Summer 2010: Oh, hell.. why not

The month after my eurotrip started as a time of nothingness. Nothing to do, while everyone waited their turn to fly back to Malaysia for the holidays.

A lot of my friends' housing contract ends at the end of July, but they would only leave the UK in late August or early September. Therefore, a number of them crashed in my house throughout this period.

A lot of guys in one house yet nothing to do... woke up, played some PS, watched some movies.. yada yada. So whatever idea that came up, such as "hey, lets ..(fill in blanks)..", was always supported with a Oh, hell.. why not.

Few of the highlights include,

A fishing trip to the North of Wales! A friend of a friend would supply everything we need for an overnight camping and fishing trip, the remaining three of us had minimal fishing experience.

Oh, hell.. why not.

The site was far from sunny beaches. It was hard rocky edges drenched in cold rain.

Me and a friend went hiking on the edges of the sea, climbing and hopping from rock to rock, far out from camp and back. One stayed in the camp and slept for most of the time. Leaving the avid fisherman to battle a sea-lion to haul in food for the day.

In the end, we spent a total of 200 pounds only to eat 4 mackerels.

Back from the trip was some time in Manchester.. Someone suggested that we spend a night out in town as 'gentlemen' to celebrate a friends graduation.

Oh, hell.. why not

Next, was the trip to send my friend to Heathrow airport, London. In London, we met a Malay prostitute who offered us a night in her apartment. Unfortunately, we declined. After having dinner in the famous Tinseltown restaurant, we were ready to head back to Manchester.

"There are some great nudist beaches in Brighton, two hours south of London" said a friend.

Oh, hell.. why not.

Nude people don't come out at night so we decided to spend the night on the beach. On arrival, we saw a group of guys lighting up a campfire. We wanted one as well.

We drove around town looking for something to burn. Surprisingly, there were a stack of construction planks next to a bin. We loaded them into the car, found some discarded boxes as well and we were good to go.

Few hours later, as the fire died out... I said "Ive never been to Portsmouth, its only an hour west of here".

Oh, hell.. why not.

We drove an hour to Portsmouth at 5 in the morning. Parked the car in Portsmouth and slept till 9. Woked up and walked around Portsmouth till about noon. My friend still wanted to see the beaches of Brighton. We got back in the car and drove back to the east.

We did not find any nudist beach. Oh, hell

From there we headed back to Manchester where I spent a few more days before my flight back to Malaysia. I was almost broke at this point but it was money well spent. It turned out to be a rather interesting month after all.

Summer 2010: Eurotrip

I would say that my last summer holidays felt like the most fulfilling holiday Ive had in a long long while. The holiday lasted close to four months and I don't think there was a single dull moment through it all.

I'm just gonna list down the things that happened for my future reference's. Don't expect to read of any new epiphanies ....

Kicking off at the start of summer was my euro trip!! First leg of the journey covers Krakow-Stockholm-Oslo.

Krakow was beautiful and warm. The city's appeal come mostly from its medieval history. Parts of the fortress wall still surround the inner city. It gave me the rare opportunity to get a glimpse of what it would have been like living in one of those medieval towns. I also went underground into an ancient salt mine that is rumored to be the inspiration behind the Mines of Moria in The Lord of The Rings.

On top of that, I got free accommodation and tip top hospitality from my host, Peter. A polish guy who is into Amy Search and nashid music (he doesn't understand the language btw).

From there I flew to Stockholm. The last time i was there the temperature was -15c. The weather was more bearable this time around and yet still too cold to feel like summer. Nevertheless, there is a certain charm about Stockholm. The city feels almost archipelago like and the hop-on hop-off ferries are one of the best ways of getting around.

Next up, Oslo. The city of Oslo is not as dense as most other European cities. There was part of an old fortress wall on top a hill that looks over the Oslo bay which i enjoyed. Sorry to say, but it is one of the more forgettable places ive seen so far. What i will remember though, is eating whale meat stew. Much to my surprise is that whales have red meat - complete with a beefy flavor.

A week on the road got me bummed. From Oslo I head back to Manchester for a week of rest and preparation for my Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam trip.

