Start, Stop, Keep. Why & How?

What am I jumping into?

2010-09-09T01:08:00.000-07:00

Understanding your employment company is vital, as so is the core business & values.

The company I am in is a Professional Event Organizer namely PEO, a member of MACEOS Malaysia. We organize Malaysia International Jewellery Fair Spring Edition (MIJF SE) at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in March, Malaysia International Jewellery Fair (MIJF) at KL Convention Centre in July, & International Beauty Expo (IBE) in May at the heart of KL city annually, that is for domestic exhibitions. As for international exhibitions, we are the agent for Malaysia & Singapore in big jewellery shows as listed

below:

Ø Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Fair (Impact Exhibition & Convention Centre, Bangkok)

Ø Jewellery Fair Korea (Atlantic Hall & Convention Hall, COEX; Seoul)

Ø JCK Las Vegas (Sands Expo Convention Centre, Las Vegas)

Ø International Jewellery London (Earls Court London, UK)

Ø International Jewellery & Watch Show Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre, UAE)

Ø Dubai International Jewellery Week (Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE)

For these 2 exhibitions, it has its very unique and different business nature. Due to the fact that I am totally new to the industry, exhibition line, jewellery industry and beauty industry; I had hard times to look for input, get information and knowledge, digest and absorb all the facts. These are things I never knew, never thought of before in the past 23 years of my life. I studied about jewellery market potential in Malaysia, get data, facts & figures from MATRADE statistical analysis on the import (RM 400.22 m) & export (RM 2.7 b) value; learned to understand different categories of jewelleries such as diamond and the 4Cs (determinant factor to decide value of stone), gold and the Ks (10-24k i.e.), pearl, jade, sapphire, fashion jewelleries, fine jewelleries, semi-precious jewelleries etc., also some key players of Malaysia industry like Poh Kong owned by YB Dato’ Eddie Choon, PYT Jewel & Time (Paternal relatives of Chun Family), Tomei (Maternal relatives of Chun Family), Habib, Lazo etc.

However, understanding an industry always require experience and that is what I am lacking of at this point of time. Put that all aside, there are more things for me to study and memorize:

Clients (who and what are their nature of business)
Competitors’ shows (where and when)
Freight forwarding service (with arm guard or not?)
ATA Carnet or Bank Guarantee?? (rules and regulations)
Customs procedures for exhibitors (processes and charges)
Cost, Insured Freight (CIF) value and duty import
On site contractor (Furniture & lighting etc.)
Strong room security
Hotel Booking and reservation
Booth size, price and package
A & P plan of the show
Program rundown for exhibition (OC by royal family, in-hall fashion show by Amber Chia and other models, Seminar by GIA (Geminology Institute of America)

I had to admit this is pretty heavy for my brain to consume, not forgetting I have also to study on almost the same aspects for beauty industry. More sharing in upcoming post on:

*Telemarketing & Cold Calling (Winning script production), Handling Rejection (i.e. boomerang tactic), Sales process management (SPIN selling etc.), and Common sales mistakes.

Exhibition; the what & why?

2010-09-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

I read too many articles, browsed through too many links to try to find an exact definition which can perfectly define the word “exhibition”, however; there are neither too many stories to follow nor too many perspective of looking at this. Nevertheless, all different definitions had finally come to a point ultimately and the magic word to explain this is “marketing tool”.

Unlike any other marketing tools or channels, this is the best of all. Reason is simple, exhibition alone can achieve so many marketing objectives such as Mass reach of advertising, Targeting of direct mail, Persuasive power of face-to-face selling, Networking benefits of Internet, brand reputation building of PR & branding Creating a unique environment and atmosphere.

For that I would say exhibition is no longer a single medium in this new era but a perfect mixture and best form of investment for corporate which is why Google Inc. has more than 5000 exhibitions annually, which makes at least 14 exhibitions every single day of the year. Do you know MNCs from overseas invest 60-70% of total corporate capital into exhibitions for marketing purpose where as Malaysia companies only invest less than 10% of total corporate capital into exhibitions for the same purpose?

*Refer to attachments below for a better picture

1st step into the working world

2010-09-09T00:40:00.000-07:00

Looking back at my 1^st presence at the company, 1^st day or 1^st week doesn’t matter simply because I am a total fresh that just completed my tertiary education. Here is the equation or perception of what a fresh grad is like; fresh = no/ few past working experience, new to the working world, high self expectations on own value & capability which at most of the time do not meet with reality.

We need time to re-adjust and get adapted to the world we thought we already known, this is what I think and I believe also representing voices of what majority fresh grad. However, we do realized when we moved forward into a new chapter of life heading towards different direction (leaving what we called the comfort zone; college/ university life), things changed. There is too much for learning and yet the education does not really prepare most of us for what is coming (except some faculties I would say).

Learning from scratch is not easy but praise god it had always been exciting and thrilling. Speaking of my job, I was in the marketing position in the event & exhibition line. My job description? Making sales calls (both cold & warm calling), doing presentation, liaise with clients, acquiring new client accounts and so on. I spent my 1^st 3 days doing study on my job, to understand my job better, to know what exhibition is and how is it differ than event. I used to think there is an equation between an event and exhibition but if fact there is nothing in common between the two. If I am about to say there is, there might just be the initial E. *chuckles* When it comes to nature of both, it is a total different scenario. In order for your eyes to feel less tiring and more comfortable when reading this, I will share it in my next post.

