Damned Streamyx
Streamyx, the broadband service was damned slow to a halt due to the east bound fiber optic cables were affected by the recent earthquake off Taiwan. The Internet traffic was rerouted to west bound via Netherlands and UK. It was also partly due to the festive seasons when people are contacting families and friends via the Internet.
I was not happy with such a slow download and upload time. In this Information Age where Internet connection is prevalent, the service provider could have setup a redundant cable systems for the time like this. Apparently, they do not have a redundant system. Even their tech support does not know what is redundant system when I called them about connection problems some months ago. Sadly, these tech support employed by the service provider are local university graduates in ICT (Information and Computer Technology). How can they not know what the hell is redundant system? We can see how bad the local university standards are.
New Year countdown with crabs
After we finished with our grocery shopping at Tesco, we were driving aimlessly on the street and suddenly, LA sparked her taste buds and wanted to have some crabs for New Year Eve’s supper. The regular restaurant at Jalan Bunga Raya where we usually bought crabs from was not opened that night. We went around the town to hunt for crabs. We had to buy from another restaurant at the adjacent street. We bought a can of stout too.
When we arrived home, it was an hour before midnight. We prepared then ate the crabs just before midnight. Nik was sleeping already. D and R were so eager to eat te crabs with toasted breads.
Just before the clock struck 12, I called Michal in Poland to wish him and his mother and girl friend a Happy New Year. Michal, if you are reading this, Happy New Year and we wish you were here to celebrate with us New Year 2007 and have crab party. Do you still remember the restaurant we had crabs party beside a temple?
Runaway treat
LA book a hotel room at Mahkota Hotel to give us a retreat for the end of 2006. She got home in the late evening and told us about it and the kids were joyful to hear that they would be going to the swimming pool the next morning. We got ready and and moved the our luggage into the car and I started the engine. We were out of the house for our 1D/1N holiday in Melaka!
We checked in to Mahkota Hotel at 9th floor in Jasmine block. This was the first time we stayed in Mahkota Hotel. The one-room apartment was not too bad except that D and I had to sleep on the floor. We bought some supper and ate in the hotel while watching TV until midnight.
We woke up at 0700 and had breakfast at 0800 and 0830 we were heading to the pool. The breakfast was quite a hectic one as both D and R were getting excited about the pool and could no longer sit still to eat their breakfast and Nik was starting to make noise. LA and I had to wash down our breakfast with juices.
When we were at the second pool, the water was cold and the morning breeze made us felt colder. But that did not stop the kids jumping into the water. R was shivering and I had to wrap him with two pool towels and to rubbed him to keep him warm. As soon as he had warmed up, he insisted to go into the pool again. We played until the sun came out and we began to feel warmer but we had to go fearing of getting sun burn.
We returned the pool towels and went back to our hotel room and took some hot drinks and hot bath/shower. After the hot shower, D laid down on the couch and fell asleep. Soon, Nik was asleep on my chest followed by me. LA and R took the luggage to the car. When they were back, LA took some candid shots of three of us sleeping.
R got his first mini waterfall bath.
Ooooo…. cold. An gu…. The water was cold. Nik only got his feet wet.
R was shivering.
Teaching R to swim, actually kicking his legs in the water.
D was soaking in the cold water and sneezing away.
R was wrapped in two pool towels and I rubbed his body to keep him warm.
Caught in candid camera having siesta after the swim.
Nik was sleeping on my chest.
R was helping mommy to pack.
R gave D a kiss. Smuck!
And a smuck to daddy.
Daddy woke up and kiss kiss!
Good training partner
I trained with Jim last night. Jim just joined our training not too long ago. I taught him Seisan and Wansu last night and he picked up both very fast. Being a black belt in Shotokan, it is not very hard for him to catch up. The only difficulties he faces are the Shiko-dachi and its variants which is not practiced in Shotokan.
In Seisan kata, it uses seisan dachi which is similar to yokomuki shiko dachi and there are many techniques that changes from seisan dachi to zenkutsu dachi and forth. This unique technique is distinguished in Shorin-ryu, particularly Shorin-ryu Seibukan.
