Tik Lin's 2010 Year-End Message + 2011 Resolution

Oh gosh! Today will be my last day in Chandler, tomorrow 12/31/2010 5:30am will leave my lovely apartment (forever?) to PHX airport, then will celebrate my 2011 New Year inside SQ0011 Business Class Cabin with pretty stewardess and steward! Let’s review what had happen in 2010.
Jan to Mar: Family season, busying for CNY, then follow by cousin wedding, QING MING, relatives visiting. May be, I’m getting older, I love hanging out with family than last time. Just too bad, we do not have a place for us to unite like old time. Or I should say someone family value already buried after grandma gone?

Apr to May: Challenge my status quo! Thanks to William for organizing this KK trip! When he asked in late 2009, due to little time to think, I agreed to it, else it will not happen. Unfortunately, started 2009 I lost my shape! I spent more times in dining table than gym. I was so worry to become ‘rat shit’; thus I put time to train up my stamina. Whatever I trained got pay back! I wasn’t the rat shit, but also better than average. Ahead of schedule and wasn’t struggled with pain after the hike. The most difficult part for me was the last midnight hike to low peak. If I plan to do it again, I’ll skip this part! Due to oxygen level was low, easily felt tired and hardly breathe. Every < 10 steps, I had to stop for rest. Besides, it wasn’t that amazing to experience sunrise from low peak. It damn cold and uncomfortable with wearing wet sweat T shirt inside the winter jacket! It wasn’t fun at all. However, we had great experiences, I love the services (sent my hiking shoes back to me ONTIME), the itinerary, peoples are friendly. As for now, this trip is one of my top 3 favorite trips!
May (mid) to June: After personal fun time, switch to work side. It was cool; I had a business trip to ChengDu. I love the Shangri la hotel very much! I have been missing the inner swimming pool, breakfast, gym, the shower. But outside Shangri La was totally mess! I had to arm up, so won’t get cheated; won’t step on people’s phlegm; won’t get hit by car, etc. Sorry, if this word too strong, ‘hate’ it! The following business trip was to KL for L1 visa application. In my memory, I do not have good impression about KL’s peoples and traffic. But, after ChengDu trip, KL is much better! Malaysia BOLEH!
July to Dec: Thanks to Intel for giving me another relocation opportunity! So, I can come back to my second home- Chandler! I know the streets here than Penang. Once I got my car from the airport, without GPS or mapquest; I knew which direction to go and how to come ‘home’! This trip wasn’t fun if compare to previous one, but is good for me temporary stayed away from ‘mess’. At least here, I learnt new stuffs everyday, able to save money, can hang out with my old buddy and met new friends. So thank you-> BP!
Before to have new resolutions, let’s me recap my 2010 resolution:
1。 爱佳倍- 从一月开始，从新开始建立新的组织，让六月前能有稳定的收入（>RM10k/month).然后，下半年为另一个高峰突破！也让自己组织的伙伴，能有稳定收入！
2。 回报- 带妈妈出国散散心。九月- 奥门； 十一月/十二月-曼谷。继续每月慈济捐款-RM100; 四月加薪后，再提升。
3。 自己- 生日前-体重下直85kg；然后，五月前，下直80kg。 从爱佳倍赚取LCD screen TV, 从新布置房间。
4。 旅游- 五月爬 Mount KK; 六月/七月潜水！(Pulau Redang)
5。 伴侣- 可遇不可求！让自己专心在爱佳倍发展！
6。 每月消费，不要拖欠卡债！
Item 1- failed. After a while, I have to be honest to myself, MLM isn’t the career path that I can sustain. I do not have the passion, discipline and that kind of mindset. Sorry, but I learnt and had good time. Thank you for whoever helped me before.
Item 2: almost failed due to my second half assignment that I had to reschedule my BKK trip. Monthly donation, I lost track after Chaih Hsia on maternity leave.
Item 3: FAILED.
Item 4: When come to the fun part, it won’t fail completely! Do not have time for diving trip, because of the second half assignment.
Item 5: Too far away!
Item 6: ON TRACK especially second half! Thanks to Intel.
Anyway, it was a great year! Thank GOD for his blessing, I’m alive and good shape. Thanks to everyone who mad my 2010 ended wonderfully. Especially to friends who helped me look after my parents when I was not around. I’ll remember your kindness and keep inside my heart! Thank you!
It is going to be very good starting of year 2011. Let’s list my 2011 resolution!
1. Be thankful! Everyday is a wonderful present from GOD, embrace every moment! Stop complaining, suck it up and move on!
2. Be healthy and stay back IN SHAPE. Continue on my 2010 resolution (Item 3).
3. Spend more time with my parents, especially my mom. Full fill my 2010 resolution (Item 2).
4. Better financial planning, debt free! Stop signing any new saving fund!
5. Work smart and get as many rewards as possible!
6. Involving in more charity events, besides the monthly donation. (Target RM150/month).
7. Finding someone who worth to love? Or waiting for someone? Haha… will see!

Looking forward to live happily and successfully in this coming 2011! Ganbateh!

Put The Glass Down!

