Books and Reading Journey

I like books and enjoy reading, properly a habit cultivated since young.

I started reading Chinese books with heavy comic content initially and gradually with more text as I got to recognize more Chinese characters and phrases. These Chinese books were well known classic titles such as "Journey to the West", "Romance of The Three Kingdoms", "Water Margin" etc. I could read them repeatedly. Of course, I also read translated fairy tales, life and contribution of famous individuals such as Edison, Newton, Colombia etc. All with very interesting content. My parent bought some to share and mostly borrowed from the library.

My first English title was "The Famous Five" - adventurous story. However, I have to refer to English-to-Chinese dictionary regularly in order to understand the readings. Partly to learn the language as well. Hence, I would take more time to finish reading a book.

My first and only collection then was the story of Sherlock Holmes. My aunty bought it for me from the Golden Plaza or better known as Little Bangkok. I was very happy as I have been enjoying the story but I was also very sacred at the same time as my parent would blame me for wasting the money over useless title, according to their standard.

My reading list expanded as I grow up to also include the Chinese Martial Arts Novel mainly authored by Jin Yong （金庸）. Jin Yong had written many titles and his works is very well known among the youth and adults. Some of the titles were filmed as movies and drama series closely followed by many individuals. There is a saying that where ever there is a Chinese community, you will be sure the existence of his loyal readers and fans.

I actually slowed down my regularly reading habit very much during the later part of my study and army time and resumed shortly after started to work. By then, I was more interested to read English books especially those on business, management as well as technology stuff. Most of my basic IT knowledge and skills were acquired then. One of my favorite reads was books on Bill Gates. I have learned much from the readings. Bill Gates became my Super Hero till now.

Two major changes were obvious, I began to read more magazines and began to buying more books & magazines than borrowing it - the beginning of building my library at home, subtly. I also learn to subscribe some of the magazines.

Years of experience make me realized that it is not so economical to buy technology books as it evolves rapidly, definitely much faster than my reading speed. The concept of management is pretty much the same, most importantly is one's ability to apply it timely and appropriately to create the desired result. The easily access and availability of Internet and richness of its content form good alternative resources. Amazon.com appears as one of my favorite websites. Gone the days of busy buying. I am a mellow shopper now. I visit library regularly again.

It's kind of funny, I am back to reading more Chinese books nowadays. Partly I am comparatively stronger in the language. Partly there are more available contemporary titles, English books are translated faster, better and cheaper. Instead of the classic titles, I read more about history and philosophy stuff. Since I enjoy traveling, I have collected more travel related books and magazines especially those in Asia version or edition.

Indeed, I already have a private library at home with a good spread of subjects and titles to meet my reading needs. What makes it more satisfactory is that it also has many books, both English and Chinese, that my daughter owns and enjoys readings. She inherits the story where I started many years ago though very differently. I hope that she will continue the journey with or without us around. It is definitely a journey that worth taking as a lifelong joy.

Ha...ha...ha...

Car washing service

Woke up in the middle of the night to washroom. Took a peep out of the window to check if it was raining. No rain but saw a man with a bicycle washing a car at the carpark downstairs. Very curiously, I stayed at the window for awhile more trying to figure out the driver.

Actually, he was not the driver. He makes a living by providing car washing service in the neighbourhood. A tall, skinny and friendly gentleman. He rides around with a pail of water, looking and waiting for car to be back and wash it. I think I have his promotional leaflet - A5 size, single coloured print or photo-copied. S$30 per month from Monday to Friday, rain or shine. Not expensive, S$1.50 a day though I did not engage his service at the moment. No particular reason.

I am not sure if he is doing it as a full time job or just a sideline to make some extra money. Either way, I respect him greatly. There are many people who are just like him, to work day and night to keep a decent living, there are also many who just dun bother to help themselves but reply on borrowing, conning, seeking undeserving help from various sources to past time. Worst if the person has an abled body and mind. A disgrace to themselves.

Life must has been hard on him if not why the need to wash someone's car at such an hour. But he lives to be his best possible and not yield to it. He also committed to his promise to wash it once a day, rain or shine at S$30 a month.

Come to think about it, I feel ashame that I am not quite friendly to him at times when his bicycle is blocking my way in the carpark though I do not horn at him. I have to practise and master more about appreciating and accommodating - as a way of life. Showing of respect goes beyond words.

Once upon a time (2)

I dun like to cut hair when I was young.

Not only that the uncle cutting my hair was not so friendly, but equally important was that my mum wanted me to keep very short hair style ie botak. Looking back now, I can understand why she insisted it that way - neat, clean, cooling and helped to save some money since I did not have to visit the barber so regularly.

My classmates would always tease me and called me botak head. They would laugh about it and I did not enjoy it very much. In fact, I was the rarely few with the botak hair style in class and properly in school. I could not carry with me a comb which was a trend then. :-(

To manage my expectation and objection, my mum would tell the uncle to have a long botak hair style for me. Any difference ? Ha...ha...ha..., not much but at least better than being botak.

