So this is winter in Sydney

I missed the coldest period of Sydney winter last year. I was on a trip to Melbourne, complaining how the wet, cold and eratic Melbourne weather annoyed me and how I adore the relatively warm Sydney during winter. Putting aside the possibility of abnormal weather patterns, I was wrong to give too much credit to Sydney lol. It's approaching mid-July now, the coldest time of winter, and you should look at the way I shiver every morning trying super hard to drag myself off my cosy quilt. My heater is nearly always on, the only time it gets a rest is when I go to bed (coz I'm such a good resident that I follow the advice of MUV to switch off the heater at night, apparently this is good for my health and it saves electricity as well).

But, I still like winter, as long as I'm indoor. Weird huh? One of the most enjoyable thing to do is to sit on my bed, covering myself with quilt, watching and laughing at whatever drama or video clip my laptop is playing. Idle lifestyle you may say. Hey, we need a good rest and relaxation after every semester of toiling and striving. Winter is so much better than summer, when many people will set out for sun-bathing, partying etc while I on my fan on highest speed, sweating and cursing the hot weather. Joy is so right on saying that " we can always layer up when it is cold but we can't possibly strip naked when it is hot".

I still insist on going to gym everyday, despite the weather making it harder for me. It's always windy and sometimes, rainy, outside. While I was typing this post the wind was ROARING like it was about to eat everyone outside up. Trees were shaking like it was their clubbing session. All these make you feel like staying at home, watching from afar how minuscule human are when Mother Nature shows her wrath.

在平凡的日子里寻找不平凡的感触

是的，我这个假期是从我到澳洲以来最乏闷的。因为油价上涨加上很多朋友都回梦乡去当少爷千金，吃喝玩乐，所以我除了看戏看书运动就没干什么也没去那里了。现在回家一趟最少也需澳币千多元（马币三千多），而且还须转机三次，显然我housemates 他们是真的很想家才肯花钱回去。哎。。。他们跑光日子就更闷了。本来大家讲好要去snowy mountain 滑雪，却突然间那么多人想飞回去，剩下也都觉得没趣，结果滑雪之行就这样胎死腹中。

近来因不想看连续剧（故事情节我是预测得越来越准)而转看综艺节目。通常综艺节目都是些无聊的搞笑等等，目的就是让观众打发时间的，但我很意外地在《星光大道》里听到一些相当有道理的东西。讲出来我爸爸一定不相信，因为上一辈的人都觉得台湾综艺节目都是“扮傻瓜来博人一笑的傻戏”。

有个叫林鸿明的rocker 型歌手到星光舞台去挑战两万台币的奖金，结果唱出来的评审因不认同而给了很低的分数。林说：“要让全世界的人喜欢你是不可能的，你能做的就是做好自己，让在乎你，爱你的人喜欢你，让自己不讨厌自己就可以了。”看不出他那副傻里傻气的样子竟然在自己表现欠佳时说出这样个豁达的话，赞。看过一些朋友常常为了别人的闲言闲语而难过，自己有时也会很在意别人的眼光。哎，通常生气的原因都是别人无意的话我们却有意地接受，让自己受没有必要的心灵折磨，何必呢？

还有一句陶晶莹说的也是很对 - 有时在生活中不要抱有太大的得失心，失败每个人都会有的，成功的人不是没遇过失败，而是懂得从失败中走出来，变得更强的人。她说这句话是在安慰被淘汰的选手，不过这也是像我们这种追求事业理想的人时常忘记的部分。我中五的华文老师在我们班刊留下类似这样的话：" 我不知道在你们身边的同学到底是‘战友’还是‘朋友’，觉得你们太在乎学业的结果而忽略了过程。考得比别人好不好真的那么重要吗？ 或许SPM 过后一切会变得不一样，但希望你们能珍惜同在一个屋檐下的日子。”（哈哈，我的记忆力有没有把你吓倒？没有啦这不是exact sentence，秩序也不一定是这样，不过黄老师确实有写过这种话。）总之和陶子说的有异曲同工之妙，都是叫你我不要太过计较人生的成败得失而迷失自己。

在同一集有一个缩影也是很有意思。有个叫曾静纹的很有歌唱天分，前两次干掉高手而一炮而红，这次却因为压力太大而表现失常，在台上崩溃。她说她现在红了很不开心，开始时很想引起大家瞩目，现在得到了却发现自己根本不能负荷。她才十五岁叻，就要承受这种压力，很可怜啊老实说。在学术界这种压力也是会害死人，马上我就想到得了忧郁症去世的神童张世明、我那位承受不了scholarship holder 所面对的压力而郁郁寡欢的学姐、我在新加坡听过的那位荣获牛津大学奖学金但后来承受不了考试不理想而自杀的学长 。。。。真的，一个人很需要懂得自己安慰自己，在学习怎么成功的同时我们也应学习怎么面对失败。

后记: 很多朋友说我写blog是渐渐走感性路线了，我承认啦。之前都写些生活琐碎事很无聊，就想在假期写不一样的，希望我不会太肉麻哈哈。很谢谢那些读我blog的朋友，抱歉又花了您宝贵的时间（鞠躬）。

The epitome of the 'YES SIR' attitude

There is no doubt that:

Dr Mahathir is a great leader.
He is the best Malaysian Prime Minister in history.
He successfully saved the country from slumping into a depression during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.
He is formidable even to Americans.
He speaks openly and bravely on global issues without fear.