This morning, I received a forwarded story names, "Put the glass down" from a old friend. But, as usual morning is short and have so many task that need to accomplish between this short period of time. Until now, when waiting for the data returns, open it!
I read this type of story more than 2 at least! But today, after reading it, I smiled. How come everytime, i fall into the same situation again and again? After started my job assignment in Chandler AZ. Work life is different that what i was doing in the past. So, i work harder, then i can pick up the task faster and comparable to the employees here. The more i put my efforts in, then i was hoping more in return. I took the initiative which i wish i can impress my factory with my proactive apporaches. But, what i got the impression was in other way. No matter how well i tried to do, neither they shutdown my idea nor they continue to demand more. So, i was pissed and stressed up! I was in the bad emotional for days, even i couldn't sleep well at night!
I know, i shouldn't have such negative feeling, i know i should let go. Just, hard to let go.
After reading this article, i remember last time Dato told me, when we see problem, we have to accept it, then face it, then solve it, then put it down! Just.... everytime i keep repeating the silly cycle! Gosh! hate it!
I should read this article everyday and everytime when i stress up myself!

Life's problems are something like this.
Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.
Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache.
Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you.
You will not be able to do anything.

Fireproof- Never Leave Your Partner Behind!

I got number of DVDs from Ernest, because i love movies! I saw this Fireproof and i chose it to watch this afternoon because I thought this is the action movie about the fireman to save lifes just like other fireman's movie! When the show began and few mins later, I started to realize that I was wrong. This isn't the action movie, this is Christian show. Anyhow, since is not the bad show, I just continued on.
The actor, fireman captain- Caleb still saving life in the movie, but more on saving his marriage! He was just typical GUY's thinking man. Never tried to help on house hold and plus the pressure that he got from his work life, he started react so different and less communication with his wife. He became so ego, selfish and lost the feeling of love to his wife and god. He started no beliving in love. Resulted, his marriage was about to go up in smoke! His parents never giving up on Caleb, and they helped him to save his marriage and more important his value toward love. The process was tough is just like how we been through our real life. We can't change the world in a day or wk, it will take times that nobody know. During the process, we can't expect any reward, we just have to continue to believe. Of course, good modal story always ended up in good ending. But, it is the meaningful ending! At least, for me... I got triggered!
A lot of times, when we are facing a lot of difficulties in our life, we started to change to be different character of person, at least I'm. The character that does not benefit anyone, but in other way destroying our life, especially relationship. We are hurting peoples who love us! I always think, I'm so important in the family, because without me, my parents cant have place to stay, food to eat or whatever. So, I have to get number 1 priority and respect! Then, I will started forget to respect or care about what my parents need. Lucky, I'm not that bad situation if compare to Caled, at least I'm still believing in God and always have some checkpoint for myself! Just, the failure of the relationship that happen last year, really ruin my life. I always think I'm the victim, and turning everything into so negative! Sigh! I believe this is not the 1st time that I want to let go it! But, I can't truly let go. That's resulted i no motivation and can't keep on my plan. Oh God! I should not continue on it! At least, started for today onward! I do not know this round, how long it will take it... but, i will always do a checkpoint on myself! That's the reason, I want to put it in my blog! I will get my own fireproof DVD! When I started to forget today feeling, I'll watch this movie again and again!
Thank god for not giving up on me! I know, everytime when I started to lost, you are trying to send some hints to me! Thank you! I can't be perfect person, but I'll do my best to be good person! Thank you- "fireproof", for bringing me back on the track! Thanks!

Lunch Box Preparation- Meal 11

Connecting into Facebook, almost like connecting to the world. We get news and sharing from every where. Today, got to know a friend's graddy passed away. All friends left 'His granddy rest in peace'. I got a triggered, why we only said rest in peace when someone is leaving the world? But, we never send such wishes to a new born baby to tell it live in peace? Shouldn't we suppose to live in peace, should we? But, when we are living, we non stop work for living, fight for living, argue for living, resulting mad, sad, hopeless. If we can live in peace, will bring us more benefits than we die in peace! Why we have to always torturing ourselves? Eddy, thanks for the 《大悲咒》 sharing. I should listen to it daily and everytime when I have negative thoguhts! Jia you!!
Anyway, we need food for living too! haha... This is another lunch box preparation. Honestly, starting to feel bored, almost run out of idea what to prepare. Lucky yesterday, I found Carol's blog, damn she is so pro! Is good reference when everytime i have no idea what to cook. :D
Meal 11- fried brocolli with chicken, fried carrot eggs and brown rice
Ingredients:
1 bunch brocolli
1 chicken breast
5 chilis padi
1 carrot
2 eggs
Some gralic and ginger
Directions:
1. I started with fried eggs with carrot 1st, because i can reuse the pan later for second dish. As usual heat up the pan and add in the oil. Then, started fried the carrots. Put in the eggs at last. Made it ommelet, then cut it to pieces so that can fit in my lunch bowl.
2. Follow by heat up the oil again to fry garlic and ginger. Then put in the chicken, add some water, rice wine, salt, black pepper, little sugar.
3. When the chicken almost cooked, then put brocolli and chili padi, added some water, so it wont be that dry.
That's meal 11 presentation. :)

My last wkend....

After Friday Volleyball game with Malaysia pals, nothing special happen on Sat and Sunday. As usual, Saturday morning did grocery shopping in Mekong Plaza, I prefer that place than Lee Lee, because newer, cleaner and laughing buddha. I believe everytime after I rub his tummy, I'll get luck and $$. :)
I love vietnamese Pho, almost will have it once a wk! I should learn how to cook it!
Saturday night, thinking to make something western. Since I have ground beef, so let's make meatloaf!

