Welcome to the Lion’s Lair.
Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced Another sun soaked season fades away
And the hardest part was letting go, not taking part.
The first photo and caption tells you the author had have a memorable times during his short stint in college. He didn’t realised he had put in so much, to an extent that he finds it heavy to leave it all behind and just say “Goodbye”. Reluctancy. But he knew he have to go, and the plane is ready to go. “And the hardest part was letting go, not taking part” – This just sums up how he felt when he finally pulled himself out.
Let go, believe me, you will get something new
And the strangest thing was waiting for that bell to ring.
The second photo and caption sees a plane is taking off under a setting sun. The dusk illustrates a closure of a chapter, and it is in fact, a little bit strange, as it can be interpreted that the author, is actually flying into the dark. That’s when “And the strangest thing was waiting for that bell to ring” comes into the picture, it can be assumed that, the author have no idea what is it in front that has to offer to him, but one thing for sure, he is up to it.
The idea of the whole post is about the author who have to forgo college so that he can take on the road that he had chosen.
Reminding me I still had life… in me
The author has a story to tell.
He thinks summer is the best time to plan, to plan ahead of the year, on what you have to do, to realise what you want to achieve. Fail to plan is plan to fail, always remember that.
It’s like a start of something new. It’s also one of the best moments to take a hiatus, look back, whether you’re stupid enough or not, to have fall for someone, because love sucks!
He thinks summer is the time when you can get upset easily. Outside is blooming, there is no such thing as cool water coming out from the tap. Inside, troubles arise from the root.
For too much of mind-bogglers, it’ll drive you an inch closer to the wall. It’s down to logic versus emotion, creativity pays, but please don’t look back in anger, don’t look back in anger.
He thinks summer is like an unwelcomed guest. The intensity is killing every single living organism. Beautiful flower dies, if left not attended by him, who has the power, to turn attention to greet blossoming tulips.
He who likes flower should learn something out of it. All flowers go through a cycle, like human, there are highs and lows, just remember do not held your head too high. A flower can die today and flourish back tomorrow, that’s food for thought.
The author thinks whenever we’re faced with situations, we can’t judge on something based on emotion, and that’s the time when we should held our head high, to confront the adversity. Just like the rejuvenation of death flower.
The last whole week was my college’s orientation week. The week before the freshmen’s week was a week which I managed to get through by attending myself to all kinds of big and unrelatively important stuff. The week before the hard-to-get-through-week was a week I spent indulding myself in the beautiful beaches of the East Coast namely the Perhentian and Redang islands. Basically this post will be things that happened over the past 3 weeks after resigning from work. That’s it! Yeah, that just rounded up what had happened in the past 3 weeks. Period.
Haha. Ok. So I attended the college freshmen’s week. I know some of my friends will say: “Aiyah, orientation no need to go one, nothing to do geh.” I’d agree to a certain extent, but I still feel the need to attend the freshmen’s week as
1. It’s the place I’ve been always looking forward to be in.
2. It’s good the get acquainted with a new environment in an early stage.
3. DDDs.
The first day of orientation was the Mass Call which scheduled at 1400GMT. I was being a tad of skeptical before going out as I don’t know which outfit should I put on, pardon me I was too excited for this. The first day ended up with some surprising elements as the VIP of the day, entered the College Hall as we greeted him in a very muhibah manner, by clapping hands and uttering out loud “Huan Ying Ni”, “Welcome”, “Selamat Datang”, “Van na cum”, apparently four different welcome languages, who appeared to be Dato Seri Ong Ka Ting, who then of course delivered an exhilarating speech. There were two activities on the second day as I attended a briefing by the programme supervisor and had some fun meeting my coursemates. The third day was the Society Day. Freshmen like me will get to choose the college’s societies of their own choices. It was also the day I wanted to end Gary Chuah Cheng Wai’s life who were being Two Face by doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. On the fourth day, it was just another ‘compulsory’ briefing and I got my student ID card in the end of the day. I’m beginning to get familiar with the college, which has a campus five times the size of an Old Trafford. On a different note, I did saw a lot of DDDs. It could be due to my prior working environment, which probably changed the way I look at DDD to some different degree. The younger DDDs are just not that attractive to me anymore, unless the DDD is of some character with matured appearance. That’s more or less about it, my college freshmen’s week. Tomorrow would be the first day of study, can’t wait to put on my student ID card, haha!
