Today is the day before Chinese New Year in the Gregorian Year 2012. I should be feeling happy, right? Yet I'm not. Unlike the festive seasons of a few years ago, somehow this year I don't feel like celebrating anything. Not even the most recent Christmas and New Year.
I don't know if this is a temporary setback or a state of regression. I do remember that some years ago there was a time when celebrations and festivals meant nothing to me. Because I was very down and hurting inside due to certain issues. Then came a point when my life changed for the better and I started celebrating again, looking forward to each festival.
Even as "recent" as two years ago I was happy to celebrate. I felt optimism and eagerness. But was it due to ignorance? In the two years after that, I went through some disasters. That really caused deep hurt not of the physical type but rather the inner type. I don't think I've fully recovered while I'm writing this blog post.
The wise say, when you have to move on, move on. Yet there's something about me that holds me back. It's sentimentality and the memories still fresh in mind.
Some who talk to me, manage to help somewhat, a few who do, end up making things worse. That's why I rather not talk to some people. As the saying goes, those who really know you, know you; those who don't, don't know any better.
今日係除夕。應該開心嗎，呵？不過唔係喎。唔係好似幾年前嘅節日，今年我乜都唔想慶祝。正話過咗嘅聖誕節同埋公曆新年都冇慶祝到。
我唔知呢個情況係暫時或者真係退步。我記得幾年前有一段時間乜嘢乜嘢節日慶祝對我冇意思。嗰陣時我好傷心好激心為咗幾件事。然後我嘅生活變好咗，有啲事情有進步，所以開始慶祝每個節日。
兩年前我仲係好開心慶祝。覺得有樂觀有熱心。但係。。唔通我真係無知？最近嘅兩年，我面對唔少災難。整到我好痛，唔係肉體上嘅痛，係內心嘅痛。而家寫緊呢個部落格發佈嘅時間，我好似未好嗮。
有智慧嘅人講：唔好再鑽牛角尖。但係有啲嘢我仲係過唔到。係感傷同埋好清楚嘅記憶。
有啲人同我傾偈，可以幫到，幾個噉樣做，點知呢就越整越衰。所以呢，一啲人我唔想同佢哋講嘢。嗰啲真係識得我就會了解我，嗰啲唔識嘅呢，唔會識。
*NOTE: In case of any discrepancy between the English and
the Cantonese version of this blog post, the English version shall
prevail. I'm not good at expressing myself in Cantonese or any form of
Chinese, written or spoken. /
如果英文版及中文（廣州白話）版有任何差異，一切以英文版為準。我唔係好識用廣州白話或者任何中文嘅語言，無論係話或者文。
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Last Day of 2011 / 2011最後一日
Today's the last day of 2011 and in less than six hours the new year 2012 shall begin. There goes another solar cycle to be replaced by another. Yet I'm not in a very celebratory mood, for the past two years 2010 and 2011 have not given me great reason to celebrate. Still can't achieve that happy optimistic feeling at Port Dickson on the last day of 2009.
Certain circles and activities don't appeal to me as much as they did before. Perhaps the time is overdue to move on to other more productive, rewarding, fulfilling tasks. Indeed it's a Sisyphean task to get that thing called achievement.
Those who care might have noticed I hardly talk these days. True, but a lot of things are better left unsaid, for saying it brings no benefit to anyone, and might even complicate matters.
Anyway, wishing whoever comes across this posting a Happy New Year 2012 and Happy Holidays wherever you are! See you next year.
今日係2011年最後一日，仲有少過六個鐘頭就係公曆嘅新年2012。 咁就過咗一個太陽活動週期。只不過我唔係好想出去慶祝呢個大日子，點解呢？前兩年2010＆2011冇俾到我一個好理由點解要慶祝。到而家仲未能夠得到2009最後一日嘅興奮，真係冇嗰個樂觀嘅感覺。
有些組人同埋活動不再吸引我嘅興趣。也許時間到咗，係要轉去做其它比較多滿意以及有獎勵回報嘅嘢。真係好緊要難得到一啲些少嘅成就。
邊個有理我嘅，可能注意到我近來好少講話。真嘅，有好多嘢最好唔可以講出嚟，因為講咗都冇用，幫唔到邊個，然後整埋嗰件事更加複雜。
無論如何，我要祝福大家公曆2012新年快樂！仲有，要玩得開心啲呀！明年再見。
Certain circles and activities don't appeal to me as much as they did before. Perhaps the time is overdue to move on to other more productive, rewarding, fulfilling tasks. Indeed it's a Sisyphean task to get that thing called achievement.
