Tim's world

Hulu Selangor By election

2010-04-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

By elections usually leave me a little bit restless...but the Hulu Selangor by election is one that is really breath taking for me. Why? For one thing, PR won by a razor thin margin. Thus, this by election is a real test of acceptance of the opposition-run Selangor state, although this is a parliamentary by election.
But as always, whoever wins, will this person stay on connected with the grassroots....or just another one of those politicians?

steamed fish head

2010-03-25T05:59:00.000-07:00

at a food court with my dad. Ordered steamed fish head. this steamed fish head...i loved it, especially the fat in the head. Now i wonder...is this fat really good as many people have been claiming? The world is full of assertions and claims, it is wise to filter out, and be clever not to trust too much in anything.....but what the heck...i still love my fish head...

Chicken Pox

2010-03-03T03:59:00.000-08:00

Hai...had chicken pox the past few days. The fever i had in the beginning was really high and terrible. Times such as this help me to appreciate the blessing of good health that God has given to us. Thankfully, the pox has dried. Took this medicine that i had to take five times a day--acyclovir. Will go back to work coming Monday, after almost two weeks of sick leave...how boring...just stay at home email, surft net, watch tv, etc.

street magicians

2010-02-11T07:41:00.000-08:00

Watching over AXN channel, a street magic show by Cyril. Hmmmm....sometimes i think i would like to be one too....perhaps may be more interesting than just giving a lecture in class......hhahahhaha...but i am sure street magic is real, hard work...

2010-01-17T19:00:00.001-08:00

Support Doctors without borders. Go to www.doctorswithoutborders.org and send in your donations via online credit card transaction. Donations helps doctors to provide emergency help, such as for Haiti.

of 'ALLAH' and "Tuhan"

2010-01-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot of issues, debates, arguments, demonstrations, etc. on this issue. As an academic, let me give my two cents worth from my perspective:

(i) linguistically, a word is a word. Its referent may be known by many symbols--Allah, tuhan, God, etc. etc.
(ii) however, we have to look at the pragmatics of this situation. If Muslims want to use Allah exclusively for their religion, what is wrong with that? Why should catholics use "allah" when they could use "tuhan". Why should the Christian God be known as "Allah" ?

Frankly, let the muslims use "Allah" and let the christians use "Tuhan".

But i think the real issue is also the banning of bibles from indonesia, because they use the word Allah.

Ahhh...so there lies the real problem isn't it...the govt should take pro-active steps to allow publications of bibles, etc. in the Malay language (which is the lingua franca of many of our Sabahans and Sarawakians) and allow the church to publish these materials locally.

It is no problem for the church to use the word "Tuhan" to replace "Allah". In my opinion, it is easy for the catholic church to change the word through its mass media--the mass, catechism, prayer groups, etc.

But the church has to be given the freedom to publish its own reading materials locally.

disappointing trip

2009-12-26T08:01:00.000-08:00

tomorrow going back to KL, after four days in vietnam. Rather disappointing trip for me. Ho ChiMinh city is crowded,dirty and noisy. nothing much to see here. Went for mekong river cruise and it was disappointing as well. Nothing new to see there. Took about two hours plus to go there from the city, and two hours back, duh...and saw nothing.

Food wise, another disappointment. The only good things here are the beef noodles and the vietnamese spring rolls (the ones with pork fillings inside). Don't take the ones where you roll by yourselves (the ones served with pork or shrimp and various kinds of veggies/herbs). It was horrible...
So, take the ones that are deep fried. NOw, those are lovely. Will be back to be home tomorrow....as the proverb goes, "east or west, home is best"

2009-12-24T18:18:00.000-08:00

IN HO chinh Minh city, vietnam right now. arrived yesterday afternoon. wow, the city has lots and lots and lots of motorbikes. like no man's land. crossing the roads is such a terrifying experience. have to be careful. hope don't get killed here....had vietnamese beef noodles. good. the hotel is good, with good service. friendly staff.

Penang food not so good any more

2009-12-06T05:16:00.000-08:00

People used to praise Penang food but i think it has been overated nowadays. Was in penang for four days and ate penang food in four different places. First night was in Feringghi food court. Ordered cantonese fried and hokkien fried noodles. Below average. Next night was in Northam Beach cafe. Had this french crepe (above average), tom yam yong tau fu (average), lam mee (horrible). then was in Tg. Tokong food court. Ordered curry mee (okay). Next day was in New World--curry mee (not as good ad the one in tg tokong, soup noodle (horrible) and tom yam fried rice (average). Conclusion: either we went to the wrong places or the good penang hawker owners have migrated to KL as I can get better food there...:-))

Time time time...why are thou so fast?