Moving into Professionalism

2010-09-04T23:07:00.000-07:00

We as human will go through different metamorphosis processes in life, whether do it come sooner or later. 2 years and a half since my last blog post and I am now moving into another milestone of life. From now on, I will share information and experience that I obtain from my job as a Marketing Executive in the Event and Exhibition line for Jewellery & Beauty Industry.

i found what i've lost

2008-01-12T20:18:00.000-08:00

After playing basketball last nite alone in d dark at bakti’s court & today morning, I realized that there are sth that means a lot to me,and this is 1 of them. I found my long lost passion in playing this ball game, I found that there are some expectations & aims where I should never forget. Reminiscing how I used to be drowned beneath the excitement & eagerness & fervor, playing fr sun rise to sun set with sweat covering all over my entire body, man that is my sth. I just couldn’t quit playing this game I guess. I decided to re-join varsity team’s training & wanna go for the tournament at Medan(Indonesia) with all my team mates. Will I finally get a little bit closer to my unc??? Who cares. All I noe now it’s the time of my life & I wanna shine glaringly. I didn’t wanna be ordinary like most of the people. I want this to be one of the memorable & unforgettable moments in my life & I want this to be a part of my story of life. Go go jia you!!!(some inspirational saying of my somebody) Never give up!!!

day where i skipped my class for the 1st time=(

2008-01-09T07:55:00.000-08:00

I woke up around 7 sth in the a.m. in order to attend LKM400 at 10 but what happened was that I found my self not feeling so well & for the 1^st time in this sem I skipped class. The 2^nd time I woke up was already 10a.m., normally I’ll only be sleeping until 7 sth. Hmm… it’s a tiring day >.<>.<>

i'm lost !!

2008-01-08T03:54:00.001-08:00

Man I was lost when I’m looking for BT162 around foyer side cuz I thought all the BTs are in this area . I feel pretty sorry for my roommate for giving him the wrong information , real SORRY DUDE !!! I tried to reach a few of my frens to check out for the proper location of Bt162 & at long last I found it . I was late to enter the tutorial class so I bowed to my tutor as a sign of appreciation & asking for forgiveness , this was when those jackass of the “MA” blood line laughed at me . I was a little upset at that moment cuz they paid me no respect in my culture of respecting the elder which is my tutor. I gave no damn bout this after a few minutes though. Hm… I feel so happy that things finally get back to square one , I mean me & u Yen=) Bali bali was where I went for lunch with Pat & wow we are really full,I mean REALLY FULL!! We took porridge , chee cheong fun , kuey teow thng & dim sum. Took it all just by the two of us !!! oh my god,=0!! Then I started to do planning on the wus group discussion later at 3pm. Finally, I attended the YKT111’s lecture at DKA but that was still not the end of my day , yet. I went bak to tekun hoping to get a break, a short one at least. I went back to campus again to attend NRIC meeting at 9 in the p.m. And now I was hoping the meeting will end asap=)

There are times where I will ...

2008-01-08T03:52:00.000-08:00

There are times where I will feel lonely as if I dun belong to anyway, as if I’m homeless & as if I’m alone all along. I do realize I’m actually have all these wonderful people around me and so I keep on asking my self , what do I seek? I dunno, that is the only thing I can say. I hope I can finally find an answer for this. I hope I can navigate out of this sea of darkness, of confusion & insecurities by my own. I hope to grow up so I will soon realize that there is actually no one I need but me. There is actually nothing I seek but me. But is the me I’ve been trying to reach really me??? Lord, gimme a sign…I really need to talk to you Lord ,Since the last time we talked the work has been hard
Now I know you haven't left me But I feel like I'm alone
I'm a big boy now but I'm still not grown
And I'm still going through it ,Pain and the hurt
Soaking up trouble like rain in the dirt. And I know! Only I can stop the rain
Wit just the mention of my saviors name, IN THE NAME OF JESUS!
Devil I rebuke you for what I go through, And trying make me do what I used to

But all that stops right here, As long as the Lords in my life I will have no fear
I will know no pain from the light to the dark
I will show no shame spit it right from the heart
Cause its right from the start, But you held me down
And ain't nothing they can tell me now
Lord give me a sign!!!

Let me know whats on your mind, Let me know what I'm gone find
Its all the time, Show me how to teach the mind, Show me how to reach the blind
Lord give me a sign!
Show me what I gots to do, To bring me closer to you, Cause I'm gonna go through
What ever you want me to, Just let me know what to do
Lord give me a sign!!!

welmo bash !!=))

2008-01-06T08:52:00.000-08:00

Aarg … I lift my butt from the bed around 9 sth in the a.m. .After finish brushing & showering , I went down to the café with Ah Hung to jiak & stayed there for nearly 2 hours . We went to BJ around 12 to look for some cds & get Clarian some really delicious food as lunch . Em… it’s already 2 sth when I made it back to my room & of course I took a nap & slept for 1 hour (mayb?? Or even less) . I work on my assignments & planned for stuffs to be accomplished in coming 2 months I’m still thinking when to have the interview session with Mr Yeoh & I think should be on next Tuesday if nothing goes wrong (hopefully) =). So I can finish up my entrepreneur profile for WUS101 . Some groups seems to started selling & I think it’s time for my group to make a move as well or else … Still looking forward for the Welmo Bash later & I managed to persuade Ah Hung & Clarian to come along . It’s just too bad I couldn’t get my Jap , china & korea frens to cum =( feel sorry bout that . I think I failed to get a Swedish fren as well .Yahhh!!! A little upset bout that . I have to sort out the programme flow for career camp after the WB later so what time I’m gonna zzz… tonight remain unknown . I feel so good today as my doubts & worries just faded away not long ago haha !!! And so I went to the WB with Muslih(he is a Kuwaiti)together with Hung , Clarian & Edison(Indonesian). Besides I managed to get Dav(sweedish) to come along as well . It’s really a great night to see all these pep are satisfied & happy !! @ ROCKS !!! WUUUU!!!! I walked val back to her hostel & fix an appointment to have dinner with Siew Wen cuz she seems to has some frustrations & I’m gonna hear her out for sure . Not sure wheter will i still be meeting with Yen though around 7 in the p.m. I have been thinking wheter should I apply for OC for Nat Con or Corporate night , that really hits me but I must be well organized . Think care fully vance !!!

