What is my Leisure Pursuit?

EXERCISING

Well, just because I look chubby doesn’t mean I don’t ENJOY exercising. Just what am I going to do with the abundance of enthusiasm inside my body & soul? Hang out? Heck no, I’d rather: BE ON THE MOVE THAN TO STICK AT ONE AREA AT A TIME / MOVING A PART OF MY BODY THAN BE STILL.

TRAVELLING

Doesn’t mean I have to go oversea; to me it’s about moving away from where you specifically are. As I have mention earlier, I can’t stand being in a specific place for too long, if one needs to go to the toilet than that’s understandable but it’s just that I get bored easily, I guess. Seeing new places just excites me! It just rids my curiousity to discovery.

QING GONG / LE PARKOUR = FREE RUNNING

I’m a beginner for a traceuse though; I started practicing after a friend recommended it to me. It’s tough at first (no thanks to my weight) but as I got more used to it, it got FUN & EXICITING to do (of course, slip up and you’d probably slipped your life). My favourite spots are from flat top building-to-building. Yes, Malaysia don’t really place a lot of balcony (public) buildings side-by-side (which is rare to find here) so I only practice at our neighbouring country Singapore. They got a lot places which they allow us to practice our tricks, we’ve got our own abandon building to use too! But obviously after discussing with the authorities they said if anything were to happen, we have nobody to blame but ourselves so it was agreed from both sides. So yeah, we practice there with our seniors and have FUN too.

DRAWING

I love drawing even though I’m not a frequent drawer / artist but it’s respectful enough to notice but almost everyone agrees that when they have the right mood it’s get kind of cool when your head, clear of anything but what you want to express. You’ll also get to you use your imagination without any disturbance, it makes our brain function at least; you know when it gets the gears moving- ha-ha… ok let’s scratch that and get back to the topic. Our minds is so powerful that we could imagine anything at all but sadly sometimes we just don’t have the skill to properly draw or paint it out but if we wish to draw anything we want to express that it wouldn’t have come out like crap we need to practice. So, practice makes perfect; everyone knows that; that’s what I’m doing now.

VIDEO GAMES

Playing games does give us experience and something to learn. Even those who don’t enjoy reading stills read the dialogue of their favourite character or the storyline of a certain game. Some games also teach us about what’s good or bad but that depends on the individual. I favourite genre would be from adventure to supernatural as long as there’ll be a fight in it.

READING

Who said that you have to read a lot of books to be an avid reader? To me I’d read almost anything I see as long as it’s readable to me. I’d read from comics to game magazines to vandalism.

*Phew* I’m pooped, that will be all.

What grabs my Attention?

PHILOSOPHY

This may be considered a very unusual interest to you but to me it’s one of my utmost appreciations of understanding an individual’s sole propose in life. That’s what makes me appreciate mine and other people’s lives. It’s what makes me strive not waste; it’s just basically my outlook of LIFE.

There are many types of philosophy; I’m more into Existentialism & Utilitarianism.

Existentialism, like the word itself, mention about EXISTENCE. So that means I’m focusing more onto why I am here and what my purpose for being so.

Utilitarianism however focuses on making others lives more MEANINGFUL while helping them to appreciate life and to bring happiness along with every step they take.

“The only thing we require to be good philosophers is the faculty of wonder.” – Sophie’s World, pg. 14

What’s the faculty of wonder? You say?

Philosophy ß Faculty of Wonder ß (Due to) Curiosity

*ß = Leads to

(That’s my theory to you.)

Children and toddlers alike have this when they were young and so did you. It’s something related to how much we have absorb from this world; what is and what isn’t suppose to be (our “habit” of what we know of).

Here an example from the author: “If a newborn baby could talk, it’d probably say about what an extraordinary world it has come into. We see how it looks around and reaches out in curiosity to everything it sees.

As words are gradually acquired, the child looks up and says ‘Bow-wow!’ every time it sees a dog. It jumps up and down in its stroller, waving its arms: “Bow-wow!” “Bow-wow!” We who are older and wiser may seem somewhat exhausted by the child’s enthusiasm. ‘All right, all right, it’s a bow-wow,’ we say, unimpressed. ‘Please sit still.’ We are not enthralled. We have seen a dog before. The rapturous performance may repeat itself hundreds of times before the child learns to pass a dog without going crazy. Or an elephant, or a hippopotamus. But long before the child learns to talk properly—and long before it learns to think philosophically—the world will have become a habit.” (pg. 14-15)

Here is another example from the author: “One morning, Mom, Dad, and little Thomas, aged two or three, are having breakfast in the kitchen. After a while Mom gets up and goes over to the kitchen sink, and Dad—yes, Dad flies up and floats around under the ceiling while Thomas sits watching. What do you think Thomas says? Perhaps he points up at his father and says: ‘Daddy’s flying!’ Thomas would certainly be astonished, but then he very often is. Dad does so many strange things that this business of a little flight over the breakfast table makes no difference to him. Every day Dad shaves with a funny machine, sometimes he climbs onto the roof and turns the TV aerial—or else he sticks his head under the hood of the car and comes back up black in the face.

