My daughter , May have a six weeks break and she spent her time wondering around seatching for good foods and surveying the Malls in Penang and KL in their free time. I could not bear to see her wasting her time while waiting for her new semester to start in 2012. If you take time to notice, the youngsters now is either on the laptop, Ipad or Iphone and they spent their time looking at the small boxes instead of the beautiful scenery and if their eyes gets tired, they will tour the Malls and lepak…ie wondering mind and soul.
One day, I caught hold of her and make her sit down and have a hearty chat with her. I asked hrr whst she likes to learn ? I suggested photography because I bought her a good camera recently . It cost me a fortune , RM2600 and her old ones pass to me. As usual, we always get the old ones as we aged. She told me no need and she suggested dancing or bakery. Okay, at least some thing but I rejected dancing because she was injured once when she danced ballet. Anyway, she got bow legs. Finally, she suggested bakery. I was happy.
I asked around and went to the internet to search for a few days and could not find anything suitable. They have classes in KL , Johor and East Malaysia but in Penang , it was very rare. I tried calling up the Companies listed as giving bakery classes in the internet but was no successful. I started thinking it might be a good business to do in Penang. I am still thinking about it.
Why is these bakery classes not popular in Penang ? Is it because it is not well advertise or the people in Penang do not like cakes. To my knowledge ,there are a lot of cakes shops in Penang. We have secret recipe, green loaf, Danish cake shop , continental bakery, rainforest bakery , and many more. There are many if you come to think about it. Why don’t they offer baking classes ? Could it be that they do not welcome competition or it is all about trade secrets ? Like the Chinese kungfu, if these sifu were to keep their secrets, it will be gone forever after their passing. Knowledge not passed on is a waste and meaningless.
Once, Tai Chi was a secret art among the Chinese but now , it was widely practice in Indonesia , Malaysia and Singapore and as far as Japan and USA. It has been commercialized and globalize as well. So, what about bakery , I am inviting all the sifus to come out of their shell and hiding to do something for the mankind. Spread your knowledge and skills and have kind compassions and give good cakes to the world.
Namaste.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Good tidings and blessings....
♥♥♥ May your troubles be less, your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness coming through your door ♥♥♥
Can yoga bring peace to the world ? (news)
Can yoga and meditation help bring peace to Afghans? KABUL (Reuters) -
As the Afghan government's Western backers pour in cash, and tens of thousands of foreign soldiers patrol the country, a French human rights activist is trying a new way to break the cycle of violence in Afghanistan: yoga and meditation.) "In thirty years of war, we've tried everything and nothing has worked," said Amandine Roche, who believes it is better to try to rid the mind of vengeful thoughts than to disarm a fighter at gunpoint. Her organization, the Amanuddin Foundation, aims to promote nonviolence by teaching techniques of calm.
Volunteering since February as she searches for funds, she has given classes at which she demonstrates yoga and meditation to men, women, children, police officers, soldiers and former Taliban insurgents. "It's a new solution to an old problem. War starts in the minds of men, so peace starts in the minds of men. You cannot bring peace with the means of war, it's as simple of that." The most recent conflict, which started with the U.S.-led overthrow of the Taliban government in 2001, has killed thousands of soldiers and civilians, and cost tens of billions of dollars. According to United Nations figures, 2011 is the most violent year since the war began: all signs, Roche argues, that the Western military and diplomatic effort isn't working.
"My project might look crazy, but what is more crazy?" Key to her work is the idea that peace cannot be imposed from outside, but must come from within an individual, she said. "I've become firmly convinced that nonviolence is not the best way for Afghanistan, it's the only way.
" The young Afghans who have tried yoga and meditation have been receptive. "When I do yoga exercise I forget all of my pains and I feel comfortable," said Masoda, a 12 year old schoolgirl at one of Roche's classes for children in the capital Kabul.