And recently, he joined the group of bloggers, and is writing regularly on chedet.com. Good (but not always neutral) articles. Fluent English, unlike most of the Malaysian so-called leaders who can only speak like you, I, alright, don't know (some of them don't understand that the singular equivalent is doesn't know, as they use don't all the time). He is great but he is still a human.

If your curiosity is built up at this point thus you decide to go to his blog to have a look, go ahead by all means. But if you also wish to read the comments below the articles, I would suggest that you are better-off spending your time digging your nose. Why? Because I can tell you 95% ( a conservative figure) of what his blog readers say here in just a few sentences. So you save time reading them here rather than having to scroll down and read each of them on chedet.com lol.

Apa yang tun cakap tu memang betul/benar!
Kenapa Pak Lah tidak secekap/sebijak Tun?
Your ideas are brilliant/excellent Tun
You are always the best/my idol Tun
Thank you for letting Malaysians know the truth behind the issue (since when does a politician speak truth???)
Semoga Tun sihat and hidup lama/long live Tun
Bravo Tun, you speak our heart

Fine, I have no qualms on wishing him good health. I hope he lives long as well.

But look at the other comments. Why can't they talk about something else other than YES SIR YOU ARE SO RIGHT all the time? Why can't they think rationally about the issues that Dr M come out with and discuss it in a mature way? Are Malaysian readers dumb or is it because people who can think couldn't bother or are afraid to let their voices be heard? I believe that it is the latter.

Freedom of speech. This is essentially what separates us from the developed world. Just look at the commentary and public opinion on msn, bbc, TIME just to name a few foreign media. The comments made by readers are so much more mature, showing to the world that the people there understand what is going on in this world.

Chedet.com is probably the most unrestricted media in Malaysia at the moment. Just look at what's written on New Straits Times and The Star. There is some improvement since the last General Election but there is still much to be done before Malaysian mass media can declare itself as being politically neutral.

Before that happens, digging your nose is probably a better alternative.

So this movie is back-breaking

Finally I decided to give the movie 'Brokeback Mountain' a go. Borrowed the DVD from Macquarie Uni Library last week but it's only today that I made up my mind to watch it. It was a blockbuster hit when it was released, and its director Ang Lee was awarded the BEST DIRECTOR in that very year.

He probably deserves it I would say. However, the whole thing about gay relationship did...erm...churn up my stomach. Tell you what, I even felt like throwing out my lunch upon seeing the first erotic scene in the movie. Yes, it is EROTIC. I was a bit like eewww...why on earth would anyone think of using homosexuality as the theme.

But to be honest aside from the theme the entire production deserves nothing less than the three academy award that it obtained. Still ... (deep breath)...it's a new experience for myself to see two boys hugging, kissing each other, sleeping together etc.

How I pity their wives. Please lah boys out there,if you know that you're a gay don't ever get married because your wife and children will suffer (*wink). The whole big time when the movie was played on my laptop I felt that my back was aching (it's really back-breaking, huh?) as I really felt for the gay men's wives. Why should they suffer from their husbands' sexual orientation? I agree fully with Ennis del Mar (one of the gay guys) that 'his wife is innocent'. But so is Ennis and Jack Twist (another gay guy). Is homosexuality meant to be natural? By the way the front cover of the booklet that comes together with the DVD reads 'LOVE IS A FORCE OF NATURE'. If it is natural why is the society despising, condemning, and criminalising (at least in some part of the world) homosexuality? Are these people sick or just different?

These are hard, if not impossible, to answer. It shudders me to imagine the possible consequences of legalising unisex marriage as it might lead to people demanding for bestiality (having sex with animals, eewwww!!!) or incest (in Malay this is called sumbang mahram) and other so-called 'abnormal sexual behaviour' to be made legal as well.

Ok I shall not write more as this is grossing me to ... no I shall refrain from using those you-know-what language that is all too common in Australia. Guess I can't agree more with what Joy said about Brokeback, that 'it discusses a mature topic'. No we can't say that it is a sick show. That would be too biased. So calling it a mature adult movie is probably the right way. Just like how Australians term shops that sell pornographic/erotic books as ADULT BOOKSHOPS lol.

