MY SWEETHEART

I found something new.......I found something very very delicious and haha it's my new love affair

CUPCAKES.....found this lovely place to buy these cakes...it's just right opposite IKEA called Cupcake CHIC.......however it's a bit pricey...for 6 pieces about RM 25 (RM 4.50 for one). And the names are kinda cute....Naughty and nice, It's Chocolate, Black and white.....have rum and raisin too..

ONE MONTH

How time flies...........seriously........by end of this week I would have finished 4 months here in Rasa. I'm beginning to love the people and the work here albeit still being a very ulu place. I love the church I'm in. I love the fact that I don't have strings attached to me.

In a spur of the air asia promotion. I decided to treat myself and my mum. Bought 3 tickets to S'pore for next August. My mum has been ranting about how she had lost contact with her cousins and when I suggested to her to go S'pore she always say the same 3 things......1) No passport 2) Transport expensive and 3) No money. Haha this time I was already ready to answer her 3 worries 1) Got passport dee mah, some more use to go Hatyai so don't waste luh 2) Air asia promotion le........RM 150 per person both ways...where got such things wan..... 3) Aiyah already got place to stay....just need money for food and travel................................finally she said yes so Yipee!!!

It's been one month since I've made the biggest decision in my life. At first kinda hard to make such a decision, but I needed to make a stand on it. I was tired of guessing and also tired of trying. Has it been easy? No.......it hasn't.....I still some days still wonder What if? or Did I? or If I? Questions that I don't think I can answer.................Where do I go on? Well step by step.....Can't really force myself to be fully healed from it but I guess God was the bigger man in this decision. I'm not sure what the future brings but I know it will be great :)

DON'T EVER EVER GIVE UP

One day I decided to quit....
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. .. in fact I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God..

"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light.I gave them water.The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.

And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.. He said.

"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.

But I would not quit.

In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would

not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. ..

But just 6

months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave

it what it needed to survive..

I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.."

He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling,

you have actually been growing roots".

"I would not quit on the bamboo.

I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others."

He said.

"The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern.

Yet they both make the forest beautiful."

"Your time will come", God said to me.

"You will rise high"

"How high should I rise?"

I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and brought back this story.

I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.

Never, Never, Never Give up.

Don't tell God how big the problem is,

tell the problem how Great God is!

BEWARE ANGRY POST AHEAD

Hmm yes it's going to be an angry post........I've been feeling shit these days and it's hard for me to rise up..........After much thought with a mentor, she said it's important to deal with those anger with me in order to move on. I thought tat's true but I'm not that person who likes to be angry. In fact I am the type who just says it's okay......no point getting angry but mayb this time I need to say some things out (Viewer discretion: the following may or may not have bad words)

I'm angry at you:

1) For not being there for me when I needed you the most. Instead I got backfired for not being there for you.

2) For hurting my feelings with your words and actions. I feel like someone punch and slap me in the face.

3) For making things so hard for me, making me so conscious about what I do, what I say, what I choose.

4) For not appreciating the little things but looking at my little mistakes.

5) For just not trying ...........

I'm angry at myself:

1) For not maybe understanding you enough so that I can make you happy

2) For being fat and not as good looking as other guys

3) For not being a normal guy.....who doesn't love football, who cries, who might not fit as a macho guy, who is so emo

4) For choosing to come to where I am now rather than not staying

5) For not being the best of the best

6) For always looking for attention....................

I'm angry at the world:

1) For already draining me and yet stil wanting me to do more, but when I need help, excuses are everywhere

2) For just brushing off and saying it will heal but not making the effort to check on me

3) For keep asking me for help and yet brush me aside

UPDATES

Updates! updates! so sorry for not updating haha

It's been one month since I last updated and 2 months since I moved down to Rasa.......a lot has happened and a lot is going to happen.

I have finally gotten my name card haha.......well temporary.......you'll notice that it's a recycled name card

Well better than nothing right? :P

In other news.......well........made a very major decision for my life..........whether I made the right choice...hard to say but I let God take the lead..........

