2011 : Weighed, Measured and Found Absolutely Fabulous

Well well, the year winds to a close as we welcome 2012 in 2 days time. Has your year turned out the way you expected when 2011 began?

I certainly did not anticipate what 2011 had in store for me. The plan was to limit my travels and if possible not travel at all this year cause I was looking to save up enough money for a place to buy. No chance of that happening, as I soon found out.

Earlier in the year, I was kicking myself in February about missing a chance to attend a meeting in my company's headquarters in Sandefjord, Norway. But I thought to myself, maybe something better is in store. And it turned out to be true. In March I was able to go to Amsterdam for 3 days meeting (and I took additional 3 days off to travel around with my sister). Then what came up was even more exciting! I was approved to travel to Norway for subsequent meetings in May, June, August, October and November, for a bout 10 days each time.

And in between I went Dubai and Abu Dhabi twice in November and December for a total of 3 weeks. If I said I didn't want to travel, I would be lying! And for my company to send me over to attend these meetings, I feel blessed. Never in my wildest dreams would I have envisioned that I was able to jet off almost every month this year.\

All those trip earlier were for work, and I also managed to squeeze in 2 personal trips this year. First was to UK for my sisters graduation with my family. We stayed for almost 3 weeks and visited London, Paris, Rome, Geneva and Interlaken before flying back. Next trip was a small family trip to Sandakan, Sabah from which we then drove to Semporna for a few nights in the middle of the ocean.

So this year for me was a year of super ridiculous travelling. Some statistics:
- I have spent 50 hours in transit at Amsterdam Airport.
- Almost 50 days in Sandefjord Norway.
- More than 120,000 miles flown this year.
- About 90 days in a hotel.

But then, there is always more to life than travelling (for work or otherwise). I have made new friends. More friends have gotten married. Caught up with my friends (though much less than last year). Going thru my resolutions for 2011, It seems I achieved most of them except losign weight (cause of all the good food while travelling and lack of time for gym) and spending more time with my friends (same reason as earlier).

I shall look forward to 2012 with excitement (though I know there should be considerably less travelling). Wait, I'm not too sure about that as I have Bali, Bandung, Sabah, Singapore, Jakarta, Thailand, Vietnam, India scheduled for next year. And I should be looking forward to receiving the keys to my place soon. Hehehe fingers crossed, I would be able to move in by the first quarter of next year.

Anyways, I think I am a bit long winded here. I wish every1 a great year ahead and live prosperous!


Boodyboy, out!!

Tang Residence / 居 唐 : Furnishing #1

It has been very long exodus from the blogosphere and I am very sorry for that. Life has kinda tied me up and I have become unable to find those moments of inspiration for a blogpost.

Well since April, I have since signed a deal to buy an apartment. As of now I am still awaiting to receive my keys but I have begun to source for ideas to decorate my place.

One of the most important things in a house which could, cost me a bomb are appliances. Here at the moment, I have a wishlist or stuff which I feel I could use in my place (well the end product in my place will differ according to my budget).

First thing on my mind now is a vacuum cleaner. And the one which i have set my eyes on is this one :


An Electrolux ZS 321! What a sleek looking baby! Although I am very lazy and could use those auto - vacuum bots on the market, I am kinda unsure how clean the floors would be if they did it. I wouldnt mind vacumming myself, but the thing has got to be light and portable. THis model, solves the portability issue, but not the me being lazy issue, hehehe!

Next thing on my mind is a TV :


A Samsung UA40D6600WR. Thats one fine sleek looking tv!
I am actually a big Sony and Sharp fanboy, but their prices are at a premium, whereas Samsung is value for money. This baby is a SmarTv, which means I can connect my modem to and and surf, watch tv and etc. WIth USB ports, Full Hd and etc, this tv can become a media centre of the house, without the need for a computer.


OH OH!! And 3rdly, A wooden signboard that has a black background and hand carved with the chinese words 居 唐 which would then be painted in gold. I'd like to hang it at the front of my house. Translated, it means Tang Residence. hehehee... Now if only I know where to make such signboards and the costing.



