Tzu Chi Hari Raya Celebration

With pachik Yussof on the morning of July 10, 2016 at the Penang Tzu Chi centre for the Hari Raya celebration and hamper distribution. This was my first time. Thanks to Sister Chris Ting Sing Poh for inviting me. Pachik Yussof also helps out at the Lumba Kuda recycling and education centre.

I offer free simple haircutting service

Hi everyone on this beautiful island of Penang. I offer free haircut service to anyone in need of a simple haircut; who for whatever reason is not able to do so.

My service is free and without any condition. However for those who seem to have certain principle that payment must be made, then just contribute whatever amount that makes you happy.  

This is the link to my "Simple Haircutting Service" facebook

Recycling The Tzu Chi Way

Twenty-six years ago Tzu Chi started recycling of papers to save trees from being cut down rampantly. Now its recycling programmes encompass almost everything, and has spread throughout the world. 

I too, do my little part helping out at tc local recycling centre once a week. More work less talk. The Master encourages everyone to participate in recycling. This brilliant project gives everyone the chance to contribute to society. Everyone can do it. The Master used to say, "recycling gives us happiness and keeps us healthy." "Just do it!" Or in Taiwanese Hokkien "choe toh tio lah."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqaQNGogY7I

Recycling Program The Tzu Chi Way : My Hubpages article.

Karpal Singh, My Other Hero, May He Rest In Peace.

In the Malaysian political scene, I have two heroes whom I salute.  Eversince I could vote, I always voted for DAP.  Even before I could vote while still a student, I was a staunch DAP supporter for I knew all along DAP is a sincere political party working for peace and equality for all Malaysians.  It is only their other political opponents that spinned negative news about DAP.  If you disagree with me it is ok.  But I shall not go into debate with you.  This post is not for debating.  This post is to convey my solemn respect for the late Karpal Singh, who tragically was killed in a car accident this early morning.  Karpal Singh was my other local political hero.  May he rest in peace.  My sincere condolences to his family.  It is a very sad day.  I salute you Karpal Singh.

My number one local political hero is none other than Lim Kit Siang.

A Most Expensive Surprise Gift From My Internet Friend

Yesterday I met up with my internet friend from KL.  He came to Penang to attend the Tzu Chi's graduation ceremony.  My friend Gary Kang is now officially one step nearer to becoming a Blue Angel of Tzu Chi.  He is now able to wear the grey shirt to serve the people.  After a period of time through further dedication of service to the community, he will become a full fledged Blue Angel, wearing the blue shirt. For those who don't know about what I am writing about, please read my article on Tzu Chi.

When we met, he presented me a clear plastic container which I thought were two pieces of timsum buns.  The plastic container was somewhat opague and I couldn't see clearly.  Then he opened the container, and to my surprise, it was an expensive commodity; 4 beautifully sorted pieces of pure birdnest.   By the way our friend Gary has a swiftlets' building in a remote town, and these four precious pieces came from there.  

I dared not ask him about the market price of these 4 pieces for fear he might change his mind and ask me to pay for them.  Just joking.  Gary will never do that to me, knowing I am a retired old man without pension.

Thanks a million, my friend Gary, for the expensive surprise gift.

Take a look at the photos below:

 

Two types. Left shows the finer grain. Right shows the streaky type.  

Closer look at the finer type

Closer look at the streaky type

The Rocket Is Lit

The Rocket is lit !
Ready for lift off !

Singapore hawker food better than that of Penang??

                                   (Penang Char Koay Teow)

Singapore hawker food better than that of Penang???  Hey, where is your mouth located???  Even looking at the photos below will make you salivate.  They are the best Penang hawker foods : Hokkien mee, Char Koay Teow, Laksa, and Nasi Kandar.  

What sort of survey is this?  Some website and some write-up not worth mentioning in this blog claimed that Singapore hawker food is better than that of Penang.  I honestly wonder where their mouths are located.  Our Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng rightly defended Penang by saying, "Comparing Penang food to that of Singapore is like comparing Mount Everest to a hill."  If you are still dreaming, Mount Everest is Penang, and the little hill is Singapore!

May I add, it's like comparing Penang best chendul to "long kau chooi"!!  If you don't know what Penang chendul is, and what "long kau chooi" is, then you may be excused to believe that Singapore hawker food is better than that of Penang.   Mind you, I am Penang born and bred, and retired here.   

Oh my goodness!!