It had been 5 days since I stopped working, and life without working is, as a matter of fact, pretty MEANINGLESS!!!!!!!!!! Although I regained much of my spare time, I still prefer the life when working. When I don’t work, I tend to spend and I think this normally happens to just anybody. In fact, I just burned a MASSIVE hole in my wallet last month, by taking up the so-called ‘expensive hobby’. That’s why I started to have a second thought on lenghty working hours, as by working long hours I don’t spend, but earn in turn. I really don’t mind anymore about having another ten-to-ten job in the future, just give me the longest working hour job in the world. Haha.Here I’d like to thank all the personnel that I’ve met throughout my short stint at CCS for tirelessy guiding me and good luck in your future undertakings. Enough of the working chapter, I’m going to close case now and leave it behind of my head. There are two things I’m looking forward now namely the upcoming islands breakaway and the seven letters word – C.O.L.L.E.G.E. I’m just hoping to take myself off completely during the holidays and come back with a brand-new mood which has to be focused on studies. But the problem I’m facing now is there will be a week time after returning from holidays until the opening of college, which I find it hard to crack by filling don’t-know-what-to-do in my personal planner. Anyway, this year is going to be very exciting ahead!
I always feel there’s something missing in the recent posts. Yeah! You’ve got it right, Canon wide range of products! Haha, this post will mainly be on the products of Canon. Generally most people will first think of camera when they see Canon. This is inescapably true as Canon has been specializing in the manufacturing of optic for the past 70 years, and this serves as a very trusty factor for Canon to be one of the top players in the camera market. For the younger generation, especially students, they will also recognize Canon printers and calculators as their printing or calculating solutions. I’m going to concentrate on the camera, printer and calculator as well because I feel these are the things which are relative to the needs of my similar age group of friends as well as the younger generation. By the way it’s the final week for me to serve at CCS so in case some of the products below I’m about to recommend successfully added into your wish list, don’t hesitate to come to me would be the first thing you should do, you’ll be promised to have a great bargain. Hehe.
Digital Cameras
Canon Digital IXUS 95 IS
For some people, they will consider getting one of these tomorrow right after falling for the 6 colours option of this new ultra-compact camera. Consider the lightest among all the new cameras, this credit-card size IXUS 95 IS features 10 million megapixels, 3x optical zoom and a 2.5″ PureColor II LCD. The new Smart Auto means shooting via the Automatic mode has never been so easy and convenience as the camera automatically determines the right scene accordingly based on 18 pre-defined shooting situations.
Undoubtedly one of the most user-friendly cameras but great for general point-and-shoot and everyday shooting only at RRP RM988. Hey Mother’s Day is drawing near eh.
Canon Digital IXUS 100 IS
Finally, measuring at only 18.4mm the IXUS 100 IS is the slimmest camera Canon has ever produced. This sleek and gorgeous metallic-coated camera boasts 12.1 million megapixels, 3x optical zoom and a 2.5″ PureColor II LCD behind of the body. This beauty also comes with the ability to shoot High Definition (1280×720 @ 30fps) video to be on par with the advancement of HD technology.
Priced at irresistibly RRP RM1199, this beauty certainly has caught everybody’s eyes looking for camera with style and substance.
Canon Digital IXUS 110 IS
Canon has certainly made the right move by introducing camera with colour options and design elements. This curvaceous camera comes with 12.1 million megapixels, 4x optical zoom and a 2.8″ PureColor II Widescreen LCD in a blitz to allow user to shoot High Definition video with 16:9 aspect ratio. The IXUS 110 IS also brags a 28mm wide-angle lens to make effortless landscape or group shots.
