Road Trip in Perak, Malaysia

For the longest time, I wanted to visit the towns of the Malaysian state of Perak, for the food and some doses of history. I have met many friends from Perak, especially during university days. Perak was definitely a lifelong target, and we planned a 4D3N road trip. We spent a night in Teluk Intan, Taiping and Ipoh respectively. It was perfect intervals.  

A 450km round trip (RM 50 in petrol)

We flew into Ipoh from Johor Bahru with AirAsia last Saturday morning. Flight ticket was RM 230 return, which was rather affordable (having purchased it mid-August). It was my first AirAsia flight for a long long time. The flight was on time, to my surprise. In fact, the return flight from Ipoh to Johor Bahru last Tuesday afternoon departed 20 minutes earlier! 

Ipoh's airport, with mountains on the horizon. 

We rented the smallest available car, for RM120/day from We Rich Car Rental. Other companies cost twice.

Teluk Intan is 90km southeast of Ipoh. It was a pleasant 1.5-hour drive from the airport. It was a chance to catch up with some old friends, by chatting a bit about the local food. My long time friend Darren is from Langkap, and studied his Form 6 in Teluk Intan. My classmate Yeesiong was a local, while my mentor Mr. Chow was also familiar. They both recommended Hawayi, which was just beside our hotel - Anson Hotel.

Mee rebus, laksa and cendol

A bit overkill, but I think it provides accountability and responsibility

The missus, with the 'Leaning Tower' of Teluk Intan (Menara Condong)

Due to sedimentation, the once upright tower to store water (you could still spot the stainless steel water tank and valves inside) started slanting and tilt to the southwest direction. Thankfully, no water is stored inside, and it is now only a tourist attraction.

Perak river - Had its glory days in the late 19th century

Formally known as Teluk Anson, after a British Resident, this was a laidback and sleepy town. Most shops close by 8pm. But people here start their day early. 

The Apple and the Tree - Life as Dr Mahathir's Daughter by Marina Mahathir

Tun Dr Mahathir is probably the most important Malaysian that has lived, for better or worst. To be his eldest child, it was not going to be easy. Living in the shadow of Malaysia's longest serving Prime Minister comes with extreme privilege, which Marina Mahathir acknowledges at the start, but it also comes with the challenges and risk. 

Growing up, Marina Mahathir had found it difficult to step out of her dad's shadow. When she was 15, her dad told her she was mediocre, in hope to spun her further in life. She took that quite personally and heavily, and remembers this episode even as she is 62. Dr. Mahathir would be sorry to read this, but he'll probably won't mind, as she turned out not at all mediocre. 

She became a writer and journalist after graduating from the UK. She found a role for herself in society did well later in life, especially with her work with Malaysia Aids Foundation. She didn't rest on her laurels and made herself as useful as possible. 

In 2018, during the 14th General Election, Marina spoke at political rallies for the first time in her life. She describes the build-up to the election, and how her father, at the age of 92 eventually became the Prime Minister again. There was a lot of jubilation as the country rid herself of corrupted officials that abused power and plundered the nation. 

2 years later, around February 2020, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government fell, upon the resignation of Dr. Mahathir as Prime Minister. In-fighting in the PH government was fierce. It shook the country, and the people, just before COVID-19 stroke. The week was supposed to be the wedding of Dr. Mahathir's eldest granddaughter, so the whole family was busy. Marina shared some unknown twist and turns behind the scenes. I wouldn't take everything she wrote, but I think majority of her views are valid. 

This is a book worth reading. I am glad to read this book during my mandatory quarantine in Taiwan. Marina is a capable writer who brought her readers far and wide. She had a summer exchange in the US, and explained her days in boarding school and at the University of Sussex, UK.   

