The kopitiam craze

I love having crunchy toasts with bouncy half-boiled eggs and the strong aroma of delicious white coffee early in the morning. Most of the time I will opt for Old Town as the price is almost reasonable and the coffee is so awakening.

The success of Old Town Kopitiam was so great that soon there are cheap imitations of the coffee house found in almost every corner of Klang Valley. Just like cheap looking LVs in Petaling Street. Let me try to remember the names of those Old Town imitations.

1. Old Boy Kopitiam - This is funny… when a boy is old he is usually referred to as a man…


2. Old Taste Kopitiam - What I heard was the founder of this chain was a runaway from Old Town Kopitiam… Haha!

3. Georgetown White Coffee Kopitiam - I saw this recently in the newspaper… I always thought Georgetown is famous for their “Har Mee” Prawn Mee…

4. Papparich Kopitiam - okiee…a refreshing name comparing the above. At least the founder uses some creativity and not just simply jumps into the bandwagon of other’s success. Well, in an indirect way though. But I have to agree that at least the food is alright.

5. others others… I am kinda lazy to list down all others as I am now enjoying the tasty white coffee at Old Town Kopitiam located at Old Klang Road and getting kinda irritated by the lousy wi-fi connection. Sigh, should have gone to Pappa Rich just next door!

I might be unfair to others but I still think Old Town has the best Coffee despite the limited choice of food.

My mom mentioned once that they might have drugged the coffee to get me so addicted. Come to think of that, maybe! Or they might have drugged the eggs too as I am addicted to them as well! I too think their eggs are better than anywhere! Even those done at home :P Well, since Bubbles got his medical report today that shows a slight above average in cholesterol. So I can have his share now! Yippee!

If only I can have my own chain of Kopitiam with a unique name. Well, let me think of a few nice names that I can use:

1. Josy Kopitiam - nah! Too original…

2. Super Aroma Kopitiam - aiks! Sounds like some Reflexology turned Kopitiam type…

3. Grassy Scenery Kopitiam - I’m sure people will stay away from this place… as I too will not enter a place that implies they sell grass…

4. Forever 21 Kopitiam - hmmm… I might lose “OLDER” customers… those uncle-uncle type might be shy to enter the shop…

5. Delightful Taste Kopitiam - ehhh… not bad wor…maybe :P

Enough la! Not as if I will own one tomorrow. I will think of it when the time comes. Now just hope the time will come. No nooo…The law of attraction says must be positive…

The day will definitely COME! You wait!

See, I too am influenced by the Kopitiam-mania started by Old Town.

Motivation by Implying Fear

Most people encourage action by implying fear.

How true is that?

I ponder on the subject for the whole evening after getting the idea from a book I was reading and agreed that it is how the world works.

From young, you’ll definitely hear mama telling you

“You better finish up the vegetables or the policeman will put you in jail!” or

“You better do your homework or your teacher will punish you”.

How often do you hear people telling you

“You better go to college and get a degree or you won’t get a good job” or

“You better study hard or you will be a road sweeper!”

When you get out of school and land yourself in your first paying job, people start telling you “You better buck up or you’ll be fired”.

Or “You better not step on your bosses tail or you’re gonna get screwed!”

So, does it means that fear actually get people going?
Fear is the only way to get people doing what they should be doing?
Is that the only effective motivation or is it the easiest motivation?

Sometimes, I do think that this way is not as effective as it used to be. When the world is now conquered by Information Technology aka the Internet, people are smarter and information travels a lot faster. People know more. People know what they should be doing and what they should not be doing. People know the differences between doing good and bad that will affect their lives. People learn from other people around the world.

So, what I can conclude is…

Motivation or encouragement by fear does not work as effective as before when people nowadays are so much more informed.

My advice is to encourage people by being compassionate and motivate others by your knowledge.

Figuring the grey

I figured why I am feeling so ‘grey’ lately. But before I dwell on that, let me express my gratitude for having wonderful and great people in my life. Firstly, my dear BF was very concerned after reading the previous blog entry. He thought he was unable to provide me with happiness. This of course is so untrue! He is the pillar to my everyday happiness. Secondly, my dear Joanne reminded me of my colourful life. A life so wonderful; that I have forgotten in the past 2 days because of some minor troubles. I really have to get back to my gratitude diary!

Now, coming back to the ‘grey’ concern, this of course has everything to do with worries for the future. As today is the first day of a new month, time for bills payment again. Every month, money is going out as fast as water rushing down a waterfall which left me merely surviving for the rest of the month. The expectation and standard of living in the city is so costly these days that I keep thinking where and how I can get more money to survive.

It is certainly not easy.

