Life on the Sand Beaches of Art

8 weeks tops now in school! Woohoo! Could not imagine me surviving the first week at first. It was not that bad after all. Having the splendid life and fun of being a student all over again. Feeling rather proud though. To tell the truth, it was not easy. It takes a lot of gut and courage to go through after leaving it all behind for not so long ago. Starting my engine right up! Giddie up! 

Registered in September, a very exciting moment indeed. Feeling like a small lost child experiencing first day at school and it takes anything just to leave and go home. A whole week but only 3 days of class. Experiencing the relaxing lifestyle after a couple of years mourning, hoping to wake up to a whole new set of sunshine. My parents was shy to accompany me on the registration day. What is it to lose. Let us all experience the new ambience after so used to the same O same O. And to our surprise, it has reach to the generation where all parents start sending their kids off to college or any higher education. To my surprise, most of the students are so young. Masters student would be <30 years old and PHD students are all <35. Very rare to see someone more than 35 years old. Maybe one or two. 

The National University of Malaysia is on the hilly parts of the earth. Very hilly so much so back ache has been one of the problem. 

Never suspected it was that steep! The only University that cross my mind was UiTM. Obviously their hills are way much more steeper. Classes has been a blast! Quite tied up at first but getting used to it by now. My mid term is just a few weeks more, got to get up and crunch up those figures and facts. Wonder if it works to boiled it all up and drink it down. Heavy headed coming through! 

Till then,

xoxo

8 Great places to retire abroad!

Some day everybody will have to retire. Well, guess I am just too young to think about it now aren't I. I always ask myself, would I want to stay abroad once I retire? The one place that I normally hear a lot is Canada. If you ask me why, I have no particular reason to it. Today we are going to explore the 8 great places for us to think about where to retire abroad, if some people would love to have a change of air.

1. Merida, Mexico

I know some will say that Mexico is a dangerous place to go. I always love Mexico. The South America always get to me. The population here is estimated around 777,516. From here is only less than two hours by plane. The climate is tropical but with some on and off hurricane. It has a European feel with old architecture and an abundant culture.

2. Lunigiana, Italy

The estimated population here is around 130,000. It is so close to three airports, which are Pisa, Genoa and Parma all with just about an hour drive. It is situated at the border of Tuscany and you can even have a day trip to Florence!

3. Bocas Del Toro, Panama

It's estimated population is 125,461. It has a climate season of warm and tropical but with a slight rainy season during May till January. It is situated on the Caribbean in western Panama. With a laid back island living. I have always love Panama. 

4. Granada, Nicaragua

With an estimated population of 105,171, Granada is only 45 minutes away from Managua's international airport. It's climate is known to be hot and sticky with the wettest season from May to October. It's a city that goes way back to the 16th century and sits on the shores of the Nicaragua lake.

5. Nha Trang, Vietnam

361,454 is the estimated population figure for this city. Hot most of the year with a monsoon season in November and early December. Located on the South Central of Vietnam an encased by miles of beaches and mountain ranges.

6. Roatan, Honduras

A small place with only 70,000 population. The average temperature is 81 degrees with January as the coolest month and August as the hottest. Lies on the hurricane belt that explains everything. Located in the Bay island of Honduras, Roatan is home to the world's second largest coral reef, warm ocean waters and long strands of white sand. 

7. Bearn, France

Only 350,000 people is estimated to be here. With easy connection to Paris and London, the closest airport here is in Pau. It is situated near the border of Spain, is influenced by Basque culture. Lots of market and vineyard to explore here!

8. Corozal Town, Belize

With only a population of 9,901 people, this town is looking pretty small then the pictures. A very warm temperature all year round with only a mild rainy season. The town is located in northernmost Belize with long stretch beaches around the town for retirees to relax an unwind.  

All this places sounds amazing, but more yet to be seen. Sure there are tonnes more places that are amazing with many nature wonders. 

Till then.

xoxo

Top 10 Most Annoying Things other Drivers Do!

I have been driving for 5 years tops now. Feeling rather longer than the figure is showing. When I was working 2 months back, I was commuting from Shah Alam to Kuala Lumpur everyday of my life. Thank god to the odd working hour that I don't really have to go through all the hassle and traffic on the highway. As I was browsing through Yahoo! today, I came across a rather interesting article named "Top 10 Most Annoying Things other Drivers Do" and to my surprise that it is all nearly true. Not to say nearly but actually exactly true. Elaborating it one by one!

