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Reminiscing my youth through comics
- In 1993 while in high school, I was introduced to Chinese/Hong Kong comics.
- These comics weren’t only translated to Malay language, but also went through the Malaysian prints censorship board.
- Any compromising part (ahem) in the comics would be blurred out or just scratched out to make it less obvious.
- Majority of these comics themes were based on Chinese martial arts + history + super
- It costs MYR1.20 (approx AUD0.40) per comic back then.
Alam Perwira (Legend of Emperors). I would have done better in my History subject if I channelled the correct energy/attitude). 
Pendekar Laut (Sea Tiger). Spoiler alert – the fight on the moon is just out of this world (pun intended). - There were shops that rents them out, I think about 20cents per comic. So a few of us would rent a few comics each, sat at the same table and swap reading comics.
- Personally, no matter how cool or light the subject matter is, especially as they are just comics, there was only a certain amount of comics I could read in one sitting.
- Past a certain number of comics, my brain starts getting fried. Not a pleasant experience.
- Maybe it’s just me. I wasn’t a studious person back then.
- I wonder if they sell/make a digital version of it. Would be nice to get hold of a physical copy and sit around the table like old times.
Until then, stay hungry, stay sane.
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I used AMEX Platinum Card for a year; was it worth it?
- Backstory – my previous credit card provider increased the yearly fee from $0 to $9/month.
- I tried applying for a new one (with extra benefits) and cancelled my old one. New application didn’t get through so I was “down” with 1 credit card.
- A bank rep I met suggested applying for Amex. After much contemplating, I decided to go ahead and applied. Success.
Disclaimer – everyone financial situation is different. Best if you check if getting an AMEX is suitable for you.
- First and foremost, the annual fee is high (especially if you are on minimum wage like me). The current yearly fee is $1,450 (Australian Dollars)
- However, there is a welcome bonus points. Successful applicant is required to make a certain amount spending within a timeframe (say $6K in 3 months).
- Among the perks that we received was :
- $450 towards your travel spending (flights, hotel)
- $400 dining credit ($200 local in Australia, $200 international). We used ours during a trip to Singapore.
- Lounge Access (via membership of Priority Pass). You can bring a guest with you.
- Hotel membership (Accor, Marriot Bonvoy, ++)
- There were other perks we received (Amazon subscription, travel insurance etc)
- If you calculate the perks value (vs) the fee you pay, I personally feel it was worth it. Especially if you travel a lot.
- Was this for me? In 2025, a definite YES because I was travelling internationally about 7 times. The accumulated value in perks ie hotel, flights, dining, lounge, travel insurance
- 2026 – I see a reduced number of travelling. Might look into an alternative.
Until then, stay hungry, stay sane.
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Tempting life of a (ex) toy collector
- An email came in to my inbox this morning, advertising a new line of Lego with the discounted price.
- I have stopped buying Lego for a while; but this one is really tempting.
- The world we lived in now are full of noises – “Buy this”, “Travel there”, “Don’t miss out”
- Current modern men have a term for this – FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).
- Walking around at the toy fair last week, I saw a guy with multiples of the same Transformers figure. Asked him how/why he had so many, his answer was, “I was trying to build an army”.
- I was in his position before – spent nearly 1K just to grab a bunch of Lego heads, body and legs. I don’t know where they are now.
- Logical thinking says that the best way to save money is actually to refrain yourself from buying unnecessary item. But we are humans – we have needs and wants.
- There is nothing wrong if you have worked hard and wanted something as a reward. The challenge comes when we cannot differentiate between needs and wants.
- It becomes a problem once you decide you are going to get all and everything at once.
- “If Adam’s son had a valley full of gold, he would like to have two valleys, for nothing fills his mouth except dust.”
Super tempting! Until then, stay hungry, stay sane.
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Life of a professional – how does it look like?
- I play basketball once or twice a week. The same ball size, the same court size with a professional basketball player (except the NBA).
- However, there is a huge difference between them and I. One picks it at their convenience, one picks it because it puts food on the table. Amateur vs professional.
- There are mornings that I don’t wanna play – so I continue curling in bed or doom scrolling.
