some of the stuff that has gone up recently: sugar, petroluem (RON 97), beverages from this and this company..

So don't be surprise that come June, or maybe even earlier, we'll have more price increases: electricity tariff, cooking oil, cooking gas, flour, rice and many more controlled items, on top of everything else.. Your daily teh-tarik and roti canai might just cost 50% more in the coming 2-3 months.. Tighten your belt and/or devise (and execute) an 'escape' plan, before it is too late..

May 18, 2011

how much... (II)

Housing...

You need a roof over your head.. unless you are from the city, you have to look for a place to stay when you relocate... and this exercise is not an easy nor a cheap one..

Unless you have friends who are gonna be your housemates or you are willing to share (the house) with total strangers, you would need to pay between MYR$ 700 - MYR$ 1,000 per month (excluding utilities charges) for a flat/house not in a prime area (of KL and Penang) which is most likely furnished partially.. Utility bills are often not included in the rental and has to be paid by the tenants. Use more, pay more.. pure and simple.. Water bills are often less than MYR$ 10 a month, while electricity bills are the ones to take note of.. and not forgetting, there might be sewage charges (depending on your area and number of toilets you have) too.. if you do cook, you might have to get gas or buy an induction cooker..

flats in Macao.. not much different fr those in the cities..

Distance to office, either located downtown or in some commercial district, is usually inversely proportional to the rental cost. Also, cheaper rental would often mean higher transportation cost (petrol and parking).. Driving to work is almost a given fact in this country.

Other than distance, another criteria for consideration will be the security and amenities available nearby. Since you can't depend on the police force in this country to provide security and safety, you would need to choose the area (housing estate) to live in carefully. You definitely don't want to stay in some shady neighborhood and tempt fate.. And for amenities, it will be good to have eateries and grocery shops within 10 min drive, as it is quite impossible to expect having such conveniences within walking distance.

Although, it is good to find a place that is fully furnished but that (most probably) would indicate a higher rental.. For a partially furnished place, you would need to buy some stuffs on your own.. maybe a washing machine (average top-load one would cost between MYR$ 900 - 1,500), a fridge (under MYR$ 1,000), a bed frame & mattresses (depending if you want a King/Queen/Single-size bed frame & mattresses, price varies from MYR$ 500 - MYR$ 2,000), a fan/air cooler (under MYR$ 200), a microwave oven (under MYR$ 1,000), a stove/induction cooker (under MYR$ 200), an iron (under MYR$ 100), a kettle (under MYR$ 50), a work table and chair (under MYR$ 400) and many other small appliances.. All these are one-time purchases which you should keep in mind when looking at a partially furnished flat/house.

Rental contracts are usually for 1 year.. unlike in Singapore, rental contracts here (usually) do not have to be stamped by lawyers.. it is often a signed agreement witnessed by the owner and the tenant(s).. a deposit is required most of the time and it is usually 1 - 2 months' rental.. so you should take that into consideration when house searching..


Thus the initial deposit of the house might set you back between MYR$ 700 - $2,000.. then you might need to buy some furniture and/or electrical appliances which could cost you between MYR$ 1,000 - $4,000, depending on what you need/want.. and finally the actual rental (between MYR$ 700 - $1,000) plus utilities (under MYR$ 100)...

If you are native to the city, then you could stay with your parents, thus saving on rental and utilities, although you might, still need to or expected to, give a token sum to your parents each month, or at the very least during festivities like Chinese New Year, parents' birthdays and Mother's/Father's Day.. these are things you cannot avoid, unless your family is rich, which will then mean that you won't have to worry about money in the first place..

To help you decide, you should ask yourself several questions.. will you be spending a lot of time at home or will you be out most of the time? do you want to have housemates or you prefer to have more privacy? does noise bother you or you are immune to it? will you be cooking much or not at all? how far is "far" and how far is acceptable when you travel to work? All these will help you choose the flat/house you will want to rent..

And buying a property would be a totally new ball game...  one that shouldn't be taken lightly as it is gonna tie you down, to your job and to this country.. so unless you are very sure that you are gonna stay in the city or country for good, don't place yourself in a financially vulnerable position..

Next, transportation cost...



Disclaimer: I am not an economist nor am I (formally) trained in finance.. The figures above are my own estimation which are based on data gleaned from my family/friends and the Internet. I am just stating my observation, experience and thoughts, as I had lived in 3 different Asian countries/cities in the past 20 years...

May 16, 2011

time to wake up....

Just got an email notifying me that my application for the TW Gov. scholarship wasn't successful.. thus the financial side of my PhD dream has fallen through.. this piece of news is like a needle that just burst my dream of furthering my studies...

