Lost And Found

Expression

2011-07-27T23:52:00.000+08:00

What’s in it? What lies beyond the seemingly conceivable facade? To what extent do gestures and body languages reveal about the ingenuity of a person’s speeches, actions and intentions? What’s in this basic tool that is generally mysteriously incomprehensible for us? How far can our primitive instincts and intuitions aid us in reading the unconventional books so that we bond appropriately?

It comes in various forms. For me, it is an area worth exploring, cultivated, re-enacted till perfection and broadcasted. All of us were born to act as it is a necessary kit to fit into the society by and large through acceptable norms of speech, emotions depicted by our facial expressions, and the ways we bring ourselves about. The only differences are the reasons for which this tool is used and the extent to which this area is explored. But since the option of acting appears to be far-fetched at this stage, expression through words is a viable alternative.

String of Failures

2009-04-28T21:28:00.007+08:00

She strikes at you when you least expect it

You might be left humming happily or totally devastated

The scientists relate such an event to the brains

The artists, to the heart

Like the rain

She may be dismal or torrential

Memory...

For me,

Its the unprecedented weather

The sip of the freshly brewed coffee

The quest to forage for food in the middle of the night

The thought of tantalizing gastronomy

And being hungry together

The presence of comfort

Uncertainties

Determination

A sense of belonging

Reflections of not only the moon in the pond

The rush, the activities and the upbeat

The diversity of my companions

You resurface from my memory lane

Stop it!

Memory memory, you are failing me...

The World Robbed My Soul

2009-03-28T00:29:00.014+08:00

The World Robbed My Soul

I know it's been long but there is so much going on in my life everyday and i am just too lazy to post each and every one of these occasions. I might post an outline of interesting encounters over the past few months in a couple of weeks though.

Basically, i am currently reading Bachelors of Medicine/ Bachelors of Surgery (MBBS) in Monash University. I barely scrapped through that. Thank GOD! New environment, new friends who are awesome! I believe 5 years is too short a period of time to spend with them but i shall cherish every moment i ll have with this dynamic group of people.

Back to the post*

"I pray for those who are in need, for those who are suffering, and even for those i see in newspapers and feel very sorry for. I pray for my family, my relatives and my friends and i really hope that everything will turn out well for them. I don't mind even if it means that i have to suffer as long as the others are happy and well"

- That WAS ME... a couple of years ago.

Life, in general was simple. I genuinely hoped for the betterment of people in general and i was quite selfless.

"I pray that i can pass my exams and hopefully excel in them, i pray that i could be extraordinary, that i will be someone some day, that i will have a beautiful family, that i will be successful, that i will be rich and bla bla bla, the list goes on..."

- This IS ME NOW.

There's so much to catch up with in life that i do not even know what i am chasing after anymore. Is this what life is all about? An endless chase? Something new will arise after we have achieved something. I used to wince at this thought, proudly thinking that i won't fall into this category, that i would not succumb to peer pressure, that i will always be true to myself. But is this so? I doubt so now. I doubt myself. I feel that sometimes, i say things for the "formality" of it. I lost the sense and essence of being genuine. I lost... me.

When i was young i used to wonder why people would change over time. I was pretty confident that i am strong enough to constantly remind myself to always be humble and selfless but over time, from one aim to another, i begin to think more of myself than of the others. My surroundings have tempted me to change and i followed blindly. I realised that simplicity had seeped out of me and sophistication had crept in and i don't want this to happen. I don't want to be a hypocrite.

I guess i should just stop aiming and return back to basics. But it certainly won't be easy and i might not succeed. Thus, i would like to apologize if i have disappointed any of you. Just so you know, i am disappointed of myself.

Jun Beng's Review on Music

2008-12-18T17:12:00.028+08:00

Top Ten Music for 2008 (Across All Genres)

Year 2008 is coming to an end and it has been a rich year for music amidst the global economic dilemma. This list is a special review from me dedicated to the music industry for the year 2008! Do check out these songs!

A list of songs released in 2008 which are catchy, meaningful, and an all time favourites regardless of the songs' genres. Peer review and personal preferences are fully accounted for the list. The links to the songs are provided below the stated songs.

1. I'm Yours by Jason Mraz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHnJGXwr-HU

2. Viva La Vida by Coldplay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvgZkm1xWPE

3. No Air by Jordin Sparks featuring Chris Brown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxBdQs10FEI

4. Carry You Home by James Blunt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BdnwBsWpkY

5. Take A Bow by Rihanna

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA7XIc36sXs

6. Always Be My Baby by David Cook

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8j0_qfxL-0 (the official video isn't released yet)

7. One Step At A Time by Jordin Sparks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzyys6kW8yg

8. Disturbia by Rihanna

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25Mprmru2D4

9. What About Now by Chris Daughtry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ylgchWR-Ig (this video clip is simply beautiful!)

10. Better In Time by Leona Lewis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrNoDUblAtE

This list is compiled by Kong Jun Ming and Kong Jun Beng. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy these great hits!

Offer of Admission at International Medical University (IMU)

2008-12-18T15:51:00.018+08:00

Medicine at IMU

Hi there,

Sorry for the late updates. I was busy with my finals and with the task of representing my baking academy for two exhibitions. Anyway, i just got my offer from IMU dated 11th of December 2008. The institution offered me a place for Partner Medical School Medical Programme (PMS) which translates to the idiotic chef who is typing this down having the opportunity to be a doctor! Yay me! Okay, that's lame. Anyway, during the exhibition at Putra World Trade Center (PWTC) on the 6th of December i distinctly remembered helping a student out while i was handing out free food to the public by offering him some tips on IMU's interview. At that point, i didn't even know that i was offered a place at IMU. So, the saying that when you help others out you will be blessed yourself isn't actually false, is it?

By the by, i am still awaiting for the outcome of my applications for medicine from Monash Malaysia and dentistry from University of Adelaide. I hope that they'll get back to me before my IMU's payment deadline which is on the 26th of December. Just so you know, South Australian Matriculation (SAM) results were released yesterday, 17th of December 2008. Good luck to those of you doing SAM. I know i shouldn't be saying this considering the fact that some of you are my competitors and are applying for medicine and dentistry, but i still wish all of you the best of luck!

