There is a God, and this proves it. The people have spoken. Of course, the US is still divided, but at least more than half were smart enough to know what's the right thing to do. (Excuse the pun) But this time, Love trumps Hate ♥️. So glad that there are still people out there who are smart and have a good heart 😷 but it is still sad that still around half of the US support a misogynistic, racist, mean (picks on the disable, the veterans, heroes, government officials who are trying to protect people from getting sick and dying, etc), a habitual liar, a violence and hate instigator and the list goes on. Mind you, these observations from me are not from other posting. These are from my observation of him on video. If his supporters cannot get these terrible attitudes and behaviour from his actions and speeches recorded on video, you must be blind or you also share the same attitude and behaviour as he does. Now it feels as if America is getting a shower after four years of dirt. Here's the deal. Just because he supports Christmas, anti-abortion and all those values, it doesn't mean he is a great leader and a good guy. Usually as mentioned in the Bible, a false prophet would do that to deceive you.
Hong Kong, The Worst City for Expats? I Don't Think So…
Yeah, the cost of living here is quite high, but other than that, Hong Kong is great. I love it here. I actually feel safer and more stable here than anywhere else right now. One of the few cities with very few number of covid-19 cases and deaths: 5948 cases and 108 deaths for a city that's densely populated. In addition, I can walk here very late at night, even after midnight or wee hours of the morning, and I feel safe. I don't have to worry about getting mugged. Actually my French friend told me that it is less safe in Paris where you can get mugged. And there were many times that I lost something valuable and got them back. People actually run after me and try to catch me to give something valuable to me that I accidentally forget such as a camera or a phone. And some people will actually walk me to a place I can't find even if it is a little far such as one block away. I am actually extremely grateful to be here The media can be harsh sometimes. Possibly people who do these studies or do this reporting never lived here nor even visited this city. I actually know some people who judge a place or it's people, and their knowledge about the place or its people is way off, and yet even if they've never been there, they still act as if they're right about it. Their knowledge is just based on assumptions. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3111462/hong-kong-second-worst-city-asia-expats-live-due-soaring
Watch for my Vlogs about Different Neighborhoods and Interesting Places to Visit In Hong Kong
I will be filming videos about the different neighborhoods and interesting places in Hong Kong soon, so watch out for them. Make sure to follow, subscribe to and like any one or most of my social media profiles to get updated with these contents. Besides those, other more interesting subjects will also be featured.
Why It Is Not Good To Travel During the Pandemic.
I won't be traveling right now unless it is really necessary like when I left for Hong Kong from Malaysia. Though Malaysia did extend the tourist visa for foreigners until December 31, as soon as I left, the number of covid-19 cases increased three-fold, and now they are in a lockdown again. So far, every decision I've made was right on. Besides most countries have travel bans and won't let foreigners in. The only reason I was able to enter Hong Kong was because I had a Hong Kong ID, which was a blessing for me.
Who Was Cheated in the US Presidential Election in 2020?
2016: Trump won the Electoral College, 304 electoral votes to Hillary Clinton’s 227 — but lost the popular count by 2.8 million votes. Though the electorate has of course grown over the years, Trump lost the popular vote by a greater margin than anyone ever elected president. No one complained about this one. Of course, if it is in your favor, you won't complain. It is human nature.
2020: But now Joe Biden won by 4 million votes (He got 75 million popular votes, the most a presidential candidate has ever got and got 290 electoral votes). And Trump supporters are complaining about it. It seems like in 2016, Hilary Clinton was the one who was cheated. I'll be honest though; I don't like her, but you gotta choose the less of all evils.
And Donald Trump's the most despicable leader I've ever seen. Would you like your child to follow his examples and be like him when he or she grows up? And if you're a Christian, do you think Jesus Christ would love to hang out and chill with him? I don't think so.
So funny.
