<bgsound src="http://www.ijigg.com/songs/V2BFBCGCPAD" > My Big Big Adventure: November 2008

Saturday, November 22, 2008

有喜了!

有喜的,不是我。是我親愛的朋友們。

家裏頭有喜事是多麽值得高興的事。最近同事和朋友喜事連連,誰說經濟放緩就一定是悲觀的,大家也不是一樣馬照跑,舞照跳,那裏管得住。特別是升級做父母的,我替你們感到高興和驕傲,因爲你們很勇敢地面對經濟的不穩定而不斷地在努力。

想起來也真好笑。朋友們懷孕之前,老是被老人家催促,說“有喜啦?幾時給我抱孫子?”之類的話題。當事人感到無比的懊惱。有了孩子之後又有他們的煩惱。有時我覺得人其實是很矛盾的。

數一數今年裏頭,我已經有五位朋友先後生了小孩,升級做媽媽還有爸爸。帶孩子不是一件很容易的事情。爲人父母,活到一百嵗,常憂九十九,相信身為父母的責任重大。不怕奶粉教育費用昂貴,最怕是教不好,孩子學壞了闖禍,氣壞兩老才可悲。不過以我所認識的朋友們都是出生于嚴厲的家教環境成長,相信一定會是好爸媽。祝福和恭喜你們。你和孩子一樣也長大了。

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

日本の出張

今天老闆在會議上提到去日本公幹的事項,大家不禁議論紛紛。看來説起日本,每一個人都有他們各自的想法和期待,我也何嘗不是。只是覺得好笑的是別人看來比自己還要興奮,證明日本的魅力無法擋。

我覺得去公幹,不像去遊玩,身上背負著一種責任和包袱。可是從我們同事身上看到的僅只有遊玩的目光,我覺得很悲哀。雖然明明知道去國外促銷我們的產業可能回報是萬分之一的機會,也要很賣力去做好每一樣細節,讓銷售目標更爲接近還有把公司的名聲傳播出去,這樣就不虧此行。

很期待又有機會重踏日出之國的大地上。

Monday, November 10, 2008

期待新活動

上個星期六看了“舞動奇跡”的藝人跳舞比賽,覺得不是專業舞蹈者也能跳得這麽好,我也有一股衝動想要去學習。加上,已經不用再惦記上學做功課的日子。於是就在昨天下午致電去報名參加交際舞。不過老師說新班開課還要等一時,我也不焦急,而且還要等我的弟弟考完大馬教育文憑才可以和我的弟弟一同前往參加。

很期待新的嘗試。頓時感到乏味無助的生活已經開始有了新生命。想到可以與音樂交流,心裏頭不禁高興起來。

Friday, November 07, 2008

愛吃的女人

今天在中國報的蔡瀾的作品。特此和朋友們分享。

和我一起吃過東西的人,都知道我的食量不大,所有食物,淺嚐而已。但也別以為我什么都吃少少,遇到真正的美食,我還是吃得很多。

近來,我已經將試味和飲食分開來。到了餐廳,見到佳餚,我會吃一口來領略廚師的本領,但絕不滿腹。真正的吃,是一碗白飯,或一碟炒麵,沒什么佐料,仔細欣賞白米的香味和麵條的柔軟,適可而止,最多是吃個半飽而已。

其實,與其說我愛吃東西,不如說我愛看別人吃東西。一桌人坐下,我只選自己喜歡的幾樣。
請我吃飯最合算了,我不會點鮑參翅肚,遇到一尾蒸石斑,也不過是舀點魚汁撈白飯。

看女人吃東西最有趣,有時不懂得命理,也能分析出對方的個性和家庭背景。比方說主人或長輩還沒舉筷,自己卻搶最肥美的部分來吃,或者用筷子阻止別人夾東西,都屬于自私和沒有家教的一種人。

美女大口吃也性感

進食時嘖嘖、嗒嗒、啅啅地發出巨響,都令人討厭。不斷地打噎而不掩嘴,也不會得到其他人的好感。餐桌上的禮儀,就算父母沒有教導,也應該自修,不可放肆。

但是美女例外,她們要怎么吃,發什么聲,都覺得可愛。小嘴細噬最漂亮了,即使是張開大口狼吞虎嚥,也性感得要命。醜人多作怪的八婆就不能原諒,真想一腳把她們踢出餐廳大門去。

開懷大嚼的,沒有壞人,時間都花在欣賞食物,哪有心機去害人?愛吃的人,享受食物的人,大多數個性是開朗的,他們不會增加你什么麻煩,不管在金錢上或感情上,的確是值得交往。