2009-11-22T01:10:00.000-08:00

It is almost the end of the year, and as i reflect on the past eleven months, i get anxious...i have done quite a lot on other things, but not much progress in my research. Now, this is getting me anxious...i have to give myself two weeks now to get something done, a paper or something like that...but time is against me...:-(

A sad day

2009-11-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday four UTAR students went swimming in a waterfall in Kampar. Three of them drowned. One of them, a girl, was a student in my faculty--Yew Shy Gin from the chinese studies dept. May their souls rest in peace. I am told, another boy, James was a very active student during his foundation days in UTAR.....

life is short, life is precious,
live life with care
respect it,
don't take it for granted,
...

Mid-autumn festival

2009-10-04T08:31:00.000-07:00

A friend and his residents' committee organized a mooncake festival. He invited me. there were the usual speeches, and there was this walk around the field with children taking along their lanterns. Reminds me of my kiddy years when I was holding the lantern and walked in the area around my house in PJ. Remember my sis and mum were with me....ah....those were the years...something to cherish, but never to lived again as we pass through this world but once...now I am forty five, going to forty six....live every day to its best, cherish every moment, for we pass through this world but once....

Is life just like this?

2009-09-14T08:26:00.000-07:00

hai...is there all to life...eat, sleep, work, work work work....hhahahaha....am working on my research papers now, since it is exam week and finish my lectures...but still my mind not in full gear...as the chinese say...must "kar yau" (add oil) so that there is more energy to do the things I want to do...and i really want to come up with papers for publication....hai.....

accidents, accidents

2009-08-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

was visiting my dad at the nursing home, and by chance saw a short news clip about some nasty accident in dunno-where, but definately in Malaysia cos the traffic policeman i saw in the news clip is Malaysian...now as I am at home and thinking about this.....every time when there is a long festive holiday (and it is a holiday now cos of national day), some people will die because of nasty accidents. And the cause of these accidents?----inconsiderate drivers...once along the Gopeng-Ipoh trunk road, I saw a lorry overtaking a few cars (and it was a double line on the road), narrowly missed an oncoming car which swerved to the side of the road...sigh....it is the evil that other people do that causes the suffering of another...

In Kuantan

2009-08-02T03:35:00.000-07:00

Nothing much interesting here in Kuantan. Holed up in hotel for past two/three days for meetings. Now meeting over, am in another hotel in Kuantan (Grand Continental). Still in hotel...hahahah...need to finish marking my test papers, prepare my lecture notes....need to relax....long overdue holiday...but am looking forward to my overseas holiday in Taiwan in October (will have to spend time doing my paper for submission if I want to go)...going there to present a paper in a conference. Will have to leave it to Ethen to prepare the itenarary.
Yesterday, had good dinner in Pak Su, at Beserah...and surprise surprise...celebrated also Dr. Basil and Elaine's fortieth wedding anniversary...

teaching aids such as linguaphone

2009-07-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

Today's Star online reports that DPM suggests using more teaching aids such as linguaphone to help students improve their English. Pro and Con in using linguaphone. For language teachers, they are well aware of the methods (and i am using this word as an education jargon), and their plus and minus points. Personally, linguaphone has its advantages, but its main disadvantages is the cost. The govt. will have to spend thousands and millions of ringgit to place these sets into schools, and in time, they will become white elephants. Besides, one set, for how many students? Meaning, how many students can use the linguaphone set at any one time? Use the tape recorder and play the recording for the whole class????--then what is the point of having the teacher? In addition, which English will be taught via linguaphone? Who is the model? Hmmm...not for it, ultimately...

2009-07-18T20:24:00.000-07:00

Watching a variety show...there is this young man from Taiwan who is quite impressive with his tricks. Hmmm...i guess magic is one thing that i would like to learn...but they are all expensive (to learn the tricks are expensive)....ah well...no pain, no gain...I have tried once, incorporating magic tricks into the English lesson. Quite good. especiallly the mathematical tricks.

2009-07-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

hai...have a lot of work but mind very blank now...mind wants to relax and surf net...hai..must force it to do some work...documentation to do...read news about an aide to the Selangor exco, who fell to his death...hai...dun want to say too much...but politics sure is dirty...assuming there is foul play: suicide, murder? assuming no foul play: sleep walking, slip and fell? dunno lah....politics sure is a dirty game...I shall stick to be an academic...

The future of English in malaysian schools

2009-07-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

The forum on the future of English in Malaysian schools gave me two insights--one, irregardless of what happens, what policies may be changed, what decisions have been made, i still hold that responsibility to be an English educator and make that difference to the people, and students who come into contact with me. Two, the forum attracted parents as well, and it was good to see this healthy state of concern among parents. I hope there will be more expressions of such concern by parents, educators, etc.

