Rental cost

Let's apply a bit of mathematics in part and parcels of life: house renting.

Assuming 5 peoples want to rent a unit of house for $1800, 2 of them take the master room and pay $900 in total (which means $450 each); the rest take the common room and pay also $900 (which means $300 each). And the group of three ask:"Hey, it's unfair, by paying the same amount, we could have a master room!"

So you think "Aha, they got their point", that's another perspective looking into this matter. But if you think carefully, this argument is not sound. Because they do not only rent the room, but also rent the areas like living room and kitchen that are shared by all. Hence the cost cannot be calculated just based on room, but also based on head count.

It would be clearer with the following estimated cost break down:
Master room : $700
Common room: $600
Common areas: $500 ( = $100 per person for 5 persons)

If the group of three want to switch to master room, they have to pay $1000, but not $900. So now does the suggestion of switching still sound logical? :)

Compromise

There are millions of people and we are all still learning how to treat others and teaching others how to treat us. These matters could be complicated when it comes to living together, as everyone has their own habits and desires. Compromise is a must, but to reach compromise without straining the relationship, the easiest way is to possess both qualities: openness/frankness and kindness/forgiveness.

If it's a true friendship that's built on mutual trust, it can weather even the greatest storm.

Free or busy

Either you are free until mad, or you are busy until mad. It's quite lucky not getting either one. Thursday, I've just got an option to find accommodation now instead of finding it after coming back from US. Friday, I've just got my medical report from my company and hence can proceed to apply for employment pass. Saturday, I've just got decision from my father that my mum and my sis can stay one more night during my convocation.

And hence, next week, suddenly, I need to get all these things done:

1. Sourcing and getting a house unit.
2. Renew my passport.
3. Apply for employment pass.
4. Apply for international driving permit.
5. Discussion regarding relocation benefits.
6. Getting convocation suit and letter of invitation.
7. Sourcing and booking a hotel.
8. Adding one more day of travel itinerary.
9. Buying return tickets to hometown.

I am expecting a heavy consumption of money, time and energy, and of course, reduced possible staying period back hometown. I hope I can get these done well, at the expense of some of my personal works: contacting friends, blogging, photos arranging, data and info classification, last bit of entertainment and bla bla bla...

Holiday? Ha ha.

快乐

人说：“快乐难找”，近期一项调查里的北欧人则说：“有好工作、有好伴侣、有好地方、有好邻居”就是天堂。

那，地狱呢？

Pride

Pride, is too abstract to be defined by external physical objects. It hides inside the inner heart, flickers only if one starts to accept oneself, and shines when one can laugh at weaknesses, not weaknesses of others but self weaknesses.

By the way, all of these are my self deceptions here. :)

Paths

Four years ago we came, four years later we departed.
To be at US at different time, to seek self worth at different place.
Soon shall be separated, but yet still tied,
Ah, what will change and what will not, perhaps we know too well.

Be strong

Just some thoughts triggered by something, for someone:

The lower you fell, the higher you bounce back; the harder you failed, the harder you try. Why can't you stand up again after falling down? Why can't you try again after failing? Why are you so scare of falling and failing? Why do you want to give up yourself? Who can help you if you can't even help yourself? Who will be there to show sympathy if you keep struggling in mud? And even if there is, how much can sympathy help rather than hurting your pride?

We stay strong and keep improving ourselves, not only for our own good, but also for friends and families that love us, not to have worries and heartbreak, for us.

摄影记 | Travel Photography

[注：这是柬越游记的其中一篇文章。为了文章的连续性，请从主文：柬越游记开始。]
[Note: This is one of the articles of "Cam-Viet Tour". For better reading experiences, please read from the main article: "Cam-Viet Tour"]

旅行总是与摄影形影不离，要旅行，少不了相机。少了相机，无论经历再丰富体验再刺激，当感觉随着忙碌渐渐变淡， 当记忆随着时间慢慢流逝，能够重温的或许只剩“曾经去过”这事实。但若说旅行的目的就是摄影，相信除了某些奇人（如某些尼康专业摄影师）之外，只剩下那些上车睡觉下车拍照的吃喝玩买极速赶景旅行团的团员们会认为如此。

Photography seems inseparable from travel, and camera is a must for any trip. Without it, most details will lost. Emotions will fade out no matter how wonderful and thrilling the experiences were, memory will fade away no matter how strong your memory is. The only way to revoke past memories and feelings is by looking back at photos. Nonetheless, I doubt few will agree that to travel is to take photos, except for some weirdo (like some Nikon professional) and ducks that follow inflexible package tours which offer nothing more than eating, sleeping, and of course photo taking.

话虽如此，在那些诸如历史文教遗迹之类的景点，摄影还是占了观光的大半时间，一来透过镜片欣赏可以随意拍下留作日后再欣赏，二来拍出好照片会有满足感。

Having said so, in those historical sites, photo taking still consumes most of the time, as one may prefer to appreciate and save the beauty through lens. Also, it's of great satisfaction to have shot a magnificent photo.

四个人四架机，难免时常互相比较。究竟谁的摄影技术比较好？至今仍没定论。
We often compares photography skill as all of us own a cam. But who's the best? The question remains unanswered.

有最好的相机，拍了不少好照
Equipped with the best camera, had fair amounts of good shots.

相机坏之前拍最多，因而拍出一定数量的好照
Took the most photos before camera spoilt,
and hence by proportion had some good shots.

特殊的录影师，自豪地认为成功拍下吴哥窟最美的图案
Unique cam recorder, boost to have taken the best picture of Angkor Wat

有最多的摄影知识但很少实践，懒人就是这样的啦
Have the most photography knowledge
but seldom practiced it. You know he's lazy.

让我们看看小沙关于摄影的秘诀。Let's see Sandy's tip for photography.

1. 按住相机的按键来选择和控制光圈摄光的来源。
If you don't know what's adjusting aperture with background by holding press button of the camera, check it out.

2. 人和景的最好的比例是一比三。
The best ratio of people to background is 1:3.


但实际拍摄有时候不懂怎样才算比较好。比较一下两张照片，你觉得哪一张拍得比较好呢？But sometimes things aren't that clear. Which photo below you think is nicer?

House Shifting - Min Chunn & co's

Few days ago me, Kok Heng and Kap Lam helped Min Chunn and Bei Bei to shift their house from Bukit Batok to Seng Kang. Guess how many stuffs they have for 5 persons?

About 30% of total stuffs

About 60% of total stuffs

Nothing was really heavy but then the amount itself was a bit amazing. Luckily they have found us, if not it's going to be a long long day. Because we are very strong.

NTU Sakae Sushi

Last weekend we went to there to have our dinner. Most of them chose sushi buffet except me and krix as both of us can't eat that much. He was sick and nowadays I can't eat too much. Hence we ordered a la carte and it tasted quite good, especially the miso soup.

My Salmon Don

Krix's Pepper Steak Don

And the unique thing at there? It has to be the cutest slipper that you've ever seen.