Now it’s Mum’s turn. She hears what Thomas says and turns around abruptly. How do you she reacts to the sight of Dad floating nonchalantly over the kitchen table?

She drops the jam jar on the floor and screams with fright. She may even need medical attention once Dad has returned respectably to his chair. (He should have learned better table manners by now!) Why do you think Thomas and Mom react so differently?

It all has do to with habit. (Note this!) Mom have learned that people cannot fly. Thomas has not. He still isn’t certain what you can and cannot do in this world.” (pg. 15-16)

            And that’s why I’m still into philosophy; I still have my faculty of wonder.

PSYCHOLOGY

The study of the human’s mind and what made an individual do what they do (behaviour).

After going through rough experiences during my past, when I was introduced to psychology, I knew I could relate to the many things I went through when I was little. How people change, what motivated them to change and why? What does one fear of something and another enjoys?  Asking the questions may be easy to do but getting the answer to the majority of these questions is the satisfying part. It’s what made me curious; not a busy body. I hope I will be able to grasp full knowledge on psychology so that I can help others if they are going through tough problems with a sort of psychological disorder and to also help myself too. My main study on Psychology is Fear(s) & Dream(s) (For personal use only).

SPORTS

I’m more into anything that has running in it, a lot. Hey, I’m not saying that I’m fast or anything but it’s something that I enjoy very much. ^-^ Even a simple sprint or jog to a close by destination is enough to satisfy me.

“EXTREME “SPORTS”

I love anything that makes (my) life more exciting, even falling off a death defying cliff, swimming with nurse sharks, etc. is enough for me go gaga (You: Boy, this girl must be nuts... Me: then what's stupidity for dude? XD). Hey, make it a double of me having to try ANYTHING that's risky-but-yet-fun-to-do!

That’s enough folks; while the rest are just common interests.

Malaysia Express Adventure…

South

The dream child of Dr Mahathir, Putrajaya is a futuristic city designed so that government employments could live and work in one place. To get a perspective, take a cuisine on Putrajaya Lake. Then, get back to nature in Sungai Telaka Recreational Forest with its tranquil picnic spots and waterfall.

Park Paradise

Reached by walkway from KL Tower, Bukit Nanas Forest Recreation Park is a shady retreat in city’s heart – the perfect place for a picnic or a stop at the children’s playground. Another peaceful haven is Kuala Lumpur’s City Center Park. Discover 1900 indigenous trees and palms, a kid’s playground, wading pools, artificial lake, sculptures, grass and shade.

          Of course the king of parks is the Lake Gardens. For first-timers, head to the Hibiscus Garden to relax in the country’s national flower, at the nearby Orchid Garden (800 varieties). Besides the entire flora around, there is fauna waiting to be greeted, found at The Deer Park in Lake Gardens.

          It features the world’s smallest deer, the mouse deer (original to Malaysia), as well as Dutch spotted deer. Meet more original species (including the national bird, the Hornbill) at the Kuala Lumpur bird Park, which houses 3000 birds, including Hawk Eagles, parrots, toucans and flamingos. The world’s largest butterfly garden, he Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park (6000 fluttering creatures) can also be found at the Lake Gardens.

Markets

The lovely art deco Central Market (Pasar Seni) is the place to see Malaysian Crafts. Best buys are kites of all decoration that vary from moon, cat and bird kites (kite flying is a national pastime). Besides that , there are shadow puppet plays, batik painting, fortune-telling and art exhibitions. Saturday evenings feature Malay, Chinese and Indian dances. Follow up with a visit to the Craft Center (Kompleks Kraf Kuala Lumpur) and Royal Selangor Pewter Showroon for more arts and craft.

Chow Kit Market, the historic site of the race riots of 1969, is the place to buy secondhand clothes, Islamic textiles and fabrics, (not to mention raw produce such as edible worms). Do be careful after dark. Petaling Street (Chinatown) barely needs introduction. Almost everything is on sale there, so sharpen up your bargaining skills. For the best buys go mid-morning, for atmosphere and food visit after 6.30pm. For more exotic items (including pashminas, textiles, saris and spices), Little India (Masjid India) makes a great lunch or dinner detour.