INNER SHOWER It might be quite a leap from working with children to bringing that same peace of mind to the gunmen of Afghanistan, but Roche, who was detained by the Taliban in 2001, says they are human too. "My vision is to teach meditation to all the insurgents, to organize vocational training for them to become mediation teachers, so ... they can go back to society, they have a job, they can reintegrate, and they will become peaceful." "Meditation is like an inner shower," she said. "You feel dirty when you don't take a shower for one week, you feel the same with your mind when you don't meditate. It helps you to purify your mind, be rid of all the negativity, frustration."
On Monday, the German city of Bonn is hosting a major international conference about the future of Afghanistan, at which the West will signal its long-term support for the country. But evidence of the damage done by the cycle of attack and revenge is everywhere in Afghanistan. This week, in reaction to a NATO raid along the Afghan-Pakistan border that killed 24 of its soldiers, Pakistan pulled out of a major international conference on the future of the country. "You look at the story of Afghanistan -- from the British to the Russians to the Mujahideen, the Taliban, now democracy -- it's always revenge for the past war," Roche said. "It's never ended. If once, one day someone says 'I stop, and you stop, and let's stop together' ... let's see."
Still, Roche, who has worked on peace-building projects in Asia, Africa and South America, knows there are no easy fixes for the troubles of Afghanistan. "I'm not a prophet, I don't want to convert people. It's not even a solution, it's a tool. I don't pretend I'm going to save Afghanistan." (Reporting by Daniel Magnowski, editing by Paul Casciato)
As the Afghan government's Western backers pour in cash, and tens of thousands of foreign soldiers patrol the country, a French human rights activist is trying a new way to break the cycle of violence in Afghanistan: yoga and meditation.) "In thirty years of war, we've tried everything and nothing has worked," said Amandine Roche, who believes it is better to try to rid the mind of vengeful thoughts than to disarm a fighter at gunpoint. Her organization, the Amanuddin Foundation, aims to promote nonviolence by teaching techniques of calm.
Volunteering since February as she searches for funds, she has given classes at which she demonstrates yoga and meditation to men, women, children, police officers, soldiers and former Taliban insurgents. "It's a new solution to an old problem. War starts in the minds of men, so peace starts in the minds of men. You cannot bring peace with the means of war, it's as simple of that." The most recent conflict, which started with the U.S.-led overthrow of the Taliban government in 2001, has killed thousands of soldiers and civilians, and cost tens of billions of dollars. According to United Nations figures, 2011 is the most violent year since the war began: all signs, Roche argues, that the Western military and diplomatic effort isn't working.
"My project might look crazy, but what is more crazy?" Key to her work is the idea that peace cannot be imposed from outside, but must come from within an individual, she said. "I've become firmly convinced that nonviolence is not the best way for Afghanistan, it's the only way.
" The young Afghans who have tried yoga and meditation have been receptive. "When I do yoga exercise I forget all of my pains and I feel comfortable," said Masoda, a 12 year old schoolgirl at one of Roche's classes for children in the capital Kabul.
INNER SHOWER It might be quite a leap from working with children to bringing that same peace of mind to the gunmen of Afghanistan, but Roche, who was detained by the Taliban in 2001, says they are human too. "My vision is to teach meditation to all the insurgents, to organize vocational training for them to become mediation teachers, so ... they can go back to society, they have a job, they can reintegrate, and they will become peaceful." "Meditation is like an inner shower," she said. "You feel dirty when you don't take a shower for one week, you feel the same with your mind when you don't meditate. It helps you to purify your mind, be rid of all the negativity, frustration."
On Monday, the German city of Bonn is hosting a major international conference about the future of Afghanistan, at which the West will signal its long-term support for the country. But evidence of the damage done by the cycle of attack and revenge is everywhere in Afghanistan. This week, in reaction to a NATO raid along the Afghan-Pakistan border that killed 24 of its soldiers, Pakistan pulled out of a major international conference on the future of the country. "You look at the story of Afghanistan -- from the British to the Russians to the Mujahideen, the Taliban, now democracy -- it's always revenge for the past war," Roche said. "It's never ended. If once, one day someone says 'I stop, and you stop, and let's stop together' ... let's see."