吃相悄悄露性格

真正熱愛食物的女人,和陪你吃東西的女人,是不同的,一眼就看得出來。前者見到佳餚,雙眼發光,恨不得一口吞下。后者把東西放進口后,又偷偷地吐出來,或者咬了一小口就擺在碟上,在你的面前裝享受,但是從舉止和表情中就能看出對食物的厭惡,這種女人最假,防之防之。

也有一邊大魚大肉,一邊喊死了,吃那么多怎么辦的女人。這一類最難分辨她們的好壞,可能是很坦白,也可能是做作,但兩者皆為性格分裂。

還有一種肯定是討厭的。在宴會中經常遇到一些中年夫婦,太太什么都吃,胖得要命。而先生呢?瘦得像電燈桿,他一舉筷,老婆即刻發出警告:“膽固醇已經那么高了,還敢吃?你吃死了不要緊,千萬別爆血管、半身不遂要我照顧!”

怪不得倪匡兄常說:“人一上年紀,如果要活得快樂,有兩種人的話千萬不可聽,一是醫生,一是太太。”

有些先生更不幸,娶的太太,是醫生。

在自助餐中,最容易看到女人的貪婪。多年前,有一個臃腫的胖女人,無男不歡,一天數回合,消息爆了出來,八卦週刊稱她為慾海奇葩。

一次吃自助餐,有一個肥婆,整碟食物裝得滿滿地,一共來回無數次,嘴巴旁邊都是油膩,還來不及去擦。這件事千真萬確,絕非虛構,我的友人看到了,向她說:“你真是一個食物的慾海奇葩。”

笑得我們從椅子上跌下來。

自助餐上,也能看到女人優雅的一面,有一個拿空碟子,左一點右一點拿食物,黃的雞蛋、綠的海藻、紅的番茄,像在作畫。人和食物,都美得不得了,愛死這種女人。

大吃姑婆最可愛

曾經有過幾位被公認為大美人的,紅燒元蹄一上桌,你一箸我一箸,誰管去減肥?一下子吃得干干淨淨,你看,那是多么痛快的一回事!

最不想看到的是節食中的八婆,要保持身材苗條我能理解,那么干脆茹素好了,為什么又貪吃又怕胖?夾了一塊肉,拼命把肥的部分用筷子仔細清除后才放進口。吃雞時,皮剝了又剝,放在碟邊,變成不清潔的一堆東西,看了就令人反胃。

就算不吃肥,不吃皮,為什么不學一學那些好女人?她們會向旁邊的男士說:“你選一塊沒那么多油的給我,好不好?”

這么一來,你怎么會厭惡她呢?

又見過一位什么都大吃一頓的女人,旁邊的八婆看了,酸溜溜地說:“這個人一定患憂鬱症,所以要用食物來填滿空虛的心靈。”

去你的,大吃姑婆才是最可愛的人物,她們又不會來侵犯你,為什么要那么尖酸刻薄批評人家呢?我聽了打抱不平,向那些八婆說:“你們心理,才有病。”

相反地,也遇過一位什么東西都不吃,只顧喝酒的女子,旁邊的人一直夾給她,也不拒絕,因為她不覺得有什么必要向人解釋她只愛酒。最后,面前一大堆食物,她向身邊的人說:“請侍者包起來,讓你拿回家去宵夜吧。”

這種人物,也實在可愛。

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Bandung Trip Encounter: 31 Oct - 3 Nov 2008