I like reading biographies of people from South East Asia. These are more relatable, and inspires me to contribute more to society.   

~~~

I sometimes feel sorry for kids with super-accomplished parents. It either motivates them to achieve more, or just slack them into oblivion, always feeling entitled and lack inspiration. It normally isn't the kid's fault being pampered, wrapped in a cotton wool and stumble at the easiest of dejections. The upbringing plays a huge part, and if you spare the rod, you spoil the child.   

In many ways, I feel extremely fortunate and humbled to have made my parents rather proud. In terms of life accomplishments, most of my peers from my hometown made considerable progress. Like what my secondary school mate Shane Chew said, our group of friends (known as the Atlantiz gang) managed to move up the social ladder, and are generally in a better place than our parents. This, is the same with my parents, who outdid their parents by going and passing school, despite the difficulties in life. There was no doubt that grandparents would marvel at my parent's ability to read and write in English and Malay. I suppose it is only natural that children become better-off than their parents, as parents would strive to provide the best for their kids. 

My oratory skills and stress-resistance capabilities come from mom, while my principles, sense of justice and 做人的道理 comes from dad. This is a lethal combination that made the world my oyster.

No Bones Unturned - Dr. Porntip Rojanasunan

You don't need to seek inspiration from too far abroad. Sometimes, the laypeople around us are just as good. I first read about Dr. Porntip from the Malaysian media, through her punk-rock hair-style several years ago. She was in town to conduct a forensic duty. 

Her second book - No Bones Unturned is simple and down to earth. A fantastic read and I finished it within hours after borrowing from the library. 

Credits to NLB Clementi for making this book available

~~~

This book provided insights of a forensics scientist. Dr. Porntip was able to explain how she helped solved crimes and mysteries through forensics. From conducting investigations on defaced bodies, to looking for bones in a landfill, to identifying human flesh from septic tanks, Dr. Porntip has worked in the harshest of environments. These are not tasks for the faint-hearted (including myself). She made many enemies. For a few years, she helped develop DNA data base in the south of Thailand, where insurgencies were rift. The blockbuster revelation of doubting Teoh Beng Hock's death made her quite an enemy of the Malaysian government, and threatened diplomatic ties. 

What attracted me was her views of life:

When I was young, my father taught me a valuable lesson: To pick up broken glass fragments on the ground if I see them while walking along a path. "Pick them up, wrap them in paper, and throw them away carefully. Because if not, someone else might get hurt. To leave the glass fragments on the ground was a sin. Although I was not the one who shattered the glass, I could be guilty of leaving them behind as a danger for others. 

Several people think that I have had a life that is fraught with hazards and crises. Some may say that I suffered miserably from having performed bad deeds. However, I see myself as having had a life where I have been trained to face dangers and obstacles. 

When I reflect on my working life, I realize that I am someone who lives to work. I do not place a high value on income, rewards or position, but it is fun that I get to work. The work that I do helps to solve a problem or improve a situation. Perhaps my enjoyment of my work comes from my nature of disliking anything that is routine and tedious.

My chosen profession is interesting to me also because it is not a popular choice of work, which means that there are fewer people for me to come into conflict with. There is a Thai proverb similar to the saying "too many cooks spoil the broth". There are very few doctors interested in forensic science, so we do not "spoil the broth".

During my time in the government service, I never 'ran' or 'danced' in order to rise in position. I never felt sad over failing to get any position. Wherever I was, I would look for work to make myself happy and try hard in overcoming challenges. I was like this throughout my time as a government officer (for 35 years). 

What makes my mind able to be calm is the dharmic principle I adhere to: "You reap what you sow; dharma will protect those who protect it."

What an inspiration. 

~~~

Her first book -  The Dead Do Talk seems to be more elusive. I would need to head to central library and read it in the reference section. I am determined to do so. 

The Culture Map - Breaking through the invisible boundaries of global business - Erin Meyer

Culture can be a sensitive topic. Speaking about a person's culture often provokes the same type of reaction as speaking about his mother. Most of us have deep protective instinct for the culture we consider our own, and, though we may criticize it bitterly ourselves, we may become easily incensed if someone from outside the culture dares to do so. 

This is indeed an interesting read. My first experience in cross-cultural studies was when I enrolled in a Cross-Culture Management class by Dr. Asma Abdullah at Putra Business School (UPM) back in 2014. So this was a superb revision and a 'deeper-dive'. Covid has brought a halt to international travels, but the connection with international colleagues, cross-border projects and communication with overseas friends had not stopped. 

It was relieve to have had my first overseas business trip last month. It was great to fly after 2.5 years. 