Well thats all I can think of at the moment. I will try to put up more as I get ideas for my Economical-yet-want-to-look-nice apartment.



Boodyboy, out!!!

How to get more hybrids on the road

The government has made a step in the right direction last year when they decided to waive excise duties for all hybrid cars in Malaysia. This means that hybrid cars will cost about 30% cheaper than they were compared to last year, and yet, I still have not seen an explosion of hybrids on the roads yet.

So is there an issue when? People used to complainabout hybrids being too expensive. Now that theya re much cheaper, why are there so few on the roads? Maybe people are apprehensive about these cars, and how much maintenance it will cost them over 10 years.

Okay, this I understand. So now, how should the government go about encouraging more hybrid cars to be on the road, and at the same time, lower pollution?



Jeng jeng jeng...

I think I've got an answer!

The government can encourage the corporate sectors to change their entire fleet of company cars to hybrids! How?

Maybe by lowering the selling price by decreasing the import tax on foreign parts of the cars. Maybe by giving them tax exemptions (lower or minimal road tax).

Maybe by increasing depreciation rates for such vehicles from 20% per annum to 25% per annum(which would mean the cars are fully depreciated after jsut 4 years)

Companies would stand to gain a lot more as well if they change their fleets to hybrid cars because usually they will also be giving petrol allowances to company car owners.

When people are given petrol allowances, this will lead to very inefficient driving behaviour by the drivers themselves. Inefficient driving means higher fuel costs incurred by the company.

By switching to hybrids, they will stand to save at least 40-50% on petrol costs because, these cars will be slightly under-powered, and hence not able to be driven in efficiently.

Drivers will then be forced to drive more efficiently than they are used to. Driving efficiently also usually means lower accident rates as being efficient means less speeding and definitely less reckless driving (pedal to the metal).

Lower mortality rates will be achieved on the roads, also because hybrids comes with much better safety features than our average Malaysian company cars.

With the 4 year depreciation, companies are able to dispose of these vehicles sooner than expected and any proceeds from the sale of these cars will be deemed as income to the company.

Hence, a big 2nd hand market will be created for hybrids, and more people will be driving them on the roads as fully depreciated company cars are sold at a much lower price than privately held sellers of cars.

In the end, all I can see is a win-win situation for the government, the public as well as Mother Earth if this plan is put into the works.

Seriously, give this a thought.



Boodyboy, out!!!

Got To Go

Been very caught up with work recently, and yes other stuff as well. But hey, life is looking brighter and sunnier!

Despite the tough times that some parts of the world is facing, our lives have got to go on. And what better to continue living life full of enthusiasm and purpose

=)

This song is very catchy, I 1st heard it at Michael Buble's Concert. The lady who sang this song is none other than Ms Najwa Mahiaddin. Yes, she opened for Mike Buble and she didnt disappoint!



I present to you, Got To Go




This time I'm gonna live my life
I ain't no stepford wife
No I ain't perfect
Gonna find somebody who's worth it
And no you ain't that person
Coz i caught you constantly flirtin'
With my best friend

So I guess I'll say goodbye
I'll find me another guy

Why (why why why)
You always makin' me
Cry (cry cry cry)
No I can't stand it
No you can't be my man
It don't matter who you are,
Even if you were a star
You've got to go
(Go go go go go go)

Read my lips I'm leavin'
And no no I ain't teasin'
This time it's for real
Gotta find you another girl
Coz this one sure ain't stayin
By the time you finish what you're sayin'
I'll be gone




Boodyboy, out!!!

Marry Me

I shared this song a few days back in FB. And after a few days, i still absolutely love this song! So I'm gonna share it here!

Performed by Train (who gave me a fave many years ago,Drop of Jupiter) this is a sweet song called Marry Me.



Forever can never be long enough for me
Feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do

Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
Marry Me
Today and every day
Marry Me
If I ever get the nerve to say
Hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm

Together can never be close enough for me
Feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over
And love and has finally shown her my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm

Promise me
You'll always be
Happy by my side
I promise to
Sing to you
When all the music dies

And marry me
Today and everyday
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Marry me
Mm-hmm




Boodyboy, out!!!

