Bali Business Card

Yeah!!!  Finally, I have made my Bali tour business card.  Even though I used the template availabe at the printing shop, I got it done. 

The business card didn't appear as the sample shown though.  At the moment, it doesn't really matter.  I will use it temporarily while designing a card of my own. 

I am really happy.  Action is definitely more practical than having lots of plan without execution.  Next, I'll give out my new business card to as many people as possible.  Step by step I'll make this business grow.  Fingers-crossed. 

English

Read an interview of Fernando Verdasco today.  For those who don't this guy, let me introduce.  He's a prof tennis player from Spain.  This interview was conducted after his third round win over Kei Nishikori, a 21 year old nickname 'Japanese Wonder-kid'. 

As english language is not his mother tongue, just like me, it is interesting to see the press conference with Fernando Verdasco with the press.  See below:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Q. You dominate the game all the time, especially your forehand stroke is so good. How did you look back at that game, that match?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: What I think about the match?

Q. Yes.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

 

English, somehow, as we all learned in school, is not a very complicated language.  Otherwise I wouldn't write this blog in this language.  However, in a way, the english speaking people make it sound so difficult to understand.  They like to go round the world before get to the point.  Just like the question above.  For the native speaker, of course they will understand it instantly.  But for non-native speaker like me, I think my respond would be similar to Fernando Verdasco.  See the way he made clarification.  He summarised the whole long winded sentence in 6 words only.  It is so simple and straight forward.  English speaking people can be sophisticated, complicated and annoying sometimes.  Hahaha. 

 

This reminds me when I speak to Ang Mo.  Many times I would get confused with what they say.  Normally after a long sentence, I would be, huh?  what are you saying?  or just pretend I understand, in fact I dont give a damn.  Hahaha. 

 

However, practice makes perfect.  This didn't happen to me though when I studied in the UK.  Conclusion is, I don't need to give a damn if I cannot understand them now.  But if I work for them, or I live around them, in order to blend in to the society, I will definitely need to speak like them and think like them, in the name of 'Survival'. 

 

So be sure we know our place in the society.  Be wise ;-)

Number of Vehicles in KL

Over the years, I noticed one thing that grows fast in KL.  The number of vehicles on KL and PJ roads are increasing terribly fast.  Most of the KL major roads have heavy traffic irrespective to the hour of the day nowadays. 

 

I read on the newspaper yesterday, that the sales of vehicles in Malaysia has increased by 11.8% for private owned vehicles in 2010 in comparison to 2009. The current trend will most likely continue over the next 5 years, at least. 

If the current trend continues, in 5 years time KL may turn into an unliveable city, for me at least.  Not to mention other cost involved, the traffic jam alone will be enough to drive the drivers insane.  For those who have been to Jakarta or Mumbai will know what I mean.  A short 2 km journey will take about 2 hours.  Imagine, those who stay in Shah Alam and work in KLCC.  At what time they will reach home to their family?  Will there be any quality family time?  Do parents spend enough time with their children, show them love and educate them properly?  The monthly expenses (at least for petrol and toll fees) will increase, so money will be a headache issue. 

There are many more underlying issues we can relate to this issue.  It is quite scary to think of them.  I am not sure if the government sees this upcoming challenges or they are still busy 'stabbing' each other.  Or maybe instead of comparing Malaysia economic status with Singapore, the government prefers to compare with Myanmar nowadays?  We're still much better than Myanmar as they say.  Malaysia is just too corrupted and underdeveloped.  Not to mention about race issue the politics use as political issue, no proper education system set up after 53 years of independent, etc etc etc etc... the list goes on and on...

My conclusion is, KL is definitely not a place for me.  Malaysia?  I have been considering the possibility of migrating to a better place, don't know where yet.  At the moment, I just feel that Malaysia, other than it is spared from natural disaster, is not really a very good place for me and a place to raise my children.  Or maybe I'll join in the political games for the betterment of the society?  hahahaha... Dreaming.  Don't think I can last one day dealing with cunning wolves. 

Well, will see what the future holds.

Diving

Many times friends have mentioned about diving in a deep blue ocean.  Everytime I have only one answer.  If I have to dive, this will be my only way.  See the picture below.  In a cage.  Hahaha.  In case a killer shark came, at least I'll be save. 

Been talking about it but I never did put an effort to search for any picture of it.  Found this picture in a magazine downloaded from internet few minutes ago so decided to put it up here.  Hahaha.

Customer Services

I went to 4 banks to get quotations for refinancing my apartment today.  Bank loan interest rate that I have for this apartment is the old deal from 5 or 6 years ago, where the bank loan interest rate was still high, above BLR, BLR + 0.25% p.a.   