我最看不起忘本的人

昨天吃晚饭时和housemate没事闲聊，渐渐谈到Victor工作的同事。一个中国来的女生，不知是崇洋么，还是想要练australian accent么，已经不知多少年没用中文（马来西亚人所谓的‘华语’）了，而且倘若别人以中文开口和她说话她还会不高兴。Victor 说这时我就觉得这女生‘似曾相识，想了一会我记起来了，就是去年我去参加一个international student forum group 的时候，主持人说的那位被他捧为天仙的女生。

女生承认自己已经三四年完全以英语作为沟通语言了，就连和她父母也是用英语说话。当时我们在场的都觉得不可思议，怎么可能连家人都不放过嘛！主持人赞她的英语水平，她一定是洋洋得意,笑得好开心的。但我和几位在场的都很看不惯，坐我旁边在UNSW 念书的香港男生也偷偷跟我说这个人有点讨厌，怎么可以瞧不起自己的母语嘛。像她这样的人我遇到不少了，我们有时也和中国人谈话，一开口就说中文是为了尊重他们，但是有些怪胎却觉得你是在瞧不起他们的英语水平而不说英语。莫名其妙的心态！

这种就是我们所谓的忘本。我不反对崇洋心态，毕竟人还是要向现实低头的，现在英语在国际舞台还是举足轻重，想要飞黄腾达的人一定要学好，但也不至于鄙视自己的文化，语言吧！ 在澳洲读书已经一年多，这种事情真的是看多了。我去年的马来housemate也是这种样子，对洋人可以说是毕恭毕敬，对我们malaysian的态度简直就差天跟地。她和自己国家的人说话不知怎么一复装起澳洲口音，说得不伦不类，好像自己已经是鬼佬了，听了说实话觉得很恶心。

朋友说过，她有一天想吃海南鸡饭，就特地到一间马来西亚人开的饭店，叫饭时发现自己忘了带malaysian student association 的会员折扣卡，自认倒霉，但因为很想吃鸡饭还是叫了。结果过了很久饭才送来，而且还是老板娘送来的。她自己以为老板娘亲自出马是好事，结果老板娘冲着她用带有鄙视的口气很大声说虽然是malaysian,没带卡的一律不折扣。过了不久一个胖胖的鬼佬进来了，老板娘一鞠躬问道：“How can I help you, sir?"

天啊，这偏差也太大了吧？这些人不只是崇洋，还瞧不起自己的同胞，不是鬼以为自己是鬼。他们怎么不明白，这样做鬼佬也不会把他们当鬼看，却搞到亚洲人的厌恶，两头都不到岸，且迷失了自己原本的根。

My gosh, this song !!!

For those who follow the Taiwanese talent show 星光大道, when being asked which song is the greatest thus far many would point to the self-composed song by 徐佳莹 - 身骑白马。The first time I heard it in the competition I was like, "This can't be explained by anything other than pure gift from God." It's kinda hard to get good chinese pop songs these days. Most of the contemporary chinese pop songs are meaningless, dry, repetitive, too commercialised .... the list of criticism goes on. Of course there are good ones, but this one is special with a good blend of historical context and the beauty of modern music.

I'm the type of fussy listener who is only likely to like a song if it manages to appeal to more than 90% of chinese pop song listeners. But immediately after the first listening I could literally remember most of the melody, and some of the lyric as well.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

徐佳瑩-身騎白馬抒情完整版

我愛誰　跨不過　從來也不覺得錯
I could not get over whom I love, and had never felt that it was wrong
自以為 抓著痛 總能修成愛的果
I thought enduring pain could eventually make our love work
偏執相信著 受詛咒的水晶球
I believed obsessively in the cursed crystal ball
阻擋可能心動的理由
and stopped everything that may touch my heart

而你卻 靠近了 逼我們視線交錯
but you approached myself, forcing our sights to cross
原地不動 或向前走 突然在意這分鐘
shall I stay put, or move forward? At that moment I realised how much I care
眼前荒沙瀰漫了等候
about the long waiting that was marred by the sand in front of my eyes
耳邊傳來孱弱的呼救
and the withering call for help that travelled beside my ears
追趕要我愛的不保留
urging me to love you unconditionally

我身騎白馬 走三關
I rided on a white horse, and crossed three borders
我改換素衣 過中原
I changed to my plain attire, and passed the mainland,
放下西涼沒人管
relinquishing all my power in xi liang, and no one cared
我一心只想王寶釧
what I cared the most was you, my wife


典故：
薛平貴，年輕的時候去當兵打仗，後來變成大將軍，可是在和西涼國打仗的時候被抓了。本來是要被殺死的，但是西涼國的公主很喜歡他，要嫁給他，所以薛平貴就變成「駙馬爺」了，後來還掌理西涼國。可是他心繫中原的家庭，想著中原的太太. 於是他從西涼，穿著素衣，身騎白馬，過三關，回到中原，尋訪苦守寒窯十八年的王寶釧。

The context of this song:
Xue Ping Gui joined the army since he was young. He gradually moved up the rank to become a general. However, he was caught as a war prisoner when fighting against Xi Liang. He was meant to be executed but the pricess of Xi Liang fell in love with him and wanted to marry him. He married the princess and eventually took control of the kingdom. Despite his wealth and power, he missed his family and wife back in the mainland. Thus, he travelled on a white horse in plain attires, crossed three borders, from Xi Liang to the mainland, to look for his wife who had waited 18 years for his return.