Although it will be another 2-3 more weeks before the result is released, frankly,  I am not all that confident that my application to the 3 TW universities will encounter much success either.. darn! I am so depressed right now.. :( :(

I've made quite a few plans these past 20 months.. and none of them seemed to be working.. bad news and rejections kinda became my best pals, they became the only constants in my life... I am not the me I used to be.. with all news being bad news, I am really worried that I've forgotten how to be happy anymore.. I've been down for so long (it felt long even when it is "only" 20 months) that I can't remember when I last smiled/laughed happily.. 

Maybe it is time to wake up and face the reality.. Maybe it is time to shove my dream of getting my Doctorate and being a mentor to the younger generation.. Maybe it is time to get an actual job and move out of my parents place.. Maybe it is time to go back to the corporate world and start being part of the rat race all over again.. Maybe it is time to stop (wishing for a chance of) doing the things I like and start liking what I have to do..

So I shall give myself a couple of days to feel depressed and sorry for myself.. then I would need to suck it up and get my Plan B in motion.. I don't want to feel down anymore... In order to regain my zest for life, I need to do something about it even if the entire process is something I dread and hate..

Thus in the mean time, do forgive and permit me for feeling down and useless these coming few days..

May 15, 2011

Sunday Serenade: chase (追)

This is one of my favorite Cantonese "oldies".. a song sung by the late Leslie Cheung in one of his movies, He's a Woman, She's a Man (金枝玉叶)in 1994.. this is also one of my must-sing karaoke song.. :p

有了你 即使平凡卻最重要
有了你 即使沈睡了 也在笑

Anyway, I've found a MV of this song with English subtitles, so enjoy!
p/s: In case you wanna watch the original MV, it is here..


作曲:李迪文
填詞:林夕


這一生 也在進取
這分鐘 卻掛念誰
我會說 是唯獨你不可失去

好風光 似幻似虛 說明人生樂趣
我會說 為情為愛 仍然是對

誰比你重要 成功了敗了也完全無重要
誰比你重要 狂風與暴雨都因你燃燒

一追再追 
只想追趕生命裡一分一秒 原來多麼可笑 你是真正目標
一追再追 
追蹤一些生活最基本需要 原來早不缺少 ha...
有了你 即使平凡卻最重要

好光陰 縱沒太多 
一分鐘 那又如何
會與你 共同渡過 都不枉過

瘋戀多 錯誤更多 如能從新做過
我會說 願能為你 提前做錯

誰比你重要 成功了敗了也完全無重要
誰比你重要 狂風與暴雨都因你燃燒

一追再追 
只想追趕生命裡一分一秒 原來多麼可笑 你是真正目標
一追再追 
追蹤一些生活最基本需要 原來早不缺少 Oh...
有了你 即使平凡卻最重要

只得你會叫我彷彿人群裡最重要

有了你 即使沈睡了 也在笑
 


May 14, 2011

how much.. (I)

How much are you earning per month? How much are you spending per month? How much is "enough"? and how do you define "enough"?

There was a recent article on the purchasing power of Malaysians which kinda validates my presumption.. If you are a professional working in KL or Penang area, you would agree with the article..

So exactly how much does one need to live in KL? Before we start looking into the cost of living in KL, here are a few basic assumptions..
1. Housing - You are not from KL thus you would need to rent a flat/apartment/house.
2. Transport - You work in town area (either downtown KL, Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, Damansara, etc) thus you would need a car as public transport is non-existent.
3. Food - You do not cook at home thus you would need to eat out.

Let's list out the essentials..
Housing
Rental - MYR$ 700 per month [for one partial furnished flat/house in non-popular areas]
Utilities (electricity and water bills) - MYR$ 80 per month
Sub-total for Housing - MYR$ 780 per month

Transportation
Car (mortgage) - MYR$ 460 per month [for a new basic (automatic) Proton Saga paid over 5 years, without taking into consideration the initial payment]
Car (petrol) - MYR$ 200 [urban driving @ 7km/liter ]
Toll charges - MYR$ 4 per day [20 working days a month]
Car (insurance) - MYR$ 1000 per year [basic 3rd person rider coverage]
Car (parking) - MYR$ 5 per day @ the office [20 working days a month]
Sub-total for Transportation - MYR$ 923 per month

Food
Breakfast - MYR$2
Lunch - MYR$ 6 (with drinks)
Dinner - MYR$ 4
Sub-total for Food - MYR$ 360 per month