~~~

Erin Meyer is American and currently lives in Paris with her husband and 2 sons. She's got a wealth of experience and knowledge when it comes to explaining culture difference and bias. She is able to cover the traits of major cultures from around the world - American, British, French, Latin American, Northern and Southern European, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Middle East, African, and even Thai and Indonesian. There are many stories and awkward lessons which are shared. 

Meyer breaks down the cultures into 8 main scales:

The key to using the scale is to ALWAYS consider the cultural relativity.

Say for example I am a Malaysian Chinese (no example in the book, but I'll just merge Indonesian + Chinese), and I will most likely be perceived as always prefer to give indirect feedback (#2) when communicating with a German. However, Japanese is likely to be placed to the right on the scale, which means a Japanese may see me has too direct. 

The above scale is able show the differences between the German and French. No wonder, we read lots of misunderstanding. Both are 'confrontational' when there is a disagreement, but the French are 'relationship-based' and adopts 'flexible time', quite opposite to the Germans. 

The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck - Mark Manson

In many ways, the title of this book would suggest you should read only if you are >18. It was a bit difficult to digest at first, due to the language and ultra-direct approach. But as I read, it made more sense, and after completing the book, I was glad that I read it. The last few chapters are gold. It gave me new insights of life, and also gave me valuable realization to improve myself. 

I think most of us are always worried and anxious about almost everything - We end up not feeling happy. 

This book shares how to care-less on the artificial things in life while managing more tangible and essential things in life. There are some concepts to note. 

The Feedback Loop from Hell is something we do all the time, especially as a modern day human. 

You get anxious about confronting somebody in your life. That anxiety cripples you and you start wondering why you're so anxious. Now you're becoming anxious about being anxious. You are officially anxious about your anxiety, which is causing more anxiety...

You get pissed off at the stupidest, most inane stuff, and you have no idea why. And the fact that you get pissed off so easily starts to piss you off even more. And then, you petty rage, you realize that being angry all the time makes you a shallow and mean person, and you hate this; you hate it so much that you get angry at yourself. So, you are angry at yourself getting angry about being angry. 

Now here's the problem: Our society today, through the wonders of consumer culture and hey-look-my-life-is-cooler-than-yours social media, has bred a whole generation of people who believe that having negative experiences - anxiety, fear, guilt and etc. is not okay. In your Facebook feed, everyone is having a good time, getting married or having nice presents. You are stuck at home flossing your cat.

The Feedback Loop from Hell has made many of us overly stressed, overly neurotic and self-loathing. 

Back in Grandpa's day, he would feel like shit and think to himself: "I feel like cow turd today. But hey, I guess that's just life. Back to shoveling hay." Nowadays, you open Instagram, Tik-Tok and are bombarded with 350 images of people living totally happy lives! This is why not giving a f*ck is key.

The desire for more positive experience is itself a negative experience. The acceptance of one's negative experience is itself a positive experience. 

The more you desperately want to be happy and loved, the lonelier and more afraid you become. The more you want to be spiritually enlightened, the more self-centered and shallow you become in trying to get there. 

You're going to die one day. You and everyone now are going to be dead soon. And in the short amount of time between here and there, you have limited amount of f*cks to give. If you go around giving a f*ck about everything and everyone without conscious thought or choice, you're going to get f*cked. 

This does not mean that we should not care of anything. We should give our best in what we do, and hope for the best. For important or noble cause (friends, family, purpose), one would not give a f*ck and pursue it in the face of adversity. 

Disappointment Panda - the superhero that reminds us that the greatest truths in life are usually the most unpleasant to hear. He is a hero that none of us would want but all of us would need. He'd make us stronger by tearing us down, brighten our future by showing us the darkness. We suffer for the simple reason that suffering is biologically useful. It is nature's preferred agent for inspiring change. Problems are constant in life, and happiness comes from solving problems. So don't avoid your problems. Just do something. Don't wait for inspiration and motivation. Start doing something, and the inspiration may follow. Happiness is a constant work-in-progress, because solving problems is a constant work-in-progress. The solutions to today's problems, will lay the foundation for tomorrow's problems and so on.

Most people f*ck things up in two ways:

1. Denial. This may make them feel good in the short term (temporary high), but nothing good in the long term. 
2. Victim mentality. Some choose to believe that there is nothing they can do to solve their problem. Victims seek to blame others. 

Wow. That is true. I didn't realize that!

