Pitstop Q1 2010...

It's been a while since I posted an entry.  Blame it on the horrendous Streamyx connection which basically died after the massive thunderstorms last week.  It has not been resuscitated yet by the equally horrendous Streamyx Customer Service team.  Anyway, it has now been 3 months since I started this blog.  Which started out with grand visions of me finding the perfect cocktail that will make up my life.  So, it's time for a pitstop to see where I am and to refuel for the next leg.... 

How am I doing in terms of purpose?  Hmmmm..... apart from my constant goal of trying to win a gazillion bucks from Magnum 4D or Big Sweep, it has been slow moving in this department.  Guess this will be a tough nut to crack.  I could choose to live out the remaining half of my life keeping occupied with work and the little pleasures my hobbies give me ... but I am not giving up just yet that somewhere round the bend, I will find "IT"... the "IT" that will make everything seem worthwhile.

And what about passion and pleasure?  I think I am faring a little better here.  I am still having flashes of me playing the er-hu to an adoring audience.  I'm still actively baking and cooking, still learning and enjoying the process.  I am also still trying to keep fit and strong enough to run more races.  And I am still definitely keeping my eyes and ears out for travel opportunities. It occurs to me that a lot of the activities I am immersing myself in now are more physical in nature compared to the brain sapping tasks of my I.T. job.  Perhaps this is an indication of what kind of work I should get into instead?

In summary, for Pitstop Q1 2010....I still have a long way to go in the quest but I'm glad I am able to enjoy such a good mix of everything for now.  I just need to keep an open mind and be willing to experiment.  It's only a matter of time.  Onwards to the next leg!

Lament for A "Cham"...

The location...
An unassuming town,
Where Dad grew up in,
Take a walk around,
And I'll surely bump into kin.

The kopitiam...
At a corner it stands,
A little dark, somewhat dreary,
But it meets the demands,
Of the hungry and the weary.

The order...
“Cham Ping, please!”
My voice is loud and clear,
In fluent Cantonese,
So that the old man could hear.

The “Cham”...
Frothy and icy,
Golden highlights in brown,
Smooth tea and coffee,
Blended perfection in which I willingly drown.

And now....
The son is now the master,
The old man not to be seen,
With a heart beating much faster,
I wait, far from serene.

The Lament...
Alas! Alas! “Cham” it was not
But coffee in bad disguise,
No more to be tasted, no more begot,
The golden hue that filled my eyes.

No more to be savoured
In relish and in glee,
The drink that I favoured,
Oh woe is to me...
Alas! Alas!

Footnote : Since my Dad's hometown fix is not available anymore, please...please let me know if you know of some kopitiam with fantastic "Cham" on offer. An appeal from the heart...

All About The Quest...

Ever heard of “cham”? I’m referring to the drink. If you’re Malaysian, you should know which drink I mean. For the benefit of those not in the know, “cham” is basically a beverage which combines two mighty brews into one. “Cham” is the happy union of the “oomph” (instant rejuvenation!) of coffee and the aaaaah” (blissful sigh...) of tea. Get the sound effects? Good. They are crucial in conveying the feeling that this beverage invokes. The word “Cham” is Cantonese in origin. It also means “mix”, “combine”, “join”,.....you get the idea.

Well, I am on a quest for the perfect cup of “Cham”. Both literally and figuratively. Let me explain. A good cup of “Cham” is darn hard to come by. There are a couple of criteria which you could easily use to ascertain the potential of any cup of “Cham” served to you.

1. Colour - Too dark and you can probably expect it to taste like coffee. Too light means too much tea. It’s got to be in that warm brown tea-ish with a dash of coffee colour zone for it to even hold a hint of promise
2. Aroma – Whiff of coffee with a subtle note of tea. Sounds like a perfume ad, huh? In short, it shouldn’t smell too strongly of either brew.
3. Texture – Thick and smooth, no question about it. This is usually achieved with the right dosage of condensed milk and/or evaporated milk and/or sugar. Too much, and all you get is a milky mess.

Now comes the taste.... I am trying not to get too zen-like here but it is all about blend and balance.....”Cham” is about getting the right mix of strength and portions of coffee, tea, milk and sugar. The brews should complement each other, and yet be individual and distinct. Coupled with the right texture and sweetness, you’re in slurp and sip heaven. So, I’ve just got to say this again - a good cup of “Cham” is double darn hard to come by. In my many years of trials and tribulations at various kopitiams and cafes, I have enjoyed some promising mixes but alas, the results were never consistent. So, the quest continues....

How does this quest for “Cham” also apply to me figuratively? Trudging the usual walk of life would mean going to school, graduating, getting a job, starting a family, growing old... Well, I was about halfway on this walk (in other words, mid-life crisis) and I started to question – is this it? I’ve had some progress in my career. Family ties and friendships are generally in a good state. Health and fitness is not great but I get by (i.e. no heart attack yet). Yet, I was feeling restless and unfulfilled. I had a lot to be grateful for but there I was, mulling about in a layer of discontent. Sigh. Ever had one of those days?

To cut a long story short, I quit my job and took time off to chill out and travel. It’s been 10 months now. The break has been great but I’m still working at shaking off the blues. Should I go back to work and just pick up where I left off? The bank account is screaming “Yes!”. But has anything changed yet? After a bit of soul searching, I’ve decided that like a perfect cup of “Cham”, I want my life to be the right blend and balance of the right “ingredients”. So far, I’ve narrowed down the remedy to three factors. I hope that finding the perfect blend of this trio will let me live a darn good life.

1. Purpose. This is a huge huge missing piece in my quest but I am determined to find my life’s purpose one day. 
2. Passion. Even saying the word out loud makes me feel all energized and vibrant already (somehow an image of a matador in a bull ring keeps popping up in my mind as I write this...weird). I love variety in everything – books, music, food, activities, etc. Sadly, this also means I am sorely lacking in passion for anything specific. Passion will be crucial in helping attain purpose.
3. Pleasure. Remember Zombieland’s rule #32 ? Enjoy the little things...(great movie by the way – go watch it!) While life certainly has its distasteful moments, at the end of the day...I hope to sit back with a grin and say “It’s been an awesome ride!”

To help me focus on my quest, both for the perfect cup of “cham” and the perfect blend for life, I am starting this blog. Though I am totally out of the usual blogger age group and lifestyle demographic (not even on the borderline!), I reckon putting my thoughts to e-paper will put a lot of things in perspective. Will the quest ever end? Don’t know. But I guess the journey should be worth the while.

So, my friend, I hope you will join me on this quest and we can figure out things together. After all, what is a knight without a sidekick?