Till then........

BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

An easy sentence but not easy to do. Heck most of the time we are complain about our lifes. That was what happened to me these past few weeks. Everyday I complained about where I was (Rasa), my problems with relationships, the place where I stay, the place where I work (somehow it's all Rasa.......haha). It took me just a few days ago to realise, hey Aaron stop complaining!!

I should be happy that I have a nice place to stay for free.....no rental, not even utility fees........

I should be happy cause I'm now in a church that is so caring.....

I should be happy cause I have so many brothers and sister who really care about me........

I should be happy !

JUST ONE PERSON

I heard this song on youtube recently....a great reminder to believe in yourself. Oddly this song came from a musical called Charlie Brown (you the one with Snoopy) but I heard it during a Jim Henson's memorial sung by the Muppets.....The lyrics are cool

Just One Person

If just one person believes in you,
Deep enough, and strong enough, believes in you...
Hard enough, and long enough,
It stands to reason, that someone else will think
"If he can do it, I can do it."

Making it: two whole people, who believe in you
Deep enough, and strong enough,
Believe in you.
Hard enough and long enough
There's bound to be some other person who
Believes in making it a threesome,
Making it three.....
People you can say: believe in me....

And if three whole people,
Why not -- four?
And if four whole people,
Why not--more, and
more, and
more....

And when all those people,
Believe in you,
Deep enough, and strong enough,
Believe in you...
Hard enough, and long enough

It stands to reason that you yourself will
Start to see what everybody sees in
You...

And maybe even you,
Can believe in you... too

ONE MONTH and COUNTING

Gosh, has it been that long? I've actually survived one month in this place. Woo Hoo!!! Bring out the wines, beers, booze.......but wait nobody to drink with -_-

Haha I'm actualy proud of myself for able to survive here. Mind you it's a really small town. It's much much smaller than Nibong Tebal. Heck I think it's smaller than Kampar for that matter. But I've made accustomed to this place I guess. You cannot imagine how I always wanted to travel out of this place at night to the bright lights in KL but after 2 weeks, I was already getting bored of travelling there. I have come to love Rasa (or trying to at least). Staying alone is a bit of a struggle but I got use to it. Things I have learnt about myself throughout this month.

1) I can cook! Surprisingly, I have learnt how to cook simple dishes and also experimented with some new dishes. I'm extremely proud of my fried rice.......first time around the rice actually can be eaten.

2) I love working out. Yes, I have been working out and actually lost 1 kg after 2 weeks. It's a start somewhere, but more pounds to shed before Christmas..........

3) I am losing my fear of heights. For those who know me long, I have a fear of heights. I can woozy and woobly when I stand near ledges. However, in my job here, I have to climb 40 feet or climb down into dark chambers for inspection. Haha I still feel woobly but at least I can climb.

Other than that, I'm glad to have make some good friends already at work. My boss is a great friend to be with. You are friends with your boss! And why not? He's great! No I'm not polishing his boots, he's just a nice guy to be with. Next is Ms Tan, our faithful HR assistant in the office. We gossip about everything haha (sorry kakak). As for my personal life.....it's hard being away from dear.....but we are trying hard to keep in touch with one another (looking forward to this weekend..yipee!)I miss Ben bro, bro, lil bro and lil sis a lot haha (who is who?) but thank God they keep updating me about the CF (let go right) and their lives. I'm still looking for an avenue to continue to serve students here but it seems God has other plans for me..more about that later......

BACK STABBERS

There are two things I hate in life...liars and back stabbers........okay not hate but don't like. I don't like people who can tell me one thing in front of me and talk other things at the back of me. I prefer if you don't like me to tell me straight to the face or better still correct me. Or if you really don't like me, don't force other people to not like me. I don't like it. I prefer for other people to make judgements about me rather than you make judgements and tell others about me.