Telecommunication
Mobile Phone - MYR$ 50
Internet - MYR$ 40
Sub-total for Telecommunication -> MYR$ 90 per month

Misc
Household amenities (detergents, toilet papers, etc) -> MYR$ 20
Personal amenities (shampoo, shower foam, etc) ->MYR$ 30
R&R (movies, groceries, wardrobe, dining at restaurants, etc) -> MYR$ 150
Sub-total for Misc -> MYR$ 200 per month

Grand total for Housing, Transportation, Food, Telecommunication and Misc will come up to MYR$ 2,353 per month

And I've yet to include:
  • Income Tax
  • Road Tax
  • EPF contribution (11% of one's salary)
  • Personal grooming (newl clothes, shoes, haircuts, etc)
  • Insurance (Life, medical, etc)
  • Medical bills (including dental)
  • Car maintenance and repairs
  • Repair/Replacement of household appliances
  • Gifts and/or (one-time or monthly) allowance to parents
  • Social functions (weddings, birthdays, etc)
  • Loss and replacement of belongings due to theft, accidents or carelessness
  • Holiday travels
  • Savings and investment for old age..
Of course, you could save more by opting to share a flat, use less electricity and/or water, buy a second-hand car, drive more efficiently, avoid toll roads, get cheaper motor insurance, eat cheap food, eat out less often, use your mobile phone sparingly, not use Internet totally at home, buy house-brands, not go to movies, avoid socializing and other lifestyle choices..
Aussie Dollars.. AUD$1 can get you more than MYR$1 could..

Nonetheless, I still think MYR$3,500 is the bare minimum take home pay (after deducting EPF and income tax), not gross salary, that you would need to live in KL frugally, especially if you are not from KL.. with a fresh grad getting around MYR$ 2K (gross), how can we expect them to survive in the big city??? and is it such a mystery why many city dwellers are in debt, especially with high credit card bills???

Next, I shall examine each of the elements (housing, transportation, food, telecommunication and misc) in details and give my thoughts/takes on them....


Disclaimer: I am not an economist nor am I (formally) trained in finance.. The figures above are my own estimation which are based on data gleaned from my family/friends and the Internet. I am just stating my observation, experience and thoughts, as I had lived in 3 different Asian countries/cities in the past 20 years...

May 12, 2011

Work..

Here are some of the stages which you might have experienced or are experiencing when it comes to work.. These are derived from my personal experience as I've gone through each of these stages during the course of my work life..

1. Love everything that you're doing, time goes by in a flash, salary is an after-thought..
    "Yeah! Can't wait to go to work!!"

2. Like most of the things you're doing, time flies, salary is a bonus..
    "Cool! It's time to go to work!!"

3. Don't hate the things you're doing, time passes quickly, salary is value-added..
    "Okay, time to go to work.."

4. Don't mind anything that you're doing, time passes, salary is important..
    "Oh, gotta go to work.."

5. Don't care what you're doing, time passes slowly, salary is compensation..
    "Time for whatever..."

6. Hate everything that you're doing, time crawls slower than a snail, salary is your only salvation..
    "Darn!! Time to go to work AGAIN??"
Oh, it's Monday.. I'm so depressed...

It is hard to find a job that lets one stay in Stage 1, unless one is lucky or willing to overlook $$.. and one should be getting a new job when stuck at Stage 6 for too long as it is detrimental to one's mental and physical health.. All employers would love to have their employees at Stage 2, 3 or 4.. while most people, from my observation, are usually at Stage 4 or 5..

Maybe there are a few other different stages that I've not encountered.. So which stage are you at right now?

May 10, 2011

mini aussie masterchef

Like I mentioned before, I am hooked on cooking reality shows.. and I've just finished watching Junior Masterchef Australia.. :)

Wow! Can those kids cook!! I am totally blown away by what these kids can come out.. Imagine kids between 8 and 12 years old making pasta (and even ravioli) from scratch, cooking meat (beef, lamb, pork and chicken) perfectly, making pies and tarts, baking 4 layered cakes with icing cream, making chocolate mousse, custard and pudding, cooking risotto and many many more different dishes/pastries.. they have so much passion that it oozes out of them.. :)

Seriously, I think any of the kids in the top 12 can cook better than most restaurants in town.. these kids show more pride in their food/cooking than many of those hawkers who are making a living out of cooking.. these adults do not care if they are serving horrible and/or inedible food to their customers.. they can't be bothered to taste to ensure that the food they serve is up to par.. all they care about is squeezing more money out from the consumers by charging higher for lesser (in terms of quantity and/or quality).. how sad..