Malaysia's Covid-19 Coronavirus Increased Three Times Since I Left for Hong Kong
Malaysia's Covid-19 cases increased to more than 30,000. When I left Malaysia for Hong Kong, it was only about 9000 cases. Now they've got targeted lockdowns in Kuala Lumpur and other surrounding cities. I made the right decision to leave at the right time. Now here in Hong Kong, it remains at around 5000 cases. Hopefully it does not also go out of control since Hong Kong is a city that's densely populated and has eased the restrictions fully. As for Malaysia, I hope they are able to control the spread before it gets worse. Malaysia definitely has a place in my heart. I wouldn't mind living there for good too. Unfortunately I was just a tourist there when I got stranded over there for seven months 🙄 If I were in Kuala Lumpur now, I would have been stuck inside my apartment again. Here in Hong Kong, I can go outside and go anywhere, except Macao and Mainland China 🙄
My Philosophy in Life Is the Same as Bruce Lee's which I also Apply to my Creative Pursuits
"If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There
plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." Bruce Lee
This philosophy is something I apply in my life. I definitely don't like it when someone asks me "Can you do that?" Of course, even if it might be impossible, you should not give up and try. Isn't the reason why the astronauts were able to go to the moon? The ones who thought about going to the moon did not tell themselves: Oh, I don't think we'll be able to go up to the moon and walk on it someday. They tried and succeeded. Same thing with the Wright Brothers, the ones who invented the airplane. They did not tell themselves: Oh, I don't think we'll be able to fly like the birds. They tried and succeeded. Same thing with the explorers like Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan. They did not tell themselves: Oh, I don't think I can reach another land by ship. They just did it and succeeded. Sometimes we underestimate our abilities, and this puts a limit on what we can do. The way I see it, just try and do your best. Sometimes you'd be surprised by what you can do.
I think for the most part, everything I tried, I was able to do it. Of course, some things I have tried to do also failed, but you know what, I learned from them and figured out what my weaknesses are. And for most of these things where I have failed, I have not given up on them. I will give them another try, but this time, with all the things I have learned from my mistakes, which were the reasons why I have failed, I can correct these mistakes on my next try.
For example, believe it or not, I tried to make two low budget feature films, but unfortunately I did not get to complete them. But since I learned a lot from my mistakes in making them and the reasons why I have failed to complete them, the next time I try making one again, then maybe there is a big chance I will be able to complete it this time. And definitely, I will try to make one again, but this time I have a different strategy. And with the new technology at my disposal, I have more tools I need to be able to make and complete this project. Definitely I have not given up on a dream. I do believe that I can make a good film. Maybe it just has to be the right time at the right place. Since most of my stories are set in different parts of Asia, I believe this is where I will make my film.
Actually in Hangzhou, China, I almost did an episodic show that is about foreigners living in China, but unfortunately that project fell apart since the producer did not manage to get the financing for it. But I think this project can also be done anywhere in Asia, even here in Hong Kong, so definitely this is one of the film projects I want to pursue here in Asia.
Just like Bruce Lee, "Be like water." Whatever goals and creative pursuits I have, I have to adapt to what is around me and use it to my advantage and be flexible with everything I do.
What I Feel About a Typical Human Being
A lot of people put themselves in the confines of what they're most comfortable with, what they're most familiar with, what they think is right based on their beliefs and experience that they lost sight of being curious, something we always have as a child growing up and the willingness to open up, learn and absorb the other things that make us a more well-rounded human being with the ability to think independently without the influence of other people, the media and other external factors. I do believe that there is something to learn from every culture, every country, every race, every human being that can contribute to what it is to be human. It is the reason why I travel. It is that quest that keeps me growing as a human being, a life student. And when you vote in this election, go with your mind and not get influenced by your party affiliation, your religion or the media. All these external factors tend to influence us so much that we lose sight of being a decent human being who can think on her own, knowing what's right and what's wrong, which I believe is based on our instinct and our inherent moral values, not our religion or other things.
The Difference Between the Lifestyle in East Asian Countries and Southeast Asian Countries
My life in Hong Kong is a lot more hectic than if I live in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. But then again, living in East Asian countries such as South Korea, China and probably, Taiwan and Japan, the two places I have not lived in yet but might consider moving to someday, tend to be more fast paced than living in Southeast Asian countries where life is a lot more laid back.
Self Portrait
The Difference Between Hong Kong and Malaysia When Dealing with the Covid-19 Coronavirus
What is the difference between the US and Malaysia when dealing with the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic? Well, it is like black and white. While the number of the coronavirus infections and deaths continues to increase in the US (United States of America), a lot of people are protesting against the lockdown; on the other hand, here in Malaysia as the government is about to start to reopen the economy and lift the lockdown, more than 250, 000 signatures were garnered at Change.org in order to file a petition to stop the measures from being partially lifted. This is despite the number of cases being much lower than in the US with just 6,353 compared to 1.19 million and number of deaths which is 105 compared to 68,565.