Lastly, to the rest of you out there who are curious and would like to know more about applying for a medical or dental course in Australia or in IMU, feel free to write to me and I'll try my best to get back to you. I might be able to help you guys/gals with the interviews and the application procedures that i have gone through.

One Step At A Time

2008-12-04T22:15:00.009+08:00

HO HO HO, Merry Christmas!

Christmas is around the corner and the presence of this significant day could already be felt with Christmas carols being played in radio channels, promotions on Christmas products looming over shopping complexes and some with high spirits over this holiday could be seen on the streets. Well, i love Christmas not merely because i am a Christian but i also love it for the typical warm atmosphere as well as the ambiance this holiday generates. The decorations and celebrations are fabulous too! So, what do you guys/gals have in mind for your Christmas or New Year's resolution?

For me, i think i would have to take things one step at a time. I realise that i cannot sit still in a place for too long and i barely have much time for myself. I am always engaged in something and sometimes, time is so vicious as to not permit me to do all that i want to do. Hating this idea, i try fighting it by doing A LOT of things at one time and the outcome of it? Well, its either average or plainly horrendous. So, my resolution for this Christmas would be to learn to sit back a while and breathe, dealing with matters one by one at my own pace. I should seriously learn to walk before i start running.

Just to make this blog more tasty, i would like to show you all what i have done for my exam. I flew solo today and the set isn't complete though (Everyone has a partner except for me. My partner has tumor and had stopped his classes).

Appetizer- Prawn Cocktail

Soup - French Onion soup boiled with beer. Its not complete as it wasn't topped with crouton.

Main course - Chicken Parmagiana with homemade pasta. Hmm... yummy!

Well, by displaying those pictures, i hope you guys/gals will have more faith in my cooking. Haha. Okay, i am so desperate for recognition now! ^.^ Anyway, happy holidays and Merry Christmas. I have schooling for 21 days non- stop and a hospital attachment after that. From my point of view, i might be spending my holidays looking at people who are sick and at dead bodies. =.=! My piece of advice (to myself and the rest of you reading this), enjoy your holidays while you still can.

Impotence

2008-11-28T00:56:00.009+08:00

Impotence

This post has elements of Jun Beng ranting. No point for you to continue reading on unless you are keen to know what's going on.

A few days ago, the mother of a friend of mine who works at the place i am pursuing culinary arts accidentally slipped by the staircase and fell right under my nose. Initially, i thought what had happened and i stood motionless for a couple of seconds. She was yelping in pain and i guessed that she must have strained her leg. I rushed downstairs and wondered what to do. Although it wasn't an emergency that places the question of life and death at stake, that moment still struck me as i thought "What can i do? I am not a doctor. I have no idea of how to deal with this type of situation!"

The only thing i could do then was to bring her to the clinic close to my baking academy. Other than that, i am left helpless. What if there isn't a clinic or any health care service around the corner? What should i do then? Seriously, feeling impotent is the worst feeling for me. I would like to help people out when they're in trouble and my desire to be a doctor grew even more. Okay, i know that there are tonnes of other professions that help societies in different ways but that doesn't discount my urge for becoming a doctor (I am not going to talk about it in this post. Its really long). Anyway, realising the fact that i might not even be selected into any medical schools makes things worse. I know there's nothing that i could do now. But then again, impotence arises.

See, once in a while life will pour some situations whereby we humans will be left, impotent. For me, its like the time when both my grandads died, the time when my aunt died of cancer, the time when another of my aunt who had diabetes and there was a stage whereby it was critical, the time when i couldn't help my friends or those dearest to me in certain matters (this sucks!), the time when i am sitting here wondering whether i ll ever be accepted for medicine, the time when.... it's never ending and really, this post is nothing more than a post where i rant. But seriously, isn't it good to be in the know?

Anyway, back to the lady who slipped. Her name is Sandra. My friends from culinary arts brought her back up as she didn't want to go to the clinic just then. The boss of my baking academy, Liz insisted that she goes to the clinic and we sort of carried her there. She got really dizzy in the clinic. Throughout the way, all i did (as i thought it was right) was just being there, carrying her around from time to time, comforting her and asking her to relax.

Well, I know its pretty useless of me but just recently i managed to think of this (perhaps, just to give myself some satisfaction so that i don't feel useless). As Sir William Osler, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford, noted that medicine is (this was taken from IMU's brochure by the way) "to acquire facility in the art of diagnosis....bla bla bla (its really long)... to conduct treatment that the patient may be restored to health... or, failing that, be given the greatest possible measure of relief"

I think that although i failed to treat Sandra's leg, at least i have tried my best to give her a measure of relief by being compassionate. Its a form of medicine in action (okay! this is so me giving myself some solace!)! By the way, i noticed that a lot of doctors these days are rather mechanical and robotic and some have money radiated clearly from their eyes and its not wrong cause everyone is different! But if i were to ever become a doctor, i most certainly will not follow their footsteps.

A Very Reasonable Treat

2008-11-23T19:39:00.019+08:00

What's For Lunch? (RM 2/0.57 US Dollars per meal!)

RM2 (0.57 US Dollars) for a meal in Kuala Lumpur? Hard to believe but do check out Ho Guang Vegetarian Fast Food which is situated in Seri Petaling (close to the new police station which is under construction). They have a variety of vegetarian dishes and goodness, the pricing is extremely reasonable. A choice of Chinese tea or plain water is offered as drinks and could be replenished anytime but the best part is, they're free! Their most common course is rice with a selection of three side dishes of your choice priced at only RM2 (0.57 US Dollars)! They also offer other dishes such as vegetarian noodles and vegetarian tidbits and the prices vary. The restaurant is rather clean, the food tastes not bad and the ambience is alright. The only form of media there is a display of a Buddhist monk preaching. Perhaps the restaurant is charity based to feed the poor or to promote vegetarian lifestyle? I have no idea but anyone from all walks of life is welcomed. Its a self service restaurant though which means that you will have to order and collect your own food at the counter but for the price you are paying, i guess that won't be a problem at all! To the beggars or those who are pretending to be beggars out there, this might just be the perfect place for you to dine!

All these for RM2! I bet even getting these from economy rice stalls would never be as cheap!

If you dislike rice, you have a selection of noodles that costs RM 2 as well!

A variety to choose from to go with your rice.