fruiful day for me , tiring though

2008-01-05T09:42:00.001-08:00

I slept at Sumalin’s apartment last nite & thank god I managed 2 send my regards to Lotte before she takes off around 6 sth in the a.m. I woke up around 9 sth & went to penang hill , komtar to have the very 1st meal of my day . We head to sungai nibong to get bus ticket after that . We had a meeting at tekun café with others @ers regarding the welmo bash on tmr . I went to BJ for lunch & took a nap at U-heights around 4 in the p.m. I was SO HAPPY cuz I learned some roads today & because of the constant nagging of my darling Zahirah , I joined B.U.D.A.Y.A. to help out . Guess I’ll be REAL busy huh =) the more I do , the more I learn I guess . My fren once told me that , the more busy a man is , the more time he will have cuz he knows how to fully utilize the little time he has . It’s more on quality than quantity in the end . After meeting with Mushlih(Kuwaiti) , we had dinner at istimewa & went to night market & tesco after that . V chat a lot & he Speaks Good English . V share a lot about our country’s culture & education system & I even told him bout the 13th May incident . I went to paradise resort 2 meet vincent & others & join Yen’s b’day party at the same time . It’s good to see her happy =)cuz for me she is 24/7 melancholy pessimist . So it’s really hard 2 get her to feel happy from the bottom of her heart . Ok , now I start thinking of a close fren of mine . I like the atmosphere when v r chatting & when v r together cuz it is so relaxing & peaceful for me . It really sooth my mind & soul especially when I’m tired n not feeling so good . Thx Val !!! thx for making me feel so secured & I think I just got a person where our frequency is just so rite . High compatibility I would call that .I used 20 minutes to get bak from paradise resort to rst , I wonder is tat 2 fast ? I feel kinda good when I’m accelerating though . Luckily I’m still here with no harm at all =) I wanna go out 4 supper as I’m SOO starved . I MAU MAKAN LA !!! that is my day for today I guess . Looking forward to tmr’s welmo bash !!! it’s good , it’s good , it’s good to be an @er !!!i’m suffering from gastric since few days bak !!! it’s killing me cuz my stomach keep on feeling this constant nagging pain & I feel like vomiting all the time !!! should I consult a MP(medical practitioner) ? I wonder ???

4th of jan '08

2008-01-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

Things finally got beta ! I woke up around 9 in the a.m. today .After having breakfast with my senior , I went to St. Nic . Yvonne (marketing exec.) asked me to bring a letter head as a prove that I’m actually doing this for NRIC & so I went back to USM . I reached campus around 12 in the noon & passed the bike 2 Nyok Yin at bakti . I rushed to see Baya (my publicity director of NRIC) & asked her to prepare what I’m asked by giving her a detail account addressing this issue . I went to meet zhe rong & others to help out the filming of the Welmo Bash’s vide clip at 12.30pm at dk foyer . Man , I was tensed =) I went to see Baya again around 2 sth at subaidah to collect those papers that I needed & signed on them . I rushed back to dk foyer again to meet my fren in order to borrow her bike . After meeting her and after getting the key , I went to cubicle to wait for Isac to pick me up & drop me off at RST cuz it would be a lot faster compare to taking campus’s bus . I started get more and more anxious as time goes on , tick , tick , tick … Cuz I wanna go bak to St. Nic for the interview & guess what they will be closing at 5.10pm . Well fortunately , I managed to be there within 15-20 minutes & that made the interview being successfully carried out . After shooting with Mr. Yusoff(the person I interviewew whom is a visually impaired) I promised him I’ll pay them a visit at ,least once in a week or maybe twice to do bonding & gardening =) well I think that is not so bad after all huh ??? I rushed to attend my SHE101 lecture at dtsp & yes I’m late for half and hour but who cares for that ??? It’s freaking boring after all & I just ended up chatting with my frens , haha , pity the speaker though . Well , I promised Yen that I’ll reached late on Saturday’s party at the beach side & there was when I finally felt relief … Thank God for always looking out for me out there & always gives me the best …I met Val for dinner & v have a 2 hours chat after that , wow it was so nice =) Never forgetting my appointment with sumalin , I went to meet him & brought him to my room for some casual chat . We then took our supper at khaleel & finally I went to his apartment to sleep haha … we watched some martial arts video clip like aikido & capoeira . wow that were amazing !!!