Dish 5- Tomato Beef Loaf with spinach and Celerry side dishes:
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 egg white
1/4 Onion
1/3 tomato sauce
little salt, pepper, parsely leaf, sugar
numbers of corn strach
Direction:
1. Combined the corn strach and tomato sauce in a bowl, then added in egg white, parsey leaf, onion and ground beef, mixed until combine.
2. Shape mixture into loaf shape.
3. Heat up the oven 350F, then bake it almost 1 hour.
Is Saturday night, of course beers up! :D

Sunday was my busy day, woke up early morning went to swim. But, no fun, the pool too small. Sigh, I really miss the Shangri La indoor swimming pool! After that, I started busy preparing my lunch, I planned to cook 2 dishes and one 1 soup. :)


Dish 6: Fried Squash with eggs and shrimp:
Ingredients:
5/6 shrimps
1 chinese squash (edge melon)
1 tomato
1 eggs
Direction:
1. Heat up the pan and fried garlic.
2. Once garlic turned into golden colour, fried eggs and shrimp.
3. Then out int he squash and added some water, salt.


Dish 7: Fried bean sprouts with pork
Ingredients:
1/4 lb pork
1/3 lb bean sprout
5-6 chili padi
1 tbs cincaluk
1/2 onion
Direction:
1. Heat up pan and fried garlic. Then follow by onion and chili padi.
2. Then put in pork with cincaluk, fried till it cooked. Only put in bean sprouts. Mixed bean sprout to other stuffs.


Soup 2- Water cress soup (西洋菜）:
Ingredients:
1 bunch of water cress
2 honey dates
10 red dates
1 tbs Lycium fruit (Goji berries)
1/2 lb lean pork meat
Direction:
1. Boil the water together with honey dates, red dates and goji berries. Once the water boil, added in teh pork meat.
2. Then, only put in the water cress after the pork meat cooked. Turned the fire to small and cook for 2 hours.

After 3 hours hard work, the lunch was prepared! :)


But it did not make sense, busy whole morning, just cooked for one person and one meal. Better keep some for Monday lunch box, so Monday i do not need wake up early! :D

July 2010 Financial Report

This return assignment, I have a mission to accomplish, save RMxxk! I had enough funs in my last long assignment, I travelled most of the places and spent enoough money! So, since this is short assignment, I want to control and have some cash in hand, when return home.
July was lucky month, thanks to ECBP bonus, it was much more than I expected. So, I have to encourage ppls buy more netbook than ipad. :D At the end, we got great return and looking forward for Jan/Feb 2011, another record ECBP :D. Resulted, July I able to save more than I planned. Kudos!

I was overspent in July, mainly due to settle down. However, if removed the settledown, i still overspending... i hv to cut down the spending on dining out, grocery and misc. I have to control my spending < $600.

So, this month, what i have to do:
Settle down- removed
Dine out- 10% cut down ($180/ month; ~$45/wk)
Grocery- 15% cut down ($200 / month; ~$50/wk)
Gas- $40 / month
Misc + Entertainment- $100 / month; $25/wk

Then, hv extra $30 as buffer / emergency usage! Is doable, what I need is discipline! Jia you!!!

Lunch Box Preparation- Meal 10

Yes, is FRIDAY! Any how, I was still preparating my lunch box, mainly reason is, this month i extremely overspent >USD100. Damn!
Yesterday evening was cool, was raining. Here different than motherland, we cheers when it rains especially during summer time. We all looking forward for the monsoon. Friday, prefer something easy, so I just made claypot chicken. :D
Meal 10- Chicken rice + steam brocoli
Ingredients:
1 Full Chicken Drumstick
few slides of butter mushroom
3 pieces garlic
3 chili padi
few slides of ginger
few brunch brocolli
1 cup brown rice

Direction:
1. Marinated the chicken with oyster source, dark source, little sugar, salt, rice wine, sesame oil, corn starch, and the stuffs (garlic, chili padi, ginger and butter mushroom) overnight.
2. This morning, cook the brown rice with the marinated items, it will take longer time like 45 mins. But, just leave it with rice cooker, i can do other things within this 45 mins.
3. Boil the water to boil brocolli.
4. When the time i plan to leave the apartment, just put the rice in my new container. :D

I always looking for a glass container than plastic, even though it stated microwave safe, but, i still worry. Last Sat, I found the glass bowl with lid in Ernest house, this will be cool to replace my plastic container. Thus, i got it yesterday. :)

Lunch Box Preparation- Meal 9

Today was very happening, but not really in good way nor all in bad way! First, as usual original plan was just cook one meal, boil one meal and cook brown rice. However, when half way cooking the brown rice, I noticed something not right, because the light indication was not functioning. OMG, the rice cooker looks like already EOL. SHIT! Lucky, I was St. John cooking team, we used to cook rice with fire. Thus, I have to change my plan. Transferred the rice from rice cooker to pot. The use stove to cook it. Then, i just left one pan, my original boil choi sam, also hv to change plan become fried. Ended up, i need to fry 2 dishes.