A look into the restaurant. Mind my amazing photography skills though.

This restaurant is recommended for those who live or work in Seri Petaling. I wouldn't recommend it to those who live 20kilometers from this district cause if you're looking for a cheap meal to save some cash, i guess the petrol used to get all the way here would cost more than an average priced meal. Besides, the meals offered are pretty normal and common. Not some fancy tantalizing gourmet you would kill to try.

I Have A Dream

2008-11-19T22:09:00.022+08:00

I Have A Dream

Dreams. What about them? Do they live in us or do we have our lives in them? Do they define us or do we, humans, try to explain them? Are our true colours depicted in the actions carried out by us in our dreams or are they displayed by our actions on earth?

Dreams. Some of us dream to live the lives we would like to experience but are prohibited in reality due to certain circumstances. Some others dream to kill boredom. Some dream to try new things out. Some dream for the surreal impossibilities restrained by limits on earth whereas some others dream to cope up with reality.

Dreams. We live a third of our lives in the dreams our minds create. However, the plain truth is, reality affects our dreams more than our dreams affect reality. Or do we choose our own reality? Some of us would shut ourselves out and enclose ourselves in our own personal spheres, thus making our dreams our reality.

Dream. While we are at it, a different world arises. We are in control of the consequences and results of the ending. Sometimes, when they are too addictive, we would need someone to be there to pull us out from our dreams and breathe reality back to us.

Dreams. Numerous successes begin from dreams. Personally, i urge that we do not let them become a reality of its own. Instead, lets realise our dreams by imparting actions necessary to transform reality to liken our dreams. When that occurs, that's when our dreams truly speak to us.

Jaycee Chan and Wu Jia Hui in Sugarcraft Baking Academy, Malaysia

2008-11-13T00:17:00.042+08:00

An Encounter with the Superstar's Star and a Malaysian artiste

On the 10th of November 2008, i stumbled into Jackie Chans' son, Jaycee Chan who is an artiste from Hong Kong as well as a Malaysian singer, Wu Jia Hui who i wasn't aware off. Both of them came to the place where i am currently undertaking culinary arts to learn a little about baking and to promote my baking academy. It is due to be broadcasted on 8TV sometime around Christmas, so, technically, you are getting an exclusive premiere through this blog before it is even broadcasted!

It was scheduled for both these stars to arrive at 8p.m. but guess what, i arrived at my baking academy around 8.30p.m. and they weren't there yet. I waited at the bottom of my baking academy together with the rest of the staff. It was anticipated that they have already arrived. I was expecting heavily armed personnel as we scanned through the cars that passed the main road. We waited for 10 minutes or so when a huge white van stopped by the allocated parking lot. There was no police around. My second misconception that night was that Jaycee Chan is the guy with long hair. But, i was wrong again. He arrived and passed through me as he headed upstairs and we were only inches apart. Yet, i didn't know that the guy with short hair who passed through me was him and i was frantically waiting for him to get out of the van.

At first, both of them were reminded lightly on a rather spontaneous script by the producers. I didn't pay much attention to Wu Jia Hui throughout the night as i didn't know that he was a star. Apart from that, he spoke Chinese all the while and i cannot understand his speech and humour. Next, they were instructed by Elizabeth, the head instructor of my baking academy to wear an apron each.

They were then taught on what to put into the mixer and while they were at it, i must say that Jaycee was rather cute or probably he was acting cute. He practically dumped everything that was in a few bowls into the mixer in a rough manner and the scene was like a curious little kid learning how to bake.

After mixing everything, they were brought into the baking room but i didn't follow as the room was small and it was crowded. Although they placed their mixture into the oven, the final products that were recorded weren't their work. They re-entered the room where the mixers were placed and they took some shots with their so called "final products".

Some individual poses of Jaycee Chan.

Then, we had group pictures.

I have to say, i hope that both those stars didn't have a hard time taking a picture with me cause i have to admit that i sweated a lot and smelled like crap!

Finally, Jaycee Chan signed a Sugarcraft uniform and i was quite upset that he didn't have enough time to sign more. Well, i am not a fan of either of these stars but i hoped that i could get their signatures so that i could sell them on e- bay and earn some cash. Okay, i sound like a China man now. By the way, throughout the night, i came to a conclusion that it isn't easy to be a star. I could think of two rules for those who aspire to be a star and they are as follow:

Rule number one: There must be no connections whatsoever with anyone on set when you are promoting something. And this rule applies even when you are done promoting.

Jaycee Chan was halted by one of his three producers when my teacher tried to give him her email for future contacts.

Rule number two: You have to obey to what your producers say!

Jaycee Chan couldn't keep the recipe of the cake he produced and he had to hand it to his producers when they asked for it. Apart from that, Jaycee Chan craved to try the things he baked but his producers didn't allow him to and he had to leave when he was told to do so. Isn't it sad? He wasn't even allowed to get a taste of whatever he had baked. But i have to say that he didn't miss much. My friends who tried them said that they were quite horrible.

My third and most embarrassing misconception that night was that i thought the guy on the right in the picture below was Jaycee's girlfriend at first. I know this sounds ridiculous but in the beginning, Jaycee Chan kept himself so close to this guy and i kept facing his back. All i saw was some dyed LONG HAIR and a shirt that was THREE QUARTERS PINK! Well, silly stereotype i know but he really did look like a girl from behind.

For those who are crazy about either one of these stars, i have some video clips and more pictures that were recorded and taken using my handphone. If you are interested, state your emails on the blabbering section and i ll try to get to you soonest possible.

Carry You Home

2008-11-08T22:10:00.021+08:00

Carry You Home

In this world which is currently a huge platform of battlefield, nearly everything is about competition; in education, in the working field, in politics, economy, sports and even in our love lives. The struggle to survive isn't the only battle out there.

The current era whereby we humans have adopted a very sophisticated lifestyle has transformed our previous agendas to raise something which seemed petty back then to a huge issue these days such as the need to be successful. It has no longer become a want but rather it is a need. Whether we like it or not, competition involves nearly every stage of our lives. How we fair in it mostly depend on us and on our surroundings.

However, in almost every war, some of us might be shot and can no longer stand on our own. Despite how independent or individualistic the society might drive us these days, considering who is willing to carry our burden with him/her when we are hit is worth the thought.

