海上生明月,天涯共此时 - Happy lantern Festival

aisay.. I never thought they would create web site even for Happy lantern festival... http://www.moon.com.cn/
in fact there are plenty of them. You can check them out to find out the history of this festival, which comes in many versions.

so this festival came again.. which I never really care abt it.. all I know is that I don't really enjoy eating mooncake during my childhood days.. where you would have things like black lotus, white lotus.. not so nice one.. these days you had things like vanila flavour, durian flavour.. ice-cream mooncake, latte mooncake, orchard splashcake...

and yeah, we heard of story people making money and sustain for one year by just selling mooncake. So, is eating mooncake really important becoz of the taste ?? I think not.

The only reason I eat mooncake is because today is the day and becoz my mom bought them. I guess the only reason my mom bought them is becoz today is the Lantern festival (of course she bought them few days before lar..) and also perhaps my relatives and friends gave some to us. So actually, this festival is good for many other things other than the history part of it.

One thing for sure it creates income for some and the second thing is I would agree, reunion. Also it creates side effect for some people like me with no girlfriend (YET!!!) coz I must be asking.. when is someone gonna sing '月亮代表我的心' to me... aisay.. so pity.. nvm I will play the MP3 (not cassette anymore!!)

Nevertheless, I think it would be great time if everyone just stop and look at the moon for a while. Think abt how much you have achieved in life and console yourself that you have actually done enough. What is more worth it than being able to look at the moon for a while .. would you still want to kira here and there .. that someone owed you money or something... Forgive them with all your heart, coz they are also looking at the moon at the same time.. hoping tat you would do the same thing.

Then suddenly maybe u might see an asteriod approaching .. (asteriod Toutatis is coming on wednesday.. no joke), but Bruce Willis is nowhere to be found!! No worries, this time is just passing by.. not visiting.

海上生明月,天涯共此时, 中秋节快乐! (Happy Lantern Festival)

INVITATION- YMCA OPEN DAY

Dear friends

We are pleased to inform you of the launch of the YMCA 100th. Anniversary Celebrations and the launching of our Book: SIGNS FOR CHILDREN during the Open day on 2 october 2004.

On behalf of the YMCA of Kuala Lumpur we cordially invite you, your friends, members of your organisation to attend the the Launch. The details are attached In addition we will be organsing a Kanagawa Children's art Competition in the afternoon. The details are attached. The promotional rate for children from this NGO's are RM 5.00 per child.

In conjunction with the celebration we are pleased to inform you of our IDD Workshops . Details are as follows:

International Deaf Day
3 October 2004 (Sunday)
10.00am-5.00pm ** REGISTRATION OF THE DISABLED****HEARING TEST**** EXHIBITIONS**
2.30pm-3.30pm Workshop: "Pelancaran Geran Untuk OKU to setup Business" by JKMWP
3.30pm-5.00pm Workshop: "Understanding Your Legal Rights as a Deaf Persons"
OPEN TO ALL!! and Hope to see you then!

Thanks & regards

Lucy Lim Excutive- Community Development Kuala Lumpur YMCA

Pls contact: "Tham Poh Weng" tham@hati.org.my

[hatifriends] A request for a bike for a handicapped person

Hi,

We are in need of funds to get a bike for the handicapped person.the total amount is RM 5,760 and a doctor is contributinmg RM 600.This leaves a balance of RM 5, 160.Should anyone require further information, please let me know.

I have contacted the Lions Club of Kulim and we can use their projectaccount to bank in the amount anyone wishes to donate.Lions Club of Kulim RHB Bank, Jalan Raya, Kulim A/c #20208736028567Please drop me a line should you need further information.Thank you.

Regards
Ashok Kumar
H/P: +6012-4237033
Email : ashok@ap.ansell.com

MGGR October 18-23

Greeting from the Center For Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP) The Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP) would like to invite your organization to a training on "Making Governance Gender Responsive (MGGR)" October 17-23, 2004 in Manila, Philippines. This training course was developed by the Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP), with funding support from the Asia Pacific Gender Equality Network (UNDP-APGEN) and the PARAGON Regional Governance Programme for Asia (UNDP-PARAGON).