A visit to the Pink Triangle

2009-06-29T02:45:00.000-07:00

Went to visit the Pink Triangle Foundation (PTF) in KL. I always thought it was a 'gay' orgnization. Not really, yes, they do work for the gay community (HIV+, educating on safe sex awareness, etc) but the acting executive director told me that actually seventy to eighty percent of their work is on the drug addicts, mak nyah,..generally the marginalized...the community of people forsaken by their parents, village, etc. People who are drug addicts and who have no hope in life....
What good work they are doing...never mind about the morality of it all (I guess some people would brand these as 'sinners', 'low-educated' etc), but I am greatly impressed with the work that is being done by Pink Triangle Foundation. Keep it up you guys in PTF. By the way, they are looking for funds. So if anyone dunno what to do with their spare cash....give a thought (and your money) to PTF.

healthy living

2009-06-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

been eating less rice lately, more intake of vegetables. Boiling red beans now. I was told red beans is good for liver and blood. Had black beans soup for dinner. Was told it is good for liver too..hahhhah...dunno how true these are, whatever the case, i like red beans anyway....

Fantastic MELTA conference

2009-06-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

It was a fantastic MELTA conference at JB last week. As usual, was in the organizing committee and lots of "bonding" and "fireworks"--missing books (found later), rubbed shoulders and trampled toes (figuratively speaking), etc...but it went well. Lots of participants, more than we anticipated; I guess, the royal presence made an impact, plus our innovative campaigns (MELT-A-HEART)...well done Jimmy,...hmmm.....but what a week...really busy, and will need a good holiday lah....

Hot as...

2009-06-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

In Ipoh house now. wah...so hot as an oven. my room is extremely hot. Wonder how the people in Ipoh can tahan...heehhhhe...and work...aiyah....so busy busy busy....have not even progressed in my documentation for new courses...haiyah...sure die lor...

Blood test

2009-05-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

Went for a blood test the other day. Generally, a healthy guy, but high cholesterol lah (i hope i spelled that right...) Oh well, more veggies, exercise, less food (less eating), cut down on oil, all the usual healthy steps stuff, which we generally do not follow until something jolts us to do it.....ah....humans....do we ever learn?

perak state assembly

2009-05-07T00:28:00.000-07:00

hahha...it is 'fun' reading all these happenings at the state assembly of perak in thestar.com and malaysiakini.com...it has been a while that Malaysian politics has not any 'exciting' things happening...oh well...as long as i still have my house and food to eat...what they do in the state assembly is their business...for me to see their "sandiwara" lah...

Twitter

2009-05-04T17:07:00.001-07:00

Am now on twitter....you can twitter me at 'timtehkl'....
haiyah...ate some petai yesterday...well, not 'some' but quite a bit, and having sore throat now in the morning...hahahahha...that should serve me right for being such a pig for petai...:-)))...LOL...

Fraser's Hill

2009-05-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

The other day, went to Fraser's Hill with my friend, Ethen. Went to this restaurant, Smokehouse. Good ambience, homey decorations. I ordered dory fish, Ethen ordered chicken. The chicken was okay, not fantastic though, but my dory fish was superb. we also had soup. The soup was good, can't remember what i ordered though. So for those who want to go to Fraser's Hill, drop by Smokehouse. A bit pricey, but not too pricey. Price just right for a holiday. Order the dory fish.

Exam time

2009-05-01T20:42:00.000-07:00

It is the exam now, and am busy marking my papers. Thankfully, i have finished marking one paper. Another paper just finished today, but thankfully too, only 35 students for this. should be fast and easy to mark lah....hehehehhehe....

Had a funny dream yesterday...dreamt that i had the power to curse people and make them sick...hahahhahah...another friend of mine, dreamnt that his dog ran away (dreamt it twice actually)...haiyah...if the dog ran away, all hell will be loose cos my friend loves the dog very much (very expensive lor...about two thousand ringgit)....

haiyah....

2009-04-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

31 March 2009....another unfortunate incident. Someone hit my car from behind near KLCC....haiyah...nothing serious for me, but it means another round of inconvenience--will have to send to the workshop next week...so another week no car...haiyah...this is my second accident in this three months since Jan 2009...haiyah.....

Been another long time...and good news

2009-03-27T06:54:00.000-07:00

Well...it has been a very very long time since the last time i updated my blog...been very very very busy with admin work, teaching, marking of papers, new house (thank you Ethen for your help in cleaning up the house for me)...ah welll....good news...my first application for an external research grant is successful...i got four hundred thousand yen from the Sumitomo Foundation for research on Japanese lit in English (about fifteen thousand ringgit malaysia)...this should be a good encouragement for me to look for more grants....thanks edwin for being my co-researcher and for your support all these years....

another month has passed

2009-02-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

wah...another month has passed, and now in the middle of feb already...wah...so fast...each day that passes is a day nearer to our graves....LOL....

wah...yesterday went to workshop to look at my car...looks like i can get my car in about a week...yippppeeee.....have been borrowing my friend's car...very inconvenient for him lor.....thanks anyway Ethen...i owe you a lot for helping me out in this 'crisis'...
oh welll....will just have to be more careful when driving the next time.

what a day

2009-01-16T07:39:00.002-08:00

haiyah...what a day....accident today...i banged someone's else's car...so will be in workshop probably for about a month...haiyah...like a crippled now...and posted to kampar some more, house not ready also...hmmmm....no problem....cos all problems have their solutions...trust in God....

what a day

2009-01-16T07:39:00.001-08:00

been a long time

2009-01-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

been some time since i updated my blog. since the bkt antarabangsa incident, i have been busy. with my work...my apt is safe, nothing to worry. relocated to kampar since second of jan....a sense of excitement as i will be teaching two new subjects...but will be pretty pretty busy i guess....will have to allocate more jobs to my deputy deans and HODs...oh welll....it will be a pretty exciting year...have a strong feeling of it....