It might sound cliched, but its certainly worth pondering : Who will carry you back home, not back to a house physically but to a home where you belong, where you can carry on being yourself, a place of comfort knowing that the people around you will not leave you behind no matter what when you are wounded in a war? Cause in this new war where a lot of people are individualistic, you either stand alone in the middle of the battle field or you go against the enemies with high spirits and a purpose, to win this war not individually but wining it together with those around you who represent similar aims and ideologies. The true nature of men are tested in the most dire situations. Would you still consider those who leave you behind as friends?

The Peak with its Gift

2008-10-31T22:41:00.018+08:00

When Cupid Strikes

The threshold of newly found treasures

A moment to feel

Hopeful regurgitated practices are tested

The enthralling exploration

At its best when the limit's sky high

An end to occasional emptiness

A gain for status

Struck by confusions at times

Reciprocal imaginations might solve it all

When the magnets start pulling

The butterflies flutter

And by the time you knew it

Cupid has taken his shot

This gift at humans' peak

Its simply inexplicable

This post has nothing to do with me at the moment. Its a rather random post from me dedicated to those who are in love. Hope that those of you who are currently struck by Cupid enjoys it!

At that point, i knew i had to... kill... (part 2)

2008-10-29T23:06:00.015+08:00

The Last Resort (Part 2)

At first, he was rather casual. He asked me about how i was, about what i had been doing lately and we discussed about general interests. This lasted for 30 minutes and glimmers of hope arose in me. I hoped he was genuinely concerned in me as a friend and that he had brushed his motive of persuading me into his activity aside. As much as i would like that idea to have occurred, it did not. After forty minutes into the conversation, he touched on the topic that i hated but had anticipated for a long time,... his activity. I immediately told him that i was not keen because it is illegal in this country. I was quite taken aback by how blatant i was. His reaction totally changed and he tried to persuade me again, telling me in Malay "Is it? It isn't illegal! I have heard a lot of negative comments too last time but seriously, it is not like that at all! How old are you? Don't you want to earn some money?"

I stood firmly on my decision and answered him politely in Malay "No, i am sorry but i am really not interested".

I tried changing the topic to something else. He followed my flow for a few minutes and faked a few smiles but he reacted in a way where he seemed forced to be polite and interested. A huge sense of disappointment was apparent in him but he tried to hide it. Less than 5 minutes later, he said that he had to leave as he was "busy". He stood up and took his motorcycle helmet with him. I called for the waiter and paid for my drinks. In turn, i offered to pay for the glass of plain water he barely even sipped. He declined and said "Its okay. It only costs 20 cents right?"

After he left with his motorcycle, i sat down alone somewhere else as i waited for my mother's car and confined myself to a painful solidarity. I wondered why i was so foolish to have placed so much of hope on friends as an institution. Depending on the foundations where friendships are built on, on how often you keep in contact, and on the changes that might occur in either you or your friends, friendship in general is a weak institution to rely on. It is circumstantial. I knew that but i am always persistent in believing the general goodness of people, that people are driven by ingenuity, not by motives. After this incident and countless others, i finally decided to be more selective in allowing friends to enter my circle. Not everyone is driven by motives and from now onwards, it is this type of people i am interested in mixing with. At that point, i knew i had to... kill... the friendship i had with the friend i have mentioned before this. I would be nice to him if i were to meet him by chance or by destiny but i wouldn't consider him as a friend. He is an acquaintance, nothing more, nothing less. After making that decision (and this is hard for me cause i don't normally end friendships), i thought about the newly made acquaintance, the friend i used to have and i reminisced about the friendship back then.

We used to be rather close. One of the best Malay buddies i had, considering the fact that my previous school comprised of a vast majority of Chinese. We used to work collaboratively in different areas and helped each other out to improve what we were weak in. He could not find anyone to mix with as he thought that the students in class back then were rather inconsiderate towards his feelings, culture and emotions. I helped him by comforting him, being rather proud as i thought that i have finally made a Malay friend, a close one too. He was better in his handwork and was rather thoughtful as he figured out how to work on certain technical problems for me. After form three, he transferred to a different school and we stopped hanging out since, though we lived only a few yards away from each other.Well, at the very least, our friendship was left untouched with happiness and i would rather not have seen him at the LRT station. If i hadn't, his image would have been that of a pure friend and one that is truthful. However, the meetings this year have stained his image and had turned my perception of him completely and of how people would change over time; be it for the better or for the worse but very few will remain as who they are...

My mothers' car hooted, ending my thoughts abruptly. Without turning back, i headed to my mother's car, closed the door and left the place, leaving our friendship buried behind.

Every account of the events stated above is true and is non- fictional. The incident where i met up with my friend at the mamak only occurred a couple of weeks ago.

At that point, i knew i had to... kill... (part 1)

2008-10-27T22:31:00.031+08:00

The Last Resort (Part 1)

As i exited the cyber cafe, i found him outside waiting anxiously for me.

"Hi Jun Beng! How are you?" he exclaimed with a thick Malay accent.

He had huge eyes, his wavy hair was short and curly, his nose was flat, and his skin, kuning langsat. He dressed up rather casually and had this matter of fact tone in him but was covered up by a superficially generated friendliness and warmth.

"Get straight to the point" i thought but i dismissed that attitude and was civilised enough to practise patience.

He invited me to have dinner at the mamak just right outside and offered to give me a treat. I wanted to hesitate but i wondered " Would this offer last after i clarify my stand?"

As the saying goes 'curiosity kills the cat', i just had to know. Furthermore, this would strengthen the perception i already had of him; the only motive he had in mind when he called me and insisted to meet up with me.Since i returned from Melbourne, we had met up thrice. The first was a pure coincidence when i saw him at the Light Rail Transit (LRT) station. That was our first meeting after three and the half years of separation. We exchanged numbers and he sent me a few short text messages at random times talking about the past and this reminded me of the old times. He even called me on Saturdays and asked me to venture to One Utama shopping mall with him to play bowling and meet up with his friends at night; offers that i have never once accepted as i felt rather awkward and my intuition somehow told me not to.

