Blogging vs. tweeting
Posted by: bingbing on: May 20, 2009
A pang of guilt tells me I’ve been neglecting this blog. There are so many things happening in my life at the moment that it’s difficult to know where to start. I’ll probably get to writing it another day. 
Managing a blog and trying to keep the content up-to-date is quite a job itself especially when writing doesn’t come naturally for me. I admire those bloggers whose words flow from the very touch of their finger tips. That’s why these days I’ve got hooked tweeting instead. And it makes blogging seems a thousand miles away. Though tweeting is limited to 140 characters, it works perfectly fine for me who couldn’t well put thoughts into expressions in the first place. That’s why blogging has lost its appeal to me these days. Saying this, I still come back time and time again to this blog because I still appreciate the power of words and writings.
Although tweeting is a form of very short blogs, at times it does feel more like “shout outs”. When blogging, I think the mind goes through a different progression when it’s trying to process the thoughts and conveying them into words. The experience can be quite a powerful one for an individual when those thoughts can be expressed into something tangible. Tweeting for me serves more like a stream of consciousness flowing through and you’re gathering everyone’s thoughts and opinions by the minute which itself can be overwhelming at times. But I guess the beauty of tweeting is that it changes the dynamic of information because you choose who and what to read. It’s a powerful social media. I remember Eurovision happening a couple days ago. As I don’t own a TV or a TV card, I was able to follow the minute-by-minute update from Wossy and my mate Dame on Twitter – all just by sitting behind the screen.
I’m probably riding on the waves of the latest fad but it’s proving to be lots of fun. Happy tweeting tweet-dledums and tweet-dledees!
Viet Nam
Posted by: bingbing on: April 8, 2009
- In: Travel
- 3 Comments
JC finally made it back to Vietnam after three decades. The growing up pain of assimilating to the West and rejecting anything of the East was put to rest as he finally embraced his roots and heritage. Needless to say, he’s the first of his generation to return to Vietnam because most of his siblings and cousins couldn’t see what Vietnam has to offer.
Here are some snapshots from our trip in December last year.
First day we set foot in busy Hanoi, what do we see? Motorbikes. It takes some practice and most of all courage to cross these roads. Useful tip: Always walk in a constant pace when crossing – the motorcyclists are experts in maneuvering themselves around you. Many a times, I thought I was close to seeing my own death but here I am, still in one piece writing about it. It becomes relatively easy when you get the hang of it on day 2. So, don’t fret!
Hoan Kiem Lake: The city jolts up to an early start. It’s worth waking up early for a walk around the lake for a glimpse of the local life. Groups of people from all ages practising Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Kung Fu, weight-lifting, badminton… can be seen scattered around the lake.
Halong Bay: We spent 3 days and 2 nights on a junk called The Jewel of Bay. If you’re looking for some quiet time to yourselves, I would recommend going with a smaller junk, though it can be a bit pricier, it’s still worth it as bigger boats can be packed with enthusiastic or sometimes noisy tourists. We had a really relaxing and easy time – we swam, kayaked, lounged around the deck reading and visited numerous caves and floating villages… On one of the nights, we had the whole to boat to ourselves because there were a few cancellations. So, it felt like we chartered the junk at a fraction of the price.
There are thousands of limestone rock formations dotted around Halong Bay. The weather forecast and the tide varied from day-to-day in Halong Bay and can be unpredictable at times. We were lucky to catch the sunny spells during our visit in December. Some people we met were not as fortunate and they end up having to stay in their cabins as it was too wet and cold to truly enjoy the boat experience.
The population here survives on fishing and selling trinkets, food and drinks to the tourists. Kids as young as four are seen rowing the small boats with their feet, selling seashells from one junk to another.
Paddy fields seen through most part of Vietnam. We went in the dry season so no photos of beautiful lush green paddy fields.
We visited JC’s birth place – Langson. It’s located in the North of Vietnam, near the border of China and Vietnam. We spent one night with his extended family and went round the city on motorbikes. We visited the street where JC grew up and where they ran the family business on the main street. So, it was not surprising when we visited the main street, we met people who knew of his family.
Some of the ethnic ladies selling some potent looking drinks. The people up north are very fond of their drinks – they toast to breakfast, lunch and dinner and the ladies do it as best as the men.
Where have I been?
Posted by: bingbing on: February 18, 2009
It’s been quite some time since I last posted. I’ve been around but not quite here. That’s all. So, what have I been up to?
- Quit my job last Dec in the midst of the financial meltdown and have embarked on the route of a self-proclaimed freelancer.
- Traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia – both a heart felt trip.
- Spent some proper quality time with my families and not the usual touch-and-go trips I tend to do. All three siblings flew in from different corners of the world for our annual reunion with our folks.
- Met up with old mates from school and college. The last time I saw some of them was probably a decade ago and lots have changed since then – some balding; some embraced parenthood; some still look just as good if not better; some still the way they are… and yet, when we got together, it was as if the lost years in between just mended itself. We joked, laughed, gossiped whilst reminiscing our yesteryear.
- Celebrated Christmas, both New Year and Chinese New Year! I know… it’s an extended holiday for me!