The course is designed for middle and senior level government executives, women and men in local governments, political parties, research and training institutes and civil society organizations who are leading or participating in governance reform initiatives in their respective countries. Specifically, it intends to help participants to:

1. Gain theoretical and practical understanding and appreciation of the Gender and Development (GAD) and governance concepts and their inter-relationship;
2. Acquire skills in identifying and analyzing gender-related issues and biases in governance; and
3. Formulate a doable action plan to address these gender biases and concerns. > It is composed of three (3) modules developed to enhance participants' understanding of the link between gender and governance as well as increase their awareness of gender biases in governance. The training is being offered and designed for a small group of about 25 to 30 participants only.

The first and second batches of the MGGR training were successfully held last February and June 2004 at the newly-built CAPWIP Institute for Gender-Responsive Governance and Leadership (CIGGL) located at Hostelling International Manila (HI Manila) at 4229 Tomas Claudio Street, Baclaran, Parañaque City, Philippines. This was attended by participants from different countries in the Asia Pacific region.

The third batch of the 2004 MGGR trainings is scheduled on October 18-23, 2004> The third batch was redesigned based on the feed back from the first two successful trainings. The third batch has been expanded to a six day course ( originally designed as a three day course), and the course is now heavier on field visits. The registration fee for the six day training is US775 based on twin sharing accomodations and US 600 for triple sharing accomodations ( meals and training kit included) We are sending you the detailed information sheet and the registration form as attachments to this email.

We hope that your organization can send participants to this training. Let us join hands in promoting gender responsive governance through transformative leadership and citizenship. We look forward to your participation.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

(Originally signed)> Sylvia M. Ordoñez> Executive Director> Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP)> www.capwip.org> www.onlinewomeninpolitics.org > > CAPWIP Institute for Gender-Responsive Governance & Leadership (CIGGL)Hostelling Internaltional Manila 4227-4229 Tomas Claudio Street Baclaran, Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines((632) 8322112, (632)8516934 Tele Fax:(6322) 8322112 mobile phone 632 0918 940 3711E-mail: sylviaordonez@capwip.org (Sylvia Ordonez, Executive Director, CAPWIP)(Please always send a copy (CC) of all emails sent also to capwip@capwip.org and trainings@capwip.org to be sure that we will get it)

Uncle Lim & Genting

I always believe that Uncle Lim is not a good human being.. coz we would usually heard stories that someone gambled all monies at Genting and had to sell houses and etc.

My first visit into the casino was way back many years, which i believe only around 16 years old.. That was the time when my family visited Genting and I knocked into my high school friend; Mr. How Soon Khang. Mr. How used to be a close friend, until we split class during form 3, we were still close but not that close. Some say he looks like Tommy Page, fair skin and well-built body.

So during the genting encountered, we decided to have a hang-out at around 3 AM. So we did, walked around Genting Highlands Indoor theme park and it was pretty boring. We are not sure our way, then suddenly, we saw a television with some program running. We walked closer and closer, hope to glimpse what was happening there.. Suddenly, we were inside the casino, the guard didn't stop us I dont know why, probably was sleep-walking.

That was the first time I saw casino, it looks more like a wet market where everyone was standing and doing something. Those were great moments, where i would tell friend 'Hey, I got into Casino!!!', but now it is like 'ceh..' coz this story is outdated.

Anyway, my other visits to Genting Casino were after legalized age. I never like gambling, seeing people gamble on stack of tokens, assumely RM 10 K at one shot and lost it just like that!

Until recently, my perception on Uncle Lim changed. He could be a good guy..

One friend told me, many of those big gamblers go to Genting Casino with 'dirty money'. So it is good that these dirty money eventually got lost and recycle back to the community, where Uncle Lim gets to create many jobs(endless job) and make couple of donations.

So now I like the idea of 'dirty money' lost to Genting Casino, this is very justifiable, and it should be that way.

anyhow, I still don't like to go Genting Highlands.

Invitation -Micro Current Therapy (this Sat, 25th Sept 2004)

Hi,
If you're wondering what Micro-Current Therapy (MCT) or also commony referred as MENS (Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation) is, it's very small pulsating currents of electricity (finely tuned to the level of normal electrical exchanges) which takes
place at body cellular level. It's simply one of the many progressive approaches to better health.

