Clueless Watsons Staff

I went to this same Watsons pharmacy store twice and twice I encountered clueless staff who has no idea the product that I'm asking. On the first visit, I was looking for Manuka honey and I asked the male staff if they have Manuka honey and his response was, "Huh? What?".

Me: Manuka honey.

Staff: (with a clueless look on his face) What is it for?

In my mind I was like, what do you mean what is it for? I nearly wanted to answer, I want to pour the Manuka honey into my bathtub and dip myself into it... just to see his reaction. Instead, I said... 

Me: To drink.

Staff: I've never heard of that honey.

Me: OK, never mind. Do you have any honey in the store?

On my second visit, I asked a female staff if they have calamine lotion and she said no, but after going through every aisle, I found they have. I took a bottle and showed it to her and said, "This is calamine lotion." Her response was, "Oh, I didn't notice it just now."

You didn't notice or you don't even know what calamine lotion is? Or you didn't even know that Watsons sell this product? I'm wondering what kind of staff Watsons is hiring. Do they go through a strict training on all the products the store is selling?

Travelling Tips To Japan For First-Timer

1. Bring more cash. Although Japan is an advanced country, but unfortunately, most of the restaurants and shops there do not accept credit cards. They prefer cash. Let's just say Japan is a cash-society. Speaking of cash, remember to bring a coin purse because you may find yourself having many small change.
2. When paying at the cashier, do not hand your money to the cashier's hand. Put your money on the little tray on the counter. Cashiers would not take money from your hands.
3. Bring your own bag when you go shopping because most of the shops either don't provide shopping bag or they will charge you for each bag.
4. Do not litter. You may soon realise that there are almost no rubbish bin along the streets, so keep your litter in your own plastic bag. You can find rubbish bin in front of conveninence stores or near vending machines.
5. Learn some basic Japanese phrases. Most of the local there do not speak English and they find it hard to understand what you're trying to say, so by learning some common phrases might be useful when you want to ask for the price, ordering food, or ask for directions.
6. You may realise that Japanese people will stand at one side of the escalator and leave the other side for people who are in a hurry to walk, so please follow the local custom. Do not block the way.
7. If you need Internet connection as you go around Japan, you may need to order a pocket Wi-Fi because although Japan is known for its advanced technology and industrialization, they do not provide free Wi-Fi. You may get Wi-Fi in the hotel you're staying or places like Starbucks but you have to purchase a beverage to get the password.
8. Electricity outlets in Japan take two flat pins, same as North America. If you come from a country which has a different electricity outlet, remember to bring an universal adapter to charge your smartphone, or any electronic devices.
9. No tipping! You do not need to give tips in Japan. Some may take it as an offence.
10. When you enter the inside of a temple or shrine, please remove your shoes. Some temples/shrines will provide you with a plastic bag to put your shoes in and you have to carry it yourself.
11. People with tattoos are not allowed to enter the public bath house (onsen). No photography or recording is allowed inside the onsen because it's a public area and people are naked in there enjoying the bath.
12. When you take the train or subways, do not eat or drink inside the train. Do not speak loudly. Do not answer your phone calls. This is because Japanese people treat the train as a public place and they respect other people's privacy, so they would remain silent or try to minimize any talking or noise when they're inside a train. 
13. It is considered rude to eat while walking in Japan, so either you find a park or a place to sit and eat, or you can just stand and eat. You hardly see any locals holding their munching their sandwich or snacks while walking on the street. I guess this has something to do with respecting the food you're eating and also respecting the person who prepares the food, so if you walk and eat, you're probably not going to appreciate it fully.
14. Most 7-Eleven convenience stores and post offices had ATMs that accept foreign debit and credit cards. Check with your bank before you leave to make sure your cards will work overseas.
15. Not all restaurants have English menu. If you’re not sure what to order at a restaurant, indicate one of the plastic food replicas that are displayed near the front of the restaurant.
16. When you’re ready to pay your bill at a restaurants, cross your forefingers together to form an ‘X’. The waiter will come to you with your check. 
17. When you want to point towards someone or something, point with your open hand. Pointing at anything with your forefinger is considered rude.
18. When entering a Japanese house, place your outdoor shoes at the doorway. Wear the slippers your host provides. 
19. Remove your house slippers when you enter a room that is covered with tatami flooring. You can step on tatami mats with your bare or socked feet.
20. Take photos only in areas where they’re permitted. Watch the signs, and ask locals if you’re not sure. Don’t offend by taking pictures inside temples. 
21. Do not blow your nose in public; try to discreetly wipe your nose or just snort or sniff to control your cold if you have one.

Useful Japanese Phrases for Tourists

Hi / Hello                            Konnichiwa

Good morning                     Ohayo gozaimasu

Good afternoon                  Konnichiwa

Good evening                      Konbanwa

Good night                          Oyasumi

Thank you                            Arigato gozaimasu

  

Thank you very much        Domo arigato gozaimasu

Excuse me                           Sumimasen

I'm sorry                              Gomen-nasai

Yes                                       Hai

No                                        Iie

I don't understand             Wakarimasen

Do you speak English?       Eigo o hanashimasu ka?

How much does this cost?  Kore wa ikura desu ka?

How much is it?                 Ikura desu ka?

Where is the bathroom?      Ofuro wa doko desu ka?

Where is the Tokyo train station?      Tokyo eki wa doko desu ka?


FOOD

Chicken                               Chikin
Beef                                     Gyuuniku
Fish                                     Sakana
Pork                                    Butaniku
Crab                                    Kani
Tea                                      Ocha
Coffee                                  Kohi
Water                                  Mizu

Water, please?                    O mizu o kudasai

Thank you for the meal      Gochisosama-deshita

Two persons                       Futari de onegaishimasu

When you're buying at any shop or store in Japan, and if you don't need a plastic bag because you are eco-friendly and you have your own bag, simply say "Fukuro wa kekko desu" which means "I don't need a bag, thank you."

