Wednesday 29 October 2008

FuFu Trust Fund

Invest in people, not stocks.

Turn the pages of any newspaper, log on to any news portal, tune in to any news channel, and chances are you will be inundated with stories of the economic meltdown not only in the United States but all over the world. Stocks market have been battered and bruised due to the recent financial crisis. The Lehman bankruptcy has given investors a great lesson ever and where exactly should the boundaries of caveat emptor extend to next? Luckily i had no money to invest and all my hard earned money already spent on my world tour.


Ah Yan, FuFu and Tauwah.

Well, i am certainly not crystal ball-gazer but one thing i know for sure - My investment is not in stocks or bonds, but in the people around me. These include my family members, my relatives, my schoolmates, my friends, my colleagues, my blog-readers, my MSN buddies, my pen-pal - the list goes on. The circle of family and friends is by far, the most treasured possession i have. They are more important to me than any investment.

Unconsciously, many of us tend to take our lives for granted and before we know it, would have thrown a good 20 years or more into merely building our careers, owning properties and earning dividends from unit trust funds. Although you may think that you can gain much as a result of the investment, in actual fact, you might have lost as we dont know what will happen in the future stock market. Human beings are the very potential investment we must not ignore.


FuFu and Kooleelee.

Imagine when you are in trouble, undoubtedly, money could be the best solution to ease the problem but think twice, would you be able to be watering with unconditional concerns, love and supports from family and friends which are so far the best healing medication for any wound. Therefore, there is nothing better than depositing your time, effort, concern and love into someone`s life. Therein lies the real treasure. The lasting relationships created will pay you greater dividends than any stock you can possibly invest in. Hold these things close to your heart, and you will truly prosper.



Rarely to have a weekend off, i quickly contacted my old buddies who are now working in Singapore. We have known each other for 15 years or more, used to study, attend tuition classes, hang around together during our old school time. I realise that, since i went to Japan to further my studies, i lost many moments of connecting with my friends. Also i know that without keeping in touch occasionally, we could lose the valuable chance to relate and bond with our old friends. Fortunately, they showed up and we kept ourselves updated and sharing the news of our other friends.

Invest in food, not stocks.


A gourmet buffet~

Many of us may neglect the importance of the urban life. A good life should be come along with good quality and healthy food. Food itself indeed has a very important role to play. Apart of working, dating, sleeping, resting, we should spend time and pay attention on our three meals everyday. The food must contain a large amount of carbohydrates, iron, vitamins, protein, minerals and a little fat to keep our energies level up.


Salad~

I think a good number of people in Malaysia and Singapore are still not very aware of the significance of healthy eating. Some are ill-informed and some are perhaps not much motivated to make a change in their eating habits. Many of you may think that eating outside is easy, fast and cheap. I anyway doubt most of the hawker foods are being prepared and served is of a relatively high standard for our consumption. They are laden with salt, sugar, Ajinomoto and artery-clogging fats. If you try to cook yourself, get organic food if you can. But for those who living alone, away from family, you have no choice, just choose the right stall.


Appetizer~

So, the four of us decided to have our Hi-tea buffet at a relatively famous buffet restaurant, Pariss Restaurant located in Marina Square. We were satisfied with the food. Just, the dessert for the cakes and ice-cream were out of my expectation. Hanging around with FuFu is like killing few birds with one stone. Not only the great people, good conversation, nice food, also you could expect regular encounters grow into the lasting comradeships.


Main dish~

Ladies and gentlemen, after a long talk, finally now comes to the point of the topic. I am not good at investment especially in stocks but one thing for sure i can tell you, FuFu Trust Fund (FTF) is a zero-risk, reliable and performing unit trust that worth you to invest. FuFu Trust Fund is already a multi national fund which has a great number of offices all over the world. It is rapidly expanding and now FuFu decided to launch and then establish the brand in his home country and Singapore as well.


Second round~

So what are you waiting for? Stop hesitating, join FuFu Trust Fund today. Start earning your dividend now and enjoy the better life together with FuFu in the future. You certainly need a good companion (friend) to share everything with you when you feel lonely or getting old. Here, i suggest you to invest in this fund to ensure a lending ear or getting the chance to lean on FuFu`s shoulder when necessary in the future.


Dessert~

Term and Condition : Only those who understand what the meaning behind this post qualified to buy the unit trust fund. Tell me the amount of unit you wanna invest in, ok?