H is a foreign friend whom I got to know from my mutual friends. At first, I heard many sob stories about her, how she is treated poorly by other people. So being a good friend I tried to support her in many ways. A lot of times my supervisor would criticize her and I would just tell my sv to just be patient with her. Many a times I feel pity for her and I always ask her how she is doing etc. Then my perception of her started to change when she first had a fallin out with 2 of my friends. At first it was a small matter but somehow she made it into a very big issue. Ever since then, I've become wary of her. Just a few weeks ago before I left campus, she had another fallin out with another 2 (A & B) of my friends. And this time, I was shocked that she did the same thing as like the first time. A & B are at first wanting to patch things up until they found her blog. And in her blog she wrote many malicious things about both of them, while she maintains that she is innnocent and pitiful to be treated like that. I also got shock at the things she wrote and told A & B to just forget her and move on. Today A told me that she wrote things about me as well and actually for a long time they have talked about it. When I read, I was shock. There she wrote how I was 2 face. How I betrayed her and critisize her and other people to my supervisor just so that I can get ahead. Hello? for wat? if you can't take your own weaknesses don't criticize others about their weaknesses. My goodness.....actually What the fuck man? I mean woman? Who are you so great to say such things. Now it's becoming clear why some people look at me one kind it's because she has been spreading rumours about me.......I really regret helping her and also regret tyring to patch things up for her and her friends. You know what H if you are reading this. SCREW YOU!!!

MALAYSIAN

Got this from Kelly....it is so true.....Happy Merdeka Everyone

1. A typical young Malaysian can name all the players from a top English Premier League club, but ask him to name one football player from Malaysia, he cannot!

2. When StreamyX come, you complain StreamyX too slow. When Maxis Broadband come, you complain Maxis Broadband always disconnects. When WiMax come, you complain Wimax too expensive. In the end, you say StreamyX still the best lah.

3. When highway toll price increase, you complain. When petrol price increase, you complain. When you go Starbucks buy RM10 coffee, NO COMPLAINTS.

4. When you cannot find parking in a shopping mall and have to walk very far, you complain. When you go inside the shopping mall and there's SALE, run from one end of 1Utama to the other, that one NO COMPLAINT.

5. You are always late. And the excuse you give when you're late is always either: (a) traffic jam (b) no transport or (c) cannot find parking.

6. You have a parent who forces you to take science stream in high school, study engineering in Uni, then when you graduate, they ask you to forget everything you learnt in Uni and do commerce.

7. You know someone who can specially develop an angmoh accent when speaking to an American / British / Australian.

8. You complain against the government in kopitiam, you talk loud loud. Leave anonymous comments on blogs, you also talk loud loud. Attend ceremah by DAP, you shout loud loud. Then when Opposition organise a protest and ask you to go, you dun wan. Scared later kena tangkap by ISA.

9. Every year on the 30th April, you are one of the people below queuing up last minute to submit your tax return at the IRB.

10. When an angmoh stranger kisses you on the cheek to say hello, you very happy. When a Malaysian guy kisses you on the cheek to say hello, you slap him in face.

Saya Anak Malaysia

RASA and HELLO

My my I'm sorry guys for not updating. THe last two months was hectic with trying to finish my thesis so that I can graduate (which btw I'm still in LIMBO thanks to my ex boss). FYI officially I have not graduated yet as I haven't VIVA and haven't passed up my final draft to IPS. But I have until OCtober to do that so I'm good haha.

Currently, I'm working in Rasa Water Treatment Plant which is a potable water treatment plant situated in the jungles of Selangor. I'm the new Production Engineer meaning I'm suppose to be in charge of the daily production of water in the company. So far after working 3 days, I kinda love my job although there is much to learn. My boss is En Wakil.......super nice boss. One thing, he is a very patient man and very very pious but open man. He used to be the Production Engineer here before becoming the Plant Manager. I admire his wit and determination with his job here. It's always pleasing to see him cause I seldom (or maybe I haven't seen yet) his angry side. Right now my job is to make sure my men are doing their job. Yes I have 28 people to oversee. Technically only 4 as the 4 will help me see the rest. But as a department head I must be strict and have to know what's up. So far I have a lot of assignments and frankly speakign can feel the working life dee la........