Powerful compact with wide-angle and HD recording only at RRP RM1399. Ideal for people who likes landscape shooting, Deco? Hehe
*All the cameras shown above are equipped with the latest and powerful DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor and Image Stabilizer (IS). To explore more about Canon’s digital cameras, kindly visit http://www.digitaldreams.com.sg/ixus/.
All-in-One Printers
Canon PIXMA MP145
The most afforadable inkjet photo printer to cater all your needs. It’s not a micro oven, tiny 2 picoliter and maximum resolution of 4800dpi give you the ability to produce photo lab quality printing. Bundled together with a scanner and photocopier, this MP145 simply do the everyday job for you with ease and speed.
RRP RM268. If you buy one, you don’t have to come to my place everytime just to print a page or two, Darren. Give you a free 4GB USB drive while stocks last.
Canon PIXMA MX318
Professional-looking all-in-one printer including Super G3 Fax. Print out photo lab quality photo and documents with its 2 picoliter droplets and 4800dpi maximum resolution in 22(B&W)/17(Colour) pages per minute. Scan, copy and fax effortlessly with the assistant of an Auto Document Feeder up to 30 A4 pages.
RRP RM468. If you buy one, you don’t have to come to my place everytime just to fax a page or two, Darren. Give you a free 4GB USB drive while stocks last, too.
Calculator
Canon LS-270V II
Calculator goes colourful. Available in Spring Green, Autumn Orange, Summer Red and Winter Blue, these 4 pocket-sized calculators feature a 8-digits calculation capacity in a big display, dual power and mark up calculation as well. This lead-free lightweight product slips into just any pockets in your bag and calculate your numbers in a colourful way!
RRP RM17.50 only, great for gift. In fact, I have one of the orange ones with me.
Oh. Before I sign-off, here are,
the Compact Photo Printers
Canon Selphy CP770
Can’t believe I nearly miss out this thing. Shown above is the popular Selphy CP770 compact photo printer. Throw a party and snap photos, print ‘em out instantly with the CP770. Handle your photo immediately when printing is done, the photo’s durable overcoating prevents water spills, finger prints and other hazards. Long lasting technology ensures you preserve your memories in either postcard or credit card size the best way you could.
RRP RM549 only. You don’t have to own a Canon, just pull out the memory card from your camera, plug in and print, it’s that easy!
Canon Selphy ES3
Let me clear off some myths. The Selphy ES series is different to that of the Selphy CP series. The ES series allow user to do Creative Printing, which user can customize their photo, like adding on clip arts, frames, calendar, album or even speech bubble before printing. Whilst the CP series is a great photo printer without Creative Printing, user can still expect the same quality of output between this two series of printer. Make use of the 1GB built-in memory to store your favourite prints and print wirelessly with optional Bluetooth adapter or via Infra Red.
RRP RM799 only. Save your memories the way you like.
Emm… Clearly this post is intended to draw some sales in the next 8 days as I’m going to leave CCS at the end of the month. So far, some of my friends did came to me to purchase a couple of unit cameras and I think they are very happy with what they got from me. It’s a good experience also to do some business with the people whom I know, haha. Lastly, if one of the items above really hits you, come visit me at Canon Lifestyle Concept Store, Mid Valley, don’t miss it.
[Part III ends]
Apparently someone is whining about the lack of updates of my blog ehhhhh.
Once Upon A Time
Ok. I’m undergoing some reminiscences here. Outdoor activities, entertainment and outings are things that look a million miles away from me, I hardly grasp the chance for these. Don’t get me wrong in first place, I’m not a workaholic, it’s just the nature of the job. Never mind. Last Monday I played the first badminton game in some 5 months, I didn’t know what was the feeling, but it felt good to work out all the sweat once in a very long while. After the game, Scott, Wallace and I went to Low Yat Plaza together. Oh my goodness, it just hit and questioned me when was the last time the three of us hang out together to this place. It just changed, so much. This kind of scenario happened again on the Wednesday when I rode with Scott to Mid Valley. When we were in the mall, both of us admitted time really changed things around. Assuming you visit a place for the first time at a certain age (young age I’m referring at here), the feeling you get from the first time will be certainly different to that of when you come back to the same place after 10 years for example. If you get me you’re a great listener, as I myself have no clue what am I crapping. I realized I’m yet to watch the first movie and eat the first crab, for the first time in some 150 days.