Penang Hokkien Mee






Penang Char Koay Teow






Penang Laksa







Penang Nasi Kandar

Meditation to see things as they really are.

(The imposing Main Meditation Hall of the Dhamma Malaya Vipassana Centre, Gambang, Kuantan, Malaysia)

To-day I wish to write about meditation.  What a boring subject.  Rightfully this should be posted in my Buddhist blog "Life Is Like That".  I am writing about the meditation as taught by the Buddha over 2500 years ago.  Actually it has nothing to do with the so-called "religion".  Buddha never introduced any sectarian religion.  He just revealed the universal truths of existence.  These truths you can see for yourself.  Truth like the impermanence of anything and everything in existence.  Truth like the unsatisfactoriness of our existence.  Truth like all of us carry a heavy baggage within ourselves; greed, hatred and egoism.  But then again, people will want to point finger that Buddhism is still a religion because they want to believe in something else.

Be that as it may, let's talk about meditation in the Buddhist perspective.  The main object of Buddhist meditation is to train the mind to see reality, to see things as they really are.  Do you know, we look but don't see?  Once we can come to terms with the laws of nature, understand and accept them as they are, we will begin to change our way of thinking, and we will live in a more accommodating and understanding way of life.  We don't fight nature anymore.  We flow with nature.  Then we have nothing to complain, our lives will be more peaceful.

I have done meditation since I was a young man, but never achieve  much as I was and still am not a serious enough meditator.  Next week I shall be going for a 10-day meditation retreat.   Away from everything; purely meditation from 4.30 in the early morning till 9 at night, for 10 consecutive days.

This course is introduced by S.N. Goenka  and is taught by him and his assistance in centres around the world.  Fortunately for me, they have started one in Penang, hidden by the hillside, up from the Rifle Range Flats area. I will be in the very first batch. 

For those interested to find out more, please go to the following sites:

Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka

Malaysia Vipassana Centre

Vipassana at work in Malaysia : Video

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(Postscript :  I had to postpone this trip due to unforseen circumstances.  I shall update in due course)

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Update 29 December 2012: I have attended the 10-day course on 5 December 2012.  To read please CLICK HERE.

Speak English to deliver right information

GEORGE TOWN- Strengthen your communication skills, especially in English, to deliver the right information to the community.
In making this call to policemen, Penang police chief Deputy Commissioner Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob said only 25% of the 5,000-strong policemen in the state could speak English fluently.
This was despite a pressing need to speak the language, in lieu of the many foreigners and various races in the state, he said.
"About 60% have average English language skills while the rest just know basic English," Ayub told reporters after launching the Special Training English Communication for Tourist Police here.
He said communication failure among policemen would inadvertently lead to misunderstanding among the public.
"The community expects us (police) to solve their problems. We should have the capability to do that, and it comes from good communication skills," he reasoned.
- BERNAMA

The above is a "copy&paste" from Malaysia Chronicle :

Penang's Untold Story

(If no picture, click Bo Lang Chai (Forgotten) from Pusat KOMAS on Vimeo.)

I used to live within walking distance from the Penang Clan Jetties along Weld Quay.  The story above is very interesting.  Don't worry if you can't understand Hokkien.  Even many Chinese Penangites do not fully understand Hokkien.  This video takes 34 minutes.  But if you are interested in Penang history, please take your time to watch it.   It's an ingenious approach to bring forth a message.

It's in the form of a Chinese puppet show !

Durian the king of fruits

When we talk about the durians, you have to leave it to the people of Penang. Aha! and I am from Penang, a Penangite, born and bred, and retired, still in Penang! 

For local readers, you may not be interested to read this article.  If I were to offer free durians, then you might consider reading further.  Sorry, no free durians. 

For "foreigners", you are welcome to read my article and get to know more about this stinking thorny arsenal of a fruit, called durian. 

Please CLICK HERE :

Littering problem due to non enforcement of by-law

Littering is a filthy habit.  It just demonstrates the type of low mentality of the perpetrators.  There are many types of litterbugs.  From the innocent young to the ignorant elderlies.  There are also those who can think well which even include the well-educated intellectuals.  Others are the uncultured, ill-mannered individuals.  Some are just plain innocent like the little children who have not been taught by their parents not to throw rubbish everywhere.  As for the elderlies, many of them are beyond advice due to their ignorance in public decorum and general hygiene.  However the majority can be taught to abide by the rules; even by force, just like the Singaporeans.  So it all boils down to FULL-TIME ENFORCEMENT. Nothing else.