Kansai Thru Pass

In my previous post, I have explained about the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass). Today, I'm going to introduce you to another regional pass which is the Kansai Thru Pass.

Kansai Thru Pass ticket enables you to ride on subways, private railways and buses throughout the Kansai district. As well as enabling you to tour Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto, it lets you visit Nara, Wakayama and Koyasan. The ticket comes in 2-day and 3-day pass.

The best part is it allows you to take unlimited rides of trains, subways, buses in the Kansai region (around Osaka and Kyoto). Please note that Kansai Thru Pass cannot be used to take JR trains.

THE BENEFITS OF KANSAI THRU PASS

• Unlimited rides on trains, subways, buses (excluding JR trains).
• Can be used on non-consecutive days.
• Reduced rate of 50% off for children age 6-11.
• Discounted admission fee at selected tourist attractions in the Kansai region.
• Free map is given in English, Chinese, Korean language when you purchase the Kansai Thru Pass.
• It can be used from Kansai Airport Station on the Nankai Train after arriving at Kansai International Airport (The Express Rapi:t requires additional tariff).

Here are the train lines that can be used with your Kansai Thru Pass:

• Subways of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe 
• Hankyu Railway (Kobe - Osaka - Kyoto) 
• Hanshin Railway (Kobe - Osaka) 
• Keihan Railway (Osaka - Kyoto) 
• Kintetsu Railway (Osaka - Kyoto - Nara) 
• Nankai Railway (Osaka - Kansai Airport - Koyasan) 
• Sanyo Railway (Kobe - Himeji) 
• Keifuku Railway (Kyoto) 
• Nose Railway (North of Osaka) 
• Kobe Railway (North of Kobe) 
• Osaka Monorail (Northern Osaka, Itami Airport) 
• Kobe Kosoku Railway (Kobe) 
• Port and Rokko Liner (Kobe) 
• Various cablecars (Hieizan, Koyasan) 
• A few more minor railway lines

PRICE       ADULT      CHILD

2-day         ¥4,000        ¥2,000
3-day         ¥5,200        ¥2,600

You'll be given a guidebook, a map, and tickets.

WHERE TO PURCHASE?

You can purchase the Kansai Thru Pass at the following places:

• Kansai Tourist Information Center Kansai International Airport (1st Floor / 07:00 – 22:00)
• Nankai Electric Railway Kansai-Airport Station Ticket Office (5:00 – 23:30) 
• Kansai Tourist Information Center Kansai International Airport Terminal 2 1F, 2nd Terminal Bldg, Kansai Int'l Airport (11:30 – 19:30) 
• Tourist Information NAMBA (Inside the General Information Center Namba on the 1F of Nankai Building / 09:00 – 20:00) 
• Tourist Information OSAKA (JR Osaka Station, Central Ticket Gate / 07:00 – 23:00 [Ticket Sales 8:00 – 22:00] ) 
• Hankyu Tourist Center Umeda Osaka (8:00 – 17:00) 
• Kyoto Station Bus Information Center (Kyoto Station Karasuma Exit / 07:30 – 19:30) 
• Osaka Tourist Information Center (8F, Shinsaibashi OPA Main Bldg / 9:00 – 21:00) 
• Kansai Tourist Information Center Kyoto (10:00 – 18:00) 
• Tourist information Center "Kanku Machidokoro" (KANSAI AIR PORT TERMIANL2 / 11:30 – 22:00) 
• Kansai Tourist Information Center Daimaru Shinsaibashi (10:30 – 21:00) 
• Osaka Airport Information Center (1st floor, North and South Terminals / North Terminal 8:00 – 21:00 South Terminal 6:30 – 21:00)

You will be required to present your passport and fill out an application form when purchasing the ticket. * When purchasing a child tickect, please present the child's passport.

Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass)

Japan Rail Pass, also known as JR Pass.

• Do I need it when I visit Japan?
• Is it worth the cost?
• How much is it?
• Where do I purchase it?
• How to use the JR Pass?

You may have heard about JR Pass and I'm sure you will be asking the above questions about JR Pass. Don't worry. I will explain all about it in this post.

Here are some of the things you need to know about JR Pass:

1. JR Pass must be used on consecutive days within its allocated timeframe. For instance, if you buy a 7-day JR Pass, you have to use it in 7 days consecutively. After the 7th day, it will no longer be valid. Even if you did not use for one day, it is considered used. For example, if you start using it on Monday (5th February 2018), the pass is valid until Sunday (11th February 2018). If you did not use on Wednesday (7th February 2018), there is no refund, and it cannot be transferred to 12th February.
2. JR Pass can only be used to take JR trains/lines. You cannot use it on local buses, subways, non-JR trains.
3. JR trains are not available everywhere around Japan. Don't assume that it will take you to any city in Japan. Some places have no JR trains.
4. JR Pass must be purchased outside of Japan before your arrival in Japan which means you have to buy it in your country through an agency.
5. JR Pass cannot be used for travel on NOZOMI and MIZUHO trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines.

If you want to know whether buying tickets per ride is cheaper than JR Pass, you can put in your desired starting and end destinations on Google Maps to search for the price. Select the transit. The options, cost, time will be shown, including for JR and non-JR trains fare.

There are other regional pass such as the Kansai Thru Pass with unlimited rides on inter-city trains, subways, buses. It can be used on non consecutive days. In addition to that, you get discounted entry fee to multiple places of attractions.

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Let's say you have decided to buy and use the JR Pass. Let's see what's it all about.

There are two types of JR Pass: Green and Ordinary. Each type is available for a 7-day, 14-day, and 21-day.