Paris is much like London or Kuala Lumpur in my point of view. Being a Metropolitan city, it drains my energy just by being there. A source of energy however, would be French girls. hehe. As expected from the fashion capital of the world I suppose. People who actually shop would enjoy Paris more than i did. Spent the last night in Paris on top of the Eiffel tower. The view from there was amazing. The city looked like an ocean of gold coins below my feet.

En-route to Amsterdam lies the city of Brussels. First striking feature of Belgium is that it doesn't have its own language. Belgium is a small country in between giants like France, Germany and Holland. Its interesting to imagine Belgium's origin as a rouge town formed by people from those three giant states. It must have only been a stopover town for travelers. Brussels itself was alright, but not one of my top picks. Chocolate and waffles galore.

From Brussels, I got the bus into Holland. One one side of the road was a vast expense of farmland. On the other, a vast expense of open sea. The sea was on higher ground. (Try imagine sitting by the beach, but instead of looking down to the sea, you'd have to look up to the sea). A few hours later I finally got into Amsterdam....

Amsterdam oh Amsterdam....

no further comment ;)

6th sense, 7th sense, 8th sense.. how many senses is really out there?

I was thinking about human senses the other day. These senses are what we use to define our world. What we can sense, we believe.

Then again animals are able to sense things that we couldn't; like a coming earthquake or tsunami. So what else cant we sense? Like in the 6th sense movie, it defined the 6th sense as being able to see ghost.

Then i stumbled on a documentary on tv: The possibility of life in other planets.

It showed that the discovery of life in areas of earth with no sunlight and (if not mistaken) no oxygen has opened up the possibility of life existing in any atmospheric condition - no matter how hostile it may seem. These lifeforms would just look different from what we are accustomed to as they would have to adapt to different conditions.

However, one scientist predicted that if there were life somewhere else, It would look similar to those on earth.

Reason being that in concept, our organs are already picking up on the smallest unit of elements in the universe. Our eyes are designed to capture photons of light. Our ears pick up on the vibration of molecules around us. Our nose and mouth identifies the chemical composition of these molecules or atoms of materials. Our touch could feel energy in the form of heat.

Then when we study animals, we identify some of them to be blind or deaf. Those animals have less senses than us.

Well, Isn't it arrogant for us humans to assume that we are sensing everything there is to experience in the universe?

Why is it that only the things that we can see, feel, smell, touch and hear be considered a fact. Why is it that only things that could be proven to these five senses be considered the truth.

Try imagine that we were a species without the sense of sight. And perhaps one person, for some reason, is able to. If he told us that the sun rise into the sky everyday.. would we believe him? or would he just be ridiculed?

So, could it be possible that there are things right in front of us that we could not experience? Something that we just could not comprehend. Like people telling us about light when everyone is blind.

Scientist now are able to study light, sound waves, molecules etc. But there might be things that are not made of atoms nor plasma nor any elements we have yet to identify. Something that could be defined as things of another dimension.

If these elements are out there and we are not able to sense it...

who are we to dismiss its existence.

and...what if these elements are what supernatural beings are made of?

The system

We were playing Pro Evo Soccer (PES) on the PS3 the other day. After each match we became increasingly competitive about who wins, forcing us to do our best every time we play. Nevertheless, some times it seems like it just wont hit the back of the net no matter how hard we try. No matter how precise we setup the opportunity.

Which begs the question "why??!!!"

Then my friend mentioned "its all in the system". I had no idea what 'the system' meant at that moment.

I retreated into myself for some time trying to figure out what 'the system' means. Obviously its referring to the PES system. What is the 'PES system'??

well, its a system that allows me to input my decision (via action) into the system to produce an outcome or consequence that affects the PES match.

Does that mean that im part of 'the PES system'?

Then again, my opponent had to input his decision in order to make the same outcome possible.

Does this mean that we are part of 'the PES system'??

We are designed into the system as the system was designed to allow us to input our decision.

Following defeat in a match, we naturally wanted something to blame. Therefore we would blame it on the 'PES system'... (ignoring the fact that we are in fact part of the system. I decided on my actions and affected whether i won or lost) .The system that was designed to decide who wins or who loses in any particular match.