Meal 9- Fried cincaluk pork, Fried choi san with eggs and brown rice

Ingredients:
1 piece pork chop
2 tbs cincaluk
6 chilis padi
5 pieces garlic
few slides butter mushroom
half Onion
1 egg
Few bunches Choi San

Directions:
1. Transferred the rice to pot, use medium fire to cook it. Have to pay attention and time to time need to open the lid to avoid overflow.
2. Heat up pan and oil, started with veggie which still can reuse the pan for second dish without washing (time constraint).
3. Fried garlic and mean time, scrumbble the egg besides the garlic. Once both ready, mixed them together follow by put in the choi sam. Added some salt will do. It should be done between 5 mins.
4. Continue the pan and add in new oil. Put in garlic and fried it a while only add in the onion. After that, follow by butter mushroom and chili padi.
5. Once the stuffs in 4 ready, put in the pork and cincaluk. Added some water, corn stach, pepper and little sugar. Make sure the pork meat mixed well with earlier item.

As a result, this morning the preparation took more than 30 mins, i guess almost 40 mins. Later after work, have to go walmart and get new rice cooker!

Lunch Box Preparation- Meal 8

When doing a stuffs too frequent or become a routine life, then will start to feel boring. That's what happen to me now. I love cooking, but if cook everyday for single person, that's bored! But, to achieve my year end goal, have to do so, dining out too expensive and quite heavy for those tempted food! Today lady fingers again, but if steam again, will make my life more grey! haha... BUT, if cook 2 dishes in early morning, unless i wake up early or plan go to work late. Hmm... so today let's make it all in one style!
Meal 8- Tomyam Fried Lady Fingers with Ground meat + brown rice.
Ingredients:
1 box lady fingers
1/4 lbs ground meat
6 chili padi
half Onion
3 pieces Garlic
Few slides butter mushroom
half carrot
1 tomato
1 tbs tomyam paste

Directions:
1. Heat up the pan, then follow by little cooking oil.
2. Started with garlic, then follow by Onion, carrot and tomato. The reason i cooked tomato in pretty early step, because i like it fully cook till all the juice came out. It will make the dish little sour and sweet.
3. Put in chili padi and butter mushroom. Fried a while, then put in the lady finger.
4. Last follow by group meat. At the same time, add in the tomyam paste, corn stach and black pepper. Salt and sugar are excepted, because the tomyam paste already has enough taste, further more, the earlier veggie like onion, tomato and carrot already add in the sweetness to the dish.
5. Continue to fried and make sure the ground meat make friends with them.

So, the whole cooking can be done within 30 mins. :) it smells good! :D

Lunch Box Preparation- Meal 7

Yesterday was my rest day, because the lunch box was the left over food from the Sat dinner in Ernest place. Today have to back to routine life again. Hmm... am I enjoying? Haha... we need save $$ and food for living, so no second option! :D
Today, kind of lazy to cook rice.. haha.. dunno why, just not keen with the brown rice that I bought. The brown rice taste here not good at all! May be is more healthier..
Meal 7- Potato Chicken and boil Choi San
Ingredients:
1 chicken breast (boneless, keep the bones for soup later)
Few slides butter mushroom
3 pieces Garlic
Few slides Ginger
1 Potato
Few bunches Choi Sam
Direction:
1. Boil the water and heat up the pan together. Is pretty easy to handle 2 dishes at the same time.
2. Put in the oil once the pan hot, started with Potato, because Potato will take times to cook; after potato changing colours, then put in garlic and ginger. After a while only put in the butter mushroom.
3. Once the water boils, put in the choi sam. Just boil for a while will do, because later will heat up again with microwave.
4. Put in the chicken, add oyster source, dark soy source, little salt, sugar, rice wine and sesame oil. Add some water, so it won't be that dry.
So, minus the preparation time that done yesterday evening, the overall cooking time less than 30 mins. :)

Fruitful wkend

Time always flies very fast, it was my 4th wkend here! Most of the wkend was quite reasonable boring, which has plenty of time to rest and stayed back at home! Last wkend was full of with few plans!
Mikey was here last wk till sat morning. Then, 4 'batangs' planned to hang out in Kona Grill for happy hour. That's place was cool, but food just 'ok', i prefer BJ more! Before we called it off for that night, we went to have yogurt in Yogurt Land at ASU area. I love the yogurt there.. they are plenty till ran out of idea what to choose! I wish my mom here with me, she loves this type of stuffs, because it taste like ice cream!
Sat morning, we woke up quite early, because planned to meet up with Mikey again breakfast prior his departure to airport! As usual, Spring Hill breakfast always same. But, nothing to complain because we ate free there! haha.... Since we had early breakfast, we were able to catch the early movie- Inception!

Watching movie in AMC cheaper than Harkins ($5.25 VS. $7). I wanted to watch this movie for some times, timing yet right. I read number of friends who already watched gave good comments. Hmm... for me, this movie consider creative which mixture of 'matrix' style that need times to digest only can understand. I expect something more.... so, it just cool movie to me ONLY. :)
After lunch, we did shopping because at night we gonna have a 'batangs' gathering in Ernest's house. We spent > hours in Mekong Plaza, asian market because we planned to cook 4 dishes + 1 soup + 1 dessert! It was tiring when reach Ern's house, because we woke up quite early, so i took a short nap before I can start preparing tonight dinner.
We started with dessert preparing, because it took time to defroze the durian and times to cook green beans. It was fun to open frozen durian and eat it. It taste like ice cream durian. :) The interesting part was, we did it in US.

