My first 30 hour Famine experience

Are you crazy for starving yourself for 30 hour? What do you wish to accomplish by doing this? It's pointless....These are some of the feedback I got when I told them about this 'thing' that I'm doing. However there are some who are so interested that I don't even need to do the invitation. Then, there are those who are absolutely convinced that they will not be able to endure the hunger and didn't want to try. No one is right or wrong here. It's just a matter of different opinion and different exposure.

As for me, I'm always up for new challenges. And the 30 hour Famine sounds like the perfect event for me. It is something that I wanted to do ever since I heard about it 2 years ago when Serena invited me. Back then, I knew it is a very meaningful event but I was just very unfocused and didnt know if I had the time to do it. This time around I've decided that I am the one who decides on how I want to spend my time and I set my own priority. I guess like attracted like because this year We have an amazing bunch of committees and I made new friends which opened up my mind.

Even in the early stages of planning, it was already an amazing experience. The main World Vision 30 Hour Famine Committee was superb in providing us with the needed training, support and materials. They basically covered every nook and cranny that we needed to run a successful camp. Yes! you heard me right, my first experience with the 30 Hour Famine is also the the time that I am the committee of a sub camp of over 110 person.

It all began with a humble 4 person committee consisting of Serena, Joanne, Dino and me. We also had the pleasure of organizing this together with Beautiful Gates, a foundation for the disabled. FYI, BG is also one of the beneficiary of World Vision and we have been working with them for around 4 years on many other camps and events. Such partnership, to me was what I
thought, a dream team..until things starts to fall into places and we met other high energy, truly genuine individuals. Tony, Faith, Chien Hui, John and Mong Ping. As if that's not enough, we even decided to pack the camp with hand picked group leaders who are ever so willing to make some contributions in whatever way they can. This, I thought is a fail-proof camp! UNTIL.... I meet our dear campers! They are just so lovely! and participated in the camp full on! without a single word of complain. Then, I thought...Surely, surely this is a fail proof camp! I have never been so right in my life.

Let me share what were the conditions that we were tested with. Wee early in the morning when we arrived, we were greeted by a power outage, then noon came and it became so hot but yet we endured it and carry out our activities. The power came back around noon and by night time when everyone is ready to sleep the air-cond was so cold that some people cant sleep. On the next day at the Stadium it rained and many were not deterred by this and still made their way to the center of the field. I would say that this is a more accurate condition in which the poverty stricken people are living in, only it's worst off and it's not just 1 night.

The games that we played, the activities that we had and the reflection sessions that we had was participated fully and most enthusiastically. What amazes me was every single group was able to complete the assignment which I initially though almost impossible and unacceptable. each team of 5 people are to cook a meal of 3 dishes, a soup and rice, on a budget of RM10!!! As if that's not hard enough, they were also requested to have the most talkative person to be a mute, and then another in a wheelchair, and another blindfolded, and another without the use of 1 arm. They have to complete all these in hour!!!!! The first time I heard it, I thought the MC was joking. It sounded crazy, but to my astonishment, everybody liked crazy. At first, our campers had a disbelieving look on their face. Then soon after they took on the challenge with a smiling face. I don't know if they may already be thinking If I have to die, let's die with a smile. haha.

What surprised me most is that our camp is so successful that a beautiful relationship was born out of this camp! yes you guessed it. Our camp has became a matchmaking event as well!! Haha. This news almost made me want to cry with happiness. To think that We have a hand in weaving a beautiful relationship. That is just awesome! Dear campers!! Try guessing who the new couple are. hehehe. Find it out yourself.

At the last hour of the camp, a few of us kept falling into stupor and dozing off to sleep. We have been warned that the last few hours are the hardest. Our dear group leader, Sean dozed off a few time while standing. haha.

When time came, we counted down the seconds and celebrated our success with soya and Coco Crunch!! We shouted at the top of our lungs, congratulated each other and called out 'YUUUUUUMMMM SSSSEEEENNGGGGG!!!'

Now everybody goes back their own life a new person. A new education has taken place. we are now aware of the conditions of the world, new feelings has dawned upon the campers and new resolutions to make the world a better place and the first step starts with me.