GREEN      ADULT       CHILD

7-day           ¥38,880        ¥19,440
14-day         ¥62,950        ¥31,470
21-day         ¥81,870        ¥40,930


ORDINARY      ADULT       CHILD
7-day                  ¥29,110       ¥14,550
14-day                ¥46,390       ¥23,190
21-day                ¥59,350       ¥29,670


*Price as of October 2017
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HOW TO PURCHASE AND USE JR PASS

1. First, you must purchase an Exchange Order in a country other than Japan. You cannot buy the JR Pass on the spot. Buy the Exchange Order first and when you arrive in Japan, you must go to any major JR station and turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your JR Pass.
2. You cannot use the Exchange Order to take trains. Therefore, you have to change the Exchange Order to get the JR Pass from the JR station counter in Japan.
3. Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JR Pass within three months of the date the Order was issued. (for example, an Exchange Order issued on April 15 would have to be turned in by July 14). There are tourists whom are not informed of this and they bought in advance too early from their arrival date, and when they arrived in Japan, they were told it was not valid because it has expired after three months.
4. If the Exchange Order is lost or stolen, or you are unable to provide it for another reason, no exchange for a JAPAN RAIL PASS can be made.
5. At the exchange office, you will be asked to fill in a short application form and to show your passport with the Temporary Visitor stamp/sticker you received on entry into Japan. When exchanging the Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS, you must show your passport* and the Temporary Visitor stamp/sticker.
6. The JR Pass is valid only for the person whose name appears on the pass. The user must be a foreign national visiting Japan with the entry status of Temporary Visitor.
7. In order to receive a JR Pass, the name appearing on the claim ticket must match the name appearing in your passport. Without your passport, the pass exchange will not be made. (A photocopy of your passport is also not acceptable because you must show the "Temporary Visitor" stamp/sticker in it.)
8. When you begin to use your JR Pass, present it to the attendant at the ticket gate. The attendant will stamp in the space provided for official use. 
9. When passing through the gate, always present your pass to the attendant so that the period of validity is visible.
10. When using your JR Pass, you must carry your passport and be prepared to present it to a station attendant or car conductor if requested.
11. Please note that JR Pass cannot be re-issued in the event that it is lost or stolen.
12. Once you have started using JR Pass, the validity period cannot be extended, nor will any refund be issued even if trains and other transportations services are suspended or delayed for any reason.

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In conclusion on whether it's cheaper and cost saving to buy and use the JR Pass or not, it really has to depend on your itinerary. If your route is within a city which only requires taking the local bus or subways, then you DO NOT need the JR Pass.

But if you travel more from one city to another city in long distance, then JR Pass might be cost saving for you. Please do research on your itinerary and search from Google Maps the cost of each destination you're visiting. 

Lastly, if you have any query, feel free to ask in the comment. I will talk about the Kansai Thru Pass in the next post.

Getting Back To Work

It's pretty scary to know how quickly time flies. It feels like it was a month ago I was just waiting for the Chinese New Year to arrive and by now, it's already the 5th day of the Lunar New Year celebration. Some of you have started going back to work yesterday and I'm getting back to work today, after four days of holiday.

So, how was your holiday? As I've mentioned in one of my old posts that my family cannot celebrate the lunar new year this year because my mother passed away recently. Therefore, this year's new year is nothing but simple and quiet for us. Nevertheless, some of my mother's older and younger sisters came over on the 3rd day of the lunar new year to have lunch with us.

All these while, whenever they come over, Mom would cook a feast for them from lunch to dinner but on that day, they cooked and brought food to my house. What a lovely gesture! If Mom could see from above or wherever she may be, I'm sure she would be happy and appreciate her sisters' visit although she's no longer here with us.

On another note, the weather during these few days is killing me! It's so freaking hot that I even sweat inside the car with the aircond turned on high. Can you imagine that? It's ridiculous! I wished to go to somewhere cold and nice next year during Chinese New Year. I can't stand it anymore. Do you feel the heat?

Anyway, here's wishing everyone HAPPY WORKING! and may you have a smooth year ahead!

What I Like & Dislike About Chinese New Year

Here's wishing all my brothers, friends, readers a very happy and prosperous new year! May this new lunar year brings you good health, good fortune, and good luck in everything you do.

Today is the 2nd day of the Chinese New Year. How was your first day of Chinese New Year? Each time this festive arrives, there are things that I like and things that I don't like about it. Here's a list of what I like and dislike about Chinese New Year.

What I Like About Chinese New Year:

• getting ang-pows. Who doesn't like receiving it? Hahaha.
• no need to go to work for at least 2-3 days according to the public holiday dates.
• it's all about food.
• smooth traffic with no congestion on the road because most of the people are out of town.
• get to eat Mandarin oranges and bak-kwa (a Chinese salty-sweet dried meat product similar to jerky.)
• no need to rush and got stuck in a massive road congestion back to hometown to have reunion dinner with family because all my family members and relatives are staying in KL.

What I Dislike About Chinese New Year:

• the hot weather. I sweat even under the fan at home.
• buying new clothes. Honestly, from young, I don't really get excited to get new clothes because old t-shirts are so comfy. Hahaha.
• have to entertain distant relatives even though you're not that close to them but you have to fake with a smile.
• cannot enjoy deep sleep at night because the firecrackers are blasting up till past midnight.\
• have to wake up very early if we have to go out for visiting relatives.
• difficult to eat outside because most of the restaurants and coffee shops are closed for at least 5 days.
• the price of food, vegetables, meat, everything is more expensive during Chinese New Year.

This year, my family cannot celebrate Chinese New Year because my mother passed away recently. It is a Chinese custom that when someone in your family passes away, the family cannot celebrate Chinese New Year as the family has to observe the mourning period for one year. This means that we cannot wear red clothes, cannot decorate the house for Chinese New Year, and cannot do visiting to other people's house. This is to avoid bringing bad luck into other people's house but they can come to your house. Apart from that, the family of the deceased cannot give out ang-pows to others. All these are the Chinese grieving etiquette.

Chinese New Year Family Reunion Dinner 2018

My family decided to have an early reunion dinner with my two paternal aunties on Monday (12 Feb 2018) at a restaurant near my place. I shall let the photos do the talking.

Shrimps with broccoli

FUN FACT: Broccoli is a very good source of dietary fiber, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin E, manganese, phosphorus, choline, vitamin B1, vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), potassium and copper. Broccoli is also a good source of vitamin B1, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, zinc, calcium, iron, niacin and selenium. 