Those who care might have noticed I hardly talk these days. True, but a lot of things are better left unsaid, for saying it brings no benefit to anyone, and might even complicate matters.
Anyway, wishing whoever comes across this posting a Happy New Year 2012 and Happy Holidays wherever you are! See you next year.
今日係2011年最後一日，仲有少過六個鐘頭就係公曆嘅新年2012。 咁就過咗一個太陽活動週期。只不過我唔係好想出去慶祝呢個大日子，點解呢？前兩年2010＆2011冇俾到我一個好理由點解要慶祝。到而家仲未能夠得到2009最後一日嘅興奮，真係冇嗰個樂觀嘅感覺。
有些組人同埋活動不再吸引我嘅興趣。也許時間到咗，係要轉去做其它比較多滿意以及有獎勵回報嘅嘢。真係好緊要難得到一啲些少嘅成就。
邊個有理我嘅，可能注意到我近來好少講話。真嘅，有好多嘢最好唔可以講出嚟，因為講咗都冇用，幫唔到邊個，然後整埋嗰件事更加複雜。
無論如何，我要祝福大家公曆2012新年快樂！仲有，要玩得開心啲呀！明年再見。
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Quit 退出
Found the following while browsing through some old notes. When, where, and who shall not be stated.
我摷緊啲舊紙嗰陣時就搵都呢啲嘢。幾時，邊度，同埋邊個， 我唔會講。
-----
On this day, I did what I should have done long ago. I quit as per stated procedure in an orderly manner. In my heart I already knew there's no way I can survive here. No point forcing myself to be somewhere where I'm already disliked, cursed at and thought of in a negative light. I sense the daggers in the air pointing at me like invisible weapons ready to drop at any time.
I should feel some relief. Yet I don't feel it.
今日我做咗我好耐以前應該做嘅嘢。我跟規矩好好地地離開呢個地方。喺我心目中我已經知道冇辦法可以喺呢度再行落去。係好唔值得監自己繼續喺個地方嚟俾人睇衰，俾人屌，仲係俾人講衰添。我感受到空中有好多好多尖刀等著時間嚟插穿我全身。
而家應該放心。但係唔會覺得噉樣喎。
-----
我摷緊啲舊紙嗰陣時就搵都呢啲嘢。幾時，邊度，同埋邊個， 我唔會講。
-----
On this day, I did what I should have done long ago. I quit as per stated procedure in an orderly manner. In my heart I already knew there's no way I can survive here. No point forcing myself to be somewhere where I'm already disliked, cursed at and thought of in a negative light. I sense the daggers in the air pointing at me like invisible weapons ready to drop at any time.
I should feel some relief. Yet I don't feel it.
今日我做咗我好耐以前應該做嘅嘢。我跟規矩好好地地離開呢個地方。喺我心目中我已經知道冇辦法可以喺呢度再行落去。係好唔值得監自己繼續喺個地方嚟俾人睇衰，俾人屌，仲係俾人講衰添。我感受到空中有好多好多尖刀等著時間嚟插穿我全身。
而家應該放心。但係唔會覺得噉樣喎。
-----
Exams 考試
Now it seems like every day is exam day. Everything's subject to pop quiz. The only way to face it is to prepare well.
而家我覺得日日都係好似考試噉樣。每一個嘢會重突擊測驗。唯一個方法面對呢件事就係預備好好。
而家我覺得日日都係好似考試噉樣。每一個嘢會重突擊測驗。唯一個方法面對呢件事就係預備好好。
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Going Overseas (Over The Sea) 出國 (過海)
Back in February I predicted that I'd go "overseas" (as in over the sea) three (3) times this year. It's now November and I went "overseas" five (5) times. Three times within the same country, twice to foreign countries. For the foreign countries, one's considered ancestral country and the other a neighbouring country.
Actually going to Sabah/Sarawak can be considered "overseas" because to get there one must cross the sea. Back in college I used to joke with friends about why can't we take the bus to Sarawak. The bus can only go as far as Kuantan, it can't cross the South China Sea. Unless it turns into a waterbus?
