Inner Journey: June 2009

Friday, June 26, 2009

McDonalds In China - Equipped With Computers

McDonalds in the past was synonymous to children but now McDonalds is targetting at a different group. Even though Uncle McDonald sits majestically at the doorways, you can hardly find children in there. Instead adults have found a hub for free online services and a great meeting place at an affordable price.

China has taken it one step further. They even have computers in their outlets where patrons can use it free of charge for a maximum of 15 mintues. And of course one has to stand. This is to discourage people from monopolising the computers.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

H1N1 - Measures Taken At Airports In China

Travellers to any part of China will appreciate the measures China is taking to help curb the spread of H1N1. On arrival at the airport all passengers were advised to be seated in their respective seats while a team of medical officers boarded the plane. They wore masks and tyvek suits with digital scanners on hand. They went from row to row, not only scanning every passenger for fever but they also checked that the medical card was properly filled in so as to ensure swift communication with any passenger should the need arise. We were held up for about 30 to 45 minutes but I bet nobody minded the little delay.

Conversely on my return trip to Malaysia, it was a breeze going through the medical clearance. Actually there was no medical clearance except for a scanner just as you enter into the airport building. And if anyone found to be having a fever - all hell would break lose as everyone will be on their way to their destination. Sigh!!!

Watch these video clips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvt6cTF9Jps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M00zPTYQOI

Friday, June 12, 2009

Inner Journey Will Be Away - 13 June 2009

i dont normally take mid year holidays but people do go out of their norms when they are bored. It's a past mid life crisis syndrome haha. Happy Holidays!!!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Free Tibet - Amazing Grace Sung In Tibetan & English

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF4usmgIsBA

Unconditional Conditionality

It does sound a little confusing but in reality unconditionality really has its condition. All except parental love, I guess.

I question myself whether I am a practitioner or a believer of unconditionality and if all of us dig hard enough into our very soul, we have to admit that we are just mere believers and firm bystanders of being a practitioner of this sacred practice.

Many would like to proclaim that they are able to give unconditionally. Examine these few scenarios and you decide which of the two categories you fall into

1. A good friend (or maybe even your spouse) has been coming round and borrowing money from you. Not once, not twice but numerous times you parted with your money but one day you suddenly did not feel like picking up his or her call. On the contrary if your child comes to you, even if you do not have enough to give you will even go to the extent of borrowing just to be able to fulfil what your child needs or seeks. This I have seen it happening in my own family, my in-laws and friends’ families.

2. “Next week is Ann’s birthday. I need to go buy her a present. Oh no, what shall I get for her?” Every year for the past 10 years or more you never forget Ann’s birthday but this has gone unreciprocated for the same number of years. As years go by and decades drag on, especially when you have a new life of your own with marriage and family, eventually this little ritual seems less important. But a mother, who has given birth to that lovely baby will always remember that day for the rest of her life whether that now grown up girl reciprocates this deed.

3. Have you heard about the mother who eats only fish head and chicken backside for as long as her children can remember until one day when they celebrated her birthday at a restaurant. They are all now working adults, having families of their own. When the dishes arrived, the son stood up and in honour of his mum’s big day, he dished up the fish head onto her plate. Next came the chicken backside. The mum teared. She was neither angry nor sad by the son’s gesture. Her hard times of bringing up her children are over but she is still eating fish head and chicken backside. Only then the children knew why their mother ‘liked’ the delicacy of that part of the fish and chicken.

I am sure many of you will have fine examples of unconditional and conditional practices. As an energy worker many will be surprise that I am asking myself this very question. Am I? Am I not? Let us work towards being a better person by practicing what we believe in. As a baby I learned how to crawl, take my first step, run and now I can even fly. (fly kite and sit in aeroplane only lah)

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Malaysia Flag - Through The Eyes Of Ryan

Ryan is 1 year 10 months old and like all little girls and boys he is very much into singing and cartoon shows. Ryan is really hooked on the moon and stars. Whenever we are out at night he will ask where are the moon and stars and he gets pretty excited when he sees them up in the sky. Before we get into the house he will say goodnight to the moon and the stars with sweet dream and sleep well messages. We make it a point to tell him that he can see the moon and stars only at night and the sun during the day.

Yesterday we were out in the city for lunch. Along Jalan Imbi Ryan saw a Malaysian Flag and excitedly he shouted "Moon, Stars". I told him its a Malaysian flag and he firmly said NO. I asked him what is it then. Here's his answer :

Twinkle twinkle little moon and stars
How I wonder what you are ....

See how little, creative minds work!!! With Ryan you dont really know what he can come out with. This morning he had another of his creativity with nursery rhyme. Can anyone of you remember the nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle". Ryan's version geos this way :

Hey Diddle Diddle

The cat and the fiddle

The cow jump over the moon

The little dog laugh (he will laugh ha ha ha ha)

To see such sport

And Mummy ran away with the cow

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

My 3 Months In India - What Did I Do ???

Journeying high into the Himalayas is a dream for many in search of spiritual fulfillment. Since year 2000, year after year, this has taken me to the abode of the snows, hopping from one holy place to another - spending just enough time to place your toileteries out only to pack them up again next.

In year 2008 I spent my time there with a difference. For once I did not back pack. I went with a roller suitcase. I spent my 3 months in India at a peaceful respite where the teeming life of the city lies just on the horizon of a half hour bus ride away. The routine for the 3 months was waking up at 7.00am each morning and going to bed sometimes as early as 7.30pm. There was no television, no newspapers, infrequent sms and calls from family members and friends back home.

Our only interaction was with those who stayed there and the villagers of that place. On occasional weekends we made fleeting trips to nearby holy places of Rishikesh, Haridwar and Clement Town. Just for a "look-see" of the talked about Sahastradhara - meaning a Thousand Drops -(the suburb that I stayed in), we took a 10-15 mintues bus ride to spend an easy lazy afternoon there.

My days of pilgrimage hopping is over. Now it's all about soaking in the culture and life of the places we visit and the people we meet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXRk2Kmcg4Q (Howling Thunderstorm in India)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9py5TCXotu0 (Hand Turned Ferris Wheel)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl_YbReKiY0 (Sahastradhara Water Droplets)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmmL2490bnw (Noodle Making By Tibetan Folks)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cws02iBqra4 (Haridwar - people bathing in the Ganges)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eagMeWL64s (Ladakhi New Year in India)