Bukit Antarabangsa

2008-12-06T06:52:00.000-08:00

this morning, I woke up about four something, maybe five. can't remember. heard sirens. thought it was an accident or robbery (shootout). went back to sleep, but heard more sirens...wah...woke up again and looked out the bedroom window, lots of cars....i thought a bad accident....but my apt's parking area a lot of people...hmmm...wondered what had happened...went out and asked my neighbors...one of them said there was a landslide...wah...cannot believe...

walked up the road about hudred meters...yes, landslide...terrible....rubble and soil has blocked the road and was told at that time, bungalows were hit. The soil and rubble was about two storeys high.

People started to walked out from the bungalow area....later saw two bodies carried out....

Thank you for all the sms from my friends. My apt is not affected. From my bedroom window, can see the tragedy about three hundred meters away (the bungalows are right in front of my apt). the affected bungalows are further away.

I was told (and confirmed later in the news), one of the victims was my neighbour....my condolences to Mr. Thana's family.

Staying over at Ethen (my friend)'s place now cos this evening, there was no electricity and water.

petronas club

2008-11-17T07:57:00.000-08:00

Was in petronas club tonight for a dinner hosted by al jazeera. great view and a nice, richly furnished club. somewhere in the forty second floor of petronas twin towers. dinner was good, had mushroom soup, lamb and pita bread for starters....missed the dessert cos most of the guests at my table decided to leave early, leaving me and another person around..oh well, decided to leave also lah....

2008-11-09T16:50:00.000-08:00

Read the Star article below:

http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/11/10/central/2445741&sec=central

I know these dogs are strays, but surely there are better ways of treating God's creation. Whether we are Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, etc. surely we should treat them nicely, even though they may be considered as "dirty" by some religious interpretations.

2008-11-04T16:13:00.000-08:00

Strange...i thought i did post something a few days ago,...but i do not see it in my blog....
oh well...have not been to my blog since Oct 12...nothing much to relate....just the usual work, work, work and sleep (eating somewhere in between)

Today is my birthday (5 Nov).....which means I am one day / year nearer to my grave ......hahhahahahhahaha

Going for buffet lunch today with a friend.....gonna eat.....hmmm......if i eat the wrong thing...that would make my journey to my grave faster.....hahhahahahhahahahhahah

Church in India under persecution

2008-10-12T01:16:00.000-07:00

One piece of news that is not getting much attention in secular newspapers is the persecution of Christians in India by militant Hindus in India. While Hindraf (in Malaysia) is fighting for the rights and justice for the Indians in Malaysia, their fellow Hindu brothers and sisters in India, especially in Orissa, India, are hacking Christians to death, possibly forcing them to convert to Hinduism.

Pray for the Indian christians especially in the state of Orissa.

See the following:

http://www.spiritflowtv.com/videos/id_19?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=08101101

May God strengthen and increase the faith of christians in India.

Apt got burgled

2008-10-10T23:49:00.000-07:00

My apt got burgled yesterday. Came home after receiving calls from two banks stating two of my credit cards had suspicious transactions. Things in the bedroom were all strewn in the room. Turned out the the neighbour's unit also got burgled....aiyah...lots of inconvenience now.....have to go to bank to have my cards replaced, replace my dad's ic too which was taken from the room....:-(((....May the burglers be brought to justice.....:-))))

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

2008-10-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri to all . Long holidays (two days, plus one day leave, plus weekend), so a bit boring---lots of work, yet do not know where to start or end...heheheh...know what i mean? Have you ever got work and work on your mind and just don't know where to start? Start on one, worry on another, start the one, the first one gets stalled...aiyah...must go for a holiday and get my mind relaxed.....but going for holiday during Hari Raya is *&^$# expensive....:-(...so back to square one....boring holiday.

Latest from Malaysiakini today, 23 Sept 9 a.m.

2008-09-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

Raja Petra to be sent to Kamunting
Sep 23, 08 9:34am
Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin will be sent to Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, Perak today to begin his two-year detention under the Internal Security Act, said his lawyer.

The home minister has signed his detention order last night to be held without trial under section 8 of the tough security law. Under the Act, the government can renew his detention indefinitely.

Lawyers said that the police had informed them this morning that they would be taking Raja Petra to the detention centre.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court is to hear a habeas corpus bid by Raja Petra's lawyers to overturn the detention of the controversial blogger today.Habeas corpus is a writ ordering prisoners to be brought before a judge to ascertain if there are any procedural defects which could render their detention unlawful.

