Photolog: Skyline of KL

Another fluke, taken from a moving van. That's the recognisable KLCC in the background

Conditioning

I was speaking to a friend earlier and we were lamenting the fact that, somehow over time, we’ve given up some of our spirit, energy and enthusiasm, that was so abundant when we were younger.  We’re no longer as carefree in our thoughts or behaviour and I suspect some of us, now believe “carpe diem” to be overrated.
I for one, realised that compared to 3 years ago, I’m now a meeker person.. a shadow of the person I used to be.  I used to be so fired-up when talking about things that were dear to me, like feminist issues, not caring what others thought of me…. I was passionate and felt alive. 

I’ve forgotten how it feels to be passionate about something, nowadays I’m too busy caring about what others think about my actions, worrying whether I’m too loud, too crude, too different from them!

3 years ago, I wanted to be different, to be individualistic.  Now, I just want to be accepted into the environment and the easiest way to do it, is to adapt and be just like the rest.  

Have I progressed or regressed?

HK prepares for Chinese New Year

I was walking about Wan Chai market on a Sunday morning, a week ago and was inspired to take these pictures.  With CNY about 2 weeks away, the shops have started to sell the decorations, which will hang in homes.  Red and Gold are auspicious colours and feature heavily in everything, while  Fish symbolises riches or abundance.

 

CNY decorations for sale

More CNY decorations on sale

Mandela: His 8 Lessons of Leadership

Top 10: Winter in HK

Anyone who knows me well enough, knows that I lovvveee making lists.  It has many benefits and keeps things simple.  I’ve decided to take my list-making fetish to this blog, by creating a new category : Top 10 Lists.  This list could be good or bad, either way I’ll keep it to 10.

My first Top 10 list is on Winter in HK.  Here’s what I love/hate about winter in HK (in no particular preference) and you try to figure out which is bad/good:

1. Cold weather = less sweating  = less pimples (yeay, my face hasn’t been this clear in a long time)
2. Less sweating also means I can wear make up and it last till the end of the day!
3. My underwear takes 4 days to dry
4. I finally get a chance to wear knee-high boots, a trench coat and gloves without looking strange.
5. Bathing takes less time because I sweat less and anyway, the water doesn’t stay warm long enough. 
6. Chuckling when I see other women wearing fur coats.  The coldest that I’ve seen so far is 8′c.
7. Winter fashion in HK can be quite bizarre.  Girls wear leggings in all kinds of colours and patterns, think orange and green.  Sometimes they would wear thick coats to cover their top and then wear shorts! 
8. I didn’t understand the need for cushioned toilet seats… Now I Do.  (in case you’re wondering, the cushion provides the butt, with much needed relief  from the cold so that we can take our time to do the business)
9. Not knowing what and how many layers to wear, because I don’t know how cold it could get.  So far, I’ve gotten it wrong most of the time, so I’m either over-heating or shivering and turning blue.
10. Feet haven’t seen light in more than a month.  Can’t wear slippers / singlets or I will look strange.

Are we inherently Dishonest?

I’ve recently started reading up on fraud philosophy, partly due to work requirements and a personal interest.  I’ve noticed and it’s probably true that fraud cases seem to become more apparent during economic crisis.  Maybe because there’s lack of money to roll or people get desperate and resort to crime.  Because of my laziness, I haven’t gotten very far in the reading.  But what I have read so far, has been very interesting. 

Yesterday, I had a chance to chat with a professional, who is involved in fraud investigation… no he isn’t the police, but one of those professional firms.  Amazingly, despite having been involved in many high-profile and not-so-high profile cases, he isn’t cynical.  But he did say something interesting, that based on his experience, anyone is capable of committing fraud.  No matter how ethical / religious a person may be, if faced with opportunity and pressure and the prospect of getting away without being caught, anyone is capable of doing it.  Our discussion started when I said that a Company’s recruitment process should be effective enough to prevent “criminals” or people intend on committing fraud, from entering the organisation.  And so, it is assumed that every person hired, is ethical/honest.  Next, the point is to try to manage these employees so that they remain honest.  He cautioned against assuming that a person will remain honest as everyone’s ethical outlook is constantly shaped by the environment that we’re in.

Maybe I’m too idealistic to think that a person can hold on to their ethical principles for life, without allowing life’s pressures to “taint” it.

Being human is so Difficult

Why is it that others can be nasty, rude, dismissive and overall, “kurang ajar” towards me and the socially-correct thing to do is pretend it doesn’t hurt?  I’m supposed to be tolerant, understanding and accept this B***S*** without retaliating.
If I’m rude back or so much as look “different”, I’m labeled many things, all not-so-nice things.
I’ve read many books, which talk about turning the other cheek, if you’re slapped (the bible) and managing my emotions and not letting other people’s bad attitudes affect me (psychology books.. lots of them). But the fact is, it is damn difficult to do and at the end of the day, I end up being a pushover and feel resentful over it!

My emotional and childish side wants to hurt back but what’s the point!  Sigh, this is one debate that’s not going to end soon.

“Kurang Ajar” is a Malay phase, which literally translates to mean a person who didn’t received enough social education, i.e. you’ve no manners.   It has very negative connotations and is considered an insult to be called that.