.... work stink in USA / Canada

Yours Sincerely' 's ( Y S ) work stink in the USA and Canada was another one from his bucket list. You just cannot kick off from this world without having a glimpse of the USA. Y S was struck by its cosmopolitan nature, system, orderliness and advancement. As good, old Confucious said, " A picture is worth a thousand words, " Y S is posting more than one for them to tell the stories. Hope they do.



This is south of Toronto, facing the Niagara Falls, a very touristy city comparable to Gold Coast of Australia. You get a huge assortment of interests : restaurants, rides, shops, kinky museums, peep shops (Where you take a peep of things that your mother may not want you to see !), souvenirs stalls, parks and, of course, their Hard Rock Cafe.

This is the Korean War Memorial at Lincoln Memorial. The Americans never forget to remember their dead soldiers fighting for others' freedom. Fresh wreaths and notes are placed daily.

Y S was amazed by this Civil War cannon, still in mint condition.


This is the ticket station for the ferry ride to Ellis Island, the immigration check point for the early immigrants.




In Boston, eat like the "Bostons ", eat whole lobsters. The restaurant's name is " No Name." Splendid ! A good look at this creature makes you don't want to eat them. They are so adorable and perfectly created. Y S bets they would have fought for the life in them if they are still alive like this one that "bit him."

Typical of the westerners, the only way they know how to cook lobsters is just to boil the creatures and perhaps add some salt to them. While this is a good way to cook in order to get the wholesome lobster taste, our Asians' taste buds have been pampered with all sorts of flavours : "Kam Heong the lobsters, (lobsters fried in hot, sour, sweet, oil source )" " fry them with salted eggs (This is yummy since the "eggy" saltiness of the egg yolks stuck to the shells titillates your taste bud and adding flavour to the morsels of lobsters.) " or simply dip the morsels of lobsters in "sambal belachan (This is chilly paste mixed with fermented shrimps. It can leave a stint on your breath and fingers for eternity.)" or "Cabai burung in soya sauce. ( This is the renowned super hot "bird chilly soaked in salty soya sauce and functions as a dip which additionally flavours the morsels of lobsters.) "

By the way, Y S was also intrigued by the various American " surgical instruments " provided to work on the lobster.


This is Times Square. The New York that never sleeps. The neon signs still glimmer and glitter in the day light.
The crowd at Times Square never thins out. If you stop walking suddenly you will be bump from behind.

Better half with her favourite movie star, Morgan Freeman, whom she claims resembles her late father, not the colour or the height, but, perhaps, the general features, especially the nose. LOL
This is the concrete jungles of the Big Apple, New York.


The interior of Notre Dame Basilica at Quebec. It is more opulence than the one in Paris.


This is The Niagara Falls. The temperature was 5 degree Celsius but the wind was gale strength so it was biting cold. The mist and spray made the falls only 30% visible. Y S was very disappointed. This is an awesome natural wonder of the world. One from my bucket list !

In America, enjoy like the Americans. The strange thing about humans is our set habits or rather fossilized habits which are difficult to change. Some fellow travelers hunted for "nasi lemak," " bak kut teh," or " char koay teow" and had to check out ChinaTown for its familiar sight, sound and taste. When travelling, taste what the locals do. Go local.

Y S and Better Half had " Whole semi rare roasted ribs " with Canadian beer ! But had forgotten the taste. It was drown by the vibrancy and dimness of the place. Anyway it was good experience where deafening noise is called music and lots of head shaking and nodding which is called performance.

This is Capitol Hill where the US law makers meet and have their tee-a -tee and "powwows" .


This is the front of Lincoln Memorial.

So much about freedom in the USA. This lone Anti-Nuke demonstrator has been demonstrating for more than 10 years outside the White House, in full view of the President and the FBIs, Y S supposes. He simply camps right in front of the White House. Try that in Malaysia. You will be eating hard boiled broken rice with equally hard fried fish and a few drops of curry in the privacy of your cage ! LOL

This is the White House. Nothing spectacular, except that it is really white. The occupants were not at home at the time of Y S' visit. He was visiting the Queen at Buckingham. Talk about security, you can see FBI officers with binoculars walking on the roof tops ! Supposed to be popularly elected by the majority !!!

More visitors to the White House.

Have time, travel. See the world.

.... of Mothers' Day

Today, 8th of May, is Mothers' Day and Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) wishes to salute all mothers.

"A glorious Mothers' Day ". In fact, judging from what mothers do and have to do and are doing, every day has to be Mother's Day. They say that a thousand men may build a city but it takes a mother to make a home. They are like fine collectibles - as the years go by they increase in value. And it is because God could not be everywhere, so He made mothers.