SHIT!
DOG DUNG! Could somebody tell me why am I keep on stepping on it? Yucks! Everytime it stick under my shoe my car’s interior get instant perfume which makes me feel like throwing up. The morale of the story is I must learn to avoid dung, or I must learn to clean up the mess if I’m careless. Similarly, in the workforce, do not leave dung behind for others to clean up. Commitment is the key.
Standing, Sitting, Wishing
Last month was a what-a-month-it-was for CCS. Godlike I’m almost, due to the regaining spending ability of parents from ’school spending spree’ and the first ever photography fair in Malaysia – DCIM Show 2009. Specifically during the DCIM Show 2009, shoppers swamped into the store like tidal waves, they just don’t stop coming in. From time to time, the whole store was full of shoppers and there were only 5 of us which resulted some of the shoppers stomped out because they were not served in time. Taking experience from the first day of the fair, I resorted to a pack of Neslo-ais in order to keep me stay alerted. I almost become a holy god due to the fair. This month will be the final month for me in CCS. In fact, I’m resigning on the last day of April now though the initial projected resignation date was 5th of May. It’s still a good move. Mixtured moments now, just sitting, waiting and wishing. [Part II ends]
This blog (and some upcoming entries in the next few weeks) is going to cover mostly about the working life I’m having now since it’s the final month I’ll be working in Canon Concept Store (CCS) though I’ll be resigning on the 5th of May, mainly because I don’t want get relaxed too early before the islands trip which falls on 7th of May. By doing this way, I can take myself off completely from the working world and soak myself in the beautiful beach under the shinning sun, just relax, after some hectic thousands hours of all-work-and-no-play.
Back to the topic. My days in CCS are numbered now, yeah I think it’d be good to post stories about my working life, since I barely get to write ever since started working. Talking about this, perhaps I should kick-off with the early part. My life turned drastically after joining the workforce. Adjusting from high school to work place is the first thing to hit me. The working hours is still the biggest pullback although I had already get used to it. Working from ten to ten everday means no leisure time for me to carry out my favourite pastime or even to settle some personal thing because my time is all tied to the shop. It could get frustrating sometimes when I feel time is hard. I’d only get to rest once in a week, normally it falls on every Monday, but that in turn taught me a precious lesson – time management. The sacrifices are actually paying off by telling me how important time could be to a person, especially to people like me who used to waste a lot of time back in high school by doing NOTHING. Today, once I get a rest day, I know I only have 24 hours in the following week to accomplish the things that are important to me, I’d plan accordingly. I just don’t want to become the old me anymore, never. In fact, this has also further inclined my decision in topping TESL high on my courses of desired because I know I want a job that allows me to have flexible working hours. Right now, hopefully with fingers crossed I could secure a place for that.
There’s nothing wrong with long working hours, really. But when I think of the goods and bads of lengthy working hours… Good things are that of course there will be extra bucks for earning, boss praises you for being hardworking but boss as always gets to eat the bigger pie, an ideal training way to become a workaholic etc. On the other hand, the bad things are… actually a lot, but I’m more worried towards the issue of health. I don’t have to look far, I myself already starting to experience some health issues. It could be the nature of the job, there are blisters on my feet after standing on my feet for an extended period. I just hope it doesn’t get anywhere too far until it affects me. Money is important, health is way more important. I can’t agree with people who puts money infront of health or other things, because I can’t resist to lay my sympathy to those who ignore their healthcare, escpecially when they eventually fall under the palm of diseases.