2008-09-17T08:43:00.002-07:00

the above pictures were taken in Phuket recently. I enjoyed the round the island trip, where we went to a lagoon...beautiful...(the second photo). can't remember where exactly in phuket the third photo was taken....the first photo...i believe it was in Phuket Funtasea....

Oh well....actually the actual photos are bigger, can see the background....i guess you have to be satisified with these photos which focus on me...hehehehe...for the background, just google for Phuket or go there to see for yourselves.....hehehe

Another blogger arrested

2008-09-17T08:43:00.001-07:00

Today, Malaysiakini reports another blogger arrested..Syed Azidi. I remember him, he taught in my uni once, in my faculty, in fact.
It is sad that the state of the country has to come to this stage. I pray that all will be well.
In fact, all of us should start praying...(if you don't believe in prayers, well, then....start meditating and trasfer positive ya-ba, da-ba positive waves).....

Peace to all Malaysians.

Moving on....to Kampar

2008-09-12T19:32:00.000-07:00

Oh well, the time has come for me to step down as dean of FCI in PJ, and move on to Kampar. Looking forward to this, and with sadness too that i will be "leaving" PJ. I put "leaving" in quotation marks, because i will not be away for good. I will still be around, in the university. But as one of my staff puts it, 'things will be different'...whatever the case, looking forward to my 'new' posting in Kampar....a really beautiful campus, and I wish the new dean (whoever is going to take over) the best, and I know (s)he will do a good, if not a better job, at leading the faculty.

Cheerio....

Phuket, oh phuket...

2008-08-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

Was supposed to go to Phuket for my holidays on friday. Bought my holiday package last year. Anyway, had to cancel that cos of uni convo. No prob. Bought another ticket to go on Sunday morning...after my convo....but that flight is now postponed cos of the protestors in Phuket....postponed to evening....hope all will be okay then. At home now, looking forward to the trip in the evening. Hope it will not be cancelled or postponed again....:-(

Will be my second trip to Phuket. My friends already there....I lost 3 days of my holidays......

AnCasa All Suites resort, port dickson

2008-07-26T02:42:00.001-07:00

Am in An Casa All Suites resort, port dickson for a retreat. Nice place. condo facilities. a good place to be away from the hustle and bustle of city life to relax, think and rejunevate. not too far, not too near town either. Should try it out for anyone who is looking for a place to meet.

Koi Alive!!

2008-07-23T17:33:00.001-07:00

This school of koi fish was taken in Guangzhou when i was there for a two day trip in July 2008. It was in a park, one of the tourist attractions for visitors. You get people dancing ball room dance there as well--mostly the retired folks....hmmm....wonder what i will do when i retire....

Will put better pictures

2008-07-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

Oh well...two friends have commented about the snake picture....:-)
i must say it is very unsightly...will have to put in better pictures...more pleasant ones...
will do so in my next post...right now...it is 11.40 pm...lazy lah to put any pictures now.....
been busy, working working....looking forward to my phuket trip at end of august........

Snakes alive

2008-07-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

took this picture in Guangzhou in China. A man was selling snakes in a market. People there buy them to cook. Reminds me of Medusa's hair.....

Snakes alive!

2008-07-13T15:14:00.001-07:00

One of the things that i love to see when in another country is the market.
Cos it is in the market that I get to see the culture, the everyday life of a person of that country...
After dim sum in Guangzhou, managed to spot a market in a back alley (like what you see in Pudu). There were a number of fruit stalls selling mangosteens (in fact, many stalls in Guangzhou were selling mangosteens and durians)....but .....guess what i saw someone was selling??? (see my next posts, and the title of this post will of course give you a clue....)

"Sheet char"

2008-06-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

When my friends and I were in HK, we went to this place and one of my friends ordered "sheet char" (which in Malaysia means 'iced tea').
But the HK waiter was puzzled and wondered about it.
We too were puzzled and wondered why he did not understand.

So we changed the order to "yeet char" (hot tea)

Later, back in KL, I mentioned this to my students. My students explained that "sheet" in HK means "snow", so my friend was ordering "snow tea" , which obviously puzzled the waiter...(and anyone of us if we knew that 'sheet' meant 'snow').

There are sociolinguistic differences in the Cantonese spoken between HK and Malaysia. Obviously, in this case the difference resulted in us not getting what we wanted (iced tea)....

but it may be a good idea to have someone invent "snow tea".....shaved ice with thick tea ....hmmmmmm

Hong Kong

2008-06-20T07:44:00.000-07:00

Like Guangzhou, HK has so so so so many people...wow...food is expensive, compared to food in Malaysia. a bowl of noodles may come to about RM9. Have to choose the right places though. not all places are nice, but we (I and my friend) managed to find a nice place (like home cooked food--had steamed fish, sweet and sour pork and kangkung like vegetables) for about RM50 (plus a bowl of green beans). Dim sum at the hotel we stayed (Ramada) was about HKD50 for two persons. quite cheap.

