Selamat Tahun Baru 2011 !

Here are My 2011 Wishes for All readers... 
H ours of happy times with friends and family
A bundant time for relaxation
P rosperity
P lenty of love when you need it the most
Y outhful excitement at lifes simple pleasures

N ights of restful slumber (you know - dont' worry be happy) 
E verything you need
W ishing you love and light

                                                                                                       
                                                                                                        Y ears and years of good health
                                                                                                        E njoyment and mirth
                                                                                                        A angels to watch over you
                                                                                                        R embrances of a happy years! 



Author Unknown

MERRY CHRISTMAS,folks!

Commentary on my daily life (updated)

It has been a while since the last personal update posting hasn't it ? Umm, about the time the new Cafe started. Yeah, that's about right. 3 months ago to be certain. Time sure flies when you're having Fun. I believe the fact that i'm taking time off my sleep and lazing about to find an excuse to write here means that I'm at last getting accustomed to the schedule and time of running this new business.

This Friday morning was a little lethargic as last night (a couple of Hours ago!) was full of tossing and turning around till around 4am, don't know why. Might have had something to do with the fact that my Blood Pressure was up since I did not take the medication in the last 48 hours. Only took it yesterday at  3 am.

Feeling much better when I got up, a call was received from Reena from Seri Malaysia Hotel requesting confirmation of my attendance to their client appreciation event today at 6pm. Immediately after answering in the affirmative and putting the phone down, an sms came in from Kurnia stating that the claim proposals had been received and that it would be processed within 7 days. ( I'd  collided the wife's proton waja with another Wira about 10 days ago and it was in the shop till last saturday when the mechanic delivered the car back to us at home). 

Anyways, my first order of business for the day was to get a good breakfast and my usual Indian shop selling

Tosai, Roti Canai & Naan's was the hangout I headed to. There's nothing like a foamy kopi tarik early in the morning to get the body up and running. Follow that up with some coconut & lime fricassee with a side dish of lentil based curry dipped in yesterday's sour dough turned into thin fermented crepe like pancake grilled over a hot pan) really whets my appetite for a hearty Indian breakfast. 

Resting for a while after breakfast and watching the crowd come in and dissapear a few minutes later after their breakfast is relaxing and mildly therapeutic as you watch the world go about it's business whilst sitting in a  bustling shop with a full tummy.

Many things are going on in my life nowdays; with many happy moments inter-sped with frustrating moments collide as business and pleasure intertwined.This being the end of the year many projects will also be on the cards as routinely, this is the time many of the associations dinners, souvenir programme; and parties are held all at once (at least until mid january). Bunch that up with the Cafe's running and my Printing Business and Financial Services agency work,and you've got a full plate of events on your table.

I worry about my wife though, as she is adamant in accompanying me to the Cafe in the evenings after her full day working in the office.Last few days she didn't get enough rest as the closing time at the cafe was rather late ( after 1.30 am) and by the time we close up and reach home it would be around 2.30 am. On Thursday, i asked her to stay home and rest as i could see her tossing and turning and groaning slightly ever so often in the night as her body tried to get accustomed to the new sleeping schedules. It is high time we get some staff to cover her duties at the counter in the cafe but because this is a cash business that's a little hard to do. (finding a trust worthy staff)

Laughing is good for you

Gunabalan's Grateful Graces for the Good Lord.

It's the final month of the year now. 2010 had come resplendent, replete with the customary bang and went about it's merry way, where many months later, we look back and see the trails of our adventure throughout the year shine across  for us as a beacon of dimming starlights showing us the pattern of our lives through our actions and inactions and the gleamer of future consequences parading before us.....
In the twilight days of this year, many a musings will be extolled and analysed, many a resolution made and eventually broken, unrequited; as we go on with our daily wanderings and adventures.
For me, personally I would say the year started off rather poorly, when on to be the highlight of this decade for treating my wanderlust; helped me achieved my heart's desire (in more ways than one!); and ended where I least thought it would end. Though, happily i continue to believe that in preparing me for my future adventures, this situation and place that i find myself in today; working and worrying is but a helping stepping stone that is given to me by the good lord to test my resolve so that i can weather the coming days in better shape and spirit ; for the gifts that i have been blessed with continues even to this day as i give thanks daily to the many pleasures that I've enjoyed amidst the sweat and toil that I've (literally) shed; towards achieving a better life for me and my family.
In retrospect, 2010 for me, will go down in history as the year that everything was well coordinated, lived, prospered and enjoyed by all who surround me!