I guess this entry has to be about working hours, it’s just not the way I planned to be. Anyway, if you’re curious about how did I make through such an extended working hours, emm… don’t have to be surprised, because it’s about Kevin Cheng. You know I’m a big fan of him and if you’re familiar with one of his series, Under The Canopy Of Love, he actually potrayed an executive in a shopping mall. Isn’t the working scenario is very similar to that of mine? We both work in a mall! Yes, I’m kind of inspired by this series, and at the same time I wanted to know how will it be like to work in a mall. And it just happened that I actually get to work in a mall! Differences? He is an executive, I’m just a trainee and he have Ko Yat Sze (Niki Chow), I have my cameras… Ok, take that as something delighting, because I’m here to “Delighting You Always”. But seriously, that series did more or less gave me the inspiration to carry on. Back to reality, what drives me is that the interest in photography, meeting different kinds of people, learning from mistakes, gaining knowledge that cannot be found on textbooks and etc. It’s not a bad job actually. [Part I ends]
I’m having a very strange feeling right now. This is so dejavu. I went to Tunku Abdul Rahman College to sign-up for a course that I wished to study since 2 years ago after SPM. Actually the purpose of this is to provide a backup plan, in case the local universities which I applied for don’t want to offer me a place for study, which I think it’d be a waste for either one of them. 
After 2 years of Form 6, I’m quite certain as to which directions I’m most likely heading to. I’d of course place priority on entering local university, preferably doing a B.A. in English or TESL after giving lengthy and sensible consideration. I just think no other courses other than these suit me better in an earnest way. Although business fields still look intriguing to me, specifically Finance, I have to forgo it as I’m not a technical person, and all the while I’m not that sensitive towards figures. I have to be honest to myself. Whatever might happen on the fourth week of June (the period when I get to know about university acceptance) I’d still be a happy man because I know I’m making the right choice.
So, I went back to TARC, for the third time, in two years, to sign-up for a course, a course which I’ve been wishing to study since a couple of years ago. I come back to here, no matter what happens, in the end, that’s why I can’t explain the feeling. It’s actually a Diploma in Commerce which I get to specialize in Business Management. Different from Finance and the likes, it doesn’t require me to be a very technical person. For that time being, I still cannot juggle between this two courses (Commerce and Finance). So I needed a final feedback. You know, when I approached the counsellor, she is a she, straightaway opened up and be very honest to me, telling me I don’t suit Finance, and it happened by chance at first flip of the prospectus, she actually flipped to the page that contains information about Dip. in Commerce. “Nah, this one…” she says. “I can see from you that you’re not that technical person, don’t do Accounting or Finance.” she adds on. She can see from me, I can also see from her that she have to be a very experienced lecturer (in fact, she is a lecturer on Financial Accounting), who are capable of judging people (I always take my hat down for this kind of people). She sees me as a more versatile person, which I feel very relative, and suggested me to take up the Dip. in Commerce. I get the message from her in like almost lightening instant. I knew it have to be this way. After some constructive comments and discussions with her, I tops Dip. in Commerce high on my list of choices and drop the application form into the submission box.
My future plan? Well, that’s about academic. On the other side, I should see myself still put on the red Canon uniform until the 10th of May. That’s exactly 5 months of short working life, but the experiences will be etched forever along the path. After the resignation, I’m going to concentrate on the traditional chinese medicine class as I barely get a chance to carefully revise the notes and do some research work. In the meantime, engaging in a trip with closed-friends would be marvellous. Until then, as I walk on along the path, the path that is less travelled, the story goes on……
I am a Leo myself and yes I am very lazy. I love to play and I know when it’s the time to work I take it smart and seriously, but not hard, because working from 10 to 10 everyday doesn’t make me an overnight millionaire. I still feel that the working hours of my job contributes a very BIG MINUS to the overall satisfaction. The good side would mainly be the skills that I’m catching up so far. When I look back it’s a little bit of weird that I didn’t bother to think long like what I did in the past before applying for a vacancy in a camera manufacturer concept store while I was looking for vacancies with Darren and Gary. I stomped into the shop for a walk-in interview and started work the next day. Probably it’s my interest in photography that had scrapped away all the doubts and worries before applying the job, mind you it was only less than a week after STPM thus most of my friends were surprised at the outcome.