1. Talking on a cell phone.

Have you ever encounter driving on a highway and suddenly on the centre lane there is one car driving slower than they are suppose to, and on your left lane there is a big lorry carrying heavy goods and to make things worst on the right lane there is too many fast car passing through that makes us ages to cut through this one particular car in the centre. Oh dear! When we finally get to overtake it, we noticed that they are either talking on their cell phone or texting. What's more annoying than a driver that is willing to risk our life so they can talk on the phone.

Don't be a jerk: Put your phone down while you drive. You know about voice mail right?

2. Driving too fast for road conditions.

Doesn't mean when the signs are showing 90 mph that is the correct speed. Different weather needs different speed measure. Especially in the rain. It can blind you in just a second and when you pass by other cars it will splash a big pool of water and blind other people visual as well.

Don't be a jerk: There's always someone driving like a jerk in a ad weather. And if you notice you're passing everybody, you're the jerk.

3. Not cleaning snow off your cars.

Well, I guess this point is rather not applicable for Malaysian. We don't really have 4 season. It's either raining all day or super sunny all day long.

4. Not signalling when turning or changing lanes, or leaving a signal on.

Signalling our intention is one of the most basic acts of courtesy one can have. We can't assume where the other driver is going and what their intentions are. Putting our own life and other peoples life at risk is not how most of us wants to go through our life with. Leaving a signal on is rather misinterpreting as well.

Don't be a jerk: Use your turn signals, Bub.

5. Leaving high beams on

I always came back home late when I was working previously. Every night it was rather hard for me to judge the distance of another car especially when their super high beam is on. For a person who wears glasses like me, it is rather hard to look at the rear view mirror and of course the road ahead with the incoming lights from the next door lane.

Don't be a jerk: Understand that your high beams are a dangerous weapon when aimed at oncoming traffic. Remember to turn it off once you turn it on.

6. Faulty equipments.

Driving a car with a faulty equipment is like driving a time bomb. You'll never know when you're going to explode. Putting others life at risk would be the biggest regret especially when you're vehicle goes faulty on the road and affects other. Saving money is wise, but saving some money for not repairing your vehicle is gone wild. 

Don't be a jerk: Maintenance is not just for you. You'll improve your own safety and that of your fellow drivers too.

7. Taking two spaces in a parking lot.

Ok, this one really hits me. I have two parking lot side by side at my housing area. To make matters worst, the parking lot is really beside a whole stretch of curb. I will usually swing my car to park and occupied both of the lot. Not feeling any bad alma matter because both of it is mine. However, I don't do that in a public area or a mall parking area to be exact. Sometimes where there is a shortage of lots, it's rather annoying seeing the one parking that you can park have somebody else's tyres in it. 

Don't be a jerk: If you have a car that is so precious, parked it at the far end of the lot. That way you inconvenience yourself rather than others.

8. Staying in the far left lane.

If you're slow, please move. If you want to overtake, then please move again. It is rather dangerous for you to drive slowly at the fast lane or slowly at the middle lane where all the fast cars keeps on crossing and overtaking each other. Don't put your life at risk.

Don't be a jerk: Use the passing lane for passing. And when you're in it, always keep an eye on your rear view mirror and be aware if someone is coming up faster behind you so you can get out of the way in time.

9. Not acknowledging for making a mistake or overreacting to a honest mistake.

We all make mistakes. If you saw someone reversing without seeing you. Why not honk. The road will be full of humanity if people start acknowledging their mistakes.

Don't be a jerk: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

10. Dangerous loads improperly secured

Nowadays, a lot of news headline about accidents due to lack of securing their loads, especially for lorries. Dangerously indeed not knowing when is it going to fall, devastating if it impact others as well. We should all be aware of others as well and not being selfish. 

Don't be a jerk: If you are carrying something that doesn't fit you car, get professional help or advice in securing it before driving. 

That's it for the top 10! Hope it helps us all to become a better driver and makes us a better nation soon!.

Till then,

xoxo

A month of Purifying

The day I decided to be jobless, I purposely resigned one month before my registration date. Thought of purifying my thoughts and sleeping hours in that one month time and of course extra Eid dul Fitri Holiday. Hoping that I can do some catch up reading during this month. However, the thought of "Don't have to go to work" attitude controls me more than I knew.