二月嗰陣時我預咗我今年會過海三次。而家十一月，已經過海五次。三次國內，兩次國際。關於去外國，一個係祖國，一個係鄰國。
其實去沙巴/砂勞越可以算係 "overseas" 因為要過海先到。我喺學院讀書時候有同朋友講笑點解唔可以搭巴士去砂勞越。巴士最遠去到關丹，唔能夠過南海。唔通變成水巴士？
Actually going to Sabah/Sarawak can be considered "overseas" because to get there one must cross the sea. Back in college I used to joke with friends about why can't we take the bus to Sarawak. The bus can only go as far as Kuantan, it can't cross the South China Sea. Unless it turns into a waterbus?
二月嗰陣時我預咗我今年會過海三次。而家十一月，已經過海五次。三次國內，兩次國際。關於去外國，一個係祖國，一個係鄰國。
其實去沙巴/砂勞越可以算係 "overseas" 因為要過海先到。我喺學院讀書時候有同朋友講笑點解唔可以搭巴士去砂勞越。巴士最遠去到關丹，唔能夠過南海。唔通變成水巴士？
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Unifi Speed on 20111026
Ran a simple upload/download test at testmy.net for my Unifi connection.
Definitely faster than Streamyx, you can see the difference when
opening YouTube videos.
Somehow the download speed of the wired connection runs approximately three (3) times faster at 1.6 Mbps than the wireless connection at 0.5 Mbps.
downstairs.unifi.02
:::.. Combined Test Results ..:::
Download Connection:: 1678 Kbps or 1.6 Mbps
Download Test Size:: 1.8 MB or 1843 kB or 1887437 bytes
Download Speed:: 210 kB/s
Upload Connection:: 944 Kbps or 0.9 Mbps
Upload Test Size:: 386 kB or 386 kB or 395280 bytes
Upload Speed:: 118 kB/s
Tested At:: http://TestMy.net version:12
Test Time:: 2011-10-26 22:06:46 Local Time
Validation:: http://testmy.net/db/ND2UiJE.tkZsuFp
User Agent:: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:7.0.1) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/7.0.1 [!]
=====
upstairs.unifi.01
:::.. Combined Test Results ..:::
Download Connection:: 515 Kbps or 0.5 Mbps
Download Test Size:: 0.6 MB or 614 kB or 629146 bytes
Download Speed:: 64 kB/s
Upload Connection:: 532 Kbps or 0.5 Mbps
Upload Test Size:: 193 kB or 193 kB or 197640 bytes
Upload Speed:: 67 kB/s
Tested At:: http://TestMy.net version:12
Test Time:: 2011-10-26 22:02:44 Local Time
Validation:: http://testmy.net/db/ps38bSj.EFsHP5r
User Agent:: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:7.0.1) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/7.0.1 [!]
=====
Somehow the download speed of the wired connection runs approximately three (3) times faster at 1.6 Mbps than the wireless connection at 0.5 Mbps.
downstairs.unifi.02
:::.. Combined Test Results ..:::
Download Connection:: 1678 Kbps or 1.6 Mbps
Download Test Size:: 1.8 MB or 1843 kB or 1887437 bytes
Download Speed:: 210 kB/s
Upload Connection:: 944 Kbps or 0.9 Mbps
Upload Test Size:: 386 kB or 386 kB or 395280 bytes
Upload Speed:: 118 kB/s
Tested At:: http://TestMy.net version:12
Test Time:: 2011-10-26 22:06:46 Local Time
Validation:: http://testmy.net/db/ND2UiJE.tkZsuFp
User Agent:: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:7.0.1) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/7.0.1 [!]
=====
upstairs.unifi.01
:::.. Combined Test Results ..:::
Download Connection:: 515 Kbps or 0.5 Mbps
Download Test Size:: 0.6 MB or 614 kB or 629146 bytes
Download Speed:: 64 kB/s
Upload Connection:: 532 Kbps or 0.5 Mbps
Upload Test Size:: 193 kB or 193 kB or 197640 bytes
Upload Speed:: 67 kB/s
Tested At:: http://TestMy.net version:12
Test Time:: 2011-10-26 22:02:44 Local Time
Validation:: http://testmy.net/db/ps38bSj.EFsHP5r
User Agent:: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:7.0.1) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/7.0.1 [!]
=====
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Random Thoughts on Visiting Singapore
If there's something I like about visiting Singapore, it's the mall experience. When daytime temperatures shoot up into the 30s (Celsius) and the sun's rays beat down harshly, just do what the locals do - escape indoors or underground.
Personally I'm a fan of bookstores and can spend hours browsing through their collections. Ever since young reading has been a pleasurable activity. It's just me.
Get an EZ-Link stored value card for use on their MRT and buses. You'll get a discount for each trip, very worth it when you add up all your journeys. Beats me why some people prefer to pay for per trip tickets every time when it costs more.