Fish maw with leeks

FUN FACT: Do you know that Leeks are an excellent source of vitamin K. They are very good source of manganese, vitamin B6, copper, iron, folate and vitamin C. Leeks are also a good source of vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids, dietary fiber, magnesium, vitamin E, calcium and omega-3 fatty acids. 

Many Chinese people believe that drinking fish maw soup and eating fish maw will improve their skin and, for pregnant women, the skin of their babies. Furthermore, fish maw does not contain cholesterol and therefore it is a very valuable health enhancing ingredient suitable for long time consumption.

Sea cucumber with big fat juicy mushrooms and broccoli

FUN FACT: Sea cucumber is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a number of health problems, including fatigue, impotence and joint pain. Sea cucumber contains high levels of chondroitin sulfate, a major component of cartilage. ... Sea cucumber also contains natural anti-inflammatory compounds.

Steamed red tilapia fish

So, what did you have for your family reunion dinner this year? Here's wishing all my Chinese readers and friends, HAPPY FEASTING with your family!

P/S: Wanna see more food photos? FOLLOW my Instagram ID: calvinjunichiro

Think Before You Comment

I was watching a few vlogs on YouTube from this lovely British couple whom named themselves Travel Beans these few days and I was appalled by the reaction and comments by some of the viewers on one of their vlogs in which they tried eating Malaysia's local kuih-muih 

Kuih is bite-sized snack or dessert foods originating from Singapore and Malaysia. It is a fairly broad term which may include items that would be called cakes, cookies, dumplings, pudding, biscuits, or pastries in English and are usually made from rice or glutinous rice-- Wikipedia

In the vlog, the British couple tried some of the kuih which they bought inside a shopping mall and unfortunately, they didn't like some of it and even spat out one which they really couldn't eat it due to its texture and taste.

Many viewers commented by saying they were being disrespectful to the local food, and that they are being rude by spitting out the food and using the word "disgusting" in the video. Well, I can understand that it may not be a pleasant thing to watch someone spitting out the food that you like and to hear such negative reviews about your local food but in my opinion, these viewers don't really have to react in such manner by calling people rude and disrespectful.

First of all, they were just giving their true opinion on the food they tried and I can absolutely understand how hard it would be to swallow something which your tastebud finds it difficult to accept into your body. Personally, I applaud for them being honest with their reviews on the food rather than trying to sugarcoat it and give a false impression in front of the camera just for the sake of winning likes from the viewers.

Not everyone likes the same food, everyone has their personal liking, preference and each individual has his own tastebud. Some people likes spicy food, but most people cannot handle it. Some likes it salty, some likes it sweet. As a conclusion, when it comes to food and taste, it's a personal preference.

Do you have to be so harsh on foreigners who didn't like your local food? I mean, what's wrong with you people? You can't force every foreign tourist to come to your country to like all your food, right? What if the scenario is the other way round? What if you travel to another country and you didn't like the local food there and you're being called rude and disrespectful to their local food just because you didn't like it? How would you feel? Think about it.

Nevertheless, this British couple was so nice to give it another try by tasting the kuih again in another vlog, but this time buying from a famous kuih seller whom made his kuih fresh everyday after some commentators suggest that they shouldn't buy kuih from a shopping mall or shop, that they should buy from someone who makes it fresh.

This time, the couple liked most of the kuih they bought and didn't like some. Well, once again, I applaud for their willingness to try a second time even though they had a bad experience the first time. Not many people would want to try a second time if the first time was bad.

What I realised was that this couple didn't know the ingredients in each kuih and why it was in this shape, texture, and colours. Therefore, it seems a little risky for them to try something which they do not know anything about it for the very first time. If someone could explains the ingredients and how it's made for each kuih, I'm sure they would learn to appreciate it.

Have you tried something new and foreign in another country? What if no one told you what was used in the food? Would you try it?

What A "Suay" Beginning

What a way to start the new year. I got the flu bug on the last week of January with my nose blocked and phlegm that makes me cough so much. It got worse on 31st (Thaipusam) when I realised my voice was getting hoarse.

Initially, I thought it was just normal flu, so I bought the Hurix FluAway pills and it got a bit better but my voice was getting worse. I even tried taking some Chinese medicine for flu and even bought a bottle of honey to soothe my throat but nothing seems to work and I'm losing my voice.

I got no choice but to consult a doctor. I knew I made a mistake of going to this particular clinic because the last time I visited this doctor, the medicine didn't work and I have to consult my family doctor. I was taken aback at how expensive the medical bill has gotten over the years. The amount I paid was RM55. The medicine worked and I got better but unfortunately, on last Monday (12th February), I caught the flu bug again. Ugh! Not again?

This time, I quickly consult my family doctor and the bill was RM50. So, you see? I've spent hundred over for medicine right at the beginning of this new year. Betul-betul suay! (A local phrase used to express how unfortunate/unlucky one feels at something that happened)

I pray and hope I'll get better before Chinese New Year.

List Of Books That I Love

1. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
2. A Thousand Splendid Suns (Khaled Hosseini)
3. My Sister's Keeper (Jodi Picoult)
4. House Rules (Jodi Picoult)
5. Perfect Match (Jodi Picoult)
6. The Storyteller (Jodi Picoult)
7. I Know This Much Is True (Wally Lamb)
8. Escape from China (Zhang BoLi) NF
9. Colors of the Mountain (Da Chen) NF
10. Sounds of the River (Da Chen) NF
11. Falling Leaves (Adeline Yen Mah) NF
12. The Innocent Man (John Grisham) NF
13. Half of a Yellow Sun (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)
14. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
15. Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
16. A Boy Called "It" (Dave Pelzer) NF
17. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Mark Haddon)
18. The Other Hand (Chris Cleaves)
19. The Angel's Game (Carlos Ruiz Zafón)
20. The Shadow of the Wind (Carlos Ruiz Zafón)
21. The Hunger Games trilogy (Suzanne Collins)

NF = Non-fiction

What Is Wrong With Fresh Graduates In This Century?