finally cheered up =) yeah

2008-01-03T07:11:00.000-08:00

I went to queensbay with a few of my friends including Jason , Vincent , Melvin , Angela & Yen to havr lunch at NAndo’s . I feel really sorry cuz I’m unable to talk much as I’m feeling kinda dizzy , almost fainting I would say . Thank u all for alwiz being nice to me =) Love Y’all !!! Yen invited us to some beach side for outing the day after tmr as a celebration to her birthday which is just around the corner . After they left , I just roamed around alone to look for sth . Din reli get wat I wan though .. I went back to my hostel with Vincent & was hoping to take a nap .before I go out again later with Nyok Yin =) Man , I NEED A BREAK . I’m TOO TIRED !!! I wonder what will ching ask us to do tonight during meeting but I’m pretty sure it has sth to do with the NLDS ’07 which was hosted at UM 1 month ago . Guess I won’t know what is inside of the box till then =) What do I seek ? I think even me my self have no answer on that . So , I’ll just have to row & row & row my boat until I finally manage to navigate out of this confusion . Good luck capten vance , ahoy !!! My friend asked me what will I do if there happens to be just a tornado nearby ? Now I feel that I’m inside a tornado where I lost my way & can do nothing beside being pulled into the same spot , recycling again & again . When I’m down , I’ll think of what is said by Dale Carnegie(I think I din spell wrongly,hopefully haha) in some of his all-time masterpiece & the spirit of Michael Jordan which never gives up . They are some pep I always look up to . I wanna achieve my aims , I wan it badly & desperately as if I’m looking for an oasis when I’m lost in the meddle of desert . OUR DREAMS AND OUR ASPIRATIONS ARE OUR INVITATIONS TO SET NEW GOALS , ATTEMPT NEW TASKS , DARE TO TRAVEL WITHOUT COURSES . WE EACH HAVE GIFTS TO OFFER OUR FELLOW-TRAVELERS , BUT MUST FREQUENTLY NEED ENCOURAGEMENT TO RECOGNIZE OUR OWN STRENGTHS AND TALENTS . That day will soon to come , soon …

imbalanced?

2008-01-02T03:06:00.000-08:00

I know I sensed sth different in the way she look me in her eyes , I hope that is sth positive for god sake . Will I be too aggressive at times ? I’m worry that I will somehow scare her off by that . Just … pls dun happen . I wanted to know what she is thinking to know if I’m right based on my notions , to know what she wants & … to know where I stand … My day start off by tiredness & I lost my balance for a few times when I’m walking in campus as if I got tripped and nearly fall down & kiss the ground . Anyhow , I felt happy for seeing her just a little bit disappointed when I failed to give her a big warm hug of mine while I’m telling her how thankful & grateful I’m for her kindness . It might seems nth 2 her but for me , it means a lot … a lot … what is unspoken finally spoke out . I felf kinda relief . I know what to do next do , YOU will always be a part of my heart . Love you … hope u’ll be happy always and you will have me in ur shadow (everywere u go)…Am I just got outta this never ending recycle of stand & fall , fall & restand in meeting some1 , in searching for a r’ship ?

new year , new begining , forget the bad , cherish the good ...

2008-01-01T07:44:00.000-08:00

It’s reli awkward for me 2 feel kinda down & being pessimistic whole day long . It’s kind of like an emotional breakdown . Feel like I’m hopelessly in anything I do . That was where I started to doubt and doubt & redoubt my self , my capabilities , my directions , my path & my inner feelings . It must due to the exhaustion of my body & mind . I went to Slippery Senoritas last night for eve’s countdown with my friends . Boozing made me feel kinda relief I must admit as I’ve been depressed for the past few days . I was enjoying myself by taking vodka , boozes like Heineken & Tiger & dance but I’m disappointed cuz there are hardly any hot chicks as far as I observed . I made few new frens from China , Thailand & Korea & danced . I even danced with few chicks from Thailand & Korea and we became frens subsequently . I reached my hostel around 4 sth in the morning & slept at 5 . Thx to my room mate’s shitty 24/7 turned on radio , I woke up by 7 sth in the a.m. & I felt SO FUCKED UP as that was not my own will . GOD DAMN IT!! I felt like I’m a zombie today , so immobilized … I’m drowned in dizziness from sun rise to sun set , my life is just seems so imbalanced today . Everything turned 180 degrees up side down . I went to gurney & batu ferringhi by bike cuz I feel like getting my self some air . I received a text fr my some1 saying she is still in the mood of shopping . Honestly , that freak the hell outta me as she already been there (queensbay) ever since 2 pm ? or mayb 3pm? But , by knowing she is happy & enjoying what she is doing , I feel so glad , so satisfied …

slow wind breezing ...

2008-01-01T07:42:00.000-08:00

Slow wind breezing & embracing my entire body , from top to toe , not missing a single inch of my skin . Touching by the tenderness of the breezing wind , I started to reminisce , I begun to worry & insecurity came to haunt me . I’m feeling insecure & lost as if I’m in the middle the middle in the Sahara Desert . Is the harmony at the moment the transitory peace before the tempest ? Will it happens to be just evanescence ? Darkest hours is the nearest to dawn , that is the only phrase I can use as consolation to comfort my stirred up mind …

love ???

2007-12-31T23:36:00.000-08:00

Sometimes , I just wanna feel that I’m wanted & I’m being loved . Is that so hard after all ?? Sigh , guess thcome e time is not ripe yet , my time haven’t come . It’s reli sad to say that I can reli trust no 1 in this world , that might be the cause of this … never ending emptiness of my fragile heart … I just can’t fill this hole no matter how many friendships I tried to put in . Maybe that is just not the right ingredient , I guess I need love . Love love …

Will things finally be better??