- There was one night when I drove to the basketball court. 5 minutes away and I just felt weird – I think I did not get a proper sleep the night before, or it was a tiring day.
- I just did a U-turn, went back home and slept early.
- These are the “luxuries” that a professional person can’t afford. Like it or not, they have to show up, day in day out.
- Nowadays I understand what it means to be a professional in your field. Be it sports, singing, chess etc. You just show up everyday.
- Training sessions, conditioning class, watching videos, travelling. At times you get called up to the national squad to represent your country.
- Throw in the business side and sometimes it gets messier. You get traded not to your preferred team or the salary not within your expectation.
- Occasionally I’d watch videos about a day in the life of a pro hooper. Suffice to say, even with the money and glamour, it’s not a life I envy. Hats off to professionals around the world, no matter what profession you are in.
Until then, stay hungry, stay sane.
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Enjoying childhood cartoon series through my adult eyes
+ I grew up in Malaysia, enjoying 80s/90s Japanese series like Space Cop Gaban/Gavan, Masked Rider Black, Doraemon etc.
+ Recently I stumbled upon a long forgotten Japanese cartoon – Daimos on YouTube.
+ The hero would swing down a monkey bar/flying fox without any harness, down to his car. The car would fly out of the cavern, lands on a platform at the edge of the cliff.
+ I’m amazed at his upper body strength (I can’t even dead hang more than 3 seconds!)
+ The main vehicle, a 40-foot truck would exit the mouth of a cavern with inches to spare. Automatic platforms will come out of the water alternatingly, paving the way for it to get to higher grounds, and then will come out meters ahead of the car.
Peek-a-boo + Hero gives another battle cry and the car will “jump” inside the truck via the backdoor. (Must have been voice activated).
+ Hero gets strapped to the main truck seat (looks suicidal to me in case of an accident). But this time it gets better – the whole truck will drive of a cliff and the truck will transform into a robot, MID-AIR!
+ My basic working knowledge working around cars and the concept of gravity had a good time laughing as I watched this. Ahh, the joy of simple
+ I plan to explore more of similar series and share it with my kids – just to brag how cool my cartoons are compared to theirs 😀
+ Enough said – you can enjoy the video here. Thank me later.
Until then, stay hungry, stay sane.
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Just try it – you might like it.
+ The past few years (since Covid started to be exact), I made it a point to try out something that piqued my interest – at least once.
+ Be it a viral food on Instagram, or a different sport (still couldn’t show pickleball the love others are showing), or an expensive credit card (American Express Platinum anyone?)
+ For me, it mainly revolves around food. It is something within my financial reach. And occasionally I’ll try some gear that I hope would be used frequently.
+ I even encouraged my family member to do it. We tried a famous but pricey Bingsu (Korean shaved ice-cream) once and then asked my daughter if she would go again – she said no. It was not as nice as we thought it would be. Well, at least I saved her some money in the future.
+ We tried a fancy restaurant in Singapore last year. We were impressed by the venue and hospitality. They even set a stool for my wife’s handbag!
Do you bags want anything for dinner? + After dinner we walked back to the hotel, about 25 mins leisure pace. I told my wife we needed to burn the calories, but I was actually composing myself after looking and paying the bill LOL.
+ Was it worth it? For the experience, definitely. Plus it was our wedding anniversary. It’s the least I could do for her.
+ Sometimes we spend too much time wondering how something taste, or how it would perform. My answer is; just go for it!
+ Of course, one needs to look at the feasibility and whether it is suitable for them. Trying something new, just for the sake of it, shouldn’t make you go bankrupt, interfere with your beliefs or worst, jeorpadize your health/life.
+ The latest items on my “to try list” involves supplement (LMNT electrolyte), compression pants/shirt from Skins and a 40 liters portable fridge/freezer from Kings. I’ll try posting my thoughts about it later.
Until then, stay hungry, stay sane.
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Bench players – what do we do without them
+ I picked up basketball when I was 13 years. Before that I never had a sport of choice.
