New York City: Central Park – Rock Climbing

The Wikipedia entry of Central Park states that there are rock climbing spots in the park. After weeks of food and no exercise, I was eager to find the place.


We found one of the spots! There was already a climber there 😀

This rock is called the Rat Rock. There’s even a Wikipedia entry on it. According to Wikipedia, this rock is called rat rock because rats swarms the place at night. Euw.

There were not many routes visible at this rock. Some can be seen through the white chalk patches on the wall.

Handholds were most crimps except for a few jugs here and there. Footholds on the other hand were tiny. It was difficult to climb without climbing shoes :/

Other than Rat Rock, there is also Cat Rock. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find that place.


Spotted 2 pairs of legs.

For more information about climbing in Central Park, check out rockclimbing.com’s entry.

Kiwi Shine

[Advertorial]

Today I will talk about this…


No, not South Korea..

But the logo inside the South Korean flag. If you didn’t know, the logo originates from the ancient Chinese book of I Ching, one of the fundamental books of Confucianism.

When I was very young, my Dad drew me a picture of 6 lines.


He told me, “Boy, if you want to succeed in life, remember these 6 lines. This is from the book I Ching”.

Intrigued, I gave him my utmost attention.

“Imagine, after you graduate from university and join the workforce, let’s say, you will be in line No. 4 from the bottom. The bottom 2 lines are for those who didn’t graduate from a higher learning institution”.

“The 1st line is where the top businessman and directors are. The 2nd line is where the senior management is. The 3rd line is where your seniors are”. Your aim is to reach the 1st line. How are you going to reach there?”

I shook my head vigorously.

My Dad then said, “You get the people on the upper lines to bring you up. They’re the ones who will help you succeed in life”.

I held on to his advice until today. It sounds simple and practical.

But how am I going to get the people in the upper line to help me up? If I am up, how do I maintain myself to be there?

To me, a plan must be set out. It must detail the timeline and the goals to be achieved within a given timeline.

Those who you think would help your career should be identified.

If you have not visited the website http://www.shineatwork.com.my/, you should read article by the name “SPOT THE RIGHT ALLIES TO BATTLE THE OFFICE WAR WITH”. Here’s the reproduction of it:

We all know allies are extremely important in the battlefield. Well, for us working people, the workplace is our battlefield. And that’s why it is important to create allies in the office as well. With useful allies, you’ll find it way easier to move ahead in your career, avoid mistakes and achieve your goals.

Read on to find out the type of allies to look for and how to get them on your side.

1. The Experienced Ally

Who is that? Your senior colleagues. Remember – do not assume the power is always with the most ‘bising’ staff or the one with the most ‘glamour’ title. The experts are the ones with enough experience to know all about the company at the back of their hands.

Why do I need this ally? For background information. They can provide you with important details on company policies and past company experiences.

How to stay chummy with them? Give your ally credit for his expertise and help during meetings and presentations. Also, thank him privately for sharing his knowledge and advice.

2. The Team Mate Ally

Who is that? Your coworkers. As much as you like being a lone raider, teamwork is always good for both of you and the company. It also helps showcase your leadership skills.

Why do I need this ally? For support and advice. Running out of time and it seems impossible to get everything together all by yourself? You’ll find help comes easily if you’ve made an effort to create allies among your workmates. They’ll also be more willing to share more information and ideas with you if they like you.

How to stay chummy with them? Don’t wait until near deadlines. You should offer help when you see that they seems to be struggling or running around like a headless chicken. And never, ever, ever gossip or ‘cucuk’ them in the back, you’ll lose their trust and allegiance.

3. The Big Guys Ally

Who is that? Your senior management. This includes your superior, boss, senior partners, CEO etc.

Why do I need this ally? For career advancement. Without your boss or the senior partners recognising your talents and contributions, you could stay in that position of yours for years. Maybe even until you retire.

How to stay chummy with them? Offer assistance whenever you can. But only if you know you can handle it without it interfering with your current workload. It is also a good idea to make this ally look good.

4. The Network Ally

Who is that? Acquaintances from other departments and other companies in your industry.