Went to 4 banks namely Maybank, Alliance Bank, RHB Bank and Citibank.  I experienced 4 different approaches from 4 of the bank officers.  It's just interesting to see the difference in the level of professionalism in them. 

First, Maybank.  As the bank officer is the sales manager, he's experienced in customer service.  He showed professionalism.  He explained to me and suggested me things to do.  I told him that at the moment I'm also looking for quotations from other banks.  His reply was 'Maybank will try their best to keep their existing customers.  I'm sure Maybank will give you a good and satisfactory offer'.  Well, I'm not sure how good the offer would be, but at least I'm satisfied with the answer.  Too bad I have to return to the home branch for this refinance.  Troublesome but will have to do it regardless.  This bank officer is polite and knowledgable, make customer feels comfortable and have confident in him. 

Second, Alliance.  A lady bank officer.  She looked a bit unwell, coughed a little with a little hoarse voice.  She said she ate... errr... can't remember what she said, that caused the problem.  Haha.  Once she understood what I wanted, she took out a paper, started explaining what Alliance Bank has to offer in details.  After that she would take down my contact number, my apartment address, if I have done renovation to my apartment and she offered to value my apartment.  Once she receive the valuation, she will call me up to let me know the actual loan interest rate.  Then she wrote down a list of documents needed for the refinace application.  My impression was she knows what she is doing, professional, decisive and confident. 

Third, RHB Bank.  A young man.  I guess about 26 or 27 years of age.  He didn't explain much.  Only told me the interest rate of RHB Bank, but will only know the finalised bank loan offer after they do valuation on my apartment and the amount I want to refinance.  He then took out his calculator, started pressing the buttons.  After a while, he would tell me the monthly installment, assuming the loan amount is bla bla bla and with the generic interest rate.  I was like, OK, and can you tell me more about the loan itself.  What are the features and benefits???  I can't remember what his answers were.  A little fed up, I took out the paper from Alliance Bank, told him what the other bank offered.  Only then he started telling me more.  At the end, I told him you should have told me earlier.  Guess what was his childish answer?  I nearly gave him a knock on his head when he said that.  He said, 'because you didn't ask'... huhhhhhhhhh.... and then he told me, if I want a better rate, with his hand tapping the bottom part of the table (later I found out that it's under table interest rate), I can go HSBC.  I was thinking, huhhh, this guy really couldn't care less of me.  Bad impression.  Not professional.  Though gathered few extra information from him, I guess if I want a quotation from RHB Bank, he will not be the bank officer I will look for, agree?

Finally, Citibank.  Citibank is an international bank.  The services it provides, I would expect to be better than other local banks.  I guess in Malaysia, you can't be sure.  I waited at lounge area, and here came another young man.  The first impression was, he is a bit unwilling to serve, as if he wants to finish the conversation in one  minute and go back to whatever he's doing if possible.  He only talked, talked and talked.  He only took out his pen and asked for a piece of paper from the counter when I asked more questions.  Feeling a little bit annoyed, I asked him, shouldn't you explain properly from the beginning?  He gave another funny answer.  He said many times he explained to customers,
they do not understand what he's saying.  It's best for him to get the details from his customers, prepared the documents, then only he would explain in details.  I was like, huh??????   OK, whatever he is doing, as long as he can earn his living.  Or maybe to him, I look like an uneducated person?  I was wearing a jeans and T-shirt only, maybe looked really poor or my apartment value didn't really interest him at the beginning.  Haha.  With the kind of impression, I really couldn't care less of what he's talking about after that.  But I'm who I am, I would just ask questions here and there, about anything, just to make him talk more.  As I showed more interest (faking) and maturity side of me (hopefully), he started to explain more and more.  His attitude improved.  Maybe he is happy to finally be able to explain to somebody who can understand?  I think to myself, maybe he really had a bad day, or even days.  Hahaha.  At the end, I asked myself, if I'm going to get quotation from this bank, will I ask for him?  Hmmm, most probably not, maybe he will be the second last choice.  Last choice would be the young man from RHB bank.  Hahaha.  Purely because of attitude problem and the impression he gave me.  I dont think I will get a good service from him, as my loan amount is not big. 

It is interesting to see the variety of characters in human beings.  As Chinese old saying, one type of rice 'creates' 100 types of people (characters).  Tomorrow will go to few more banks.  Hope will see more different characters.  In a way, this is how I learn and improve myself as well.  I learn

1. How to handle them accordingly. 
2. I learn about their good and bad points.  Good parts I'll absorb them if I haven't got them already.  Bad parts, throw them out of the window, never keep them. 
3. Sometimes their attitude reflects my attitude as well, so need to analyse and access about myself too. 
4. In customer service line, it is utmost important to make your customers feel comfortable, confident in you, maintain good communication, build the trust, share as in dont be stingy of your knowledge and they think of you when they need assistant. 

