Way of Success?

Striving hard to become the "useful" person that I aspire to be is not an easy job. In fact, at where I am standing, it felt impossible. The more I want to feel success, the more I felt I am a burden to myself.

What constitute success you asked? I tend to think my perception changes from time to time. A work-life balance. Or amount of properties you own. Or the ability to be able to go travel without having to think about the budget. Or having a family living peacefully under one roof. Sometimes you want to be the president, other times just a normal retiree will do.

In short, I sounded like a person without a direction. Sometimes I think it is best to be in the present and let things just come by.

Easier said than done.

Reignition

Left unattended for a while now. But I guess this will serve more like my snippets of random thoughts. My friend suggested that writing out stuff is therapeutic. I should try this out as well. Thoughts that can't be expressed or not easily shared verbally should be at least displayed visibly for future reference.

I need a place to vent. This should be it. Kind of private but public at the same time. Twitter limits me to 140 words. Sometimes I need more than 140 words. Facebook, well, too public for hanging dirty laundries around.

So here goes to better mental health I suppose.

Fitting In

I have never imagine myself in going to the gym. Fitness was something I maintained with outdoor activities and sports. The variety of experiments and endorsements with ball games such as football, basketball and badminton are deemed sufficient for me. The most I did for strength training was occasional sit-ups and push-ups. Nothing more.

Those were the days

Things needed to be changed and evolved eventually. Life is not the same as you make several transitions from high school to work environment. Impediments are there all the way. Gone were the days where you can cycle to the nearby community field and have a kick with the neighbourhood kids. Gone were the days where you can spend the whole evening and under the revitalising drizzle throwing balls at hoops. There is also the fact that the accumulated injuries and age indicating to the body that you can't take the strain of over-executing the motor process that you only reminiscence during your youthful years.

Ultimately, things changed. I used to scoffed at the notion of going to the gym and exercise classes. That was two years ago. Nowadays, not only I use the facilities, I endorse the programs and classes that they can offer. 

If it wasn't for the persuasion of friends going along to a gym, I would not have advocate the idea of going to one. It started off with the basics, like treadmills and weights. Then, we decided to join one of the gym classes on offer, which is Les Mills' Bodycombat.

And they say the rest is history.

Bodycombat is thrilling to me because of its incorporation of martial arts into a fitness cardio workout with loud upbeat music. You punch, kick and slam your way out while burning the calories. It suits my fitness appetite as it's an ever moving class without the monotonous moves of just running or lifting weights. High intensity used to be my thing and Bodycombat gives me the need of getting pumped with adrenaline through one hour of workout.

Initially, it was exhausting. My coordination was bad and executing moves needed more effort than usual. However, one thing I learned is to persevere and getting the basics right and the next thing you know, you are eager to go for more, instead of dreading at the thought of attending these classes.

Moving to the UK meant further changes were needed. I am glad that I don't have to give up Bodycombat as it is available at my uni's sport centre. I successfully pursue some of my friends to join and they too have never looked back since. Eventually, we decided to go for other variations of gym classes. So far, we have tried Bodypump, Tabata, Zumba and Abs Blasts classes. Each with their functions and benefits to fitness.

My current fitness routine involves (if there are no events or work), Bodycombat for Monday and Tuesday, Tabata or ball games on Weds, Bodypump on Thurs and Fri and my usual Kendo classes on Sunday. Saturday is usually a fitness-free day, but usually working in the restaurant on a weekend "covered" for the fitness as well.

Few things that I learned since taking these classes:

• Get friends to go together. It makes you more committed to your cause. Friends encourages each other and prevents you from missing out.
• Discipline is important. Strive and make commitment to go. Second or third month into a class is normally when people started to give up. Once you get over the crucial stage, it will become a habit and less effort is needed to "persuade" yourself to attend.
• Think of the positives and benefits of attending the classes. This will make you more attached to the classes.
• Set goals. It might be increased weights during BodyPump or engage more level 2 moves in BodyCombat. Goals makes you push for the limit.

Going to the gym together helps motivation to exercise

Adapting is important. I know that I will need to change my routines again once I go back to the working life. However, committing to fitness is important. I won't go into the health benefits as it is all over the place, but getting and being fit and healthy should be a life goal. 

Back Again (Most Possibly)

I tend to abandon the blog now and then. Bad habit of mine. In fact, I think I have written more post to apologise than doing a real post about interesting stuff that is happening.

