Instinct

Once Nancy told me this... 'you always have a picture in your mind on what you want... you might not have a plan, but you follow your instinct, and somehow it lead you to somewhere... and you are doing it alright, might not be the absolute proper direction, but somehow something is going on, in a good way.'

Thanks for telling me the instinct part... Though I know it... haha

Sometime I seems like thinking of something, but actually I'm just clearing my head, cool down, and wait for the automatic response from my heart. Is just like before I play for any concert, I won't sit there to think about it, but just clear my mind...empty.

Maybe when you already prepared hard before that, your body, your mind already know how to response.

So, am I a hard working person? Not sure... But all the time, I do want to rest more, sleep more, and just sit there do nothing. hahaha.... But i'm afraid to do that as well... Luckily now going to bookstore and read through some books is working well for me. hahaha

Sometime in the morning, I just don't feel like wake up, but if I continue sleep, somehow my brain will tell me 'there's something you have to do, wake up!!!' hahaha... that's weird, and I don't know how to stop that.

Tell me my friend, how?

Dinner

Beem came to me, told me some 'high' people want to have dinner with the Malaysian student... got confused... Finally called to the President office to check, and realised that the Minister of Higher Education from Malaysia is here, together with the VC from University Malaysia Perlis, University Malaysia Kelantan, University Sains Malaysia and University Utara Malaysia.

The embassy actually called up the President office of Mahidol to ask all the Malaysian student to attend a dinner for it... I'm no more a student, but they said I should just go for it... so I went...

Sukhothai hotel, one of the expensive hotel... dinner was held there in the Centala Restaurant... luxurious place... arrived 15 minutes early, was wondering will I be the only one, as I never meet any Malaysian student at Bangkok before... Luckily there are 4 of us, me and another lady from Mahidol Bangkok Noi Campus, and the other two guys from Chula.

Anything special? What's the purpose of the dinner? Don't know. haha... What I know is the VC of University Malaysia Perlis sit on my right, VC for USM is infront of me, the embassy ambassador is not far on my left, and the Minister is just further left from me, after Sham (the lady from Mahidol) They are nice, joke a lot. The food was nice, though for sure is expensive.... hahaha, of course the embassy paying for that.

What I get from there? The VC of University Malaysia Perlis actually asked me to go back and work for his newly formed Music department... how true it is, I have no idea... And of course, met some new friends, pass out some name cards, met the embassy people, and also another dinner appointment for the Merdeka day. haha!!!

So, I'm not alone here being a Malaysian. Great.

Indonesia

Ha, again, thanks for the SAYOWE, I got the chance to go Indonesia. haha

Early morning flight again, I hate that!!! Arrived Jakarta airport at 12noon... Went on for food. haha, not bad, my malay is still working. Got myself a bubur ayam and a cendol, then for A.Hiroshi the nasi goreng and teh tarik. hmm, it taste like Malaysia...

We arrived Semarang at 4pm. Djohan was there waiting for us. We went straight to the hotel, a nice one. Below is the picture I took from the window of my room. It definately looks great, not as bad as I thought Indonesia would be.

Relax little bit in the hotel till 7pm, and went out for lunch. Djohan and Samuel were there, together with Lili and Dewi, the parents/owners from the Semarang International School, the place we using for the SAYOWE audition... Both of them said I looks young.... haha, I'm!!!

Went to the China town for some walk.... lots of Chinese song, chinese food, chines face going on... though the people speak indo (malay?) Then we went for this Seafood restaurant, which served with different kind of spices/sambals. Wow!!! Fantastic... too bad that I forgot my camera at home.

Semarang is a medium size beach site city in the center Java. The land is pretty flat near the beach, except some hills when go more in to the main land. The city center is pretty much near the beach site, where as the housing area is near the hill, are those more rich will stay on the hill. haha

The next day, when to the Semarang International school, a small school, run by some welfare families, for their own children. Was surprised to see the SAYOWE banner, though we never send it to them. They actually did it by their own.

We got some nice students... or to say, finally we are getting the student from the University, instead of high school kids. Below is the picture taken after the audition, CM, Samuel, A.Hiroshi, Djohan, Dewi, Lili (from left to right)

After the audition, grab some lunch box, and went straight to the town. Nothing much, though have a lot of chinese influence here....again. Surprisingly, a lot of christian as well...

Though the flight back to Jakarta is 7:30pm... we were just too tired, and we just want to rest at the airport. Arrived there 4pm... haha... check in, some drinks, and football match for A.Hiroshi... flight delayed... reached Jakarta 9:30pm, took the 10pm flight back to Bangkok, and reached home at 3am... gosh!!!

Never thought Indonesia is like this... is not that bad as I thought... Anyway, thanks to Lili for being our tour guide... Dewi for lending your car and driver for us... Samuel, for your Bandeng fish, it taste fantastic!!!! And of course, Djohan, thanks for everything!!!

Hooray, SAYOWE!!! hahaha

Hanoi - Vietnam

Went there, thanks for the SAYOWE again. haha

Arrived noon, went out for food ourselves... the moment we sat down, 3 beers were served right away. No wonder my friends always tell me that Beer is common here. hahahah

Like usual, did the audition... we got some fantastic students, as usual, from the Hanoi Conservatory of Music... Then, she appeared, and we met, after so many years. Let me introduce, my Vietnam traditional instrument teacher, Mrs Giang!!!!
She definately looks more prettier than we last met, since 2003. (SW, right?) She is now a big name... national artist... together with her 'Hoa Trang An' band.



