Starbucks

“Can I have a grande Hazelnut latte with cream on top.”

“I’m staying in”

“Do I get discounts for using my own cup?”

Subway

“Can I have a foot long Italian Herbs & Cheese Tuna Mayonnaise.”

“Yup (Cheese and toasted)”

“Lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, onion and pepper.”

“Light mayonnaise and BBQ”

Cardiff Bus

“Can I have a day pass please?”

“Thank you (as leaving the bus)”

Cardiff Taxi

“Can you send me a taxi to Victoria Hall. I am going to the city centre. My name is Rafie (you spell it wrong anyway).”

General Phonetic

Oh yes, I am a fan of… NANA. N for November. A for Alpha. N for November. A for Alpha.

Phone number

“Zero, Seven, Nine, Six, Five, Five, Six Five, Five…”

“Six Five Five (again?)”

“(Yes, I know what I’m saying) Yes, Six Five Five, Two Five.”

“Can I repeat it once again? Zero, Seven, Nine, Six, Five, Five, Six Five, Five, Two Five.”

“Yup, you got it.”

And some friends will praise for the number, quite close to Pizza Hut.

Tea

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Yes, please.”

“Sugar and milk?”

“Yes. One or two sugar.”

For now, that is all I can remember. Will add few more as these memories come flashing back.

Well anyway, we walked around the city centre again yesterday. As we walked along the Trinity St. (behind the Cardiff Tourist Centre), there was a man playing piano accordian. Dad reached out his pocket of memories and shouted “Besame Mucho“.

Unfortunately, I know nothing about music that was written on 1940, 15 years before my dad was born. Few hours ago, I googled it and found it.

If you can’t appreciate the music, perhaps the translation of the lyric? I present you, Besame Mucho – Kiss Me A Lot.

Thanks dad!

Kiss Me A Lot

Kiss me, kiss me a lot,
As if tonight was
the last time.

Kiss me, kiss me a lot,
Because I fear to lose you,
To lose you later.

Kiss me, kiss me a lot,
As if tonight was
the last time.

Kiss me, kiss me a lot,
Because I fear to lose you,
To lose you later.

I want to have you very close
To see myself in your eyes,
To see you next to me,
Think that perhaps tomorrow
I already will be far,
very far from you.

Kiss me, kiss me a lot,
As if tonight was
the last time.

Kiss me, kiss me a lot,
Because I fear to lose you,
To lose you later.

Kiss me, kiss me a lot,
Because I fear to lose you,
To lose you later.

Because I fear to lose you,
To lose you later.

Initially, I thought I could post it somewhere random so that other people can read, if it is a letter, maybe you can put it in a bottle and throw it in the sea. So, what is the answer to the big question?

Who you are?

It depends on your character and personal values. Some people just won’t bother about privacy and read it. Out of all, there will be one that will read and laugh at it.

A portion would try to return to the owner if known. Maybe the cover or first page could tell you who’s diary is it for. If none, what’s next?

Respect

I will respect other people as much as they respect me. I would return to the owner if known. First page is the maximum. Though, I will stop when there is a sense of privacy that I wouldn’t let others to cross over.

If there is no hope. Then, I would do one of two things:

1. First page normally tells all. If it is all good, I would consider sending it somewhere totally random. For others to read and cherish it. With a hope it landed to a decent man or woman.
2. Recycle it and let the stories and memories be part of something new.

Perhaps

Perhaps the write him/herself leave the diary intentionally cause he/she is moving on with a new life. Maybe. If then, second options is the best.

Absolute NO!

If you know the diary belongs to someone that you know personally, NEVER EVER read it. Simple.

1. I learn to earn from doing what I love to do – web design and development.
2. I came to earn a degree in engineering, but other interest might develop slowly and it may get prominent (design and business development). In which, now I am hoping to start my career by joining Petronas.
3. I am more concern about my food. Thanks to Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver!
4. I appreciate how the British people ‘worship’ the sun and ‘racist’ about the rain.
5. I learn that customer service is No.1 – “customer is always often right”
6. I learn to love tea with milk, but with less sugar. It is good with rich tea biscuits.
7. I learn to eat cold sandwich and cold food.
8. I learn to network with people from informal meetings (Twitter meet ups etc)
9. It took me 2 years to understand their jokes and laugh together with them.
10. English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish – you know they will talk behind about others.
11. British people are quite open about sex-related when you’re among the same gender.
12. I drink water a lot, but these people drink beer a lot more than me.
13. What ever you eat here – salt and pepper is like a must have!
14. Life here transformed me to be more a ketchup of person rather than hot chili sauce.
15. English breakfast is for two (for God’s sake)! Two eggs, two hash browns, two (vege) sausages, toasted bread, tomatoes, bakes beans and bacon (I get extra hash browns)!
16. Everyday is a shopping day. Why? Because you will find people will carry shopping bags every single day you walk across the city centre, even there is no sale. (which brings me to next point)
17. Maybe, they like to shop using Credit Card, which I have. Lol!
18. Anyway, with regards to music. They support local artist. Example? Heard of Coldplay.
19. Milk – I heard a lot of stories about it. Mixed with water, excess milked poured into the river to maintain the milk price, etc. And UHT milk is on the shelf and people do not fancy it at all.
20. Regardless of that, still lamb is the favourite of the nation besides pork.