Then, we started to cook the soup, the longer we boiled it, we believe will make the soup taste nicer! After we boiled the soup, we started to prepare the dish 1 by 1; marinated the assam prawn, belacan chicken, stir the ground meat with cincaluk, sambal asparagus. The whole preparation took around 2.5 hours, but the cooking part less than 1 hour. :) So, I still met my timeline to deliver the dinner at 7pm :D

Let's me go through every single dish, so won't wasted my efforts that putting in. haha.... (show off time!)

Dish 1- Belacan Chicken
Ingredients:
1 lb chicken wings (drumstick)
Few Belacan + flour
Directions:
1. Clean the small drumsticks, then marinated them with belacan and flour. Salt is excepted because belacan itself kinda salty. It took sometimes during the marination part, because the belacan was in pieces, need to press it became smaller or melt, so that the it can mix well with drumstick.
2. Heat the oil 1st, make sure the oil was really HOT. Once the temp reach there, put in the drumstick and fried it till golden colour.

Dish 2- Assam Prawn
Ingredients:
1 lb Jumbo Prawn
Few assam
Direction:
1. Peel off the shell till left the shrimp tail (just for presentation purposes).
2. After clean it, marinate with oyster source, assam, soy source, sugar (little bit more), black pepper and corn stach. NOTE: Don't use too much of assam, it will make it too sour and salty.
3. Heat up the pan and fried it. BUT, we redo it again because we put too much assam and eded up it too salty.
4. Refried it again with water which stir with corn stach and sugar. Added Onion in also to make the shrimp taste sweeter which can reduce the salty.
At the end, this was my least favorite, it just still nice edible (69% score).

Dish 3- Cincaluk Ground Meat:
Ingredients:
3/4 lb ground meat
2 tea spoon cincaluk
6/7 chili padi
1 egg whie
Directions:
1. Put in cincaluk, chili padi and mix with ground meat. Added egg white and corn stach, little sugar and black pepper. Salt is excepted too, because cincaluk is quite salty.
2. Once all the ingredients mixed well, made it into meat ball shape on the oven pan.
3. Baked inside oven for 40 mins with 400F.

Dish 4- Sambal Asparagus:
Ingredients:
1 bunch asparagus
1 pack sambal (due to no red chillis here)
7 red onion
few dry salted shrimp
4 pieces garlic
4 chili padi
7 medium shrimp (peeled off all the shell)
little ginger
Direction:
1. Blended the red onion, salted shrimp, garlic, chili padi and ginder. Then, mixed them with sambal.
2. Heat up the pan, add oil then fried the (1).
3. Then put in the shrimp before asparagus. Once put in the asparagus, added some water, sugar and littel salt.
4. Once the asparagus cooked, then can ready to serve in plate.

Soup- Lotus root:
Ingredients:
1.5 lotus root
few pieces of lean pork meat
1/4 of nuts
few slides of dry squip
6/7 honey dates (tone down to 4/5)
>10 red dates
Direction:
1. Peel up the lotus root skin, and clean the nuts.
2. Started to boil the soup with nuts, lotus root, honey date, red date and dry squip. Only until it boiled, put in the lean pork.
3. Added some salt / sugar to make the soup taste good. Then, continue to boil the soup for few hours till dinner time. The longer, it taste much better!

Dessert- Green bean + durian:
Ingredients:
3/4 pack green beans
few dark sugar
4 or 5 pieces of durian meats
Is good if can find the pandan leaf.
Directions:
1. After cleaned up the green beans, the cook it.
2. Waited till the green beans cooked, else it will taste hard.
3. Added in the durian. ONLY add sugar in after everything cooked. if put in sugar too early, it may cause burnt and need more attention. Since, I was multi cooking and preparing other dishes, better add the sugar when i done with other dishes.

Last but no least, Ernest also contributed and did smoothies for us. He was using strawberries, banana, grapes, orange and apple, then blended with ice. Hmm... i prefer he did that during afternoon time, this is cool drink to cold down the temp, but if have it with dinner, then quite heavy! haha...

Any how, my duty just prepared the dinner, Ernest promised will do the cleaning. However, as usual, he always delivered his commit late. The kictchen was totally a mess and even worst, because of his cleverness, put few beers in the freezer. Ended up, it didn't help to cold down the beers, it made it explored! I was so so worry, when Lila back, we will banned from using this kicthen again. Anyway, like i said earlier, Ernest's style, he will do it but later. Before we left the house in the following day, he washed the dishes and kitchen 90% back to normal. :)
We had 2 movies, "The Road" and "The descent 2". The Road, for me quite a boring show. But, the Descent 2 very good! It made us scream! haha!
I really had great wkend! It was fun and cool especially hang out with old friends! :)

Lunch Box Preparation- Meal 6

This is my last lunch box for this week. :) Tomorrow will get myself some rest because this Saturday promised will help Ernest prepares dinner for friends to his house in Maricopa. Besides, tomorrow I need leave my apartment around 7:15am plus to have breakfast with friend in Spring Hill.
Today is pork day! haha, pork chop is having great deal! (jezz... my thinking always like Ah Beng).
Meal 6- fried dark soy source pork, steam lady fingers and brown rice.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup brown rice
few slides gingers
1/4 onion
3 pieces garlic
4 butter mushroom
1 pack lady fingers

