So I’m back in Malaysia and there goes the season of thieves, burglars, and all the goodies. No not really, the public security in Malaysia (or more precisely, around my area of residence in Malaysia) has always been troublesome in general, 24-7.

Well I’ve already had my house-broken-in-cherry popped last year, and actually there was another robbery in between this one, I just didn’t mention it because I was away in Taiwan. So frankly it’s not that fresh anymore, and there really isn’t anything expensive in my place to begin with, but then they didn’t bother to put our drawers and mattresses back in order now did they?

Below is a list of things that were stolen this time:

- Food
- Drinks
- A ladder (yeah, a…ladder.)

Thank you Mr. Thief! This time you didn’t take my modem, router, and DVDs anymore! People tell me you can really profile the thief by the items they’ve stolen, I guess my last univited visitor was a lot more educated because he/they took all the portable electronic stuff like DVD player and wireless router. And this one? A ladder… take it buddy, it’s all yours.

Anyways, after 4 or 5 robberies this is what my home security looks like now…

Our front window, it’s protected by metal bars originally, but now we pimpted it up a notch.

Behold… the double iron welded window frame, try breaking this one mother fucker.

This is the unprotected version, the thieves can easily break the single iron frame around it.

Our solution was simple, patch that shit up with concrete, NOW WHAT!? lol

The insdie look of the patched window.

A broken lock handle, FAILED.

The back door one which still works.

Even doggy door is now sealed…

Newly installed security alarm (which I accidentally trigger many times) and iron roll-up gate.

This is the view of my front end entrance by the way.

Close up.

Honestly, I still don’t think this is enough, after all I live by myself most of the time, needless to say, I’m always ready for battle, I hope I meet these scumbags in real life and oh yes I’m going to school them hard, oh yes, this is what they’ll be dealing with…

…..

….

…

..

.

Jacky, focused, ready to battle, with a (broken) mop

Take two.

Yeah I still remember Hanz telling me that in Southeast Asia, the first thing you get on a car is NOT to strap on your seatbelt, but to lock your doors, because you never know someone may jump you right there and then. Having spent a good deal of my life in Foster City, where supposedly one homicde happens every twenty years, I was too careless and innocent for all that crime and violence out here.

But in all realness, although I’m more reluctant to go out more due to constant robberies in my neigborhood, I do learn to become more aware of my surroundings and try to protect myself more, I guess for every con there is always a pro.

And it ain’t all bad staying inside the house, as long as I have my Mangas, DVDs and Router I’m a happy guy!

BAM! Um, yeah I use this to cut fruits.

STAY AWAY FROM JACKAY!!!

Lock your doorz friends!

Till next time…

So I’m finally back in Malaysia, it’s been 4 months since I left. Haven’t really done much during my stay in Taiwan, truth is, I am simply not at the level to deal with the Taiwanese market; I lack the social skill and network to blend into the hive.

In Taiwan, as well as in most part of Asia, it’s important to “buddy buddy” your prospecting clients, during my stay in Taiwan I have observed that as a result of prevalent phone and mail scams, most companies have grown to be impurvious to the traditional cold-callings and emails. It almost seems that you must know someone who knows someone inside the purchasing department – or you really must walk door to door to ask for a sit-in opportunity for a presentation – both too difficult for me.

Alas, I still gotta do what I gotta do if I ever want to accomplish something; sales don’t just occur out of blue. But if I am going to devote my time one way or another, I’d go for Malaysia where more I see more opportunities, despite the fact that I do enjoy my off-work life in Taiwan.

Another plus is that Malaysia connects with multipule South Eastern Asian countries: Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam…etc., so there is more possibility to expand the business. So, with all these said, pretty much makes up the past few months of my life – doing nothing in Taiwan and then flew back to Malaysia.

——

Two newly hired sales girls quit; one just before CNY and the other just after CNY – after receiving year-end bonuses and red envelopes – which kind of pisses me off, I mean I can understand it: Why quit before CNY when you can receive two fat checks for staying a month longer, on top of a 9-day paid vacation right?

Well, nothing wrong with it, just low and lack integrity to me, worst yet it felt kind of like an insult, because she KNOWS that she’s being shady, and she DON’T CARE if we think she’s shady.

But then, I am even more pissed at myself for I could not get people motivated to get up and do something, I lack the ability and I lack the EQ; when I see people coming to work everyday, sit around, wait for my command, tasks of the day, lecture of the day or what have you, wait for shit to happen, wait for lunch, wait for 5:30 pm  – I don’t want to talk to them – especially when the job you’ve applied for is SALES.

All good though, at least the company doesn’t have to pay them anymore. I’d rather use those money to place an ad or attend an expo or something – anything else would have been more productive.
——-

Work aside, it was definitely awesome to see old buddies from the States in Taipei. I was particularly surprised that my childhood friend Minghan came to visit Taipei for business from Japan. This guy is phenomenal, it’s been almost 8 years since we haven’t met or spoken, yet we still click.