2007-12-31T03:15:00.001-08:00

My alarm went off at 7am , I snoozed it for another couple of minutes as I’m just too tired to wake up on time . After I woke up , I started to arrange stuffs to put into my bag , clothes to wear , ironing , shower and never forgetting to have breakfast before attending my YKT103 at dkA . Coincidentally I met my buddies , Melvin & Vincent while I was on my way there but we know we are late haha …

And so we were , em … about 5 minutes if I’m not mistaken . Fortunately , Mr. Strict(my lecturer) has not started the lecture yet . I was like , PHEW !!! I finally saw my some1 & I felt embarrassing after the little thing which had happened few days back . Oh MAN , WHAT SHOULD I DO ? GOD , SHOW ME A PATH!! After the lecture , I was too fucking embarrass til I don’t dare to look her in the eyes . It was like SHIT !!! Nevertheless , things got beta after that & I was so glad it turned out to be so much more beta than I could ever imagine . I mean , that was the best I could have & deserve & I know I can never ask more than that . I feel like saying thank you & … but due to some unforeseeable circumstances , I just swallowed IT when it reaches my mouth . So ya , I didn’t say it . But I’m certain that there will be plenty of chances for me for doing so . At this moment right now , I just can post it here but next time … I will do it =) Thank you so much & yes I love you .

An uncle joined my group for YKT 103 today right after the class finishes . I was wondering how come I’ve never seen him before , I mean during last week . And so he told me he just undergoing bi-past (not sure whether I spell it out right) last week . He has got my fullest respect when I found out that he was already 69 years old this year . Although he had been absence for twice last week so if he ever absent for 1 more time , he will be bared . I went straight to MR. STRICT(my lecturer) and attempt to negotiate with him regarding this issue . NO EXCEPTION !!! was the final . Man at least I tried , as a fren , as a group leader & as respect & love to senior citizens . After my ogx meeting , I went back to cubicle alone to type my reports & outcomes for some interview regarding my task for NRIC . I know I must do this real serious cuz what I’m typing will be published in poster & internet later . I went to attend my YKT103’s very 1^st tutorial class at 4pm & wus101 tutorial after that at 5pm .

Finally , I can get myself back to my room , hugging my lovely bolster and rest myself a little . I’m going to SS to countdown tonight so I hope it will turn out fun . Just hope I can see her again soon …

I was wondering for times

2007-12-31T03:08:00.000-08:00

I was wondering for times , times when I woke up , times before I sleep & times when I’m thinking of this . Am I wrong for loving some1 ? Am I so wrong for loving some1 I shouldn’t ? Since I realized how my heart feels , I can take no more of this , sigh . Just hope this feeling will soon be faded away so things can return back to the form they should be , at least for me … Soon I found my self drowning in this sands of time , falling in this never ending black hole , hoping things will finally get better , time after time , day after day . If you happens to bump me somewhere , help me outta there as I might have again fallen from the stars , fallen like some fallen angels , found my self so lost in this …

rare sunday where I felt kinda depressed

2007-12-30T05:55:00.000-08:00

My alarm went off around 8.30 in the morning but I woke up before that . Not forgetting I need to meet up with Lotte at tekun café to visit an Indian temple near Tesco . We took breakfast together before departure . Once we reached Sri Krishna Bagawan Alayam(temple in tamil) , the prayer was already started . So we just joined in & sat behind an Indian family . After asking , we found out that the prayer today was to worship the monkey god – Hanuman . After some rituals , the Indian priest bathed the monkey god with milk , coconut water , some yellowish & orange color-like liquids . For the family who is taking up the responsibility in worshiping the god , prayers will be going on and they will have lunch after the prayer . There are 1008 songs they have in worshiping the monkey god but only a few will be sang during the prayer . After finish bathing Hanuman , we are given milk & coconut water which were poured onto our palms to consume .Milk representing long life while coconut water representing the gift of power . I’m was given kunkuman (the red dot on the forehead) right after that . Oh yeah , she as well . There are actually 3 different types of colours where they will apply on the forehead sometimes . As I mentioned earlier , kunkuman(red) representing blessing & protection from the god of birth , vibudi(white) representing blessing & protection from the god of protection while santhana(yellow) representing the blessing & protection from the god of death . If you dunno them , they are Brahma , Siva & Vishnu which are the creator , protector & destroyer of Hinduism . These are blessings & protection from gods which keeps the evil away from harming you .

We joined them to sing some songs (in the purpose of worship) including vaaltholi , namaavalzi , murugan songs & also rama songs(I just a name a few cuz they are like so many) . It lasted about nearly 1 hour , or might be more & there is another prayer after that . According to the priest , Indian temple must be closed around 11.30 in the morning cuz the gods will be resting starting from 12 in the noon .Nevertheless , there will be exceptions if there is a prayer going on like today .

It was strange to say that although they are making so much of noises (with all due respects & mean no harm ) throughout the whole prayer , I felt kinda peaceful deep in my heart . I really need this so badly as I’m feeling kinda down in recent 2 or 3 days . So I told myself to just only be like this in 3 days! 3 days ! Is the only duration I’ll ever be like this & feel like locking my self in somewhere . NOT A DAY MORE , NOT A DAY LESS . And today was the 2^nd day . Vance , come back ya . U can be like this NO MORE !!! I know feeling this long foraging peaceful deep in my heart was the power of having a religious belief .I experienced that before while I was doing mass at St.Michael Church back in Ipoh(my hometown)although I’m actually a free thinker with no particular religious stand .Somehow , I do believe there are greater power beyond mankind and I believe most in the values I feel that are righteous and on top of that , I BELIEVE IN MY SELF . No matter is it about choosing my path of life , my inner feelings & my very own abilities .I was so surprised to see there were 2 or 3 Chinese came in around 11.30 in the morning .I guess that was what cross culture is about . Understand , accept , respect & love not only different cultures but different community as well as how & what me & Lotte are doing at this moment . Rather than just materially understands it , I prefer to feel & experienced it in a more practical manner . Anything serving to god must be in odd number while offerings for ancestors & forefathers will be in even number .