We practiced both kata together over and over again. It is obvious that my Sanchin was bad due to a nose/throat infection last weekend. So I did not really push hard while I was training with Jim. Almost to the end of the training session, I did Hiragaona Seisan and Jingai-ryu Hakkucho. We wrapped up our training by 2200 and went for a cuppa in Taman Bertam. We discussed some management and development issues there.
I really enjoyed my training together with him last night. Thanks Jim, you are a good training partner.
What a stupid Digi service
I registered my mom’s Digi prepaid number at Digi’s Melaka Raya office using my MyKad. The man slotted my MyKad to a reader and after a while he confirmed that my line had been registered. Today, when I was trying to make a call from my mom’s Digi number, it said that no outgoing call was allowed. I checked the validity and it expires on 12/31. There are 3 more days before the validity expires. I am going to Digi office tomorrow to make hell lot of noise, for sure.
The prepaid registration drive is really hectic and stupid. The government thinks that it can deter unlawful use but I don’t think so. There are many other ways to obtain a prepaid cell phone numbers without needing to register with true identity. Like in Taiwan, prepaid cell phones need to be registered but they still have lots of problems with “ghost” cell phones. I was able to register one for myself without much fuss. An advanced country like Taiwan can’t even solve the problem and our country is thinking that it can. What a childish assumption! That makes the whole thing looks so stupid.
Another thing which I have observed is that personal information are revealed when someone register a prepaid cell service using MyKad at dealers. The dealers are equipped with MyKad reader and software to read personal details from MyKad and these information including address will be displayed on the computer screen. Women please beware of this. You may be tracked. Perpetrator may use these information to hunt you down. So, everyone, please beware when you are registering your prepaid cell service at dealers. Make sure they don’t copy your personal information. Your information displayed in the window can be easily copied by pressing ALT + Print Scrn. This will capture the current window instantly.
They think it is cool to register using MyKad and IT gadgets but that opens up a whole new opportunity for crimes. Please beware and make the government to change its policy that no one can read and display personal details without the presence of MyKad holder and these reader and software must be properly audited by trusted organization to make sure it does not save these information stealthily.
What a good start for 2007
I received a confirmation from a secondary school this afternoon. The school had confirmed to start karate class for its students. Another secondary school had confirmed earlier. The two new schools will start in 2007. I will be teaching 5 classes starting January 2007 including my existing 2 classes.
I believe 2007 will have a good head start and more exciting events will follow. I always believe 7 is a good and lucky number for me. It is at least I have received good news before 2007 comes.
Black belt papas
On Tuesday night, Jim came to my house with his two boys, Adam and baby Z. We had a date to meet up with Karl another black belt at the other side of the town to discuss some matters in karate-do. Jim and his two boys went together in my car. I took D and R along. LA and Nik stayed home.
It was quite a fun to go out with another karate black belt friend with kids. He was looking for some karate dojo in Melaka and he found my website and we started to communicate. Soon after that, we became friend and he joined Shorin-ryu Seibukan.
We were discussing about the development of karate. We have plans to develop this association in Melaka for the interest of traditional Okinawan Shorin-ryu Seibukan karate-do in Melaka.
My birthday cake
Ha! Finally we got settle down for my birthday cake party. Nik was already soundly asleep after D, R and I returned home from a meeting with Jim and Karl for some karate matters. Sorry Nik.
Christmas in PJ
This was my first time to spend Christmas away from home. LA and I decided to go to PJ to visit her mother and brothers and sisters on Christmas eve. We actually planned to have a day trip and would be back to Melaka to celebrate Christmas and my birthday. Every year we would visit The Portugese Settlement at Ujong Pasir to see some Christmas decoration. But we ended to spend our Christmas in PJ and missed the Christmas decoration this year. When we were back to Melaka last night, we went to the town to find some supper and we thought of dropping by but we gave up when we were caught in traffic.