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大致上这篇文章描述最近的世界经济风暴
很多的投资者都受到很大的打击情绪崩溃
金钱的投资我不会股市的玩意我一窍不通
但人际关系这一股我已经私地下的买大了
可以不穿内裤但万万不可以不对人下投资
在家靠父母在外靠朋友老后靠儿女和伴侣
我们千万别忽略了我们的老朋友和知己们
他们将会在我们人生中里占去一大部分的
在日本我经常招呼我的朋友到我家来用餐
我也和他们分享我所拥有的一齐喝吃玩乐
毕业后我也到他们的国家甚至家乡去游玩
之前所投资在他们身上的金钱不算是什么
但我得到的回报却是无价的旅游体验经历
譬如当地导游还有免费住宿和一日的三餐
值得一提的是他们的当地朋友们我都认识
一年以内我的人际圈子似渐渐的膨大起来
不怕日后再回到这个那个地方时没有朋友
感觉会好像仿佛去到那里都有人照顾呵护
朋友是利用的但也须知礼尚往来人之常情
记得付出时不可要求自己会得到什么回报
当觉得自己投错了人选时不要埋怨和伤心
不要为了一棵烂树而放弃整个青葱的森林
疑朋友不交交朋友不疑要对人充满信心哦
别交一时刻的朋友我们要放长线钓条大鱼
和朋友的关系稳固持续是我们得到的保障
千万别小看能从朋友身上的到的神奇力量
朋友可能是你的贵人或足以改变你的一生
人和股票不一样因为人我们可以一眼看出
人不可貌相但言语和行为足以辨认一个人
我不知道你们对我的印象如何我有机多分
让我告诉你们从文法中也可以看出一个人
看人看多了一看就知道他葫芦里卖什么药
要强调是股票不可靠朋友知己比较有保障
有钱时不妨请我吃大餐看戏喝咖啡玩游戏
因为我会给你们带来无限的惊喜和欢乐哦

Friday 24 October 2008

FuFu World Tour


Breakfast in Denizli.

Turkiye 7th - 22nd May 2007
Denizli, Istanbul
- Turkish Bath - Part Seven



A gorgeous breakfast i had ever had.

Forgot to update the special breakfast ever i had in Denizli with Necla. It may be a simple and common breakfast but to me, a tourist, it was totally an awesome surprise in the morning. The additional great atmosphere at the restaurant with the great table setting and design, it was wholly the best one i ever had. As the first destination of my world tour, undoubtedly, i had ton of great adventures in Turkey. Thanks God, i had Necla, her family and her friends to be with me during the 15 days.


Ceyda (Necla`s younger sister) and Necla.

Well anyway, after coming back from Antalya, we met up Ceyda at the bus terminal. How lucky was FuFu. He had a great dinner with two pretty girls. My last dinner with them in Denizli. I promised Ceyda that i will pay the family a visit again in the near future. Probably will be back in 2010.





We talked until the driver got into the express bus. I went back to Istanbul myself. Alighted at Acvilar and took taxi back home. Sevda and Anne (mother in Turkish) were waving me in front of the balcony. Lunch was prepared. How nice Turkish people are.



I was freaking tired travelling by express bus from Fethiye to Denizli (6hrs) then Istanbul (10hrs). Started writing postcards to my friends after having a good nap.


Turkish postcards.

Then came the dinner time! Today`s menu was spaghetti, fried chicken, yogurt and tomato.





Having cay, Turkish tea after dinner is a must. Our interpreter, Necla was in Denizli busy preparing for her coming test. Fortunately, she left us a good English-Turkish dictionary so communication with Sevda and her mother was not difficult while having tea in the living room.


Cay, Turkish tea.

The next morning, breakfast was served on the table once i had got ready to go out. I was told to finish it. Damn it took me couple of minutes more walking to the bus stop. I was so full!





Local railway station.

Corlulu Ali Pasa Medresesi is a wellknown atmospheric water pipe place in Beyazit district, Istanbul. The neighbourhood tradesmen and local rest here along with tourists. The leafy courtyard of the Medrese contains an outdoor garden, gift shops old carpet kilim shops. Indoors, small historical buildings stand side by side. Cafes serve various flavour of Turkish water pipe as well as tea and soft drinks. Originally this place was a Medrede, a Muslim theological school.




Turkish Mystic Water Pipe Garden.





Old Carpet Kilims, leather and textile.




A dense Jewish neighbourhood is one of the historical sites of Istanbul that you must not miss out. There you can see how real is the local working life and the architecture of the historical buildings.








I saw the crowd lining up and drinking the water from a machine standing beside a mosque. I thought it must be something special holy water. So i decided to join the local and had a cup to moisture my throat after a long walk around the historical site.




Everyone knows that i am proud to be a Malaysian. But when i saw Proton Gen-2 in Istanbul, my heart smiled! I wanted to tell Turkish people that i am from Malaysia. The car was imported from Malaysia. Well, Proton is the Malaysian national car maker which was established in 1983 under the direction of the former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad. When i observed carefully i found that there are quite a number of Proton outlets in Istanbul. I am glad to see Malaysian car running on other country!


Proton Gen-2

Then i walked to Yeni Valide complex. It is a large domed room that houses the graves of Turhan Hatice Sultan, Murad V, Osman III, Mehmed IV, Mustafa II, Ahmed III and Mahmud I, as well as numerous members of the royal family.






Misir Carsisi (Spice Bazzar).

Next i walked to Spice Bazaar. Another bazaar that worth you to pay a visit. Unlike Grand Bazaar, you can get the finest Turkish delights, spices, vegetables, fruits, flowers, pets and cooking utensils, basically everything in Spice Bazaar.