So many things came up unexpectedly. Without me even noticing it, the one month pass by so fast until I didn't even manage to catch my breath. I slept and slept and slept even more. So called purifying myself. Well I did manage to clean up my room eventually, after let it pass by for a few months now. Ramadhan was splendid especially when I do have time to spend breaking fast at home with my family. Lost track of Malaysian public holiday and still patching up through which holiday is coming by. Have been exercising tonnes and maybe I should start watching out what I eat. 

Raya was great! Especially the part where I do not have to worry when will be my start working date. Don't have to keep track any more. A few aunts and uncle gave me duit raya after hearing the sad stories of me being jobless. That was fun.

Got to visit my brother in Johore for a week. Playing with the little one got me stuck not to go home yet. A month of purifying got me thinking that I have indeed lost track and miss a lot of things that has been going. Living life to the fullest now. Will start learning to live and appreciate life more soon. 

Till then,

xoxo

The Resigning Thinking Thoughts

My last post was in January. Not quite really proud of it. Well, here goes nothing. To all my readers out there.  I am officially jobless for a month top now.  Never would I thought writing would be this much fun as I thought that writing would bare the causes hunger and pain of all emotional disastrous moment that one can define. Feeling rather better indeed. I have stop working last July right after I got my offer letter to pursue my Master degree in Economics from The National University of Malaysia. It was the best resigning moment but it wasn't what I expected.

Late last March when I was on holiday, I have gotten to know by one of my colleague that my department is closing down and moving to Calcutta obviously without the team  we are all in. There was this business planning going on without us noticing due to our high rate of turnover throughout the years. Imagining the whole new gang that was just brought in by my boss. Well, we were all been given a choice of either to resign totally from the company or to move to another department where all our extra income will be cut off but all of us have not much choice actually. 

We were all are given a retention bonus since we have to move to another department unwillingly. So, my friends and I had this brilliant idea to move to another department and take the money and leave. Having this full course head banging idea was what we called. I did applied to another department with another friend of mine hoping that the interview would be a success. That was during in May. Thank god I did pass the interview and the funny yet very nice Manager wanted me to report in fast. Sadly my friend didn't pass her interview and that let the both of us hanging wandering what would eventually happen next. 

A few days after I went to the new department located in Cyberjaya. Having a farewell with my old team was the hardest thing it could be. Especially after 2 and a half years with them, it took more courage than I thought it would be. With all the cries and tears, it was worth it. One month in the new department was like not really hell or heaven. It was hard to make new friends and new people to act them up like our family with spending everyday with them for more than 8 hours top. As time goes by, it was already a month. One people had resign a one month tender. Than later another one with a one month tender. Then there goes my shocking feeling after I got the offer letter. It was hard for me to see my awesomely handsome yet nice Manager. He was the best. The way he greet people was slightly different in all the ways and he really do know how to make people feel to always come to work. 

One Sunday I came up to him and told him that I was leaving with a 24 hour notice. It wasn't a pleasant look from him but yes it was dreadfully sad. It really doesn't feel right breaking peoples heart. I was the third to leave and I know I put him in a difficult position but I just had to go. I got half from my retention bonus but I was grateful. I was thinking, better leave now instead of putting hopes on others more. 

When he did the team meeting. Everybody was shock and it was not what like I expected. People was so kind. Some even feel so sad that I'm leaving even it was only a month. My boss especially even gave me my card for remembrance of the good old days and never I saw someone walk away with that. Some even came up to me and say "come back, we are open for you always" It was totally like a Titanic scene with all the tears AGAIN for the second time. Life just has to go on from now. 

Till then,

xoxo

The Glass Pavilion

I have always been so keen of houses. It is not the price that I am looking at just the uniqueness of one can count. I came across an article on the Wall Street Journal in regards to a house named "Glass Pavilion" situated in Montecito, California. Architect Steve Hermann called his house as "Opus" set in a 3.5 acre estates of Oak Groves with five bedroom, 5.5 bathroom, a kitchen, a wine room and also an art gallery to display all his vintage cars collection. It took 6 years upon completion and believe it or not this house is worth $35,000,000. The art gallery is a walnut covered that could display 32 cars. All the large glass panels are Star Fire glass, an incredibly clear glass usually used to display jewellery. Steve Hermann has taken the architectural tenets from Miss Van Der Roh's Barcelona pavilion and Farnsworth House as well as Phillip Johnson's glass house and taken them in the new millennium. Lets take a glance at his house shall we..

Till then,

xoxo