LA, Nik with cousins Lilian, Vivien and Shane
LY with Nik and LA with Su-An
Strong grandma
Nik with cousins Sharlene, Vivien and Wendy
D and Rich got their Christmas presents from Santa Clause (daddy)
D got this dream Yoyo and R got some play stamps
Birthday wish
This is the first time I post my birthday wish on my blog. This year my birthday wish is to learn Uechi-ryu karate from Seiko Toyama Sensei. Why? First, I really like the fluid kata movement of Uechi-ryu. Second, Toyama Sensei birthday is on the same day as me, December 25.
I really wish I can train with him one day and happy birthday to Toyama Sensei.
Alien crab
We saw a giant crab in a restaurant where we had lunch on Thursday. I don’t know the name of the crab but it is certainly huge. Very much bigger than the Australian Snow Crab. It is able to wrap its legs around my head just like the baby alien in the movie, Aliens. But this alien will be soon ended up as a delicious dish. I think humans are the most terrifying predators of all. They eat everything mercilessly.
s.jpg)
Winter solstice blues
It is the Chinese tradition to celebrate Winter Solstice on December 22 every year. On this day, we will make glutinous rice balls in syrup water to pray the Gods and ancestors. Then we will eat the glutinous rice balls to mark one year older.
We were at grandma’s place for the celebration and lunch on Friday. Before the lunch, Nik wanted a nap. LA asked me to check if the mattress and pillows for the baby were clean for him to sleep on. They were not used for quite a long time. I checked by sniffing one of the pillows and there was some smells. Nik ended up sleeping on my chest while I held him sitting down on a chair.
Not long after lunch, I felt itchiness in my nose and I developed some headache and body ache. We went home after our lunch and I straight away laid down to try to get some rest. I knew I was going down with a nose/throat infection.
Yesterday, I had some slight fever and headache due to the infection. I popped some paracetamol and Clarinase last night. I feel better now except I am having dryness and itchiness in my throat. I wake up to gurgle with salt water.
Last night, LA was vomiting due to headache. She had the headache and slight fever a few days ago. We hope our children will not be infected by us.
Protected: Nik is 4 months old
Melaka river is flooding
When we were in town for Nik’s 4 months old ceremony, we passed by the Melaka river at Jalan Bunga Raya and saw the river was flooding into Kampung Morten. I heard places like Taman Merdeka (Batu Berendam) the water was over 4 feet deep! This monsoon season was really taking toll on Melaka people. Many roads were closed due to flood.
s.jpg)
I was quite worried last night as the water level in our drains were very high. Another 3 inches the water would overflow. I woke up a few times to check the drain.
Longing for morning training
The rain has stopped. Hopefully the weather in the morning will be good so that I can go to the park for morning training. My last training was last Wednesday morning and it had been a week since then. It is nice to train in the cooling morning.
I like to continue this morning training, at least several mornings a week if not every morning, as a preparation for the tournament next year. I felt dissatisfying after losing in kata event. My spirit is still boiling and I do not want to let it cool down.
Flood in Melaka
I went to downtown to have my certificate framed. When I was on my way home taking Batu Berendam way, I saw some cars stalled around the junction turning to Bukit Sebukor. There was a flood there and still many drivers risking their cars going through the flood.
I had to make a detour to avoid the flood. While I was driving head on, I saw a petrol kiosk was flooded. The detour had built up some traffic congestion. When I finally got to Leboh Ayer Keroh, the traffic there was long. I took another detour through Taman Sentosa to get to Bukit Beruang. And yet, another traffic congestion. Most of the cars heading to Ayer Keroh were taking alternate route through Bukit Beruang. That’s the reason for the heavy traffic going into Bukit Beruang.
s.jpg)
s.jpg)
Officially a Shorin-ryu Seibukan black belt
On Saturday, December 16, 2006, I received my Shorin-ryu Seibukan black belt certificate from YB Datuk Nawawi during the opening ceremony of the 2nd YAB Menteri Besar Selangor Challenge Trophy Championship 2006 in PJ. YB Datuk Nawawi is our Honorary 3rd Dan black belt. I am now officially a black belt from Shorin-ryu Seibukan.