Directions:
1. Marinated the pork meat with rice wine, little salt, black pepper and corn flour overnight. (I did it overnight, because no time in the morning, actual 1-2 hours will do).
2. As usual, put the lady fingers in the steamber on top the rice cooker together with brown rice.
3. Heat up the pan, put oil and fried the garlic till golden colours. Follow by ginger, after a while put Onion and butter mushroom. Some water needed, so it wont be dry.
4. Then, put in the pork meat and fried with the stuffs in item 3. Put little bit sugar, osyter source, dark source, little bit soy source, black pepper and rice wine. Oh ya, sesame oil too, this will make it smell and taste good. Then, just continue to fried till it ready. :)

This meal take little bit longer, but still can be done within 40 mins and i still able arrived office before 8am (3 mins earlier). haha :D

Lunch Box Preparation- Meal 5

Another new day, always comes with new meal. But, I do not know how long more i can continue to come out new idea. Some of the dishes sure will repeat. What i had for today is one of my favorites, which is cincaluk steam meat! :)
Meal 5- Steam cincaluk groud meat, fried pak choy with squip ball and brown rice.
Ingredients:
0.25 lbs ground meat
2 table spoons cincaluk
6 chili padi
1 egg
6 squip balls
4 bunches pak choy
3 pieces garlic

Direction:
1. Put the ground meat in the small bowl, then follow by cincaluk, chili padi and eggs. of course need to add little bit sugar, corn flour, black pepper, stir all until they mixed well. Then, steam it for 20-30 mins.
2. Heat up the pan, put oil and then fried garlic. When the garlic were turning to golden, then put in the squip balls. Then after, put in the pak choy, some water, rice wine, salt, oyster source and black pepper. Just usual, dont over cook.

The whole lunch box can be ready within 30 mins. While waiting for the rice and cincaluk steam meat ready, can just take shower and get myself reaady to work!

Lunch Box Preparation- Meal 3.5 and 4

Although is 2 days of lunch box, it still consider half half for each because i just cooked one chicken for 2 days. :) Everyone hates Monday except this day is PH. So do I! It took me a while to get out from bed! So, let's cook something MOST simple lunch for Monday is high recommended! :)
Meal 3.5- Roasted Chicken with steam brocolli, carrots and pak choy
Ingredients:
half chicken breast
2 carrots
2 bunches of brocolli
2 pak choy

Direction:
1. Marinated the chicken with rice wine, oyster source, soy source, black pepper, little bit salt and sugar overnight.
2. Heat up the Oven to 450F, then put the chicken breast in for 20 mins.
3. Boil the water; once boiled, put all veggies in. Dont over cook, because at lunch time will reheat the lunch box again.

So, the whole cooking just need focus on boiled the veggies and it should done within 10 mins. :D That's my Monday meal! Simple and still tasty!

Meal 4: Roasted chicken, fried pak choy with eggs and steam brown rice
Ingredients:
1 cup of brown rice (forgot soak overnight)
half chicken breast
4 pak choy
half carrot
1 eggs
3 pieces of Onion

Direction:
1. Same like I did for the meal 3.5, marinated the chicken for overnight and this morning roasted in Oven.
2. heat up the pan with little cooking oil, then fried Onion.
3. The fried egg, scrumble it.
4. Once the egg was ready, put in the pak choy, water, oyster source, salt, and black pepper. As usual, don't over cook the veggie.

I'll always prepare 2 dishes for my lunch, one will cook with the simple method either steam or bake in oven; the other dish i'll fried or some other method. So, I can get everything done within 30 mins. of course, all the preparations need to be done a night before. Like now, i done for the tomorrow stuffs, once I woke up, i just need to cook. :)

Knowing someone...

Starting new life in a new place (although is not really new to me), the toughest part is to rebuild the friendship! I was always hoping to know someone local who i can hang out with. My last assignment 2.5 years just inside the Malaysian circle, because that trip, here was full with a lot of friends from same motherland. That was cool. But, this round, just me alone so far... although they are few Malaysians here, just yet my type of friens that can hang out with. Yup, Ernest, you are my best buddy, lucky you are here, BUT you stay far away from here and you big BABE that you have to look after..... so, most of the time, i'm alone!
Today it started with a call from someone who I still don't know his name, we chatted and decided how's about the hang out this afternoon. The hang out started with a mess, because i was waiting at starbucks one hour earlier than his new confirmed time which left in my voice mail after i left my house. But, we were catching up good after reschedule at Boba tea nearby Lee Lee market.
Normal chatting and usual hang out. Anyway, no much expectation, it was cool to know someone local only... We migth hang out again tomorrow.. I believe tomorrow will always better, isn't it? :D

Lunch Box Preparation- Meal 3

Let's have something different today, no rice! But, is Japanese Udong. Haha! I love a veggies, especially fried noodles with different type of veggies, that's always my favorite! This meal preparation was fast!