More post ya and pics.........

OH MY GOODNESS

I stumbled upon this blog which featured this old newspaper cutting about my school play in 2001. Showed it to dear and haha she said I've changed a lot hahah

Click on it to read it haha

PS I don't remember this news clip at all....

GATHERINGS

The last month was a month of gatherings for me.....

First up was this

The annual CF reunion haha no la........It was Felix and Siou Lian's wedding. Usually these are the times when we can meet up as friends, seniors and juniors. The youngest batch there is Chuang Ki haha but actually the youngest batch there is Derrick and gang (Felix was final yr when he met them) and the oldest batch was Su Anne (I was in first yr when she jsut started her masters...and she was an undergrad before this). It was a good time to reunite with everyone else. I got to meet my big bro Jonathan and intro him to my small bro Derrick. Haha. And got to know who is still with who? Who is engaged to who? And time to make small networks.

The other gathering was this

This is my new family, SACC! haha. Had fun organizing the SACC FAmily Day 2009 with dear and also some of the young adults. Yesterday it has taught me and opened my eyes that hey, maybe I still have to serve here. So maybe planning to travel here more often to serve in this wonderful church.

ANGELS AND DEMONS

Watched this during the weekend and it was great! It was nicer than Da Vinci Code. Truth be told there were some important lessons in the movie. One of the things that was so profound in the movie was this line at the end of the movie.

"Religion is flawed because man is flawed"
I think that is so true!

"Do you believe in God? I'm not asking do you believe in what man says about God.....Do you believe in God?
I'm an academic, my mind tells me that it is hard to understand God........but my heart says I that can't, it's about faith........."

ANGELS and DEMONS

Watched this during the weekend and it was great! It was nicer than Da Vinci Code. Truth be told there were some important lessons in the movie. One of the things that was so profound in the movie was this line at the end of the movie.

"Religion is flawed because man is flawed"

I think that is so true!

"Do you believe in God? I'm not asking you believe in what man says about God.....Do you believe in God?

I'm an academic, my mind tells me that it is hard to understand God........but my heart says I that can't, it's about faith........."

EMO

Cute?

I KNOW IT'S TODAY

This song is from Shrek the Musical (yes there is a musical). The musical is as funny as the movie so go check out in you tube cause it's there. It's super hilarious and the songs are funny. Like this song.....it is when Princess Fiona is trapped in her tower as a young princess. The lyrics are hilarious.

[Young Fiona: Spoken]
Settle in girls. It's story time! Isn't this fun? It's like a sleep over,
but instead of a pillow fight, there is an insane dragon who incenterates things.
Now where were we? Oh right,

[Sung:]
There’s a princess
In a tower
Oh my gosh, that’s just like me
Poor Rapunzel needs a haircut
But the witch won’t set her free
She passes time by singing
Like someone else I know
As years go by she sits and waits…
As years go by? Uh, oh
A torturous existence
I don’t remember this part!
She wishes she were dead?
Skip ahead skip ahead!
But in the end Rapunzel finds a millionaire
The prince is good at climbing and braiding golden hair!

So I know, he’ll appear
Cause there are rules and there are strictures
I believe the storybooks I read by candlelight
My white knight, and his steed
Will look just like these pictures!
It won’t be long now, I guarantee!
Day number…23.
I know its today
I know its today

[Teenage Fiona: Spoken]
Oh here's a good one! It's a classic!

[Sung:]
There’s a princess
In a coma
Glad its her instead of me.
Pretty maiden
In a glass box
How I wonder does she pee?
Blah blah blah, poison apple
Boring boring evil queen
Filler filler, been there, read that!
Seven shorties on the scene.
Skip ahead, skip ahead…
But in the end the princess wakes up with a start
The prince is good at kissing
And melting Snow White’s heart!