I was reading the post by James Clear on positive thinking and stumble upon this article about the health benefits of writing (to be specific, about intense positive experience). The article is intriguing and it did motivate me to write more, although my grammar and vocabulary may have now take a dip or two. Then again, that's how things improve, by practicing. 

I guess if it is possible I should be posting more stuff here rather than the social media. Sometimes 140 words ain't enough to express the things that you wanted to and I am not seeking too much attention by posting it on Facebook.

Till the next post (geez!).

A Whole New World? Malaysian Student's Life in the UK

Studying in the UK is, to most of us from Malaysia, a golden opportunity to get out of the tempurung (well) and see the world. Not to mention having some fun exploring and experiencing it. And yes, we are being encouraged to get pendidikan overseas all the time, by parents, by the government and by the mahasiswa..

Getting to a new place means adapting is essential. To various degrees, people miss home and crave the sense of belonging back in the motherland. So what have we been missing as well as experiencing the new life in a new place?

1. Weather
To have a weather conversation in Malaysia is like saying hi and bye to a friend and that's it. After all, there are only two words describing the weather: hot and humid. The most you can go is "Today you think will rain ar?" Here in the UK, however, we are always concerned about the weather. What is the temperature today and for the next few days? Too cold to go out? How many layers of clothes do we need to go out? Is it going to snow? Is there any disruption to transportation due to weather? Why is the heater not working as it should?

And yes, the anticipation of the sun is part of the life here as well. It is such a far cry from Malaysia, where avoiding the sun is the primary mission for the day. Here, you embrace it.

Weather plays a big part in UK's daily life

2. Food

If it is not for globalisation, I think most of the food we expect will be mostly western. Fish & Chips, various chops available and pasta. It is true that with varieties such as Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Middle-Eastern food now available at most places, choices of food is wider nowadays.

But nothing beats the variety we have in Malaysia. And being a food enthusiast, I am for one, miserably missing the food back home. Nasi lemak, curry mee, law mee, tosai, wantan mee, nasi beriani, you name it.

Unless you are filthy rich or picking up decent wages in the UK, eating out is almost not an option. One meal is up to GBP4 average for a fulfilling meal. Good thing is, you pick up lots of cooking skills and recipes during the time in the UK.

Also, the hang out place here are the bars and pubs. That is the equivalent to mamak stores that we have back in Malaysia. Alcohol drinks instead of teh tarik. 

The usual template of food in the UK

3. Language

Malaysian's resume tend to look good, especially the language section. Most of us are at least bilingual. Yes, our education system is pretty complicated, but to be able to converse in more than one language is a huge advantage. For example, if you can speak Mandarin, you are able to converse to at least 300,000 people in the UK with their mother tongue. Imagine that. Most of the time, a typical Malaysian's English can't be wholly rotten and faced extreme difficulties to survive in the UK. So, being the prime example of a multilingual nationality, this is one of the things that we are proud of. Of course, being with the ang mohs, we can't simply blurt our beloved Manglish when conversing with them. It is a tad unnatural sometimes, when we can't say lar or lor and have to be beating around the bush to get to the point. Sometimes, you just wish you can ask "Can meh?" instead of "Do you think that's possible?".

4. Transportation

One thing that is not within our list of concerns here is the traffic jam. As the public transports as well as the town planning are largely systematic, to have a car is the least of concerns getting from one place to another. Getting around one typical city (apart from London), is mostly by foot, which is sufficient. Trains, buses and light rail transits are, most of the time, right on schedule (unless there are disruptions mostly due to bad weather). Cycling is a great alternative as well here. 

Walking is a large part of our travel options in the UK

Other things like air conditioners, fans, rows of high walls in residence area, haze, a hoard of Myvys on the road, reckless motorcyclists are pretty much non-existent here. Is that good or bad, you asked. I would say both. After all, Alladin once sang: "A whole new world; a dazzling place I never knew".

Sultry Sunderland Part 2

Taking the streets of Sunderland is not difficult. It is as straightforward as the signs showed. There is however the problem of finding St. Peter's Church, as it is a small church in a remote area. If we do not intend to visit University of Sunderland's Sir Tom Cowie campus, we would not have stumbled upon it.

St. Peter's Church, Sunderland

Ain't it small? So what's so special of this church that is worth the hunt. Well, truth to be told, I don't regard it much initially as it is part of the itinerary and this church was one of the recommended sites. However, this church do hold a significant history value. It is one of the first stone built churches in England, circa 7th century.