Yearly Dementia Test.

Your Yearly Dementia Test It's that time of year to take our annual senior citizen test.   Exercise of the brain is as important as exercise of the muscles. As we grow older, it's important to keep mentally alert.  If you don't use it, you lose it! Below is a very private way to gauge your loss or non-loss of intelligence. Take the test presented here to determine if you're losing it or not. The spaces below are so you don't see the answers until you've made your answer.   OK, relax, clear your mind and begin.       1. What do you put in a toaster? Answer: "bread." If you said "toast," give up now and do something else.  Try not to hurt yourself.             If you said, bread, go to Question 2. 2. Say "silk " five times. Now spell "silk." What do cows drink?  Answer: Cows drink water. If you said "milk," don't attempt the next question. Your brain is over-stressed and may even overheat. Content yourself with reading a more appropriate literature such as Auto World. However, if you said "water", proceed to question 3.  3. If a red house is made from red bricks and a blue house is made from blue bricks and a pink house is made from pink bricks and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a green house made from?  Answer: Greenhouses are made from glass. If you said "green bricks," why in the world are you still reading these??? If you said "glass," go on to Question 4.  4. It's twenty years ago, and a plane is flying at 20,000 feet over Germany. (If you will recall, Germany at the time was politically divided into West Germany and East Germany .) Anyway, during the flight, two engines fail. The pilot, realizing that the last remaining engine is also failing, decides on a crash landing procedure. Unfortunately the engine fails before he can do so and the plane fatally crashes smack in the middle of "no man's land" between East Germany and West Germany. Where would you bury the survivors? East Germany, West Germany, or no man's land"?  Answer: You don't bury survivors. If you said ANYTHING else, you're a dunce and you must stop. If you said, "You don't bury survivors", proceed to the next question 5. Without using a calculator - You are driving a bus from London to Milford Haven in Wales . In London, 17 people get on the bus. In Reading, six people get off the bus and nine people get on. In   Swindon, two people get off and four get on. In Cardiff, 11 people get off and 16 people get on. In   Swansea, three people get off and five people get on. In Carmathen, six people get off and three get on. Finally, you arrived at Milford Haven. What was the name of the bus driver and don't look back at the beginning of this problem?

Answer: Oh, for crying out loud!

Don't you remember your own name? It was YOU!!







PS: 95% of people fail most of the questions 

Mum's 72nd Birthday Lunch affair.

Mum celebrated her 72nd Birthday with us this year at The Philea Resort & Spa. Mala and Malini managed to catch up with mum on the sunday we proposed to celebrate her birthday and making up the group was also Joey, her mum and her little brother, not forgetting michelle's mum as well. The Lunch cum Hi Tea event was quite enjoyable for all of us as the buffet was good and the company better.

Later that evening all of them dropped by the Cafe as Mala & Malini had not visited it yet.

TTG ASIA MAGAZINE -November 2010 Edition

TTG ASIA MAGAZINE -November 2010 Edition

Malacca Recommendations:

Attached from the digital edition of Travel and Tours Asia magazine below are the print of the interview between Gunabalan and the Journalist of TTG on places of interest in Melaka

One message in time saves two stitches in the future.

Sent: Wed, 17 November, 2010 14:07:02

Subject: Re: before you lose you level of happiness

Thank You LK, 

Robert Kiyosaki was a sales phenomenon when he started and still is. I've enjoyed his seminars. He recently is asking everyone to start selling the gold and silver (commodities) safe havens and enter the Real Estate since their markets (US & Europe) are down almost 45% since 2008. He is predicting lower & mid end houses to get more popular because more people will lose their mortgages and thus be forced to rent.

PS- I would concentrate on Texas or Alabama,(and inner Florida due to the Oil spill contagion Fear) in the US & Costa Blanca or Almera in the North of Spain.(But that 's because i like the plains)

I  personally think his warning is a few years too early. The new money printing plan by the US Feds will further drive inflation up (and help decrease the government's Debts) but will cause individuals to suffer Higher costs of living. But this will take time.

And because malaysia is still having a big export based GDP, we will suffer contagion effects once the Credit bubble blows. Possibly by third quarter of 2012.

How are you catching on ? 

Watch this compelling video by Albert Bartlett (Prof.Emeritus of Colorado Boulder University on Physics and Quantum mechanics) and give prominent notice of 7.03 minutes until 8.00 minutes of the video and then apply that logic to our need to accumulate cash and or comfort. (These are two different achievable goals that leads exponentially to different paths of happiness). 