So I know, he’ll appear
And his armor will be blinding!
As shining as his perfect teeth
And manly clothes
He’ll propose, on one knee
And our prenupt will be binding!
About time we set the wedding date!
Day number…958.
I know its today.
[ Find more Lyrics on www.mp3lyrics.org/aI5U ]
He’ll show up today....


[Fiona:]
...ay...
There’s a princess
Any princess
Take your pick, they’re all like me
Not exactly, I’m still waiting
they’re living happily
Ever after better get here
I want love in seconds flat
No one needs these middle bits
Whoops, did I do that?

Cut the villains, cut the vamping
Cut this fairytale
Cut the peril and the pitfalls
Cut the puppet and the whale
Cut the monsters, cut the curses
Keep the intro, cut the verses
And the waiting, the waiting, the waiting, the waiting
The waiting!

But I know, he’ll appear
Though I seem a bit bipolar
And I’m a vandal now as well, though he won’t mind
I’m a find, I’m a catch
And a very gifted bowler!
It won’t be long now, I guarantee!
Day number…

Are you there God?
It’s me Fiona…

[All Fionas:]
It’s me Fiona!

Now I know, he’ll appear
Cause there are rules and there are strictures
I believe the storybooks I read by candlelight
My white knight, my knight and his steed
Will look just like these pictures!
It won’t be long now, I guarantee!

[Young Fiona:]
Day number 23

[Teenage Fiona:]
Day number 958

[Fiona:]
Day number 4,823

[Young Fiona:]
I know its today, oooo

[Teenage Fiona:]
I know its today, oooo

[Fiona:]
I know its today, oooo

[Young Fiona:]
I know its today, oooo

[Teenage Fiona:]
I know its today, oooo

[Fiona:]
I Know it's today

[All Fionas:]
I know it's today!

BETRAYED

Hmm today did something which I felt so guilty about. I betrayed someone's trust. That person has trusted me to be a good senior but I've done something which I know this person would have a hard time to trust me again. I hope this person can look beyond what happened. I didn't mean for it to happen and didn't mean to do it (if I can remember what I did). The truth is I know it sucks being betrayed especially to someone whom look up to you.

I remember a few years back, I was heart broken when I found out my best friend back stabbed me. Just to win some hearts, he was willing to talk bad about me and told lies. He even let out a big secret and I almost got into trouble for it. Hmm I stil rememeber the hurt and the pain he caused. In camp cameron, I talked to the speaker about this issue and he said that I need to confront him and talk to him about it. I said how can I? but he said it is important to do so. So after many years of not talking to him I decided to ring him up and we met for yam cha. After yam cha we talked and I expressed my hurt. He said he didn't mean it to and that he didn't feel well after tat. After much prayer, I decided to forgive him. I still remember the hug he gave me and I can remember we both teared up. Now I'm still a good friend with him and still trust him with my life.

To that person I betrayed, I'm so sorry. I dunno how it happen or why it happen. I just know I'm sorry about it..........hope you can forgive me and we can move on......

THE LAND OVER THE SEA

Yes just came back from Sabah. Haha ya most people didn't know about it cause I didn't want to make a big ho haa over it but yes was there for a week. Was quite excited to go there (yes my first time....Simon) but haha was a bit skeptical of going alone with Isa. Not that I don't like him but haha knowing our history working together, we are not best of friends but this trip made me realise something new in our relationship..haha more on that later.

The trip was of course for the Sabah regionals. Haha I was complaining to Isa that I have been to every region except Sabah for regionals (Actually i just realised I haven't been to Klang Valley yet....maybe next yr). Sabah ah the land where time is so different from Semenanjung. Serious. The sun rises at 6 in the morning -_- and sets super early. Come to think of it, my East Malaysia friends will just say the opposite about Semenanjung.