Also the city of Penang, where I got stuck during the lockdown for the seventh week now, postponed reopening the economy and still continued with the full lockdown (or movement control order (MCO) . Eventually the plan is to lift the lockdown on May 12, and yet there is a talk, it might even get extended to two more weeks. Mind you, the economy of Malaysia is also being affected tremendously. This just shows how serious this country, its government and its peoples about controlling the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.
How to Verify the Authenticity of the Articles You Read Either Online or Offline
Get to know the source better. Understand their mission and who manages the information. Understand the content properly. Some websites tend to sensationalize headlines in hopes to bring in more pageviews. It's important to read the headline and the content. Double check the date. Sometimes old news surfaces, confusing readers. Verify the research. A lot of news and content carry sources. Verifying where they came from helps you to understand the issue and its motives better. Get to know the author of the piece. Is this person real and what is their background? Double check if it's not satire. You can do this by looking under the website's 'About Us' section Avoid prejudice. Understand that your belief in something can influence your judgement. Ask an expert. If at all you're unsure about something, it's always good to speak to an expert to understand a topic or issue better. Stay informed, stay safe.
I Love To Walk
In the US, I rarely walk unless I am going for a hike or a walk in the park or a walk on the beach. But here in Asia, I tend to walk a lot, especially when going from one bus stop to another or from one MRT (subway, monorail, elevated train, etc). And if my destination is within walking distance, I prefer to walk (especially if I am not in a rush). At least I am able to see the neighborhoods up close and at the same time, capture some images and videos for my photography and video projects. Also you learn a lot about a neighborhood and its people by walking and interacting with them. I just wish that even though I am not shy, I’ve got the nerve to ask people to photograph them and to shoot a video of them as part of my travel photography and video project.
It is Why I Travel
A lot of people put themselves in the confines of what they're most comfortable with, what they're most familiar with, what they think is right based on their beliefs and experience that they lost sight of being curious, something we always have as a child growing up and the willingness to open up, learn and absorb the other things that make us a more well-rounded human being with the ability to think independently without the influence of other people, the media and other external factors. I do believe that there is something to learn from every culture, every country, every race, every human being that can contribute to what it is to be human. It is the reason why I travel. It is that quest that keeps me growing as a human being, a life student. And when you vote in this election, go with your mind and not get influenced by your party affiliation, your religion or the media. All these external factors tend to influence us so much that we lose sight of being a decent human being who can think on her own, knowing what's right and what's wrong, which I believe is based on our instinct and our inherent moral values, not our religion or other things (material things, being popular, peer pressure, etc.) You just have to really look inside yourself, no need for the Bible or any other religious books to guide, and if you have empathy, you would know it. On the other hand, if you're just plain selfish, I don't think you would know it. Though I am here in Hong Kong, for sure I will vote through absentee ballot. I just hope it makes a dent.
I Arrived in Hong Kong from Malaysia and Am Now Doing the Mandatory 14 Day Quarantine
So I arrived here in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last September 9. Now I am on my 4th of quarantine, and so far, so good. It seems that I passed my first Covid-19 coronavirus test, but anyway I have to do another one on the 13th day of my quarantine. Anyway for the first night, the Hong Government put me up at another hotel and paid for it since I arrived late at night, and result of the test could not be checked until the next day. If I had arrived earlier, I would have gone straight to the hotel I chose to stay in and paid for. I assume that if I had tested positive, the HK government would have taken to a medical facility instead, but since I passed it, I was able to go to my choice of accomodations for the rest of my 14 day quarantine. Anyway I was made to download an app and was made to wear a wrist band to keep track of me. Should I ever leave the place where I am supposed to stay for my quarantine without going out, this could land me and get fined. Not too mention, getting deported, so definitely this is something I should comply with no resistance. Besides it is needed to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus just in case I have it even if I am asymptomatic. Anyway quarantine is not bad. Besides when I was in Malaysia, I was in a lockdown for two months straight, not going out but staying inside the homestay. Besides there is plenty of things to do while in a quarantine: photo editing, video editing, writing, reading, watching movies and TV shows on Netflix, watching YouTube, doing some business tasks. It is a little sacrifice I have to do for the sake of controlling the spread of the virus, not just for my own health but also for the rest of the world.