Y S lost his mother to old age a few years ago. She suffered no sickness at all until her last breath, and she just expired and went over. She held on to Around her was Y S' siblings, and her grand children and great grand children. She was given a warm and tearful send off. With the demise of the great matriarch, things are never the same anymore. You sort of lose an important piece in the mosaic of a family. Mothers hold up that mosaic, not so much the fathers. Y S' mother had had lived a great life, caring for all of us and making others happy.

Abraham Lincoln once said : " All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my mother." Y S read somewhere that " One mother can take care of ten children, but ten children can't take care of one mother" ! May those of you who still have your mothers with you, love them, and never, never be one of these ten children!!!

.... Why "Doubtom" ?

Betrand Arthur William Russels, British Logician, essayists and social critics.

Many inquired Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) why "Doubtom" ? Well, Y S has been branded as " Doubtful Thomas " since the days when he was searching for his Savior, Jesus Christ. The late Irish Jesuit Priest, Rev Fr Geoffry Murphy, Y S' mentor, was at wits end trying to answer Y S ' questions. Y S was an undergraduate at that time and he was our Chaplin. Y S laboriously studied controversial books, as controversial as Betrand Arthur William Russels, a British logician, essayist and social critics, " Why I am NOT a Christian ? " before going for his mental sparring with the learned man of God, a Jesuit !

The Reverend was a very, very patient man. He did not talk much but nodded and nodded, and listened and listened as Y S was trying to show off his tiny, weeny bit of "gray matter. " He didn't even bother to argue with me but kept on listening attentively.

Y S was simply impressed by this learned Reverend who could sit through hours of spiritual discourse with Y S and was listening most of the time. At the end of every session, the reverend gave an excellent summation of the day's discussion and then we adjourned for some food. He would drive Y S in his old and small Fiat car. Soon we cultivated a bond and friendship which made Y S searched deep into the recesses of the Reverend's heart and soul. Y S spotted the "light" in him. This servant of God came thousands of miles away to spread the Good News. The news must be certainly Good to sacrifice his homeland, kith and kins, and to give his life to his Saviour as the Saviour has lovingly given HIS to him.

On the day Y S was baptized, the Reverend gave Y S a double promotion, i.e. baptism and confirmation on the same occasion. Y S asked whether he would regret doing so. He answered, quoting from Francis Bacon, " If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubt; but if we begin with doubts, and are patient in them, we shall end in certainties."

The rest is history, the Reverend picked a very symbolical Christian name for Y S : " Thomas"
Somehow the "Doubt" aspect still sticks to Y S because the search was overwhelmingly long : 6 years !

" Doubt sees obstacles; faith sees the way. Doubt sees the darkest night; faith sees the day ! Doubt dreads to take a step; faith soars on high. Doubt questions, "Who believes?, " Faith answers, ' I ! " The Good News

....... "disclaimer " in prayer

Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) snapped this at the Church of St. Mary at Krakow. Sitting in a pew and gazing at this majestic piece of art helps you to reflect on the three " omni " of the Almighty - omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience.

____________________________________________________________________

Of late Y S has been reflecting on the set prayers that he has been uttering in the presence of his fellow faithfuls and in the FULL presence of the Almighty. The prayer that ends with : " ..... in all that I have done and failed to do........ "

The matters which we have done are not that over whelming since most of our actions and deeds are committed or done mindfully. We decide to do it, rightfully or wrongfully. But, the matters where we fail to do are very open-ended and subjective. They may be those we are unable to do. Matters beyond our capability, beyond our human effort and ability or beyond our influence and domain. They could even be those that we do not even know of. Those that unconsciously slip our notice, observance and attention, or those through no fault of ours at all.

So, like legal documents drawn by unscrupulous lawyers, we, the tiny, weeny humans add in a " disclaimer " in our prayer to play safe . It is a blanket statement that covers everything and ask for the Almighty's forgiveness " for what we have done and failed to do...."

" The purpose of prayer is not to get answers, things or anything - not even holiness. Valuable though they are , all of those are side effects. The purpose of prayer is to get acquainted with God. Anything else is a bonus. " Alfred C McClure.

.... of the world becoming borderless

In a few days time Yours Sincerely ( Y S )will start working again after a long holiday of about three months. Y S' last worked in South Vietnam and that was during the Chinese Lunar New Year.
If you are confused, according to Y S, traveling is not a holiday but work. Holiday is when you come back home from traveling and fall back comfortably to your good old restful routine.

This time YS and Better Half will be working in south-east USA. While Y S is filling up his suit cases, the breaking news of the death of Osama kept flashing on CNN, BBC and Al-jazeera. Since then Y S' phone has been ringing off the hook from siblings, friends and well wishers over travel safety to USA.