Meal 2: Fried Udong with veggies

Ingredients:
1 pack of Udong (can get it from Lee Lee)
half tomato
4 small chilis
half onion
1 bowl of bean sprouts
2 pok choy
half carrot
6 squip balls
2 eggs
3 pieces of Garlic

Directions:
1. Heat up the oil, then started fried garlic. Once got the small put Onion, follow by tomato and carrot.
2. Put some water and salt. Then follow by squip ball, chilis and pak choy.
3. Then, put the main course- udong, the oyster source, soy source, sugar and salt will make it taste good.
4. Then, put in the eggs and fried mix around.
5. Last part is put bean sprout, make sure dont over cook, because later in office will heat it up again in microwave.

That's my 3rd day lunch box. Tomorrow and friday will not need to prepare lunch box because will have lunch appointment tomorrow with my IBX counterpart (Jim) and Friday will be my former boss and collegues. :)

Lunch Box Preparation- Meal 2

Preparing lunch box, the most critical part is time! That's not good to eat overnight food, thus we have to wake up earlier in the morning to cook the food. We also try avoid to wake up super early, because it will be very tiring afternoon time and we have to stay focus in our work. So, time is number priority! Today, I need to arrive office before 7:30am because of medical check up appointment set at 7:45am. Thus, i need cook something as simple as possible BUT still tasty! :)
Meal 2: Fried tomoto eggs, Honey BBQ drumstick, steam brocolli with brown rice

Ingredients:
1 cup of brown rice had been soaked for 22 hours, this makes it alkaline.
1 bunch brocolli
1 tomato
2 eggs
1 drumstick

Directions:
1. The night before marinated the drumstick with Osyter source, soya source, honey, rice wine, pepper. This morning, put into oven and bake for 20 mins at 400F.
2. Put the brocolli at the steamer on top the rice cooker, steam it together with brown rice.
3. Heat up the oil in the pan, then fried tomato till it cooked, then follow by fried eggs together with tomato.
4. Add little salt, sugar and few drop of lemon juice to make it taste better.
5. once it cook, done with the cooking. The whole process done within 30 mins. :)

Lunch Box Preparation- Meal 1

Hmm.. honestly life in Chandler started to feel boring, may be not much close friends here that I can chill out with. Besides, this assignment I'm aiming more $$ saving, resulted have some restriction on my spending. It added up, won't be a fun trip like my last assignment.
Since, I'm boring, better do something that meaningful and utlize my some little free time. I'm creating this Lunch Box Preparation series also try to give my good bro Ernest, some tips / ideas on Malaysian food. :)
Meal 1- prepared on July 12, 2010: Fried onion group meat, steam lady fingers with brown rice.
Ingredients:
1 cup of brown rice had been soaked for 22 hours, this makes it alkaline.
1 pack of lady fingers from Lee Lee
1/3 Onion
5 slides of Gingers
4 small chilis
few slides of carrot

Directions:
1. Steamed the lady fingers on top of rice cooker while cooking the rice.
2. Heat up the pan, then put some little sesami oil on the pan.
3. Once the sesame oil heat up, fried the Onions, follow by ginger and carrot.
4. Put some waters and salt, and continue to fry it.
5. Then put the ground meat in; add soy source, little brown sugar, oyster source and rice wine.
6. Stir fry the ground meat and make sure it combines with earlier stuffs- onion, chilis, carrot, etc.
7. Continue to stir fry it until the ground meat is cooked.

The the lunch box can be done less than 30 minutes. :)

World cup 2010

I found it interesting, last round when i was here for 2.5 years, i learnt about NBA and loves it. Now this round, i learn about world cup and love it too.
I never watch world cup or any of the football game for my last 32 years! All the while, my thought was football is the most boring game in this world and always didn't understand, why peoples are loving it. So many ppls are chasing after one ball. And it take times to get a goal.
But, i started to change my thinking a wk before i left Malaysia. That's night I was in my pal's house copied movies. During the copying, he was watching the match- Uruguay VS. Korean, from that night onwards. I'm starting to pay attention on it. Once I arrived here, my friends surround me also talking about the match, so I'm in the game now! haha...
It was cool watching the final game in Zipp sport bar with a lot of peoples. The environment really HOT, the cheers from everywhere!
Watching this final liked doing cardio, the heart beat so so fast for every attack, either from any team.
Finally, Spain crown the 2010 world cup champion. The feeling was great, when seeing the team that I supported get the champ. Anyhow, next round of world cup which will happen 2014 in Brazil, I do not know whether still have such feeling. Unless, with friends. :)
Congratulation SPAIN, you guys really did gr8 job. 1st time in final and got the title! Keep it up and see you 4 years later!

New environment; old place?