Why do I need this ally? For essential information. In case you hear rumours about future price increases or a new ‘canggih’ design development, this ally will come in handy to keep you informed.

How to stay chummy with them? Keeping them close to you and helping them in any way possible. Also, keep in contact on a regular basis, not just when you need a favour from them.

5. The Client Ally

Who is that? Your customers, of course! A satisfied customer can give valuable referrals when you’re looking for a new job.

Why do I need this ally? For their perspectives and opinions. Your clients can offer helpful suggestions about your business and give valuable input when you’re, let’s say, proposing a new product.

How to stay chummy with them? By showing this ally that you value the relationship. This includes thanking them for their business and giving them information valuable to their business. Providing them a little more information more than what they have asked for would always be appreciated.

Once you have identified the above allies, you have to start working on that relationship. First impression is always important and thus dressing up properly is the key. You have to be pleasant to the eyes, ears and nose. If you got BO problem, get deodorant. If your shirts are old or too baggy, get a new one. If your shoes are not shiny, get KIWI shoe shine!

You can read more tips here at http://www.shineatwork.com.my

If you’re going to enter into the workforce soon, do pay the website a visit. Their page at http://www.shineatwork.com.my/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=63&func=select&id=2 has some stuff for you to download to excel in your job application and interview!

New York City: Central Park – Part I

I left Boston a day after my conference ended. Since my flight back to KL departs from NYC, I took a flight to NYC.

The airport was quite near my hotel. A taxi ride there was about 20 minutes.

When I arrived at the airport, most of the flight counters have long, long queues. There was a short queue where you can actually pay 2USD to get on it. I rather pay than wait.

So when it was my turn, I gave the attendant my ticket and waited eagerly. I can wait to leave Boston. The attendant suddenly said, “Sir, it seems that your flight is from NYC to Boston. You have bought the wrong ticket.”

/(*O*)\!!!

FML!!

The attendant added, “You can get a new ticket inside”. There goes my 60USD. -_-

Upon arriving NYC, I met up with Sarah, an old friend of mine. She is one of my blog readers who eventually became a real life friend. She’s a stewardess and coincidentally she had a flight to NYC on the day I was there.

Since we only have a day to spare, we decided to spend it at Central Park. Both of us have not been there hence it was a good choice.

We decided to walk to the Park. Passed by a lot of nice places.


Rockefeller Center


We found Love in NYC!


Found Central Park!


Busker under a bridge


A cafe in the middle of the park. Check on the squirrel 😛

Boston Food Guide

My apologies for the lack of updates. I’ve been extremely busy these few weeks.

This would be my last post for Boston. This entry is to keep up with my practice of having a food entry for my travel entries.

Quincy Market

This place is excellent for a quick and cheap bite. The market has numerous outlets with different types of food here. However, food is mediocre.


Clamp chowder is quite common.

Every morning I’ll come here for breakfast and each time I come here, I’ll try a different store.


Doghouse is one of the better ones and they serve hots dogs and sausages. Boston Barker Deluxe is quite awesome.

Faneuil Hall

Opposite Quincy Market lies Faneuil Hall. Food stalls are located at the ground level. Red Barn Coffee Roasters is highly recommended by a lot websites.

It’s quite good and I think it’s on par with Starbucks coffee. My personal favourite would be their cafe latte 😀

Website: http://www.redbarncoffee.com/

Union Oyster House

This place gotta be the highlight of Boston food. It is just a street away from Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. It claims to be the oldest restaurant in Boston and the oldest restaurant in continuous service in the U.S. Its doors have been open to diners since 1826. You can read about their history here.

Due to its popularity and long history. famous patrons such as Daniel Webster and Kennedy Family were regulars here. There is also booth dedicated to JFK.

The meal here starts off with some free cornbread as appetizer. I must warn that this place is a little bit pricey hence check the price before you order.

We ordered lobster and oysters. I’m not a big fan of oysters as it grosses me out. However, the oysters here were fine. Lobster on the other hand was good. The way they served it reminded me of a dead cockroach.