It's very hard to get lost in Singapore. All buses eventually end up at one of the numerous interchanges located near MRT stations and from there you can continue your journey to other parts of the island. You can even take the MRT to the airport.
The only downside for me is of course the currency exchange rate. If you earn a living in Malaysia, no matter what Singapore is expensive. If you earn a living from somewhere where the rates are better, Singapore is about the same as any developed nation with strong buying power.
Personally I'm a fan of bookstores and can spend hours browsing through their collections. Ever since young reading has been a pleasurable activity. It's just me.
Get an EZ-Link stored value card for use on their MRT and buses. You'll get a discount for each trip, very worth it when you add up all your journeys. Beats me why some people prefer to pay for per trip tickets every time when it costs more.
It's very hard to get lost in Singapore. All buses eventually end up at one of the numerous interchanges located near MRT stations and from there you can continue your journey to other parts of the island. You can even take the MRT to the airport.
The only downside for me is of course the currency exchange rate. If you earn a living in Malaysia, no matter what Singapore is expensive. If you earn a living from somewhere where the rates are better, Singapore is about the same as any developed nation with strong buying power.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Chinese To English Translation: Literally Screwed Up
[I first wrote this on Saturday, 4 April 2009, after discovering this literally screwed up Chinese to English translation on the Internet.]
Chinese-English and English-Chinese translations are often required in the region of the world where I stay. If you're fluent in both English and Mandarin you can earn quite a fair bit by being a translator or interpreter for this particular language pair. I heard that in Malaysia, to be a court interpreter for Chinese, you have to speak fluent Mandarin plus two dialects and also be proficient in written Chinese.
Anyway, here's something I got from the Internet, which illustrates the pitfalls of translating directly word by word without knowing the context and cultural background. The Mandarin Chinese original text is perfectly okay. But the accompanying English translation is, how to say, literally screwed up. There's also another translation in proper English [enclosed within square brackets] for reference.
Dear Wang litte sister:
親愛的王小姐
[Dear Ms. Wang:]
From see you one eye, I shit love you.
自從看到你的第一眼, 我便愛上你。
[It was love at first sight.]
Your eyes close, I die; your eyes open, I come back to live.
Your eyes close and open again and again, I die again and again.
妳的眼睛閉上，我就死了，你的眼睛打開，我又活過來，妳的眼睛貶啊貶, 我就死去活來 ?
[My life begins and ends with every blink of your eyes.]
Maybe you do not remember me, no matter.
When you carefully look at me, you will one see clock.
也許你不記得我 ,沒有關係 ,當你仔細看著我，你就會一見鍾情
[You probably don't know me, but it's okay.
Once you have a chance to get to know me you will fall in love with me.]
I think l should introduce myself to you.
我想應該介紹一下自己。
[I should introduce myself.]
I call Li big great. Toyear 25
我叫李大偉 ,今年 25
[My name is Li Da Wei (David Lee) and I'm 25 years old.] (Note: Li Da Wei could be David Lee as Da Wei is a close approximation of David)
(今天是 today,那麼今年就是 toyear.至於偉就翻成 great吧！ )
["Jin Tian" is "today", so "Jin Nian" should be "toyear". "Wei" should be translated as "great"!]
My home have four mouth people-papa, mama, I and DD.
我家有四口人 ..爸爸、媽媽、我和弟弟。
[I come from a lovely family of four.] (Note: He could have added "Dad, Mom, me and a younger brother" after "... family of four".)
I am a good man, in a big company work.
我是一個好男人，在一家大公司上班。
[I am a good man and am currently employed in a large corporation.]
I do early fuck every day, so that I can have strong body to protect you.
我每天都做早操，這樣我會有強壯的身體來保護你。
[I can protect you with my strong body as I exercise vigorously every morning.]
Please come to eat and sleep with me, or I will cut my hair to be a monk, and find a place where many monks live in to over my life;
請嫁給我吧 ,否則我將削髮為僧 ,找個廟來了此一生。
[Please marry me or I will be forced to become a monk and live a life of solitude.]
(實在想不起「嫁」字怎麼翻譯，好在頭腦靈光 , 嫁過來不就是和我吃住在一起。至於「廟」字 ,也不會翻譯，不過很多和尚住在一起的地方，就是廟。 )
[Actually (I) can't figure out how to translate "jia 嫁" (marry), fortunately in a fit of inspiration, (I reckoned that) after "jia" wouldn't (you be) staying together with me? As regards "miao" (temple), (I) also can't translate (it), but it's a place where many monks stay together, that's a "miao".]