Almost Time to Leave Malaysia for Hong Kong
September 9 is the date I will leave Malaysia for Hong Kong. I've never ever thought of being here for almost seven months. I could have gone to other countries, but I got stuck here instead due to travel bans, but no regrets, I got to like this country some more, and for sure, if only it is possible, I won't mind living and setting down here, but sometimes good things come to an end, and now to time start another chapter. Well, more like go back to a previous chapter and restarting that one. Maybe the second time around, it will offer something more exciting and different
What Are the Best Things and the Worst Things About Hong Kong
So what are the best things and the worst things about Hong Kong? Before I answer this question, I do love Hong Kong, but just like any other cities, no city is perfect, but Hong Kong comes close to being perfect. First, let me tell you about the best things about Hong Kong. When you talk about a city, you think about the urban landscape composed of tall skyscrapers just like what you see in New York City. And Hong Kong did not disappoint me. It has skyscrapers all over the place. Not just modern skyscrapers but a lot of tall old buildings. For me, even though Los Angeles is a city, it does not feel like a city for me since its tall buildings are just concentrated mostly in the downtown area. San Francisco, despite its small population, feels more like a city for me. That’s the reason I like San Francisco much more than Los Angeles. Well, except for its foggy weather, but that is not a deal breaker for me. I do love a mild climate. Second, Hong Kong is what is defined as a cosmopolitan city. It has everything you expect from a cosmopolitan city. It has the best of arts and culture, different kinds of food, a great nightlife, shopping, etc. These are the reasons why a person like me wants to live in the city instead of the countryside or the suburbs. As a filmmaker and an avid film lover, it also has some great indie cinemas. And the art scene is quite impressive too. Third, I love its public transportation. Though in Los Angeles, I do drive. I would have preferred to take the public transportation instead of driving a car, but unfortunately, LA’s public transportation system sucks. San Francisco’s public transportation is so much better. And that’s the reason why I prefer San Francisco more than Los Angeles. In Hong Kong, its subway system can take you almost anywhere. In addition, its bus system is also the best. As for the taxi, even though, Hong Kong is considered the most expensive city to live in, its taxicab fare is actually not as expensive as in the US. I am not sure about their rideshare such as Uber since I never had the chance to use it. That is if they have one. Fourth, you would think Hong Kong is just a concrete jungle, but it is not. It is surrounded by nature. It has beaches, mountains and islands. And that’s what I love the most since I love going to the beach, to go hiking, to have a picnic, to go camping. It keeps me well balanced. Now time to talk about the worst things about Hong Kong. I guess only two words come to my mind. High cost of living and tiny apartments. I will definitely write a separate blog about this. And yeah, there is not a lot of cafes in Hong Kong, and if they do, they are usually the big chain one like Starbucks. For the boutique cafes, you have to look for them, and for the most part, it does not feel like you can stay there for so long as as when doing some work on your laptop. They do have a lot of co-working spaces, but for the most part, they’re quite expensive. So that’s about it, so there is not a lot of things I hate about Hong Kong. In some ways, the pros outweigh the cons.
