Didn't have a very good sleep last night and when I waked up this morning, noticed that the time on the watch was 12 o'clock. OMG, how come I didn't hear the alarm sound?? Checked the mobile again and realised the time was only 7:30am in the morning. My watch stopped...
Surprisingly it stops just after 3 years of wearing...maybe it's also time to replace the battery, or, replace the old memory?
Coincidentally on the same night when the watch stopped, the person also appeared in my dream. Maybe it's a sign for something which means to happen - and if it does happen, I shall change my job to fortune teller!! However, most of the nights I don't really dream a lot, and whenever I have dreams, mostly are not sweet neither cheerful.
Anyhow, go home earlier to have a better sleep might be a better solution. I really need to have more rest to recover from the lack of sleep during the weekend.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Another long weekend
Last weekend was a long weekend in Hong Kong, we got Friday, Saturday and Sunday off. Apart from successfully closing a deal last Friday with the future working partner, what left was non-stop eating with the family, meeting up with old colleague friend in Macau and the small luck I had in the casino, also some of the mixed feelings.
The itinerary for the weekend is pretty straightforward: -
Friday: Meeting-Lunch-Go home packing-Ferry to Macau-Dinner/Cruising around with the family - Catch up with old friend
Saturday: Venician (Macau) - XueHai (China)
Sunday: XueHai - Hot Spring Resort - Ferry to Hong Kong
Yes the Venician in Macau is huge, the economy in Hong Kong is prosperous, the development in China is growing at fast fast speed, everyone sees the opportunity and the wealth brought by the emerging China market, what about my home country Taiwan?
During the lunch time with the senior executives (COO, MD, AM and PM in charge of the Asia-Pacific region) from our partner, through the casual conversation they suddenly made a comment "Taiwan is entertaining", for its special Congress culture, for the way how people does business, for its distinguished Green/Blue phenomenon - I reacted quite, but honestly feel sad. All these years being abroad, I have tried my best to correct the stereotypes from these Western people who might not understand thoroughly about the relationship between Taiwan and China, but when people are more impressed with Taiwan for its political statement than its business competitiveness, how do we move our economy forward?
I knew I should just have enjoyed the holiday without thinking this type of the issue, but I do wish one day, and in the very near coming future, the comments I hear from people from Taiwan, or outside Taiwan, are positive and promising.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Blogaholic
There are alcoholic, shopaholic, workaholic etc, and I thinking I am getting to become a "blogaholic". In fact, this is not a new word, just when I suddenly think of the combination of "blog" and "-aholic", there are already a lot of entries you could find on the Google regarding the term blogaholic.
I must confess that I am not very productive recently due to the addiction of reading one blog to another when the work on hand is not that urgent to be completed. I shouldn't have done so but it almost becomes a daily routine to check the often-read blogs and find out what the updates are. Luckily the list is not that long due to my short blogging history, otherwise I am worried that I might lost my job because I spend too much time on other people's blogs.
Lately I had gone through quite a few of the traveling blogs and felt fortunate that I've done something similar, although just a very small degree compared to the rest, to not to feel too regretful about life. I've been thinking, if I use my working holiday visa to find the work in UK, if I keep staying in Europe, what will be like now? I still have 7 months before the visa expires, should I do it again?
My dream is to work in as many countries as I could, before I have the family to settle down, to get to know the local, interact without worrying the time and money. Maybe I have been on my own for a while and want to try the experience of traveling with an intimate partner and see what it likes. Maybe till then, I will just do short trips and leave the longer "around the world" type during the gap year.
Other than traveling, it's also interesting to know what other people are thinking, how do they live the life, how do they see the world around them. Thanks for all those bloggers' kind sharing so we could see a different world through other people's eyes. I haven't yet got the thought to publish my blog link openly as I still want to keep some privacy only to close friends; however, no doubtfully by blogging it helps me to keep track what I have walked through along the journey (yes I am too lazy to write on the diary...) and one day when I look back, it will be a real memory - a history of my own.
Half-day Cruise Trip
Thanks to an old NZ colleague who visited Hong Kong during the weekend with her family, I was very lucky to enjoy the cruise trip with them and their friends on a private yacht to Lamma Island (南ㄚ島) yesterday. I did have some chances to go out fishing on our boss' yacht back in NZ, while it was the first time in HK since my relocation. The cruise trip still have a lot of charm to me, certainly!
We left the pier in Causeway Bay around 1pm and started our journey. The weather was quite modest, a little bit more sunshine will be even perfect, for a day sailing like this. Only pity was that due to the weather (or possibly pollution?), it's quite smoky to see the city from the sea. Fortunately on the way back in the night time, we did see the spectacular scenery.
We weren't able to finish walking to the other side of the island to see the beautiful beach as the little kids couldn't really go further, while it's already very good to breath the fresh air and see less people compared to the main land.
On the way back to TST port after we finished the seafood dinner, we were siting on the upper part of the yacht, joking, laughing, enjoying the music and the great night out. No over-drinking, but just a nice weekend and a good relax.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Autumn
It feels like the autumn is really here now, though sometimes the heat during the weekend when I am not working in the freezer-like office is still quite killing.