Maybe one can be skeptical to say that these is a difference between cooking because of passion and cooking because of necessity.. Indeed, these kids do not have to worry about overheads, costs and the pressure of feeding a family.. but I always believe that one has to be passionate about one's job, or at the very least, have pride in what one does.. how can we call ourselves a chef, cook or even food seller, if the "dish" we serve is so unpalatable that it can't even be call "food", much less "cuisine"!
this is too simple even for JMC standard..

Junior Masterchef is a very good way of exposing kids to alternative professions.. not everyone can or should be a doctor, engineer, lawyer or manager, as there are so many other professions in the world.. we need to tell the kids that exams are not everything and there are alternative paths in life.. the kids have to be encouraged to look beyond books.. and here the parents play a very crucial role as their support (or lack of) will make or break a kid's dream.. unfortunately the parents here have such narrow "vision"..

Another note, I really like the Aussie version of MC and JMC.. they made it fun and motivating.. the judges are encouraging and supportive.. it is really refreshing to see such positivity being portrayed in the media... for once, we are shown that hard work, dedication, perseverance and passion can bring one closer to one's dream and even help one achieve it.. :)

Btw, I've just started following the new season of Masterchef Australia.. :) Bon Appetit!!

May 8, 2011

Sunday Serenade: so small

Stumbled upon this song by Carrie Underwood..

..and when I went searching for the music video, I found the video to be very nicely done.. bringing meaning and perspective to how we (should) see life..
Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing is just a grain of sand
very well put!!


So Small
performed by Carrie Underwood

What you got if you ain't got love?
The kind that you just wanna give away
It's okay to open up
Go ahead and let the light shine through
I know it's hard on a rainy day
You wanna shut the world out
And just be left alone
Don't run out on your FAITH

Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
What you've been out there searching for forever,
Is in your hands
When you figure out love is all that matters, after all
It sure makes everything else
Seem so small

So easy to get lost inside
A problem that seems so big, at the time
It's like a river that's so wide
And swallows you whole
While you sitting round thinking about what you can't change
And worrying about all the wrong things
Time's flying by, moving so fast
Better make it count, cause you can't get it back

Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
What you've been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
Oh, When you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Seem so small

Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
What you've been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
Oh, When you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Oh it sure makes everything else
Seem so small



Have a great week ahead! Stay safe and cheery!

May 5, 2011

5.5.11

Fifth of May.. double five, double 1..

Five (5) sounds like "fi-i" [means 'fast' (快)or 'useless' (废) in Cantonese] depending on the intonation..

Five (5)
is pronounced as "wu" (五) in Chinese..
yet it sounds like "woo" in English
yet it sounds like "u" [means ’have‘ (有) in Hokkien/Taiwanese]
yet it also sounds like "wu" [means ‘none’ (无) in Chinese, with a different intonation]
and this is how my surname is pronounced in Chinese (with a different intonation)..

Five (5)
is pronounced as "go" (五) in Japanese..
yet it sounds like "gore" in English..
and it sounds like "go"  [also means ’five‘ (五) in Hokkien/Taiwanese]

Five (5)
is pronounced as "lima" in Malay..
which meant the capital of Peru in either English, Chinese or Japanese..
5 red tomatoes... yum, yum.. :)

Five (5)
is pronounced as "mm" in Cantonese..
which sounds like you are listening to or agreeing with the speaker..

Five (5)
is pronounced as "goh" in Hokkien/Taiwanese..
yet it sounds like "ngor" [means "me" ( 我) in Cantonese]
"Goh" is actually the correct pronunciation (with a different intonation) of my surname.. :p

So depending on the pronunciation and intonation, my surname could imply "me", "have" or "none" in 3 different languages.. ;) ;)

Oh ya, "55" means "ha ha" (laughing) when used by Thai people in their messaging/texting, as 5 is pronounced as "ha" in Thai.... thus, today is also a "Ha Ha" day!! :) :p :)

Hope you had a great day today!