People who feel entitled view every occurrence in life as either an affirmation or, a threat to, their own greatness. Entitlement is a failed strategy. It is just another high. It is not happiness. 

The true measurement of self-worth is not how a person feels about her positive experiences, but rather how she feels about her negative experiences. Entitlement plays out in one of two ways:

1. I'm awesome and the rest of you all suck, so I deserve special treatment. 
2. I suck and the rest of you are all awesome, so I deserve special treatment. 

Selfish people flop back and forth between the two, depending on the day of the week.

We are for most part, pretty average people. It's the extremes that get all the publicity (via the internet). Every day, we are flooded with the truly extraordinary, the best of the best. The internet has not just open-sourced information; it has also open-sourced insecurity, self-doubt and shame. 

Being average, ordinary and mediocre is normal. You appreciate life's basic experience - simple friendship, creating something, helping someone in need, reading a good book, laughing with someone you care about... Sounds boring, as these are ordinary. But maybe, because they are what actually matters. 

I find the chapter on values / metrics in life really insightful. Mason explains that there are some common values that create really poor problems for ourselves, that can hardly be solved:

• Pleasure - A false god. It is not the cause of happiness, but the effect / by product of it. Ask an adulterer who shattered her family and lost her children whether pleasure ultimately made her happy. 
• Material success - Other values such as honesty, nonviolence and compassion is often sacrificed. 
• Always being right - It's better to assume that you're ignorant and don't know a whole lot. That's how we learn and grow.
• Staying positive - Denying negative emotions leans to experiencing deeper and prolonged negative emotions and to emotional dysfunction. Constant positivity is a form of avoidance, not a valid solution to life's problems. Things go wrong, people upset us, accidents happen, and we will feel like shit. Negative emotions (like suffering) are necessary component of emotional health. The trick with negative emotions is to 1) express them in a socially acceptable and healthy manner and 2) express them in a way that aligns with you values. For e.g., a value of mine is nonviolence. When I get mad at somebody, I express that anger, but I also make a point of not punching them. The anger is not the problem. Anger is part of life and is natural. Punching people is the problem. 

In the long run, completing a marathon makes us happier than eating a chocolate cake. Raising a child makes us happier than beating a video game. Starting a small business with friends while struggling to make ends meet makes us happier than buying a new computer. These activities are stressful, arduous and often unpleasant. Yet they are some of the most meaningful moments and joyous things we'll ever do. The years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful. 

The point is to nail down some good values and metrics, and pleasure and success will naturally emerge as a result. Examples of good values: honesty, innovation, vulnerability, standing up for oneself and others, self-respect, curiosity, charity, humility, creativity... Good values are achieved internally.

Examples of bad values: dominance through manipulation, feeling popular and good all the time, being center of attention, not being alone, being liked by everyone, being rich for the sake of being rich. These values are not reality, reliant on external events. There is no way to control how other people think of you.  

Sapiens: A brief history of humankind - Yuval Noah Harrari

This book is so popular that it is almost always unavailable in the various libraries around Singapore. I managed to get hold of the one and only book at Queenstown Library. When Bill Gates and Barack Obama recommends a book, it should be worth a read. 

I am totally impressed with this book, and am glad to know that there are so much known unknowns and unknown unknowns out there. This history book, by a historian (in 2014) should be noted as one of the must reads. It has changed my perspective of life forever. This doesn't mean that I take and believe everything that is was written. 