Then i started to wonder deeper into my thoughts,

The guy who made the 'PES system' must have been a genius to produce a system that enabled me to decide on something and let my decision affect the outcome of the match. He designed it so that when i decide to press shoot, the player would shoot the ball and hopefully the ball would hit the back of the net.

But the system was designed in the limited context of a football match. I could not have punched another player in the face even if i wanted and decided to.

In order for that to happen, the games designer would have to design a new system that allow me to punch another player when i decide to. The more opportunity for me to make my own decision, the more real the game becomes.

For a game to be totally real, the system would have to be designed so that we could do whatever we feel like doing. Which is actually doable in real life; We could do whatever we want to do.

So is real life a system?

Real life is still a system because it allows me to decide on something and let my decision affect the outcome.

You cant argue that there is no system, because there is a system that allows us to make our decision. The act of making a decision is within the design of the system.

As i mentioned earlier, we are part of the system. This is because im not the only one capable of making a decision. My decision and similarly your decision would affect a single outcome. There can not be more than 1 outcome. As seen through the win or lose of the PES match.

Therefore, i am part of 'the system', you are part of 'the system' and everything that we could see touch and act upon is part of 'the system'. Everything is part of 'the system' because everything was designed to allow us to to make a decision. Our decision is part of 'the system', and the outcome was allowed to happen because 'the system' was designed to allow it to happen.

If you insist that there is no system, then you are not 'thinking'. Because thought was allowed for in 'the system' in order for you to make a decision. The system goes like this:

Thought > Decision > Action > Reaction.

If you believe that everything is merely action and reaction, then there is no thought. If you believe that you are thinking and making your own decision.. then the above system is right. Is it not?

Like the 'PES system's designer, The designer of 'The system' would have to be a genius.

Then, at this point of thought, these words from the Koran struck me....

(I cant quote where ive heard it from, but im pretty sure ive heard it before)

If you think, then you will find god.

Dont try to figure out god. For he cant be comprehended. Thats why god asked us to think..not necessarily about anything in particular..but think about thinking. Then you can see that god must exist.

God is the creator of everything you see around you.

There must be a system that binds everything around us. Everything is part of 'the system' that allowed us to think and make decisions. And all systems must have its creator.

God is in you. God is in everything around you.

God is the very concept of 'the system' itself, We are also part of 'the system', everything around us is part of 'the system'.

Man was given the characteristics of god

First and foremost, we were given the ability to think. We are also given the ability to create. Not just static objects, but create systems as well.

Not only is Allah a genius for creating 'the system', he was even smart enough to tell us about the whole concept of 'the system'. Amongst countless other things he told us.

Science and Islam goes hand in hand, because Islam is a way of understanding the system, and science is also a way of understanding the system.

Isnt it all beautifully made and tied together? :)

In essence Money isn't a necessity, its a control mechanism

im currently reading this book called The Ascent of Money which traces the history of money from the current day to its origins. Although i haven't completed it, I got through half the book ; so ive got a rough idea of how money started to be. While i was thinking about it, i came to a weird realization;

In essence Money isn't a necessity, its a control mechanism.

Just like Law, money became a necessity out of lack of self control within society. Governments control money and therefore, controls society...

Im not a economic student or anything like that, but hear me out.

Lets start with the basic money system,

Someone needs to buy food. Therefore he needs a job. Lets say he gets a job within the construction industry, as an architect. He works in a firm who gets a government project. The government funds the project, the firm gets their fee, he gets his salary and buys food.

We know that the government controls supply of money - because inflation can happen. The government needs to do this because they're trying to buy things from other countries as well.

Lets look at early civilization now,

The reason anyone would have to buy anything in the first place is because the original owner of the 'food' for instance wouldn't want to give their food away for free due to him not wanting to part with the fruits of his labour. Who can blame him, if the beggar asking food from him is a slacker who didnt contribute anything to the produce of food and only wants to eat it. So, the food seller is greedy for not wanting to give things away for free and the beggar is lazy for not doing any work.

In a perfect society, everyone would strive to contribute to society by various means of working, and the fruits of their labour would be shared equally. Rendering money useless.

