My Gratitude List

Karakorum Desert, Balkan Welayat, Turkmenistan

July 28^th, 2008

The clock on my laptop’s screen shows 3:30pm. On the other computer, the temperature reading outside is 54 degree Celcius. The temperature inside the unit is no difference. The air conditioner is blowing hot wind since the past few days. After working 11 days without stop in the middle of desert, it give up, No longer cold breeze coming out of the air conditioner. The heat generated from 6 computers in this 4m by 2m room escalate the temperature. Feeling like in sauna, or worse, a pressure cooker.

My eyes staring at one of the screen, showing the incoming ones and zeros, or what people in the digital world call as bits. These bits are crucial in order for us to provide our services to client. The stream of bits should come in no matter what when we are drilling. If it stops, it is my job to go out there and troubleshoot, under the scorching sun.

So far the bits are streaming well. No problem at all. No noise. No intermittent reception. Every bit comes in when needed. I am grateful to these bits. Even though there are just merely zero and one, but it is the core thing that later on give very meaningful information to steer the well.

Close my eyes. Forget the heat. Just see every bit as a single cent that coming into my pocket. In an hour, I already have 2000 bits, equivalent to 2000 US cents. Thank you bits. Please keep coming.

1000101010100101010001010101010101001010101010101010101010101010

Car Purchase and My Experience

The very first car that I purchased was an Audi registered in year 1989. I don’t really remember which model is that. It was almost 4 years ago when I was in UK. That summer when I was in Manchester, my friend threw the idea of purchasing a car. It was an instant purchase through E-bay, the best virtual marketplace I had been to. Haha. I miss E-bay.

Anyway, the car was around 550 pounds. Since we were working as domestic assistant (or in layman term ‘cleaner’) every summer, we managed to save quite lot of money. We bought the car on Friday night. Then, we purchased one way bus ticket to Heathrow, London to pick up the car. The bus left at around 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning, so we arrived in Heathrow around 8am. We met the seller, and drove the car back to Manchester. The journey should not take more than 4 hours of driving. However, with extra cautious, my friend drove slowly and reached home 6 months afterwards..opsss..not 6 months lar, 6 hours.... Haha..I feel hilarious to think all these good memories when I was a student.

However, the car’s life span was not long. About a month after that, my friend involved in an accident and the car was badly damaged beyond repairable. We sent the car to scrap yard with 50 pounds penalty. Yes, we need to pay to dispose this piece of metal. However, I was really grateful that my friend was fine and escaped with no injury.

That was my first car, jointly owned with my other friend.

When I started my career, I made a wish to buy car for my family. My dad drove Nissan Sunny 130Y which was more than 20 years old already. I want to buy him a more reliable and safer car.

And about two months ago, I bought him a new Toyota Vios. At first, I want to buy a second hand Honda City or Toyota Vios, but after visiting Toyota showroom, I fell in love with new Toyota Vios. I am looking for a car which is spacious and economical.

At first, I want to delay the purchase. And with petrol price was rising recently, I felt that I need to postpone my plan. However, after much consideration, I don’t think this is the right thing to do since I had promised Dad I will buy him car real soon.

The loan agreement went well and we got the car in 10 days.

I still remember the tips that I learned from my reading about car purchase;

+ For first car, better to get second hand, low cc, cheaper car, low monthly installment or buy cash if possible. As a fresh graduate, this is an important step to liberate cash for other purposes especially career related. After few years, buy my dream car when I already have stable job and work experience. If possible, use public transport to commute to work place.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

I have been waiting for a long time to buy this book. I saw this book (with its nice cover) in Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur. But I never try to flip through the pages. In fact, at first, I thought this is a novel. Actually this is a book that I categorized as motivational and inspiring, kind of books that I love to read.

‘The Secret’ tell us the secret of life. How to be happy and successful in life by changing our thought. It sounds so easy, but only the true believers in this book can get the message.

It’s like when you are in real trouble, the best thing you need to do is to change your thought and focus on the good things. And the universe will conspire to solve your problem. Is it that simple?

When you are broke, think that you have more than enough. You live in abundance. And the money will come to you in many unexpected ways.

When you want something, think that you already have it. You can feel it, you can touch it. And you will send the signal to the Universe, and the Universe will send the thing that you want real soon.