+ Team games are ‘funny’ in a way – you still need to be individually good so that you can be in the starter team (First five for basketball, first eleven for soccer etc)
+ I was blessed to be in the first five in my school’s year group and eventually the senior team
+ Perfect condition for a team would be if the non-starters aka bench players starts improving their skill. The main players have to level up as well to not lose their spot.
+ Problem is when the non-starters can’t or won’t level up (we’ll talk about it later). Stagnancy is the enemy of progress.
+ As I transition to being a coach, as well as being a bench myself, I begin to understand how important these bench players are.
+ During training and scrimmage, coaches need them to provide a challenge.
+ During competition, having a deep bench allows the main players chance to catch a breath (especially if you are playing at the local recreation league).
+ Stamina is the main issue when you are a middle aged men – juggling between career, family and doom scrolling is not an easy feat.
+ If you still think being a bench sucks, I suggest the most suitable exercise I found recently for non-starters here. Enjoy!
Until then, stay hungry, stay sane.
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Goodbye Nexus – its been nice knowing you
+ When we moved to Perth in May 2009, I rekindled my passion for Lego.
+ I spent on average $300-400/month to get these Lego sets. Some locally, mostly from the US.
+ Eventually I started selling my extra toys.
+ I joined Nexus Toy Fair which is held every quarter in a year, usually during the school holidays. 9am-12pm on a Saturday, 4 times a year.
+ I became a regular with this 2 cool humans – Jono and Andrew. Occasionally Mike (Andrew’s brother) would join.
+ By selling some of our toys, we actually free up some space (in the house and our wallet).
+ It’s not an addiction, it’s a lifestyle (that’s what I keep telling myself).
+ It’s refreshing to see adults walking around with various toys/comics/collectibles in hands, face gleaming with happiness, sometimes happier than their kids getting dragged along on a Saturday morning, talking passionately with the sellers about their favourite Star Wars figure, or the elusive Transformers set, or the character that should have survived in a TV show. No judgement here.
+ I have now reached a stage where toys are no longer my go to outlet. With a kid in university (and a few more on the way) I plan to step back and concentrate my energy (and money) into new and emerging interests.
+ For now, I plan to “retire” from selling at Nexus Toy Fair.
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Life experience = beneficial to others
- Humans and animals have brains, but only us humans were blessed with intellect, the freewill, to make decisions.
- At times, I reminisce my younger years and thought, “what was I thinking when I acted that way”
- This funny clip of a famous actress looking at her younger self ranting is what I meant.
- It is embarrassing, but it is also what makes us human.
- We think on our own, do what we think is best (at the time). Then we learn from the mistakes and move on with our life.
- Some people are blessed with mentors around them. They avoid doing the mistakes and manage to climb the success ladder earlier than others.
- Some just learn along the way. Sometimes because of the huge risk they took, they also obtain huge gains.
- What’s important is for us not to dwell too long in the past.
- If you have the opportunity, you should be a good mentor for others.
- “The best of people are those who are most beneficial to others”
Until then, stay hungry, stay sane.
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Fancying a rich life
+ In my mid 20s, my manager at the time said that when I get to his age (mid 40s), some friends my age will be in the position of power and wealth.
+ Being a young and naive person, I just nodded but took no heed. My priority at that time was preparing to get married and living day to day basis. No long term plans – just plain boring day to day basis.
+ Past few years, I met people whom my manager described before. Friends, acquaintances, even juniors in school are at the top of the corporate ladder or in a position of political power.
+ The houses they live in, the vehicles they are driving, the places they dine at, they countries they are working at or traveling to – makes it something desirable, if not craved for.
+ Some are making 10x times what my current salary is :O
+ At times I would sit or lie down and ponder – obviously the different income would have a different lifestyle. Would I enjoy that lifestyle?
+ Knowing the layback style I possess (I make it sound like a superpower), I don’t see myself enjoying it in the near future.
+ Funny enough, I actually feel happy for them. Like a parent who is spectating their child wins a running race.
+ I pray that the blessings they receive would be beneficial for them in this world and the Hereafter.
+ Plus sometimes I get to enjoy dining at a fancy restaurant, courtesy of a rich friend. Who’s gonna say no to that?!
Until then, stay hungry, stay sane.
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