P/s: I hope my translation and story-telling didn't ruined the meaning of this song.

Say goodbye to the era of cheap flight ticket

Petrol prices had never bothered me in the past 20 years. I don't drive ( I managed to somehow pass my driving test on my first attempt although deep inside I know my driving sucks) so whenever my peers complain to me about how much it cost to drive from Subang Jaya to Mid-Valley etc etc I wouldn't even give a damn.


Finally I'm feeling the crunch. And yes it is definitely not a good feeling that you would want to constantly remind yourself of.


Yet I have no choice. Our favourite aviation company, Jetstar, has cancelled the Sydney-Kuala Lumpur flight starting this coming September. This means we Sydney people have just lost our cheap option to fly back home end of this year. Everyone who flied on Jetstar last year could tell how lucky we were as compared to our fellow JPA people in other cities. No transit is required. We just need to hop on the plane and 7 hours later we are home in Malaysia.

Considering I had experienced the atmosphere during the peak tourism season (Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year) last year I see no reason to go back late like I did last year. So, being a very calculative consumer I looked up the prices of flight ticket of various airlines, and was ASTONISHED to discover that tickets for MAS or SIA could easily cost a fortune (that is, somewhere close to AUD2000). Argh....this is so beyond my acceptable range.


Where to go from here? Few options (though more expensive than the direct Jetstar flight) are still opened.

-Sydney - Singapore - KL
-Sydney - Perth - KL
-Sydney - Brisbane - KL

Whichever way I choose I can't get away from flight transit, which is uber tiring.

荒唐的岁月

人真的不愧为万兽之灵。在这群万兽之灵当中，有一部分已经是让我惊为天人，换句话他们已经是要成仙成神了。在我家（我的意思是我在macquarie 住的地方）：

有位高手可以日夜颠倒，早上冬眠，晚上才起来展翅高飞。自从考试完毕后我见到他的次数可以用一只手算完。我本来就觉得很奇怪，到底一个人怎么承受得了天天闭关修炼的闷气。后来经过另一个housemate 的开导，才知道爱情的伟大，电脑游戏的诱惑，真的是可以把一个人变成神。只恨我离天人的境界还很远，每天晚上十二点钟眼睛就已经是要关上了，一倒下整个人就睡得不省人事。

如果你认为我家只有一位神你就实实在在太看不起他们了。我家里的两位drama king可厉害了！一天内可以看十多集的连续剧，看到废寝忘食。我去年觉得自己一天内看六七集就已达到最高境界了，现在想来实在惭愧，我太天真了。所谓人外有人，天外有天，这两位drama king 实在把我的ego 杀得片甲不留，让我甘拜下风。

但就像武侠小说里，厉害的高手也是有分十八方武艺的。这两位drama king 就是specialise 在不一样的领域了。第一位很神，能够在晚上八九点当大家都很活泼时上床睡觉，然后在凌晨五点全部人都睡得像死猪的时候爬起来练drama series 武功。大概这种功夫是要在夜深人静时才会练出火花吧！第二位就正好是第一位的克星，能够练功到凌晨三四点眼睛还不会掉出来，很令人折服的是他可以睡两三个小时后早餐时跟我这个睡了八小时的人若无其事地说话。

简直是跳脱出我的逻辑，超乎我的想象，让我啧啧称奇。

看来我是没有机会进化成这种超人，因为我一天睡不够就会像个潦倒的人，整天魂不守舍。天人难做啊！

附注：请原谅我的无聊，因为实实在在太闷了（都是开玩笑的别生气）。学期时期待假期的闲空，假期时想要有学期时的充实生活； 喜欢读书但又讨厌考试， 希望自己有钱但做工时又向往那种没工作时的轻松自在。我到底要什么？哎。。。如果人那么容易满足天下就太平了，偏偏人就是那么的欠揍。

It's been long since I last went to a cinema - The movie '21'

Went to watch this at macquarie centre cinema two days ago at night. It was a COLD COLD COLD night, I was shivering at all times when we were outdoor. Damnation. Also blame the fact that I only had a roll from KFC for dinner (of course I ate something when I reached home) before entering the theatre.

But, it was an awesome movie. Well, at least for us nerdy actuarial students. All of us were smiling when one scene showed Ben Campbell, the main character who was a smart ass, correctly answered the famous 'Monty Hall Problem' seemingly without any difficulty in comparison to what it was like for us when we encountered it in ACST211 last year. And for those who don't know what the Monty Hall Problem is:

Suppose you're on a game show, and you're given the choice of three doors: Behind one door is a car; behind the others, goats. You pick a door, say No. 1, and the host, who knows what's behind the doors, opens another door, say No. 3, which has a goat. He then says to you, "Do you want to pick door No. 2?" Is it to your advantage to switch your choice?