St. Peter's Church scenes

Next up, we checked out the Monkwearmouth Station Museum. Prior to being a museum, it was a station connecting Sunderland to Gateshead and Newcastle. By 1978, it was remodeled to become a museum for transports and local history.

University of Sunderland was the next destination. In fact, next two destinations. As mentioned, the Sir Tom Cowie Campus is just nearby to the Station Museum and St. Peter's Church. Hence, a drop-by at the campus is just 5 minutes walk away from these destinations.

This lovely scene gets my attention: St Peter' Wharf. Neighbour of the university campus.

Directions to the different faculties

Sir Tom Cowie Campus, University of Sunderland

The main campus is..well..main, so much so they have their own metro station: University. It is pretty much a city-based campus with all the houses and flats surrounding the campus.

University of Sunderland Main Campus

Overall, it is a pretty modern campus. Everything's either refurbished or newly built, with large compounds for students to chill.

It would be a sin not to drop by at the Stadium of Light, home to Sunderland AFC. Therefore, a short ride via the metro to the stadium is the last destination to cap the Sunderland visit.

As we are way late for the inside tour of the 49000-capacity stadium, we decided to stroll around the decently big  surrounding before rushing back to Newcastle.

Conclusively, I would have consider Sunderland as more of a suburb, as Subang is to Kuala Lumpur. It won't attract much attention, but it is a place worth living if you love the average buzz that the city can offer.

Hello 2013

2012 has been a roller coaster ride. There are ups and downs, but mostly downs. They say it is good to be reflective. Study and learn from the past, beckoning for the future.

My tendency to focus on the positives have basically served me well. It wasn't always that way. I have been very critical of myself. Sometimes beyond the limits, and put a hell of burden on my self-esteem. However, I learned to control the thoughts and focus more on the good. It is via these self-reflections that I tend to think that I lived life better. Stress does not become depression. I learned how to snap it off. Then again, I still dwell on the gloomy side. As mentioned, it is part of the learning curve.

Sorry for the digression. Setting things into perspective and getting it into motion is important. Hence, I would like to think a new year is a good start. Resolutions are deemed cliches. And yes I did think they are just bullocks. However, to be able to say "I want to try this shit out this new year and better myself" could work. I know I sound like Gollum talking to himself. But I gonna give planning a chance.

1. Completing the Masters
Well, this is not a new plan. But to actually complete it is crucial. I would love to see that I succeed on this. I believed it opens new doors and windows. So, being serious on the course is a must-do. I love what I picked and I am sure I will see this through.

2. Mastering Kendo
Yet another opportunity for me to delve into something new. At this time of life, I tend to stick to things I am familiar with. I have actually pondered to leave it be after some trial sessions. Three months into this thing, and I already have my shinai and uniform. That should signal progress. And I don't think I would want to discontinue it. It is good to learn new stuff, that's what life is suppose to be; to be able to explore new challenges. Who knows what I can do with the new skills I have acquired.

3. Lead an healthy life.
I believe that I am no health freak. However, to lead one is on the agenda. I have seen my heavier days and it could be quite disorientating. My recent kidney problems gave me an enhanced motivation to be more serious about it. I used to scorn gyms and I have taken myself by surprise that I actually joined one last year and now I actually frequents it. Things change and I have to go along. There is no way that I can play football every evening like I used to. Hence, this is the part where I should do some alterations and adaptations.

4. Travelling
This involves money and a department that I wish I could enforce better with lots of greenbacks. I think I can make this happen via some part-time jobs. Also, my perspective of my energy level seems to always halt me back. Time to get that changed as well. Destinations? Scotland is top of my list. The Nordic countries, the Iberian peninsular, Iceland, Ireland and some parts of Eastern Europe should complete it. I would not have mind if I got a job in the US or Australia. It would be great as well if it is in Africa too. I do not have any luggage on me and adaptability is one of my strength. I can't see why I shouldn't work and travel abroad.

Isle of Skye could be a great destination for a Scotland trip

It might sound general, but it's a start. Putting it in black and white makes it more desirable and concrete to achieve it. Cheers to 2013.

Sultry Sunderland Part 1

A brief trip via the Metro service (30 minutes) down from Newcastle, lies Sunderland. Situated at the mouth of River Wear, it can boast a nice coastline as well a buzzed city centre, developed throughout the years as a coal-mining town to the current high-technology industry.

