1 Year Anniversary

I only just realised that the 1 Year Anniversary of my blog has passed!!!!!

I created this blog on 11June2007, at that time I was still in UK and the main reason I created this is to share my journey of leaving the country that I have lived for 11 years and sharing with my friends and family different stories from then on. Although I don't update my blog frequently (actually sometimes i do but most of the time i don't =p), I have tried to remember to publish most interesting stories. My blog has evolved from random stories of my journey through life to a lot of posts that review about hotels, food and moaning about Monday blues. Heh... ^_^

For all my loyal and frequent readers.. THANK YOU so much for "stopping by" my blog and also occasionally drop a comment or two!! I also take this opportunity to wish all of you Happy Merdeka and have a wonderful long weekend ahead. For those who are going to "Balik Kampung".. have safe journeys!

Formal Chinese Banquet meal - Park Royal, KL

9 Course meal at Park Royal, KL...THE Verdict: Not bad.. but not brilliant either. The service is quite messy. I have no idea how much this meal would cost per table of 10ppl, however, I will say it can only be worth it if it is 800 per table or less.

Starter: Hot and Cold combination platter

Shark fin soup with crab meat and scallops.

Roast crispy chicken in garlic sauce

Poached prawn in Chinese herb

Braised sea cucumber with seasonal vegetables

Hong Kong fried noodles with assorted seafood

Chilled soya milk with snow fungus (left) and baked pear puff with lotus paste (right)

Yes.. you are correct.. there are only 8 dishes here because I forgot to take the picture of the 5th dish, which was steamed pompret in superior soy sauce. =p

Guoman Hotel, Port Dickson, Malaysia

This is a hotel (beach resort) at Port Dickson. Recently went there for a workshop and found that the environment is really great. Would love to go back for a proper holiday! For golf players, they also have a golf course.. the room rates are different depending on whether you are facing the beach view (more expensive) or the golf course view. The rooms are either 1 king size bed or 2 queen size beds (sleeps 2 adult 2 children).

The drive way leading to the main entrance.

Lounge area at the entrance.

Water features are the entrance.

View from 5th floor balcony foyer.

View from my room at 5th floor.

View of my room (shared with a colleague)

The restaurant (breakfast and other meals, they have 2 this and the other one is a Chinese restaurant, lunch and dinner only. Both serve buffet style).

Starter served during dinner.

Some selection of food during dinner.

Dessert selection!!

You either hate it or love it...

Me? Can do with and can do without (my hubby absolutely hates it!!!!)... ha ha ha ha.... my only problem with them is the after smell if you keep them in the fridge.

The matter of heart...

The Heart is actually a funny thing.. in scientific term heart is basically an organ that pumps blood and without it you die (frankly speaking). However this word is also loosely used to describe feelings. The matter of heart is really a strange thing. Just for an example, when we were happy, we literally feel it at our heart.. when we are missing someone it is very difficult to describe that feeling.. and not to mention depress, anger.. and love (or more of love someone until it hurts?!). Is it your heart that is feeling or your brain? I was chatting to TTB during the weekend about this matter, and she posted a question which I don't really have an answer (despite being a Dr).. the question is:"How would we know the feeling of pain and the longing of missing someone is the same for you and me?". Hmm.. this is really tough... I can't provide an answer.. We always describe our feeling to others.. but how would we know the feeling is exactly the same? There is no way to measure (to my knowledge)... can you measure the wave patterns of the brain? Or ? It is the precise measurement and scale that cannot be defined.

Take another example.. falling in love. Can this feeling be controlled? We've seen a lot of movies.. and falling in love seems to be able to hit someone just like that (is it actually more to the fact that when you realise it.. it is too late.. the feeling has been embedded for ages and you only just found out?). But what triggers it? Can this be controlled, reasoned and dismissed by being logical and rational? There is a saying in Chinese that means (in short) for a girl to chase after a boy is easier than vice versa. Is it true in this modern world? Well.. there is also another explanation.. it is the hormones who are the culprit. Heh.. but what triggers the group of hormones? Feelings?! aka: "The Heart"?!

Ok.. I think I am basically asking for trouble here.. ha ha ha..

Change is good..

Just got a news yesterday that one of my colleague is leaving the job. I am very sad.. he is one of the good buddies I have at work place. Plus he sat next to me.. hence we share a lot of jokes and gossips a lot. Although, the sitting arrangement will change from Monday since we are moving office and we will both get a private office each, but i was counting on that he will always be at the work place if I need someone to share something or just a familiar friendly face to look at. But... he will not be there in 2 month time. Another colleague came to talk to me about this.. and also expressed that he is also very sad with this news. I was very calm and rational to tell him that change is good. I truly believe that everything always happen for a good reason. We just need to be patient and wait for the good reason to surface.

Although I am sad but I am also truly happy that this dear friend has gotten a better job and i wished him all the best!

A good read: "What Got You Here Won't Get You There"

I accidentally stumble across this book when shopping at Kinokuniya a few days ago. I am not sure why it attracted me in the first place, probably because I would like to know how to be more successful? Hmm.. perhaps. But anyhow, took the book and flipped it open and immediately attracted to it. The writing style is easy to read and quite funny. Just to give you an example:

A few years ago the CEO of a manufacturing company hired me to coach his COO. The COO was talented but stubborn and opinionated. The first time I met with the COO to go through his direct reports feedback, his reaction was, "But Marshall, I don't do that."

"That one is free" I said. "Next time I hear 'no', 'but', or 'however' it's going to cost you $20"
"But..." he replied, "That's not..."
"That's $20!"
"No, I don't ... " He refuted.
"That's $40!"
"No, no, no" he protested.
"That's 60, 80, 100 dollars" I said
Within an hour, he was down $420. It took another two hours before he finally understood and said "Thank you".

Are you interested now to know why? Hee.. to cut the story short, this author is trying to point out a few habits that we do normally that can hinder us from going further as a good leader. Apparently (according to him) when we start a sentence with the negative words (no, but, however ... etc), it is giving the message "YOU ARE WRONG". No matter how you acknowledge that person's effort or good suggestions. Hmm.. this is indeed very interesting right?

Actually other than this book, I am also reading another one at the same time titled "Starbucked". Another very intriguing book. I shall tell you about it soon. Bringing this book to the 3 days 2 night management retreat that i am attending from tomorrow. Hence no blog from me till next week!

Updating blog...

Ops.. it has been a few days since I wrote a new blog entry. Heh... not very consistent in publishing new events, but this time I have a valid reason. I was very ill!!! Got food poisoning on Friday and was initially thought as a mild one but NOT at all.. ended up bed bound for nearly 3 days. Lost 2kgs in one day! Fastest way to loose weight but terrible feeling! Went back to work on Monday and Tuesday because of important meetings, but took today off. Mainly to rest and also wanted to celebrate hubby's bday .. humph.. but he has to go back to work! So.. I am at home.. with mom! Ha ha.. will be off to swimming then shopping. Still got my day off anyway. HA HA HA....

Missing TTB lots....