Most people would think that it doesn't matter whether the door is switched as both are equally likely to contain the car.

The solution:

Don't switch: The probability of your door being the one with the car remains at 1/3

Switch:

If your door IS the one with the car, you lose. This probability is 1/3.

If your door IS NOT the one with the car, the host will open the other one without a car, you will subsequently switch to the remaining one which contains the car. This probability is 2/3 as there is 2 in 3 chance at the outset of you not choosing the correct door.

So by switching, you increase your chance of winning from 1/3 to 2/3. Amazing isn't it? This is counter intuitive for most people.

So this is the nerdy part about the movie which I think not many people in the theatre could understand. Anyway this smart ass impressed his fat round evil-faced professor Micky Rosa (oh I hate him!) Micky then persuaded him to join his Las Vegas blackjack team. The team spread out in playing small amount of money to count cards, and when it is statistically profitable they would signal the big player (Ben) to join the table and throw in big money. This part is certainly an exaggeration in the show. With card-counting one is expected to win money in the long-run but certainly not in every game as portrayed in the movie. Anyway I thought the sound effects when the game is played is quite thrilling.

'21' also serves as a gentle reminder to us about how money can be such a huge temptation for criminal activities. Easy but possibly illegal money could make "nothing seems to cost too much", and certainly make spending so much more delightful. I guess corporate crime in real life such as the all-so-common misappropriation of company funds, corruption all stem from the plain joy of spending big with money that comes without hard work. Not many could resist the glamour of being able to afford designer bags and clothing, expensive food at 5 star restaurants etc without having to earn those big bucks the legitimate way.

I will not be a spoiler by revealing all the interesting twist and turn of the storyline here. What's worth mentioning is the last part of the movie where Ben Campbell told his interviewer that throughout his life "he's been to Vegas 17 times, won a fortune two times, and it was stolen both times".

In order to make our money last, we have to work honestly for it. What comes easily goes easily.

“你是信奉什么宗教的？”

经常有朋友问我这个问题，我都是毫不犹豫地说是佛教。由于澳洲是个西方文化普及的国家，大多数的人都是基督教徒，而马来西亚的朋友多数又说自己是“拜神的”， 所以我说自己信奉佛教就显得有点另类。 通常在这种时候朋友就问我佛教到底是说什么，问我它是不是类似基督教这样有圣经，有上帝，有上帝的儿子耶稣；或者很吃惊地问我是不是吃素的，不能喝酒的等等。

我都说不是。朋友们都露出一种很困惑的眼神，像在说：“你怎么那么不虔诚？”

其实不管在马来西亚还是这里很少人对佛教有真正的理解。马来西亚很多华裔家庭都把“拜神”或“道教”都说成是佛教了。拜神指的是烧香拜四方鬼神，天公，土地等；道教是出自老子的《道德经》（很多人连老子都没听过就说自己是道教的）；佛教源于二千五百年前释迦族王子释迦摩尼佛在菩提树下悟出的人生道理。

对我来说宗教说穿了就是要让人有精神上的寄托。人生有很多不如意的事，碰到一些困难，挫折时宗教有时就能填补一些心灵上的空虚感。我对佛教就是取其精神，但一些自己觉得做不到的（像持终生素）就不必勉强了。但这并不说明我不虔诚，因为释迦摩尼佛初创教的时候就从不勉强信徒终生持素。

"那么你们是不是要每天念经？”朋友又问。当然不，佛教的中心思想的传播并不是全靠经文的。为什么？因为经文是梵文的阿，我又不会梵文。

然后就问到最难回答的问题了：“佛教的中心思想是什么？”


寒山问拾得：世间有人谤我、欺我、辱我、笑我、轻我、贱我、骗我，如何处置？拾得曰：只要忍他、让他、避他、由他、耐他、不要理他，再过几年你且看他

这个典故说的是不要拿别人的过错来惩罚自己，忍让别人就是远离纷争的办法。在佛教里这是一种超尘脱俗的境界，但在许多西方人眼里这却是弱者的表现。不过佛教讲求的是心灵上的平和，这肯定和争强好胜的心态背道而驰吧。


活在当下

这是个相当难懂的道理。“当下”指的就是现在。人要快乐，就应该把握现在，做自己想做的事，而不是懊悔着过去，期望着未来。人生是无常的，未来是否会来到很难说，而过去已无法挽回，为什么不接受它，让它过去呢？ 这样个说法也不是每个人都能接受的，很多人认为不展望未来既是不思进取，满足于现况，无疑是消极的态度。


放生，助人，慈悲为怀

这句话更不得了。我有个朋友反应很快地说，现在这种弱肉强食的时代，太过善良反而会遭人欺。也不是没道理阿，在马来西亚就有很多这样的例子。下雨天开车时如果见到路边有个人向你招手你会停下来吗？很多人会忙摇头说不，万一是强盗怎么办？ 针对这点我也不否认，其实宗教和很多别的东西一样不是绝对的。释迦摩尼佛说这句话时是在二千五百年前比较单纯的社会，在现在这种世风败坏的年代当然我们应该见机行事嘛！随着时代的变化宗教不应一成不变。