Why I Love China
I never really expected to go and live in China, and then it happened. I was given an opportunity to work there, and I took it despite being warned about it by people who don’t know shit about China but only from what they see on the news about it. Even some told me that it would be dangerous for me to live and work over there, but actually before I lived over there, I’ve never felt safer anywhere else until I got there other than maybe South Korea. Over there, I would walk around 3 AM in the morning with no people around and yet did not feel threatened, and I did for countless nights either with someone or just by myself. Actually before I worked over there, I never thought that a foreigner like me could work over there. I thought a foreigner was not allowed to work over there unless they work for foreign company which is based over there. I guess we all have this preconceived notion about some country, which is most of the time created by what the media feeds us and people who also have this preconception. On the other hand, it wasn’t like I didn’t know anything about China before I went there. I had a lot of knowledge about China from Chinese movies. No, not just the Hong Kong movies, which are quite different from Mainland Chinese movies. Before coming to China, I was already fascinated by its culture from watching all these Chinese movies and already knew some knowledge about its culture, but of course, not as much as until I got to live there. So when the chance came for me to live and work there, it was almost a dream come true. And I was not disappointed at all. It was the best experience of my life, which I will never forget. At first, I thought that living in France was a great experience, but compared to China, there’s a wide gap between the two. Of course, France was a pretty good experience too. Thanks to my ex-wife who was French. But she was not the typical French just because she was born and raised in Milan, Italy, so she was a lot warmer than the typical French. Nevertheless, I still do love the French culture too, but even though, I made some French friends, for the most part, most French are not that friendly and warm. But then again, this assumption is based on my experience, so I could be wrong. Sorry to digress, but maybe later on, I will write about my experience in France. But for now, time to go back to China. Now why do I love China? The country itself is quite beautiful, so that’s one of the reasons. But one thing that really made me fall in love with China is its people. Before I came to China, some people told me that the Chinese are these and that, but it was completely different. The Chinese people were so welcoming and helpful. While over there, I made so many close friends, and I consider my friends for life. When I need something, more than one Chinese friend is willing to help. I felt like I belong to a community, and having left China two years ago, I am really missing that camaraderie. And I still keep in touch with most of my friends in China, and it is so sweet to get a message from them that I am always welcome to go back to China. I feel quite stable in China, but since I am a foreigner who has to renew his visa every year, it can be quite daunting. I wish I could become a permanent resident, but that is not possible. So in a way, I am torn between staying for good in China and should I consider other countries where I could settle in for good. I definitely want to have a business somewhere in order to keep me grounded in one place, and China would be good, but based on what I heard, as a foreigner, it can be unstable. Probably it would be more stable if I marry a Chinese woman, but when you marry a Chinese, the only visa you get is the right for you to visit her. But of course, the foreigners who married a Chinese woman always find a way to stay and work. I don’t know how, but maybe there is some kind of loophole that they have to go through, which I never really had the chance to find out. Anyway to a lot of people outside of China, they see China in a different way, but life in China is as normal as anywhere else. I do hear some horror stories, but as long as you stay clean and follow the rules just like in any country, anyone definitely can adapt. The way I see it, there is no perfect country, and every country has its positive sides and negative sides. Just look at the US right now. Everyone thinks it is an almost perfect country, but with the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, it exposes its dark side some more and its underlying problems such racism, corruption, lack of unity, terrible healthcare system, etc. Before everybody thinks that its government is the most ideal system in the world but not really. It also has problems. Anyway going back to China, I feel like over there, there is a sense of community and social harmony. And that is something I really love. Of course, just like any other countries, it is also not perfect. It also has some problems, but it is not the way the Western media portrays it to be. Well, hopefully I am able to go back there. I am now working on my paperwork to get my working and resident visa. Once that is completed, hopefully it will open its borders so I could enter. For three years that I was over there, I never really did any blog or vlog about China, but this time, I would do it just to show the world that China is not as bad as what the Western media portrays it to be. But anyway for now, I will be in Hong Kong, which is also part of China but as a Special Autonomous Region.
Why I Love Malaysia