But then again, if I focus too much on things that is out of my control and resulting in hurting myself and the people I love… then it’s a waste of time and energy. No doubt the worries will not be gone just like that. I can only minimize the focus and allocate my attention to more important stuffs; like important people in my life.

Adding on to the above, my trouble seems so ‘peanut’ comparing to what is happening to world right now. People are losing homes and families because of the recent earthquakes. Reading the news again today makes me feel so sad for them. Almost every year or alternate years the earth is experiencing such ‘drama’ from nature. People are fighting for their lives and the life of loved ones. Even if lives are saved, the after-trauma is not something to be taken lightly.

...where is my life?

Sigh. Here is the end of September.

I am still pondering what actions should I be taking next. A lot of activities seems to be going on around me and somehow I am connected to those activities. Yet, I feel my life is...somehow...stagnant.....

I don't feel the excitement anymore.

I can't seems to feel my passion.

Am I lost?

I need to feel that kick to get me up and going in life again. Everything is feeling so routine, as I am repeating the same actions day after day.

I don't like feeling this way.

I need to feel the excitement again!!

How??

Right now I can only see grey in my life...

Where is pink? I need colours!

Life is art...

I read this article from somewhere and I think it's good to share this in my blog:

Most people break their lives down into two major parts:

Wealth-building + the rest of their lives.

Wealth-building is just math. While life ---------- Life is ART.

There is always just one answer in math. The answers are hard fact, set in stone. Math is a science. It is formulaic. You can know the outcome before it happens, every time.

Art is much more subjective. "Beauty," they say, "is in the eye of the beholder." There is no one right answer.

Think of the different styles of the famous artists: Renoir. Monet. Picasso. Rockwell. Warhol. Different people find different styles beautiful, and that is what makes art, art.

Wealth-building is like math: If you add $1000 to your account each month and gain seven percent interest over twenty years, you can know now how much you will have then. The beauty of math is in the knowing. You can work the system, set it on auto-pilot and the math does the work for you, and you know the outcome.

But life?

Life is art.

And that is the beauty of life....

You do not know how it is going to turn out.

Life, like art, is always changing. Different people provide different colors. When you make a mistake, you can go back, erase it or even paint right over it. You can change the scenery. Life, like art, is ever evolving, and what looks good to one person is of no interest to another. And that is what makes life beautiful.

Another lesson I think we can draw is that in life we should do our math, of course, but life isn't made up of just wealth-building. Wealth-building should serve our ability to live our lives.

Are you spending more time on your math or your art?

Do your math. Everybody should do their very best at their wealth-building plan so they can take care of themselves and their families.

But life is about the art.

What does your canvas look like?
What kind of picture are you painting?

What kind of pot are you creating?

What kind of statue are you sculpting?

Take your time, make bold strokes, use brilliant colors, and make of your life the most beautiful masterpiece that you can.

In other words, do your math so you can focus on your art.

I think the above is so true. Are we taking the time to create our very own piece of canvass? or time mostly spent creating and counting wealth?

I remembered last year today 28.09.08 --- was the very last family dinner our family had with dad. It was my parent's 28th Wedding Anniversary and he insisted to take us all out for an italian dinner. A week after, he passed away. His life ended just like that. Without any prior notification. He just vanished and disappeared into no where.

Life is so short. Life is so unpredictable. Life will be meaningless if your only goal is money. Life is meaningless without passions. Without passion that will give you eternal happiness and satisfaction. Passion that will give your life the vibrant colour and eccentric energy.

Passion could be love. Have you found your passion in life?

Live your life as you will only live once. Never let anything take your attention away from living your life. You have the freedom to choose. Choose wisely.

As for myself, I would think I am in the right track to achieving what I want in life. Almost.

Why almost?

Well, sometimes there are still a little roadblocks here and there. At times these roadblocks diverted my attention to unimportant stuffs. Getting there ain't easy! But then again, we never appreciate easy stuffs right?

If only it's as easy

as blowing bubbles....

Are you a lover or a partner?

Sometimes in a relationship we tend to give each other nicknames just to spice up the relationship. No matter what you call each other in private, it will still sound sweet and loving... romantic music to each other's ear. But how will others interpret your nicknames?

Here are 10 names:

Partner
The Good: There's no doubt that everyone's equal in this relationship.
The Bad: Are you dating or starting up a limited liability company?

Lover
The Good: It's sophisticated, it leaves nothing to the imagination and can we say sexxxy?
The Bad: We've got four words for you: "Granny, meet my lover…"

Paramour
The Good: It's French, and they seem to know little bit about how to make love last (hi... muaksssssss).
The Bad: Trying to explain to your family this doesn't mean he has a wife and 5 kids at home.

