Bad day.

One songs that often caught my lips sync-ing to it when I hear it on the radio is Daniel Powter's Bad Day. I had a bad day few days ago. Frustrated with work. And somehow, when you have a bad day at work, it will somehow spills into other things outside of your work.

Well, I'm only human, and I wear my heart on my sleeves. When I'm not in a good mood, I'll be very reserved and my mind is be busy thinking, thinking and thinking. And at the same time, if I'm not in a good mood, and I'm with the right person, I will keep on complaining, whining (like Wenger) etc etc.

Anyway, I guess everyone has their bad day, and when I had mine 2 days ago, this songs calmed me down for a good 4 minutes, or maybe a little bit longer.

Daniel PowterBad Day
Where is the moment when we need it the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue sky's faded to grey
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carrying on

Stand in the line just ahead of the law
You're faking a smile with the coffee you go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces every time
And I don't need no carrying on

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Well you need a blue sky holiday
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carrying on
You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Sometimes the system goes on the blink and the whole thing it turns out Wrong
You might not make it back and you know that you could be well oh that Strong
Well I'm not wrong

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

~~

Tammy Tammy, what a Whammy.

It's been sometimes now (ok, it's only a few days :P) when Tammy's news hit Singapore. Can you imagine, just a short 10 minutes video clip, probably shot using one of Nokia's N-Series hp, can slow down the Internet connection in Singapore?

That's amazing!

For all of you who do not know what it's all about, it's about the Paris Hilton of Asia. No! No! Not Robert's daughter!! Not the guy who owns Shangri-la chain of hotels. She's a 17-year-old student of Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore.

Yup! You heard it right! 17-years-old. (Underage ler brudder!)Now we know why it slows down the Internet connection in Singapore for 2 days. 2 days. That's no small feat, man! Just a short clip and it slows down your country's Internet connection. This is really new to me. Lol.

This brings us to another point which is rather fascinating. Are Singaporeans a whole bunch of perverts? *whistling innocently with eyes staring tellingly at the ceiling*

I don't even dare to think how much semen has been flushed down the toilets, in Singapore, of cos. And I'm sure you don't want to know how and where NEWater is produced from. lmao. But I guess a lot of you know how NEWater is produced. Good luck, my beloved neighbours.

No matter how open the society is, or how much the society has changed, no one, or more specifically, no female in this world (expect porn stars!) will want to video record their lovemaking process. It is pure dumb. And keeping it in your mobile phone is even dumber.

There's not need to elaborate as mobile phone is as the name says... MOBILE. Now the videoclip is really MOBILE. Moving from computers-to-computers. Lolz.

The whole world is watching them now, for all the wrong reason. A totally different type of sport. Bedminton. Lol.

Whatever it is, this is a good lesson for all the lovemakers. DO NOT FILM YERSELF MAKING OUT. You might be very careful, but a small mistake will free the cat. And you'll live to regret.

Or you who knows, you might make your fame from it? Just ask Paris Hilton.

Greener grass on the other side.

Is the grass always greener on the other side?

Often we see people says that Malaysia is the best country to live in. Cheap and you have everything. How true is this? Let's take a look if the grass is greener on the other side. Besides natural disasters, I'm not too sure if Malaysia is cheap and nice.

I found the below article from a forum and would like to share it in my blog...

The argument in this thread from day one is the cost of living in each country (especially UK and Europe) based on what you earn in the respective country and whether the standards are higher than in Malaysia.

I tried to point out that many Malaysians always convert and that is why they say the UK is expensive. In fact, the cost of living is much cheaper than in Malaysia.

In actual fact, Malaysians are being conned because for such a rich and resource rich country, the pay in Malaysia is way too low compared to the cost of living and inflation.

One good example is Singapore. Singaporeans (average) earns around S$3000 to S$4000 and nearly everything is half the price of Malaysia. Eg clothes, computer parts, electronics etc. But the average Malaysian still earns M$2000 plus and goods are double the price of Singapore.

This is the same as the UK. If you earn around 2000 pounds, you can liken this to the person earning RM$2000 in Malaysia. I give you some examples below. Maybe you can understand.

1) Good terrace house It is more or less the same. If you want a house in KL, it would most probably be in Puchong and not Damansara Heights. So your house would be RM$200,000. In UK, you can get a decent new house in Zone 6 (still within the tube) for 200,000 pounds. If non London, you can get a nice house also for less than 200,000 pounds outside London. The same also applies to buying a house in Seremban, Kajang etc. You can buy a nice house for RM200,000 below.

So buying a house is the same for the local and the Malaysian. Renting a place is the same too or maybe cheaper than in Malaysia (I am not sure of this). A 2-bedroom flat in London is about 750 pounds (Zone 2).