These concepts can be hard to grasp. Especially for those who always live in misery and trouble.

I do believe in what the author said. Now, I realized that I already practice few tips which I read in books. Now it is the time to grasp new ideas and concept, and strengthen the one that I already know.

The Secret to Money

“Whatever the mind…can conceive it can achieve”

- W. Clement Stone (1902-2002)

I grew up on, “ You have to work hard for money”. So I replaced that with, “ Money comes easily and frequently”. Now in the beginning it feels like a lie, right? There is a part of your brain that will say, “Oh you liar, it’s hard.” So you have to know it’s this little tennis match that will go on for a while.

- Loral Langemeier, Financial Strategist, Speaker and Personal and Corporate Coach

“The good news is that the moment you decide that what you know is more important than what you have been taught to believe, you will have shifted gears in your quest for abundance. Success comes from within, not from without”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Secret Summaries

- To attract money, focus on wealth. It is impossible to bring more money into your life when you focus on the lack of it.

- It is helpful to use your imagination and make-believe you already have the money you want. Play games of having wealth and you will feel better about money; as you feel better about it, more will flow into your life.

- Feeling happy now is the fastest way to bring money into your life.

- Make it your intention to look at everything you like and say to yourself, “ I can afford that. I can buy that.” You will shift your thinking and begin to feel better about money.

- Give money in order to bring more of it into your life. When you are generous with money and feel good about sharing it, you are saying, “I have plenty”.

- Visualize checks in the mail.

- Tip the balance of your thoughts to wealth. Think wealt

KPF: Who can become a member?

This post is specifically to answer Father Sez. Thank you for visiting my blog and leave comment.

Koperasi Permodalan Felda Membership

From the website, http://www.felda.net.my/kpf/soalanlazim.asp , it is stated that;

1.	Siapakah yang layak menjadi anggota?
		Peneroka-peneroka Felda, isteri dan anak-anak mereka yang warganegara Malaysia dan berusia tidak kurang daripada 18 tahun dan berkelakuan baik
		Koperasi-koperasi peneroka Felda
		Kakitangan-kakitangan Felda yang sedang bertugas dan isteri
		Kakitangan-kakitangan Felda yang sudah bersara yang warganegara Malaysia dan sudah menjadi ahli Koperasi sebelum bersara
		Koperasi-koperasi kakitangan Felda

In general, KPF is open to who are working directly with FELDA. This 'exclusivity' gives lots of advantages to Peneroka and their family. A single solid advice to the children of Peneroka, please put your money in this cooperation and you will not regret. KPF has a strong track record with average dividend between 13% to 14% a year. I cannot guarantee future performance, but oil palm trading is heading a bright prospect.

This may leave you with disappointment, FatherSez. No worry. Everyone has his share of opportunity and you have been doing well so far. I enjoy reading your stories about family, goat farm, and your money management advices.

How to Become Member?

Contact your local Pejabat Felda and ask for membership form. Send the form by yourself or through Pejabat Felda with RM5 membership fee. This may take few months to get approval. Once you have the registration number, you can start to place your investment.

Or go to KPF office;

	Pejabat Koperasi Permodalan Felda (KPF)
	Bangunan Blok J,
	Anjung Felda, Jalan Maktab,
	54000 Kuala Lumpur.

I have been to KPF office last 3 weeks. It was empty except for an officer who will be more than happy to keep him busy with your inquiries. I feel like going to the bank and somebody is waiting to entertain me. No noise, no interruption, just me and him talking about serious business. Haha..

Highest KPF Dividend ever 16.5% for Year 2007

June 27, 2008 22:52 PM
From www.bernama.com

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 (Bernama) -- Koperasi Permodalan Felda Bhd (KPF) will be paying out dividend of 16.5 percent to its members involving a total payment of RM178.2 million for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2007, a record figure in its history.

For the 2006 financial year, it paid a dividend of 14.5 percent amounting to total payout of RM122.82 million, its chairman Datuk Ahmad Tarmizi Alias said in a press conference after KPF's annual general meeting here Friday.

Ahmad said the increased dividend reflected the good performances of the businesses it had invested in with the higher palm oil price being a major contributor.

KPF's membership rose to 186,268 last year, a 3.55 percent increase from the year before while assets rose by 23.64 percent to RM1.17 billion.