She helped us to check in at this hostel... which I don't really like... but because of some reasons... then we wait a bit, and went straight to this restaurant, to meet up with the rest... Guang, Mien... long time no see!!!! Met them for long.... since 2003 SAYOWE... and everybody looks different now. ha

Woke up the other morning at 6am, went straight out for walking. Hanoi is not that big, which you can really walk around, consider you cross the road by walking slowly, not RUNNING. The motorbike driver is crazy here, but as long as you walk slow and nicely, they will avoid hitting you. haha

Went to all these places... guess is not hard to tell the chinese influences... though the first one is the Cathedral by the French at 18??.

Oh, the one below is the Hanoi Opera house. They actually have their own Opera Orchestra, and also the National Phiharmonic Orchestra... but maybe 3 or 4 concerts each year...

kekeke... after that, Mien and Giang brougt me out for this fantastic lunch! Check out the pictures! Taste great!

These are the two ladies that take care of my first night dinner and all my lunch during my stay there. Met Giang years ago in this Culture Camp, and of course Mien, our lovely cellist since 2003 SAYOWE. haha, both of them are married, and they were talking about their marriage life, which I have no clue about it. Anyway, thanks!!!!

Do I like Hanoi? Yes, I enjoyed walking and digging in to the art gallery... But I really don't like the noise... the motorbike honking sounds... and perhaps... little bit too hot during the summer. hahaha

Myanmar... thought of going for long, finally did it this year for the audition trip.

Arrived early morning 8:30am, A.Kit and Thun Thun were there waiting for us. The airport is surprisingly nice. According to A.Hiroshi, it is because of the Japan goverment... ha

We went straight to the hotel for the audition, met some old faces from pass few years SAYOWE... The view from the airport to hotel wasn't as bad as I thought... kind of like Ampang, 20 years ago.

And finally, there she is, right in front of the door. She waited for almost half an hour for us to finish the audition... sorry for that. Was so happy to meet her again. I thought I will never ever see her again. We talked, laughed... and she almost cry... Too bad that we only have short time to meet up, as she needs to meet up with the boy friend that just happend to be in town as well. But it was great to meet you, Thida.

And since we still have time, went to check out the temple as well. Can't remember what it called, but it is really amazing... Look at the picture and speak for yourself.

After the short trip to Gitamei school, went out for dinner with A.Kit. She brought us to this place, beside the lake... where you can see the house that the army keep her. A.Kit told us the stories about her, and the accident...

Right after the dinner, we headed to the airport, to catch the flight. The immigration people are nice, but they were all showing us a funny look... perhaps because we got our VISA for 90 days stay, but we arrived and depart on the same day. haha...

So, I went there, been there... but still don't really feel it... is so untouchable for me...

10月18日

10月18日 天生的领袖

10月18日出生的人注定会在“生命大戏”时担任要角，他们非但是出色的演员，甚至在家庭、或社交圈中也能胜任导演的职务。他们欲为人上人的企图心极强，总是毫不怯懦地勉力为之；难得的是，如果情况必要，他们也愿意保持低姿态。

不过即使如此，他们仍然很难成为最典型的领袖，因为他们的兴趣实在是太过广泛了！举个例来说，他们总是会趁早从职位上溜走，好专心地去从事其他更有兴趣的工作。当他们被拔擢为主管时，常会眼巴巴地期待着早日“赎”回自由，重新回到原先感兴趣的领域。如果他们真的离去，伙伴们都会怀念他们正直、诚实的态度，以及无懈可击的节操。

今天出生的人即使不那么能干，还是可能凭着他们的能力、社交或运气，获得成名或发财的机会，只不过，坐在这高位上的滋味并不舒服。江他们试图应付诸多重任时，伴随而来的压力会使他们面临崩溃，所以终究得决定要自动“降级”，或是随被压力击剑的风险。 虽然他们能当领袖，却不应强求，也不硬撑，毕竟自己的工作和嗜好才是他们的最爱，如果要他们把自己的事摆在第二顺位，根本就快乐不起来。

他们喜欢和别人一起游玩，不过，因为他们并不那么善于交际，有时会有相处上的困难。他们喜欢参加亲友的活动，如果被忽略而落单，就会发脾气。不过，今天出生的人再怎么浮华，也具有内省的能力；而且，由于他们鄙视自怜自艾的人，所以即使情感受到了伤害，也绝对不会显露出来。遇到这种情形，他们最常采取的发泄方式，就是回到个人的工作和兴趣上，而不会像个无法参加舞会的灰姑娘似的，在一旁流连不去。这种自我安慰的方式固然值得钦佩，却也不要把事情看得太严重，而就此切断了与亲友间的沟通管道。 他们最好经常与人联系、交谈，并展现适度的谦卑，以免别人误会他们自以为高不可攀、无所不能。当然，也不必太过插躬屈膝，毕竟，高尚的品格与威严，仍是他们最珍贵的本质。

True or not, check yourself:
http://www.nongli.com/366/index.htm