But as soon as a greedy person hogs his produce and expect something in return (even if greed is a responsive act against laziness), trade will begin. Once trade begins.. money would have to follow.

Therefore, money was inevitably created as a control mechanism to regulate the greedy and the lazy. Without greed and laziness, money wouldn't have been necessary.

Implications of money as a control mechanism goes far beyond my capabilities to talk about with what limited knowledge i have, but it is something to ponder on.

p.s. not sure if i made my arguments strong enough. I could make more points.. but that would require more thinking on the subject which i have not done and haven't got the time to..

Blood dance

Had one of the coolest dream last night..

I dreamt that i was part of a mafia group which was going through some internal problems.

Dont quite remember the first part, but a couple of guys assassinated members of the same group.

Scene 1

The next day, there was a meeting organized in a theatre hall (imagine suits and red carpet event). To my suprise, the guys attended the event as well. They were sitting in a row. A bold move on their part.

Then, a man from a couple of rows behind them got up and pulled out a gun. Aimed at one of their heads, pulled the trigger *bang*. Unfortunately the shot missed and ended up killing a woman in the front row. Her arm flew to the stage and within minutes there was a pool of blood.

Never the less, dancers came out and continued performing. A dancer in white perform a dance on top of the pool of blood. The dance was performed in a smooth circular motion. Her body was close to the floor and her hands and legs keeps sweeping across the floor. No one else realised it, but what she was actually doing is drawing out Japanese symbols in the pool of blood. A coded message to someone.

Scene 2

The next thing i knew, I was suppose to hide weapons around the building for some upcoming fight. I hid a bunch of katanas in the toilet that was connected through a corridor behind the seating area (not very hidden when i think about it). So, as i was walking about in the corridor, i saw a bunch of thugs loitering in the emergency exit staircase area. They were extorting money from Justin Timberlake (wtf?).

I asked a couple of friends.. "should we help him?". One of them said that we should because he was a fan.

We confronted the thugs with a "let him go.. or else.." line. Cliché, I know. They wouldn't back down and we ended up in a fight. It was a 4 on 4. As my friends attended to the other 3, I grabbed one of them by the collar and pulled him down to the floor. As he laid down there, i reached for his throat and choked him.

And that was the end of the dream... not much sense and a whole lot of violence. It even had that dark gloomy atmosphere going on.

Well, i cant make sense of that. Need help on this one guys.

If she's here

I'm devastated,

My girlfriend might have to decline four top university offers just because she needs to stay in Malaysia in order to get her PR. Damn, the government is keeping my happiness away from me. I need my pursuit of happyness.

My life would be much better if she managed to get her PR before September and study here in the UK.

If she's here, i would look forward to weekends. Wouldn't mind travelling back and forth for hours just to see her. I know she would cook for me all my favourite dishes. She knows what i like. She's a terrific cook :)

If she's here, I'd have someone to speak my mind to. I wonder about the little things that people dont bother to think about. If i voice out what im thinking all the time, id just be an annoying bitch - but she listens to me passionately. I know shes not just pretending to listen because she contributes to the conversation as well. Only smart people can contribute to the conversation :)

If she's here, we would travel to all the interesting places together. She enjoys the natural world as much as i do. We could travel to the frozen north, lay down on the southern beaches, stare into the universe through the clear night sky on board a cruise ship and so much more. When where in cities, we would seek out the la sagrada familia, experience the guggenheim museum or simply enjoy the childishness of Disney Land. Because we love the same things in the world :)

If she's here, I'd take good care of her. Id make sure she gets the love and attention she needs. Lift her up when shes feeling down. Help her with her homework. Tuck her in on cold winter nights. Because shes my baby :)

If she's here, she would take good care of me. She would make sure I get the love and affection I need. Lift me up when Im feeling down. Help me with my homework. Tuck me in on cold winter nights. Because im her baby :)

When im with her its just bliss. No action nor words are needed. Simply being around her makes me happy. I've found someone who loves me for me, and I love her for her.

Although she might not be able to be with me right now, although I have to wait a couple of years before I'd be with her again, im sure the wait will be well worth it.