For dessert, do order the Boston Cream Pie. It was awesome.

Some patrons had posted negative comments about this place. They complained about their price and lousy service. My experience there was good. I think it’s worth the money.

41 Union Street
Boston, MA 02108
Tel: (617) 227-2750
http://www.unionoysterhouse.com

Boston – Part II

Although I was in Boston for 5 days, I only managed to see Boston on the first day. The rest of the days were spent in the conference. We had meetings after meetings and receptions after receptions. I didn’t manage to take many pictures during those days.

On the first night of the event, I attended the conference’s Gala night. It was all purplish. I got to meet some interesting people and even sat next to a General Counsel of a big multinational corporation. I spent a few good hours talking to him.

One thing I notice about General Counsels is that they hardly give out their names cards. If you didn’t know, General Counsels are like in-house lawyers who dish out work to practicing lawyers. They are like shit to flies. When there’s a General Counsel walking around, lawyers would fly to them straight. Getting their name card is like getting gold.

Speaking about reception, there was one reception held at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and this museum has a collection of over 2,500 works of European, Asian and American art, including paintings, sculpture, tapestries, and decorative arts. All these were collected by one Ms. Isabella Stewart Gardner, a wealthy widow in the early 1900s. The museum has a few floors and each floor has a few rooms. Each room has different type of settings.


Mrs Gardner during her younger days. This painting sits in the museum.

When Mrs Gardner was still alive, she lived in the museum (it was only turned into a museum after her death). I was told that the settings and designs of the rooms were left untouched since her death. I must say that the museum was every women’s dream house. It has all the beauty in the world.


A garden lies in the middle of the building.

Anyway, to conclude my entry on Boston. The conference in Boston was quite enjoyable. Had good times and bad times. Will definitely go back there again!

Boston – Part I

After spending 4 days in NYC, I finally arrived in Boston to do what I was supposed to do in the United States. I was there a day early hence I had a little time to roam around the place before my 5-day conference. I knew that I wouldn’t have chance to roam around Boston during my conference. A minute rest is a minute wasted in such conference. If my body could function non stop, I would love to be in the conference non stop!

I stayed in Hilton Hotel which is nearby the well known Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. Almost every morning my colleagues and I will walk to the market for breakfast. These two buildings are now tourist attractions and primarily serve food and beverages.


In Quincy Market , there is a foyer where patrons can sit down to have their meal.


Clamp chowder is popular in Boston. However, Quincy Market only serves mediocre clam chowder.


There is also a Cheers pub. If you are born before the 90s, you will probably remember the US Sitcom Cheers. Quincy Market hosts a replica of the bar. The actual bar is located at Beacon Hill, not too far away from Quincy Market.


The Old State House Museum is a street away from Faneuil Hall. This is claimed to be the oldest surviving public building in Boston. Build in the 1700s, this building is surrounded by skyscrapers.


Just a few steps away, there is a small cobblestone ring to commemorate the Boston Massacre

To be continued..

What do the Chinese want?

I read this from fourfeetnine‘s blog. I find it a very provoking article.

“Chinese Malaysians Asking Far Too Much”

By Zaini Hassan
Source – Straits Times, published Apr 30, 2010

WHAT else do Chinese Malaysians want? Let us put aside the reasons why they do not support the current government in Kuala Lumpur. Let us study first what else they want.

For that, we have to go back to history. The Chinese came to Malaya to seek opportunities. They had lived a hard life in mainland China for hundreds of years. Like the whites who migrated to the American continent because it was the land of opportunity, the Chinese migrated to Malaya to make their fortunes in this bountiful land.

The strategy of their forebears has borne fruit. The Chinese have attained what they wanted. They now live in the lap of luxury in this land of opportunity called Malaysia.

In fact, it is not only in Malaysia that they have attained what they wanted. They have even gained full control of Singapore. Singapore is not their original country. The Singapore Chinese and the Malaysian Chinese were originally boat people. The difference is that those who landed in Singapore managed to gain full control of Singapore, but those who landed in Malaysia did not manage to control Malaysia.