Many often confuse Long Term Security as a Guarantee and waste their most precious asset (which is Time) in search of that perceived valuation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-QA2rkpBSY

Then relate that new appreciation of other possible paths (or life choices) with this info of our present cash based society:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po6HhQ1ZRxE&feature=player_embedded

Both are verifiable truths that appeal only to those who seek the qualified truths. 

In their own sphere's of influence these speakers and their multiplication of ordinary data and individual outlook on their own speciality give no co- relation to each other but in my mind it alludes to a greater quantitative possibility (training) that keeps persuading us to rush around in somebody else's system of operation at the peril of our own sanity (in the extreme) and or at the very least comfort. 

Meaning: Be aware of simple truths and current world politics and the happiness in life will be within your grasp if you take precautions early.

Cheers, my friend. Let's do Dinner at your earliest convenience?

“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holyshit…what a ride!"

 Gunabalan (012 6050446)

Balmic Management Services and Enterprise

Laugh out loud !

A young monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned
to helping the other monks in copying the old canons and 
Laws of the church by hand.

He notices, however, that all of the monks are copying 
from copies, not from the original manuscript. So, the 
new monk goes to the head abbot to question this, 
pointing out that if someone made even a small error 
in the first copy, it would never be picked up! In fact, 
that error would be continued in all of the subsequent copies.

The head monk, says, 'We have been copying 
from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son.'
He goes down into the dark caves
underneath the monastery where the original manuscripts are 
held as archives in a locked vault that hasn't been opened for 
hundreds of years.. Hours go by and nobody sees the old abbot..

So, the young monk gets worried and goes down to look for him.
 He sees him banging his head against the wall and wailing, 
'We missed theR! We missed the R! We missed the R!' 
His forehead is all bloody and bruised and he is crying uncontrollably. 
The young monk asks the old abbot, 'What's wrong, Father?' 
With A choking voice, the old abbot replies, 
'The word was...

CELEBRATE!!!'

Update on the current lovely business affair by the family Gunabalan

It has been a while since the last time this Blog was updated as during this interim period, I have been busy getting used to the running of the Honky Tonk Haven Cafe. The Business is picking up as word travels around that we are providing good entertainment and company. After a month in operation, the returns look promising !
More importantly, our social contact is expanding as more locals get to know about michelle, me and the Honky Tonk Haven Cafe. I must say though, that without the help of Joe "Fingers" -our entertainment maestro, and the consistent help and support of our friends, & our chinese relatives, this fast vertical take off of the business would not have materialized!

The business is slow during the days that Joe is not around, but picks up once he starts! But then, we all understand that getting the business started and maintaining it is two different stories.It has long hours, demands hard work & takes much preparation and planning and at times can be seen as not worth the daily takings but in totality, it provides much pleasure and fun yet gives adequate returns too!
Some quiet days, I've been known to just sit by the riverside enjoying the evening breeze while caressing a soft drink or coffee in my hands enjoying the peaceful &relaxing views of the river and nature in action as the birds fly home to their roost and nest for the night.With my legs put up on the chair and my belly full,  the scenery and environment around the Cafe lulls my senses after a hot, sultry day's work,as the world prepares to unwind.If some good company/back packing visitors passes by, I normally would invite them to sit and enjoy the view together with me and the hours seems to melt away as we sit and chat over a drink while we get to know each other. More often than not these friendships are as fleeting as the mists of rain on our shores as these friends normally plan to stay in melaka only for a day or two but those moments shared are treasured moments  for me even though the faces and names will melt away within my memory with time and distance.
My children have also made me proud as they help out at the Cafe during the busy periods ( and they do so with trained good attitude and lotsa perspiration!).My mother -in-law and brothers-in -law are very supportive of our endeavor and help us through constant support and visits.Mother in law also helps run  and control the kitchen when the crowd is large much to my surprise. In particular though, i need to mention Utheya's girl friend  Joey,who takes over the counter and kitchen instinctively whenever we need all hands on deck.
Even her family members (and their maid) come together and support and help us during those times.
Their help,support and charity is very strong towards us! I feel indebted to all of them at times, as it is safe to say that without their help during the busy periods we might have floundered easily at the business. When people say that the community feeling and support is strong within the chinese people we often do not comprehend the sacrifice of time and effort that is required for that support but with this family it really shows.

I feel grateful when I see our friends take time out to visit and give us business that at times it all feels a little over whelming ; the LOVE and support we have from all of them.