My eye
I had my eye examined yesterday. According to my doctor, my retinal looks fine and I’ve already developed cataracts in my right eye and my blur (or veiled) vision in my right eye is due to the cataracts. When he told that my right vision would not be as good as before because my retina detachment had affected the macula, I was quite upset. I guessed he could see it in my face. He then gave me an eye cover with pin-sized holes on it and asked me to cover my right eye with that then look through the hole. I could read up to 4 lines on the vision chart. My vision was 20/50 with aid. He then made a quick assessment and told me that I could read more than 4 lines after removing my cataracts which was not too bad at all. I instantly felt some relief. But again, my vision can only be assessed properly after I recover from cataracts removal.
When I finished my examination, it was 1330. D and I were really hungry and we had lunch at the shop right opposite the clinic. After our lunch, we went to The Curve to meet up with Benji at 1600. We arrived at The Curve and we saw a beautiful huge blue Christmas tree. We went around a little. It was our first time at The Curve.
s.jpg)
We met up with Benji at Ikea at 1600 and we had a good chat there for a while. We left for Melaka around 1800.
Icy cold water
It has been raining since Friday night and it is raining continuously from Monday till today. The rain has significantly lower the temperature under 30°C. Because of that, the water supply, especially from the water tank, is icy cold. It is cold and numbing. I took a little splash after my hot shower this morning and it was really bone chilling. The wind is really cold and refreshing.
Due to the rain, many places in Melaka has flooded. I was worrying because at our taman, there had been two flooding incidents many years ago. The recent happening was two years ago. Can you believe flood happening in Bukit Beruang area? I checked the drain behind our house this morning. It was 5/7 full! Thank God the rain has slowdown a bit by now.
I lost!
I lost in men’s individual kata event in the tournament yesterday. I was bye in the 1st round and lost in second round. I was performing Shito Seisan. I shouted three times in Seisan. I did not know why the shout just came out from my throat. That’s an unforgivable mistake. Another mistake I made was that I performed Shito Seisan with variation which I learned from a well known sensei from Malaysia and the chief referee was also from Shito-ryu. In general, I was quite satisfied with my overall performance. In retrospect, I think I have been overconfidence, underestimated my opponent and did not consider the referee factors. Sorry to those wonderful people who sent me their best wishes and good lucks and encouragement. I have disappointed you all but I assure you that I will train more and try again next time.
My team mate, Sensei Azlimmi, bagged two bronze medals in kata and men’s veteran kumite; 《千里走单骑》bagged two silvers in women’s open kumite and women team kumite, she did not score in women’s individual kata either; ZZ bagged two bronzes in men’s open kumite and men’s team kumite and Lim scored a gold in boys’ 16-17 years old individual kata and a bronze in men’s team kumite. Fathinah and I did not score any. 
Total medal tally is 1 gold, 2 silvers and 5 bronzes. Not bad at all for a 6 persons team to bag 8 medals! Not bad.
I will train more on kata with 《千里走单骑》to prepare for the next coming tournament in May.
My speech at the opening ceremony of karate championship
As a Tournament Secretary, I am required to deliver a speech during the opening ceremony of The 2nd YAB Dato’ Seri Menteri Besar Selangor Challenge Trophy Championship 2006. I was troubled with what to write. I do not want my speech to be just the same or identical to most other speech. I want it to be unique, to touch the hearts and send the right message across. Here’s my delivered speech:
On behalf of International Okinawan Shorin-ryu Seibukan Karate-do Association of Malaysia, I welcome you to The 2nd YAB Dato’ Seri Menteri Besar Selangor Challenge Trophy Championship 2006.
I’ve observed good spirits among the athletes. All the athletes are here with very good sportsmanship. As a sport, karate-ka must possess excellent sportsmanship and spirit. Through this quality, they excel individually and for the country.
But, karate-do is not a sport. It is more than sport. It’s a martial arts or martial science I prefer. Karate-do is a physical and mental educational system which contains ancient wisdom and philosophy.
Karate-ka are not only needed to have good sportsmanship and fighting spirit, but also the spirit to uphold justice and truth for themselves and for those who are unable to.