- Ate to my hearts content. I demanded all food possible from Mama’s kitchen.
- Went white water-rafting with my cousins. I think it’s the stepping-into-30-syndrome that brought about a more adventurous Bing.
And now after two full months of fun and laughter, I’m back to the cold grey London. It takes a bit of getting used to after all those sun, beautiful warm smiles and swaying palm trees. Who says everything got to last? I enjoyed it while it lasted and now it’s a whole new chapter for me.
Smile in the face of crisis
Posted by: bingbing on: October 15, 2008
There’s enough bleak in the economy and financial sector as it is and I don’t plan on contributing to the gloom and doom of the financial crisis. You can read and indulge yourself on the headline grabbers on newspaper and Internet to your hearts content! So, since I cannot help injecting billions of dollars I thought let me inject some smiles instead…
Humour 1:
Following the problems in the financial sector in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan.
In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.
Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.
While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.
Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.
Humour 2:
Quote of the day (from a trader): “This is worse than a divorce. I’ve lost half my net worth and I still have a wife.”
(LB, thanks for sending this!)
Our garden
Posted by: bingbing on: October 14, 2008
- In: House
- Leave a Comment
I promised a few friends to post some photos of the latest development of our garden. We spent most of the summer doing it up in a few stages and it’s still an ongoing project. We can’t take credit for the work because the builders did most of it. We simply cleared the garden out.
The garden was in a such a mess before that it must as well be a jungle. At least, we can sit in the garden now and not be covered in weeds. We still haven’t got round planting anything at the back of the garden yet as I’ve had a thought to make it into a vegetable patch. The word to emphasise here is ‘thought’ and that doesn’t necessary mean action. These days JC’s been on my back about this because the fertile soil is becoming home to the weeds once again!
I have to admit that I’m not great with the garden. It’s JC who’s been looking after it. If the garden was to be put under my care, I think it would have easily return to its previous state and all the hardwork would have gone down the drain. It never once crossed my mind that he would get into gardening. Who would thought an IT geek like him would enjoy gardening… Life’s full of surprises.
Phase 1: Cleared out weeds in the garden (it was more than a feet high). We got rid of all the blackberries and a tree bang in the middle of the garden but kept the apple tree, plum tree and two other shrubs
Phase 2: The builder removed the old turf, cleared 4″ of soil (added compost and topsoil) and lay new turf
Phase 3: Voila! This is how the garden look now with newly laid sandstone tiles in patio and new lawn.
Blame game
Posted by: bingbing on: October 12, 2008
Blame, blame, blame…
When things are going wrong, we find someone or something to blame – it’s always the other person, the weather, the government and the rest of the world to blame! The blame culture is so strongly embedded in our society that it becomes a way of life.
I’m just as guilty as the rest because I play the blame game whenever and wherever it suits me. It’s much easier to point a finger at someone or something than to face my own ‘demons’ because by blaming someone for my actions, it gives me temporary comfort that the pain was caused by another person and they should pay for what they’ve done. However, blaming is such that it leads us free falling into the pit of misery and robs us of happiness. How? Starting from blaming, it open doors to complaining and nagging, and by the time we know it, we become one grumpy old man and old lady! Oh my! I would have to change my blog to Everyday of Grumpy Bing! What a sight, a granny blogging – not just any old granny but a really cool one…
Just some random thoughts – this is me still wide awake at 3am after taking the wrong medication for my flu. Instead of taking the normal flu tablet which was supposed to knock me out, I took Lemsip Cold & Flu Max which contained caffeine… who on earth would wanna put that stuff in flu tablets?!
OK enough for now. Good nite and good morning.
A breath of fresh air
Posted by: bingbing on: October 6, 2008
- In: Random
- 2 Comments
Everyday of Bing needed a breath of fresh air. The layout of the previous one looked dull and monotonous. It felt like I was writing about grave experiences. I had no idea what came to me in the first place to select such dead colour for the blog. Probably I was going through a taking-myself-too-seriously phase where my mood was drawn to such dead uninspiring colours.
So I decided it’s about time to change by adding a bit of snazz and colour to the walls and fixtures of the blog. It’s amazing what colours can do and immediately the blog sprung to life again… (Hmmm… not sure about the ‘again’ bit because it wasn’t there in the first place to begin with)
Brompton “wacky racers” Championship 2008
Posted by: bingbing on: October 1, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and had lots of fun Brompton-watching on Sunday – seeing Brompton racers out and about showing off their gears and to say the least their quirky dress sense was on display.
JC participated in the race and guess what?! He came last in style (almost…if you don’t count the other 9 racers who didn’t complete the race)… somebody’s got to! 
Here are some photos from the day’s event at Blenheim Palace…
JC’s “winning” number
Briefing before the race
Ready, Get-set…
…Go!
And all hell broke loose…
The race has begun
Racers unfolding their bikes
…and they are off!
The monkey suit.
This lady on the left should have won Best Dressed!
The gentleman on the right has words ‘I am whoever I say I am’ printed on his suit.
who needs London Fashion Week when you’ve got the Brompton Fashion Sense!