In Malaysia, the Chinese live in peace with the Malays, the indigenous people and the Indians. In comparison, in Singapore, the Chinese control politics and the Government. In Malaysia, the Malays still control politics and the government. The systems of both governments are the same, but it is vice versa: The Malays dominate in Malaysia while the Chinese dominate across the Causeway.

In contrast, the Malays in Singapore and the Chinese in Malaysia are very different. The Malays in Singapore lead ordinary lives while the Chinese in Malaysia lead lives that are ‘more than ordinary’.

In fact, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad once stated that if all the Chinese-owned buildings in Kuala Lumpur were lifted from the map, only the buildings in Kampung Baru, a Malay area, would remain in the city.

All the other buildings are owned by Chinese Malaysians. The well-known shopping centres in Malaysia are owned by the Chinese.
The Chinese Malaysians are fantastic. They control all the cities and major towns in peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sabah and Sarawak. They produce the largest number of, and the most successful, professionals. The school system of the Chinese Malaysians is the best among similar school systems in the world.

The Chinese account for most of the students studying in the best private colleges in Malaysia. The Malays can gain admission into only government-owned colleges of ordinary reputation.

With regard to corporate and private organisations, it is the Chinese who dominate. The Malays number just a few; most of them are low-level employees. In fact, knowing Mandarin is a prerequisite for applying for jobs in these organisations.

Finally, an annual survey by the Malaysian Business magazine has found that eight of the 10 richest people in Malaysia are Chinese. The following is the list of the 10 richest people in Malaysia:

Mr Robert Kuok Hock Nien
Mr Tatparanandam Ananda Krishnan
Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng
Tan Sri The Hong Piow
Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay
Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan
Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary
Puan Sri Lee Kim Hua
Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King
Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun

This is the reality in Malaysia, my beloved country. Is the current government, which has been in power for 52 years, cruel and totalitarian? What else do the Chinese Malaysians want? I think I know, and I think you know too.

[end]

All I can say after reading this article is, NIAMA. This fellow got nothing else to do other than trying to divide the races in Malaysia. I think its time for race based politics to go. All races in Malaysia should work together for the goodness of the country and not just for their own race.

I am glad that Kee Thuan Chye of Free Malaysia Today gave a good response.

Thuan Chye Responds to “Orang Cina Malaysia, apa lagi yang anda mahu?”(Utusan Malaysia article)

By Kee Thuan Chye
Every time the Barisan Nasional gets less than the expected support from Chinese voters at an election, the question invariably pops up among the petty-minded: Why are the Chinese ungrateful?

So now, after the Hulu Selangor by-election, it’s not surprising to read in Utusan Malaysia a piece that asks: “Orang Cina Malaysia, apa lagi yang anda mahu?” (trans. Chinese of Malaysia, what more do you want?)

Normally, something intentionally provocative and propagandistic as this doesn’t deserve to be honoured with a reply. But even though I’m fed up with such disruptive and ethnocentric polemics, this time I feel obliged to reply – partly because the article has also been published, in an English translation, in the Straits Times of Singapore.
I wish to emphasise here that I am replying not as a Chinese Malaysian but, simply, as a Malaysian. Let me say at the outset that the Chinese have got nothing more than what any citizen should get. So to ask “what more” it is they want, is misguided. A correct question would be, “What do the Chinese want?”

All our lives, we Chinese have held to the belief that no one owes us a living. We have to work for it. Most of us have got where we are by the sweat of our brow, not by handouts or the policies of the government.
We have come to expect nothing – not awards, not accolades, not gifts from official sources. (Let’s not lump in Datukships, that’s a different ball game.) We know that no Chinese who writes in the Chinese language will ever be bestowed the title of Sasterawan Negara, unlike in Singapore where the literatures of all the main language streams are recognised and honoured with the Cultural Medallion, etc.

We have learned we can’t expect the government to grant us scholarships. Some will get those, but countless others won’t. We’ve learned to live with that and to work extra hard in order to support our children to attain higher education – because education is very important to us. We experience a lot of daily pressure to achieve that. Unfortunately, not many non-Chinese realise or understand that. In fact, many Chinese had no choice but to emigrate for the sake of their children’s further education. Or to accept scholarships from abroad, many from Singapore, which has inevitably led to a brain drain.