If you can fulfill these few simple criteria, I guess you are already successful.  I guess I've done it and I'm proud of it.  hahaha.  That's why I have high expectations.  Hahaha. 

Cancer and Life

Just two days ago I went to visit an old friend of mine.  He's actually my late big sister's colleague.  We were staying in the same police resident apartment before.  That was when I was still in my form 4 and form 5 in Kota Kinabalu, nearly 20 years ago.  I last met him about 15 years ago. 

I still remember, on 2nd Dec 2010, the day I came back to KL sad and depressed, he called me up.  I didn't pick up the phone because I thought I dont want to listen to another condolence.  After that many things happened, I went to Australia etc, and in my to do list I always list down to return call to this old friend.  But I never did.  I was just tired and tried to avoid everybody.  I can't remember clearly now when was it, but my second sister told me that this old friend was diagnosed with advanced stage NPC (nose cancer), just like my big sister. 

This was shocking.  According to my second sister, he didn't have any symptom of this NPC.  To make things worse, the cancer has already spreaded to his lung and liver.  Level of severity, I'm not sure, but can't be good. 

Came back from Australia, the first thing I did was called him up.  He was in Saratok, his hometown in Sarawak, and he said it's not convenient to talk.  Will call again when he's back in KL.  Finally I managed to catch up with him 2 days ago.  Glad to see him still energetic and positive.  He's undergoing chemotherapy now.  This chemotherapy is helping him to combat the cancers at the 3 infected organs, the lung, liver and nose.  So far his appetite is still very good.  He gains weight instead of losing weight, which is a good sign.  No vomit.  Good.  Though sometimes feel tired, he still manages.  Sleeps off the tiredness.  Watch some drama.  Practice Qi Gong to increase the oxygen level and blood circulation.  

According to him, there's no sign of cancer at all.  I was diagnosed with the disease end of November.  Before that he still jogged, played volleyball etc.  As healthy or even healthier than you and me.  Cause of cancer?  Only God knows.  He's a health concious person.  No smoke, proper diet, proper lifestyle, exercise regularly. 

I shared with him my experiences.  I hope my experience with the disease help him a little.  I'm also glad to learn that he's still firm and decisive even though he didn't really know to handle it at the beginning.  Now he decides what he wants to do, what to eat and what to do.  I think that's important too since he knows his body best.  We as an outsider can never really understand how they feel.  We can just help 'hopelessly', hoping things will go well. 

Some said we will die one day, so no need to care so much about lifestyle and diet.  So they will just live however they want.  Some would say I do my part, take care of diet, exercise, no smoke, no drinking, no extreme sports etc and leave the rest to the Almighty up there.  To me, it's up to the individual however he/she wants to live his/her life.  When time is up, it's up.  It's how we live our lives that's important.  So live today like never before.  Everyday is a gift.  Make full use of it, dont waste it. 

Learn a Little New Everyday

It's 15th January 2011 today.  Half of January 2011 is over.  What can I say, again, TIME FLIES.  What I have done so far?  Nothing much apart from going back to Kuching to perform the final ritual / prayer for my big sis, went around Kuching searching for new house, brought my nephew to his kindergarten on the first day of school, seen for the first time that there were so many small kids crying pitifully together, realised how important water is to our daily life as water supply was cut at my apartment for 2 days because didn't pay maintenance fee for too long, starts to read more books, felt a little depressed since came back to KL, realised I was under depression, dealth with it and dark cloud has once more been dispersed and I see sun shine again. 

Lots have happened.  But I realised that I haven't started many things I set to do.  Most of the time it's overwhelming to think of things that I set to do.  In order to achieve them, I really have to learn more and equipped myself with knowledge.  I guess that's the problem with me and many others.  When we are in comfort zone, it eats away our desire, our enthusiasm and the fire.  Should I continue to be like this, ten or twenty years down the road, I am sure I would be saying the same thing, 'I haven't achieved what I set for'. 

From today onwards, I shall learn something new everyday, even if it's about reading few pages of a book.  I believe an old great quote, learn a little a day, we learn a lot in a month, a year and a lifetime.  Make sure we are today a self better than yesterday self.  Lets do it together to those who read this blog, and please do cascade it down to all people you know.  Only because life is too short.  Make full use of every second we have.