Let's talk about the regionals. Hmm it's very different if you ask me. Different from a lot of aspect. First I was there as a facilitator more than an OT so i didn't sit in for most of the meetings. Secondly the OTs there can say very lepak....haha their meetings very relaxed and non-intense. Isa did most of the talking and they just listened and nod. But they are a group who were eager to serve and learn. As for myself, I must say that I was not prepare at all for my sessions. I was still planning them the night before and also changing my thoughts an hour before my sessions. THough it looked flawless (haha from a comment I got), not happy with it myself. ANyway I have Southern Regions to redeem myself. The place for the regionals was lovely. It was held in St. Martin's Tambunan. Now this place is surrounded by hills and trees. IT's lovely. I can imagine walking to school everyday admiring the green hills and breathing in the fresh air. But the rain haha had to spoil it all.......... The only thing I didn't like was the loneliness. Haha coudln't really click with the kids and also didn't talk much with Isa. Most of the time, I locked myself in the room to do my work (which is still not done).

After finishing the regionals it was time to go back to Kota Kinabalu to do some tourist stuff. We stayed in 2 hotels. The first one was Mandarin Hotel at Gaya street. Now this place is damn runned down and the price for a room was expensive. We decided that after the regionals we would not come back to the same hotel. Luckily Isa's contact got us another hotel just opposite the main road. The place was so much nicer and the price was lower. After checking in, I did my first sight seeing, which was massage hunting. Heard so much about good massages in KK (not the one with happy endings :P) and found one nice place near Gaya Street and offers Shieat Su Massage and Reflexology for RM 70. I can tell you it hurt haha.....But after the session I was more relaxed but the next day can feel the muscle paining. Another wonderful thing I did was snorkeling. Thanks to miss mermaid aka Anidha (thanks gal!) who took me on a wonderful trip to the islands. Went to 2 island, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sapi. Both had wonderful scenary except Pulau Mamutik had a bigger surprise for me........JELLYFISH....yes I got stung, but thank God it was only baby jellyfishes. Other than tat, caught sight on some beautiful fishes (RAINBOW FISH.....which i call the gay fish.. haha). The only thing that disgusted me was the fact, these islands are seeing the affects of tourism la. A lot of empty bottles around and plastics here and there. Sigh...and we pay RM 3 for conservation purposes. Buck up Sabah if not you'll lose ur beauty. Shopping in Sabah is.......erm......okay only la....The only place I went shopping was the Filipino Market (Thanks Najeeb) . The place is cramped and I almost fainted because it was so cramped. But I got some huge bargains for my soveniours (Thanks Najeeb again).

Hmm the trip to Sabah was great actually. Although felt lonely at times and missing home but it was a great opportunity. Okay with Isa.........haha well most of you don't know but Isa and I fight alot. Haha I mean a lot. Both of us work differently and both of us have different principles in life. But I guess we meant well when we comment about each other. During this whole trip, we never fought once. I guess it was a conscious effort for the both of us to settle our differences to go and fulfill a work. I had a great time with him and I guess we have both mature in our relationship. I hope it will last la.........and Isa thanks for the treat haha......

100th POST AND THE UDHR

Oh my, finally the 100th post....never thought it would come to this much hahaha.....Anyway was away in Ipoh and was back in centre a while, and Jerald reminded me about the UDHR or Universal Declaration of Human Rights.....I told him that I will be working in an 'evil' company and not feeling up to it. He said don't look at it that way, look as if you are infiltrating the enemy haha. SPY!!

The UDHR is a human rights declaration. It is a document which has 30 articles that should help a country/nation to champion human rights. On 2008, it celebrated it's 60th anniversary and 10th of December is declared Human Rights Day. What so important about human rights. Well I believe that all man are made equal (woman as well). No one can torture/enslave/make fun of one another just because he/she are different. No one can say that he has the right to make fun of us. No one can say my country is btter than you. The 30 articles read as:

Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 6
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11
Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13
Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
Everyone has the right to leave any country, including their own, and to return to their country.

Article 14
Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15
Everyone has the right to a nationality.
No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16
Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17
Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of their country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in their country.
The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23
Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

Article 26
Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27
Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29
Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

It was an eye opener to read this document again...for years I have been not living it....thanks Jerald for the reminder......