对我来说正派宗教推崇的都是良好的价值观，所以我并不会到处说佛教比其他宗教好（不像一些人到处毁谤别人的宗教信仰）。个人觉得只要是带有理智地去信它 （不是迷它），不走极端路线，任何宗教都会改善人心，带动人格上的升华。

Free food, Volunteering dream

This year we made it an effort to go for MUV free food parties as we reckon those costs are nothing but inclusive in the expensive rent we paid. Yesterday night was one of those of which we wanted to maximise our utility. We went for the free hot dog party at admin green. The guys ate like dinosaurs (each of them grabbed like 3 or 4 hot dogs) while I just ate two because we decided to not cook dinner, again. The sausages were alright, but the most important thing is that we finally get to chill out and chit chat without having to worry about studies and exams - which is by the way, rare for actuarial students.

After our sausages session we went to Unit 111 to continue chilling out. The three (crazy) girls, quanyie, chia ling and selina, went to Paramatta for shopping therapy and they bought what seemed to me like dozens of accessories for $2 each. That was really CHEAP :0). And they wanted to turn me into one of the bimbo gang next time when they go DFO. Yea thinking of it, I should learn to like shopping the way they do. Sometimes I'm just too lazy to walk from shop to shop comparing prices and screaming on top of my lungs over seemingly good deals. Shall do more of that soon. Of course, that would only be possible if I have enough money to spend on material wants. I'm thinking of going Adelaide to visit my cousins end of this year and that would mean MONEY MONEY MONEY, as usual.

For some weird reason Yeam, fellow Taiping folk studying in ANU, demanded a video for his birthday. The three shopaholics were busy parading with their newly-acquired treasures and eventually as they had settled with what to wear we took that (funny) video (*shake head).

After that we did rubbish talking and at one point we were discussing about "the possibility of going on exchange or on a volunteer programme". Quanyie said exchange will cost at least 4 or 5K (this is definitely beyond my means) while volunteering would cost something like 2 or 3 K due to the recently soaring petrol price. Personally I think those are fabulous experience that a uni student studying overseas should not miss. But then, money is really a problem. How could we afford these money without working like crazy and forgoing time for our studies? No way.

I so wish that I were rich.

冬。感触。温情

四川大地震发生的时候我应该还在埋头苦读准备考试吧？有一次和housemates去买家用回程途中经过 U @ MQ building，看到很多人集聚在一张桌子，上边有个布条写着类似“上天无情，人间有情”，“募捐救济汶川灾民”的字眼。 当时我手提着很多东西，心里一直就是想着要快点回家读书，没有停下脚步，更不用说捐款了。

现在我为这件事感到有点后悔。

事发正好是week 12 还是week 13, 学业是忙得不得了，没有多少时间去跟踪地震的新闻，也没有真正地体会到这次的地震破坏性有多大。后来看了youtube 还有一些大陆网站的报道，图片，才知道原来这次死的人真的有好多好多。很多年纪小小，根本还没真正体会到人生乐趣的小孩就在上课一半时被倒塌的瓦砾压死了。尤其在“一孩政策”下中国家庭通常都只有一个孩子，很多家长带着泪水焦急地在破瓦堆里找着孩子的画面真的让我看了都觉得痛心。家长痛失孩子，受的是白头人送黑头人的伤痛; 失去双亲的小孩必须单独面对茫茫人海，从被疼爱一夜间变得举目无亲，这其中的苦楚只有当事人才能真正了解。

youtube 有人上传了台湾中视的救灾节目“把爱传出去”，主持人还有演艺圈里传媒界里政治界里的人都很积极地参与救灾募款，说到很多令人心酸的故事。印象比较深刻的一个 -

一个小学生被拯救人员救起，口袋里手机上有一个简讯：孩子，如果你还活着，记得爸妈爱你。

听了都起鸡皮疙瘩，很感人又很令人心酸。

生命在大自然前显得是多么微弱。

发达的科技，突破性的发展，在地震来临的那刻都变得微不足道。灾难来得不知不觉，让人手足无措。从灾民眼神中看出来他们是多么地渴望帮助，渴望问候，渴望关怀。一切身外物，金钱名利地位都已经不重要了，他们就只是希望家人朋友都平安。

看到这种报道，我们活着的人难道不应觉得自己能够呼吸其实就是一种福气吗？没有地震，没有灾难的马来西亚，是个多么好的地方啊！ （我个人觉得其实除去政治上的因素，犯罪案的频密，马来西亚是得天独厚。）

我看了这些真的很有心想捐一点钱表示心意，但这件事好像在澳洲这里热度过了，有点内疚当时为什么没有认真想一想该不该捐款。虽然我错失了出一点微薄力量的机会，我衷心希望四川那里的人振作起来重新建造家园。虽然我有时会对中国有些意见，但是在这种灾难发生时政治上的分岐是应该被搁下的。

爱心是没国界之分，在大自然前人类是平等的，无论你是贫是富，是贵是贱。

Post-exam

Finished with my last paper yesterday morning, and being too happy and excited about my new-found freedom in ages I went out with fellow housemates Victor Chua, Chen Chin and friend Victor Yeoh to the city (for just the second time this year, I think). We had planned for this outing long time ago, and being so deprieved of entertainment during the exam period we decided to go sing karaoke.