The MPPP (The Penang Island Municipal Council) is increasing littering fine from RM50 to RM250.  It's not that RM50 is too little a deterrent.  It is the NON ENFORCEMENT of the fine that is the cause of the littering problem.  I would feel the pinch of RM50 fine each time I am caught.  Of course you can never catch me littering because I NEVER litter.  What's the point of this increase, when it is not going to be enforced??

Why not increase to RM2500? It's not going to work.
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Recent comments:

bow said...
Raising the fine amount is like saying if you are rich and can afford to pay the ticket, you don't have to go to jail. On the other hand, if you can't shelve out the money, then you go to jail. I am sure Penang government will love to raise the fine to $2,500 or $25,000 if possible, it has nothing to do with effective enforcement or not, more at generating revenue for the state treasury. The state government is getting greedy each day, not a good sign for PR supporters.


Justin Choo said...
Bow,
I am sure the Penang state government is sincere. As I said, the RM50 has not been enforced effectively. Also we must be aware of the cancer of corruption; here it's only the petty corruption of some low-level "officers".
Enforce the law effectively even with the RM50 fine, then no more littering. The amount of fine can easily pay for the wages of the enforcers. They can employ part-time workers and not having to be MPPP full-time workers. That will work better, and also cost effective.

I salute you : Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu

This blogger salutes the late Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu  whose state funeral at 12 noon, Sunday 28 November 2010, is now in progress in Penang. 

Just mere coindidence :

Tun Dr. Lim  :  Birthday 28 May

Justin Choo  :   Birthday 28 May

Tun Dr. Lim :  Education ; Hutchings School and Penang Free School

Justin Choo  :  Education ; Hutchings School and Penang Fee School

The similarities end here. The great difference as below:

Tun Dr. Lim :  King's Scholar from PFS

Justin Choo  :  Also attended PFS

Tun Dr. Lim : A great politician, doctor, and family man. The most illustrious son of Penang.  The illuminating icon of Penang.  A great and far-sighted statesman who steered Penang to what it is today.

Justin Choo :  Also grew up and still living in Penang.  A tiny speck of dust still trying to settle down. 

Excellent and immediate action : Bomba Bukit Mertajam

I would be the last person to call for help from the civil servants.  But when you saw a snake slithering into your back store-room a few hours ago, what could you do?  It is now 11.03 pm, Sunday.  And now I am able to relax.  My sincere appreciation to Bomba Bukit Mertajam, especially to the two very professional and responsible officers who came to my rescue.

When my wife turned pale and told me she saw a snake slithering into my back store-room, I nearly fainted.  I am usually a "handy-manny" a DIY person and am able to fix a thousand and one things.  But snake!! No way.  I had not much of a choice.  Looked up a sticker which I pasted since moving into this house.  It gave a list of emergency numbers.  I called the Bomba Bukit Mertajam.  What a relief when they told my wife that they would come immediately.  And they kept their words.  About 45 minutes later, two officers arrived. 

They were really very responsible.  You can just imagine what a storeroom  is like.  Although small, but cluttered with all the "rubbish".  They could have easily told me that they did not see anything and went back.  That was my greatest fear.  But no, they painstakingly removed the junk, and searched  for the culprit.  Just imagine a cubicle with no window.  They were just sweating away but kept on with their job.  They finally found it....A Cobra!!

Job well done.  My greatest appreciation for their excellent service.  This is the second time in my life that I recieve excellent service from a Government department.  What about that  first time?  It will be another story.

To the two Bomba officers who came immediately to my rescue, my wife and I thank you with all our hearts for the job well done.  You may have saved our lives!

****************************************************************
The quotation below is taken from the Bomba website:

When you mix training and dedication, you’re called a professional;


When you mix compassion and caring, you’re called a friend;


When you mix bravery and selflessness, you’re called a Hero;


When you mix all three, you’re called a Firefighter.

Lim Guan Eng explains Budget 2011

Lim Guan Eng explains in simple Bahasa what we are losing out.


(If picture does not appear, just click the play button.)
Make sure we get a fair budget by changing the regime come next GE! 

The KaTaK has changed into an Ostrich!

Quotable quotes from LKY (certainly not Lee Kuan Yew):

The party is going to the dogs.

I have been watching him, monitoring him for three years and I think three years is too long.

I have enough of this nonsense.

See no evil, speak no evil, bury his head in the sand.

He does not want to be seen as taking sides...What nonsense is that?

This is typical him...always does not want to be seen as a bad guy.