In 2007, KPF reported a revenue of RM253.06 million, an increase by 51.03 percent from RM167.55 million in 2006.

After tax and zakat payment, profit was RM183.31 million compared with RM125.61 million in 2006.

KPF's investment reached RM1.47 billion in 2007 compared with RM1.05 billion the year before with the core of its investments being in equity ownership in 13 Kumpulan Felda companies.

-- BERNAMA

P/s : This is the highest dividend ever paid by KPF to its shareholders. Unfortunately, I only started to invest in KPF early this year. Hopefully, with a strong market for palm oil, KPF will be able to give such a high return for year 2008 and beyond.

Third Ride : 70km and beyond ....

Third Ride : Adela – Sg Rengit – Tanjung Pengelih - Adela
Date : Wednesday, 18/06/2008 Distance : 72.59km Avg Speed : 22.4km/h
Max Speed : 43.5km/h Time: 7.30am-11.30am

This is the extended ride from the first ride. A 19km ride Adela-Sg Rengit ride, plus 16km coastal ride to Tg Pengelih. Tg Pengelih is the second most southern tip of Asia continent, facing the South China Sea. From the shore, I can see Changi, Singapore clearly. I believe anyone who is fit can swim cross the channel without much problem. The channel that separates Malaysia and Singapore is Selat Tebrau.

This time, the ride feels shorter. Probably because I was on the same route several days ago. The coastal road from Sg Rengit to Tg Pengelih is dead flat. I cruised at 23km/h comfortably for half an hour each leg.

The Kite Runner : The Movie

"Do you want me to run that kite for you? For you a thousand times over"

I am looking forward to watch the movie adapted from the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

Watch the thriller here.

The Kite Runner by Khaleed Hosseini

This is a story by a truly gifted story teller, Khaleed Hosseini. It is about a friendship of two boys, or more like ‘master and servant’ relationship. And at the end, the secret was revealed which force Amir (the master) to return to Kabul, Afghanistan to look for treasure left by his half brother.

Indeed, blood is a powerful thing. Blood binds people even if they used to be enemy before.

Excerpt from the pages;

“He let out a chuff of laughter, revealed missing lower incisors. It was the most tired laughter I’d ever heard. “I see America has infused you with the optimism that has made her so great. That’s very good. We’re a melancholic people, we Afghans, aren’t we? Often, we wallow too much in ghamkhori and self-pity. We give in to loss, to suffering, accept it as a fact of life, even see it as necessary. Zendagi migzara, we say life goes on. But I am not surrendering to fate here, I am being pragmatic. I have seen several good doctors and they have given the same answer. I trust them and believe them. There is such a thing as God’s will”

Replied Rahim Khan after Amir advicing him to get back to America to get better treatment.

On page 17 ….

“Good” Baba said. But his eyes wondered. “ Now, no matter what the mullah teaches, there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft. Do you understand that?”

“No. Baba Jan”

“When you kill a man, you steal a life” Baba said. “ You steal his wife’s right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness. Do you see?”

“There is no act more wretched than stealing, Amir”. Baba said. “ A man takes what’s not his to take, be it a life or a loaf of naan… I spit on such a man. And if I ever cross paths with him, God help him. Do you understand?”

A Note on the Author

Khaleed Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and moved to United States in 1980. His first novel, The Kite Runner, was an international bestseller, published in thirty-four countries. His second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, was a number one bestseller and was published in May 2007. In 2006, he was named a goodwill envoy to the United Nations Refugee Agency. He lives in northern California.

Pain in the Butt

Yes. I know this already from my previous experience and reading. A long ride can give you pain in the butt. Some suggested getting a broad seat. Some recommended trying different seats until you find the best fit. But first, try to adjust the seat position. Make sure the seat is level and at the right height.

This can be really irritating, especially when you have long distance to cover and you are not willing to stand on the pedal for the rest of the journey.

Second Ride : Adela – Desaru Golf – Adela

Second Ride : Adela – Desaru Golf – Adela
Date : Saturday, 14/06/2008 Distance : 49.53km Avg Speed : 20km/h
Max Speed : 59.6km/h Time: 9.30am-1.30pm

On the second day, I cycled near to 50km from Adela to Bandar Penawar to Desaru Golf. I did on average 20km/h, slightly less than the day before. I realized that I did not consume any food before any ride. This may affect my cycling speed, but I am not use to eat early in the morning.