I have friends who have hired interns to work in their company and the most common complaint I heard from them is about all the problems these interns are creating in the workplace. Below is a list of scenarios fresh graduates/interns are behaving these days.

1. Didn't show up for work without informing anyone and the best part is, they can come as usual the next day like nothing happened. As if you didn't notice of their absence yesterday.
2. When you ask why they were absent, all kinds of excuses will be given: grandmother passed away, stomachache, diarrhoea, car broken down, cat died, dog died, etc.
3. Cannot take criticism. When you try to correct them or tell them to do things the way you want, they show you the black face as if you're the wrong one and they are right.
4. Very dedicated to their phones, checking Facebook, scrolling Instagram, watching YouTube during working hours.
5. When you ask if they understood what you taught them, they say "yes", but then they do their way which is not only stalling the time but most of the work done is not up to a decent pass.
6. If they don't understand something, or don't know how to do, they won't ask for help. They will try to figure out a way for the sake of finishing the work regardless of whether it's right or wrong. As long as it's done.
7. Once they are done with the job, they won't ask the boss is there anything else to do. No, they will just sit there, play with their phones to pass time.
8. And they have the nerves to say they are feeling bored, got nothing to do, nothing to learn in this company, feel like quiting.
9. Some didn't even bring their paper qualifications (certificates, degree) during interview.
10. Some went for interview with their mother. Good lord! How old are you? First day at kindergarten?

What other scenarios have you experienced with intern in your company? Leave your stories in the comment below.

In Loving Memory Of My Mother

Dear Mommy,

There are no words to tell you what losing you meant to me. No words could take away the sorrow and the pain when I saw your petite body lying motionless on the cold hospital bed. That moment will forever be etched deeply in my mind.

You were the first one who held my little hands, whom guided me, taught me all that you knew about life, but I never thought that I would be holding your cold hands before I could say goodbye to you. I tried to squeeze so hard but you gave no response to me. I called out so loudly to you that my voice and cries were echoing the whole hospital ward which caught the attention of every other patient and their family members.

Though there were so many other people in the room, but at that moment, the whole place seems empty with only you and me. All I could see was your face with your eyes closed. When the doctors were trying to resuscitate you, I was praying so hard to Buddha not to take you away from us. I was begging so hard for you to stay.

I blame myself with regrets for not thanking you enough when you're still around. You've given me all that you could afford and I am ashamed I may not have given you the best that you deserved. I know you have sacrificed your whole life to this family and I truly deeply appreciate all that you've done for us.

Things I hold dearest to my heart is the hardest to say but I hope you knew how much I love you, and I will always love you until my last breath. You're the best mom I could ever asked for. Therefore, it was excruciating painful to see you leave too soon but I am sure God loves you more to stop your sufferings from this world.

I pray that you would be in heaven living happily ever after. Don't worry about us. We are all big enough and independent to take care of ourselves. It is time for you to rest, Mom. I'm so sorry that I could not take care of you anymore. Take care, Mom. You will always be remembered.

Your loving son,
Calvin


P/S: My mother passed away on 15th October 2017, Sunday.

2017 in Review

1 Feb: bought a large red carpet (RM99) and a water feature fountain (RM179) for the living room.

6 Feb: bought two side tables for my bed (RM350)

17 -- 24 Feb: renovation of the ceiling in my room.

25 Feb: Finally it's done, cleaned up my room and got to sleep back in my own room.

28 Mar: found out that my close friend of many years passed away two weeks ago.

7 Apr: the catering company came to set up the canopy, tables and chairs for the party tomorrow night.

8 Apr: my niece's 1st birthday party.

19 Apr: Mom slipped and fell with both knees on the ground after losing balance when she tried to walk out from the entrance door. She knocked her head on the grill door before falling down.

1 Jun: Mom fell down in the living room while trying to step on a centipede.

25 Jun: bought a 75L Blue Mountain backpack at 50% discount. Original price: RM449. Paid RM224.50

17 Sept: My bestie Jo gave me a L'Occitane gift box for my birthday and a slice of cake from Lavender.

1 Oct: bought a new pair of jeans at Marks & Spencer in the Gardens Mall.

4 Oct: A friend gave me the Rituals brand of body moisturizer and deodorant spray for my birthday.

10 Oct: Mom's leg got so swollen and painful that she couldn't sleep the whole night. Got admitted to the hospital.

13 Oct: doctor advised us to sign a consent form for the aspiration surgery to drain out fluid from my mom's knee.

14 Oct: Mom fell unconscious, need another surgery immediately to clean out as much pus as possible before the bacteria spreads the whole body.

15 Oct: Mom passed away at 8:35pm. She didn't wake up after the operation. Her heart was not functioning on its own, depending on the machine to pump oxygen into her lungs. Cause of death: Severe acidosis leading to esrf.

16 -- 17 Oct: two nights of the funeral wake with family, relatives, and close friends came to pay the last respect.

18 Oct: cremation of the body. This day coincides with Deepavali.

19 Oct: went back to the crematorium to pick up my mom's bones to be put into an urn.

20 Oct: the day the soul of the deceased returns to the home to see their family members for the last time.

19 Nov: treated my family a buffet dinner at Le Meridien KL.

2 Dec: tried the crabs at the Crab Generation restaurant in Ampang Waterfront.

8 Dec: went to Big Bad Wolf Book Sale and spent RM286 for 28 books.

13 Dec: went to UTC to collect my new IC.

27 Dec: Met up with Jo and Mark and spent the whole day shopping and eating with them, and later went to visit my god-brother Kenny and Alex at their pastry shop and went for supper together. Kenny gave me a Snoppy musical box which is made of wood as my birthday gift. I love it so much!

Random Fun Questions Challenge

1. What’s something you always wanted to do as a child but never got to do it?

Come to think of it, my childhood was pretty normal and happy. I can't think of what I wanted to do back then cuz you're only a child, what do you know back then?

2. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?

Natto, the Japanese fermented beans which is super slimy and stinky but I love it.

3. What famous artist, dead or alive, would you want to paint your portrait?

Picasso. I would love to see how crazy I look through his hands and mind.

4. What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever cried about?

I missed the history paper during a school mid-term exam because I got up late after studying the previous night until 3:00AM. When I look at the clock, I just cried a bucket on my bed because I've studied so hard for it.

5. If you could rid the world of one disease what would it be?

That's hard! I can't pick one.

6. What board game do you hate the most?

I don't think I hate any board game in particular. In fact, I love board games more than games you play on your smartphone. 

7. What’s the worst thing you ever did as a child and what was your punishment?

I played with matches and candle and my Mom found out that I was lighting up candle in the bedroom under the bed. She scolded me and punished me by putting my fingers over the candle. She wants me to feel that it's hot and dangerous to play with fire.

8. What is one thing you refuse to share?

Personal hygiene items such as toothbrush, nail clippers, comb, underwear.

9. What are two things you would do if you woke up to find yourself completely invisible?

Please jump to my answer in question no.12

10. If you were offered the position of mayor of your city, would you take it?

Nope. Too much responsibilities.

11. Have you ever pooped your pants? (not including when you were a baby)

Yes. I was having stomachache and diarrhoea that day when I was in a supermarket. I quickly ran to the toilet to clean up. Well, nothing to be embarrassed about. Shits happened (No pun intended).

12. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

Be invisible, so that I could go around seeing the true nature of the people around me.

13. If you could be on the cover of any magazine which one would you choose?

Forbes.

14. What song would you sing for your American Idol audition?

The aria by Queen of the Night in Mozart's opera The Magic Flute. Oh wait! You mean, for real? Well, I don't I will even go for any singing audition cuz I know I don't have a good vocal range to sing.

15. What is the funniest movie you have ever seen?

White Chicks. I can watch over and over again.

16. If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would it be and why?

Queen Elizabeth I. It would be interesting to feel the power and intelligence of a great ruler.

17. Which Disney princess do you find to be the most attractive?

Cinderella because she's humble, down to earth, honest, hard-working.

18. What country would you never want to visit?

I don't want to offend people from that country so I better not answer this one. Hahaha.

19. What kind of phone was your first cell phone?

Nokia. I've forgotten the model.

20. What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done in a hotel room?

I don't spend much time inside the hotel room because I usually go out most of the time to explore the city visiting musuems, old palaces, castles. I only go back to the hotel room to shower, rest, and sleep at night.

21. Which would be harder for you to give up: coffee or alcohol?

Non, because I drink tea more than coffee and alcohol.

22. If you could start a collection of one kind of item, what would it be?

I would like to collect every currency of every country in the world.

23. Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

Joshua Bell, the American classical violinist.

24. How many slices of pizza are you capable of eating in one sitting?

Four.

25. If you could bring one fictional character to life, who would it be?

Superman.

26.  If you inherited or won a million dollars, what’s the very first thing you would do with the money?

Buy properties, go travel with my family members, invest some, save some.

27. What two languages would you like to be fluent in?

Japanese and German.

28. What is one thing women do that grosses you out?

Smoking and drinking.

29. And men?

Same. Smoking.

30. What is the last book you read?

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult.

31. Describe your perfect sandwich.

It must have eggs, lettuce, and cheese with whole grain bread. Ham would be a nice additional.

32. If you could break any world record which one would it be?

A record for eating the same food every single day for a year.

33. If you could master one musical instrument, what would it be?

Violin.

34. What’s your least favourite fast food restaurant?

McDonald's.

35. Have you ever been drunk in public?

No.

36. What bad habit do you have that you know you need to break, but don’t really want to?

I know that sleeping late is a bad habit that I want to break by sleeping early but I just love the peaceful quiet night.

37. If you were president for the day, what one thing would you change about the country?

No more bribery.

38. How would you describe yourself in three words?

Hardworking, Critical, Perfectionist.

39.  If money were no object, where in the world would you choose to live?

Germany or Japan.

40. If you inherited a single room off-the-grid cabin in the woods, would you be excited or disappointed?

Excited for sure.

41. If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why?

Hmmm... That's hard to choose because you get to experience and learn something different at different age. If I put happiness and a carefree life as priority, I would want to stay at the age of 5 or maybe 6. LOL. No need to work, no bills to pay, no homework, no housework.

42. If you could go back in time and change history, what would you change?

To stop all the wars around the world.

43. What is something you are currently obsessed with?

Hong Kong TVB drama series.

44. Who is your favourite stand-up comedian?

Trevor Noah.

45. What phobias have you overcome in your lifetime?

I used to get frightened of cockroach, spider, but not anymore.

The Caring Neighbours

This event happened on Sunday, 4th February 2018.

I was not feeling well and the condition of the cold I have still persists and it's getting worse with so much phelgm building up through the nights. I have tried taking the Hurix Fluaway pills and also Kam Mou Ling pills from a Chinese pharmacy but none is working. In my past experience, these pills are enough to get me back to normal but this time, I suspect the bacteria is much stronger. The worst part was I have lost my voice.

Furthermore, the weather for the past few weeks has been crazy with rain almost everyday or it would be so hot all of a sudden, making many people falling ill. As my throat is not feeling good, I know I have to consult a doctor for some antibiotics.

Medical bill from consultation and medicine is not cheap nowadays. My bill came up to RM55. I still remember when I only pay for RM20-30 few years back. Well, everything is on the rise except our pay. LOL

After coming back from the clinic, I took the medicine and decided to take a nap at home. At around 12 something in the afternoon, I heard my neighbour talking very loudly on the phone. I think she's standing in her car porch which is near my windows. I could hear her saying that her husband saw a man (another neighbour from another house) sleeping inside the car for so many hours.

The neighbour saw this man lying down at the driver's seat in the car with the engine still running and all the windows up. He tried knocking and yelling for the man to wake up but there was no response. The man was seen panting in an unsteady rhythm as if having a heart attack. Without hesitating, they made a call to ask for an ambulance to come.