Hong Kong---once in a few years is good enough for holidaying.

Beautiful Guangzhou and Macau

2008-06-15T07:37:00.000-07:00

Macau is a beautiful place. went to see the St. Paul's ruins, beautiful. Went to see the latest casino--the venetian, fantastic. but the food there is %$#@& expensive...had chicken rice, equivalent to about RM 20 something per plate. but good lah

If Macau is a good place to visit, Guangzhou is a must go...went to the Pearl River cruise...must go in the night to see the buildings which were brightly lighted....well, don't think that China is 'ulu' lah...very very modern, I don't think you can get any such cruise outside of china within Asia...definately not in Malaysia....

A must see place for holiday.

A big frog under a big coconut shell

2008-06-05T16:07:00.000-07:00

I can now say that I have been to all the states in Malaysia---this is my first trip, and certainly won't be my last---to Sabah. Kota kinabalu is fantastic--I never expected it to be so modern, beautiful and clean. the people are extremely nice. What makes the place even more beautiful is its location just beside the sea....the airport is even bigger than the one in Penang, much more modern looking;

Today is my last day of conference in KK. After this, shall investigate further the food and places around the hotel...

Oh what a day....

2008-06-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

had a hectic day today...sometimes, or rather most times i wonder...why is it that problems and issues have to happen at the same time? why can't they come staggered, so that we could solve them one at a time? ha ha, but all settled by the evening time. Well, will be going to sabah tomorrow for a conference. am looking forward to it as this will be my first trip to sabah. Problem is, it is going to be a very very tiring trip as I was given a transit flight, and not a direct flight. Apparently, the plane will stop at two places before landing in KK. So I leave KLIA at 6.30 in the evening, and will arrive KK about four hours later....oh what a night it will be for me...

I hate long trips...

In Penang

2008-05-24T21:09:00.000-07:00

IN Penang now. Actually, crossing the Penang bridge and will reach my hotel soon. Here for the MELTA conference, as usual to network with other English teachers and lecturers and think about strategies for my faculty --- courses, staff, etc,
talking about conferences, this month and next, i have a hectic schedule -- Penang, then Selangor, then KK and finally HK. I also need to send in my abstract for the IIUM conference which will be held later at the end of this year or so.

hmmmm.....

Photo fit for my funeral

2008-05-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

Somebody commented that my photo is fit for my funeral, just decorate with wreaths, flowers, and it will be perfect...hahahha...u know what....this guy is right!!! Grrr....took my photo from a passport photo file..so will be changing it soon, as soon as i get my friend to upload some photos for me, which are taken informally of me

The photo of me as u can see now (as of 15 May) is rather "formal".....welll time to change....
hopefully in two weeks time or so....

Thinking Conference

2008-05-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.14ththinkingconference.com/

Check the website above. Was talking to Dr. Shameem from UPM. She is the chair of the organizing committee of the above conference. She confirmed with me that Edward de Bono is coming for this and will be speaking in this conference. I know this conference is very very expensive, but i guess there is time, from now, to save money for this conference. Great minds will be gathered together to speak and present their ideas in this conference.

I am excited about this. looking forward to participate in this conference. I do believe that thinking is a very important skill, a skill that seems to be taken for granted....that everyone knows...but it is something that is to be taught, learned, ....

Congrats Dean and Max

2008-05-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

Have been busy lately. My niece, Max, came to Malaysia with family (my sis and son) to have her wedding here in Malaysia. It was held in the Carcosa Seri Negara gardens. It was the perfect wedding...the groom, Dean, looked immaculate...like a Gucci model, I told him....serious...will need to post some pictures of the wedding here in the blog later..when i have learned how to....lol!
Dean and Max are now in Redang for their honeymoon,.....enjoy yourselves Dean and Max and may you two have a long happy life.

Sleep oh sleep

2008-05-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

been waking up at 6. a.m. or so...only 5 or 6 hours of sleep. yesterday chatted with my sis, who will be coming home for a week. Her daughter decided to get married here, or rather go through the marriage ceremony here...tea ceremony for her granddad....hmmm..and then there will be the usual dinner with relatives....but they will be here only for a week or so.

but i have digressed....sleep oh sleep....gone are the days when i could sleep in the afternoon....ah...i look forward to my retirement i guess....so that i can sleep in the afternoon...ha ha....and perhaps sleep longer hours....but i do know also that when one retires, one becomes busier....got to catch up on the things that one could not do previously....so back to not being able to sleep longer hours....hmmm....

Investing in the dead

2008-04-29T22:14:00.000-07:00

A friend, Gary met me yesterday and told me about investing in "aiyah, what do you call this place where you keep the ashes of the creamated" in Shah Alam. I thought it was a good deal and bought three lots for about RM20 000 each...pay by instalment lah...thinking...after one year, sell off one lot, i would have gained the profit for which i would continue to pay instalment for the rest...now...if cannot sell...then die lor...then will use the place for myself...LOL!!!