I brought my god brother along as we met up for the second time. I didn't know who to call as i doubted that the schoolmates i normally hang out with will actually remember him. We basically had lunch and caught up with a movie at Imax theater (Batman was cool by the way!). After the movie, he continued talking about the activity he was involved in, picking up what he had left before the movie. He spoke quite silently and he seemed rather surreptitious, occasionally looking around to ensure that nobody was in an audible range apart from us. I felt rather sceptical about his attitude and was uncomfortable with the situation.

Over the next few days, he called me and my god brother and tried to persuade us to join in his activity. He was very persistent about meeting up with each of us personally, claiming to be interested in how we are and wanting to know more about what we have been doing. Clearly, his motives were obvious and this had devastated me; i was initially overjoyed by the event of having met up with a good, genuine long lost friend, but he bore another intention in mind. However, he faked and carried out his acting in being concerned pretty well. I would seriously give an Oscar in persuasion (if there is any) and in acting to this group of people!

I was stranded in ambivalence as i finally struggled to push the thousand and one questions i had in mind aside to wisely end all these nonsense. I consented to meeting up with him again and i decided to choose the place in fear of him voting for a place i am not familiar with. Somewhere crowded and bright, and the mamak outside the cyber cafe near the place i am currently learning culinary arts was a good option.

My Journey in Melbourne

2008-10-12T18:05:00.069+08:00

From eating ice cream during winter

Felicia, Hannah, Jun Hoe, Jun Beng, Julia, Guo Yuen and Sin Hui

to digging for gold in Ballarat

Julia, Leo, Damien, Melissa, Andrew, Ming Zid and Jun Beng trying their luck

From celebrating one's birthday in a sweet manner

Celebrating Szeyan's birthday by the beach

Putting on a dramatic act before presenting Kye Ling with her cake

to bashing one up during his/her birthday

Covering Damien's face with the cream from his birthday cake

Julia had to go through Andrew, Leo, and Billy's "formula" for her birthday

and getting bashed with whipped cream not only during my birthday

but also before Ming Zid and i left Albert House

From feeding the kangaroos in a close distance

Andrew, Julia, Melissa, Me, Ming Zid, Damien, and Leo feeding the kangaroos

Jun Beng happily feeding the cute kangaroo

and getting kicked by the kangaroo after that

Jun Beng got kicked by Emo, the kangaroo not once but THREE TIMES on the heaps!

Remember how happy he was while feeding the kangaroos?

From doing something seemingly "smart"

Jun Beng playing chess

Jun Beng studying

to doing something stupid

Trying to make Julia's a.k.a. Pig's brains using pork meat

Julia, Ming Zid and Andrew with their "green tongues" stuck out in the library

i mean really stupid

Julia posing in Math lecture

Damien's "cock" squirts coke out!

Vicky and I annoying Jack and Cathy as they camwhored

Damien, Julia, Andrew and me in Esther's karaoke

Damien, Ming Zid, Kok Keong and Jun Beng licking our tetek by the beach

WANTED for STUPIDITY!

From expressing yourself quietly through the computer

Perd Hang's computer screen

to shouting out loud from the skies!

This picture was taken as i was on my way to church

Oh Melbourne, I am so Over You

Having resided in Melbourne for a year, to compress my days at Melbourne into a single post is impossible! Contrary to popular beliefs, Melbourne is NOT BORING at all. Indeed, the transition from a lively city, Kuala Lumpur to a quiet one, Melbourne was tough for me at first but that's where adaptability plays its' role and i ended up loving the place so much, it was heartbreaking to leave. The place was full of events, happenings and if each occasion was counted as a string, i currently have a cloth of Melbourne in my pocket and i would like to untangle the strings from various bits and parts of my cloth and place it in this post.

From astonishingly beautiful architectures

A theater in Melbourne

Australia's National Museum in Canberra

Australia's National Museum, Canberra

Arts Building at University of Melbourne

University of Melbourne

Victoria's State Library

Some skyscrapers in Melbourne

to eccentrically intriguing sculptures

The sculpture outside the Victoria State Library

Somewhere in Melbourne (i forgot)

One of the sculptured manhole in Canberra

and facing Melbourne's crazy weather!

This picture was taken at 4.30p.m.

This was taken at 4.31p.m.

No wonder some claim that you could experience four seasons in a day at Melbourne!

From beautiful beaches

Saint Kilda Beach

Saint Kilda

Saint Kilda Beach

Saint Kilda

Me, Ming Zid, Kok Keong, Julia, Damien, and Andrew in Luna Park, a theme park in Saint Kilda

A performance outside of Luna Park

Leo and Andrew in Saint Kilda.

Leo: Oooh, who's that hot chick there?

Andrew: Dank, i was sooo close!

Having a drink after a tiring day at Saint Kilda

to huge shopping malls

Direct Factory Outlet (DFO)

DFO

From good public transport

A tram stop in Melbourne

Tram

to gorgeous cars

Perd Hang posing for Ferrari

Ferrari Exhibition at Lygon Street

Porsche

F1 Racing Car!

and a heritable vehicle

A chariot in the streets of Melbourne. Want a ride? 30 dollars please.

From taking pictures of my friends as they're sleeping

Kok Keong sleeping in his room

Damien sleeping in the cinema.

to having mine being taken as i was sleeping

Jun Beng sleeping in his room

From gays

A gay marathon held in Melbourne

to people who are deeply confused about their sexes!

Is this a he or a she?

Calvin with boobs!

From really friendly people

Ming Zid and my tour guide in the National Art Museum, Canberra

Our tour guide in the zoo

An actress and Jun Beng in Sovereign Hill, Ballarat

An actor and Jun Beng in Sovereign Hill, Ballarat

to really nasty ones

Damien in his high mode

Julia expressing her views on Ming Zid

and the happy moments we had together

Ming Zid, Bryan, Jun Beng, Szeyan, Angeline, and Clarence

Damien, Julia, Ming Zid, Leo, Jun Beng and Andrew

Jun Hoe, Benedict, Sin Hui, Guo Yuen, Min-On, Szeyan, Wei Mee, Hannah, Jun Beng and Ming Zid

Some of Albert House residents in 2007

Andrew, Julia, Damien, Ming Zid, Leo and Jun Beng having dinner during Chinese New Year

Grace, Ming Zid, Perd Hang, Jun Beng and Kye Ling at Pancake Parlour

Damien, Leo, Jun Beng, Ming Zid, Andrew and Julia at Saint Kilda's

Jun Beng, Sin Hui, Szeyan and Ming Zid

Albert boys 2008 celebrating Ming Zid's birthday

and the list just seems endless...