Life Hostage
The Good: No need to grip his sleeve at parties; you've staked your claim.
The Bad: Possessive??

Boyfriend

The Good: Everyone is aligned with the term. No need for any explaination. Point taken.

The Bad: ...... if he's already 30 yrs of age, is he still consider a BOY?

Manfriend
The Good: You're finally dating a grown-up, good for you.
The Bad: He's retreating to his man cave with his man sack in tow right about . . . now.

Honey
The Good: It's sweet enough to eat, and doubles as a nickname appropriate in the bedroom and out.
The Bad: Mariah Carey called... then excused you for stealing her line..

Flame
The Good: Hot, hot, hot.
The Bad: All that's missing is a set of gold chains and a bad perm, and you're the seafood in klang... the shelled type...

Beau
The Good: It's old-fashioned romance at its best.
The Bad: Other than the fact that you sound like an old aunty, not much.

Escort
The Good: No need to have "the talk" if you're not sure how into monogamy he is.
The Bad: Explaining you didn't pay this guy to sit at your table at your best friend's wedding.

Companion
The Good: Wherever you go, he goes, and he's happy to be along for the ride.
The Bad: You know who makes a good companion? Your dog.... in this case, it's Muffin!

Let mistyblush know: What do you call your "special friend?"

I'm calling mine "Bubbles"

neglected passions

Seems like I have lost directions in my own life… again…

The days are just passing by with routines and responsibilities that I can’t seem to focus on my priorities and passion.

1. I have stopped going for my dance classes… again
2. I have stopped going for the orphans tutoring sessions
3. I have stopped pampering myself as there are some issues in regards to $$$
4. I have not been able to go for a much needed vacation
5. I have not been putting in thoughts and effort to think of starting my own business
6. Seems like I have kinda neglected my good friends… haven’t been catching up with them
7. I have not been improvising my baking skills… sigh
8. I seems to have lost all senses in meditation… haven’t been able to meditate for awhile now
9. I have not been able to enjoy music these days

I should stop now before the Law of Attraction work on all my “HAVE NOTS”! All my passions have been neglected for these 2 busy months and I am sure if I don't do anything about it soon, it will all go down the drain! All the goals and passions that I have set and found will be flushed down the toilet. All my dreams will be blown away by the wind!

Now that August is finally over and all trainings & conventions are done, I better continue with my life and the first thing to do is to go back to dancing again! I missed dancing so badly! My feet and toes are itching to dance!

The great news is Bubbles has promised me to be my dancing partner! Yay! He's the only passion that I have cease to neglect... mentioning Bubbles is making me miss him terribly. He is somewhere across the ocean, kinda far away from home for work. I wonder if he misses me too. Sigh.

Soon to be Blossom and Bubbles!

Quotes of Change

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi

In the same way as the tree bears the same fruit year after year, but each time new fruit, all lastingly valuable ideas in thinking must always be reborn.

Albert Schweitzer

He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery.

Harold Wilson

Growth is the only evidence of life. Growth is change.
John Henry Newman, Apologia pro vita sua, 1864

All things in this world are impermanent. They have the nature to rise and pass away. To be in harmony with this truth brings true happiness.

Buddhist Chant

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.
Henri Louis Bergeson

Only I can change my life; no one can do it for me.

Carol Burnett

Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the Phoenix.

Christina Baldwin

Things do not change; WE change.

Henry David Thoreau

It's not that some people has willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not.

James Gordon

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.

Nelson Mandela

Turbulence is life force. It is opportunity. Let's love turbulence and use it for change.

Ramsay Clark

Nothing in the world is permanent, and we're foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we're still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it. If change is of the essence of existence one would have thought it only sensible to make it the premise of our philosophy.
W. Somerset Maugham

Being glamorous with SK-II

Do you know?

I was tagged in a Note@Facebook by a good friend and I just have to include it into my blog because it's such a great advice.

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said Cat

"I don't much care where....." said Alice

"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat

"......so long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation

"Oh, You're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough,"

(from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)

So dear friends...

Do YOU know where you wanna go?

Do YOU know where you're heading to?

Do YOU know what YOU want in life?

Someone once asked, "I'm getting a B at work and C-minus at home. I refuse to think I'm becoming mediocre. Is it me or something else?"

Well, I do ponder the same questions....

Am I mediocre?

Where do I wanna go?

If you don't know where you're going, you might end up in a place you might not even like.

Some people pass by opportunities that come their way because they don't see the inherent possibilities. Lots of people have seemingly enviable careers and relationships but yet wish they were somewhere else doing something else with someone else.

Are you one of them?