500 pounds outside Zone 6 but still able to commute to London. A 2-bedroom house in Nottingham is 450 to 500 pounds. A 3-bedroom house in Belfast is about 300 pounds.

2) A car A good Wira is RM$55,000. Most Malaysians have to take 7-year loans and be in debt all the time. If you are earning RM$2000 a month, you take nearly 3 years saving the RM$2000 with not eating at all just to buy a Wira.

In UK, the average local earns about 2000 pounds. He saves 3 months, he can buy outright a good Ford Fiesta or a Vauxhall Corsa without being in debt.

If buying a second hand car, even better. A 1990 Mercedes 190E cost 500 pounds. My 1996 Mercedes E220 cost 2000 pounds. My friend just gave me his 1989 Honda Accord (Auto) for free because he said he could only get 30 pounds for it. I used it for a few months and decided to give it of for free too. That alone speaks for itself.

Even if you are kuli or an office boy, you still can drive a Mercedes or a BM. Yes, kuli's and office boy's get paid quite well.

Average temp/office boy in London can earn about 7 to 10 pounds and hour. Overtime is 1.5 times or double. A brick-layer can earn 20 pounds an hour. The same Indon who lays bricks in Malaysia earns RM$50 for the whole day.

Before I became a doctor, I used to be an office boy and I earned near 300 pounds a week working about 70 hours a week. My makan was 30 pounds a week. My rent was 70 pounds a week for a room but I still drove a BMW back then. I bought the 10-year old BMW 3 Series car for 200 pounds. Amazing how an office boy can drive a safe and luxurious car.

3) Petrol. For a UK person earning 2000 pounds, 80 pence a litre/gallon is cheaper than RM$1.52 paid in Malaysia. If you don't convert, it is like paying 80 sen a litre in Malaysia

4) Shopping 20 pounds (which is 1% of 2000 pounds) can buy you 1 week's worth of groceries in Tesco. RM$100 (which is 10% of RM$2000) can also buy you 1 week's worth of groceries in Giant or Carrefour.

5) Utility Bills (This is what I pay in UK)

1. Virtually non-stop heating the whole day only 20 pounds a month. Only 1% of the 2000 pounds earned)

2. Electricity, I use my electricity maximum only 20 pounds a month. Only 1% of the 2000 pounds earned)

3. My water bill also comes to about 20 pounds a month (Only 1% of the 2000 pounds earned)

4. My internet - I get 2Mbps for about 25 pounds (Bulldog DSL) (Also slightly above 1% of the 2000 pounds earned)

5. Astro Equivalent (NTL cable or Sky) - 30 pounds per month (Also slightly above 1% of the 2000 pounds earned)

In Malaysia, this is what I used to pay

1. Tenaga Bill comes to RM$200 to RM300 a month with 3 air-cons. This is more than 10% of the RM$2000 earned)

2. Water (Puas) comes to RM$40 (This is about 2% of the RM$2000 earned)

3. Astro RM$100 (if you take Chinese package) (This is about 5% of the RM$2000 you earn)

4. Internet Streamyx 512K RM 88 per month (This is about 5% of RM2000 you earn)

6) Books A good book is about 10 to 15 pounds in the UK. This is less than 1% of the 2000 pounds you earn. In Malaysia, you have to spend RM$75 to RM$100 for a decent book in MPH or Kinokuniya in KLCC. This is about 5% of the RM$2000 ringgit you earn.

7) Education. I think it is about RM$20,000 per year to do a degree in Sunway Monash and about RM$12,000 per year to send your kid to UM, UKM, USM etc. I am not sure about this. But in UK, it is only 3000 pounds a year to send your kid to a great university. That also, the white man still makes a lot of noise because the grants were taken away. Previously, it was virtually free for the English man to send his kid to university but now, since the grant was taken away, he has to spend 3000 pounds per year to send his kid to university and less money to get drunk in the pub.

Well, if you are earning RM$2000 ringgit, sending your kid to UM to study is quite difficult. If you are earning 2000 pounds per month, you can easily send you kid to university in the UK.

Even worse for the poor non bumi's not given a place in local university. Even if they can afford, they won't get a place because of the quota system. Unfortunately, the Chinaman and the Indian who gets 5A's in STPM have to be sacrificed and not given a place to let the Malay fellow with 2E's and 3 Fail's to enter the Medical Faculty or Law Faculty.

So the non-bumi's have to save RM100,000 per year to send their kid to the UK. In the UK, at least the white man still can go into university based on results and merit and only pay 3000 pounds per year.

8) Luxuries
Panasonic Plasma TV in Malaysia about RM20,000. If you are earning RM$2000 a month, memang mahal! You have to save 2 years your monthly salary to buy it. In UK, the same Panasonic ironically, Panasonic plasma is made in Japan and Japan is close to Malaysia, so the plasma should be cheaper in Malaysia) is only 2000 pounds. And this is only 10% of the 2000 pounds earned.