Enlighten Yourself

The ideal starting point to discover KL and its heritage sites is Merdeka Square. This is the historical place where the Union Jack descended on 31^st August 1957, marking Malaysia’s Independence.

          The Islamic Arts Museum is worth a visit for the architecture alone, not to mention the extensive collection of Islamic artifacts or the quality Islamic crafts on sale at the museum shop. For glimpses of traditional architecture, take a walk in Kampung Baru, KL’s oldest residential area.

         Masjid Jamek may not have the typical Malay architecture but is one of the city’s most beautiful buildings. The oldest mosque is KL, Masjid Jamek was designed by British architect A.B. Hubback in 1909 and inspired by the Mogul mosques of North India.

          Get acquainted with Malay history and culture at the National Museum (Muzium Negara Malaysia). Then get a feel for the art scene at the National Art Gallery, which features both permanent and temporary exhibitions of Malaysian art. The Gallery is flanked by the Lake Titiwangsa Gardens as well as the beautiful National Theatre building.

          Seen the Batu Caves? To continue the Odyssey into Hindu culture, pay a visit to KL’s principal Hindu Temple; Sri Maha Mariamman. In addition to the hints of jasmine and incense, the ornate decorations are overwhelming – gilt and precious stones abound. During the Thaipusam Festival the Temple’s large silver chariot is taken out and paraded to the Batu Caves. For added atmosphere, go in the evening when devotees are praying.

          

Add another temple to the journey on Seputeh hilltop, which houses the Thean Hou Buddhist Temple. With great views, this is the most popular place in KL for Chinese marriages. Experience the great atmosphere during one of the major Chinese festival such as Chinese New Year.

          The Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary is one of a kind. Besides being a base for the translocation team and a home for a number of resident elephants, Kuala Gandah aims to promote the public awareness of elephant’s plight in Malaysia and to support research into elephant’s translocation and conservation. Visitors are welcome throughout the year to join the elephant activities, help wash them in the nearby river and participate in feeding the elephants.

A Different View…

For a change of perspective, take the lift to the observation platform of Kuala Lumpur Tower for a dizzy gaze or dine at the Seri Angkasa revolving restaurant. For repeat visitors, experience the view at sunset. At 88 stories the KL icon Petronas Twin Towers was once the tallest building in the world. The incredible glass and steel construction is inspired by the Five Pillars of Islam.

          Besides its majestic height, the tower also houses Malaysia’s own Philharmonic Orchestra (Dewan Filharmonik Petronas) (Every year certain schools bring students there once or twice a year) which has been making sweet music since their first performance in 1998. Get up-close and personal with more than 3,000 sea creatures of various shapes and sizes at the Aquaria KLCC.

          Genting Highlands about 50km (less than an hour) from Kuala Lumpur is the most developed hill resort in Malaysia. The nightlife is Genting is something not to be missed. The resort includes two theme parks, both with amusement rides and attractions suitable for the entire family. The Awana horse ranch offers equestrian activities, rides for children and lessons for beginners.

HOW DO YOU LEARN?

HOW DO YOU LEARN?

Have you ever asked yourself this question?

Did you know that people learn differently?

Did you know that some people even think they are a “slow learner” or have “poor memory”? Yet these same people find that they can easily learn many other things e.g. how to use the internet or play basketball or they can find that they have no trouble remembering that they have a night out with friends tomorrow!

Perhaps it is not that they are a “Slow Learner” or have a “Poor Memory” but rather that they haven’t always had information presented to them in a way that they can understand, or in a way that caters for their learning style.

HOW DO YOU LEARN & COMMUNICATE?

Complete the survey below and total up your scores.

What is Your Communication Preference?

For each of the following statements, please place a number next to your chosen answers. Use the following system to indicate your preferences:

           Give 2 points to the closest description of you

          Give 1 points to the next best description

          Leave two spaces blank

(Be sure to write down your points via paper or via in your head for scoring later; I’ll be doing mine to show you an example.)