Still, Roche, who has worked on peace-building projects in Asia, Africa and South America, knows there are no easy fixes for the troubles of Afghanistan. "I'm not a prophet, I don't want to convert people. It's not even a solution, it's a tool. I don't pretend I'm going to save Afghanistan." (Reporting by Daniel Magnowski, editing by Paul Casciato)
Life lessons - ext.
There is an important lesson here…….
A man was walking down the street when he was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless man who asked him for a couple of dollars for dinner. The man took out his wallet, extracted ten dollars and asked, "If I give you this money, will you buy some beer with it instead of dinner?"
"No, I had to stop drinking years ago," the homeless man replied. "Will you use it to go fishing instead of buying food?" the man asked. "No, I don't waste time fishing," the homeless man said. "I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive." "Will you spend this on green fees at a golf course instead of food?" the man asked.
"Are you NUTS!" replied the homeless man. "I haven't played golf in 20 years!"
"Will you spend the money on a woman in the red light district instead of food?" the man asked.
"What disease would I get for ten lousy bucks?" exclaimed the homeless man.
"Well," said the man, "I'm not going to give you the money. Instead, I'm going to take you home for a terrific dinner cooked by my wife." The homeless man was astounded. "Won't your wife be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty and I probably smell pretty disgusting."
The man replied, "That's okay. It's important for her to see what a man looks like after he has given up beer, fishing, golf and sex."
A man was walking down the street when he was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless man who asked him for a couple of dollars for dinner. The man took out his wallet, extracted ten dollars and asked, "If I give you this money, will you buy some beer with it instead of dinner?"
"No, I had to stop drinking years ago," the homeless man replied. "Will you use it to go fishing instead of buying food?" the man asked. "No, I don't waste time fishing," the homeless man said. "I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive." "Will you spend this on green fees at a golf course instead of food?" the man asked.
"Are you NUTS!" replied the homeless man. "I haven't played golf in 20 years!"
"Will you spend the money on a woman in the red light district instead of food?" the man asked.
"What disease would I get for ten lousy bucks?" exclaimed the homeless man.
"Well," said the man, "I'm not going to give you the money. Instead, I'm going to take you home for a terrific dinner cooked by my wife." The homeless man was astounded. "Won't your wife be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty and I probably smell pretty disgusting."
The man replied, "That's okay. It's important for her to see what a man looks like after he has given up beer, fishing, golf and sex."
Monday, December 5, 2011
Those were the days.....
We have so much memories in us and so many tall tales to tell if there is a listener. How we grow up and what are our experiences we had encountered. Life flow through our hands as we live and our memories are like layers and layers of dust piling up on each other. If we clean away the dust, we will get the basics and the true us.
During our innocent days, when we drink and drink the whole night through and friends come and go. Some of them become very close and some only like acquaintance. In our life time, we get one, who is fated to be with us and we marry them and we moved on to another chapter. A lot of time is wasted in the process of getting to know each other and try it out and let it go and repeat the process until th knot of fate tie us together. The timing of fate is also misterous and strange. When it supposed to happen, it will not happen but in the least expected timing, it will happen. Yes, there is a lot funs in missed opportunities as well.
What we are searching is a pot of gold below the rainbow. Like the song, somewhere over the rainbow and you will find the pot of gold there. We are tied up in this process and becoming rich and richer. In a blink of any eye, things will changed and we could be left with nothing or many things. It is the irony of life where we work and work our guts out and just to have a decent bow of rice.
After that, starting a family, the responsibility is heavy and we have to indulge in our work to earn more to feel more mouths. This is a life task where we got to live through it and be responsible for our decision and actions. If only, we have decided otherwise, it will be different. We think this way at times but the happiness in family life have it ups and downs. Come what may, we have to live it out.