What do I love about Malaysia? First, I love it because it is a multicultural society just like in the Singapore and of course, the US. Its population is composed of Malays, Chinese and Indians with three major religions: Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. Of course, there are Christians too. Because of this, it feels like being in three countries at the same time. That’s why its tourist slogan is “Malaysia Truly Asia.” With this mixture of different cultures, it means they have choices of three different cuisines: Malay, Chinese and Indian food. In addition, they also have Western food, Middle Eastern food and other Asian food such as Korean and Japanese food. And you can tell that they respect each other’s religion since sometimes the mosque, the Buddhist temple and the Hindu temple are right next to each other. Based on my observation, they seem to get along fine, but I read they do have some race problems too, but hopefully it is not as bad as in the US. What else do I love about Malaysia? Second, I guess, its infrastructure. For example, its public transportation is quite good. Almost as good as Hong Kong. Its subway trains, elevated trains and monorail are quite impressive. Though I have never tried using the city bus system in Kuala Lumpur, I did use it in Penang Island, and it was quite easy. And I know that some of the buses are free. Not sure for foreigners, but at least for Malaysians. As for taking the bus from one city to another, it is quite easy, and the bus terminals are like airports with gates and timetable boards for all the bus’ departures and arrivals. As for the bus themselves, they are very comfortable with an air conditioner which they tend to operate at very low temperatures. As for the taxi, I’ve never taken them, but I’ve taken GRAB, which is the UBER of Southeast Asia. Actually GRAB originated from here. Definitely it is the best. I just love it, and the price is quite reasonable. In addition, you can order food through GRAB, which I did while I was in a lockdown in Penang, another city in Malaysia, for more than three months. Also in addition, you can use it to pay some stuff such as at a convenience store, restaurant or a cafe. The app reminds me of WeChat from China, but WeChat does a lot more, but I won’t be surprised that more additional services will be added to the GRAB app. Third, being a foodie, I definitely love to eat different kinds of food and to try new ones all the time, so as I just mentioned, with this mix of different cultures, you get the best of everything. If I compare Malaysia to China, in China, Chinese food are of course everywhere, and other kinds of food are only in selected places such as the shopping mall or certain districts, but of course, China is a big country, so even Chinese food are different from each other. There are Sichuan style restaurants, Hangzhou style restaurants, Beijing style restaurants. These different kinds of Chinese food come from different parts o China. Sorry to digress, but my point is in Malaysia, Indian restaurants, Chinese restaurants and Malay restaurants are all over the place, and most of the time, they are right next to each other. And I think, for me, that’s a good thing. And of course, there are other kinds of food too such as Japanese food, Korean food and Western food, but you just have to find them, and most of them are at a shopping mall or certain districts too. And I just love that a lot of regular restaurants here are open air. It reminds me of Vietnamese restaurants which are mostly open air. Fourth, most Malaysians can speak very good English, so it is easy to communicate with the people here. Same with Singapore and Hong Kong. Compared to other Asian countries such as Mainland China, South Korea, Japan and Indonesia, it is quite hard to find anyone who can speak English, so in these countries, you really need to know at least some basic phrases in their language. Fifth, based on two major cities I’ve stayed in for a long period of time due to the lockdown necessitated by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, I feel the cities here were well planned. Everything seems very easy to navigate. Most of the streets have a pretty spacious sidewalks compared to other Asian cities such as Bangkok and Vietnam where some streets don’t have any sidewalks. And the roads here are quite spacious, not narrow, unlike some other Southeast Asian cities. Also compared to most apartments here in Asia (I am talking about the whole Asia, not just Southeast Asia), the apartments here are quite spacious, and I love that. Compare that to an apartment in Hong Kong where it is almost like living in a box. So those are the reasons why I love Malaysia. I am sure I will have more reasons why I love this country as I continue to stay here. For sure, after I leave Malaysia to go wherever I might end up going to (it could be Hong Kong, Mainland China, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan or Japan), I will still definitely come back here again for a vacation. Actually I am even considering this country as the place for me to retire. Not that I want to retire since I still want to continue what I love to do: photography, writing, filmmaking and media. It would be nice to establish a business here too.
Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Visit Malaysia
What are the ten reasons why you should visit Malaysia? Well, there are so many reasons why. First, it is a multicultural society which is composed of different kinds of people with different cultures and religions. So this country is composed of the Malays, who are predominantly Muslim, the Chinese, who are mostly Buddhist and the Indians, who are mostly Hindus and Muslims. And of course, there are Christians here too. So just like the US, it is a melting pot. So in a way, it is unique among other Asian countries. Yes, China has some ethnic groups too, but they are not as involved into the affairs of the country as much as in Malaysia from what I observe. In the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia, there are Chinese too, but they’re a very small minority. Second, because of this mixture of different cultures, you get different kinds of food: Chinese food, Malay food and Indian food. Definitely Nasi Lemak is my most favorite not because it is supposed to be the national Malaysian dish but because it is not something you can find anywhere else except Malaysia. It is not like Chinese food or Japanese food which is pretty much available in most parts of the world. In the US, I don’t think I’ve seen any Malaysian food restaurant. Maybe they do exist, but you probably need to look for them, and they are not everywhere. Third, its infrastructure is one of the best in Asia. The public transportation: subway, monorail, bus, taxis, and Grab (the Uber of Southeast Asia) are all easy to use and not too expensive, so it