If you consider yourself a good person, the kind who always extend a helping hand or sometimes a leg to people who needs it, do you expect or hope for anything in return? There is a Chinese saying, 'good people have good returns' (hou yan yau hou pou). But how good are you actually, if you do something good, and you get a good return because of that? I mean, the idea of doing good is just to help someone with his/her problems. That’s it! End of story. You just showed that you are kind and good. That’s all that matters. You should not get anyting good in return because of that or for anything at all, because it actually defeats the purpose of doing good. I am not sure if the good returns come from God, will make us default the good we had done.

On the other hand, we saw in those TVB movies especially if there are nasty people in the story, those who ‘hurt sky harm people’(shiong tin, hoi yan) characters are always left to wait for the heaven to handle you (dang tin sau lei). But before that happens, the baddies usually enjoys the fortune they have on cars, girls and luxuries those good guys are usually deprived of. But I think these situations do apply to real life too.

It is correct to say then, good people won’t have good returns at all? They may even suffer something bad instead. That’s why there is also a Chinese saying ‘Its hard to be a good person’ (Hou yan nan chou). In that case, maybe we should be bad guys instead, as bad guys do not need to worry about being good, just do what you want to fulfil your own need and avoid being caught at all cost. After all, the Chinese says, ‘If a person doesn’t think of your ownself, that person will be destroyed by heaven and earth. (yan pat wai kei, tin chu tei mit). Perhaps there is another way to look at these things.

So, good or bad? The choice is in your hand. But it is not so simple all the time.

Ps: My ‘pin yin’ are probably all wrong. Please think/read a few more times to understand if you can’t get the meaning the first time. Or ask me. ;)

Lift me up from the blue sea
Bring me a smile and not a shed of tear
Give me warmth
Show me the world
Full of joy and no sorrow
I need to know
To be alive again

It was an almost near perfect week,
When I almost went out with everyone I knew,
Who some people I almost wished were there too,
Where almost all the place I’d been own by the same company,
Which almost provided lots of fun for everyone,
How it almost makes me sleepless for many days,
Why is the reason I almost can’t wake up this morning.

(Wh? Questions all answered, and unfortunately, you can’t sing to the ‘Almost’ song by Bowling For Soup)

And now for the longer version below…

27th Feb- 2nd March

Departed from the shore around 3pm Sunday for a 4-days, 3-nights cruise to Langkawi and Penang with my parents and sister. This is a second time cruising on a different ship for us. Albeit being on a smaller ship, the crew were friendly as ever and make it a very enjoyable trip. There were shows every night and Hong Kong famous old timers, Tang Ping Man and Lei Heong Kam were onboard to entertain many old friends and fans. Though I am not a fan, but enjoyed their jokes, songs and funny antics.

3rd – 4th March

These two are not fun days. I had to work. :( So, hi and bye!

5th – 6th March

Another cruise on the ship coming up. This is organised by the department I am in, for team building purposes. Boarded the ship after work around 6pm with my collegues and found that another department was there too. It was a crowded night with around 500 passengers. My collegues didn’t get to watch any show as it was full by the time we made it to the auditorium. Nevertheless, the karaoke session more than made up for it,the kings of love songs began belting out oldies from the past, even an Elvis Presley song came up on the menu.

By the way,did I mention that my department has 16 ‘batang’s and one woman when the other department that came up had 90% woman and 10% ‘batangs’?? :P

6th – 7th March

As I go down from the ship around 10 am, my mind was already thinking about another plan tonight. And when my friend informed me the ‘Zoukfest’ tickets were finished, I was dissapointed as I was hoping to go and party again. Anyhow, I still went up to Genting as it would be quite dull at home when everyone is up on the hill. I’d still had a good time as Genting was foggy and cold as I never expected it to be. It had been a long time since I saw Genting that way and so full with young souls going to the party. I still slept at 5am even though not in the party and its probably almost 10 years since I stay overnight. In the morning, when my friends told me how great the party it was, another friend of mine decided to book the ticket one year ahead, jokingly of course. Till next year then.