Credits to NLB Queenstown for having this book

~~~ 

Bing bang happened about 13.5 billion years ago, while a planet call earth formed about 3.8 billion years ago. 6 million years ago, a single female ape had two daughters. One became the ancestor of all chimpanzees, and the other our own grandmother. Animal much like modern humans first appeared about 2.5 million years ago (in East Africa).  There were actually several human species, which are our siblings such as Homo rudolfensis (East Africa), Homo erectus (East Asia) and Homo neanderthalensis (Europe and Western Asia). The domestication of fire about 300,000 years ago gave humans ability to cook on a daily basis. It may have also used as a weapon to torch fellow humans. 

About 70,000 years ago, organisms belonging to the species Homo sapiens started to form elaborate structures called cultures. The subsequent development of these human cultures is called history (of the Cognitive Revolution). The other human species, such as the Neanderthals (disappeared  about 30,000 years ago), while the dwarf-like humans vanished from Flores Island 12,000 years ago. They left behind some bones, stone tools, a few genes in our DNA and a lot of unanswered questions. 

Homo sapiens seems to wipe out the rest and survived to this day, due to the ability to communicate (language), belief in common myths (stories, legends, religions) and the capacity to spread information (and gossips) which formed large scale cooperation.

For 2.5 million years humans fed themselves by gathering plants and hunting animals that lived and bred without their intervention. All this changed about 10,000 years ago, when Sapiens began to manipulate lives of few animal and plant species. From sunrise to sunset, humans sowed seeds, watered plants, plucked weeds and led sheep to prime pastures. This is the Agriculture Revolution, and according to the author, possibly history's biggest fraud. it certainly increased the sum of total food, but extra food did not translate into better diet or more leisure. Rather, it translate into population explosions and pampered elites. The average farmer worked harder than the average forager, and got a worse diet in return! Worst, humans are now reliant on the weather - draught and flood may cause humans to go hungry, as humans gradually lost their skills as hunter-gatherer. 

It also caused wars and diseases as humans no longer roam the lands freely. Everyone needs to protect their plot of land. Kingdoms formed, and slowly did empires. 

This book touches on the role of empires, religions, politics and the list goes on. It even discusses on the future on humans - AI, biotech, infotech, robotics...

All in all, a good worth reading more than once. 

21 Lessons for the 21st Century - Yuval Harari

This is a 300-page book, but you could complete it within a few weekends. It starts rather quite technically, but ends with great lessons for laypeople like you and me. 

Lesson #1: Disillusionment - The end of history has been postponed. 

This book was published in 2018, the time of Donald Trump, Putin and Xi. The world seems to be on the brink. 

Lesson #2: Work - When you grow up, you might not have a job. 

Yes. The way of life/work has been almost the same for the past 2 centuries. But this will change. Technology, AI and robots will be replacing humans very soon. What can we do?

Lesson #3: Liberty - Big Data is watching you.

All wealth and power might be concentrated in the hands of a tiny elite, while most people will suffer not from exploitation, but from something far worse - irrelevance.

Lesson #4: Equality - Those who own the data own the future. 

How can cope with the challenges of biotech and infotech revolutions (which threatens the core modern values of liberty and equality)? Nationalism, religion and culture divide humankind into hostile camps and make it very difficult to cooperate on a global level.

Lesson #5: Community - Humans have bodies.

I definitely agree that we need to go offline (away from gadgets) more.

Lesson #6: Civilization - There is just one civilization in the world. 

Everybody trust the USD, but it is actually humankind. We all came from the African continent after thousand of years of evolution. 

Lesson #7: Nationalism - Global problems need global answers. 

The EU model is so far the best. There is still peace. 

Lesson #8: Religion - God now serves the nation

The true expertise of priests and gurus has never really been rainmaking, healing, prophecy or magic. Rather, it has always been interpretation. A priest is not somebody who knows how to perform the rain dance and end the drought. He is somebody who knows how to justify why the rain dance failed, and why we must keep believing in our god even though he seems deaf to all our prayers. 

Scientist too know how to cut corners and twist the evidence, but in the end, the mark of science is the willingness to admit failure and try a different tack. That's why scientists gradually learn how to grow better crops and make better medicines, whereas priest and gurus learn only how to make better excuses.  

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant - Eric Jorgenson

By far the most simple, practical and easy to understand someone's wisdom. I am ready to reread this book for the second time. It is just worth it. The book is divided into 2 main parts: Wealth and Happiness. 