Writer's block

2008-04-24T02:02:00.000-07:00

welll....it has been sometime that i have not written anything in this blog...hmmm...dunno what to write..."writer's block"....but just remembered an incident last Saturday. was queuing for taxi in desa setapak...there was a queue...when here comes a young couple (husband and wife, i presume) who decided to beat the queue and went into a taxi...and the B*&%$# taxi took them in....hmmm...if i was in a b#$@%^ mood, i would have scolded the couple and the taxi driver....queuing is just not in our Malaysian culture...yet so much emphasis on religion, religion, religion...but in practice...very uncultured....

waves in the air....

2008-04-21T03:41:00.001-07:00

i am sitting right now in my office, i have my laptop, my desktop, my cell phone and my PDA, all on the table...i wonder....ten or twenty years from now...will i get brain tumor? :-) with all these waves travelling in the air...will our brains get cooked? hmmm...i read somewhere one should always use a hands free device...minimizes the 'cooking' done to our brains as compared to listening to the cell phone on our ears directly.....hmmm....

exams exams

2008-04-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

students sitting for their exams tomorrow...reminds me of my exam days.....and realise that perhaps my techniques in studying for exams were not that right...have always been a "memorizer"...until uni days when i learnt to "read enough, and use what i have read to produce something to show that i understand something"....students should be allowed to do this...then they won't be regurtitating what they have read...but then, it all depends on the kind of questions set by the teachers and examiners....and the cycle goes on....ultimately, we won't be producing a thinking society....

I guess only in Malaysia....

2008-04-16T18:24:00.000-07:00

brought a friend to clinic and now waiting for the doctor. sitting here at the lobby, i see, outside a man "booking" a car park with a plastic container..i am pretty sure this is illegal and not to say very selfish...but then who cares when there is no enforcement? I guess this is the main problem here in this country..the laws r there but lack of enforcement...hmmm...that guy who booked his parking space with a plastic bottle needs to be whacked...:-)

heavy heavy rain

2008-04-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

was raining very heavily on my way from my office to go see dad...wah...road flooded and very scared that my car would get stalled. prayed silently...God please let me pass through the flooded road...i didn't expect the flood waters to part...at least don't go into my engine...wah....oklah was relieved when i managed to go past the flooded part of the road...really flooded...

Just back from Celine Dion's concert---phenomenal

2008-04-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

Just back from C.D's concert. It started about nine, just after the royal family arrived (a part of the stadium showed their disapproval of this by murmurings, boos, etc, i guess they must have been waiting a long time....but didn't they check the website?)...but all I guess was forgotten when the diva started off her concert....honestly, can't remember what she sang but i do remember what song she ended the concert with...the much expected "My Heart will go on"....all in all the one and half hour concert was simply marvelous, phenomenal, fantastic, etc... i am pretty sure everyone left the stadium happy...

between starbucks and coffee bean

2008-04-12T04:14:00.000-07:00

am here in OUG coffee bean, waiting for a friend. have my laptop with me, so log on into the internet....and what do you know...over here, i have to pay for it...as I have to register through aized to get access into cyber world....hmmm...in starbucks i get it free. i don' t have to register through any service provider... So i decided to log on using my maxis broadband...yeah...thank God for this maxis..but thumbs down to coffee bean....will have to keep going to starbucks the next time...

yahoo conference

2008-04-10T17:59:00.000-07:00

was in yahoo conference late last night with my sis and a friend...wah...so good technology these days...connects people round the world and makes the world smaller...used to think that my sis is in a place far far away (actually in London) but now with the touch of a button on the laptop and we are connected....wonder in the next 50 years what sort of technological development we will see....

dishonest salesperson????

2008-04-08T06:14:00.000-07:00

Sign up for maxis broadband on sunday. was told i could log on to the internet within three hours. in the night when i tried, still could not go in. called up maxis center and was told i was still not signed up in their system by the vendor. tried again on monday, and again on tuesday....so it has been thirty six hours already....so...three hours my foot....where are the honest sales person today? is such a person a rare breed? these sales people can't do a simple thing i guess....very frustrating....i guess will keep on waiting....

Japanese Exhibition

2008-04-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

Today, the Japanese language students, through the leadership of its lecturer Mr Nahan, organized the first ever Japanese exhibition in the faculty. it was fanta-bulous...booths on japanese culture, life, food, drinks, games, etc. were on display. I was told the students were very enthusiastic about it...some came as early as 6.30 a.m. to prepare the booths...well done UTAR students...

I did learn that when you see two cups...the bigger one belongs to the man, the smaller belongs to the woman...hmmm...so patriarchal...

