So, where were we?

This blog has been abandoned for far too long. This is so wrong. But before i continue, here is some recent life update.

• Some of you may (may not) know i have started anew in a new company (again?). I’m settling in well, and have passed the probation. To be honest, this is the first job that, at a few occasions, kinda addictive. Couldn’t stop what i’m doing by 5:30. Which is actually a good thing, because that means i have found a job that i can build a career.
• Move to a new place in January (again?). I have to say that this is my best moving plan execution to date yet. From searching, comparing houses to making a decision, it took 3 days. From packing to the day i moved took less than 5 days. On the moving day itself, i arranged mover, locksmith (to change the door lock) and phone line technician (to install new ADSL) to show up the same day. The result, everything get done in one Saturday. I consider as an achievement.
• Life getting busier, especially since i took up a Vice President of Education role in my toastmaster club. By day, busy at work. By night, busy arranging meeting, writing and replying to members.
• My girlfriend and I are going to Malaysia for vacation at the end of April. Everything is set, now we only need to wait for the date patiently. We are flying back on 24th April.

And last but not least, this is serious problem. I have been living a quiet and serene life for far too long (a few months). When i read on the magazine, i suddenly realized i have missed out so many good bars. So it’s time to make a calling list and try out those nice Japanese bars. Can you give me a Pina Colada?

City Planning Difference

The other day, one of my colleagues pointed out the difference between the streets in Beijing and Shanghai. Obviously, Beijing is more square-ish because most of its roads are running from south to north or east to west. You can see from the pictures below.

Shanghai roads

From Blog

Beijing roads

From Blog

The reason being that Beijing roads are so squarely placed, according to my colleague, is because it’s developed overtime according to ancient city road network. Fair enough. Make sense. What does not make sense is the road network below…

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) roads

From Blog

How to Rip Your Dad Off

On my way to bus station from my working place last night, i walked past three girls who were chatting with each other.

I didn’t mean to eavedrop, but from what they said and their tone, i found the topic very interesting. So i slowed down my pace to match theirs, and below is some of the talking i heard:

Girl A: When they say they going to leave you this and that in the future… don’t believe them.

Girl A: Buy stuff. Designer bags, expensive clothes…

Girl B: Apartment!

Girl A: Yes, ask him to buy you stuff however you can…

Girl B: Buy insurance, buy insurance and put your name in it…

Girl A: Yeah, get whatever you can…

Girl C: …my dad said he only invests in real estate…

Girl A: Ask him to put them under your name…

Me: Poor dad.

I’m not totally surprised they said this kind of things, i just never met one. Given the rapid change in the last 2 decades and insane pace of economy opens up for capitalism, this is not unforeseeable. Nonetheless, these three represent a very small portion of the people. At least i hope so.

But still… poor dad.

Old Chapter is Coming to a Close, A New One has already Started

You know, sometimes you have the feeling that your life is entering a new chapter, while the one you left behind is coming to an end.

I don’t know you, but i certainly felt it last night after having a dinner with my friend, Ya Ting.

The chapter started with me packing my bags and flied to Nanjing to work in the end of 2006. With me, besides my belonging, are my dreams in China and lost love that i’m not willing to let go. I left my family, friends, classmates, etc. (pretty much everything) behind…

Before long, i have befriended a Taiwanese colleague, Ya Hui. Ya Hui have a Finn boyfriend and they have reached the phase of about to get married. Yet given the circumstances by then, she decided to hold it for a while. Anyhow, we have become very close as colleagues.

After about 7 months, Ya Ting came into the picture, she is Ya Hui’s older sister. By making a decision she will regret later in her life, she joined our company (yeah, at that time, Ya Hui and I are already regreting our decision to work in this company).

It’s Ya Ting first visit to China. She is a gentle speaking lady with a smile that’s always hanging on her face. It’s our most sincere hope that she will find a nice man. She just got out from a bad marriage.

Usually, under a suffering and difficult environment, people in it tend to develop a stronger bond than under any other circumstances (think during disaster or in military camp). That exactly what happened among me, Ya Hui and Ya Ting. Working in that company is no fun, but we found plenty while we three got together.

Things didn’t last long. I quit the company in October 2007 and went for backpacking in Greater China region, during which, i stayed at Ya Hui’s house in Taiwan. In the beginning of 2008, i landed a job in HSBC bank and started a new relationship (I gave up the old one that i tried so hard for so many years in vain).

After 7 months, Ya Hui followed my footstep. She quit the company and went to marry her Finn boyfriend. She just got her simple wedding ceremony done last month in picturesque Switzerland.

A little more than 4 months after, Ya Ting left Nanjing as well, and will start her new life in Shanghai. We met up for a dinner last night and tried to catch up. Over our conversation, to my delight, she got a new boyfriend, a Taiwanese gentleman who has lived in Shanghai for a decade.

After the dinner, it all came so strongly at me that, the story that we each carried with us when we three first met has been updated with a new phase of life. Essentially, we have entered a new chapter of our life and we are lowering the curtain on the old one.

It’s just like, a writer who is going to pen the last sentence on the old story, and a whole new story is waiting, on the next page.

If The Sun Went Out, How Long Would Life On Earth Survive?

For those of you who have the slightest interest on this subject matter, click here. Interesting stuff by the way.