Yes we SANG our lungs out. For three full hours. In the beginning it was frustrating as the microphones weren't set properly and thus gave out loud squeeking noices when we sang. Irritating. But we did manage to get the problem resolved. Nothing could stop our enthusiasm to scream and yell and do all sorts of funny noices in that room. All of us went for Taiwanese songs, namely those of 周杰伦，周华健 and some of the others. Such is the influence of the Taiwanese entertainment sector on us Chinese Malaysians. Sadly enough, none of us know any of the Malay song and none of us even bothered to find out what sort of songs they have in Malay.

And for some reason I had a crave for oldies yesterday. I sang some of the classical tunes that my friends may had never heard of. 一剪梅，恰似你的温柔，你怎么舍得我难过，爱相随，花心，其实不想走etc. Some contemporary songs are well-composed but they just can't seem to satisfy one aspect of music: the ability to withstand the passing of time. Oldies that survive all this while till today are what we could truly say, excellent.

Anyway, that was our karaoke session.

After that, we happily spent our money and ate dinner at one Thai restaurant, after so long eating stir-fried chicken and veggie with rice for dinner at home. I wasn't sure if the quality is what I should call good (I think it probably is ordinary), but it was really satisfying after using up all our energy at the karaoke.

Then we board the bus back and reached home around 11.00pm. I called mummy to chit chat. It was nearly frustrating when I just somehow couldn't get through the line to Malaysia. I did eventually and fortunately the line was clear. It was so good to hear mummy's voice since I hadn't been calling back home for two weeks due to exams. So mummy said Jetstar has cancelled the flight between Sydney and KL, that means I would have no choice but to go back with an expensive air ticket end of this year. Sigh. Anyway I chatted with mummy and papa for more than an hour. Went to bed at almost 1am.

From seashells to credit cards, why we have no choice but to be money-minded

We heard of the saying "money is the root of all evil". But, as much as any self-declared money-is-not-my-priority person would like to deny, there is no way that our world will be what it is today without the brilliant invention of this evil thing named money. It's widely believed that the history goes more than 5000 years ago when people started trading with seashells.

Your computer which is staring back at you now wouldn't even exist, the meal that you had just taken wouldn't be there for your, the movie that you had watched few days ago wouldn't be heard of ... (the list goes on), if the evil little notes and coins are not invented in the first place.

It is the ultimate medium of circulation, transaction, exchange,incentives and most importantly - penalty. Money has never ceased to play an important role in every aspect of our life. If it wasn't for money, you weren't be working hard (of course, there are exceptions for people who genuinely love the toil and tumble of their jobs). Most of the time, what people meant by "I love my job" is really just "I love the reward from the job, and to prevent myself from suffering I learn to love the job as well."

Without money, there is little incentive for students to study hard. A sad reality of modern education, but if money didn't exist there wouldn't be so many of us burrying our heads amidst the books in the university library. Some very relevant examples are students doing their courses on money-related field. Actuarial studies, finance, accounting, business etc etc are all rubbish had money not exist. Interest rates, the trade-off between present and future values blablabla are non-sensical in a world without money.

Hence the root of all evil is indeed the basis of everything that human world has.

The whole branch of 'human science' were born about as early as money was invented. Economy grows, trading started, all human race has been prospering since then. Concepts which are intangible, ranging from the basic ideas about cash flows, liquidity, exchange rates to a whole set of macroeconomic jargon e.g. growth, inflation, turnover volume, chain effects, spill-over effects aka rippling effects, are here since then. Where would these things stand if we rid our world off the evil thing called money? Nothing but nonsence.


And then there is this great idea to enable people to spend beyond their means - the hidden inducement to spend on unnecessary things - the credit card system. Money becomes intangible, and is replaced by the action of one swipping his/her card across the machine, and the purchase is done. No sight of income flowing out, nothing but the pleasure of holding the new-owned items.

No one could safely say that he doesn't care about money, unless he is prepared to be isolated permanently from the money-based world and stay in the jungle eating self-planted crops for lifetime. One choice is in our hands, however.

Money: We master it, or let it master us.

On a lighter note:

Girls = Money * Time

Since Time=Money, Girls = Money * Money =

Money is the root of all evil ==> Money * money = evil

Hence, Girls =Evil

Ever wonder why your money keep disappearing?

