Happy Birthday to my pal, PH

I know him for more than 10 years  and since last year, he has retired from his job and now, he is taking his time to  search for the right business.  Yes, I envy him taking his own sweet time and enjoy his 2nd chapter in life.

I did not know it was his birthday today until his former colleagues pick me up for lunch with him.  He had suggested that we have lunch at a restaurant in Sungei lembu.  Ow! Sungei lembu was a bit too far but since he insisted, I have to follow him. So, we took a 30 minutes drive to the restaurant.

The restaurant is located far into the hills and it has a bit of landscaping and  a pond full of fishes. It has alot of plants and trees and it was  cooling.  The building was quite small.

My friend , PH took the menu and he did all the ordering.   A bowl of chicken, one Parting fish, one vegetable and a roasted pork leg. We drink our eer teh to neutralized the oil while PH have a glass of beer. We talk about antiques ,  old times and  jokes.  A simple conversation about the latest trend about old aged stones which caused as much as gold.  Thousand years rock which gives up good Chi and will boost health. Now, it is a crazy trend in China.

We spend about 30 minutes talking while we drink Pur eer  tea.  It was a simple lunch , a good tea and most of all , a group of  simple friends enjoying a birthday lunch. It was a very good combination and it was simply enjoyable.

The time took for me to return to my office took another 30 minutes but it was worth it. Life should be like this , simply wondering , idling and living.

Namaste.

Top 5 herbs for wellness

Top 5 Herbs That Enhance Your Immune Syste

The moment a baby exits from her mother’s womb, she is instantly welcomed by a ‘Welcoming Party of Five’ (Not the US teen drama Party of Five that starred Tori Spelling, a few years back). The so called ‘well wishers’ are actually 'enemies in disguise'. In our life time, most of us get sick or fall victim to a certain disease. This is NO THANKS to those
‘wolves in sheep clothing’. But most of the times, we are happily healthy. Why?
This is because our body has amazing ARMOUR called the immune system. This ‘mighty knight’ can fight against these infections.
Although the immune system is extremely complex, its basic strategies are simple:
1. Recognize the foreign bodies
2. Invade & mobilize forces
3. Attack & kill
Immune system protects you from a range of illness from colds to cancer. Now, meet your TOP 5 Immune Boosters. ‘Treat your knight and shining armour’ by taking some immune boosters. Here they are:
1. Ginseng
2. Echinacea
3. Astragalus (Huang qi)
4. Garlic
5. Medicinal mushrooms

Ginsengs – The all rounder.

Although there are many types of ginseng, such as American, Japanese, Chinese/Asian ginsengs, all of them share a common action, which is immunity enhancing capability. Generally, ginsengs help to stimulate the immune system by stimulating immune cells production to fight infections. Ginsengs also work as a tonic for fatigue.

Echinacea – Your immune system’s answer to health panacea.

It is one of the world’s top five-selling herbal medicines. Echinacea treats or prevents colds, flu, sore throat, and boosts our immune system. Out of the nine Echinacea species, three species (E. angustifolia, E. purpurea, E. pallida) are widely used medicinally.
Research showed that it is able to trigger the production of interferon, which fights viruses. Besides, compounds in Echinacea can increase the levels of foreign agents-fighting white blood cells.

Astragalus / Huang qi – Tonic herb that stems from the roots.

Astragalus is one of the most frequently used Chinese herbs; as an immune stimulant. Its historical use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be traced back 2000 years ago. In Chinese modern medicine system, patients who undergo chemotherapy or radiation are also treated with a therapy called zheng fu. This therapy, which utilizes astragalus, is
commonly used to revitalize the patients’ immunity.
Astragalus is usually used in combination with other herbs, usually adaptogenic herbs such as ginseng. Astragalus increases white blood cells production and their activity. This indirectly improves one's immune function.

Garlic –Eating this stinky spice is a wise choice.

A strong-smelling herb used since ancient times, garlic is well known for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. It has positive effects on the cardiovascular health, immune function, anti-microbial action and anti-cancer action. Eating garlic helps increase immune
system players (e.g.: natural killer cells, white blood cells macrophage) levels.
On the other hand, experiments showed that natural organosulphur compounds in garlic can kill tumor cells in animal models. Yet, the similar effect may not be evident in human models. Thus, further evaluations are required.