River Wear via the Metro 

City Centre from Sunderland Station

Sunderland Metro and Train Station

Stepping out from the station, the city centre provides a compact yet organised location. The roads are mostly small and pedestrian walkways dominates the geography here. Like most other cities in the UK, the place is a combination of both old and new buildings. As Sunderland has been largely been in the redeveloping programme due to modernise the city, the architecture landscape are mostly of the 21st century settings. However, conservation projects are lately part of the plans by the city council, hence traditional buildings are mostly preserved as reminder to Sunderland's industrial history.

Museum and Library

Sunderland City street views

A visit to the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens is our first agenda. It holds the industrial history of the city itself, including textile making, coal mining and ship building.

Museum and Winter Gardens Entrance

Inside the Sunderland Museum

Next up, we have a look at the Winter Gardens, where the tropical jungle are modeled and preserved here. It is certainly a reminder of the Malaysian humidity and hutan (forest) atmosphere.

Into the Winter Gardens

Inside the Winter Gardens

Next, we head out of the building and dropped by at Mowbray Park, just beside the Winter Gardens.

(clockwise from left) 2 Views of Winter Gardens, swans in the lake, park view

Apart from the beautiful view of the lake and the exterior of Winter Gardens, it has a scenic garden where various activities are available.

Next up...other destinations in Sunderland. Part 2 soon. 

Newcastle: 2 Months and Counting

Took me awhile to get another post up. As aforementioned, it is an exciting time here. Full of joy and challenges at the same time.

And here I am, 2 months into my pilgrimage at Newcastle. Academic Development Week is what they call it for this week. Nice name for mid-term break. However, there is no excuse in resting on my laurels. Assignment deadlines are upcoming and the literature reads piles up like snow on a cold winter day.

Speaking of snow, here is a pic of them. First taste of it.

Well, not exactly clear. But there you go for a preview.

As autumn drifts into winter, I will just let the pics give a brief chronicle of events so far.

The occasional makan sama-sama sessions with fellow Malaysians

I swear these are my guilty pleasure food of all time

One of the class scenes, though I am in a much smaller class than illustrated

First match at St James' Park

Me and Monsieur Jacque o' Lantern preparing for Halloween

Silent Hill picturesque of Northumbria University

I have also made some intriguing trips to a few cities in the UK. But it is gonna be too long to be all included in one post.

Till then.

1st Taste of Newcastle

The very first breath of UK weather when I stepped out of the plane did make me want to stand there and embrace the cold fresh air. Welcome to Newcastle, a large sign board said.

The welcoming coast of Newcastle

The weather is indeed a great topic to be discussed in the UK. It is a great conversation starter. Newcastle's weather is a drama queen of its own. Rain and shine cycle can be completed in approximately 7 rounds per day.

Getting on from that, Newcastle itself is how I expected it to be. Captivating, fun and at the same time homely.

City Centre along Northumberland Street

Northumbria University is 5 minutes away from the City Centre, a great boon for people who embrace convenience. A mixture of traditional and modern architecture and facilities, it gives the combination of vintage yet savvy feel.

Northumbria University

I like it here as it is not as complicated as it is in London. On the other hand, it provides the basic needs of a cosmopolitan. If you want serenity, Newcastle provides that as well. More on that in the next post.

Yet Another New Chapter

That moment when I make my decision and decided to further my studies was still quite fresh in my memory. Fast forward one year, and here I am getting ready to take the challenge that did not seem to be on my five-year-plan manifesto. I decided to seize it as it is what they call a golden opportunity. It was the right moment financially speaking; the most important of all factors.

Few more days left and I am all set. UK is not a total stranger's land for me, thanks to that valuable few months in Liverpool. However, it will be a new place, new environment this time around. One that has received splendid feedback and recommendations from my colleagues and friends.

Welcome to Newcastle they say

How brilliant it will be, only time will tell. The chronicles will be told once I am there for my "getaway". As the designated date edge closer, all I am praying is that I will make it.

Exciting times ahead.

Beyond Familiar Places

A lot of times, you have to really think about it and you'd realise that friendship ain't a thing that is easy to maintain. It is much more easy to fade away into oblivion rather than you keep one.

To maintain a certain friendship needs effort. What's more if this friendship is maintained since kindergarten.

Not easy I can tell you. Yes, we are friends since we are 6. It has been almost 20 years and we are still keeping in touch.