What Chinese New Year Means To Me

I've had a 2 weeks gap, from my previous post.
Thinking what should I be talking about next. It's been nothing siognificant or concrete for some time now. Not updating it constantly makes me feel guilty, but I do not want my blog to be a chore. It should always be something that I like to do.

Today is the last day of February. 2 months of 2011 has already flashed by me in the blink of an eye. Chinese New Year come and gone. THe time that passes has no meaning, unless we put something of value to it. So this time, I'm gonna write about wha CNY means to me. Every year, CNY comes and goes, but is it really important to me?



1. CNY is about reunion. The highlight of it has to be the reunion meal. In my paternal family, we have reunion lunch, as opposed to the tradition of dinner, on CNY Eve. This has never been emphasised more this year. Both my paternal grandparents have passed away and this is the 3rd year without them. This is also the 1st time there are only 6 people coming back to stay in my paternal grandparent's home in Triang, Pahang. 3 was from my family: me, pop and mom. 2 was an Aunt and her daughter, and 1 more uncle who came back without his wife and kid.

Just so you know, my paternal grandparents have 5 sons (2 deceased) and 6 daughters. At its peak, my grandparent's house would be packed to the brim filled with aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and etc.

This year, there was just silence. And at the end of the 1st day of CNY, I went back to my maternal grandparent's place in Malacca, and the other 3 remanining relatives went back to KL.
Silence.



2. CNY is about every1 getting together for a good meal, with family or friends. And in Malaysia, this dish is gaining more and more importance. Yee Sang.

Tossing this while saying good things/wishes for every1, is sort of a bonding thing.Sweet and sourish, its a great appetizer before the CNY feast begins.



3. Fireworks. never used to liekt hem since i was a kid. Always afraid of them. But as the years go by, I tend to appreciate them more and more. Not buying and lighting them up, but to enjoy and watch them light up the sky. Me, my sis and cousins have this fond attachment of going up to the grandparents rooftop in Triang, and just wait for midnight to strike. THen, all sorts of fireworks will be lighted up by the villagers. We'd just be there staring in awe...

This year, it was just me and my cousin on the rooftop. And Silence before the frenzy.

4. CNY means gatherings. A season of gathering. Its the best reason u have to meet up with ppl you always wanted to meet but never had the time. I had plenty of those, though there are still ppl i iwshed I met, but I should be happy. I caught up with many people that has touched my life int he past and seeing them makes me happy again!

5. And finally, CNY is about love. Why love? Is it because of Chap Goh Mei (Chinese Valentine / 15th day of CNY) or is it because the Feb 14th Valentines Day falls in between? Or is it the same time of year when all your relatives ask you when you are getting married and etc?

Its all of the above, and more... (to those who know the extras, you guys get to laugh at my expense)

But yes, CNY is about the time you celebrate the love of your entire extended family and friends as well. 15 days is long enough for you to get something done. And there should not be any Silence. CNY is all about noise, cause we believe noise is a sign of prosperity, vitality and overall well being for every1!

Boodyboy, out!!!

I wish you enough

Well, CNY is about to be over in 2 more days. Valentine's Day was yesterday. Its been a festive 2 months that we have over here in Malaysia and I hope that many of you would have taken the opportunity to celerate some of the special occassions with people we love and care about.

I know I have. I'm lucky to have many friends and family to celebrate with. I'm lucky that I've been able to keep myself relatively busy catching up with all of them.

And yet, there are people whom I still wish I had the chance to catch up with. it's been a really long time but New Year's are a great excuse to catch up. I guess we always want more, hehehe.

Anyways, I received this very nice email from my friend; who plucked it from Paulo Coelho's blog. Yes it is the same friend that sent me the excerpt from Paulo earlier book from an earlier blog post a month or 2 back.

I'm reproducing an excerpt from that blog below. But read the full contents here.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more..

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting…
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good- bye.

********

While the exceprt itself is beautiful, read the story behind it, its truly touching...

To all my family and friends, I wish you enough.



Boodyboy, out!!!