The top 10 holiday destination..

When you're hard at work being busy with your stuffs here and there, there's all these tensions and a gigantic load of stress. Each and everyday, there's only this one holy hour which we call "lunch", where we can sit down, lean back, have a meal, and relax for a while. When you're relaxing, you can't help but think of escapes to a holiday destination, where you can fill your wonders and use up your time at ease like boss.

Everybody has got this goal or dream about, whether they wanna do something, or go somewhere else, or just do something pretty crazy, you can't help but feel you need something to take your mind off things. And while thinking of these, I thought about my annual leaves and what I am going to do with them; well, here comes the thing. ~HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS~ (drool).

You can't help but imagine where you wanna be right now, instead of sitting in your office chair gazing at your computer screen with increasing shortsightedness. Well the below are the top 10 destination which I cam up with, and hopefully will be going sooner or later for break. These are just awesome, I'm sure you'll agree with me and jump out of your office chair while 私奔 with me to these destinations. That's just how awesome it is, watch:  

10. The Maldives - The perfect getaway, having a spa by the evening ocean.

9. Si Chuan, China - Beautiful crystal clear lake, a breath of fresh air for trapped office-potatoes.

8. Arizona, The U.S - The nightskies are amazing, you can rent a caravan and go into the middle of the desert. You'll feel like you're on another planet.

7. Crete, Greece - A sunny relaxing mediterranean ville, which makes you feel like  you've just woken up to a  beautiful sunday morning though its already 1pm in the afternoon. 

6. Oslo, Norway - Planning for Christmas, I'ma visit Santa.

5. Alaska, The U.S - Sometimes you need to just get away from the cities. And to do this, this is perfect. Go trout fishing, plant your own vegetables, mountain trekking, all in the middle of a beautiful no-where. 

4. Venice, Italy - The fabled river city, I can't wait to have my pasta while sitting by the river-side cafe during the autumn season.

3. Paris, France - A ride on a hot-air balloon beside the tour d'eiffel on a sunset evening, with a camera on hand and someone beside me, that will be fantastic.

2. Vienna, Austria - The city where I am most likely to find  Mozart in his 17th century attire while having a cup of coffee outside a cafe.

1. London, the U.K - The Holy Grail for Arsenal Fans, London, the home of the Gunners.

So what do you think? Pretty good huh.

Especially London, home to the Emirates Stadium.

30 May 2013,

Alan Chua

My life in SG..

No words, just pictures.

Home-made carbornara

Close up

My room-mates

Back in Malaysia

Bakawali kueh tiao kia

Evening drive

Back home

My groceries in SG

Just me.

                                                          五天幾年 

Alan Chua,

27th May, 2013

Top 5 Things I Need To Get Before The End Of This Year

I am thinking of setting up some goals and target in life, rather then living the present as it is and working like a robot everyday. So I've decided to come up with a list of what I want to buy as a kind of incentive for myself, and here down below are just a few things which I kind of have a fiery desire to want at the moment, but unfortunately it would have to take some time to realize it. As a measure, I hope I would be able to get those things in this list by the end of this year. 

1. 

I seriously need an android phone with the double Sim card function, as I travel every weekend between Malaysia & SG. And this phone seems like the best choice ever. The Galaxy Grand.

2.

The Honda CBR 1000RR. Approximately about 1000cc, the naked bike of an adrenaline junkie crisscrossed as a city traveller. I can't wait to get my hands on this monster.

3.

A Hugo Boss suit. Have been wanting it ever since I looked like a nerd during my first presentation in PD1, when I was in college. Now I am gonna wear it for my Graduation.

4. 

A Tag Heuer Classique.. to me, its the master-make of all Tag Heuer watches, gives out an old-skool feel, that's what I like the most about watches, classic, elegant, stylish.

                                                                               
                                                                              5.

I've been really looking forward to photography since ages ago, but its rather costly for me as I was a student. Now I am looking forward to landscape shooting during my off-time, perhaps go on a travel with my camera.. it would be fantastic to be able to go to parts of the world and capture the moments.

Well I still have a long list of what I want personally, such as going to gym, taking a piano & a guitar class, go and get a diving and a skydiving license, buying a condo, getting the Volkswagen Passat etc.. but still it would take some time, effort and $$ before these things could happen.. so for the meanwhile, I will be stuck to making these top 5 things happen as soon as possible,
So, Cheers to all.  

16th May, 2013,
Alan Chua

Boyce Avenue - "Mirrors" feat. 5th Harmony

"Aren't you somethin' to admire, cause your shine is somethin' like a mirror. 
And I can't help but notice, you reflect in this heart of mine 
If you ever feel alone and the glare makes me hard to find
Just know that I'm always parallel on the other side."

I have a dream..

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed; "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal."

These words were said by Martin Luther King exactly 50 years ago.

How these words will ring forever in the hearts of the people is a wonder. Whether they be Americans, Europeans, Africans, Middle-eastern, or just Malaysians, when the people which their government is supposed to protect, stand up in unity against the unjust, the corrupt, and the oppressive authoritarian, these words will always echo inside. 

I am a Malaysian born in Malaysia, but my destiny was to be away from my country. Having lived many years overseas and seldom came back to Malaysia, I felt no sense of belonging to my native country. It was until after I came back to have my tertiary education instead of continuing it overseas, it changed my view of my country. 