The writer of the Utusan article says the Chinese “account for most of the students” enrolled in “the best private colleges in Malaysia”. Even so, the Chinese still have to pay a lot of money to have their children study in these colleges. And to earn that money, the parents have to work very hard. The money does not fall from the sky.
The writer goes on to add: “The Malays can gain admission into only government-owned colleges of ordinary reputation.” That is utter nonsense. Some of these colleges are meant for the cream of the Malay crop of students and are endowed with the best facilities. They are given elite treatment.
The writer also fails to acknowledge that the Chinese are barred from being admitted to some of these colleges. As a result, the Chinese are forced to pay more money to go to private colleges. Furthermore, the Malays are also welcome to enrol in the private colleges, and many of them do. It’s, after all, a free enterprise.

Plain and simple reason
The writer claims that the Chinese live “in the lap of luxury” and lead lives that are “more than ordinary” whereas the Malays in Singapore, their minority-race counterparts there, lead “ordinary lives”. Such sweeping statements sound inane especially when they are not backed up by definitions of “lap of luxury” and “ordinary lives”. They sound hysterical, if not hilarious as well, when they are not backed up by evidence. It’s surprising that a national daily like Utusan Malaysia would publish something as idiosyncratic as that. And the Straits Times too.
The writer quotes from a survey that said eight of the 10 richest people in Malaysia are Chinese. Well, if these people are where they are, it must have also come from hard work and prudent business sense. Is that something to be faulted?

If the writer had said that some of them achieved greater wealth through being given crony privileges and lucrative contracts by the government, there might be a point, but even then, it would still take hard work and business acumen to secure success. Certainly, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, who is one of the 10, would take exception if it were said that he has not worked hard and lacks business savvy.

Most important, it should be noted that the eight Chinese tycoons mentioned in the survey represent but a minuscule percentage of the wider Chinese Malaysian population. To extrapolate that because eight Chinese are filthy rich, the rest of the Chinese must therefore live in the lap of luxury and lead more than ordinary lives would be a mockery of the truth. The writer has obviously not met the vast numbers of very poor Chinese.

The crux of the writer’s article is that the Chinese are not grateful to the government by not voting for Barisan Nasional at the Hulu Selangor by-election. But this demonstrates the thinking of either a simple mind or a closed one.
Why did the Chinese by and large not vote for BN? Because it’s corrupt. Plain and simple. Let’s call a spade a spade. And BN showed how corrupt it was during the campaign by throwing bribes to the electorate, including baiting a Chinese school in Rasa by promising RM3 million should it win the by-election.

The Chinese were not alone in seeing this corruption. The figures are unofficial but one could assume that at least 40 per cent of Malays and 45 per cent of Indians who voted against BN in that by-election also had their eyes open. So, what’s wrong with not supporting a government that is corrupt? If the government is corrupt, do we continue to support it?

To answer the question then, what do the Chinese want?
They want a government…

a. that is not corrupt;

b. that can govern well and proves to have done so;

c. that tells the truth rather than lies;

d. that follows the rule of law;

e. that upholds rather than abuses the country’s sacred institutions.

Because BN does not fit that description, the Chinese have learned not to vote for it. This is not what only the Chinese want. It is something every sensible Malaysian, regardless of race, wants. Is that something that is too difficult to understand?
Some people think that the government is to be equated with the country, and therefore if someone does not support the government, they are being disloyal to the country. This is a complete fallacy. BN is not Malaysia. It is merely a political coalition that is the government of the day. Rejecting BN is not rejecting the country.

A sense of belonging
Let’s be clear about this important distinction. In America, the people sometimes vote for the Democrats and sometimes for the Republicans. Voting against the one that is in government at the time is not considered disloyalty to the country.
By the same token, voting against UMNO is also voting against a party, not against a race. And if the Chinese or whoever criticise UMNO, they are criticising the party; they are not criticising Malays. It just happens that UMNO’s leaders are Malay.
It is time all Malaysians realised this so that we can once and for all dispel the confusion. Let us no longer confuse country with government. We can love our country and at the same time hate the government. It is perfectly all right.