Universe of discouse

2008-04-02T17:46:00.001-07:00

an interesting linguistics concept is "universe of discourse"; in simple terms, the elements (real or abstract) that are within the world of an individual....me wonder if bloggers have their own world of discourse...what are the elements of their discourse? do they bridge between the real world and their cyber world? do bloggers live within their own abstract world...me wonders....

Convocation

2008-04-02T01:38:00.000-07:00

UTAR held its convocation recently. As I was sitting on stage, watching the graduates pass by with the scrolls, i remember the time when I was them, with my scroll---three times on the same stage, once for my bachelor, the second time for my master and the third time for my Phd...all on the same stage because i did all three degrees in the same uni...as i sat there watching them, i was thinking...how many of them will turn out to be academics so that in ten years time or so, they will be sitting on stage watching others walk pass by with their scrolls...but that is the issue nowadays----how many graduates actually want to be in the academic line? How many actually want to teach?

Agoda.com

2008-03-28T04:15:00.000-07:00

One of the best internet sites to book hotel rooms is www.agoda.com. Comparing with many other sites, i find this site offering the cheapest rates. Made some bookings recently at this site for my Macau and Hong Kong trip in June 2008. Will be in Hong Kong for a conference in the University of Hong Kong. Will be spending time in Macau, Shenzen and Guangzhou for short holiday while i am in Hong Kong. Will be going with a friend, Kemmy.

Sarawak Cultural Village

2008-03-24T03:11:00.000-07:00

A must see place when in Sarawak is the cultural village. The entrance fee is pricey (RM60) per adult, but you can get a discounted ticket from an agent who is located in the Damai Beach resort (RM 55).

The village has real size replicas of ethnic houses, such as the longhouses. Then there is the cultural dance which was very captivating.

Definately a must see. About 35 minutes drive from Kuching. We had a very friendly taxi driver who brought us there and waited for us and sent us to the airport.

Off to Kuching

2008-03-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

Off to Kuching this afternoon for a short holiday trip. Be back on Sunday. Hope to see the cultural events there. My second trip to Kuching. My first trip was for a conference, and rather boring...hope to see more things this time

public holiday

2008-03-19T01:23:00.000-07:00

ah...thank God for a public holiday tomorrow...but still got to wake up early lah...send a friend to LCCT, go for a meeting (MELTA) and then dinner with an external examiner....ah....like any other public holidays, i am still busy...

Starbucks

2008-03-15T06:10:00.000-07:00

Am in starbucks at the moment, 9.10 p.m , Saturday evening. waiting for a friend to go for dinner...yeap, 9.10 and still not have dinner yet ... :-((( but am in starbucks drinking coffee and on the net and tried this wonderful gree tea cake or whatever it is called...very nice, with coconut topping...but am looking forward to some wonderful "fried hokkien mee" in a shop, quite famous in cheras i guess, near PGRM. (Am in starbucks PGRM now)...

Fogging

2008-03-14T02:57:00.000-07:00

it is now 6 p.m., 14 March. As i am sitting here in my office, fogging is being carried out, outside of the office. hmmm...i guess all these fogging will never be able to wipe out those darn mosquitoes forever...but how long will it take for malaysians to learn to be cleaner and more hygienic?

Celine Dion

2008-03-13T02:46:00.000-07:00

Plan to go to Celine Dion's concert on April 8 in Stadium Merdeka. Have been to one other concert before, what's that guy's name....aiyah..forgot his name...chinese concert, went to accompany my friend...unfortunately...it was not a good concert...did not quite enjoy it...hopefully this concert will be one that i will like....anyone else going?

parking parking parking

2008-03-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

hmmm...some students kena summon again for parking their cars indiscriminately on the main road.....aiyah...this is the malaysian attitude i guess....malaysians just love to find a parking spot just next to an entrance, or as what a colleague mentioned, if possible, malaysians drive their cars into a restaurant and park right inside it....well, most people are already doing that...the hawker stalls along the five foot way...cars are parked as near as possible so that they can jump out of their cars onto the seats available, and when they habis makan, jump from their seats right back into their cars...

gym in the morning

2008-03-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

managed to wake up early to go to gym today...i always thought people were crazy...waking up early to go to gym...but here i am, now...ha ha...did 'step' in the Pavillion branch of True Fitness. Hmmmm...the trainer as usual was a wee bit impatient..or was he sarcastic...nonetheless, i thought the music selected to accompany the step was inappropriate for me...could not get the rhythm...

Craving

2008-03-11T03:25:00.000-07:00

As i sit in front of my computer, ready to go to the gym, i have this craving for nasi lemak...oh dear...not those served on plates, but the ones that you get from the mamak stalls...hmmm...i wonder which mamak stall in the country sells the best nasi lemak bungkus?

About Me

2008-03-10T23:16:00.000-07:00

Hi, I am (Tim) Teh Chee Seng. This is my first time blogging but since there is all this craze about blogging...i might as well try my (old) hand in this.

I am presently working in a university, as the dean of a faculty. I obtained my Ph. D., Master and Bachelor from Universiti Putra Malaysia.