Achieving Dreams: Tian Chad

Finally, I got a chance to meet one of the most celebrated blogger in Malaysia, Tian Chad. My first impression towards him was "wow. he's really tall." Well, that's the problem of not meeting with people in real life for the first time, because pictures and photos may be misleading. But, that's not the point here.

In his casual cool outfit, Tian Chad shared his experience on how he became a freelance blogger. Graduated from UTAR in Biotechnology, he worked and apparently resigned. He pursued his passion in blogging which he started back in his university years. Though many would sound skeptical about such bold decision, his dedication in this field has fruited him with lots of incentives.

Besides the earnings he earned from hosting of NuffNang's advertisements, Tian Chad has won himself exclusive opportunities and gifts through the participation of various contests and activities. He was the runner up and grand prize winner for My Selangor Story blogging contest 2010 and 2011 respectively and the  Samsung Global Blogger winner 2012, just to name a few. Also, he enjoyed the privilege to witness Formula 1 and concerts from a close-up view.

Having himself equipped with professional photography skills, he launched Sky Arts Production in 2012, which specializes in wedding photography as well as in covering major events around KL. Tian Chad has been able to maximise his potential of himself and unleash the beauty the subject. This could be seen through his angles while shooting photographs.

We enjoyed the session with him being able to gain exposure by just blogging. Well, of course, blogging isn't merely about blogging. It requires the discipline to attend to the emails and to update his blog to retain and attract more viewers. By accommodating to his target audience, tianchad.com has risen to be a hub for events organised by companies from various sectors.

Alongside with the motto of 永遇乐 which literally means "continuous encounter of happiness", I believe that Tian Chad has been exemplary among the Y-Generations as "doing what you love" rarely equates with "sustaining my own life."

http://www.tianchad.com/

Inception

There's a fine line between Akrasia and procrastination.
Akrasia (pronounced “ah-KRAH-see-ah”) is the experience of realizing an action would be in your best interest… but you don’t do it.

(from: http://book.personalmba.com/akrasia/)

But that's not the point. The point is when dealing with both of them, and I face both problems all the time. 

Many people, me as well think that it's largely due to the perspectives established when we see or encounter something. And, the sad part, is that, we don't really fully understand the 'something'. Even sadder, it's even tougher to remove the barriers if we perceive the 'something' negatively or wrongly. 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, explains why am I so stubborn. 

Also, it is partly driven by realisation. It's not just learning, it's the moment when you go "Oooooo! I got it" even when the something is just plain simple and obvious and .... stupid. 

Dom Cobb: Inception, now before you bother telling me it's impossible...
Eames: No, it's prefectly possible. It's just bloody difficult.


Eames: Listen, if you're going to perform inception you need imagination.

Dom Cobb: Let me ask you something, have you done it before?

Eames: We tried it, we got the idea in place but it didn't take.

Dom Cobb: You didn't plant it deep enough?

Eames: Well, it's not about depth. You need the simplest version of the idea in order for it to grow naturally in the subject's mind. It's a very subtle art.

http://www.moviequotesandmore.com/inception-quotes-1.html#.UWO22KJmiSo

the pin-wheel...

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20483133_20613173_21187529,00.html

YCM 43th CEO Series : Rauf Rashid

Pardon my 'in-formality' in writing the following post...LOL

So, on the 23 of January, my classmates and I attended the Young Corporate Malaysians (YCM) 43rd CEO series featuring Rauf Rashid, the managing partner for Ernst and Young Malaysia. And, the event was pretty interesting.

Before the talk started, we had a networking session with people from different industries. I met a few people, mostly ACCA students and a financial analyst from Shell. And, yea...it started out pretty awkward at first, after that, you'd slowly grab a grasp on the whole conversation. 

The talk was about Rauf's life experiences. He's from Kedah, went into a borading school, got a scholarship to UK, did his degree, worked at KPMG and earned his ICAEW qualification. He pointed out that a degree is different from the ICAEW qualification, which is when he tasted a little bitterness...ok...maybe lots of bitterness. He didn't make through the exams. This means that he had to spend another 5 months in the UK. And worse, that's the last exam before the syllabus is about to be changed. Do you have any idea how tough and frustrating is it? 

After hearing those words from his colleague. 