You don't realise it until you sit down one day at a nice, chill-out cafe and you are reminiscing about the past that you have gone through. 20 years of memories down the road. And here we are in a foreign land (well, everything out of Penang is considered foreign in this context) sipping latte and having a nice sandwich, watched a funny movie together and bitching about how Penang is still better place than KL. 

The fact that we came from the same schools and how we developed throughout the years, each with a different path taken, people met and exposure gained is already an interesting fact. In fact, we don't really share a lot of things in common, paradoxically speaking. But here we are, surviving and setting foothold away from where we are from. 

Cheers to our long and lasting friendship.

Asian Efficiency

Recently found an interesting new blog to read.

Introducing: Asian Efficiency.

Started by stereo-typically, Asians, Aaron Lynn and Thanh Pham, the blog is similar to what Lifehacker has offered to me so far. But having more life hacks on my list of to-reads would do no harm.

The title itself is already eye-catching. The common "myth" of efficiency and genius of Asians. If you read the posts, I can say that it carries the title well. Good links, sufficient support of facts and most definitely important, helpful.

Check it out.

And It Was Like....

Mondays aren't that bad after all. In fact, I don't really jump onto the Monday Blues bandwagon. I believe and will always be positive about the start of the week.

So first thing in the morning, I was informed by one of my students that the deposit was paid (finally!) And it was like....

And later in the afternoon, there was another anxious moment, when I have to collect the visa of another student. Anxious because it will be my first student to get a visa to the UK and the case ain't straight forward. So 30 minutes of waiting in visa centre was giving me the jitters. There are many unnecessary what-ifs in my head, but it turned out just fine. And it was like....

Next up it was a us vs. others moment, where student is only interested in two universities, with only one of them has affiliations with us. So intense and last minute preparations were made for a great presentation. And it turns out, way before I have the chance to present all my points to convince, she has already made her choice. And the choice is what everyone would have wanted it to be. And it was like....

So there you go. Monday ain't that bad, was it? It has been a tough year, so hopefully days like this will be more of the rule rather than the exception.

Peace out.

You Win or You Die

I think it is time to reflect upon the major decision that has been made since last October. 3 more months and off I go. For self-enhancement, to put it bluntly.

A lot of people will comment somewhere between this lines: "Wah, song loh. Can go oversea leh. I oso wan." or "U so lucky. Can go study again."

Let me tell you this, it is not as "song" as you think it will be. This is a responsibility and with it, comes with the burden and expectations from every corner of your life. It comes with questions. Questions that needed to be answered by yourself, like " What are you gonna do after this?" "Will it be worth it?" "Why this course?" and "Can you make it?"

And not to forget the responsibility to la familia. After all, they are the ones who made this possible all the while. It is an investment. And as the concept of investment goes, it can turn good or bad, possibly with dramatic effects. I guess, it is You Win or You Die, dramatically speaking. What is in for the parents? I can't really promise them alot of things. But what I can promise is, I will do my best in what I do.

Yummy Ygritte

The Game of Thrones has just ended for its second season. And if the dates are to follow the previous seasons, we have another 300+ days to go for the next season. 300 days and counting.

The show has an awesome cast. The Starks, Lannisters, Tyrells, Boltons...Hodor....blabla. However, I would like to bring attention to the latest on my list of yums (apart from Emilia Clarke with brunette hair): Rose Leslie.

And who was she on GoT? The wildling and spearwoman, Ygritte.

Not exactly a Wildling face that you are expecting. I would have thought her as a lovely princess in any Great Houses of Westeros on the series. But yea, she is one of the Wildlings. Better than being one of the whores of GoT.

Pretty sure there are comments about why such a beauty was cast on a tribe Beyond the Wall. We all expect Wildlings women to look like Osha (Natalia Lena). But hey, everywhere needs a beauty. And if she was known to the Seven Kingdoms, I am sure lots of Westorosi will take flight to the North pronto.

Leslie not being Ygritte. Still yum.

She has a sexy and a tad husky voice and accent (similar to those from Scotland and Scouse in nature). Her taunts on Jon Snow are just simply epic. Here is one of them, though you have to watch the whole scene on this in S02E07, to get the full LMFAO moment.

And if you are wondering how similar Ms Leslie is to her character. Here is a video of her being interviewed:

Seven minutes of gratifying moment. Can't wait to see more of her on Season 3.