During the lunch , we were given this sweet snack called Ladu , it is mainly made from ghee(kept cow milk) . Oh I love that as it was as sweet as my some1 =) Man I’m really sick of feeling depress 24-7 in these 2 days , it was so god damn torturing my mind . Before I left , I interviewed a very nice Indian lady Madame Krishnaveni regarding the NRIC project of mine . So , there are just 2 pep left for me to interview in coming 2 days . Initially , she declined after knowing her photo will be published on a poster as well as the internet but after my effort of pursuing , she finally nodded her head & I was like thank god for looking after me . I went back to my hostel after that & I’m really glad I did learned something new & met some real nice pep from different ethnicity .

some of my hidden thoughts where u might wanna know

2007-12-29T07:22:00.000-08:00

Wow , what a refreshing morning I have after woke up =) It was that glaring sunlight again coming in from the window that woke me up around 7sth . Reminisce bout last night right before going to bed , I nearly make some big mistakes where I’ll be regret sooner or later . For god sake I was like drunk & some words just slipped outta my tongue when they shouldn’t be . I never thought I’ll expressed my feelings towards a very good fren of mine , & thank god she was open enough to take this & her openness saved our friendship =) I’m so glad for that . You know , a relationship is like reputation sometimes >>> lifetime to build , seconds to destroy<<< . I was like OH MY GOD , is some thing just gone wrong in me??? Why I made a move like this all of a sudden & I certainly didn’t think much about the consequences that this will lead to . What keeps bugging me was that am I taking her too much as a friend & caring her way too much beyond how it should be ??? I’ve thinking bout this but after I made up my mind , liking some1 or even loving some1 is just a natural chemical reaction which all of us will be experienced . My choice was to care for her still , watch her back like how I used to (not really sure if I’m really doing this) & yes , go on as how we use to be . I know this might sounds kinda ridiculous but it is more or less like a “knight” which will be on her demand anytime . Maybe this is what we called “true friendship” cuz I never really have 1 before though it might sound miserable .

I don’t have any happy schooling days back in my form6 studies especially after I broke up with my 2^nd gf which coincidentally happens to be in the same class room with . Things were good before the break up . But after on & off for 3 times (she wanted to break for the 1^st & 2^nd while I took the initiative to break up & end this agonizing relationship for the 3^rd time) that is the final & where bad things started to happen . They created this thing called AVC (Anti Vance Clan) in the mid of January of 2007 . In my class there were approximately 43 pupils while 36 of them are AVC members & others are neutral(maybe) . In other words , I’m all alone throughout the whole year . Not only that , they started recruiting members from other classes as well . Man those day was really sucks & terrible for me . I’ve found out later where they actually created an account in friendster & started sending testimonials which are mainly to comment & condemn bout me as if that is a platform for them to really do so . When I found out , I was really pissed but “never let anger cloud your judgement” . After I calmed my self down , I learned to deal with all these . What hurts me the most was that I lost a few of my friends (where I thought they are my friends before the incident) some one them even were my childhood friends due to their influence for dunno what reason . It was really heart breaking when I looked my friends in the eye & they just ignored you . Another thing for causing this will only be my popularity in school . I played basketball & I’m the capt for the school team so take makes me popular among my school mates . It actually make me feels good when my juniors (from form 1 to form5) always come to me & ask me to play basketball with them or even teach them like how to shoot , how to lay up , how to block , how to rebound & how to be strong willed when you are some points behind your opponent [cuz I’m the best player in school ya=)] . My form teacher have been asking me to stand in front of the class & do sharing bout my English cuz as a matter of fact , I actually came from a Chinese study background but yet my English is still better than most of them who is originally English-ed . I guess that is one of the root cause of the spreading & on-growing jealousy of these people. I even performed during the teachers’ day . It might sound weird but I sang “when I’m gone” by one of my favorite singer “Eminem” when I’m representing CLS(Chinese Language Society) . I found it feel so good during my singing when I see the reaction of the crowd which consists of students form1 to upper 6 which approximately 2000 pupils giving me responses , waving their hands & singing with me as well . This became a hot issue in my school for like weeks after the performance . There are actually more things these AVCians do but I dun wanna talk bout that . But you know what , rather than hatred , it is actually a thanks I owe them as I grew up because of this & I started not believing any single pep around me . I learned not to have faith & trust in pep . It was a heartaching past of mine & it still makes me feel bad after all this while .