1.     I make important decisions based on:

____    what looks best to (V)

____    which way sounds the best (A)

_1__    gut level feelings (K)

_2__    precise review and study of the issues (AD)

2.     During an argument, I am mostly likely to be influenced by:

_1__    whether or not I can see the other person’s point of view (V)

_2__    the other person’s tone of voice (A)

____    whether or not I am in touch with the other person’s argument (K)

____    the logic of the other person’s argument (AD)

3.     I most easily communicate what is going on with me by:

____    the way I dress and look (V)

____    my tone of voice (A)

_1__    the feelings I share (K)

_2__    the words I choose (AD)

4.     When I am setting up my bedroom, it is most important to me to:

____    have the right colours in the room (V)

_1__    have the sound system set up properly so that I can play music (A)

____    select the most comfort furniture (K)

_2__    make sure every thing is put in its proper place (AD)

5.      I find that:

____    I easily notice changes in the way places or people look (V)

____    I am very aware of the sounds of my surroundings (A)

_2__    I am very sensitive to other people’s feelings (K)

_1__    I am very adapt at making sense of new facts and data (AD)

6.     In order to know if someone is doing a good job I need to:

____    see them do the job (V)

____    listen to a description of the way they are doing their work (A)

_2__    do the job with them or experience some aspect of their work (K)

_1__    have all the facts and figures on the work that’s been done (AD)

7.     I find that in a class or workshop presentation I take most notice of information that:

____    I can see, such as power point or information presented pictorially (V)

____    I can hear, such as what the presenter is saying (A)

_2__    I can learn by doing an activity or exercise (K)

_1__    is presented in terms of fact and figures (AD)

	(V)	(A)	(K)	(AD)
Totals	1 1	2 1 3	1 1 2 2 2 8	2 2 2 1 1 1 9

VAKAD Communication Preferences are also referred as your Learning Styles; choose your 2 top scores.

Ways To LIVE LONGER!

Want to add years in your life? Simply take a few minutes to ask yourself these questions.

Do I Work Too Much?

CUTTING DOWN DESK BOUND HOURS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE!

A person who works for more than 55 hours a week has more risk of mental decline and possibly dementia. Based on a study from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, this was led by Dr Marianna Virtanen. Dr Virtanen says, “The disadvantages cause by overtime of working should be something that has to be taken seriously and isn’t a minor issue.” Professor Cary Cooper, who is an expert in the workplace about stress at the University of Lancaster, says that it had been long established that constantly working for long hours is bad for a persons general health, and now this study tells it is also bad for our mental functioning. Besides dementia, it’s more likely that a woman who works for more than 51 hours a week are more prone to have high blood pressure than those who don’t log extra hours of working. So, it’s about high time that you cut down on your desk bound moments and start to enjoy life a little! And if you can’t find ways to trim down on working hours, why not add some stress busters such as deep breathing, stretching and how about meditation classes to help you cope. Never let yourself get stress out!

Do I Watch Too Much Television?

LIVE YOUR LIFE INSTEAD OF WATCHING IT!

A study had shown that regularly watching television for two hours in a day can increase the risk of a person becoming obese by 23 percent and even the risk of developing diabetes by 14 percent. A nutritionist Dr Frank Hu says, “Heavy watchers of television are more likely to be overweight and have low nutrient diets, high-calorie which research suggests it could lead to Alzheimer.”

Do I Get Enough Sleep?

WE SHOULD ALL EMBRACE THE “SLEEPING BEAUTY’ IN US.

A researcher study at the University of Bristol has out found that hormonal changes that are caused by lack of sleep could the lead to the increase of appetite. Dr Shahrad Taheri says, “Individuals who usually spends less than eight hours of sleep were shown to have a much greater likelihood of being heavier.” For having a good night’s sleep, try to avoid food such like cheese and soy sauce, which this contains tyramine, which is a brain stimulant.

Do I Hold Grudges?

LEARNING TO FORGIVE AND FORGET IS GOOD FOR THE BODY AND SOUL.

Well, if you aren’t a person who can be able to forgive and forget, then your lungs might be about to be paying the price! According to Harvard Medical School studies, constant bad feelings are such like pollutants in ones body, only triggering inflammation in the lungs just like how cigarette smoke does. A psychologist Dr. Ernest H. Johnson of Raleigh says, “When people are angry, there’s a damage cause to the system that keeps us healthy. So, we’re more prone to cancer, as well as prostate harms.” However, we are not trying to say that you should suppress your feelings. The key lies in channeling your rage the right way. Expert says inhalation technique such as taking 10 deep breathes at a quiet place works just like a charm!

Do I Sit Properly?

GRANDMA AND MUM WAS RIGHT TO NAG YOU TO SIT UP STRAIGHT!

The British Chiropractic Association has found out that 32 percent of community spends 10 hours or even more by just sitting down each day. Sitting can put the least of almost twice as much weight on your back rather than standing up. There is an increase of 85 percent in recording pressure when learning forward in a poor sitting position. This only means, you are just hurting you’re back while you slouch and lean towards your computer! Imagine the abuse your back has taken through all the years? Chiropractors suggest that never to sit in the same position for more than 40 minutes without getting up for a stretch to relax. So, wise up and take care of your precious spine!