Unquotable quote from the Ostrich himself:

All these due to "mere misunderstanding".

And this is my quote : 

Aiyoh! No word to describe this person!

I think he should turn into a deadwood; at least it can be used as a decorative item!

Aiyoooooh!!!

The Bakau posts are gone!

Remember the above picture?  Only one reader will remember; and that is my ardent moral supporter for my blog Mr ATM.  He helped fix up the netting nearly a year ago. 

The poles are Bakau piling poles.  When you pile in the Bakau piles into the ground, they will last forever.  So this ignorant writer thought that by making them stand exposed would be likewise; until recently a friend pointed out that Bakau poles cannot last when exposed to the sun.  So I took this person's comment seriously and made arangement for an alternative structure before the poles snapped.  Before the new replacement came, the posts broke into pieces following a strong wind, just a week ago.  Luckily no one was near there at that time.

Well Mr ATM, you can still see your nettings in the photo below, but this time fixed up by me, just this morning so I can post the photos here!   

Anyone interested to read the old posting, please CLICKHERE:

Penang Street Hawkers In The 30's

This post is for the real senior citizens.  Even I am too young to witness all these featured itinerant hawkers; a few look familiar.  And if you are not from Penang, these pictures will appear more alien. 

So this post is more for my archive recording than to please any youngster who might chance by this post.

Everything changes for better or for worse.  Live life with this realization and you will experience less frustration.  Presenting the old charm of Penang, the one and only place in the world.........

(An update:  Apparently you can still see some of these hawkers in rural thailand between La Ngu and Trang on the western road to Krabi)

Bangkrupt Strategy : The Racial Card.

It's just like a person who is afraid of a certain thing.  I am sure you know it is called "phobia".   

This is from Wikipedia which explains:

"A phobia is an irrational, intense and persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, animals, or people. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive and unreasonable desire to avoid the feared stimulus. When the fear is beyond one's control, and if the fear is interfering with daily life, then a diagnosis under one of the anxiety disorders can be made....Phobias are a common form of anxiety disorders..."

It further gives an example; say a person being bitten by a dog. 

"If the occurrence had enough of an impact on this certain person then he would develop a fear of that dog, or in some cases, an irrational fear of all dogs." 

I think it is same to say that almost everyone has an irrational fear in something, for whatever reason or reasons.  When this fear is overblown into a chronic or severe situation, it will affect that person's behaviour.  He becomes irrational and unreasonable.  And in the long run, he develops his own theory that what he fears must also be feared by others.  This becomes his yardstick to measure others.  So when a dog barks, he demands that all and sundry must run for their lives or take a stick to hit the dog.  He will insist that the dog barks because it wants to bite him and the others.  

After having a reasonable success in influencing others to believe in this fear, over time this person becomes equally smart that he can use this strategy to inflict fear on the others whenever occasions arise.  Of course when the others are fed-up with his antic, he becomes a clown and a fool instead.

Before you get bored or have a headache trying to figure out what the hell I am blabbing about, it is about  a certain group trying to use the worn out bankrupt strategy to frighten people : the infamous "Racial Card".  

The MalaysianInsider reports that a certain group is trying to play the "race card" again.  What about the Chinese trader who tried to burn himself because of certain Komtar decisions?  Why this group didn't accuse Lim Guan Eng of being anti-Chinese?

I am sure an overwhelming majority of Malaysians of all races are matured and intelligent enough to just laugh at this foolish group and its irrational behaviour.

Having said that, it's time for a change of government come next GE.  Let's get rid of this group and its lackeys who are suffering from "anxiety disorders".

Lim Guan Eng sends me his report card

(Photo from The Star Online)

No kidding, Lim Guan Eng hand delivers his report card to me today.  Of course he has more important missions to complete; so he actually gets some flyer delivery company to do the job. 

His report is in 4 languages, with an accompanying letter.  I tried to search for a copy in the internet but could only end up in The Star report.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that 500,000 pamphlets had been printed in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil using RM51,550 of state funds.  Now this is transparency for a starter.  This works out to be only 10.31 sen per copy, considering full-colour and good quality paper!!  What if the previous boot-licking state government were to print this???  Maybe RM10.31 per copy, if they typed the decimal point correctly!!

I like the parting quotation in the covering letter :

" Blessed are the people's voices; for when we are free, Malaysia shall be safe!  Free at last, free at last!"


Good on you Lim Guan Eng!  And thank you for doing an excellent job!!  5 Stars!!  *****