9) Health
NHS is free. Though the service is slow, quality is still there. You still can get a top quality by-pass for free although you may have to wait many months. In Malaysia, IJN charges RM$30,000. SJMC charges RM$50,000. GH is free but as many people know, GH and UH have clown doctors. For example doctors who wear tudung and use a pen to touch the patient because scared dosa).

10) Assessments to local councils I may pay high council tax but at least my council assures my streets are clean and safe, got no holes (pot holes) on my roads, and they jump and attend to me whenever I call them. When I stayed in Malaysia, I paid my assessment and quite rent but MPSJ I lived in Subang) told me to "podah" whenever I asked them to come and fill up the pot holes, cut the long lalang, put street lighting etc. The councils, especially MPPJ and MPSJ, were more interested in eating nasi lemak and going for 10 teh tariks in a day during office hours and hardly did anything for their residents.

11) Income Tax
My national insurance and income tax also is not wasted. When I was unemployed in 1997, the government via social security paid for my 2-bedroom flat for one whole year and I was given about 100 pounds per week for me and my wife to live on. I am happy to know that one day if I lose my job, I can still claim social security and get my apartment paid and food to eat again for free. It is a good security to know.

The list goes on. Here alone you can see, the sterling you earn goes a long way in the UK. So your quality of life is far better in the UK than a Malaysian in Malaysia. It is just that Malaysians are just too content with what they have. But you compare apple for apple.

The British just love to complain. They have it made but still they love to complain. Nothing is good enough for the British. The government gives the citizens so much but they still seem to want more and more.

Regards
Dr Zain Azrai London

Recap - 1 Day Kuching Trip

Just a brief recap of my 1-day trip to Kuching. It's an awesome city. Very historical, definitely not a place for someone hunting for entertainment.

Kuching is similar to Malacca. It has lots of old chinese shop houses, and colonial buildings. I enjoy checking out these building, imagining what the people do in this building and how they lived their lives in the past.

From the airport, we took a taxi down to Waterfront. Since we only have about 5 hours ++ to spare, we decided to just explore Waterfront. The taxi driver stopped us right in front of Hilton, and from there, we just move around on our feet!

A tiring, but enjoyable trip. Besides, this is my first time going to the East Malaysia.

Inside Red Devil Airbus A320. Journalists busy taking pictures.

At the shore of Sarawak.

Touch down at Kuching Airport.

Being greeted by Sarawak's Chief Minister and press! Macam big shot!

The Red Devil Airbus.

Can you see Rio, Sir Alex and Park?

Sarawak's Chief Minister and AirAsia's Chairman.

Waterfront, Kuching.

Oldest temple in Kuching, Tua Pek Kong, since 1843.

Some $$$-wasting weird object next to the Chinese Museum.

A building just for parking! Initially we thought it's a shopping complex.

"Yuk Wong Tai Tai" temple.

The nearest Kuching statues that we can reach by bus No. 11.

They have Alfred Dunhill counter inside. Don't pray pray.

Sarawak Plaza is where the only Coffee Bean in Kuching is located.

Sarawak Steamship Co. Ltd., now a Bazaar!

The Astana (1870), Charles Brooke bridal gift to his wife, Margaret.

A fake alligator statue to scare away the pirates!! (??)

Charles Brooke Memorial.

Must be some gahmen building.

The place where we had fish ball mees. Very hard to find Chinese restaurants at this area.

Row of old Chinese shophouses.

Kuching Airport.

Back in KLIA.

One day is definitely not enough, as I believe there are more to explore in Kuching. Most of the nicest places are located outside Kuching city. Hopefully I'll get another chance to visit Kuching again.

5 days week

What's your view on working 5 days week?

We had a meeting the other day, when one of the director asked us for ways to save electricity and water bill. One of my colleague suggested a 5 days working week.

My director said that they implemented 5 days working week in Singapore before. What they found out is that by Friday afternoon, all the employees will start planning for the 2 days weekend. So their productivity will be very low, and half day wasted.

Then, when they come back on Monday, they will still be on holiday mood. Again, they will be at the "duck pond" talking about their weekends. Another half day gone.

So, in total, the employees will only work for 4 days. Thus, lower productivity.

What do ya think?

Wakakaz...

The Red Devil has arrived. Wakakaz...

I just got the email from AirAsia saying that I am one of the lucky winners for the Guess the Players contest. What I won? A day trip for two to Kuching on the 15th February 2005 on the brand new just arrived A360 Airbus. Wakakaz....

What a timely Valentine's day gift. Hahaha...

How My Brain Works.

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is a creative hotbed of artistic talent. You're always making pictures in your mind, especially when you're bored. You are easily inspired to think colorful, interesting thoughts. And although it may be hard to express these thoughts, it won't always be.

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