My days in Melbourne passed so fast that i could barely take a stop to catch my breath. Well, sometimes this makes you get really tired...

Kye Ling sleeping in Swanston Street

but please don't forget to

SMILE!

Kye Ling smiling with the peace sign (a never before seen footage revealed!)

It's another part and parcel of life and infact, i find that the time i had in Melbourne was too short! The road ahead is full of uncertainties but the time i spent in Melbourne is a chapter of my life which i would truly treasure.

By the way, who are these two fellas in this photo?

Chef Uniform

2008-10-08T00:16:00.008+08:00

My Complete Chef Uniform

Due to the votes released, i shall reveal another piece of my life in culinary arts to you all. Man, this is a democratic blog ain't it? Haha. A complete set of chef uniform includes that of a white double breasted jacket, an apron, a hat, a neckerchief, a pair of chef's boots (gosh, the front part of the boots is made of steel and these shoes are HEAVY!), and a pair of long black pants.

Well, the kitchen is hot and you have to wear this EVERYDAY if you intend to do culinary arts. But you'll get used to it eventually.

This is the chef's shoe with its front part made up of steel. Man, as i do not have formal shoes, i wear this to formal occasions sometimes and thank goodness, no one notices! Haha.

Malaysia's "Smartest" Minister

2008-09-28T00:24:00.023+08:00

Malaysia's Smartest Minister

He wears a pair of specs, he has a moustache, he is partially bald, he's "SMART"!

Who's that?

Presenting you, Malaysia's "most articulate, smartest, and undoubtedly genuine" minister:

Datuk Seri Syed Hamid bin Syed Jaafar Albar (Current Home Minister of Malaysia)

Being unable to converse dialectically with Sarah Montague in Hardtalk as he digresses while answering most of the questions, detaining the three figures that have a huge influence in the media; Teresa Kok, Tan Hoon Cheng and Raja Petra, giving lame excuses on the reasons to detain the reporter as well as the Seputeh MP and later denying the capture and placing the blame on the police, his actions have indeed enlighten the public on his intelligence! He perpetually asks the other nations not to look into our country and compare as we run a different system but he contradicts this by comparing our nation's limited successes to the others. Don't the other nations have a different system too then? Malaysia doesn't treat all her citizens equally and everyone knows that. Stop giving out lame excuses such as ; it's different, don't be emotional about this, we have to consider the opportunities given (and what? suppress the others chances to give certain people the opportunities?). Even a commoner like me feels that i could have been more well versed than him in giving people the benefit of a doubt.

The most sensible thing he could do now and redeem the possible existence of him actually having a brain is to release the famous blogger Raja Petra. Being human, democracy and freedom of speech should be practised, not broadcasting any power we have to intimidate the others and thus contradicting the very principles of the country we have vowed on.

To me, his looks strongly resembles a squirrel. That explains his intelligence capacity!

If he were to ever come across this post, he might detain me under ISA for fear of threat to national security (but rather he feels threatened himself) or perhaps sue me over defamation or fabrication. Come on, what's new with this minister?

By the way, do check out the conversation between Sarah Montague and Syed Hamid Albar in these links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X45r6VwSXtM&feature=related as well as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2CpdtkKpRs&feature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlRBhIHx5fE&feature=related. He must have been so genuine about his speech that even Astro and RTM deferred and cancelled the video from being in air. I wonder why?

JUN BENG'S SHOWTIME

2008-09-25T22:57:00.008+08:00

JENG JENG JENG

Guys, don't be jealous.

Girls, don't get high.

This is a never before seen footage!

You are about to view Jun Beng in his chef's uniform!

Show time....

HAHAHA! That's my friend's goggles. Not mine! I wore it for fun. I will not show a picture of me in my chef's uniform until all the votes have been received. So, vote! By the way, i am not that perasan (vain) okay? And please DON'T leave any comment for this post. I know what's in your mind and i feel very ashamed and potong (anticlimax) myself!

A Gist of My Life in Culinary Arts

2008-09-22T23:16:00.018+08:00

POTATO DAY

Learning culinary arts has given me the option of opening my windows and looking through them in the perspective of being a chef or a cook. The demand is high and if i ever change my mind in the future, i might look into this as a career. Who knows? Well, all i can say about this course is that it's sort of dangerous, intriguing and simply marvelous! For me, it's quite demanding physically, but it certainly doesn't drain the brains out of me (i kinda suck at practical though). It's really not as easy as it seems. The internship apparently is one hell of an experience but if u manage to endure and pull the plugs, the reward is nothing but awesome!

Well, i would like to share some of my team's and my products that were done on the 15th of September 2008. We had nothing else to deal with except for potatoes!

My own wedges mixed with cajun spices.

My own baked potato topped with butter and spring onions.

As you can see, i had enough of starch that day! But it was potato all the way!

I will further update this post with the appropriate name for each dish and a recipe perhaps? So, check this post out some time soon for further updates!

Here In My Home

2008-09-16T21:27:00.010+08:00

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

Since there isn't a unanimous decision for the votes on the song, i have decided something different for this blog.

Following the recent political turmoil that has jolted this nation (Malaysia), leaving her in a dilemma not only in terms of politics but in the aspects of economy and social as well, i would like to share a song depicting unity. I guess that's what all of us need to keep this country from having all her conflicts entangled into a disaster that cannot be solved. The lyrics for the song is also given below.

HERE IN MY HOME lyrics

Hold on brother hold on
The road is long. We’re on stony ground
But I’m strong. You ain’t heavy
Oh there’s a misspoken truth that lies
Colors don’t bind, oh no.
What do they know? They speak falsely.
Chorus:
Here in my home
I’ll tell you what its all about
There’s just one hope here in my heart
One Love undivided
That’s what it’s all about
Please won’t you fall in one by one by one [with me]?
Push back sister won’t you push back?
Love won’t wait. Just keep pushing on.
Yes I’m strong. You ain’t heavy.
Oh don’t you worry about that….
What we have the shadows can’t deny
Don’t you know it’s now or never?
Rap:
[Malay: TRANSLATED]
Years of fears and years of tribulation
The heart keeps searching for that endless devotion
[Chinese: TRANSLATED]
Hand in hand we’ll march like blood brothers
I speak for my people hope we’ll find peace forever
[Tamil: TRANSLATED]
May the road ahead quench my thirst for success
May the road behind echo a song of the blessed
[English]
So I will let it be known yes I feel it in my bones
No matter where I roam this is home sweet home
Sing!