THE COLD WITHIN

This poem was written by James Patrick Kinney. It spoke a lot to me when I first heard it (Eric can by heart it) and when I read it again, it brings chills......

The Cold Within
Six humans trapped by happenstance
In dark and bitter cold
Each possessed a stick of wood--
Or so the story's told.

Their dying fire in need of logs,
But the first one held hers back,
For, of the faces around the fire,
She noticed one was black.

The next one looked cross the way
Saw one not of his church,
And could not bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.

The third one sat in tattered clothes
He gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?

The rich man just sat back and thought
Of wealth he had in store,
And keeping all that he had earned
From the lazy, shiftless poor.

The black man's face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight,
For he saw in his stick of wood
A chance to spite the white.

And the last man of this forlorn group
Did nought except for gain,
Giving just to those who gave
Was how he played the game,

Their sticks held tight in death's stilled hands
Was proof enough of sin;
They did not die from cold without--
They died from cold within.

This poem reminds me of why I do what I do....people ask me, what so much money to spend me ah? well the money I have is from God, and He blessed me with it, but I believe He blessed me because He wans me to bless others. Let's not all die from the cold within

THE LONG WAIT POST

OH my goodness, I think my blog posts are all 2 per month.......hahaha sorry guys, am absolutely tied up with my work and also with other activities (or just plain lazy to update).....

Anyway some new updates about me:

Just finished 2 big events for the CF. 1 was the CF Concert last week. IT was a rocking concert. Although the hall was not filled to the rim but at least the audience this time stayed for the whole thing. That was more important than having 300 people coming. We had about 150 ish and well I believe God was in control and it was a fun nite. I got to do my last mime in USM (I think) with Jinny. It's freaking awesome cause thanks to Yew Kong I got to paint my face white. However, knowing that I sweat a lot the paint kinda smeared -_- . I'm waiting for the video to come out so I'll post pictures (as soon as Joshua Entol gives it to us). Just when I thought I could rest, remembered that there was a Final Year Retreat (FYR) that weekend and I was speaking for 2 sessions. Wah I really had little sleep and all but yet the retreat was great. We went back to MAxwell Hill for the retreat and believe me when I always say God is always speaking to me in the moutains. One of the things I really appreciate God was Derrick and Jinny. We were hikin up to our bungalow at Maxwell Hill and because of time, we had to rush up the hill. Now with my knee condition I knew that I would be able to make it up but don't rush me...I have to takemy time but becauswe of the rushing, my knee hurt like hell. Half way up I wantd to give up and ask them to leave me there. But Derrick keep pulling me up and keep cheering me. For that I trully love him (as a brother). Jinny on the other hand was my entertainer. haha We played mahjong till so late until we got fed up with mahjong. hahaha.... Jinny thanks for being there ya.................

I've finished my third chapter of my thesis and now starting on my first chapter (huh?). haha long story short, I've decided to do the easier chapters first before the harder chapters. But my boss is driving me crazy and keep delyaing me with my thesis. I hope to finish my 1st chapter soon......

Well all in all I'm still alive....but feeling down lately. Feeling very demotivated everyday. Keep having negative thoughts and feeling tension all the time. TO the extent I can't sleep at nite (sometimes)....pls pray for me :)

Cheers

FOR YOU A MILLION TIMES OVER

What a way to end a book.......if u're thinking wat book I'm referring to, it's the book by Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner. The heart warming book about friendship, comradeship and forgiveness. It's really a good read and I couldn't put the book down until I finish all 25 chapters of it. Haha yes Aaron Chan has finally finished a book within a week. I've watched the movie before but I think the book is so much better (as in the case of many other books that have become movies).

The story revolves around Amir (the narrator). His whole life from a young boy in Afghanistan to an adult in the US. How he life had many significant people including his own father and of course the most important character of the story Hassan, his servant cum best friend cum ....haha spoiler so cannot tell so much. The backdrop of this story ranges from the good old years of Afghanistan to the terrible times of the Taliban.