Usually I started the day with morning prayer, then little bit of stretching. This includes The Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar), one of the Yoga practice that I read from book. I am a complete beginner of Yoga and wish I can learn more about this ancient practice.

Then, I prepare the necessities for the ride. Check the tire pressure and refill the water bottle with water.

Desaru Golf :: A lonely road towards the beach.

For this ride, I chose a route with a long descent on my way out of Adela. At this particular slope that stretch about 150 meters, I cycled (technically doing nothing, just let the gravity do its trick) at maximum speed of nearly 60km/h. It brought good feeling when you are at speed. And I need to be careful, even a small pothole can bring disastrous outcome.

First Ride : Adela – Sg Rengit – Adela

First Ride : Adela – Sg Rengit – Adela
Date : Friday, 13/06/2008 Distance : 38.87km Avg Speed : 23km/h
Max Speed : 41.7km/h Time: 8am-10am

This is my first long distance ride, less than 12 hours after I purchased the bike. I don’t think I ever tried cycling more than 15km before. I used to cycle from home to university every day. The length is about 2.5km.

And I realized a big difference with this bike. I used a Claud Butler Milano before. The frame (Milano) is big. Giant TCR3 has compact frame geometry. Thus, it looks smaller and easier to handle. Furthermore, it accelerates faster and easy to maneuver. However, since Claud Butler Milano used Campagnolo instead of Mizuno, I found that Campag was smoother in shifting gears. I also like the idea of having two separate levers for brake and gear shifting, as used by Campagnolo Ergopower.

Campagnolo Record Ergopower Carbon Lever

The ride took 2 hours including breakfast and stops. It was an enjoyable ride with medium traffic. However, there was significant amount of risk and the cyclist need to be careful all the time. Especially when big buses and lorries took over. The force created by passing vehicle may cause the bike to be unstable.

Breakfast at Sungai Rengit. At the back is South China Sea.

My New Ride

2008 Giant TCR3

I had ordered my new ride, Giant TCR3 on Monday, June 9, 2008. It took two days for the bike shop in Kota Tinggi to get the bike delivered from Johor Bahru. It cost RM 2300, relatively low compared to my initial budget. Probably because this 2008 model did not include carbon fork. I also being told that by adding another thousand Ringgit, I can get Fuji Roubaix which is more geared towards high end performance bike.

Fuji Roubaix

But I settled down with compact frame Giant TCR3, so that I have more cash for other things and kept my expenses low. All other accessories cost another RM4++. This included bike computer (Cateye Velo 8), pump, saddle bag, bike stand, spare tubes, grease, helmet, puncture kit, Allen key and water bottle.

Eyeing My New Ride

I am looking forward to purchase something that i dream long time ago. A road bike. My last bike "Claud Butler Milano" was stolen during my final year at university. And it was stolen right in front of the main university building between 3 to 5pm. Huhu.. Since then, I want to buy a new one when I have the opportunity.
Cycling can be competitive. The competitiveness can be in the form of competition. But what interest me is the competitiveness within myself. We feel competitive when you body was exhausted but your mind still take control. Pushing every single stride, and you realize that your limit is infinity.
I am eyeing for a moderate and good bike. Not that all carbon fibre built. I am wanting something like Scott Speedster S50 24-s.





This ride costs SD1300 which is about RM3100. Well, within budget. But it will not only the bike that I look into. I need helmet, pump, puncture kit and other things.

Car Loans .......