Credits to NLB Clementi Branch for the book

Part 1 Wealth

• Productize yourself - 'Productize' has leverage, and 'yourself' has accountability. We need to put ourselves forward and be accountable and responsible to what we are doing. There's risk, but the potential reward is huge. 
• Build a specific knowledge.
• Play long-term games. 
• 99% of effort is wasted. 
• Intentions don't matter. Actions do. 
• Build or buy equity in a business. Comparing ownership and wage work, we know which is better. Find a position of leverage. Compounding (interest, knowledge, network) is the key. 
• Earn with your mind, not you time. Get paid for your judgement. 

The section on how to get rich without being lucky is worth reading. I encourage you to read the book itself. 

Part 1 is insightful, but I am more attracted to Part 2, which is teaching you about happiness. In many ways, I think I have been practicing half of what was shared. To be able to articulate all the wisdom is quite amazing. 

Part 2 Happiness

The 3 big ones in life are wealth, health and happiness. We pursue them in that order, but their importance is reverse. 

• Don't take yourself too seriously. You're just a monkey with a plan. 
• Happiness is what's there when you remove the sense that something is missing in your life. It's a choice. 
• Desire is a contract that you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.
• The fundamental delusion: There is something out there that will make me happy and fulfilled forever. 
• Success does not earn happiness. Happiness is being satisfied with what you have. Success comes from dissatisfaction. Choose. 
• Envy is the enemy of happiness. The enemy of peace of mind is expectations drilled into you by society and other people. 
• Care for yourself. Th priority should be physical health, mental health, spiritual health, and then other people's health and wellbeing. Look after your diet. Sugar and fat are not good. To have peace of mind, you need to have peace of body first. 
• Easy choice, hard life. Hard choices, easy life. The harder the workout, the easier the day.
• Too much sugar leads to a heavy body, and too many distractions (screen time) lead to a heavy mind. Time spent undistracted and alone, in self-examination, journaling (yay!) meditation, resolves the unresolved and takes us from mentally fat to fit. 
• Most of our suffering comes from avoidance. Once you are in it, it's not suffering anymore. Wim Hof advocates cold exposure, and  because people are too separated from their natural environment, being constantly clothed, fed and warmed. Cold shower in the morning actually builds our immune system. Acknowledge that it is cold, deal with it and accept it. Don't mentally suffer over it. I am planning to try this. I think being in Singapore, I can discard warm showers. 
• Be free from anger. Anger is a loss of control over the situation. Anger is its own punishment. An angry person trying to push your head below water is drowning at the same time. 
• People who live far below their means enjoy a freedom that people busy upgrading their lifestyles can't fathom. A taste of freedom can make you unemployable. 

The modern struggle:

Lone individuals summoning inhuman willpower, fasting, meditating and exercising...

Up against armies of scientists and statisticians weaponizing abundant food, screens, and medicine into junk food, clickbait news, infinite porn, endless games and addictive drugs. 

Health, love and your mission, in that order. Nothing else matters. 

I am totally mesmerized. 

Nature spaces in Singapore

I spent this year's Lunar New Year away from home. Well, technically about 30 km away from home. I wasn't able to get the VTL tickets, but I am grateful that I have been home last October. I think the folks who have been stuck in Singapore for 2 years deserve this break. In a way, I am fine letting others taking the chance to go home. 

Reunion dinner was simple

On Day 1, I went cycling with XS, my mate since secondary school from Bukit Timah till Buona Vista. 

Haven't ride for years - Was fun, as the route was quite empty

Had a detour inside Clementi Forest. 

On Day 2, we did hiking from Chestnut Park to Mandai, in search of the 'Fallen Tree' at Upper Seletar Reservoir.

Taking pictures are like doing squats nowadays

In Singapore, one thing is a given - You are always watched, even out in the wild

Ok. How does it feel like being friends since 13, and then being 35 this year?

Alright - Wasn't that fantastic

I am grateful to have buddies around. It is not to say that I can't find interesting things to do. 

Having friends with similar hobbies and interests in a foreign land is a blessing

This is the healthiest Chinese New Year ever

Wishing everyone a great year ahead. Hopefully, this year will signal the start of the end of COVID-19.

The kindness of strangers (Tales of fate and fortune on the road) - Don George

Lonely Planet has certain authority when it comes to traveling. This book was published in 2016, during the height of the travel boom. There are 26 inspiring short stories in this book, and I must say, I couldn't stop reading.  

Credits to NLB Clementi for having this book