Things changed after I came to uni as I soon realized there are actually pep I can trust like my best pals I have here >>>Melvin , Vincent , Clarian , Kok Hung , Edison , Shin Yen , Nyok Yin , Jason (?) & some other nice pep which I didn’t mention here . I started to open the window of my heart to these pep & that was when I found myself regain this long forsaken trust & faith for friends . I mean I appreciate them a lot more than they ever know so I must “be happy(even sometimes I’m down)” when I’m with them cuz I wanna see their happy faces which are nothing more than what I want . It seems like the goddess of luckiness is by my side to lead me in meeting AIESEC(@) , an organization which I like so much & makes me feel like I’m at home . Looking back when I 1^st went to “malam mesra” of AIESEC(@) , I was like wow !!! banging “tables” , shouting WASSUPs !!! & being highly energetic was my very first impression bout @ . After their slides are shown , I’m convinced that “man I wanna be in a part of this” and so I joined . My interest , curiosity & desire grow as time goes on . That was why I applied for being an OC (organizing committee) for LLDS & I failed . But this small failure didn’t dishearten me & I went to apply for OC of Youth Alive’07(HIV/AIDS issue based project) . After I got my position as an OC of programme , I took the initiative to become the secretary as well . Not long after that , I applied to become JE(junior excecutive) for OGX(Out Going eXchange dept) in @ . Fortunately , I got it all . It was a yeah!!!=)

That was the start of my @ story & a start for me in meeting all these wonderful pep like ayami , monami , Stefan , charina , serena , ching ling , rubi , nadia , hua khee , ranveer , yin wei , rachel & andrew (seniors) . Besides , I found true friendship in here as well by meeting them >>>zahirah(my beloved darling haha) , zhe rong , ekun , Jessica , wen thyng (juniors like me) . Besides locals , I met some internationals as well during the recent NLDS(National Leadership Development Seminar) which was held in UM . For instance , Dat & Thung from Vietnam , Vera & Addison from Taiwan , Eloise & Flic from Australia , Yanne from Finland , Tya from Indonesia , Valerie from Hong Kong , David from New Zealand , Ivan from Singapore , Yun Zhou from China & some really wonderful facis like Schwonne . Well I’m a little bit tired now , so I will share u guys later ya …=)

To be continued …

day where water supply runs out!!!

2007-12-29T06:58:00.000-08:00

Man , the water supply of our restrooms runs short around 10 sth in the morning & totally out around 11 . Can u imagine the whole hostel is out of water supply including felo ??? This was sucks . Only 1 thing popped up in my mind {shit!how am I gonna take my shower at night??Oh Oh !!!}

I intended to visit St. Nicholas’ Home , some old folks home & orphanage for interviewing some of them regarding my NRIC ( National Research & Innovation Competition ’08) publicity task but it turned out not so good cuz the office was closed & I’m asked to make appointment via phone call on next week . What happened later was that I dunno how to come back from gurney & yes I’m LOST …

Without procrastination , I asked some passerby to show me the right direction to get back to Sg 2 but they came out with a few versions , I mean oh my god . After keep on trying , I finally succeeded to make my way back to Sg 2 but I determined to go straight to queensbay before I go back to my hostel to meet up with Lotte (my dutch intern) . I sent 2 text msgs to my some1 but sad to say I didn’t get a single reply from her . Seeing no reply from her make me realized sth , I had been struggling to understand what my mind and body trying to tell me , and right then I knew what it was , everything was working together , sending a msg to my heart . I think I’m used to having her in my life , as a very good friend . And now I think the situation might have changed , we can no longer be as how we were before last night , at least before the slipped of sth outta my tongue . Now my heart was sending a msg to the rest of my body , pain … I think I have to sort out a way to cease this happening again . So I went to the gamming centre & spent some pennies in there where I’ve never done so in 2 or 3 years time believe it or not . I really hope it is just me who is thinking & worrying to much =(

I know she is now having hard times dealing with her relationship am I’m really sorry if she happens to view this post cuz she really means a lot to me . Sorry ya darling =)

Not so long after I’m feeling depressed , the message alert of my hp went off & GOD THERE WAS A TEXT FROM HER !!! I started to feel that man there is still some hope ya . My emotions go like a rollercoaster I must admit . What is your preference >>> loving some1 or being loved by some1??? I wonder what gone wrong in me till I got this chemical reaction , yeah I know , it’s just 1 side k .

I went out to have dinner with my beloved intern & hand her the gift prepared by me & Shin Yen (a beloved friend of mine) and you know what the outcome is =) We headed to the night market which is in front of tesco & we took dinner at a restaurant in front of pekaka . After meeting sumalin & pat , we walked for a little while & visited an Indian temple which is just next to tesco .

Fortunately , there was this nice Indian guy – Kahli showing us around the temple & explaining bout the Hindu beliefs & gods as well . We are talking bout Brahma , Vishnu , Siva & some other gods with animal face like elephant , monkey & lion . I was so happy to get exposed to sth new & guess what we are invited to go for some kind of prayers on the next morning =)

In the long run , this is my how my “today” is . Still feel like missing my some1 , but after I made up my mind , that is the final =)

shopping day?

2007-12-28T04:42:00.000-08:00

Aarrgh … I slept around 10 last time as I was really really exhausted to keep myself for being awake for any longer . I woke up at 7 in the morning & of course wash up myself & go down to café to have my very first meal of the day . Gosh it is MALAY FRIED RICE AGAIN in my breakfast menu . I meet up with one of my best friend – shin hen (but she preferably being called syen???) after that around 9am at pusat seni in order to register a tutorial class for my YKT112 which I shared you in my previous blog post which lectured by a Chinese-like Malay lecturer by the name Dr. Zain . I went to check out my academic fees for my mass comm studies for this semester but god I went to a wrong place which was HEP . At that moment I called Nyok Yin(a very good friend of mine as well) to check out the proper location of Bendahari as she was there at the moment . Well , finally I got it right =) Hooray !!! haha .