I called my dad few days ago and we talked about people buying brand new car. Maybe this can be his trick to ask for new ride as I promised him since last year. Haha... Anyway, technically I dont specify when I will buy car for the family even though that was one of the first thing that i thinked since i started working.
For me, I can tell how broke a person is by looking at what he is driving. A prestigious and luxurious car simply means the owner is full of debt, and has less cash for other more important expenses. This may not be true all the time but I know my neighborhood quite well.
Purchasing a car is going to be my biggest 'big ticket item' after a house. I will take months and a lot of courage for me to go to the dealer and asking the price tag. This is mainly because I am so afraid of having liability and not be able to pay the loan in the future. In contrary, others are proud to have such liability which i think way too heavy to carry.
It is amuse me how a girl, with a monthly salary of RM2000 (USD667) is able to purchase a brand new RM80,000 (USD26,667) car. Let say she made down payment of RM10,000. With loan interest of 2.5% per annum, this young lady has to pay RM794 per month for 9 years.Yes... 9 years.
In comparison, the down payment is equivalent to 5 months salary and monthly payment is 40% of the paycheck. For me, these numbers are too big to swallow. Not to forget annual insurance, road tax, service and maintenance. And last but not least, the petrol price rises steadily over last few years.
When I am about to finish my degree, I have outlined my spending plan for the next few years. I have made several plans according to my earning. As an engineer, I am expecting monthly salary of no less than RM2500. After several months working, I will consider to buy a car for myself because of necessity.
I will go for a second hand Proton Wira (Malaysian national car) which is about RM23000. I pay RM3000 for down payment. With 4% per annum interest rate, I need to pay RM400 monthly for installment. Then after 5 years, I will consider buying a better car. This way, I have more money to save and invest.

The Sequences >>>

" Because I don't live in either my past or my future. I'm interested only in the present.
If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy man.
You'll see there is life in desert,
that there are stars in heaven, and that
the tribesman fight because they are part of human race.
Life will be a party for you, a grand festival,
because life is the moment
we are living right now"

The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

Three Cups of Tea

Three Cups of Tea

One Man’s Extraordinary Journey to Promote Peace … One School at a Time

“Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin”

Three Cups of Tea

‘Here we drink three cups of tea to do business: the first you are stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything – even die’

Haji Ali, Korphe Village Chief, Karakoram Mountains, Pakistan

This is one amazing story of an American in a foreign land. In 1993, Greg Mortensen arrived in Pakistan on his attempt to conquer the world’s second highest mountain, K2.

He failed to complete his disastrous attempt, and was drifted in cold into an impoverished Pakistan Village in the mountains. Haji Ali, the village leader offered his kindness, food and shelter to Greg. Moved by the inhabitant’s kindness, he promised to return and build a school for a remote village of Korphe.

A decade later, Greg managed to build not only one but fifty five schools across the forbidding and breathtaking landscape of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This man shows us the power of the humanitarian spirit within himself. Despite having no cash and home, he struggle to save and raise every penny for children in Pakistan.

‘An inspiring chronicle… This is one protagonist who clearly deserves to be called a hero’ – People

P/s – I read this book within a week, averaging two hours a day on my way to my training centre. I am in Abu Dhabi undergoing work training provided by my employer for two months. I make use of the two hours commuting time on the bus while others are trying to get a decent sleep. Something that most people are craving these days, including me. A good quality sleep.

One interesting thing about this book, is that on page 337, it is written:

“If Three Cups of Tea inspires you to do more, here are suggestions for how to help:

1. Visit www.threecupsoftea.com website…….Every purchase online, 7% will go towards a girls’ education scholarship fund in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
2. Suggest Three Cups of Tea to a friend……church, synagogue, mosque, university, high school class….
3. Check if Three Cups of Tea is in your local library. If not, either donate or suggest the library to add the book to their collection.
4. Encourage your local independent or chain bookstore to carry this book.
5. Write a Three Cups of Tea book review for Amazon.com, …….., or a blog..

6. …….

7……

And the list goes on. This is the first book that I read with a list of honest and thoughtful suggestions. I am amazed on how an American (an infidel, as described in the book) decided to open his heart to Muslim children. To be able to care and provide them with light of education more than a government can do. My sincere thanks to Mr. Greg Mortenson.

Postcards for Faraway Friends

Two will travel back to my home country,

One will fly cross the continent to the breathtaking New Zealand,

And one will land at the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.

My prayer for the receivers,

May God bless them with good health,

Bestow them with happiness and wealth.

Words of Wisdom of The Alchemist

The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

This is the second book of Paulo Coelho that I read. I love the story; mystical, adventurous and life enhancing. It was about a boy; Santiago who followed his dream, and the unexpected events he had encountered.

“A beautiful book about magic, dreams and the treasures we seek elsewhere, and then find at our doorstep” – MADONNA

Many words in this book make a lot of sense to me. Book like this one can make me happy, make me smile and cry without reason, make me appreciate every moment that passing by and making me feeling adventurous.