The first few stories were rather peaceful and quite pleasant. Towards the end is where the actions are. 

James D. Houston found himself locked outside his car on a cold rainy night, having lost his way in the Hawaiian island of Honolulu. He by a huge Polynesian man. Turns out, the kind Samaritan lent him a coat hanger and unlock his car. In fact, the man directed him to his destination.

Amanda Jones was lost in the Sahara Desert, alone, and was rescued by a young man from the Wodaabe tribe.

Fran Palumbo had a horrible trip in India and switch to a solo road trip to the Scottish Highlands. She was enjoying the quietness before meeting an old man - Walter, who actually gave her hope in life. Life isn't that miserable when we take things positively. 

Tanya Shaffer found the wrong Abdelati in Morocco, but was still treated warmly as a guest. 

Rolf Potts felt like a hostage in Beirut for 3 days, as he befriended a rich young man - Mr. Ibrahim, who was almost dictating what he should do, eat or think. This is an epic story. 

Anyone who is sick of being stuck (due to the pandemic) should take up this book. I can assure you that your traveling desires will be answered. 

Some of the English used by the writers are way beyond a IELTS 8.5 person like me.  

What a book~

PS: Happy Chinese New Year, and Gong Xi Fa Cai, from Singapore. 

Graeme Souness - Football: My life, my passion (With Douglas Alexander)

In many ways, Souness remains a mystery figure for me. I started following Liverpool in 2000, but seldom hear about him. I would normally see him on Sky Sports as a football pundit, and am aware he played for Liverpool. And that is all. 

Credits to Clementi NLB for the book

After reading Bob Paisley's book - Quiet Genius, I got really curious about Souness. He was Bob Paisley's chief lieutenant on the pitch. He captained Liverpool for 5 years out of 7, and won 5 league titles and 3 European Cups. Bob Paisley had replaced Phil Thompson as captain during Christmas of 81-82, and from 10th spot, Liverpool somehow came back strongly and won the league. It was Paisley's proudest moment because of the comeback that season. 

Steven Gerard was Liverpool captain, but seems to have more adulation from the fans. I have not seen Souness watching football at Anfield, unlike Dalglish, Rush, or even Keegan. 

I was puzzled, and had to read about him. Turns out, Souness was someone quite controversial, especially when he went into management.  

Souness grew up in Edinburgh, but at the age of 15, he joined Tottenham as a trainee. From then on, he went on to have an football playing career that is hardly rivalled in the UK. He arrived at Liverpool in 1978 from Middlesbrough, at a time where people would choose Liverpool over Read Madrid. He left Liverpool at the high after winning 5 league titles and 3 European Cups, to play for Sampdoria in Italy. The contract to play for 1 year equaled his pay at Liverpool for 7 years. 

It means something to be Liverpool captain - You are the leader of a very talented team

Souness then returned to become player-manager at Rangers in 1986. It was a successful stint and he regrets leaving Rangers to take up the Liverpool job in 1991, at the age of 38. He managed Liverpool in 1991 after Dalglish left. Until today, he still says that it was the wrong time to take up the job, but he felt invincible when he was young, and was too eager to help change Liverpool. The picture of him celebrating his recovery from heart-bypass, published on The Sun on the 1-year anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster practically soured his standing at the club. 

 Still, Souness was a hot property. He had a fantastic reputation as a player. He took a year of sabbatical after resigning in 1992. Management jobs were still knocking on his door, and he travelled and managed different clubs such as Galatasaray, Southampton, Torino, Benfica, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. Management was not for everyone, and Souness, as proud and successful as he was as a player, had to accept that management wasn't for him. 

Days as a manager

Souness explains that during the days of Paisley, players remain players. Nowadays, player-power can get you sack. Just look at David Moyes, Van Gaal and Mourinho at Man Utd. In many ways, the story of Souness is a bit disheartening, and you feel for the guy. Most autobiographies are written by successful people. There was a sense of regret, especially during his career in management. 

Newcastle was his last job as manager, and he was tough - Souness was sacked.

The positive note is that he was the David Beckham of his playing days.  

Today, Souness is milder and the intensity has waned. He enjoys doing TV, and has a fabulous contract with SKY. He enjoys commentating on games, and gets to travel to different stadiums. If you look at Souness today, you could tell that he is at peace. 

As you grow older, you get wiser and somewhat get to accept who you are. At least, Souness gave everything a try when he was young, and he could look back with pride. 

I hope he gets to be back at Anfield as a guest.

~~~

I turn 35 today. It's a meaningful milestone in life. Thank you Susu for being by my side after quite a challenging year. Here's to many years to come.