I have decided to start sponsoring a child as I can be assured that this program will definitely help the poverty. Quite a number of campers have also vowed to sponsor a child. Maybe you can take a look too!

Find World Vision at the places below

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/WorldVision-Malaysia/34138915656

Website
http://www.worldvision.com.my/

Contact number
Tel: 03-7880 6414 Fax: 03-7880 6424
E-mail: admin@worldvision.com.my

Asiaworks, Works!

A few of my friends went for the Asiaworks Basic Course over the weekend which was sponsored by Asiaworks. It is held every year complimentary for all NGOs and I was very happy and excited because my girlfriend, my sister, my best friend and my fellow beloved volunteers participated. We had some problem enrolling at first because we handed in the registration late. Luckily we had some help for Joyce, a fellow Asiaworker. She went out of her way to help because she dont want us to lose out too. That's true Asiawork's spirit! Taught me a thing or two about enrolling people and show them my intention. The staff was amazingly helpful as well.

While waiting for the door to open, we indulged ourself in some good old fun!

Graduation day came and we had a blast in the ceremony. We took massive amount of pictures and everybody just crammed into a room, getting into each other's way while taking pictures. I am very happy that Michelle made alot of friends. While walking into the room and seeing the expression on their faces, it is such a priceless moment. Im so happy that I helped to enroll them in. Maw's actual words were " I finally understand!" That was another priceless moment for me. It was like his life's mystery is finally solved. Looking foward to see the new Maw and all the new Graduates. Congragulations!!! High Five all around!!!

Maw's eyes are so puffy from all the boo hoo hoo

Look at the happiness that's filing the air!

The Bucket List, a truly great movie

A Truly Beautiful story magnificently played by 2 Hollywood powerhouse, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. The story is engaging, witty, brings a strong message throughout the whole movie and it really brings oneself to think! Think about our life and the greater picture of the things and what brings meaning to us.

It talks about a high powered go getter Jack Nicholson, who's a filthy rich businessman who doesnt care much for anyone but himself. Morgan Freeman on the other hand was a normal and boring mechanic who has an encyclopedia for a brain probably due to his addiction to Jeopardy. Both of them met on a fateful day when they were put together in the same hospital room. All hell broke loose when they got to know of their fate and that they have only less than 1 year to live out their live.

Jack decided to go out with a bang after discovering Morgan's Bucket list (a list of things to do before you kick the bucket) Of course Jack adds a lot more spice to the list and even enrolled Morgan to join suit for the quest of completing the list. The list brings them all around the world encountering many adventures, sharing many life stories and leaving a lot of memories. There was so much content in the movie that it's amazing that the director can fit it all in a 1 and a half hour movie. This movie surely leave you thinking of the more important things in life, appreciating life more and leaving you with such a nice warm fuzzy feeling. So it's definitely a chef recommendation.

More information at
IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0825232/
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bucket_List

Internet Marketing

Got interested in making it in the internet, hence I went for an Internet Marketing course recently to learn about how and why so many people are jumping into the internet and make a profit for themselves. It's truly a global market and the competition is high, but on the upside, if you are even able to capture 0.01% of the global market, you'd be rich.
There are a few basic steps to get started.
1. Register a domain with a suitable name
2. Get a company to host your domain
3. Create your website to suit whatever business you are doing
4. Get an Autoresponder account so that business will run even while you are not around
5. Drive traffic to your website using many ways such as Personal and public blog, writing in Forums, Chats, etc.

The above is in a nutshell but yet it still looks complicated, vague and without the needed knowledge, you still wont know where or how to start. There are many more tricks still go give your internet business the extra boost such as Opt In to gather your customer list, the know how on getting your site to be listed on the top searches, incorporating advertising in your sites and etc.

These are the lessons that we are taught in the 3 day course and it is the most common way people are slowly but surely making it. There are still other ways to generate income in the internet and it's really up to your creativity. Some people gets a substantial amount by just owning a very famous blog sites. Some make it big by affiliating with successful online stores such as ebay and lelong.

After all that training, it all boils down to 1 very important and essential thing. Your creativity and what kind of business do you want to dabble into. My advise, whatever it is, do something right now, it may not be the best but you would have already started on your journey to success.

Good Luck!