I should add here what the Chinese don’t want:

a. We don’t want to be insulted,

b. We don’t want to be called pendatang

c. We don’t want to be told to be grateful for our citizenship.

We have been loyal citizens; we duly and dutifully pay taxes; we respect the country’s constitution and its institutions. Our forefathers came to this country many generations ago and helped it to prosper. We are continuing to contribute to the country’s growth and development.

Would anyone like to be disparaged, made to feel unwelcome or unwanted? For the benefit of the writer of the Utusan article, what MCA president Chua Soi Lek means when he says the MCA needs to be more vocal is that it needs to speak up whenever the Chinese community is disparaged. For too long, the MCA has not spoken up strongly enough when UMNO politicians and associates like Ahmad Ismail, Nasir Safar, Ahmad Noh and others before them insulted the Chinese and made them feel like they don’t belong. That’s why the Chinese have largely rejected the MCA.
You see, the Chinese, like all human beings, want self-respect. And a sense of belonging in this country they call home. That is all the Chinese want, and have always wanted. Nothing more.

The Utusan Malaysia article: Orang Cina Malaysia, apa lagi yang anda mahu?

Dramatist and journalist Kee Thuan Chye is the author of ‘March 8: The Day Malaysia Woke Up’. He is a contributor to Free Malaysia Today.

New York City: Avenue Q

Before my trip to NYC, Timothy asked me whether I’m interested to watch a play in NYC. I said yes and he bought me a ticket to watch this play called “Avenue Q”. The ticket costs couple of hundred ringgit.

NYC is well known for its plays and those who wishes to visit NYC should at least watch a play. There are many theaters in the city and tickets can be purchased online.

Back to Avenue Q, the play is played by actors and actresses holding puppets. It’s like the adult version of Sesame Street. There’s singing, swearing, cussing and sex (puppet sex to be precise). It was nice but I didn’t like the lady who played the role of an Asian stereotype who speaks with an Asian accent. I find it degrading to Asians just like how Bruce Lee finds Mr. Tanaka degrading in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. If you’ve seen the 1993 film Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, there was a scene where Bruce Lee and his girlfriend Linda Emery was watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s in the theater. Bruce seemed upset with the stereotypical depiction of an Asian man portrayed by Mickey Rooney as Mr. Tanaka.

Anyway, back to the story. Halfway through the play, jet lag kicked in and I zzzzz-edd….until the end of the show. I missed 3 quarter of it!


-_-

AXE Deodorant

[Advertorial]

The new AXE deodorant body spray. It is a cross between a deodorant and a cologne. Extremely well known in overseas and recently introduced in Malaysia. It comes in a few ranges namely Axe Click, Axe Dark Temptation, Axe Vice, Axe Pulse and Axe Africa. The one on the picture is Axe Click.

You can check out their Facebook page and be a fan there. AXE is also well known for its funny commercials. I posted a few there!


Trying it out for my climbing workout. The bottle is quite unique. I have to twist the head down to open it. Press the top part and viola! fresh fragrance with an edge of spice!


Introducing the girlfriend. Hug her before I go climb. *for the purpose of this advertorial. The “girlfriend” here is fictional*


Babai!


Taping my fingers before climb. Pulled the muscles in my fingers last year and had to go for physiotherapy. Have to tape it to ensure that my fingers hold well and won’t pop halfway.


Ripping the finger tape using my teeth.


All chalked and ready to go!


Climb climb climb


*sniff sniff*


My, my..hello there..


Dude..you’re smelling the wrong tree…


Woah..phone numbers from all sorts of people, got Rachel and Cannes some without names..and one from Ah Fai and Ah Ping -_- Must be the awesome fresh fragrance with an edge of spice smell from Axe Click!


After climbing..met girlfriend back home and she found… “Call me..?”


*sound of paper being crunched*


KAPOW!