Time flies, already here for almost a week plus. I was waited for this assignment years, finally it comes truth!
A week before my departured, so busy with the packing, shopping and meeting up with friends. Until a stage that I was not feeling well. Lucky with immediate control, nothing worse happen. The moment that I left my house, looking at my mom's eyes, she was doing well, no tears. But, she couldn't speak much! I understand her feeling.
The night stayed in Changi airport was perfect! I never expect, the transit hotel in Terminal 3 even better than Penang's Eastin Hotel. So, i asked extension for another hour with cost SIN15.3, but it worth it! Before that arrival I was in Penang airport or 2 wks ago i was in KLIA airport, speechless, Singapore ROCK! The food couts options are fantastic till I did not know what too choose. In Penang, you have to pay ringgits to vist butterfly farm; but in that airport FREE! Jess, nvr expect now they have HRC too. Gosh, I wish I can spend more times there! Before my next long journey, I gave my mom a call and told her how wonderful is the airport. Definitely, next year will bring her here. :)
The journey from SIN to LAX was "hem hem", didn't have space for my long legs and the worst part was my neighbour, so annoying! I have a word for him- KANASAI!
Finally after 16 hours flight arrived LAX, while waiting for the immigration; I was worry, because I was always lucky to have "special treatment". Thank GOD, the KL US consulate had remove me successful from this special register interview, thank you!
Waiting 6 hours in LAX airport like old time PUDU RAYA, haha... just with better environment. But, it was not fun at all. Even wanted connect to internet also $$.
When I touched down in PHX, like step in the Oven, can feel the heat! Getting a car, is just small car, but comfortable! I'm so proud of myself, I still can recognize the way to my old apartment. My buddy already waited me in my apartment with the stuffs that I needed. Meeting back old good friend is cool! I was so excited, immediate drove away and stock up foods and waters!
1st night, 2nd night, 3rd night ... 5 nights, GOSH, i was JET Lag!! Now, still not 100% recover, still wake up few times 1-2am; 3-4am; 5-6am. Hell, but better now!
Life here so far so good, but starting to feel "bored" feeling. It will take time to build up friendship in new environment. Hopefully, I can find more friends like my last assignment here. I miss our AZ Gang...
Job wise, just started report to work on last Tuesday, still in progress knowing ppls here. The working environment here totally different than mother land. In my place, I loved go around and fool around with friends; here all have their own circle of friends. If believe things are different in CD. BUT, i still will choose here... I know I can survive here better!

这里安全吗？

安全感是一种感觉、一种心理；是来自一方的表现所带给另一方的感觉；是一种让人可以放心、可以依靠、可以相信的言谈举止等方面表现带来的。近来，我住的地土开始和渐渐的失去了这个优势！和谐也开始动摇了，还可以维持多久呢？
奇怪，为什么人总是无法好好的相处？一个小小的课题，经过了无聊的政治玩弄，结果一波一波火灾事件发生！连学校也被牵连。我可以逃离这个课题吗？
朋友，如果你是想拥有下一代的，是时候规划你孩子的未来了！既然，我们在这儿也是第二等公民，为何我们不到发展和有俄文化的地土，让我们的下一代有个理想，成长的地方呢？人总是要冒险的，是你，还是你要把这个给你下一代？
而我呢？自己一个人，重要的事要拥有足够的基金在手，万一什么事件突发，我可以随地变动！这时候，不得不承认钱是万能的！
但是，重要的是让自己可以心静！心静就能解决很多不可能的事情！让我们一起学习！

7 Ways to Achieve Inner Peace and prosperity in the New Year - 2010
1. Give divine a chance, be grateful

This year, let the devotion flower to its fullest and give it a chance to work. Our love, faith & belief should be deep rooted, and then everything else moves on its own. The feeling that “I am blessed” can help you overcome any failure. Once you realisethat you are blessed, then all the complaints & grumbling disappear, all the insecurities disappear & you become grateful, contented and peaceful.



2. Take out time for yourself

Everyday you are engaged in only gathering information and you do not take out time for yourself to think and reflect. Then you feel dull & tired. A few quiet moments are sources for creativity. Silence heals and rejuvenates and gives you depth and stability. Some time during the day, sit for a few minutes, get into the cave of your heart, eyes closed, and kick the world away like a ball. Taking out some time for yourself improves the quality of your life.



3. Know life’s impermanence

See the impermanence in this life. Millions of years have passed & millions will come and pass. Nothing is permanent. What is your life? It is not even a drop in the ocean.

Just open your eyes & ask; who am I? How am I on this planet? What is my lifetime? Awareness dawns & you will stop worrying about little things. All
smallness will simply drop & you will be able to live every moment of your
life. If you review the context of your life, the quality of your life improves.



4. Do random acts of kindness

Make a commitment to make this world a better place to live. Do some acts of kindness without expecting anything in return. Service alone can bring contentment in life. It creates a sense of belongingness. When you bring some relief to someone throughselfless service, good vibrations come to you. When you show kindness, your true nature which is love & peace
comes to play.



5. Make your smile cheaper

Every day, every morning, look at the mirror and give a good smile to yourself. Don't let your smile be snatched away by anybody! Usually, you give your anger freely and smile rarely as though a smile is costly. Make your smile cheaper and anger expensive! When you smile all the muscles in your face get relaxed. The nerves in your brain get relaxed and you become peaceful within. It gives you the confidence, courage & energy to move on in life.



6. Make meditation a part of life

When we have higher goals in life it leads to stress & restlessness which can only be released through a few minutes of meditation & introspection. Meditation gives you deep rest. Deeper you are able to rest, dynamic you will be in activity. What is meditation?

Mind without agitation is meditation.

Mind in the present moment is meditation.

Mind that has no hesitation, no anticipation is meditation.

Mind that comes back home to the source which is peace & joy is meditation.

7. Be a Student always

Know that you are a student forever. Do not underestimate anybody. Knowledge may come to you from any corner. Each occasion teaches you & each person teaches you. The world is your teacher. When you are always looking to learn, you will stop underestimating others. Humility will dawn in your life.

让我们一起加油！让我们拥有美好的2010！！