Gedung Sate, Bandung

Well, I must say, this trip to Bandung is quite a disappointment overall, though great bargains for shopping (must go shopping, really cheap) was our only gain beside making new friends. For all the trips I have gone with, this is the worst one. It is worst because we have a lousy, not professional tour leader. He gives me that feeling that he's on vacation like us. This is why I think he is not professional:
  • We were told to pay extra RM5 for baggage since we are taking AirAsia via email. But at the airport, we have to pay RM10 (if buy early on the internet is RM5). Personally, I think it should be included into the fees. If not, the tour agent should book early for us so we don't have to pay double. Worse still that he said it's new regulation by AirAsia (I have checked, the baggage handling was introduced in April 2008, how can a professional tour leader not know?).
  • Hotel matters. He even explicitly told us if anything at the hotel is not satisfying, just call the hotel, not him. Furthermore, he told us that we are getting hair dryer and safe deposit box in every room, but in the end, only few hairdryers are available at the counter upon request and subject to availability. The run-down hotel room is ok for us, but some of our members felt dissatisfied, because they have loose taps, loose windows handle, and other wear-off items in their rooms, and nothing can be done. And, the hotel corridors have steps. I personally think that the room arrangement is supposed to arrange the elderly near the lift and not going through the stairs, but ironically, the elderly has to walk all the way to the other end with two flights of stairs to walk. I pity the aunties.
  • I am not sure whether bringing tour leader and his whole family of five (father, mother, wife and a 3-year old kid) to this trip with us is acceptable professionally. Because how can you take care of your family and us, especially we have elderly. Also, I was told by our friend, that the tour leader's intention is to offset his family's heavy baggage with us (cos some of our members do not have many baggage).
  • On one of the original itenery to the volcano (which half opted for shopping and not follow the tour), the tour leader didn't even come along. Left the tour guide with us.
  • He didn't even get his facts right. Earlier said about RM5 baggage ended up we have to pay RM10; excess baggage is charged Rp. 50,000 per kilos, but I have checked, it's Rp. 30,000; facilities in the rooms not as promised; raining seasons was not informed (when in fact the tour guide told us ramalan cuaca stated showers expected for four days there during our first meeting with him on our first day). How can our tour leader not know?????
  • No pre-departure briefing. And, in the end, we were caught in the rain for four days there for not preparing umbrellas.
  • One of the trip we were supposed to get down from the mountain at a stated time, the tour leader saw our members still up there and never reminded them to come down (he was late that time). We asked him on the bus "ada orang lagi ke kat atas", he just said "ada orang lagi kat atas". What an answer!
Not to be mean, but I would BAN any trip further with this AR Travel company, and the tour leader En. Zainul Akmal and will let my friends know about this. A good tour leader should know of our needs and relay those needs to the local Indonesian agent/ guide, and make necessary arrangements. I personally think that this tour leader has not carried out his job duly. I have sent one feedback form to organising committee. I am not sure whether it is affecting everyone, but my guess would be that our Malay friends were on shopping focus and more tolerable than the Chinese friends, because three of our Chinese friends brought their elderly mothers with them, which two mothers have difficulty of walking long distance.

During tour, punctuality needs to be observed. Ironically, our organiser is late. Not on one occasions, but several. I am not sure what this message is sent across to other members who were punctual. It's wasting time having to wait.

The food is delicious but has its shortcomings. This is my first time experienced under supply of food situation (usually excess food) for our trip. Perhaps everyone thought it was buffet (like always) and gasak everything without leaving some behind for the people coming behind (buffet usually have refills). Then, after talking to the tour leader in person that we realised that it is actually "set meal" in a "buffet setting" (no refills but lots of rice left). This means, everyone is expected to take lots of rice (Bandung people's culture is more rice with less dish, because most of them work in padi field needs the extra carbohydrate for energy). And I tell you one thing very funny is that, the chicken is really small, like pigeon size. So, you know, we Malaysian are big eaters, one piece of skinny chicken is not enough. Therefore, some members only have rice and 1 kind of vegetable, that's it for dinner. Perhaps what they should do is either inform us earlier that the culture is supposed to be like that or add more dishes to satisfy big eaters. For me, my mom and I are ok cos we don't really eat that much. So, I guess our members treat it as a "kurus badan" trip as well.

If it's not for the great bargain for apparels and shopping, the trip would have been a disaster. It is of a very unpleasant experience with this tour agent.

My suggestion for those of you are planning a trip to Bandung, go on your own. It's a shopping paradise! Original made-in-Indonesia factory outlets warehouse sells product cheaply. Imagine a Burberry T-shirt with collar sells at RM23; Giogio Armani jacket at RM60; genuine leather shoes RM30 a pair. If you are like Malay buy silk cloth to sew back home cost less than RM60 (if here, you are paying RM200 for the same piece). Watch out for tourist-inclined peddlers, they are annoying, but the things they sell is dirt cheap (Bandung printed T-shirts cost less than RM7, some lower quality less than RM4; leather sandals RM4). Full body massage also costs around RM 30 for an hour in a Spa-liked environment. Like my friend who had been there on his own once told me "how can you not buy things in Bandung?" and now I can understand why.The local Indonesia tour guide told us that you should also go to Garut to see the nature trail too. We had our share of volcanoes. And it is beautiful. And you can also take express train to Jakarta in 2 hours from Bandung (that's why lots of weekenders from Jakarta).