It’s time to renew the karate spirit in our country, to remove the old and replace with the new. Here, I wish all karate-ka, to bravely stand up for justice and the truth. I wish all karate-ka to stand tall and be proud to be Malaysian karate-ka and no longer need to bow to the supremacy of pseudo authority.
Lastly, I wish all contestants good luck. If you win, please do not be proud but continue to pursue the finest knowledge and quality in karate-do. For those who lose, please do not give up, do continue to improve and prove your spirit in karate-do.
Please enjoy your game and through karate-do, we make friends. Thank you.
Selangor Menteri Besar Challenge Trophy
The 2nd YAB Dato’ Seri Menteri Besar Selangor Challenge Trophy Championship 2006 organized by The International Okinawan Shorin-ryu Seibukan Karate-do Association of Malaysia is also known as The 4th Open Championship of International Okinawan Shorin-ryu Seibukan Karate-do Association of Malaysia. The championship is opened to all Malaysians as well as other invited guests from other countries.
The venue is at Dewan SJK (C) Sungai Way, Jalan SS 9A/1, Seri Setia, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, from December 16 to 17, 0800-1900. Admission is free for audience.
For those who can’t attend the event can find my speech in my blog after 1730 tomorrow.
Busy day
Whew! It is a busy day as tomorrow is our karate tournament day. I have to scan and email program schedule and map to people and call Sensei to finalize the time for the opening ceremony. The VIP will arrive by 1700 and things must be prepared at least by 1500.
My cell and email are hot as SMS, calls and emails are coming in and out. What a hectic morning! I could not help Sensei much as I am so far away and he does not have a broadband at his home for communicating. I guess I can help him out a little by coordinating externally.
I can only push off from Melaka with my team tomorrow morning. I put all of them in my car and also to reduce one night stay in hotel to bring down the expenses.
Psyche up!
This was the most tiring day. I woke up 0445 this morning to train in the park. Rushed home at 0745 to send D to school and went for an appointment in the afternoon. Arrived home 1740, cleaned up the pond and a fan. Had dinner at 1830 and out for class by 1930.
It is only two days away from the tournament. I need to power up my team spirit so I seek help from my friend, Jay, from India. He is doing psychology management for his fighters and has been tested in a few fights. He shares with me some brain washing techniques. I used it for the first time in the training a while ago.
The team became aggressive and with high spirit. I told them to repeat not less than 20 times in every session, one in the morning and another in the evening or night until they win. At first I was thinking to give some very light training for conditioning. We ended up with more sweat and aggressiveness. Our shouting could be heard across the road. I noticed the increased aggressiveness in them and myself.
As this is the first time I apply psychology training, I am preparing for all kind of results. One drawback of this technique, as Jay indicated to me, is how aggressive a person can become. It has to be coupled with kata training to condition and discipline oneself.
Good luck, my team! May the force be with you.
No more crying
This morning when I sent D to school, I was surprised that he did not cry. As usual, when we arrived at his school, he got off the car without any fuss. We walked in and he proceeded to take his shoes off. I gave him a hug and a kiss at the door after which I left and he entered the class without crying. I am glad he is making progress and starting to enjoy going to school.
Nik’s day out
We decided to go to grandma’s after picking D from school. So I took a half day off. When we arrived at grandma’s, the three musketeers were very happy but Nik was still sleeping in his portable car seat. LA had to carried Nik with his car seat. After our lunch, we began to hunt for my running shoes. I was actually thinking to buy Power running shoe for it is cheap and after all running shoe does not last long. Unfortunately, I could not find big sizes to fit my large feet!
LA suggested to go to Mahkota Parade and there we go. To our surprise, D said he wanted to stay with grandma. So we left both D and R with grandma. Poor grandma, she had to take care two musketeers.
It was Nik’s second visit to departmental store. He was excited to look at lights and people walking by. When he was tired, he would sleep in cuddles.
After taking many look at all the shops selling sports shoes, I decided to buy a pair of Addidas running shoe. It fits my large feet well. I really liked this Addidas UK 12 size and its design. I was hesitating because of the price, which was RM167.90 after 40% discount! LA said that was her Christmas gift to me. But I was still hesitating because of the price and it might not last long. Finally, I decided to take it. Honey, thanks for the early Birthday and Christmas gift!