It was really tough at the beginning to cope and deal with the place, people and environment there. I was like a fish out of water. But every starting point is the hardest part. After a couple of weeks I managed to get over with it until today it has been some 2 months of laughs and tears(of course I didn’t cry at all) at there. I’ve had several trainings on the products, got ‘smack downs’(reprimands, or ‘diu’ in Cantonese), fell sick once in a month, knocked by cash machine on my knee which caused me some miserable period and etc. Obviously these are the issues that are not enjoyable.
On the delighting sides, I grabbed the opportunity to get my hands on the DSLRs, took care of the lenses, as well as bettering on my communicating and other soft skills. One of the good sides which I take pleasure in would be getting to communicate with people from all walks of life. The mall that I’m working in is strategically located between the city and living urban which invites people from everywhere be it locals or tourists. I can’t tell whom did I came across with during my tenure so far but I could remember some of them who are from Asian countries like Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, and even a Cambodian tried to reach me through the telephone. It’s quite staggering to know there are plenty of Arabians who hailed from countries in the Middle East like Iraq, Iran, Libya, Pakistan and etc. living in Malaysia. Our shop do entices Caucasians whom mostly spend their time standing in front of the lenses display cabinet. A conversation with English is simply pleasing as we share some common interests. Just a simple question “Do you like football?” they will show an enthusiastic look and our conversation could move on to what team do you support or which team do you think is going to win. Haha, I had encountered a Liverpool fan, a Fulham fan, and a Man United fan, I’m still longing to say Hi to a Geordie.
Due to the nature of my job, I get to see different kind of people everyday, in fact, every one is unique. You want to see some of the cases I’ve encountered? Alright, let’s kick-off with some funny and profound examples. Some customers are simply _____(I’ll leave it blank as I don’t know the way to put in an adjective for this one) that they would like to buy a Sony or a Panasonic in our shop. Probably the logo outside our shop doesn’t stand out that much but hey do you get a KFC in a McDonald’s? Next, we have this – a customer looking only for a part in a camera, this is something familiar to looking only for flour that produce Kentucky Fried Chickens. You may say the latter is forgivable but the former is truly a joke. Oh another extreme profound example is a customer was looking to exchange his problematic cartridges with a new set of cartridges which later on he intended to purchase some extra sets. The conversation goes like this: Customer:”I got a lot of money, gimme some discount la.” Us:”Sorry sir, discount is not available.” Then for whatsoever reasons something pissed him off that he started to whining and complaining the cartridges. Angrily he trampled away and we purposely thanked him. The next thing we can heard of was the utter from the customer “You all work like a donkey a I tell you” before he vanished from our sight. Guess what we were like laughing rolling on the floor because of the last sentence. After that incident, the phrase from the customer became our favourite quotation for some time. I don’t know who looks like a donkey now I’ll leave it up to you. Alright gimme a break. Have you ever come across with disabled person? How do you communicate with them when they can’t speak nor hear? Well a rejection is the worst thing a man could do on these individuals I think. In the end I spent almost an hour responding to their needs and I just felt noble although they weren’t purchasing anything.
There are just too many of people that I’ve met and it’s something I didn’t expected to be when I first took the job. When I was younger I thought I’d become a tour guide, meeting people from around the world and then leading them from a spot to another. Contrary to my youngster dream, I now wait for people from around the world to my doorstep and promote them with the products I have on hands. What a twist it has taken. Well, earlier I did felt a change in the wind and now the cloud seems to be clear. Unknown to what is it going to be like in front of the path, I decided to take on the road not taken. I enrolled into a one year course in traditional Chinese medicine, hopefully by attending such a course would give me a healing hand to rejuvenate and revitalize myself. Meanwhile if I feel this is the cup of tea for me I’d go all in. This one year time will serve as a stepping stone for me, because a men who has health has it all, whatever might happen in the future, I want my life to be a lifestyle, not just a life.
I can’t explain why can’t I hide my excitement every time Chinese New Year is around the corner. I just love Chinese New Year! Do you like it?
***I wish my health will finally return to the proper course***