$1 = 100 cent = 10*10 cent = $0.1*0.1=$0.01=1 cent

Advice from JF: take care of your units

What we're all after, actually？

Week 13 had finally come to an end. The last couple of days of official uni classes were to say the least eventful - in both good and bad ways. But I'm truly proud of the fact that I have come this far, with the final hurdle (to quote Toomas Truvert) to be strived through starting next week.

However this is not what makes me decided to write in this space today. I once thought that I would probably not do any writing at least before the exams. But no, I'm here again.

I saw our amazing lecturer JF (you know who) on my way back from a tiring day of uni plus grocery shopping. All I have to say is that he's the most uber fascinating lecturer in probably the entire Actuarial Department in Macquarie University. I once heard about him being a real professional specialising in Life insurance, and being a fellow IAA he must be rich - at least rich enought to buy a decent car and petrol.

But there I saw this man walking with his hiking bag, one hand carrying a huge umbrella, and the other - you will never guess it I bet - a PILLOW. It wasn't a new pillow brought from mac cen trust me. It looked like it was a used pillow. I was wondering, why does he need to bring a pillow to his office? And why oh why, is he walking to uni everyday given his qualification and consequently, wealth.

So it all boils down to one question: what EXACTLY are we working hard for. I just turned 20 two days ago and it hits me hard that I'm no longer a 'raw teenager'. Reaching 20 means that I'm gradually getting closer and closer to real adulthood.

Is it really money that matters? Going back to JF's example, what makes a well-established actuary willing to walk to uni everyday, speaks and dress like an ordinary folk. Really, I 've been wondering about this since last year when I was first introduced to this unique being in ACST211. Another fellow interesting actuary is Prof. John Pollard. He travelled around the world in minivan with his wife 30 years ago and did it again last year with some sort of " high technology recording the entire journey for the pleasure of his grandchildren". What a life man!

Massive style change after this

Getting kinda bored with the routine writing on my life. I'm not saying that my life is boring, but it is really repetitive that you wouldn't wish to listen to my old story over and over again. Study, gym, cooking etc etc are not gonna draw too much interest from readers I guess.

Hence my spur-of-the moment decision to carry out a so called "massive alteration of flavour" in this space. As my exams are approaching you probably would guess that there wouldn't be too many posting before 20th June. But I have decided to take a break from my crazy revision just to post up some phrases that I not only adore but would love to adopt as my life principles.

不生气歌
Don't be angry

人生就像一场戏，相扶到老不容易；
Life is just like a drama, it's not easy to get someone whom you can spend a lifetime with
因为有缘才相聚，是否更该去珍惜；
It's destiny that make us together, so shouldn't we cherish it?
为了小事发脾气，回头想想又何必；
In restrospect, we would realise that we often unnecessarily throw tantrums at minor things
别人生气我不气，气出病来无人替；
Let others be angry but not myself, for if I were to fall sick because of my bad mood there wouldn't be anyone who can compensate me for that
我若气死谁如意，况且伤神又费力；
Neither would anyone be happy if I die because of bad temper, not to mention being angry is something that comsumes my energy and soul
邻居亲朋不要比，儿孙琐事由他去；
Don't always compare yourself with you neighbours, relatives, friends, let go of your children, grandchildren when it is the right time to do so
吃苦享乐在一起，神仙羡慕好伴侣
May we be together for good and bad times; if so, even fairies will envy our closeness as a couple.

I hope my translation isn't too bad.

I WILL BE BACK

after the final exam

more goldcoast pictures

My trip to GOLD COAST

The pictures are not in the right order as I'm too lazy to arrange them.


This is Q1 -tallest residential building in the world

Tut tut car - movie world

fake sceneries - wet n wild

Wild west fall - movie world

Mammoth fall - wet n wild . (not scarry at all one)

I like this one the most throughout the trip. Felt like flying. - wet n wild

This one is roller coaster at movie world. Fun!!! Backward drops rock!

Bank at movie world

4D motion movie - shrek





Lethal weapon roller coaster. scarriest one I ever tried. Did you see that human's legs are left daggling?? Yeh, I went for this.

Superman roller coaster. second scarriest

At Sydney airport.

Each picture says a thousand words so I don't really need to narrate too much here (hence my excuse for cutting short my blog because I'm just too lazy to blog these days, the excitement of putting something on this space somehow wears off since my summer holiday):(

Basically, I went gold coast with 4 other girls and 3 housemates. We departed on 19th April 2008, had 5 days of crazy stuff there and came back on 23rd April 2008, 11.00pm at night (and reached home at 12-ish am on 24th April 2008). Lethargic as it sounds, but we had heaps of fun and I never regret for a second for spending quite a substatial amount throughout the trip (partly because JPA money is coming in soon, yay!)

See lah if I become less lazy tomorrow I might put on more pics on this entry. I can't stand the speed of my internet.

Nothing special

these days except:

a quiz with limited time tomorrow
STAT272 assignment due on Friday

and most importantly,

our mid semester holiday is beckoning.