It's a good time to come visiting Hong Kong, or in other words, a good time to visit most of the places around the world, when you can feel the breeze, enjoy the warmth of the sun without getting too much sunburn, and not worrying putting on/taking off heavy winter coat when walking in and out of the buildings.
Work is not that busy these days, most of the projects are quite on the track, and I only need to do some polish works which are not that time-demanding. As a result, I have more spare time for myself, to be able to go home earlier than usual, to read some books, and to have spare mind wondering around - thinking some travelling plan, study plan, investment/saving plan etc.
Traveling: Choosing in between Egypt or Eastern Europe, approx. travel time between late Oct to Nov for around 10 days. Main purpose is to bring mum and dad to go somewhere further than Asia/Australasia. Time to do something for them instead of always enjoying the fun of traveling on my own :)
Studying: Glad that I finally have the thought to go back to school studying some serious majors (not like language, sports, personal leisure those type of soft topics), but instead of aiming for the whole degree, I will be more likely focussing on some areas like strategy management, financial reporting, venture management which can equip me with more managerial skills to go next level. Still try to search approproate schools considering the transportation time between office and the classroom.
Investment/Saving: Friends might think that I've made a fortune from the bullish HK stock market. Unfortunetaly I didn't cos everytime when I was away from HK, it just went higher for another 1,000 points and right now it's just too risky for me to blindly follow the trend. I was thinking the other day, if I can save a million TWD a year (which is really forcing me not to spend unwisely and more important, aiming for higher income!), I might be able to reach my retire dream more earlier. Reality is, I might not be able to save that more and earn that more, so learning how to be a smart investor is an important goal for me now. Hope it's not too late...
I guess looking for a boyfriend should also be on the list (and according to my colleague, should be on the top priority of the list), but maybe I am out of the game too long and don't know how to plan with. Maybe alongside those above-mentioned plans, I should also add "going to the gym" so that I could enhance my own health and also get to know more people.
It's a good time to come visiting Hong Kong, or in other words, a good time to visit most of the places around the world, when you can feel the breeze, enjoy the warmth of the sun without getting too much sunburn, and not worrying putting on/taking off heavy winter coat when walking in and out of the buildings.
Work is not that busy these days, most of the projects are quite on the track, and I only need to do some polish works which are not that time-demanding. As a result, I have more spare time for myself, to be able to go home earlier than usual, to read some books, and to have spare mind wondering around - thinking some travelling plan, study plan, investment/saving plan etc.
Traveling: Choosing in between Egypt or Eastern Europe, approx. travel time between late Oct to Nov for around 10 days. Main purpose is to bring mum and dad to go somewhere further than Asia/Australasia. Time to do something for them instead of always enjoying the fun of traveling on my own :)
Studying: Glad that I finally have the thought to go back to school studying some serious majors (not like language, sports, personal leisure those type of soft topics), but instead of aiming for the whole degree, I will be more likely focussing on some areas like strategy management, financial reporting, venture management which can equip me with more managerial skills to go next level. Still try to search approproate schools considering the transportation time between office and the classroom.
Investment/Saving: Friends might think that I've made a fortune from the bullish HK stock market. Unfortunetaly I didn't cos everytime when I was away from HK, it just went higher for another 1,000 points and right now it's just too risky for me to blindly follow the trend. I was thinking the other day, if I can save a million TWD a year (which is really forcing me not to spend unwisely and more important, aiming for higher income!), I might be able to reach my retire dream more earlier. Reality is, I might not be able to save that more and earn that more, so learning how to be a smart investor is an important goal for me now. Hope it's not too late...
I guess looking for a boyfriend should also be on the list (and according to my colleague, should be on the top priority of the list), but maybe I am out of the game too long and don't know how to plan with. Maybe alongside those above-mentioned plans, I should also add "going to the gym" so that I could enhance my own health and also get to know more people.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Lust, Caution
Watched the movie last Sat just before the mid night. Honestly speaking, I prefer more for other movies Ang Lee had directed over the past, particularly very early ones before he became someone in Hollywood. Unfortunately I can't type Chinese easily at the moment otherwise will be easier to put down what I want to say more accurately.
The original story is relatively a short one from the novel, and if the audiences are driven to the theatre because of the bedroom calisthenics by the famous Hong Kong actor, I'd rather say to watch some other typical Hollywood movies (e.g. the basic instinct).
Shallow as me, don't have much to comment apart from treating it just as a movie. However, somehow I recalled a phase stated by a male friend few years ago - sexual relationship without love is having sex, and with love is making love. So in this movie, which applies, or it's a mixture of both?
I tend to think most of the males can be relatively easier to differentiate what is having sex and what is making love, but to the other end, are we really able to draw a clear line in between without confusing ourselves what is the original purpose? Can we stay from risking it while being addictive? It's a sword that has two sides.
The original story is relatively a short one from the novel, and if the audiences are driven to the theatre because of the bedroom calisthenics by the famous Hong Kong actor, I'd rather say to watch some other typical Hollywood movies (e.g. the basic instinct).