Failure is character building. 

He rose and he succeeded. 

He came back to Malaysia, and worked in and manages Arthur Anderson, later sold to Ernst and Young, which today is one of the largest accounting firms in the world. 

Rauf's response towards the questions raised and issues addressed during the Q&A session has truly been an breath-taking one, unlike the ones that makes you listen, listen, listen, listen....∞ (infinity)

Some of the pretty hot topics would be job-hopping among Gen-Y employees. And, basically he mentioned that this phenomena is probably due to the lack of patience in nowadays youngsters. ANd, it would be fine if the hop progresses you in terms of job prospects. A person like Rauf did received a number of job offers, despite having himself tied with E&Y. But, another thing that got him turning down the offer was....wait for it....freedom in work.... Yea, I know, but, it is a rare thing.

success is getting what you want, 

                        but happiness is wanting what you get...

19/6 KL : a mild breath

I have no idea what the title is all about.

so, today dad acompanied me to visit KL....2nd time of the year. and, it didn't go relly that sort of being utilized...but hey, that's a different way of exploring a city. following the pace of  an adult along with some nagging 'bout that RM10 incident. I know that the post 'bout that event is kinda blurry and not specific enough...but that's what you should know. and, what you might not know, is the reason i gave the black a RM10. it is not that i was being conned. i saw through his intention which therefore does not fit the definition of being conned or cheated, which the person is totally unaware of what is actually happening. the RM10 note was more like a sacrifice in order to get rid  of him. 

ok, back to the topic of the day. we had lunch at Soong Kee restaurant whose beef ball mee is famous in KL. the serving was a filling one and they really tasted pretty good. the noodles are smoother and less entangled which the sauce and minced meat could get along well. the meat ball tasted like what balls should taste like, where it is bouncy but you could feel a crisp when you lay your fangs into the ball. 

Soong Kee Restaurant with unknown uncle. 

Then, we had a stroll throught the streets of Masjid Jamek to Pasar Seni. 

Pasar Seni is a colorful place where traditional souvenirs could be found. A cultural heritage not being engulfed by the competence of foreigners and brutal slays of modernization.

Pasar Seni Chinese Street.  

You could find art and inspiration of any form, whether it could from the papers, the people, or the ambiance.

A display of oil paintings and portraits behind Pasar Seni.

Paintings of all (at least tourists') cups of tea. 

From the lighting till the tiles, can you smell the scent of the old days? 

*neh, i'm just being poetic*

here's dad's sunglasses with the reflection of the railway track. It's not clear, i know.  

KLCC Centre Court and Harley Davidson bike

We arrived at KLCC. 

then to Pavilion. 

Don't tell me this is like a gateway to Hogwarts. 

@ Food Republic, Pavilion. 

Food Republic, Pavilion.

Ok, the dragon ain't that clear afterall....@Dragon-I, Pavilion

Stopped by at Starhill Gallery:

Starhill Gallery entrance and numbers on the ceiling. (yes, it's a ceiling)

I think I've taken this pic before. 

Through the walkways in the building. 

I can't make up my mind whether to call this building a gallery or a mall or something else. The artistic features and elegant design gives the impression like no other. It somehow makes you feel that you're shopping (if you are) or enjoying life in a gallery. 

The centre court at the Feast level. 

Indulge, Adorn, Explore, Pamper, Relish and Muse yourself, but don't Feast yourself.  

http://my.pagenation.com/kul/Starhill%20Shopping%20Centre_101.7142_3.1466.map

It's pretty quiet and peaceful here. 

The piano at the centre court

Vietnamese cuisine

Chandelier

A cluster of LED lighting?

Even the escalators look unique. 

Ya...i posted this pic too...but it is taken again. 

is it a wine glass?

the entrance from Starhill Gallery to Marriott Hotel. *blur*

Flowers dipped in blue liquid.

Red branches.

I guess there's nothing much for me say in this post. 

Any suggestion for me to make this holiday a meaningful one?  

09/4/12 : Run & KL Relish :

Sunway Pyramid

Sunway Pyramid

Hello. So, I'll be updating on the first activity that I've participated in college : Charity Run themed "A Child at a Time", which aim is to collect tuition fee for orphans that are sitting for SPM this year. A registration fee of RM20 and you'll get a free T-shirt and a certificate of participation. The best part is, you could do some exercising while you pay contribute in the name of charity. Seriously, I've not been working out since I came back from National Service. So, I guess that's a price that I would pay to get me fit again.