The police arrived first and they managed to open the car but the man seems unconscious as no one could wake him up. The ambulance arrived shortly after and they took the man to the hospital. I just pray and hope that he's well.

My Life Goals

Most of you might call this a bucket list but I like to name it as life goals and here is a list of things I have achieved and yet to achieve.

• Own a house ✓
• Complete my postgraduate ✓
• Complete the course of Script Writing for TV & Radio Drama ✓
• Perform on stage ✓
• Being an emcee in a Chinese wedding banquet ✓
• Travel alone ✓
• Visit Singapore ✓
• Visit India (Mumbai, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Varanasi, Lucknow, Kushinagar, Kapilvastu) ✓
• Visit Nepal (Lumbini) ✓
• Visit Japan (Kyoto, Nara, Uji, Osaka) ✓
• Visit Germany (Berlin, Dresden, Munich) ✓
• Visit Austria (Vienna) ✓
• Visit Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome, Milan) ✓
• Visit Vatican City ✓
• Visit Penang ✓
• Visit Melaka ✓
• Visit France (Paris) ✓
• Visit Belgium (Brussels) ✓
• Visit Netherlands (Amsterdam) ✓
• Visit Taiwan (Taipei) ✓
• Visit the theme park in Genting Highlands ✓
• Eat sushi, udon, tonkatsu, matcha ice cream in Japan ✓
• Eat pizza, pasta and cappuccino in Italy ✓
• Eat char kway teow, hokkien mee, rojak, desserts in Penang ✓
• Attend a classical concert ✓
• Attend a full opera performance
• Attend a ballet performance
• Visit Denmark (Copenhagen)
• Visit Hungary (Budapest)
• Visit Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg)
• Visit Poland (Warsaw, Krakow)
• Visit Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Seville)
• Visit Vietnam
• Finish reading all the books I bought
• Finish reading the complete works of Shakespeare (37 plays, 154 sonnets)
• Be my own boss and work for myself

Now that you know about mine, what's your life goals? No matter what setbacks or obstacles you face, change the plan, change the method, don't change the goal.

A Relaxing Monday

Since it's my day off today, (Yay! No Monday blues for me!), I decided to go and get a haircut as my hair is getting too long and thick that it's making me sweating even sleeping at night. After lunch, I went to a nearby Indian barber shop to get a haircut which costs only RM10. 

Once the haircut is done, I walked around Aeon supermarket to get something to eat for tea break and got this sushi roll with eight giant rolls for RM8.80. I brewed a cup of Jasmine Green Tea from the Ahmad Tea London company. I like their green tea and decided to give this Jasmine green tea a try and I love it. The jasmine is so fragrant.