is easy to get around its cities and around the country. For example, if you go to its bus stations, it looks more like an airport rather than a bus station. It is definitely much better than in Thailand and Vietnam. And Kuala Lumpur’s transport rail system, such as the subway and monorail, is definitely comparable to Hong Kong, and everybody knows Hong Kong has the one of the best public transportation system in the world. Fourth, the apartments here are much bigger than most of the apartments in other Asian countries. They are definitely more spacious. I think they’re even more spacious than most of the apartments in Los Angeles, California, so definitely this is a big plus. Fifth, based on my experience, most Malaysians can speak English, and the Malay language is composed of Roman letters, not some other characters such as Chinese, Korean and Thai. And most words are quite easy to pronounce. There are no tones to deal with in contrast with Chinese, Cantonese and Vietnamese. Also since this country is a multicultural society, Malay is not the only language spoken here. The Chinese population speaks Mandarin and other Chinese dialects as well as Malay; on the other hand, the Indian population speaks Tamil as well as Malay. And it seems some or a lot of Malays not only can speak Malay but also the Arabic language since I see some Arabic characters in a lot of places too. Sixth, the country’s landscape is quite stunning. It has mountains and beaches. Even in Kuala Lumpur, it is very green. And their parks are quite big and beautiful. For sure, there are still a lot of places I should visit over here. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, I have to be wary of traveling to other parts of Malaysia due to the possibility of a second wave of infection. I am not an alarmist, but based on my research and findings about this virus, I have to be vigilant. Maybe once I get to China or any other country where I will, for sure, settle down for a while or for good, then maybe I can relax just a tiny bit and travel domestically in that country. But for now, I need to be healthy in order to get the visa. With what’s going on in the US, definitely I don’t have a plan to go back home. It is just my mother I am concerned about, but for me to go back there, it is not going to help her. First of all, as I travel, I can get the virus on the way over there and get her infected. Second, a lot of people are losing jobs over there, so it is not like I have any other opportunities left for me over there, but here in Asia, I still have more opportunities available for me. Third, racism is on the rise, so besides worrying about the virus, I don’t want to be worrying about this too. Fourth, a lot of people are not taking this pandemic seriously over there due to politics, conspiracy theories and distrust of the scientists and doctors. Fifth, the President happens to be leading the country in the wrong way. Seventh, the people are quite friendly and helpful. No, this is not like Thailand, the Land of Smiles, so you don’t really see people smile at you as you greet them, but that does not mean that they are not friendly nor helpful, but they are. Especially once you get to know them. Anyway Thailand seems to be changing. I don’t feel like it is the “The Land of Smiles” anymore. Maybe because there are too many foreigners living and visiting over there, so it is not the way it used to be. Well, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong. Eight, it is a country that is underrated, so it is not overrun by tourists and expats from what I see in contrast with Thailand. Maybe because this country is a lot more laid back and not as crazy as Thailand where it seems like anything goes. And for me, I like it. I mean, I am not really into partying that much anymore. Ninth, for Americans, the government gives a 90 day social visit visa, which is much better than a 30 day visa they give in Thailand. So for the long term travelers, this is a great thing. Tenth, the country, like most Asian countries, really cares about its people and took the Covid-19 coronavirus seriously and did a great job controlling its spread. Having been stranded here for four months now, I feel glad that this was where I got stuck. At least I feel safer and at the same time, the government was nice enough to extend my visa. Now hoping that the country extends my visa some more at least until Hong Kong or any other safe Asian countries opens its borders. For sure, just like what I said before, I don’t want to go back to the US. So now you know the top ten reasons why I think Malaysia is a great country to visit. And I do believe that since it is a multicultural country like the US, Canada and UK, they can definitely learn a lot from this country.
In American Politics, There are Two Sides: the Right and the Left.
In America, there are two sides to politics. The Right and the Left. I am neither. Both sides have its bad and its good. I just choose the less evil, but looking at both sides of the issues, it seems the left side makes more sense than the other side. Looking at both sides of the issues, it seems this side makes more sense than the other side. The other side only deals with the conspiracy theories, "my rights" versus the "the common good," distractions from real issues by talking about topics that don't pertain to the real issues, focuses more on specific negative stories that pushes their narrative rather than looking at the big picture with both sides of the issues. It is quite sad when people are so deep into the "cult" that they are so blinded that they can't see the reality of the situation anymore. And why do I feel the other side is like a multi-level marketing business, with people trying to convince you to be on their side by sending you text messages with links to conspiracy theories with nice graphics which anyone can do but no real sources 🙄 Yeah, and I am supposed to believe something because the copy and graphics were nicely done. And they always have this nice tag. Read it before it is taken down. But few weeks later, it is still there LOL 😁 It is done to instill fears and mistrust of everything outside the "Fox News" narrative.
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