“It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting” – page 11

“I left my father, m my mother, and the town castle behind. They have got used to my being away, and so have I. The sheep will get used to my not being too” – page 29. P/s Like me, I was away from home since thirteen. But home is still a home. And everywhere I go, I know there is always a place that I can go back – my home.

“The boy felt jealous of the freedom of the wind, and saw that he could have the same freedom. There was nothing to hold him back except himself” – page 29.

“I’m like everyone else – I see the world in terms of what I would like to see happen, not what actually does” – page 42

“When you want something, all te universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” – page 42

Rich Site Summary (RSS)

When I start this blog 7 months ago, It was only for personal use. I want a space on the internet where I can link to all my favorite financial blogs. So, I can go to my personal blog and put links. However, a few months ago, I found IGoogle. I know there is a way that I can personalise my search engine, but never try to find out how. Then I started learning how to personalize IGoogle. I add a tab for personal finance where I can put the links to all my favorite blogs. Even more, this tool is so good that I can add RSS.

What is RSS?

RSS (Rich Site Summary) is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. Many news-related sites, weblogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as an RSS Feed to whoever wants it.

Why RSS? Benefits and Reasons for using RSS

RSS solves a problem for people who regularly use the web. It allows you to easily stay informed and save time by not needing to visit each site individually. You ensure your privacy, by not needing to join each site's email newsletter. The number of sites offering RSS feeds is growing rapidly and includes big names like Yahoo News. by retrieving the latest content from the sites you are interested in.

A Dollar A Day, A Minute At A Time

Read The One Minute Millionaire or Go to www.oneminutemillionaire.com

No matter your present circumstances, here are the four steps to your first million.

1. Decide that it's okay for you to become a millionaire.

Some people believe that the accumulation of wealth is an unworthy goal. Before you begin you journey to become an Enlightened Millionaire, search your attitudes to make sure you are willing to create wealth in a way that will support your inner beliefs and values.

2. Practice imagining yourself enjoying an abundant lifestyle.

All great fortunes are started in someone's imagination. See yourself living in the home of your dreams, enjoying ideal relationships with friends and loved ones, contributing to the world through your own unique talents and abilities. Imagine the fortune you could create and the good it could do. Believe it and you will see it.

3. Spend less than you earn.

But how? Pay yourself first. Deduct 10% off the top of your income, and deposit it into your investment account. Convert all your credit cards except one to debit cards so it is impossible fo you to go into debt. Then live on what is left over.

4. Invest the difference

Invest your 10% surplus into investments that can earn at least 10%. A dollar a day invested at 10% interest becomes a million dollars in 56 years. In other words, anyone can become a millionaire by investing only a dollar a day-30 bucks a month. If you want to become a millionaire faster, then invest more money or find ways to make your money grow at higer rates of return.

You can become a Millionaire.

• It only takes a minute to decide it.
• It only takes a minute to visualize it.
• It only takes a minute to save it.
• It only takes a minute to invest it.

A dollar a day-a minute at a time-you can get there. Slowly but surely.

A Dollar a Day and You are Millionaire

In many ways, we always think the impossible is really an impossible. Maybe because we focus too much on the final result. But what is more important is the journey. A small act everyday, through persistence routine can yield a magnificent result.

How many of us believe that anyone can be millionaire by putting a dollar aside each day? If this is possible, we surely have many millionaires in this world, rite? The problem is we always look at other people and choose to believe what the majority believe.

A Dollar a Day ..... A Slow Way

One of the greatest human invention in the world of investment and economics is 'interest'. I am talking about good interest here, not the bad one. The interest (or dividend) is simply the return that we get for the investment which is made. Usually in term of percentage and at yearly basis, although not necessarily. However, interest by itself is not really helpful to make us rich. The interest need to be compounded year in and year out. This simply means reinvesting the interest as investment.


"A great physicist, Albert Einstein once referred to compounded interest as the eight wonder of the world"
How A Dollar A Day Can Turn to ONE MILLION at Different Rate in 66 Years

Invest In	Interest		Amount Accumulated
(Hidden in a mattress)	0%		$24,000
(In a savings account)	3%		$77,000
(Certificates of deposit)	5%		$193,000
(Corporate bonds)	8%		$1,000,000
(Growth mutual funds)	10%		$2,700,000
(Aggressive growth mutual funds)	15%		$50,000,000
(Real Estate, businesses)	20%		$1,000,000,000
			(That's One Billion!)

