Mi4i

I've just changed a new smartphone a few weeks ago. With greatest and indescribable sadness I was forced to abandon my old phones due to its rapid deterioration in performance and its almost unsustainable operation and replace it with a new phone. Constrained by limited budget and yet crave for large phone storage, I eventually chose to buy Mi4i. It's newly released in Malaysia, and the price was RM749 so it was ok. After using it for a few weeks, it so far is great but the size is a bit too large to my liking. The speed and, ok well, everything else is great but there are two very disappointing features of the phone: it has no expandable storage meaning you are limited by the 16GB storage it offers, which could be quite good as I consider it as a tool to limit myself from using unnecessary apps that are mostly unhelpful and redundant, and the battery is bad. The battery is really bad, couldn't last more than one day even with minimum usage. I don't play games, I don't surf internet and I use very little social media websites, and it could last only a maximum of one day. The battery is a big let down. I therefore will say I am not recommending Mi4i to anyone who is not financially constrained. However, if money is tight, then yes it would be a decent phone - except the battery. But with low budget, asking for very quality features is simply a luxury.

Is Wealth Worth It?

Working as an intern (though an unofficial one) in a construction site basically exposes me to a group of Bangladeshi who are required to be on site constructing the building as instructed by civil engineers.

Civil engineers, at this stage, chiefly supervise, and ensure materials do come as scheduled, and pressed the suppliers should they fail to come.

Walking at site allow me to see a lot of things. While I can be there to watch how they actually construct a building, I too get to see how these group of people get along with each other.

I am a strong observant. In group interactions I am at most time an observant and listener than a participant. I observe how people interact, I like to read their body languages, eye contacts and I oddly take the effort to interpret from their sentences how they actually feel about their lives.

I'm a weirdo, as I mentioned earlier, I admit it.

This time being surrounded by Bangladeshi, I can't help but watch how their lives are. Sure, their lives are harsh, quite brutal actually, as they are constantly exposed to the merciless sun that could at times so scorching it actually burns your skin.

They have to carry loads so heavy their bones would most likely fail and deteriorate over time. They are exposed to such dirty environment I highly doubt their health is still in the pink. They operate machines that are so dangerous their lives are literally at stakes.

Their lives are harsh. They risk losing their lives.

But then, they get along with each other. In the process of constructing a building, they talk, they make joke with each other, they are actually enjoying each other's companionship. Their friendship bond, or the bonds between colleagues, appear robust.

Their conversations sound so cheerful I sometimes wonder whether I am indeed at a construction site.

They live without technologies and electronics. All they are capable of buying is a handphone that is now obsolete. They don't need great clothes - and they don't ask for one.

And I will tell you their salaries are almost twice higher than most of us. Believe me when I say these Bangladeshi earn a lot - up to possibly 4k a month. Yes, they are quite rich, though it's true they go through hurdles to earn them.

Simplicity sometimes is the key to happiness. I have seen people who are rich, but then they are not happy. With great things and great possessions come greater desire and thus greater demands. People become greedy and they want more.

If you have little, you learn to be satisfied and get by with what you have. If you have money to spend, you will crave for more, and you will most likely not be satisfied and you know you have the capabilities to get better.

I like simplicity. I like it. Wealth comes at the expense of happiness. With increasing wealth there goes happiness. It's bad. Unless you know how to control your money flow but life tells me majority of people go crazy with money. They have no self control to restrain themselves from abusing what they have.

Being simple is how I wanna live my life. Believe me when I say salary is not the utmost importance I will be seeking when I search for job. Sure - a decent one is needed to survive, but if the salary is sufficient to cover my cost of living, I won't become greedy to search for a higher one.

Believe me when I say so, I mean it. I want a simple life - away from materialism, close to sentimentalism.

Internship

Hi guys. Life is a bit lacklustre lately. What I am doing now is actually internship. I apply for early internship, one which the University is likely to refuse recognition as I did it on my own volition and not upon University's request, but nonetheless I did it on the sole purpose to gain early insights of how my future life would be. So far it's ok although the heat is unbearable at the beginning. Right now it's the construction phase and to say the truth there is nothing much to do once it has entered this phase as important calculations, safety measures and everything to be taken into consideration are all done before the construction begins. Right now I just go to the site, watch how they construct the building, and done. The great thing, or perhaps the sad one, is I'm basically left on my own. I do not need to report to anyone, follow anyone, help anyone or in any case work with anyone as I am literally told to 'explore the place myself'. I do not even need to clock in and I have no paperwork to do. I doubt they would even know if I don't go as I don't really see them too. Anyway, so far so good, will keep updating my own blog lest it dies off due to my laziness.

Semester Break

I am having my semester break right now.

So far my semester break has been eventful but something huge is coming, and right now I do not wish to divulge any of it.

It is something I am afraid of, but is something I cannot avoid (I could delay it, actually I intentionally bring it forward) and is something I do look forward to.

Will see how things turn up.

Minions Movie

I am a big fan of this yellow creatures and therefore when it was released I immediately went for the first slot available, and I even decided to watch it before I return to Penang since my flight departs at night. Minions could be considered a prequel to Despicable Me, and it very briefly shows how the minions first appeared, rather smoothly found their masters to serve (which basically is the sole purpose of their mere existence) and tragically lost all of them. Then after a long time they decide to travel to find a new master after momentarily gave up due to repeated failure to serve properly and found Scarlett Overkill. And so it goes on. The movie itself is rather entertaining though a bit dull if compared to Despicable Me but still it manages to give good laugh to the audience. Insertion of elements from the legendary King Arthur seems out of place and a bit absurd but at least the storyline flows well. The best part of the movie has got to be the part where one of the minions actually spoke "Terima kasih". To hear Malay being spoken in a Hollywood movie this big is simply jaw-dropping and everyone in the theatre was literally caught off guard. Overall, great movie!

Swadaya 2015

It's been a while since Sultanah Asma and Swadaya have a new show and that's why I was very looking forward to this year's marching band competition. Alas I couldn't watch the performance live so I have to dig for videos online as the only mean to watch their mesmerising performance.

This year Sultanah Asma did not emerge as Champion but Swadaya did, which I was rather surprised at the beginning but after watching the performance, I have to say Swadaya totally deserve it. While in my noobie opinion both do not differ much in quality, Swadaya's music captured me better than Sultanah Asma's.

After all, both are coached by the same coach, their quality would not differ much.

Well, for Sultanah Asma, sadly it has lost the attractive and mind-blowing quality since its Mulan. Its Mulan totally blew me off and I loved it and I till today am still watching it. It was a masterpiece so wonderfully orchestrated that led them to be the world champion in WCMSB 2011 and winning Sudler Shield Award. That was by far my most favourite's show.

On a side note I wish to say whoever organised Kuala Lumpur International Youth Marching Band Competition 2015 suck in doing so. No updates, no videos provided, and with only 5 bands competing, you call it international? Quite a shame.

Congratulations Swadaya and Sasband!

The End of Year 1 Semester 1

I have just finished my final exam and am currently a tad exhausted.

I will attempt to update my blog as soon as possible but I am taking a nap after days of insufficient sleep.

Good luck to those who are still having finals!