Lost And Found

2008-09-13T20:58:00.010+08:00

The Meaning Within Lost And Found

The occasional rays of light rise to shine inconsistently through the stark darkness of the wild woods, uncertain and yet brimmed with a mode everyone can cling onto, hope. With this bore in mind, i am guided by the sporadic outburst of dimly lit lights against the gusts of bitter winds that rush through the trees and amidst the impending death, I shall traverse through the forest, define my path and find my way through... I just know it coming...

Hello,

I sincerely apologise for the delayed updates. Honestly, i faced a point where i grew tired of blogging. That was fast ain't it? Haha. But i was really intending to modify this blog to prepare the pathway for the upcoming novel i am about to write(hopefully) "I Am Perfect". Apart from that, i was too engrossed in keeping up with my daily routines. So, for now, i shall continue keeping you all updated and start fresh! I shall not stop writing and will try to keep the ink flowing. Thank you for all your comments and continue voting! The modifications are still being carried out until further notification is given. If you do not like the changes done, VOICE YOUR OPINION!

Yours faithfully,

Jun Beng

Notification

2008-09-05T01:17:00.000+08:00

Dear readers,

This blog is undergoing a reconstruction. The purpose of this modification is to pursue everyone's interests. Thus, it is vital to cast your votes as future posts are strongly influenced by your votes. No posts will be published until the modifications are complete and while the modifications are ensued, new polls will be set on this blog to find out more about the general interests of everyone. Kindly check this blog out from time to time and again, when the new polls are set, please cast your votes. If you have any queries and suggestions or comments, please post a comment on this post or simply voice your opinions on the blabbering section. Ideas on future posts are welcomed. DO NOT HESITATE! The philosophy and the purpose of this blog lies on the first post; Overwhelmed by Uncertainties. Your cooperation is truly appreciated. Thank you.

Yours truly,

Jun Beng

Painting Rainbows

2008-09-04T02:36:00.000+08:00

From the grotesque pictures of the previous post, let's move on to something more decent; rainbows!

Painting Rainbows

Do you remember having to colour rainbows when we are in kindergarten or memorizing the colours of a rainbow in our years at primary school? If you have, then i bet you know what a rainbow is.

Well, rainbows are like the paths we traverse in life. The complete picture of a rainbow is obscure until we finish our walk on earth and breathe goodbye. The colours of a rainbow represent different layers of our lives; be it hardships, defining moments, tragic occurrences, and happy situations. There's no escape from each of these and what's painted cannot be reconstructed. We can never change the colours of a rainbow once it appears, unless of course, it fades, be it our short-term memory or our choices in selecting not to remember certain events. If your rainbow is beautiful, be contented and remain as who you are. You may even help somebody in their process of painting their rainbows! You'll never know if you will need their help in painting yours in the future. However, if your rainbow is tainted, don't worry, there's still time to paint the rainbow ahead of you. Do not hesitate to improvise if necessary and don't turn back to dwell at the rainbow that's been painted for too long. Time waits for no man.

Move on!

Do you know that the complete view of a rainbow is supposed to be a circle, not a semicircle?

PiRaTeS

2008-09-02T18:10:00.000+08:00

PiRaTeS

4 things you might not know about pirates!

1. Fresh food on board often became infested with weevels or maggots.

2. Many pirates died from yellow fever and survy.

yellow fever

scurvy

3. Some recruits were forced to be pirates (which means, if given a choice, they wouldnt want it).

4. There are heaps of rules on board. Once the code is breached, the consequences are unbearable.

An example;

Code: No pirate shall steal from a fellow pirate.

Punishment: Ears and nose to be slit and offender set ashore to encounter hardships.

(Still wanna be a pirate? Be my guest!)

These information are obtained from Pirates! by David Spence. The book features a lot of windows , acetates, tabs and flaps which had truly fascinated me when i was a kid. If you're into piracy and you hate reading a lot, this book deserves a thumbs up!

To my dear friends who are currently studying abroad, pirates attack on Malaysia's vessels have escalated in the Gulf of Aden off late. The worst in the world thus far is the seizure of more than 100 seamen (65 Malaysians) who were held hostages on the 1st of September. For more information, google it yourself!

Angel Versus Devil

2008-09-01T17:47:00.001+08:00

ANGEL VERSUS DEVIL!!!

Angels are closely regarded to goodness and to God whereas the Devil is obviously the total opposite. The battle between good and evil has often been questioned and this battle even occur between two different types of coffee!

This picture was taken from Beng Hong Restaurant on the 31st of August when i was having lunch there. The restaurant is situated in OUG, Kuala Lumpur. Captivated by the sight of the signboard, i decided to give both coffee a go! I ordered Devil coffee whereas my brother tried Angel coffee.

Angel Coffee VS Devil Coffee

Angel coffee is basically coffee mixed with Milo whereas Devil coffee is a blend of coffee and lemon (i think that ice lemon coffee sounds better). Each costs RM2.40 (0.70USD). Just like it's name, i think that Angel coffee tastes reasonably better than the awful tasting Devil! If you want something rich and new, these coffee might be something worth trying but if you are very particular about true coffee aroma and tasting, forget about it.

AND THE WINNER IS...

ANGEL COFFEE!!!

Dank! The good guys always win!

MERDEKA!!! MERdeka! merdeka?

2008-08-31T16:39:00.001+08:00

Merdeka which literally means independence is celebrated throughout Malaysia on the 31st of August. Marking the end of the British rule, Malaysia geared herself in developing the country as well as creating a society where each individual is highly educated, civilised and nationalistic. However, there are some serious problems that lie within this nation that are not broadcasted on television on this auspicious day or any other day to begin with. For this post, i will voice my opinion on two of the issues that cloud this nation.