Above are the pictures of the spices and below are the popular Turkish delights that tourists must not miss to bring back as souvenir.











Continued with the pictures taken beside the bazaar.








I was exhausted. Took the train back home earlier. Dinner was a very typical local dish! Mushrooms and green chillis cooked with tomatoes, eaten with bread. The desserts, rice pudding was great! It was served to me both hot and cold.



Yummy turkish rice pudding.



Breakfast. Toast with cheese, sausage white cheese and olive.

My first destination, on the following day was Haseki Harrem Sultan Hamam, a carpet museum located at the royal box of Sultanahment Camii (Blue Mosque). It houses a nice collection of historical Turkish carpets. Animal figured rugs, Usak carpets, a fascinating collection of praying rugs are displayed in the two storey building where Ottoman Sultans prepared themselves for hamam, literally Turkish bath.


Haseki Harrem Sultan Hamam






Cemberlitas Hamam, Sultanahmet district.

One of the truly unmissable experiences of a trip to Turkey is a visit to the hamam, literally Turkish bath. The Turkish bath as a method of cleansing the body and relaxation is particularly popular to entertain tourists as another stop in their daily tours. The process involved in taking a Turkish bath is similar to that of a sauna, but is more closely related to the bathing practices of the Romans.



I decided to have a bath after fifteenth days of exploring the capital, Denizli, Pamukkale, Antalya and Izmir to clean the entire of my body. Upon entering, a attendant will ask you if you need a bath and scrub or massage. My attendant did not speak much English. I was given the choice of bathing myself or receiving a scrub, or massage. I said yes to all options. My attendant gave me a cotton wrap, or pestemal, and a pair of slippers, or terlik, along with a key to your cubicle. then was brought to a dressing room, which is surrounded by private cubicles where you dress. My attendant told me that once you have removed all your clothing and wrapped the cotton cloth around you sarong style like a skirt, you are ready to go. Ready to go?

I was taken to a warm, humid room with a raised stone platform (goebektas) in the center, surrounded by bathing alcoves, in pretty coloured quartz tiles. The tiles remove static electricity from the air, and help to relax the mind and body. The light, diffused through glass in the ceiling is soft and relaxing. I lay on the platform (but you can sit if you prefer) which is heated, and worked up a sweat. My attendant then lead me to one of the basins, and then i was scrubbed cleaner than i ever have been, and again. The attendant used a coarse mitt to remove layers of dead skin, then came the soap. He used a lacy cloth, like an icing bag, then blew through it to create bubbles. I was covered from head to toe with white frothy bubbles. My hair was piled high, a bit like Marge Simpson`s and i enjoyed a wonderful scalp massage.


Next, i was doused in warm water again and my attendant disappeared. I later learned that was to allow me to clean my private areas myself. Total nudity is fine here, but some men wore underwear. However you cant run naked in the room. Turkish bath is not like Japanese hot spring which you can expose everything proudly. Now it was time for the massage! Back to the stone platform and he pummeled me, quite roughly but it felt so good. After the massage i was handed towels and then taken to the cold room to cool down, and to drink tea.


The room, towel and slippers.

After the rest, it was time to head back to the cubicle to get dressed. Although a scrub and massage generally takes an hour and a half, you can take as much time as you need. It`s about $20 for a scrub and massage. While the massage at Cemberlitas Hamam was a bit rough (although just as good and much cheaper), but you must not miss taking a Turkish bath when in Istanbul, especially after a long, hot day of sightseeing to energize the muscles. Or you can anyhow try the luxurious hamam at any five star hotel in Istanbul.


Turkish bath? Good? *ponders* Erm, no freaking idea! Let me try first.


Oh, was wrapped like this. Ops, feel so good now.



I spent two hours enjoying the bath until i forgot the time to go back home. It was late when i arrived home. Seyda and mother had had their dinner. But we had dessert and corns together. The dessert was yogurt with strawberry.







Need to mention about my VIP room in Istanbul. Necla`s mother changed the sheet everyday for me. Treated me like her own son. Being a three daughters` mother, she has longed to have a son. I understand her feeling. And i told her that i will be back in 2010, definitely back! She smiled. She looked so happy. Time flew. It was finally the last day in Turkey. It was the time to say sayonara. We had lavarsh with cheese which is a type of turkish flatbread.


Breakfast on the last day.

I then walked around the residential area before going to the post office to send the postcards out. I met cute Turkish kids. After that i took a short stroll enjoying the view of Sea of Marmara before heading back.




Lunch was Turkish pizza. It was very quiet. None of us talked while having our lunch. I bravely broke the silent by asking how should i go to the airport. I told them not to go to the airport with me. I knew that they would definitely tear the second i step in the entrance of departure hall. Mother called a private taxi for me.




Gule-gule (goodbye) Turkey. Çok tesekkur ederim to Anne, Necla, Ceyda, Sevda, Oslem and those i had met. I will be back and wish to meet you all again in Turkey.


Ataturk International Airport, Istanbul, Turkey.


Emirates, one of my favourite airlines.


Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), Istanbul.