See how the world has become borderless and a global village. Happening in one small corner of Pakistan can affect a small, insignificant and humble retiree right here in Alor Setar, kedah, West Malaysia, thousand of kilometers away.

In 2011, Y S and Better Half were all set for UK when Osama triggered the 911. This raised travel security and concern, and Y S canceled his trip, losing thousands of ringgit of flight bookings etc. On the hind sight, Y S should have gone ahead with the trip as security was very much tightened and thus the trip would have been, in fact, safer. This time around, Y S isn't going to have his booking canceled and deposit forfeited, Osama or no Osama !

The world isn't becoming more peaceful and safer anymore. The age of innocence in travel is over. If you want to step foot out of your house, you have to take care, look out and trust in God's providence.

There are many people who trusted in the safety of their homes, anyway they died in their homes, too, on their beds ! LOL

They are fixed, nailed and pasted on tree trunks, lamp & electric -posts, road signs and dividers, walls , and sometimes on vehicles all over the town - advertisement on produce, products and services. While Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) has no grouch against such mosquito advertisers since doing business without advertisement is like winking at a girl in the dark, such advertisements can really be an eye sore since when they are indiscriminately displayed. Many a tree has been defaced and sometimes they cover up the road signs and hide away traffic lights.

Of late another type of advertisement widely sprouted all over strategic places in town and promising male potency while guaranteeing satisfaction both to the clients and their "victims." Sexuality has come a long way since the prudent Victorian age.

Y S understands that there is a by-law governing the placing of advertisements in town. They have to be whetted and a substantial fees imposed by the town council. There is also a time frame for the advertisement and hence the owners are responsible for removing them. However, those put by the mosquito advertisers are left to rot with the forces of nature.

It is not hard to impose such ruling if the powers so be is game. Just give a call to the phone number provided on the advertisement and nap the culprits when they appear to collect their spoils. But so far, nothing is done.

It takes all types to make up this world.

.... of old dogs and new tricks and perseverance

Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) almost gave up golfing had it not for the heavy investments put in the sport:-

Golf set : RM 4,500.00
Golf bag : RM 750.00
Trolly : RM 70.00
Coaching : RM 500.00
Insurance : RM 120.00
Driving range practice : 100 balls X RM8.00 X countless sessions
Caddy fees : RM 20.00 per 18 holes X countless rounds
Total = RM x(*&opa;#2@%^7

At the verge of giving up, Y S awarded himself the above trophy: "The lousiest Golfer of the Royal Kedah Club." Y S started to hate small balls. They are so hard to hit and can be very elusive. Golf balls flew into the rough and hid among the tall grass. Golf balls looped into the pond with a loud " ploop" and a big splash as if to sneer you. Golf balls hit the branches of the trees, frightening away the birds and shed some leaves to spike you. Your iron carved out a huge chunks of divot, giving the green bald patches here and there . Your driver missed the ball, and you hit the air !!! Your golfing friends pretended not to see to save your face !!! On some days ,Y S could swear that he heard the trees, bushes, birds and insects laughed at his wayward balls. Y S also suffered the sympathy of the grass cutters. On a few occasions, they volunteered some tips here and there. Of course, the most hurting experience is to hear his better half quipped, " I TOLD YOU ALREADY. GOLF IS NOT YOUR SPORT!!!! bla...bla....bla...."

Not wanting to give up, Y S went back to the driving range. It was hours of hard practice and many more hours of walking the 9 holes almost every morning if it did not rain. Last few months, if you saw a lone golfer on the Royal kedah Club greens even at high noons, then it had to be Y S.How to hit straight and accurate? It is practice, practice and more practice. Remember that practice alone does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. And practice is the best of all instructors. Then Y S has to mention the many hours of watching golfing U-Tubes. They are a good source of lessons.



PERSEVERANCE PAYS. Y S has improved his golf tremendously. He can now hit straight and place his balls. He loses less balls to the obstacles. The secret lies in perseverance. Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. It is said that, like postage stamp, a man's value depends on his ability to stick to a thing till he gets there. Even the woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses his head and keeps pecking away until he finishes the job he starts.



If one has passion for the game, he has to love the balls. They may be inanimate objects, but they have their own spirit and soul. A good golfer friend, Mr Peter Teoh, will never, never putt his golf ball without giving it a good rub and polish. "Thomas, make sure that not a speck of sand is on the ball. It makes a difference to your putting." " Never move the ball with your feet. It's disrespectful to the ball. It's a taboo. Use your iron to move it." Talk to the ball like you do to your plants. His advice to Y S .

Old dog can do new trick if it perseveres.

Golf ? Give Y S a call.