Shallow as me, don't have much to comment apart from treating it just as a movie. However, somehow I recalled a phase stated by a male friend few years ago - sexual relationship without love is having sex, and with love is making love. So in this movie, which applies, or it's a mixture of both?
I tend to think most of the males can be relatively easier to differentiate what is having sex and what is making love, but to the other end, are we really able to draw a clear line in between without confusing ourselves what is the original purpose? Can we stay from risking it while being addictive? It's a sword that has two sides.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Friday Night
Was mean to leave work before 6:30pm; however just when I passed the phone number of someone whom our Marketing head was looking for before I was on the way out of the office, I was asked to do them a favor - drafting some formal emails which are less serious than legal letters but have some sorts of the warning effects. Another typical Friday night....
We are still waiting for the instructions from our MD how to handle this matter, while in the meantime I got nothing to do except surfing on the Internt and writing blog. One of the collagues is on the night shift and is playing some musics from his PC -some musics from 70s/80s or from some movies I familar with. Somehow, a feeling like I was in Auckland walking along the beach in the summer time or sitting on the coach at home watching favorite DVDs.
A freedom of mind and body.
Recently I am thinking, if the Compay does decide to open the branch in UK, I should be up and fight for the opportunity. I know I have been struggling of working in Europe due to the far distance away from home, while if I can't find the companion in Asia, why don't I let go of the career development when I have no burden to do so? Another difficult choice of life.
However till the time it becomes the reality, just stay simple, stay focussed, and enjoy the most out of my present life.
We are still waiting for the instructions from our MD how to handle this matter, while in the meantime I got nothing to do except surfing on the Internt and writing blog. One of the collagues is on the night shift and is playing some musics from his PC -some musics from 70s/80s or from some movies I familar with. Somehow, a feeling like I was in Auckland walking along the beach in the summer time or sitting on the coach at home watching favorite DVDs.
A freedom of mind and body.
Recently I am thinking, if the Compay does decide to open the branch in UK, I should be up and fight for the opportunity. I know I have been struggling of working in Europe due to the far distance away from home, while if I can't find the companion in Asia, why don't I let go of the career development when I have no burden to do so? Another difficult choice of life.
However till the time it becomes the reality, just stay simple, stay focussed, and enjoy the most out of my present life.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Going Home
Work computer corrupted on the night of mid autumn festival and IT replaced a temporary one for me last Friday before I have my own new one - finally after so many years a laptop with Chinese keyboard. However till then, I could only type in English as I can't put any Zhuyig sticker on the temporary computer.
After attending friend's wedding on Sat, took the morning flight back to Taipei on Sunday and stayed until last night. Friends in HK asked me why I need to go back for such a short period of time and spend extra money and annual leaves for a trip not going to a new place. Well, I did think about this several times before my departure but all the doubtful thoughts were gone after arriving the Taoyuang airport. It's home, the family members, friends - the feeling of surrounding makes me going back despite the extra costs.
It's funny that since I started working in Hong Kong from last Nov, I've gone back to Taiwan for Christmas, Chinese New Year, Easter, Mother's Day and post mid-autumn festival. The frequency is higher but each time the stay is shorter - I did have more time spending with families but relatively shorter time with friends due to the short stay. Not meaning that friends are not important to me anymore, just most of friends in Taiwan have got their own family to look after where my free time might not be the free time for them. Moreover, chances are I might be far away from home again if any opportunities arise, and while I am still not far away from home, it's better to be a good daughter than a good employee.
The exciting side of this few day trip going home is eating the very very local food and buying not expensive but stylish accessories - 3 shoes, 5 earrings and 2 necklaces!! Get my hair cut and teeth fixed, and bring another batch of old winter clothes from Taipei so I can spend less time shopping in HK. Most important, I didn't get any stomach pain like previous trips and can fully enjoy the trip :)
After attending friend's wedding on Sat, took the morning flight back to Taipei on Sunday and stayed until last night. Friends in HK asked me why I need to go back for such a short period of time and spend extra money and annual leaves for a trip not going to a new place. Well, I did think about this several times before my departure but all the doubtful thoughts were gone after arriving the Taoyuang airport. It's home, the family members, friends - the feeling of surrounding makes me going back despite the extra costs.
It's funny that since I started working in Hong Kong from last Nov, I've gone back to Taiwan for Christmas, Chinese New Year, Easter, Mother's Day and post mid-autumn festival. The frequency is higher but each time the stay is shorter - I did have more time spending with families but relatively shorter time with friends due to the short stay. Not meaning that friends are not important to me anymore, just most of friends in Taiwan have got their own family to look after where my free time might not be the free time for them. Moreover, chances are I might be far away from home again if any opportunities arise, and while I am still not far away from home, it's better to be a good daughter than a good employee.
The exciting side of this few day trip going home is eating the very very local food and buying not expensive but stylish accessories - 3 shoes, 5 earrings and 2 necklaces!! Get my hair cut and teeth fixed, and bring another batch of old winter clothes from Taipei so I can spend less time shopping in HK. Most important, I didn't get any stomach pain like previous trips and can fully enjoy the trip :)