Running this cafe has opened my eyes to the emotional and loving support my family and I have been blessed with that we may have taken for granted all these years. (Thank You,God for the privileges; protection and blessing you have given us in abundance)

Life's Last Moment

 Written by a palliative care worker...

 

 Five Regrets of the Dying

       By Bronnie Ware, Platinum Quality Author

       For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were
those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were
shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their
lives.

       People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality.
I learned never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some
changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as
expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually
acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed
though, every one of them.

       When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they
would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are
the most common five:

       1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not
the life others expected of me.

       This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that
their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see
how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honoured
even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to
choices they had made, or not made.
       It is very important to try and honour at least some of your
dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is
too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer
have it.

       2. I wish I didn't work so hard.

       This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed
their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also
spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of
the female patients had not been breadwinners All of the men I nursed
deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a
work existence.

       By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along
the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do.
And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more
open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.
       3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

       Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace
with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and
never became who they were truly capable of becoming Many developed
illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a
result.

       We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although
people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking
honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and
healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship
from your life. Either way, you win.

       4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

       Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old
friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track
them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had
let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep
regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they
deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

       It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships
slip.  But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical
details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs
in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true
importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the
benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary
to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships
in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and
relationships.

       5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

       This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until
the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old
patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed
into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had
them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content.
When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in
their life again.

       When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a
long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile
again, long before you are dying.
       Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose
wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

Gunabalan & Family WISHES ALL OUR READERS "HAPPY DEEPAVALI"

To all our Readers, supporters, followers, and members; 

Let this the 2010 festival of Deepavali burn away all your bad times and  lights the way for your entrance into the good times. May all your worries, fears and troubles fade away within the Joy and Celebration of this Festival of Lights !

The truth is that existence wants your life to become a festival...because when you are unhappy, you also throw unhappiness all around.

So, let's all turn towards the light and  whole heartedly decide Mutual Happiness is a Birth-Right of all man and women on this world.

A Historic & Eventful Day for Melaka

Melaka will today be declared a Developed City by our Chief Minister Ali Rustam at 20.10 hours. The passion of this one man has transformed our fair town into the beautiful city state we see today. For hundreds of years, this former back water town was considered nothing more than a mere page in the history of Malaysia and no one ever bothered to raise her name in the annals of History to match her glory years 647 years ago under the Malacca Sultanate periods. 

She is transformed today.

Inaction is no escape from the complexities of life and  submission to Life means accepting the complexities, contradictions and paradoxes that make up the mottled landscape of living itself. 

No, we cannot run from our fears and anxieties and we cannot gloss them over with counterfeit simple solutions either.

MY emotional contribution to this historic event is  penned  below:

REMEMBER,REMEMBER,my Brethren in Beautiful Melaka,

This land, pursued all through ages by

The Portuguese & Dutch Conquerors,

The British, 'n' the Japanese Righteous Crusaders,

Were all here for a reason?

Once it was the Trade winds, then it was the spice trades,

Later it was because of the Minerals and ore, even communism  

which they said was at odds with our core; today, it's the tourist dollar and it's mores

"Aujourd'hui roi, demain rien”- the saying in french ...
The Kings of today will be but commoners tomorrow

The dust will settle, and dreams will be rendered,

but through it all, the amour towards this place and it's people should not be a sundered

For we the people will continue to live here, learn here and love here.

When all else ends; Melaka will still be here

This land is where my soul resides; this earth where my body and bones crumbles and dies

This is my home; My people; My Family.

Quotable Quotes

A  friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up  a silk paper wrapped package:

'This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package.'
He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.

'She got this the first time we went to New York ,
8 or 9 years ago.She has never put it on , 
was saving it for a special occasion.

Well, I guess this is it.

He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died. He turned to me and said:

'Never save something for a special occasion.
Every day in your life is a special occasion'.

I still think those words changed my life.
Now I read more and clean less.
I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.
I spend more time with my family, and less at work.

I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through.

I no longer keep anything.
I use crystal glasses every day...

I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.
I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it

whenever I want to.

The words 'Someday....' and ' One Day...' are fading away

from my dictionary.
If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen

 or do it now....

I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she

 knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody

can tell.

I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.
She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels.

I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food.

It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time  had come..

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.

Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one..

If you are reading this, remember that someone cares for you and because, probably, there's someone you care about.

'One of these days' , remember that 'One day' is far away...

 or might never come......