Medicinal Mushrooms – Have room for more mushrooms?

Mushroom contains carbohydrate called beta-glucan, which boost our immune system. Mushrooms not only enhance immune system but also possess antibacterial properties which make them ideal for preventing all sorts of infection.
Go for ling zhi or reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and shiitake (Lentinus edodes), they are powerful immune boosters that are able to remove toxins and prevent free radical damages. Reishii can also stimulate the immune system by activating both B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes natural T-killer cells. Coriolus versicolor mushroom has potent anti-cancer
carbohydrate called polysachharide K or PSK. PSK is the top-selling anticancer drug in Japan.  

The grief of a father

I received  a call from my friend A when I was about to leave my office for my yoga session.  He told me to bring my wife to see him at his restaurant after my work. He sounded very serious and I agreed to see him later.

When I arrived at his restaurant , there were many cars  outside his restaurant and we were lucky to find a space when one of the parked cars left.

My friend,A could see our car from the inside of his restaurant and he walked out to welcome us. He got us seated and serve us two cups of green tea. After we have taken a sip of the green tea,

" My son passed away more than a week ago"  he blurred out and his voice was sad and he tried hold back his tears. He died of cancer and my friend continued to tell us the event before his son's death. How his son keep his sickness from him?  His son have tried to managed the sickness by himselves and have believe in his Taoist master, who have promised him another 7 years of life.  But , it did not happen and my friend, A was very critical of him.  But, the fact is that his son was dead and he is hurted.

He wants to talk and I could sense the pain inside him as he fought back  his tears.  I keep consoling him and that is the only thing I can do apart from lending him my ears. He told me that cancer is a very scary and freightening word. He quoted many cases of people whom he knew who is suffering or die of cancer.

I know his feeling as I have seen  both the parents of my wife and a brother in law died of cancer.  The ordeal is very painful , hurtful  and bad memories is long lasting.  It takes a long time to recover from such bad experience. This is life.  When there is life , there is death. We have to accept this fact and it will not change for anyone.  Even the pope or a  King have to die.  How famous or infamous we are,, we  also need to die. No exceptions. Period.

The person could have gone but the people , he leave behind will suffer the lost and the emptiness. It is the grief all the living ones have to go through.  If we are aware and understand this fact, it will be very much easier to let go and seek solace from such bad memories.

Namaste.

Chris Hedges - So true

Your heart knows .....

How do we know that we have found what we want in life ?  One of Steve Jobs quotes that you should keep on searching fo.r your dreams, don't settle or compromise  and you found your dream, your heart will know and you will feel it.

Sometimes, we make  a mistake or we compromise our dreams and to settle for second or third best for the rest of our life. Should we throw it away and continue our search. Sometimes, our dreams shift or switch and do we change our path to continue to search for it.  It is a dilemma.

Some people are lucky and they can find their dreams easily but for some unlucky ones, the search could be a life time.  To make a decision whether we throw away the bird in hand and go for the two in the bushes , is  a difficult decision . We could end with an empty hand.

When we are set to find our dreams, we have to travel light. If we start to gather bondage and baggages on the way, it will tie us down or slow us down and could make us compromise our dreams or stand.

 Some of our feelings  of our heart could be wrong especially  in relationships.  If we are just a couple without children , the decision will be easier but if we have children, it is more than a matter between two person. The decision would be more complex and hurtful.

If you want to sure of your dreams, you may have to let go what you are nejoying now and go back to the basic and from the start. Don't worry of getting old and conform to the thinking of others. What is matter is your own search.  You may have judged wrongly and throw away the dreams which is already in your hands but if the second time around, you will really know and it would be wrong.

Your dreams could be finding your love ones, your job , your mission , your direction,  your passion ,etc. There could be many dreams in your life and the warch could be multifolds and may missions at the same time. If you hit it right through you  search , all these realization wil be a fulfillment and a bundle of joy for you. Each accomplished dream will bring you enlightenment and eternal happiness.