Studies have shown that MCT can among others:
- relieve pain if arthritis, tendonitis, injured joints, sprains and other spinal cord related injuries
- speed the healing of broken bones
- improve bone density hence treating or preventing osteoporosis
- heal wounds faster
- energize the body
- improve blood circulation
- alleviate the trauma of cancer chemotherapy and radiation

So... grab this opportunity and CHECK THINGS OUT yourself for FREE! Join us with Master Chin (one of the extremely prominent Qi Gong practitioners) and you're assured of surprises.
25th September, 2004 (this SATURDAY)
Session 1: 3pm- 6pmSession 2: 7pm- 10pm

Venue: Furama Hotel, KL (Bukit Bintang)

For reservations, please email/ call me by this Thursday (23rd Sept. '04), indicating the session preferred.
Limited seats for the FIRST 30 'early birds' ONLY. So, HURRY!!!!

See you there

Regards
Corrina Ho, 019- 3604437

Emotional Man

aiyo, i am such an emotional man... but i really am. what u wanna say i am sisy ?? come challenge me something lar (like tennis and etc..) anyway, my good friend Ian Kwok is always the better sports man.

but yeah, i weep when watching great movies ..like even Braveheart, Titanic and etc..

recently has been roller-coster for the emotional part of my life. Before I tell u some stories, let me give you some appetizer.

I became a buddhist - believer (something like Neo in Matrix... ) around more than two years ago, it happened after I was terribly illed, so ill that it changed my life forever. Modern medical never diagnosed anything, but every damn day I was in pain.. and I had to go to college to finish off my degree. Those were hell days, I assumed I was going to die. When you had such feeling, u started thinking seriously. Self-help buddhism help me through such hell time, where I eventually converted to vegetarian and make a vow to stay tat way for my whole life.

It is irony to believe such reality which my mother predicted long time ago(through fortune telling); according to her, I am destined to be a buddhist. I was a non-believer until then.

So buddhism taught me great things and I was rejuvenated - resurrected.

One of the lesson is 'nothing last forever, everything will have an end to it, we must let it be, let it be...'

So I did learnt this properly.. and started to evaluate people's perception towards love. I laughed at couple quarelling at each other, or guys or gals who committed suicided over love.

Not until recently, a friend of mine ( a lady in her fifties) suffered widowed. Her husband died unexpectedly and she was terribly saddened. Initially I couldn't understand it, coz sticking to the teaching implanted in me; that 'nothing last forever, everything will have an end to it', I assumed that she would 'let it be' as they been married for many years. One day, as I visited her, she said something which touched me profoundly.

"Losing your life partner is a completely different feeling from losing your parents and even your own children.." I know what she meant, she was saddened tremendously, I wouldn't expect this as she is always been a very spiritual person. I reserved my comments, even though I was expecting her to take things easy.

Not until recently, I finally experienced the same awkwardness.

I admired a girl I met at business seminar, she is very pretty and independent type. Chinese educated with some passion for public relation. As I was single and available then, I decided to give it a try. I work on some strategies and hope for the best. Day by day, my feeling for her grows .. me without realizing it, I was attached to it.

Until suddenly, my time was running out, she was leaving for oversea to pursue her career and I couldn't just catch up with that. I was like having one month left to confess or not...or Hell .. this is disaster man!

but the verdict is she left without me confessing ..

OK, hold your horses boy... I am not saying she likes me or that she doesn't have boyfriend.. (which i dont really know..., I dont even know her birthday) But I just couldn't understand that I am not 'let it be' too.. I kept telling myself "c'mon, she dont like u lar, she hates u, no hope lar.." But deep down, I am still holding to it.. (Sorry to those gay people, I am straight)

my message is that it is not that easy sometimes.. if I was a disciple during buddha's time, he would look at me and said 'oh brandon, practice hard ...practice hard...' I definitely failed the test and it made me understood the fact that loving someone is really not easy and u dont just say "forget it babe".