100 Random Facts About Me

1. I was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2. I'm a postgraduate in (a field I would like to keep it private online)
3. My Sun sign is Virgo.
4. My Moon sign is Leo.
5. Oh yes, I believe in zodiac astrology and I love reading about each zodiac sign.
6. I'm the eldest in the family.
7. I am single and...
8. I don't intend to get married.
9. I love kids but do not want my own.
10. I appear cool and calm on the outside but inside a Virgo's mind, it's a mad world racing every thought possible.
11. I can't cook. Well, only simple pasta with the sauce from a can, instant noodles, fried egg, simple sandwich... that's about it.
12. I can't swim. My mother won't let me learn because she had a very bad experience and was traumatised from that episode.
13. I love to travel.
14. I love to enjoy good food. Not necessarily expensive or posh restaurant, as long as the food is good and warms my heart and soul.
15. My comfort food are spaghetti aglio olio, fettuccine carbonara or aglio olio, mac and cheese, pizzas, sushi, sashimi, unagi, cold soba, chocolate cake, cheese cake, vanilla ice cream.
16. The first country I visited was Singapore.
17. The first country I travelled on my own was during my first Europe trip in 2015 which covers 8 cities in 4 countries (Germany: Berlin, Munich, Dresden; Austria: Vienna; Italy: Venice, Florence, Rome; and Vatican City).
18. I went to Japan in 2016 visiting Kyoto, Nara, Uji, Osaka.
19. I made a vow to myself to travel to at least one place every year but I broke that vow last year as I didn't go anymore in 2017.
20. Too much has happened last year but the saddest memory was when I lost my mother in October 15th due to severe acidosis leading to esrf (end-stage renal failure). She was 67 with complications from diabetes, weak heart, hypertension.
21. I love dogs more than cats. I have two at home and they're brothers from the same mother.
22. I used to have goldfish when I was very young but because I don't know how to take care of them, they all died. I was so sad.
23. I have no piercing on my body.
24. No tattoo.
25. I don't wear any body accessories such as necklace, watch, wristband.
26. I don't smoke and I have never tried even once.
27. I don't drink beer. Wine is fine.
28. I don't use Apple products (iPhone, Macbook, etc.)
29. I'm an Android user.
30. My current phone is Huawei Ascend G7.
31. Food I don't eat: anchovies, cauliflower, beef, salted fish, salted egg, the yellow noodles on its own.
32. I love stinky food such as the durian, stinky tofu, petai, natto, and the preserved century egg.
33. I don't eat junk food such as chips, french fries.
34. I have stopped eating McDonald's for so many years because the price has increased tremedously and the size of the burger is shrinking greatly.
35. I'm a Buddhist. (Don't get confused with Taoism)
36. I lost my mother in October 15th, 2017 due to severe acidosis leading to esrf (end-stage renal failure).
37. When I travel, I love to see the architecture of old palaces, castles, visit the art and history museums, walk around old town with cobbled stones road and enjoying a meal in a small cafe by the roadside.
38. I drink tea a lot and I must have a cup or two every single day.
39. My favourite tea includes Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Chamomile, Japanese Green Tea, and Taiwan's Tie Guan Yin Chinese tea.
40. I have learned and able to recite by heart The Great Compassion Mantra and the Heart Sutra.
41. I can speak four languages fluently; Mandarin, Cantonese, English, and Malay.
42. I am self-learning German, Japanese, and French languages.
43. My paternal family is from the Hokkien clan but I cannot speak the dialect because no one in the family speaks to me in Hokkien. My mother tongue was Mandarin.
44. I'm a huge Classical music lover.
45. My favourite Classical composers are Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich.
46. My favourite classic literature authors are Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Emily Bronte.
47. I have never read any Harry Potter book but I have watched some of the movie adaptations.
48. I love to read the history of England during the Tudor dynasty and the life of Queen Elizabeth I.
49. I also love to read about the lives of the famous emperors of China.
50. During my secondary school years, my favourite subjects are Maths, Science, History, and languages.
51. Did I mention that I love chocolates? Chocolate cakes, hot chocolate, and anything that's made with chocolate. Mmm... yummy!
52. Besides chocolates, I love cheese!
53. I love to watch Hong Kong TVB drama series.
54. I'm a night owl, whom like to stay up late at night either doing some reading or watching TVB drama series.
55. My favourite childhood cartoons are Care Bears, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, Smurf, Tom & Jerry, Winnie the Pooh.
56. The Sound of Music is my all-time favourite musical movie. I love every single song in it.
57. I prefer to read and write the British English spelling than the American English. Words like "color", "neighbor", "favorite" irritates me! Ugh! Put back that "U".
58. I'm a person who can forgive but will never forget if a friend cheated, betrayed, lied to me, talked or spread false rumours about me behind my back.
59. I have this instinct of knowing if someone is using me or betraying me but I won't expose that person because I want to see how far and how long this person wants to cheat me and when it comes to a point when I cannot take it anymore, then that's it. I will make sure this person doesn't exist anymore in my life ever again.
60. I don't get angry easily but when I do, you better run for your life because once I explode, it's gonna be real ugly and there's no turning back.
61. I am an ISTJ-A type of pesonality. (ISTJ is an acronym used to describe one of the 16 personality types created by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers. It stands for Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging.) Do you know your personality type?
62. My favourite authors are Robert Ludlum, John Grisham, Dan Brown, Tami Hoag, Da Chen, Jonathan Kellermann, Jodi Picoult, Khaled Hosseini, Stephen King.
63. I like to take trains.
64. If I wasn't in the field I'm working in now, I will most probably be studying Accountancy.
65. My childhood ambition was to become a lawyer.
66. My dream job is to become an author.
67. I suspect I have a mild OCD because I wash my hands more often than it's necessary.
68. My favourite seasons are Spring and Autumn.
69. I like to watch horror movies especially those from Thailand, Japan, and Korea.
70. I quit violin lessons after a year plus because my left hand felt very painful whenever I hold the violin for long due to an old injury that happened when I was a child.
71. My favourite ice cream flavour is vanilla.
72. I no longer use Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest.
73. The only social media app I still use are Facebook and Instagram, both which I'm starting to feel bored too. LOL. Maybe it's time to quit the virtual world once and for all.
74. I cannot stand poor customer service in any restaurant.
75. My fashion style is casual, simple, and must be comfortable so it's a T-shirt with jeans or shorts.
76. I spend more on books, music CDs, and food than on clothes and shoes.
77. My typical breakfast is either a packet of nasi lemak or just thosai with a cup of teh tarik.
78. Of all the festive holidays, I like Christmas because I love looking at Christmas tree being light-up and decorated with beautiful ornaments.
79. My favourite actresses are Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Cate Blanchett.
80. I will never support or attend any circus because I don't like to watch animals being trained so harshly and being caged on the expense of human's entertainment.
81. I wish to attend the opening ceremony of an Olympic, but then I don't like crowded places.
82. I love buying notebooks but I have more than I could ever finish using them.
83. I have never visited any Disneyland before.
84. I love to admire paintings but I have no talent in drawing.
85. My favourite artists are Monet, Michaelangelo, Van Gogh, Manet, Cezanne, Renoir, Rembrandt, Picasso, Delacroix.
86. My favourite board games are chess, scrabble, monopoly.
87. I don't play computer games.
88. I used to be addicted to Sudoku.
89. I bought a rubik's cube but I believe I will never be able to solve it in this life. LOL
90. I was once being casted for a role in a local TV short film but I was picked because I didn't have that "naughty school boy" look.
91. I have piles of music CDs which I have outgrown listening to them since I was a teenager and now I don't know what to do with it. Any idea? Would anyone wants if I sell it as secondhand?
92. Growing up, my late paternal grandmother was very fond of me because I am the first grandson in the family and inevitably, she had high hopes for me to become either a doctor or a lawyer. (Well, typical Asian family scene.)
93. I can never be a doctor because I cannot stand seeing someone else in pain and that makes me go weak and helpless. I salute to all doctors and everyone in medical field out there for their bravery, passion, and knowledge!
94. I don't know why but I do not like to use black ink pen to write. Maybe I was so used to write in blue ink pen since secondary school but now, I love those black ink gel pen. It looks so neat and cool. Hahaha!
95. I will never go to a mall unless I have something to buy or if my friends ask me out for shopping and dinner, or movie night out.
96. Sunflower is my favourite flower because it looks happy, bright, cheerful, full of hopes.
97. I once received a stalk of sunflower from my date on our first date because he found out that I love sunflowers. Aww... ain't he sweet and thoughtful?
98. I used to collect stamps when I was younger and I still have those stamps albums tucked somewhere in my room. This hobby died when the Internet took over and everyone is using email and now with WhatsApp and other communication tools, who writes letter anymore?
99. This is not my first blog. I used to blog under another blog name for more than 10 years but I decided to delete the entire blog because I believe that I have nothing more to write about that particular subject.
100. Lastly, I have another blog on German language which I want to write it down for my own reference and to share with anyone who's interested in learning the language. CLICK HERE to go to my German language blog.

*Phew! There you go... 100 facts all done! Woohoo! Writing this is much more difficult than I thought.