Now, I’ve got the shoe but I feel a little pity to wear it for running. I hope this pair will last me for at least 2 to 3 years to spread even the cost.
When we arrived at grandma’s, we learned that R had stepped into the drain. Luckily, we had bought him and D a new pair of sandal earlier before we went to MP.
We arrived home around 2030 and three musketeers were soundly asleep in the car. It was a tiring day for all of us.
Tire day
I felt tiring in the class this evening. Partly because I had not enough sleep and I had muscle ache after some stretching exercise last evening. I had lousy feeling and my movement was not as good as normal day. But, it was a good workout last evening and the stretching was really giving my muscle a great work out.I am going to sleep early tonight so that I can wake up early morning as usual for training. The team spirit is burning high. It was a disappointment we could not go for training because of raining and I actually cancelled the training due to my late night travel.
Morning training
Supposed to have training in the early morning today with my students but I arrived home in the whee morning today. So I decided to call off the training so that I could have enough sleep. Sorry gals and guys for the disappointment. I know your spirit is burning high. I noticed my stamina had improved during the training last night.
Excellent training
Yesterday I went to PJ dojo for training. It was an excellent training. As the tournament was near and in addition of training at the park at 0500 almost everyday, spirit was high and sweat like just coming out of a bath.
Before going for the training, we met up with two friends, Benji and Johan. I knew Benji quite sometime ago and had met a couple of times before. Benji is ex-Shotokan from Perak. This was the first time I met Johan. We got to know each other from the Internet as he was searching for some karate training like Benji. Johan is ex-TKD and would like to learn kata because he falls in love with karate after watching a documentary from National Geographics. Both are beautiful martial artists. We met at our old place then we proceeded to Sensei’s dojo in PJS. I introduced both of them to Sensei.
Benji and Johan, thanks for dropping by our dojo. I look forward to having you guys at our training.
Another small but remarkable milestone
Although this morning D cried when I left his school, he had done well at school today. According to his teacher, he did not want to join the other kids to play upstairs. Instead, he chose to complete his work. He wrote two pages of alphabet, “a” and “b”. D, well done and keep it up. Daddy and mommy are so proud of you.
-
Recent Entries
- English, a deterrent tool10.9
- More night views at KLCC10.9
- Night view at KLCC10.7
- Against All Odds - The Rise Of An Industrious Country10.2
- 归零9.30
- 祝贺“神七”9.27
- Two more kids get pox9.26
- Land of opportunity9.22
- 没有“懒趴”的华人9.20
- 自私自利的马来西亚华人9.19
- Shield of virtue, sword of truth9.19
- 小不忍则乱大谋9.18
- Nassi-Shneiderman Diagram9.12
- Hit the books9.10
- Pox Party9.8
- Math and Science in English: A failure9.7
- Algorithmic art9.6
- Butterworth low-pass filters9.4
- A disgrace to Malaysian tertiary education8.30
- The power of China8.24
Family
Blogroll
- A Moonlight Rendezvous
- AdaStar Informatics
- AdrianHoe.com
- Allison’s Retrospection
- allthingspurple
- Black Belt Mama
- Cartography
- chapados.org
- Colin Charles Agenda
- David’s Blog
- Embedded Computing Design
- Eric’s Blog
- 闲云孤鹤 - 清冷香中抱膝吟
- Freedom To Tinker
- gps tracklog
- Invasive Species
- Lambda the Ultimate
- Love Aficionado
- Malaysia Today
- Moments to Ponder
- PL News: Programming Language News
- Purely Random
- Robert Hanson’s Blog
- Sara Ford’s Karate Weblog
- Selby Shotokan Karate Club
- Snapshot
- The Suzette
- Uechi-Ryu Zankai Malaysia
- Wired News
- 孟文渊的博客 - Ada语言开发网站
Links
-
Site Stats & Tools
There are currently 764 posts and 1,416 comments, contained within 112 categories and 476 tags.
Visitors since February 1, 2002
Listen to my podcast