The most important lesson that I've learnt of this story is about forgiveness. How bad things can happen to certain people and they still forgive those around him who didn't stood up for him. The other lesson I take to heart is to enjoy every moment and to love deeply the people around us.

Khaled Hosseini is a great writer and his next book is actually another best seller. Hope to get it (hint hint) haha......

FORGIVE AND FORGET

Hmm something to blog about after lunch. A few days ago, our faculty organised an anniversary dinner to celebrate 15 years of it's existence. Of course when there's a faculty event, we the post grad students sure get caught in a lot of drama. First we were forced to go for the dinner. Not only that we were asked to pay for our dinner and not only that, we were forced to do so much work. Well who else would do such things to us, of course our beloved D......haha I can't say too much, I might get sued.

Oh well, if you know who our D is to us, you have to remember our history with him. He's the most ungrateful and selfish guy I've ever met. Not only that, He's always right! and we cannot argue with him. On the dinner itself, there was a lucky draw. And lo and behold none of the students won anything. You will say, well aren't you unlucky? but then it's obvious that our tickets were taken out earlier and was not part of the lucky draw (statistically we should have at least 1 or 2 winners). Anyway I guess it was D's way of getting us back for making him mad about asking for a cheaper dinner. Of course we were pissed off, how not to? Of course my weekend was spoilt by him. We were cursing him and gossiping about him and just complaining about him. But you know what? It hit me last nite, that we are no better from him if we do those things. I think for me, he won by just hurting our feelings. I decided hey you know what, i liked the event. I got to help kids to understand what I'm studying. I got to meet some old seniors and catch up. I got a new t shirt to wear............you see it's not all that bad.

I was sharing this to my friends a few minutes ago. At first they think I'm crazy but after explaning to them, they somehow had a "Ah-Ha" in their head and we were talking about forgiving someone and forgetting it. Well in my humble opinion. I think forgiving someone is easy, forgetting what that person has done to you is another matter. You know after all these years, I still harbour a certain hatred to those people in church who made fun of me. But I'm suppose to forgive them..HOW? hahaha.....not easy lor....but I always make this verse remind me

Be ye KIND to one another, tender LOVING, FORGIVING one another, even as God in Christ has FORGIVEN you....Ephesians 4:32

Christ has forgiven me....and I'm even worst.......

Something to reflect on right?

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hello everyone,

Haha feel so shameful, that my blog is not being updated. Sorry la, been away and travelling but I'm here again. hahaha

Was away to Singapore (yes again) for Christmas with Dear, we had a lovely time. We were staying this time with Ah Lia and she is a good hostess. We had lots of fun but the only thing was the walking. We walked and walked for hours everyday until my mum said I lost weight. The highlight of the trip was the trip to the Singapore Museum. Seriously, if there is anybody here who is part of the Malaysian Museum Committee please go visit the Singapore Museum. It's super super super nice and great. It's almost like a One Life Exhibition style type of setting but the way History was presented was great. The only thing that I didn't like there was the fact they somehow played the merger between Malaysia and Singapore (and thereafter the split) always Malaysia's fault. Problem is they think we Malaysians are dumb and stupid (not all think like tat la). But I think it's kinda sad that they paint a slightly bad picture about us.

Hmm, since new year is here, it's always time for me to reflect what 2008 was. 2008 was hmm I wouldn't say it was the best year. I think I've had more downs than ups. I named 2008 the year of learnings because of the hurt I went through, I've learned to be a better person from them. 2009 I'm proclaiming the YEAR OF EMPOWERMENT. This word EMPOWERMENT has been ringing in my heart for the whole month of December. I believe that God wants me to continue to grow but at the same time help others grow. This year would be another transition year. I'm finishing my course and movin onto the coporate world. A few things to look forward to this year: A few of my seniors getting married, me starting work (finishing my masters), 20 years of convention (anniversary woo hoo) and of course my 3 years with Dear :)

2009 cheers to you..........