(Updated: 23rd April 2010)

Photo: Law_Keven

I am in the middle of writing my dissertation, but I am taking this opportunity to write about something I come across while walking back home from Starbucks. It is a about how a cup of coffee could add a coin of wisdom into your life jar. Rather weird, but I hope you get what I mean. I believe some of you already did this, even that, it is the case of putting in another coin of wisdom to make the jar full.

The next time you had your coffee, anywhere be it Starbucks, Cafe Nero, Costa even at the your university cafeteria; think about other things deeply and relate it. Today, my cup of coffee able to get me to think about:

• How much does it cost and what if I donated a cup of coffee (in terms of amount) weekly to any charity?
• Looking at the receipt, loyalty card can actually get you discounts on whip cream or Hazelnut syrup?
• This cup of coffee makes me happy because the last time I had it was few weeks ago in Paris.
• The same cup will cost me a lot more back home (Malaysia), so might as well appreciate it.
• and more…

I used to get something to drink and people-watching. Practising to be observant in life. Because something it is too much about ourself that we tend to forget about others. It is too much “What if I?” “Isn’t it nice if I…”. Too much crap that we feed to ourself everyday and we produce nothing out of it.

Few days ago I wrote on my twitter saying:

I wanna be a person that don’t get affected by money. Either I have millions or none.

I guess that would be another ultimate goal for me. Of cause having millions would be awesome so that I could buy anything I wish for. But another lesson that I learn today is:

Easy to said than done. And that is the wisdom coin that I am yet to find in my cup of coffee.

Having the eyes that have attention to miniscule can be good and bad (sometimes). I will take a close look at my clothes before buying them, making sure that everything that represent me to the public is as perfect as possible. I don’t posses the Godfather figure of some movement nor I am an idealist, but that is just the way I am. Perhaps some of you.

Realizing the fact that I am halfway through starting this life, there is so much to learn. So many mistakes yet to be made, yet to be forgiven. Even getting this message across is quite a challenge for me. Hopefully, some of you may read this writing.

At the end of the day, you just need to find what is worth fighting for.

Intro

My dad is always a fan of Johor, a state where we were born. In fact, all of our family members born in the state of Johor. Johor is one of the states in Malaysia. Briefly, Malaysia is a developing country moving toward developed country in the year 2020. If you have followed the economic situation from 1990 onwards, probably you will know a brilliant person namely Mahathir Mohamad. Johor is located at the south-most Peninsula of Malaysia (image). Or perhaps if you travel a lot, you might come across a country name Singapore. And actually, I can see Singapore with from where I live.

Anak Johor

When I was small, dad always told a story about his life from his childhood. Full of wisdom and advices. He will repeat each story after awhile and that what makes me remember most of them. 5 years ago, we have got an orchard house with a sign written “Kamaruzaman, Anak Johor” – Anak means son or daughter in English. Anak Johor is always a tagline for people who live long enough in Johor and proud to be one of them, now I am. My loyalty not because of political reason nor I was born with small portion of the royal blood inside me, but that is place where I was born.

About Dad

He is a lovely person. He was born orphan and I would say whatever he gained up till now is purely from his experience since his childhood. He do not talk much about his parents much and I am afraid to ask of that. He have been through the ups and downs. And I don’t put it because that is a fancy rhyme that I learn in grammar school but he did.

He used to work with LPN (Lembaga Padiberas Nasional) – a body that regulates the national rice issues which later converted to be a private body called Bernas. My dad retired few years ago taking his VSS (Voluntary Separation Scheme). He has been awarded the Staff with Excellence Performance during his services. He knows everything about rice industry down to what each specific type of rice and brand and I highly respect it.

Since I was in primary school, dad always bring me to visit his office and meet with his friends. Dad will bring me along to look at how he deals with workers at the warehouse, port and offices. I am amazed with is professionalism when dealing with people of all levels. He never been to any higher educational institutions or even professional courses for communication or public relation – as far as I am concern. My dad even knew about Najib Tun Razak, the new Prime Minister of Malaysia while my dad was about 20 – 30 years old. He still have the picture if I am not mistaken.

How he thought me - I remembered that one day I had a phone call with my sponsor. Soon after the that, my dad basically thought me how to speak professionally. He said, “Next time, before you finish your conversation, ask the name of the person whom I am speaking with so that in the future, you can reference his or her name.” I have I never thought of that ever but he had tuned me into the right way to speak and deal with people. As a wise man always said,

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.“

And everytime we had a phone call, he will always remind me to remember God the Almighty. My father is a dad who wants the best for me and I always try to give my best for him. There is a lot to share but I guess that is all for now. Thank you for reading this far. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me or leave a comment. I will try my best to answer it. Thank you all! Thanks Dad!