I thought I could run through the 5km route, but, in fact, and pathetically, I can't. I started at a petty pace of jogging, together with Yew Jin. And then I dumped him. sorry. I tried to catch up with the others, unaware that there's still a long way to go. Accompanied by the morning traffic and construction exhaust gas, I think I would get lung cancer or something. Perhaps it is the cause afterall, I had chest pain (lower part of right lung), for I've never encountered before, although I still have enough breath and strength and of course, determination. So, it's kinda weird for me. Good news, I didn't finish last. Damn good news, I've burned some fats and got my packs back...well, 4 of them, at least.

Morning traffic....??

 So, today is the day, that I shall try to get back home using public transport. In my case, the only mode is by bus (maybe until 2014 after the completion of the new MRT), and I've never taken a bus alone. First, I went into the (wrong) bus which is heading towards the wrong direction. Though pretty embarrassed, still the driver's smile shred off some of these awkwardness. This time, I've to do things really carefully or I could push my luck and smile off if I get into the wrong bus (or I could use a foreign accent where people may think that I'm a silly foreigner who is not familiar with Malaysia's public transport). I changed my destination to Kelana Jaya, which is in the right course and turned up sitting beside one of my classmates...which I dumped her waiting (I know I'm being rude, and I'm sorry) for another bus to One Utama, while I board on the train to Masjid Jamek  KLCC (Since I've got the whole weekend all to myself, why not pay KLCC a visit?) And, oh gosh....the journey was a long one. At least,  LRT is something that I'm really used to. 

You can know by the scent of Mexican Buns from Rotiboy the moment you step into Suria KLCC. Finally! Civilization! But apart from shopping, and browsing the shops, whereby the salesperson would harass your shopping privacy (the eerie feeling when the salesperson follows tightly on you while you're browsing the items) and also, your wallet. there's really nothing I could do in shopping centres. So, I spent 1 hour in the Petronas Gallery to stand and look at pictures (remember the Mr Bean's movie? XD where he sits and looks at paintings?). The gallery was exhibiting some great snapshots extracted from the Star newspaper, which some of them are really great.

“…Photography as I conceive it, well, it’s a drawing. Immediate sketch, done with intuition and you can’t correct it. If you have to correct it, it’s with the next picture. But life is very fluid; sometimes the pictures disappear, and there’s nothing you can do. You can’t tell the person, ‘Oh, please smile again. Do that gesture again.’ Life is once, forever and new all the time.” 

  ~Henri Cartier-Bresson 

Then I used the new link bridge to get to Pavilion. Then I had lunch...Ipoh Kuey Teow with chicked shreds. After that, I visited Starhill gallery. Ya' know...everything inside there is quite unique, expecially in the Feast floor. Here are some pictures that I've edited for a fresh impression from...you... Another thing is my phone's camera is only 5 MP : (not in particular order

 KLCC Ramlee Mall Entrance and Tea Lounge @ Starhill Gallery

 Pavilion Centre Court and Shops.

Lightings in Feast @ Starhill Gallery.

Unique design, Feast @ Starhill Gallery.

 The "Village Bar" entrance, Feast @ Starhill.

The Village Bar, Feast @ Starhill.

 Bamboo ornaments placed on the ceiling at the back entrance, Feast @ Starhill Gallery. 

 KLCC (edited and original)

 Suria KLCC shops enbounded by the logo and structure in Starhill Gallery.

"Don't leave me"  @ Starhill Gallery 

 

Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) head quarters @ Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur.

Then, I walked and walked in Lot 10 and I went home. One more thing, they upgraded the Hang Tuah LRT station which is attached to the Hang Tuah Monorail platform!

Evening jam.

Some more pictures and lemme know watcha think.

Ipoh new Dim Sum restaurant. 

Dataran Ipoh.

PDRM Bkt Aman, KL.

You figure it out.

I've no idea what is this.

Escalator goes up...I mean down....

Have you realized
how fast life is?
So, why run? XD

So, take a sip of tea and contemplate your past to sketch your present and understand the future.