The Brompton “Capcom superhero” of the day!
…. and finally how can a show be complete without the kilt!
Brompton fashion accessories 1: a dog…
Brompton fashion accessories 2: mini trailer
Brompton fashion accessories 3: Basket for the country
Brompton fashion accessories 4: Flowers
I quit
Posted by: bingbing on: September 3, 2008
Of course I didn’t march into my boss’ office and pronounce my resignation just like that. It was along those lines though with a bit of regret and difficulty mixed into it when I broke the news to him. I’m officially leaving and I’ll be savouring my last few weeks at the College. Many people including my boss reacted as if it was some decision I plucked out from the air. I’ve thought long and hard for the past months and it hasn’t been an easy decision because I’m not leaving because I hate my boss or my job or there’s a better offer from another institute, I’m leaving to try to figure out my life. I know it sounds cliche like it’s taken from some terrible soap or bad drama series.
Anyway, I’m not going to rationalise my decision here because weighing the pros and cons, my current job has more pros going for me. Seeing I’ve got a relatively comfortable job – my boss leaves me to my own devices and let me get on with work without being in my face (he’s been good); it’s a 9 to 5 job so there’s no late nights or long working hours; pay’s not great but I can live with it (if pay was ever a concern in the first place, I would not stuck by education); I can’t complaint about the annual holidays either (6 weeks a year exc. Xmas breaks). So judging by this, it’s rather haphazard, irresponsible and naive on my part. However, I knew deep down something wasn’t quite right. I’m unable to put my finger to it but at this point, I know I just need to do this (Yeah yeah I know, it’s altogether too cliche!).
It’s a huge relief for me because this cloud has been brewing in my mind for months and all I could do was wait for the right time to make my move. It sounds like my resignation was premeditated. In a way it was. Many a times, there was the inclination to backtrack my decision but I’ve set things in motion beforehand so that when my mind gets muddled up with the fear factor, I just have to continue to look forward and not back.
I’ve been surprised by friends and families’ reaction to this because so many of them have been supportive and reassuring. They’ve given me strength to take this leap and their good wishes are helping me along the way. It’s a whole new phase for me now.
What’s next for me? You tell me… I’m just gonna keep my option open and my mind free…
Three Zero
Posted by: bingbing on: August 18, 2008
I officially turned three zero last month and do I feel any different? Hmmm… no… It could easily be the number four zero or five zero but my mind and heart is still of a two zero.
Many people I know fret about growing old and still very much hold on to traces of youth they could find. It doesn’t mean I’m oblivious to it but I accept the fact that I no longer look like a nineteen-year-old with supple wrinkle-free skin. Nevertheless, at times, I still feel, think and behave like a ninteen-year-old which my two (much) younger brothers kindly remind me when I go a bit ‘mad’ or out of line.
That’s why it gets to me when I hear people talking like it’s the end of the world to find a wrinkle on their face or a cellulite on their bums or they are getting old because they’re no longer 29 – it just makes you wanna give them a good slap on the head. There are more to life than you and you and you. This is all down to the society we live in which is obsessed with youth – from beauty products of anti-ageing creams to plastic surgeons of liposuctions and facelifts, helping to remove any tell-tale signs of the aging process. It makes growing old the new age disease of this era. The irony of this is when we were kids, we just can’t wait to be all grown-up and act grown-up but when we get there, we just want to reverse the process.
I just see aging as natural as birth and death. For many decades we try so hard to intervene with births and deaths but mother nature has her own course. It’s the same with aging. There’re some things we simply cannot change. No matter how hard we fight it, aging is just another human process we all have to go through whether we like it or not. So if there’s nothing we can do about it, it’s better to accept the facts and move on, instead of clinging on to broken pieces of youth. This doesn’t mean I stop looking after myself, my well-being and my health because it’s essential to maintain a healthy balanced lifestyle but just simply enjoy growing older, enjoy the new phase of life, enjoy what you’ve achieved, enjoy what is to come in the future, enjoy new excitement, enjoy new challenges, enjoy more of life!
OK – enough of hard talk for one day.
So pressie time…what did I receive? (FYI – I’m not someone who’s into gifts but I thought of sharing bits of it with you).
Pressie 1: JC got me a Flip Video (see below in the same colour). I think he regretted it the minute he saw me filming him having dinner at the dining table. I did it to annoy him and told him I found good use for this video recorder by making video clips of him entitled ‘The World of JC’ and post it on youTube. If you want to know more about it, check out www.theflip.com.
image taken from news.cnet.com
Pressie 2: JC’s sisters got me some luxurious chocolates from Hotel Chocolat. If you’re planning to buy something nice for somebody who’s a chocolate lover, check out their website: www.hotelchocolat.co.uk.
Pressie 3: JC’s mum got me a simple nice top with small flowers in black and white.
Pressie 4: My parents got me two watches with one of the watch below.
Watch 1: Mirror watch by CK (image taken from watchshopuk.com)
Pressie 5: The numerous birthday wishes from friends (and you know who you are) – thank you.
There you are – that stamped my 30th year on planet Earth.
