இ Blind Spots

Still remember what you have learned during those 'L' licence driving days? To turn left have to stretch out the right arm and do a counter clockwise circling. What about getting ready to stop? Put out the right hand, wave up and down a few times then raise the hand at a right angle perpendicular at the elbow. Guess what? Once we passed the test we tend to forget what we learnt but merely rely on the indicator and the brake light indicator.

How many would depend on the two side mirrors while driving and during reverse aka gostan parking? Do you turn your head and look backwards before overtaking a car in front or trust the right side mirror or both looking at the side mirror thereafter looking backwards before deciding to overtake? Of course first thing first the right indicator light should be turned on before overtaking. How many are aware of 'blind spots' which could be gravely dangerous if not properly adjusted. What you gonna watch in the video below is some adjustment advice on the optimum angle for our two side mirrors which are very beneficial and useful tips for us to adhere to.

Happy driving and berhati hati di jalan raya, drive safefully (safely+carefully) during the balik kampung holidays and would seize this opportunity to wish all Muslims readers ~ "Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri" Maaf Zahir dan Batin and to the rest wish you have a Blessedly Happy Raya Holidays.

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இ When Life Hands You A Lemon..

These two inspiring people have two things in common besides having the same passion and burning desire for what they do best in their hobby which starts with the letter 'P'. One being the first women Pilot and the other a Pianist but they do it with style although they never had the chance to get involved in hands-on operations, pulling levers, pushing buttons or striking the piano keys. They are not the ordinary type of pilot but for Jessica who grips the nose wheel of an aircraft with her toes and for Liu Wei who strikes the piano keys with his amazing nimble wiggling toes.

Quotation by Jessica Cox ~ "Never let your fear to stand in your way of an opportunity"


Quotation by Liu Wei ~ "I think there are only two choices for my life; either to just die quickly or to live a wonderful life. Nobody says piano have to be played with hands". "精彩地活下去" [jīngcǎi de huó xià qu].

Cannot think of another quotation regarding hands but would quote Denis Waitley's ~ "I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet". Basically both Jessica Cox & Liu Wei are extraordinary people who are the perfect example of the adage ‘When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade'. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt.

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ക WhyAskWhy¿ (5) ~ Hopping Chinese Vampires 僵屍 jiāng shī

The Lunar 7th month aka the Hungry Ghost Month would stir up lots of taboos and scary stories. Ever Why*Ask*Why the Chinese vampires hop around with arms, hands and fingers raised at shoulder level? Oh me oh my could this be real or the movie makers fabricated the whole thing? In the movies you will see with a strike of the gong by the taoist priest the corpses will hop and strike two would hop another step only with the paper amulet 符咒[fúzhòu] in Mandarin, glued on the forehead, very often called "fish head" {hu dou} in Hokkien coz of the similarity in sound. The dead would be dressed in a special garment used by high ranking officials during the Qing Dynasty known as 'Longevity' clothes 壽衣 [shòu yì] which is still in 'fashion' for the dead until today. Check it out on the video below if you have not seen any hopping Chinese vampires  僵屍  [ jiāng shī ] before {rest assured not scary at all, trust me!} and then continue reading the second part to get a better picture..

Those ancient days 500 years ago the only means of common transport is by foot and horses were practically too expensive then. When someone passed on and away from their village, their corpse needs to be transported back home for the funeral ceremony and burial. The then 'courier' service for corpses had been in business already. In order to maximise the time, space and man power two person would be good enough to transport the corpses with the taoist priest chanting along. Two long strong bamboo poles are the only 'vehicle' required. With the corpses cleanly washed and thereafter dressed in longevity clothes, the corpse's two arms will be tied securely at shoulder level onto the two bamboo poles which are placed below the armpits to support the corpse. [For illustration kindly refer to the pix for an example of 3 vampires tied on to 2 bamboo poles, viewing from top elevation]. Once done the two courier men, one at the front and the other at the back of the two bamboo poles with a few corpses in the middle would be ready to move on. When they begin their journey there will be a harmonic bouncing motion due to the flexibility of the two bamboo poles thus from afar it seems like the vampires are hopping in the night. Of course the movie maker would add salt and pepper to spice up the scene with the power of the priest who can control those vampires with just a bell and amulets and etc.

So could this be true and will the theory of bamboo poles story making the corpses hop like ghosts hold water or just another hearsay or moviemaker's fantasy? Would leave it entirely up to you.. Bananaஇ'z Beleaf It Or Not!

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இ Hat Seller

There was once a hat-seller who passed by a forest on his way back from the market. The weather was very hot and so he decided to take a nap under one of the trees, so he left his whole basket of hats by the side. A few hours later, he woke up by some sounds. The next thing he realized was that all his hats was gone. He heard some monkeys on the tree and so he looked up. To his surprise, the tree was full of monkeys and they had taken all his hats. The hat-seller sits down to think of how he can get the hats down. He think and think and start scratching his head. The next moment, he realized that the monkeys were doing the same action. Next, he took down his own hat and saw the monkeys do exactly the same. An idea came to him, he took his hat and threw it on the floor and the monkeys do that too. So he finally managed to get all his hats back. If you think you have read this before.....read on!!!

Fifty three years later, his grandson, Jack, also became a hat-seller and had heard this monkey story from his grandfather. One day, just like his grandfather, he passed by the same forest, it was very hot, and he took a nap under the same tree and left the hats on the floor. He woke up and realized that all his hats were gone. He looked up and realized that the monkeys had taken all the hats. He remembered his grandfather's words, started scratching his head and the monkeys followed. He took down his hat and fanned himself and again the monkeys followed. Now, very convinced of his grandfather's idea, JACK threw his hat on the floor but to his surprise, the monkeys still hold on to all the hats. Then one monkey climbed down the tree, grabbed the hat on the floor, gave him a slap and said "You think only you have a grandfather".

Nowadays monkeys are getting smarter and can only think and think of one most prominent reason, they are eating smart and fresh bananaz instead of those rotten bananas 53 years ago..

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இ Domestic Transformer

Would you believe this if I say it over the phone that a 330 sq ft apartment has 24 rooms? Most likely you will say "you have gone bananaz". Hong Kong is renowned for this phrase in Chinese 留食不留宿 [liú shí bù liú sù] ~ lit. "can stay to eat but cannot stay  overnight"  . Seeing is believing as this apartment in Hong Kong was designed by architect, Gary Chang and he calls this the "Domestic Transformer." Check this out..

" A mind is like a parachute, it works best when it's open"

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