Like Your people
喜歡妳的人
[The man who loves you]
Some comments from people who read this horrible translation:
(1)…… 原來[做早操]的英文是 make early fuck…… ( 汗...)
[(Just realized that) "zuo zao cao 做早操" means "make early fuck" in English... (sweat...)]
(2) The guy wrote an English valentine letter to his love. Problem is he used a Chinese to English dictionary and translated word by word. What he meant to write was :
Source:
http://www.ainur-guild.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=54948&sid=4c7d92ea530469ff7d9779a4920af3b2
Chinese-English and English-Chinese translations are often required in the region of the world where I stay. If you're fluent in both English and Mandarin you can earn quite a fair bit by being a translator or interpreter for this particular language pair. I heard that in Malaysia, to be a court interpreter for Chinese, you have to speak fluent Mandarin plus two dialects and also be proficient in written Chinese.
Anyway, here's something I got from the Internet, which illustrates the pitfalls of translating directly word by word without knowing the context and cultural background. The Mandarin Chinese original text is perfectly okay. But the accompanying English translation is, how to say, literally screwed up. There's also another translation in proper English [enclosed within square brackets] for reference.
Dear Wang litte sister:
親愛的王小姐
[Dear Ms. Wang:]
From see you one eye, I shit love you.
自從看到你的第一眼, 我便愛上你。
[It was love at first sight.]
Your eyes close, I die; your eyes open, I come back to live.
Your eyes close and open again and again, I die again and again.
妳的眼睛閉上，我就死了，你的眼睛打開，我又活過來，妳的眼睛貶啊貶, 我就死去活來 ?
[My life begins and ends with every blink of your eyes.]
Maybe you do not remember me, no matter.
When you carefully look at me, you will one see clock.
也許你不記得我 ,沒有關係 ,當你仔細看著我，你就會一見鍾情
[You probably don't know me, but it's okay.
Once you have a chance to get to know me you will fall in love with me.]
I think l should introduce myself to you.
我想應該介紹一下自己。
[I should introduce myself.]
I call Li big great. Toyear 25
我叫李大偉 ,今年 25
[My name is Li Da Wei (David Lee) and I'm 25 years old.] (Note: Li Da Wei could be David Lee as Da Wei is a close approximation of David)
(今天是 today,那麼今年就是 toyear.至於偉就翻成 great吧！ )
["Jin Tian" is "today", so "Jin Nian" should be "toyear". "Wei" should be translated as "great"!]
My home have four mouth people-papa, mama, I and DD.
我家有四口人 ..爸爸、媽媽、我和弟弟。
[I come from a lovely family of four.] (Note: He could have added "Dad, Mom, me and a younger brother" after "... family of four".)
I am a good man, in a big company work.
我是一個好男人，在一家大公司上班。
[I am a good man and am currently employed in a large corporation.]
I do early fuck every day, so that I can have strong body to protect you.
我每天都做早操，這樣我會有強壯的身體來保護你。
[I can protect you with my strong body as I exercise vigorously every morning.]
Please come to eat and sleep with me, or I will cut my hair to be a monk, and find a place where many monks live in to over my life;
請嫁給我吧 ,否則我將削髮為僧 ,找個廟來了此一生。
[Please marry me or I will be forced to become a monk and live a life of solitude.]
(實在想不起「嫁」字怎麼翻譯，好在頭腦靈光 , 嫁過來不就是和我吃住在一起。至於「廟」字 ,也不會翻譯，不過很多和尚住在一起的地方，就是廟。 )
[Actually (I) can't figure out how to translate "jia 嫁" (marry), fortunately in a fit of inspiration, (I reckoned that) after "jia" wouldn't (you be) staying together with me? As regards "miao" (temple), (I) also can't translate (it), but it's a place where many monks stay together, that's a "miao".]
Like Your people
喜歡妳的人
[The man who loves you]
Some comments from people who read this horrible translation:
(1)…… 原來[做早操]的英文是 make early fuck…… ( 汗...)
[(Just realized that) "zuo zao cao 做早操" means "make early fuck" in English... (sweat...)]
(2) The guy wrote an English valentine letter to his love. Problem is he used a Chinese to English dictionary and translated word by word. What he meant to write was :
Source:
http://www.ainur-guild.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=54948&sid=4c7d92ea530469ff7d9779a4920af3b2
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