See that!! We can be a millionaire given that you put aside a dollar each day at the right place. We just need to be consistent and live long enough. In country like Malaysia, it is not hard to find place to put in your money. Amanah Saham Bumiputra (ASB) is one of great place to start. The fund consistently yield dividend no less than 7% each year (Dividend + Bonus). Buy..Hey!!! That is a dollar a day, 30 dollars a month. How about putting extra..60 Dollars a month, or 100 Dollars a month. Get it now???

But I am at thirties right now. How I can buy back the 30 years which had passed?

Do not despair. Our first mistake was : not to initiate the investment a long time ago. But the biggest mistake is not to start it now. Remember, the journey is more important than the destination.

I know I am Rich

Millionaire? But I Earn only Few Hundreds Bucks...How I can save?

For me, this is a tough subject. Many people may ask me, how I can save when I earn little. Just enough to survive for another month. Have to pay bills, mortgages, unexpected and urgent payments and emergencies.

To be honest, I cannot answer this query with satisfactory explanation even to myself. This is mainly because I have no experience having so little money at any particular period of time. My life is a blessing and I am very thankful to God. This does not mean that I am coming from a rich family. But the opportunity and money is not something that I have to worry about. To illustrate this, let me tell my story.

Do you remember when is the first time you feel rich? I do. I start to feel that I live rich when I started university life. Rich is a relative perception. I refer to being rich is equal to having a calm and peaceful mind, having not to worry about money excessively. Every month, I meet my ends and needs.

By end of each month, I knew that there will be money in my bank account. It is not much, 240 pounds from the scholarships ( I was in Manchester that time). It is enough to eat and buy clothes. But the main factor how I survive was because I live below my own mean. I am not used to buy expensive clothing, perfume or concert tickets. The only things I spent my money on were books and electronics. I waited for boxing day to buy a nice jacket at at least 50% discount. I waited for summer and winter sale. I used online to buy cheaper books and electronics. I walked and cycled to university rather than took the bus. I brought home made sandwich and water for lunch. I did not make impulse purchases. I will wait for months to buy a camera just to find the cheapest deal and slowly save money for the item.

In young man's world, there are only two reason that messing our life. First is money, and second one is 'girl'. If I have a gilfriend, I will not buy her expensive thing. But do many small things that make big impact. Spend money on a romantic picnic at nearby park in easter rather go to expensive restaurant for dinner. Give her a cute little teddy when you are away rather buying her expensive necklace. Or start with a right choice, find girl with 'less maintenance'..Hehe.. unless u were born rich.

Jump Of Life

JuMp of My LiFe :: NortEast Coast of Ireland

JuMp of My LiFe :: Abu Dhabi Desert

I start to think is it a good idea to post more pictures in this blog. Certainly, I would like to remain anonymous in the cyber space. A place where people get connected without having to know each other personally. A community that is built on common cause, neither by cultural and economical background nor the physical appearance. But I start to like to snap pictures of me hanging on the air. Remind me of how love, money, success, knowledge, peace, freedom, opportunity, and health are abundance in this world. And people can share this thing together without selfishness.

Oil Price Hits USD126

Oil: After hitting $126, is $150 far behind? (05.09.2008)

Oil leaped into uncharted territory Friday, soaring past the $126-a-barrel mark for the first time, and leaving analysts and investors wondering how high the price will go.

Oil holds above $123 (05.08.2008)

Oil prices held steady Thursday in Asia after jumping to a record near $124 a barrel as investors captivated by the market's upward momentum seemed to ignore figures showing an increase in U.S. cru...

Why $120 oil is good (05.07.2008)

Speculators are often blamed for artificially inflating crude prices, but some experts say that's exactly what's needed to cut demand and develop new resources.

Analyst: $200 oil could be ahead (05.06.2008)

A Goldman Sachs analyst predicted Tuesday that oil prices could reach $150 to $200 a barrel over the next six months to two years, but said that how far prices could climb still "remains a major un...

The Witch of Portobello

Time: 0434 Abu Dhabi Sat, May 10

This week has been a fruitful week. Managed to read 2 books despite of 6am to 6pm tight schedule. The first book was The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Ceolho. The story of Athena evolves around a mystical journey of a women who want to help other, who discover an ability which bring destruction to herself. Her life is told by the many who knew her well - or hardly at all. It is like looking at a single object from different angles and distances.