May 4, 2011

i miss

There is so many simple daily things that I missed doing..

i miss grocery-shopping..
Having to "make do" with just local food and no motivation to cook, I miss going grocery-shopping.. missing the walk down all the aisles, looking at rows and rows of groceries.. missing the "surprise" of finding new interesting products.. missing the ease of getting good healthy food.. missing the availability and abundance of fresh produce..

i miss walking around..
Having unable to go anywhere without a car since I got back, I miss the "luxury" of walking around.. missing the freedom of going anywhere anytime at the pace that I like, alone.. missing the pedestrian friendly walkways, beautiful sturdy bridges and green parks.. missing the sights, sounds and smells encountered along the way.. missing the brief stop-overs to the markets to get fresh ingredients to cook..


i miss cooking..
Please forgive me for saying this again, but I really miss cooking.. missing the feel of losing myself while cooking.. missing the improvisation that I had to make using unfamiliar ingredients.. missing the rush from experimenting with new recipes.. missing the looks of satisfaction on my guests after tasting my concoctions..

i miss jogging..
I can't believe that I am going to say this, but I miss jogging.. missing the pain in the lungs, calves and thighs during and after a jog.. missing the sweat-soaked feel of my T-shirt..  missing the adrenalin rush for finishing a 5km jog.. missing that sense of accomplishment of finishing yet another jog..

i miss staying on my own..
Gonna be 20 months since I've moved back from Japan, and how I miss staying on my own.. missing the freedom to deco (or not deco) my room.. missing the "luxury" of wearing pajamas the entire day when I'm not working/going out.. :p missing the occasional urge to re-arrange my room.. missing the choice/chance to seclude myself from the world outside and not have to talk to/meet anyone, even if it's for a day or two..

Hopefully, I will be able to do some, if not all, of these things soon...

May 2, 2011

how long..

According to the figures given by United Nations, the average life expectancy for Malaysians is 74.2 with women living to 76.7 years old.. Singaporeans live to 80 years old (81.9 years old for women).. personally, I would like to be able to live to 85 years old or more.. :p with the precondition that I have all my marbles intact till my last breath and I am not dependent on anyone..

When I take that into consideration, it means that I should have 40 years (based on MY stats.), or 45 years (based on SG stats.) or 48 years or even more to live.. and I think it will be extra cool if I could get to (and pass) the century mark! :)   :)

Anyway, forty years might sound like a very long time but if we break it down, it ain't that long.. If I were to ignore leap years (to make things simpler), I will, at least I hope, have 1,261,440,000 seconds or 21,024,000 minutes or 350,400 hours or 14,600 days or 2,080 weeks or 480 months to live..

During which I should be able to:
-> take 252 to 420 million more breaths (based on an average of 12 - 20 breath per minute)..
-> sleep at least 12,200 hours (based on an average of 7 hrs per night)..
-> have 43,800 more meals (based on 3 meals per day)..
-> witness at least 14,600 sunrises and sunsets.. 
-> enjoy (less than) 14,600 candlelight/home-cooked dinners with that someone special (since that person is still nowhere to be found)..
-> work at most 7,000 days (based on retirement age of 65years old and 5-day work weeks)..
-> write at least 6,240 more articles for my blog, at a (average) rate of 3 per week..
-> say TGIF for 2,080 more times..
-> admire 480 more full moons...
-> relishing the change of season for 160 more times...
-> visit 80 more cities/countries, if I can travel to 2 every year..
-> celebrate 40 more Christmases (my favorite holiday of the year)..
-> eat 40 more of my own birthday cakes..
-> go through 8 more PC/laptops (based on average lifespan of 5 years)..
-> welcome the year of the "Tiger" for at least 3 more times..
before kicking the bucket...

When we list things down in black and white, it kinda put things into perspective, doesn't it? Still, I believe Life is too short to be wasting it on things or people that don't matter..

It is a tussle between how LONG you gonna enjoy life versus how SHORT of a time you actually have to do it..  What say you?

May 1, 2011

Sunday Serenade: I've Gotta Be Me

Watched the latest episode of Glee and this song was performed by one of the main characters.. It was an episode about acceptance.. accepting our flaws, our quirks and everything else that is "US" (no, I don't mean USA)..  it is something that is very close to my heart.. something that I've been struggling with since young..

This song was first sung by Sammy Davis Jr. I've heard both version, and I preferred the version from Glee as it was more upbeat and "sounded" more fun..


I've Gotta Be Me
written by MARKS, WALTER

Whether I’m right, whether I’m wrong
Whether I find a place in this world or never belong
I’ve gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me
What else can I be but what I am?

I want to live, not merely survive
And I won’t give up this dream of life
That keeps me alive
I’ve gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me
The dream that I see makes me what I am

That faraway prize, a world of success
Is waiting for me if I heed the call
I won’t settle down or settle for less
As long as there’s half a chance that I can have it all

I’ll go it alone, that’s how it must be
I can’t be right for somebody else if I’m not right for me
I’ve gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me
Daring to try to do it or die, I’ve gotta be me

I can’t be right for somebody else if I’m not right for me
I’ve gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me
Daring to try to do it or die,
I’ve gotta be me




Have a great week ahead! Stay safe and cheery!!! :)