Freedom of Speech

This comment is in close reference to the newspaper article dated on the 28th of August 2008 with the headline "News portal blocked" in The Star. The article states that the internet service providers (ISPs) were ordered to block websites that contain elements which "contravene the local laws of the country". Well, i suppose that it also means blogs that clarify bloggers views but their opinions contradict the governments ideas will be blocked as well! How ridiculous is that? Malaysia is a democratic country. How is it democratic if our country denies the right of our freedom when it comes to voicing our opinions? So, is it only democratic when our opinions are in tune with that of the government? How contradictory! Malaysia is 51 YEARS OLD, aren't we old enough for all these nonsense?

The problems with being a "minority".

Being a minority in Malaysia has not always been honey and sugar. After 51 years, the minorities yearn for equal opportunities in all aspects. The government could claim that everyone is treated equally by occasionally broadcasting a few successful minorities that obtain help from the government, but is that the case for all the other individuals who are part of the minority?

Companies listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (Bursa Saham Kuala Lumpur) must find bumiputras to take up a minimum 30% of equity to satisfy listing requirements.
Amanah Saham Nasional (ASN) is a basket of government run of mutual funds (profit guaranteed) that allow only bumiputra to purchase. The return rates is three to five times higher than that of local commercial banks.
In 2004, Dr. Shafie Salleh, the newly appointed Higher Education Minister, stated that he "will ensure the quota of Malay students' entry into universities is always higher".
etc etc...

Is that equality? As much as we hate to say it, Malaysia does not treat all her citizens equally! Apart from that, as a minority, i crave for complete security without having the fear of being insecure regardless of the situation. We do not want people to spit into our faces, claiming, "this land is righteously ours, not yours. Return to your respective countries!" (I've faced that before). As a minority, what can you do? Retaliate? No! The best way is to shut your pie hole and leave! Generally, the minorities are left in a state rather known as diaspora. Do i love this country, "hell, yes!". I believe that the minorities wish to abolish their diasporic state and live comfortably in this beautiful nation; with complete right and freedom and without the fear of being oppressed. How cool would it be if God allows us to select our skin colour before we get out of our mothers wombs?! All problems concerning special rights and racism in this nation would be solved then!

Finally, i hope that i would not be detained by Internal Security Act (ISA) for posting this. God bless Malaysia.

SEX

2008-08-31T10:54:00.000+08:00

Sex sex sex....

Being brought up in a Chinese family, the thought of sex when you live with your parents (regardless of your age) is taboo! As embarrassing as it may sound, my parents are so strict about this topic that even looking at two lovers kissing in a movie is wrong! I remembered having to close my eyes when there will be a scene where two lovers look at each other affectionately and their proximity tend to be closer or either one of my parents will point his/ her finger at me and exclaim "hamsap!" (meaning pervert). Not being stereotypical here but generally, Asian parents are more discreet about topics regarding to sex.

Honestly, parents may be very secretive about sex to protect their children (i have no idea from what) but once their children are unleashed from their parents sphere, stepping into the world full of vicious wolves, is the protection really handy or is it a form of euthanasia? Their children's sex education would be largely dependant on their friends and the media or the internet wouldn't it? Who is to blame if something goes wrong? Examples include that of rape, teenage pregnancy, etc...

So, what's the big fuss about sex? Sex is indeed interesting. No doubt! But there are lots of negative influences surrounding this activity in each person waiting for it's time to penetrate and enter this realm. Being able to only talk about it once we are out of our family's presence and putting on an innocent face as soon as we enter into our family's circle is preposterous! Unfortunately, that's the situation for most Asian kids. I guess, the best defence for us is to really distinguish between what's right and wrong. Though it's intriguing, we have to make wise choices before getting ourselves involved in this activity. Then again, it largely depends on our beliefs and principles. Some of us believe in sex after marriage, some believe in satisfying our sexual drives first, whereas there are some who believe that it's okay to have sex once you are in a relationship for quite some time. Whatever your beliefs are, don't jump straight into the pool once you see an opportunity! Sit down, think about it properly first and then decide.

For those who believe in sex after marriage but are caught up in a situation where they think that they will marry their partners one day and just can't wait for the sex, control yourselves! You never know what may come along the way. Once you have done it, there will be no turning back! So, before your hands clasp and your bodies tangle; think!

Personally, i believe in the sanctity of marriage and sex. Do you?

This post is not intended to condemn anyone about their sexual life. I am not a sex guru either. Don't misinterpret it.

Credits before the Movie Rolls

2008-08-29T16:01:00.000+08:00

First and foremost, i would like to announce the guy who's behind this ingenious blog; Andrew Tong! I would like to personally thank him as he introduced and sort of persuaded me into blogging since last year! This blog wouldn't even exist without his guidance. The irony behind all this is that he stopped blogging right after i started. -.-!

Yeah, that's him.... fearsome as ever! Haha!

Overwhelmed by Uncertainties

2008-08-28T16:03:00.001+08:00

Hi all,

I never half expect myself to be doing this; basically sitting down facing the computer, my eyes glued to the monitor, and my fingers running across the keyboard, typing. Honestly, all this is rather new and bizzare to me as i never predicted myself to be engaged in blogging at all. Frankly speaking, i do not even read blogs! One of the main reasons i am involved in all this is because i see an opportunity though i can't tell if the light is dim or bright. Opportunity to actually fulfill my passion in writing, with high hopes of becoming an author one day as i am currenlty doing something totally in the opposite field at university. So, if there's any suggestion and remarks you bear in mind; be it a sarcastic comment or one of appraisal, do leave it with honesty. I truly appreciate it cause i am merely a blogger consumed by the thought of learning and gaining experience through blogging and is thus enslaved in this mechanism; with full humility and expectations!

Some of you might wonder, "why overwhelmed by uncertainties?".

Personally, i think that uncertainties imply unpredictabilty. Who knows what would come next? Noone. As the saying goes, "life is like a box of chocolates". Who knows what might occur next? We might choose the path we would want to head to in life but does having a predictable life makes it interesting? Similarly, i wouldn't know what would be the outcome of this blog. And i am overwhelmed as the uncertainties that linger in the air prove that i am willing to take the risks and invest my time on my passion. The least that i could gain from doing all this is that i know that i have tried. I am finally doing something about my interest! May the outcome be good or bad, it is a platform for me to learn.

Yours truly,

Jun Beng