I realised that the last novel I read was Dan Brown's collection : Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, Digital Fortres and Deception Point. After finishing The Witch of Portobello, I continue reading The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. This is an excellent book. In life, there are books that worth reading only once, and there are kinds of book thats worth to understand, practice and analyse. And this book by Robin S. Sharma can be a guide to have a better life.

At the moment, I am in Abu Dhabi, having my training 6am to 6pm on daily basis. The bus ride to the learning center takes an hour each journey. Every day, I spent two hours on the not so comfortable bus seat with seatbelt on. However, hey..I found out that It was the best two hours for myself. Instead of sleeping, I listen to music and read good books. Once a while, I watch the passing cars and wonder which car I should buy first. A Honda, BMW, or Mercedes....Haha...Or I should just stick to our national models..perhaps the new Proton Saga BLM. This strengthen my believe that humankind can create time. Most of the time, we blame the hectic schedule of our life to the extend we can hardly find time for ourself.

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New great financial website

I found this great Malaysian website. And suddenly drawn to one of the post. The author wrote:

The five mistakes we have talked about so far are:-
- Not paying myself first
- Not forming or joining a correct peer group
- Not having a written budget
- Not managing my career properly and
- Not getting the best deals on my mortgages
There is more.
The next one is “foolishly selling my long term investments without proper evaluation and soul searching”.

Thank you for sharing the list. Mistake can be the greatest teacher in life.

Countries visited

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or vertaling Duits Nederlands

The countries: Britain, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, Singapore, Brunei

PIOF performance 23Nov to 5Feb

I guess I just need time. Let the graph fall and let it rebounce back (bottom figure). Anyway, it just 2 months since I placed my cash there. It needs time to grow and to get momentum. Huhu. Compare to what happens if I start invest since the first day PIOF was launced (top figure ). The total return from 28 Jun 2005 to 05 Feb 2008 is 77.91%. That is in about three and half years.

Stock Market Index

I am investing in Public Mutual unit trust. Thus, I always using the online performance chart to see the ups and downs of my fund. The company has done a great job by presenting the performance using chart, which i finds realy helpful and easy to understand. Well, on each performance chart, there are two lines indicating the fund performance and marke index performance. I never try to find what that Index line is trying to show. I always assumes that it shows the average performance of stocks in that particular category. So, I better get a clear definition on what the line try to represent.



As usual, goggling the definition of stock market index....



Definitions of Stock Market Index on the Web:

• A representation of the value of securities that constitute a given market sector or industry. Indexes often serve as barometers against which ...www.confidentstrategies.com/glossary.htm


• An index shows how a specified portfolio of share prices are moving in order to give an indication of market trends.www.maaklmutual.com.my/ASP-bin/Public/mutGlossary.asp


• stock index: index based on a statistical compilation of the share prices of a number of representative stocks wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn


• A stock market index is a listing of stocks and a statistic reflecting the composite value of its components. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock market index

Back at base, Mountain of Oil, Turkmenistan

Yeahh...I am at the base now after 2 weeks of night shift at Burren's rig. I was rigging down yesterday whe I just finished my night shift. Which means I havent sleep for 24 hours. hehe...

I just want to have an easy day today and feel like blogging again. I realised that the economy is not so good at the moment. The SLB share dropped from almost USD100 at th end of 2007, to USD74.86 today. maybe this s a good time to buy more stocks for those who has spare cash. The SLB stock price, I believe will get better soon.

The same story goes to US Dollar. Dollar gets weaker day after day. Today, the exchange rate (from xe.com) is USD1 = RM3.23. Since my salary is in USD, I think it is not a good time to transfer my money to my Maybank account in Malaysia. I can easily lose money as the USD gets weaker. This effect will be of great significant when I transfer a large sum of money. So I will wait for USD to get stronger, but I do not know when. Well, after back of envelope calculation, I think it is not worthy to transfer the money now, and lose few hundred Ringgit, eventhough it is good if I can dump my money in unit trust at the earliest opportunity that I have. I think I will transfer the money when USD1 is equaivalent to RM 3.30 or more. we will see later.