For my case, I dont know which best way to do, either to tell her and risks all or just to let it go and move on.. It is so hard to decide coz the feeling is so really attached. I just dont want to risk this attachment which is solely mine and no one else.

so, many of my peers had been married (recently) and will be marrying soon, I have high expectations on them. Deep down my heart, I wished the very best for them. If the whole world would experience what I am experiencing, there wouldn't be any quarrel between couples, because u should really appreciate it. So when u guys are quarreling with your spouses or partners.. just think of me.

what lar.. dont tell me u weep on this.. this is just a normal bachelor story lar..

or ya, another discovery.. when u love someone u wouldn't opt for pornography.. u would say 'argg.. come one...that is too disgusting..' keke.. dont laugh lar. So if you go for pornography it means u have empty feeling lar.. in case u are addicted to pornography, go get real love lar...

anyway ..

Time heals all wounds, buddhism lives on.

Straw Art - Anyone ?

Does anyone know where to find this thingy ??

National Cancer Awareness Activities - BSC

Dear all

The National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) is having a 6 day long awareness program on cancer at Bangsar Shopping Centre with a host of activities which include the highlights below.

~ Cancer clinics- advice by doctors on cancer related issues- daily at 1 pm and at 6.30
~ Dance show and workshops- daily dance shows and dance workshops including belly dancing and the ever popular salsa- at 3 pm and 8 pm daily.
~Art for sale and have your portrait drawn or make your own prints- great idea for the kids.
~Buy pottery specially made for NCSM’s yellow week.
~Excellent children’s books including NCSM’s CHEMOPHANT- a book on the effects of chemotherapy.
~Hand painted decorative items( from the 17th-Friday)
~Information on cancer and other surrounding issues.
~Speak to cancer survivors.
~Cancer survivors fashion show on Saturday the 18th at 4 PM – A MUST see.
~Singers in the evening at 7.45 pm on special days.

So come one and come all to BSC- Where it is all happening. 14th to this Sunday the 19th. Of September. AT BANGSAR SHOPPING CENTRE-BSC

Please pass this e-mail to as many people as you can

Thanks

Brian(brian@lariche.net)

A Reunion - CHS Aniversery

yeah brother and sister, heloo..

last nite around 10 PM (Malaysian time), in UJS 10, PJ, Selangor, Malaysia. Me and my high school friends had a round of reunion.. let me introduce the members.

1. Brandon Teoh (the most baik hati a.k.a the ONE from top or bottom)
2. Ian Kwok (Sales Manager with music talents and sports bastard a.k.a the dog)
3. Rick Teoh Yaw Meng (the 7 experts)
4. Soo Wei Siang (the chemical engineer)
5. Bryan Lee Jun Mai (tai lor)
6. Milton Kok (the U.K based civil engineer with no business card)
7. Priscilia Chai (the U.K based accountant)
8. Chow Yuen Ping (the malaysian based civil engineer)
9. See Lai Yee (the accountant cum tea enterprenuer)
10. Josephine Fong (the finance consultant - S2 at KPMG)
11. Ngan Kian Hin (the dancer cum SAP consultant)
12. Lok Yen Foong (the foong 'ceh' working at Merk)
13. Xiao Fei (the Great Eastern employee)

so who started the whole thing... ? -> U.K based couple came back for holidays, we were like dragged into a 'force' reunion thingy.. by the way, this is a 'temporarily' farewell thingy, the episod to be continued by April 2005 .. hopefully i will get married before that, so that i can 'force' them at my own pleasure.. the only problem is i am not qualify to get marry yet..due to the following reasons:

1. No Girlfriend
2. No Money

anyway, no problem i will work hard..

so yeah, what about us ?? we been friends for more than 10 years.. since high school (CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL).. all of us got older a bit..we talk rubbish mainly... gossiping about somebody elses marriage such as 'the tennis girl'... we talked about U.K and how Princess Diana accusingly pushed people into the pool of her memorial fountain park. We also talked a bit about 'patches' and tennis.. oh ya, we all missed tennis, they been urging me to organize some kind of weekly tennis game basis (i will try my best)

Some of the topics overheard from amongst the conversation:

1. Electronic issurance coverage - would it be a threat to insurance agent ?
2. Anwar Ibrahim mattress belongs to one of the member ..really ?
3. One of our high-school friend earn RM 6K per month doing just part time lecturing.
4. Going from Malaysian to U.K is about 13 hours straight.. u can cheat jet-lag by pretending to sleep.
5. What courses being offered by Iverson?
6. PM walked past one of the member's exhibition booth without noticing him (during the ICT and Communication expose at Mines Convention Center)
7. There is a rich girl, a short girl and a LCCI girl waiting to be introduced to Brandon Teoh. But have to wait until sometime end of the year. What lar..
8. Brandon Teoh is going to Taiwan .. serious ?
9. Why is Jane Low not coming?

Overall, it was a great reunion..we were tired and yet relax, had some small refreshment over at Tai Pan's mamak, where we got a controversy 'milo suam' issue, nevertheless, it was resolved promptly ... The mamak were happy to see us there, as we were the largest group with wonderful ideas..

We all have great affinity(缘份) .. and it a blessing that all of us are still intach at one piece. Non of us ventured into selling pornography, loaning shark,dirty money or something like that.. we are a good batch of human being for the year of 1978 - the year of the horse.

Mainly, most of us still dont change much, except priorities and directions.. Mr. Ngan is going to U.K for two months, so he will be joining the U.K based couple for some sort 'threesome' thingy... but i doubt he can do any dancing over there, coz the place might not be big enough for him..

the only thing we forgot is taking a snapshot of what we were .. becauase all of us were so tired.. we 'split' at around 1:37AM.

so what next ??? nothing much lar.. Brandon Teoh will always be in Malaysia, waiting for people to come and go.. and come and go...until i decided it is time for me to go and never come.(the time I decided to let go the '缘')

[hatifriends] SPCA Needs Volunteers

Hi all,

Just passing on a volunteer opportunity:SPCA will be lauching an adoption kiosk at Ikano Power CenterCourtyard (right next to Ikea) on 24th Sept, Friday, 10am-12pm.Friday is the launching ceremony.They will need volunteers to help man the booth during the weekend25th and 26th September. Time is from 12.00 pm to 6.00pm. If you canhelp out, please email at ming@family.org.my or call Christine Chai at 012-2082340.

Cheers,Tham (tham@hati.org.my)

www.hati.org.my

BEFRIENDERS PENANG

Dear All
please forward to the people you think may be keen to volunteer in penang.
Also I have LOADS fo christmas cards for sale. they are printed in the UK and are blank inside and sell for RM 10 for 20 in a box and 15 for 30 in a box. A great deal!! all money from the card sales go to Rumah Ozanam in Batu Arang- a home for women and abandoned kids. Please let me know if ytou want any.
regards
Brian(brian@lariche.net)

BEFRIENDERS PENANG

Volunteer Recruitment Preview
Date: Sunday 19 September 2004
Time: 2.00 p.m. ? 5.00 p.m.
Venue: Caring Society Complex
Room # 4, Ground Floor
Jalan Utama, Penang

Enquiries please call:
Befrienders Penang
04-281 5161 or 04-281 1108

Monday to Friday: 3.00 p.m. to midnight
Saturday and Sunday: 5.00p.m. to 11.00 p.m.

Befrienders Penang, a non-governmental organization, provides a free and confidential service of listening and support to people feeling lonely and depressed, and who need someone to talk to.

Brian Lariche's Charity Drive

Dear All
I am sending out a request for items to be used as a prize for a charity raffle in aid of the OZANAM house in Batu Arang( one of the homes I collect food for.This is home shelters women and children who HIV+ and/or women who in need of shelter for various reasons.
Please give any new items you have one too many of to them. You can drop it of here at my place
40, Lorong Maarof, Bangsar and I will ask dr. Lucy, the person running the place to com e get it from me.
You can also e-mail dr. Lucy - ruthlc@pc.jaring.my
thanks
Brian (lariche@tm.net.my)

Items requested are as follows:-
Iron Cooking pots
Hairdryer Dinner sets
Microwave oven TV set
Electric Oven VCD player
Thermopot Radio
DVD Player Camera etc
Anthing that can be given away as prizes