a tribute

one lecture which became a legacy, with millions of hearts touched and inspired, and possibly changed how they see life (and death) - including myself. i suppose this is the ultimate "head fake" that randy pausch has left us, who died last weekend after fighting a winning battle with cancer.

amazingly a book so small left you with so many things to ponder:

"you just have to decide whether you want to be the tigger or eeyore (in life)"

"experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted"

"you cannnot change the cards you are dealt. just how you play your hand."

"be patient with others. wait long enough, and people will surprise and impress you."

"it’s not about how to achieve your dreams. it’s about how to lead your life. if you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. the dreams will come to you."

i am just going to leave you with these thoughts...

the last lecture

if you haven't seen this (or read his book), please do. it's probably the most inspiring hour you got to experience.

is that too much to ask...

for bosses to be at least border-line respectful and understanding, considerate, willing to put themselves into others' shoes, count more of things you have done than things you could have done, delegate tasks but not the responsibilities, minding more of their own businesses first than ours (esp they don't know jacksh*t about what we do), remember that we too work 8-hour day only, that time off meant time off and not time-you-don't-spend-in-office-but-still-have-to-work days and stop using big words that they don't even know what they meant literally?
speechless. period.

r.i.p., my friend

jesus said to her, "i am the resurrection and the life. he who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." - john 11:25

even though for many of us it's still hard to come to terms with this, but we all know she's now in a much better place, without suffering, without pain. at least that's the comfort and peace and hope that we can hang on to. r.i.p., my friend, and you will always be in our fond memories...

nha trang

after several episodes of feeling let down by not able to find a table at nha trang in central/soho - seems like the place's always packed no matter what time we go - we decided to settle with its wanchai branch, hidden away on the almost-forgotten queen's road east, just to give it a try to see what the fuss is all about.

its decor is nice - not in any common, rustic style like many local vietnamese restaurants around town but reminds me more of a french bistro - and the plates and bowls bearing the restaurant's name and logo certainly add a touch of class.

hmm, but for the more important part - food, the verdict's quite mixed. i personally like the lotus root salad with shrimp and baked black cod, but the beef brisket curry and pho are rather dissappointing. both the soup base and the curry lack flavor. we were quite surprised that the pho wasn't served with the usual bowl of condiments, nor fish and hoisin sauces like most southern pho places do (forget what i said if you can't tell the difference between northern and southern pho) oh well, since i have never been to vietnam... perhaps that's how pho in nha trang is served... what do i know anyway, but still, i suppose i can tell a good pho from a not-so-good one. so now you know.

nha trang is definitely not vietnamese cuisine at its finest, but i suppose it's a decent place just to chill, catch up with friends or for one of those days you wanna have a simple dinner with your loved one without spending a fortune. but then, there are dozens of places around hongkong that you can do the same.

details:
when? may 23 2008
where? nha trang, 2/f wu chung house, 213 queen's road east, wanchai
occasion? nothing special
menu highlights? lotus root salad with shrimp
drinks? saigon beer