Different from Japan which I used to live before, I am not able to walk alone at night without being alert for my safety or the people close to me.

A uni-racial political authority in a supposedly multiracial democratic country. People were still being judged by the colour of their skin.  

The level of development is falling behind, people are getting poorer and poorer, income is going down and inflation is going up. 

In the international arena, not even many people know of Malaysia, to them, its just another country located somewhere around the globe, the people there probably stays in the jungle.

Do I feel ashamed that my country is in this state? Yes. Because of some political delinquents, with their corruption, murder cases, greed, selfishness, and racism, they have turned the country which me and my fellow Malaysians are supposed to love and to be loyal to, into something seemingly destined for a tragic ending.

But will I bow to that? No. Because I see people working hours after hours just to make a difference for us on the stage with their voices, to make sure our voices will be heard and justice, equality arrive. It's because I see strangers become friends with strangers, people helping each other regardless of race, religion and ethnicities, all united under one slogan.

It is during these moments that I feel proud to be a Malaysian, and therefore I will not, and I will never, give up on Malaysia. Although it is not at all difficult for me to be a citizen of other "better" countries, NO I will not give up my place on the land which I was born. I will pursue until the very end for the cause of justice, equality, peace, reformation and freedom from oppression, until one day my nation become great, prosper, powerful, and beautiful, and an envy of the world, I shall pursue this cause. For my beautiful Malaysia, for beautiful Democracy, lama hidup Malaysia, lama hidup Demokrasi.    

I am only 24, 
I am still young,
and I am not afraid to voice out 
my thoughts nor oppose the corrupt.  

- 生为马国人，死在马国土."

10th of May 2013,
Alan Chua, 



 

Another day at work....

My office. (My one is located at the left building - Gateway East)

Another day at work. Worked till 6 today, before leaving my office and heading toward the bus stop. Basically I am supposed to leave work at 5:30, officially, but unfortunately nothing is official when it comes to working time. I think everyone agrees with me haha.

I leave my room at 8:15 everyday to reach my office before 8:50, which is the time we are supposed to reach (or else). And then excluding the 1 hour lunch break in between, we, the Marketing Officers, will usually work until 6 something, sometimes until 7, but that's the maximum even during peak periods.

Let me introduce a bit about my job. I am a leasing officer working with a Japanese leasing company call SMFL (Sumitomo Mitsui Finance & Leasing). As to why I am a leasing officer being called a marketing officer, I have no clue. Perhaps it is because we have to liaise with a lot of people besides the paperwork, well maybe. In regards to my company, SMFL is the Singapore branch of a Japanese company, which is part of a larger group of companies under the Sumitomo-Mitsui Financial Group. The Group have assets of over trillions of dollars, and is supposed to be involved in everything including investment, leasing, insurance, commercial banking, construction, mining, and blah blah blahs.. The list continues. I could count myself lucky to be working in this part of the large Galactic Family. I mean that's what I wanted really, to have a financial background and to work in one which is the top among the world.

People may think that I will be having my career in the marketing field, as I am about to graduate with a degree in Marketing. But that's not the case. I mean Marketing is good, but after studying for more than 3 years in this field, I realized that the only way to make more money is to be the big Grand-Daddy of monies. Yeah the Ah-Longs. And working with the Legal Ah-Long certifies a fundamental career structure in money-making.
And you know why? Cuz legal ah-longs got nothing but money, and money is the thing which makes the world spin. No you can't call me materialistic, because I am not materialistic haha.. I am just a person trying to work in a materialistic world.

Hey c'mon, I am a person who really believes in love, friendships, bonds, and all that kind of things. I am not materialistic. There are many things that make the world spin besides money.. it is just a tool to access larger resources. A tool to achieve your goals by building your dreams. So don't get blinded by money.. its value is reflected in the way of how you use it. If you lose sight of your goal while chasing it, in the end, you may have money, but you will not achieve your dreams or have it lasting.

Well its what I tell myself everytime.. To give myself a fresh new day tomorrow.
Tomorrow.. Another day at work haha. But a day which is a step closer to my dreams.
I will be turning in for the night.. :)

Rest well, Goodnight.

The interior of the building.

24th of April, 2013
Alan Chua

The park located at the foot of my office

It's been a long long while....

                                        .

It's been a long time since I came back to my blog.
Many things have happened since, things have since changed. Don't really know where to start first. For one thing, I am really well.. living life really well. Or so I guess haha..

I was walking on the streets back from work this evening, when suddenly I thought of this blog. I was thinking of my friends back in Malaysia.. and the stuff that have happened since for the past few years, and this blog happened to came across my mind.

I thought maybe, I'd just come back and pour out my thoughts.. but then again, I don't really know what to say.. even though I am here right now, with my fingers paused on top of the keyboard.

Perhaps it's just best to listen to music..
I caught this tune when I was having lunch today. It is "Stay" by Rihanna. I am not usually drawn by Rihanna's, but, for some reason this song caught me with its echoes inside.

It's something about this song that made me pause for a while.. it's certainly more than a good piece of music,  it is somewhat soothing and calm in nature. Enough to relax and close my eyes for the night.

Well for now.. I guess that's enough for the talk. I'll be laying down with my eyes closed and the music inside me.
Hopefully you will also enjoy this music, and maybe, its tone will echoe in you too. :)

Rest well, Goodnight.

23rd of April, 2013
Alan Chua