Not sure if the experience had affected me silently, I prefer to keep my hair very short since the army time and now I am back to botak style again with no choice- fulltime, 24 x 7 :-)

At times, my daughter's classmates would call me botak uncle when I fetch her home after school. They seem fascinated and curious about it. 1 to 2 asked me why I have no hair and pretty bothered by it.

Some days, somehow they will know why. Ha...ha...ha...

Mahjong

I started to play Mahjong again,

I stopped playing it totally many years ago not only because I was losing much money then but most importantly, lost all the tuition fee that I had earned for a month service to a student. It was just unbelieveable while I walked home that night or rather in a wee hours after the game. Anyway, no bus and train service at the odd hours and also no money to take a cab. :-(

I learn to play mahjong since young by watching how my relatives play and learning it gradually along the way. It is a very addictive game. Players need to think and adopt best possible moves as well as what other may have in mind. Having good tiles does not mean that you will win for sure. More often than not, the game lasts for hours. At times, to order supper as the game continues. I enjoyed the small talk and accompany during the mahjong session. I hate when the game turns ugly over money. Whether winning or losing, players are bound to feel tired after the game, both physically and mentally.

Senior citizens are encouraged to play mahjong to keep one's mind active and alert. However, suggested to play it in a "healthy" or decent manner ie not much money or no money involved. It is definitely a good mean to past time, catching up with friends and just gossiping.

I feel that I am much skillful now as compare then. Winning most of the time, involving a few hundreds / thousand dollars. :-) Are you game enough to join me ?

See you online over iPhone
Ha...ha...ha...

History seems to unfold itself again. My daughter is eager to participate when I play mahjong on the iPhone. I will get her to throw out unwanted tiles. The same way my aunty told me a few decades ago.

Once upon a time ......

I used to stay in a rented flat many years ago. It has one bed room, a living room, toilet/bathroom and a kitchen. Small area but enough to meet daily needs. There were four of us in the family. I was the living room captain.

One of the unique features of the structure was that there was no windows at the kitchen area. It was an open concept built with iron bars from top to bottom. To sun or rain block, household has to install own canvas. However, it was very windy day and night. Good view of the outside world. Being a little naughty child, I would place one of my legs out in-between the gap of the bars. The love language used then was caning and scolding. I would considered myself lucky as caning was rarely used on the children in the family.

My favorite moment was when it rained, especially the heavy rain type. Even with canvas, the kitchen area would not only be wet but the best of it, flooded :-) Both my mum and myself would be pretty busy - my mum moving items that could be damaged by the water quickly while I looked for papers to make paper boats. The love language was not quite effective as I could hardly hear what my mum was saying. Anyway, she has more things to worry than those sailing paper boats. Cheers !

While my mum was patiently clearing the mess and praying for the rain to stop,
I was chanting
rain, rain, stay with me
rain, rain come again
Ha..ha..ha..

Boutique Hotel

I like the idea of staying in a boutique hotel whenever I travel for leisure. Though it has existed for years, I am more for it recently as I feel that the offering is generally much better.

Boutique hotel tends to be smaller in size and hence fewer guests in total. Check-in, check-out and breakfast sessions are more enjoyable. At the same time, staff is able to provide more personalized services for the guests whenever there are requests. The reception counter is well organized, designed and staffed.

The room is usually modernly designed with good colour combination + creative lightnings, cosy & clean environment, stuff with more current and useful gadgets such as LCD tv, a good range of international & local tv programmes, DVD player, free wi-fi internet connection, jacuzzi in bathroom, coffee/tea set and comfortable bedding. My recent stay in Taipei also find well packaged condom as part of the room amenities list.

Some added services include free usage of laundry equipment (eg. washing machine, dryer etc) for guests, kitchenette to do some simple cooking (or warming) etc. Of course, it can be quite expensive to stay in a boutique hotel and comparable to a 5-star hotel. My recent research suggested that Taiwan offers more competitive boutique hotel rates - pretty affordable in good location (ie walking distance to train station and surrounded by places to dine and shop). Hong Kong is quite expensive.

Consider staying in a boutique hotel especially if you are visiting Taiwan. :-)

Children's Day 2010

Children's Day is also becoming Parents' Day. As all primary schools and childcare centres will not be operating on 1st October, parents may have to be on leave to take care of them. In fact, some make it a family day to shop, dine, watch movie/performance and having a fun day together. For organizations that wanted to be acknowledged as pro-family or having worklife balance, much flexibility is shared with staff. Some even organized activities at the company level for the staff's children.

It has been years since I had my Children's Day. Not much celebration other than those programmes and gifts organized by the school. Nothing special about it. Nothing bad about it too.

Since the Day is meant for the children, I would prefer letting the children to organize a fun and relaxing moments with their friends out of the usual places. As long as it is a healthy, decent and safe programme, give the children the space, freedom to go wild with it. Afterall, they can only be a child for a few years.

I also celebrated it today by having a strawberry sundae after my lunch. :-)

"Huh ? I though you are already a junior Senior Citizen ?"

Yes, I am. But I am also young at heart. Happy Children's Day :-)
Ha...ha...ha... Cheers !