When we are in the twilight, we look back and wonder what have we done in those days and if our memory do not fail us, we will drift back to the best moments of life and how we hang on there especially in the wasted days and wasted nights our courting years. Yeah, it may bring a smile to our face as we romance with our memories and have good and real feelings that we share.
Those were the days, my friend, we sit and dance away our life and time. All is left is our memory. The memories will keep us going and it will bring hope of life to all of us. All of us have our sweet and pleasant memories which will dance all night in our life. So, go ahead to catch your dreams and good memories and have a wonderful journey in life.
Namaste.
During our innocent days, when we drink and drink the whole night through and friends come and go. Some of them become very close and some only like acquaintance. In our life time, we get one, who is fated to be with us and we marry them and we moved on to another chapter. A lot of time is wasted in the process of getting to know each other and try it out and let it go and repeat the process until th knot of fate tie us together. The timing of fate is also misterous and strange. When it supposed to happen, it will not happen but in the least expected timing, it will happen. Yes, there is a lot funs in missed opportunities as well.
What we are searching is a pot of gold below the rainbow. Like the song, somewhere over the rainbow and you will find the pot of gold there. We are tied up in this process and becoming rich and richer. In a blink of any eye, things will changed and we could be left with nothing or many things. It is the irony of life where we work and work our guts out and just to have a decent bow of rice.
After that, starting a family, the responsibility is heavy and we have to indulge in our work to earn more to feel more mouths. This is a life task where we got to live through it and be responsible for our decision and actions. If only, we have decided otherwise, it will be different. We think this way at times but the happiness in family life have it ups and downs. Come what may, we have to live it out.
When we are in the twilight, we look back and wonder what have we done in those days and if our memory do not fail us, we will drift back to the best moments of life and how we hang on there especially in the wasted days and wasted nights our courting years. Yeah, it may bring a smile to our face as we romance with our memories and have good and real feelings that we share.
Those were the days, my friend, we sit and dance away our life and time. All is left is our memory. The memories will keep us going and it will bring hope of life to all of us. All of us have our sweet and pleasant memories which will dance all night in our life. So, go ahead to catch your dreams and good memories and have a wonderful journey in life.
Namaste.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Dinner at Mizi Bistro. New World Park, Swatow Lane
Yesterday, a saturday, my wife was shopping at Guardian in Wisma Penang near New World Park,Penang.After visiting Giant at the same Mall, I suggest to have dinner at New World park and we took a short walk from the Mall to New World park and on reaching it, I suggested we have dinner at Mizi Bistro which was located on the Park facing Swatow Lane.
It was a small joint and they have a few tables in the open space for smokers. We manageed to get a small table for two and the menu as hand over to my wife from one of the waiters. The bistro offers set meal or alacate and if we pay an additional RM6 per person, we can get a set meal and a choice from the alacate. After considering the costing, it was value for money to go for the set meal plus RM6 for a better mix.
The set dinner offers a drink, bread and butter,a soup, main course and free flow of ice creams.My wife ordered a spegatti olio olio and I got myself a mix of beef and salmon. The steak was medium done. To my surprise, the portion was quite big and the spegatti, beef and salmon was delicious and wonderfully good. We had a great dinner and we feel satisfied with food and the place. It was quite pack for the Saturday night and the atmosphere was friendly like what we see in Cheers.
I have the intention to go back for another meal and I will recommend people to celebrate their birthday there. There is a unplugged band and singer to serenade you and your better half while you dine. They offer free flow of ice creams and it will be perfect for those sugar bugs. A cup of coffee with a scope of ice cream mixed in it will take the bitterness away. It is perfect mix with coffee.
Highly recommended for food lovers and be careful of the big portion of the food. Enjoy the experience I have.
Namaste.
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