Don't stop the search and you will get contented if your dreams are gradually fulfilled.  So, don't settle or compromised until all dreams are  achieved.

Namaste.

The swelling anger.

There is a theory that if we shout or sing at high pitch, it will result in the death of millions of our brain cells. Fortunately, these dead brain cells can self generate themselves and replace all the dead brain cells. Otherwise, we will suffer from dementia or maybe Parkinson disease after each shouting match.


This morning, I have a shouting match with my colleague from Bangladesh. He was shouting like a madman over there and trying to push all the responsibilities to me at over this end. He started to talk nonsense like he will slap the people over in Penang or asked me to scold this people to give him the support. I dislike these kind of talks. He behaves like a gangster or a Yakuza and only trying to assert his power through his position or through scolding or shouting at people. I disagree as basically, I am always seeking a compromise to a problem.


After the shouting, I began to feel that I am hurting my body. My blood pressure shot up and my face turn hot. These are signs that my body was stretch to the limit and I have to cool off. It was like a runaway train if we still engage in the conversation. I cut him off and I told him that I cannot talk to him anymore. I have to cool off and I put down my phone. It is important that our body can adjust to our blood pressure and if it shoots up , it better come down fast enough so that the body would not be hurt further.


I feel that after doing Yoga , my body was able to response at greater speed to cool down. I think it could be due to the heavy breathing exercise and the persistent training on my body. I find that I am more flexible now than before.


 If our body do not know how to response, then we could suffer stroke or heart attack and could eventually die. Persistent exposure to these stress is also not good for the body and the mind.


I am not recommending to involve in a shouting match and to use Yoga to control it . Basically, shouting is very harmful and it not only hurt us mentally or physically but also our relationship with others.


 We should refrain from this response and if the other side is shouting, we should not response and shut down our phone as the other person is temporarily become insane. Taking this approach is a better option.

Namaste.

Koay Teow T'ng at Kampung Belabar, Penang

This morning  I went searching for this Koay Teow T'ng stall at kampung Belabar with my wife.  From Penang Road, I turn into Arygll Road  and I found a stall which was crowed with people waiting to be served. The stall was in a shophouse , so I stopped my car and I went in to be seated. But, upon reaching the stall, I found out that it was selling Wan Tan Mee. It must be good  because a lot of people are still waiting to be served.  I asked one of the worker for the Keow Teow T'ng stall which was situated nearby.  She pointed to a back lane behind the petrol station.

It has been many years since I have eaten at this stall.  I think it is about 15 years ago, when the stall was located behind the old Cathay Theatre.  The stall was operating in a back lane and we have to eat the Koay Teow sitting on a small table. The Koay Teow T'ng was full of the inner parts of the chicken ie the liver, the heart, the intentines,etc. The texture of the Koay Teow is very soft and the soup is very tasty and sweet.  Since then, I heard the stall have moved to another back lane and I have lost touch with the stall.

When I walk over to the back lane, I could see the stall located at the entrace of the lane and there was many tables placed along the lane and it was packed with customers witing to be served.  The tables are also spread along the five foot walkway and also it was fully occupied.  My wife and myself have to wait for a seat. Finally, we got a seat in the back lane and besides the drain. 

In the back drain , there is another stall serving cofee and drinks.  Well, there is a strange smell coming from the drain but it is tolerable  but my wife prefer to wait for empty seats along the five foot way after placing the orders.

After 10 minutes, one of the helper placed a bowl of Koay Keow soup on my table and I asked my wife whether she ordered the Koay Teow  and she told me that it was a different type. Since it has been served, I asked my wife to eat first while I remind the helper to speed up our order. Finally, the correct order came and my wife eat the dried Koay Teow.  I was surprised at the disorderly manner but it is not necessary to comment to cause a scene , so we just eat whatever is served.

Well, we have adjust to the situation and it is pointless to correct their system of serving and we enjoyed what is served. With this open mindedness, life would be more tolerable.  We should not let our mood destroy our chance to enjoy such tasty food.

Recommendable for those people who do not mind the environment but just go for the food.  It is an experieince but I would prefer to eat in a proper location as there is still a taste of the "drain" in my mouth if I recap the experience.

Namaste.