Before going out to queensbay by bike with Shin Yen , Nyok Yin & Jason(another good friend of mine) I met my beloved intern – Lotte (she is a dutch) & we were chatting about room mate issue of us haha . It’s like we both have some really unfriendly & introvert room mate where studying is the only thing they get their heads in . What in common is that our room mate will still be sleeping when their alarm goes off & we are the one which will be awaken . I mean , it’s really disturbing & irritating when we need some rest you know !!! What is more , my room mate only turn the fan on to 1 or 2 or maybe 3 (the spinning level or we call that speed of spinning) at most when we are about to sleep . THIS IS WHY I’m HOT !!! We also talk bout news of the killed of Bhutto in Pakistan last night by some suicide boomer which boomed them self after shooting Bhutto in the neck & chest .

Well I went to Sg 2 to meet up with Shin Yen & Nyok Yin around 12 sth in the afternoon so that we can go to queensbay together & meet Jason there . Right there is when my constant nagging headache started aching again after I took pain killers . Our first spot after meeting Jason will of course fill up our empty belly and after consideration we took our lunch at Johnny’s which is next to MongKok & Taiwan’s Bull . We sat there & have some chit-chatting until around 2pm , we moved our ass and headed to PADINI (my favourite outlet) . We went to borders(book store) to get my intern some gifts (reading materials) as her souvenir from our side and it cost nearly a hundred , wow !!! Sugoi desune!! I bought my self a water bottle as I really need one cuz mine was spoiled for about 2 months if I’m not mistaken .

We headed to Tribal spot(I wonder if I’m right if this is the name of the boutique) & you know what our friend Nyok Yin have “met” an outfit which she really love . So em , we persuade her to give a try , I mean of course before you are buying . I picked her a bracelet & a pair of earings as some of the accessories to fit that outfit & it turned out perfectly . Since her birthday is just around the corner , the evil threesome(Vance,Jason & Shin Yen) has come out with an idea where we will give this as her birthday gift later . But the matter is how we gonna persuade her NOT TO BUY it since she is so into it??? So , Shin Yen tried out the same outfit & of course Nyok Yin will be standing somewhere near her & in the meanwhile , I bought the bracelet & earings together with 2 pairs of earings (it’s better for her to chose which to put on if she is given more options) . What I did next was kept on saying MAN ! THAT WAS A LOUSY ONE YOU HAVE TRIED ON !!! WOW , IT WAS WAY TOO DEAR FOR A LOUSY SHIRT LIKE THAT !!! It was a bit hard to put her down . Eventually , Shin Yen bought it & me & Jason went up to S&J to look for some real cool gift box & ribbon .=) After everything done , the both of us went to PADINI to spot for some nice garments to buy . Actually I’m just accompanying him cuz I already bought 2 pants yesterday . As an end result of keep on trying the coat he likes , the final deal is Rm130 after discount . Man it was cheap!!!

Our last thing left to do before leaving was to surprise our beloved Nyok Yin =) So umph , we delivered her our gift box(from S&J if you are still with me) & asked her to open it . For sure , she cried , but out of joy & appreciation . Thank you was the only word came out from her mouth at that moment . I was like so envy her cuz non of my friends really celebrated my birthday for me before & don’t even mention about receiving presents . I’m kinda sad bout that actually . We rushed back to DTSP to attend our SHE101 lecture but it ended at 6pm although it started at 5pm . I took my dinner with Shin Yen & Jason & that was when I wrote something in my gifts to Lotte . So the next step is ask her out . Since I’m going out to orphanage , old folks home & St. Nicholas(home for the Blinds) for an interview session , dinner is the only slot left for me before I do my assignments . After all this , my heavy headache is still bugging me .

the very 1st blog post of vance=)

2007-12-27T23:30:00.000-08:00

27th Dec ’07 (Thursday)
~well this was my very first ever having a blog of my own n of course I feel EXCITED haha . This is because my teacher back in 2ndary used 2 talk us about blogging n stuffs n guess what, she asked us to go for blogging as well. Ever since that, blogging had been sometimes spinning in my head but here comes another question, HOW CAN I EVER APPLY FOR 1??? Fortunately , I just met my buddy zhe rong (fat buddy maybe) when I was going on9 to settle some stuffs & yes I finally created a blog for my own with his assistance . I think I owe him one for that.
~for so many pep I might sounds cool n a little arrogant but the fact is that they need 2 get to know me better, just go a little bit deeper 2 seek the truth lies beneath. For m , love might means something but friendship means almost everything , I hate 2 admit it but sometimes I can’t live without friends haha . I hate 2 be alone or be in a stage of solitary as well. I guess that is a part where I dun wan other s to know =)
~oh yeah , I wanna share something bout my YKT112’s Chinese-like malay lecturer . I find him quite nice n possess really good presentation and persuasion skills . He is good =) I mean among those lectures I have met in this semester. I do like proverbs & he managed to deeply impressed me by coming out with a phrase by William Arthur Ward >>> If you can imagine it , you can achieve it . If you can dream of it , you will become it. It was a so powerful and inspiring thought of the day he was trying to implant us .Well I was happy because that is what I believe in , I’ll become the 5% of the world population which will make differences , create impacts & change the world someday . I have my own favorite phrase which is quite similar to this 1 >>> Life is definitely a journey , and you make the decisions at some point of your path to take control of your path . It is 100% up to you , and as long as you know what you want , it can be obtained … Just wanna tell u guys that , don’t set limitations to your thoughts & dreams as you will never know how high you can soar in your future . There is no limitation unless your very own self set it for your self . Is a son of a farmer must become a farmer ? Is a son of a teacher must become a teacher ? Is a college student must be only fits in a working environment , a job where related to his/her field of studies ? Well that is really something to think about . And the day you really figure this out will be the day you can really make a difference in the path of your life .