15 years and going…

Minghan is the man. I remember when we were in middle school, he’d tell me that he will one day go to Japan and live there – he did. And he did it well, he had almost zero support from his parents and he’d work his ass off while studying in Japan, now he’s been staying in Japan for about 7 years and will apply for Japanese citizenship next year. He’s truly one of those guys that walk the walk, and I appreciate him for believing in me with what I do; even though I am that kid with a daddy setting my future up for me.

Me, Russell & His brother Stanley

It was great seeing Russell also; it’s my first time really hanging out with his brother Stanley, the guy is warm and welcoming, really took care of us when we were in Taipei. It’s funny for me to still not know Taipei well enough to show people around where the goodies are.

—–

Friends are important, they really are a reflection of who you are; they are the ones who can really “get” you, and in turn you can also really “get” them – these are life keepers and I’m glad I’ve got a few.

Everyone’s got his own problems and agendas, and a night out with the bros can really help forgetting about the problems temporarily, recharge, and move on. Of course, as we grow older, sometimes even the closest friends or even family can grow to become so unfamiliar, but I am glad to have a bunch of friends who I can still connect very well even though we haven’t talked for a long time.

—–
So, that’s the end of the chapter, and moving on to the next…

Cheers!

Recently I had the opportunity to go on TV, it was an infomercial we’ve done for one of our clients in Taiwan. In the show I was titled the “Master of Beekeeping”, what an accurate description.  

Anyways, there was a brief interview with me involved in the program and here is what went down:

Interviewer: First of all, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to come out here and talk to us.

Jacky: No problem, I’d like to thank YOU for taking the time to come out here and talk to me. [Laughs]

Interviewer: [Fake smile] So, Mr. Cheng…

Jacky: *Cough* MASTER Cheng *Cough*

Interviewer: Ok, MASTER Cheng, can you explain to us what Royal Jelly is?

Jacky: Well, Royal Jelly is a nutritious substance that the worker bees secrete to feed the Queen; it is the exclusive food source for the Queen bee, all other bees from the hive consume bee pollens and honey, hence its name: Royal Jelly.

Interviewer: So in a sense, Royal Jelly is pretty much the stuff that bees vomit and Queen bee eats, exclusively.

Jacky: More like secretions.

Interviewer: Uh huh, interesting. So tell me, what is so special about the Royal Jelly?

Jacky: [Chuckles] Well that is a ridiculous question. Look, the life span of a worker bee is typically 30 to 40 days; do you know how long a typical Queen Bee lives?

Interviewer: Beats me.

Jacky: 6 to 8 Years.

Interviewer: Wow, that’s impressive.

Jacky: Years.

Interviewer: Yes, years.

Jacky: YEARS.

Interviewer: Ok. I get it.

Jacky: That’s like, 300 times the life span of the normal worker bee!

Interviewer: Actually, that’s more like 70 times give or take a few.

Jacky: Hey, newsflash, nobody said I was a Math major, and do not question my authority.

Interviewer: Well, I wasn’t, Mr. Cheng.

Jacky: MASTER Cheng.

Interviewer: Sure, MASTER Cheng. [Looks away, shaking his head in disbelief] Ahem, so, what would happen to humans if we were to consume Royal Jelly?

Jacky: Well, we definitely won’t be living 300 times longer than our typical life spans [Laughs]…

Interviewer: You meant 70 times, give or take a few.

Jacky: 70, 300, 20 million, same thing. Royal Jelly contains massive amounts of Vitamin Bs, amino acids, and fatty acids that are all critical nutrients for all living beings, including humans.

Interviewer: And what benefits would these nutrients do for human beings?

Jacky:  Taking Royal Jelly on a regular basis helps maintaining the functions of homeostasis and metabolism within the human body, things like: getting better in sleep, better appetites, better moods, better sex, you feel better, it’s basically good for your general wellbeing.

Interviewer: Like drugs.

Jacky: More like dietary supplements, except it is all natural.

Interviewer: [Shrugs] Base on the effects that incur after taking Royal Jelly, it sounds a lot like drugs to me.

Jacky: Oh yeah? Base on your face, you sound a lot like a dipshit to me.

Interviewer: Well, to each his own right?

Jacky: Not when you are making stupid remarks about a perfectly good product.

Interviewer: Why do you always want people to agree with you?

Jacky: Why do people always say that?

Interviewer: Because you do.

Jacky: No, I don’t.

Interviewer: You just did!

Jacky: [Silence] Ask me a question.

Interviewer: [Chuckles] Well, do you..

Jacky: [Stands up, pushes his face as near as possible towards the Interviewer’s] IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK. [Gets back onto his chair] Somebody just got owned.

Interviewer: OoooKay. This interview is over.

Jacky: I’m sure glad it is. [Points his finger in a very feminine way towards the Interviewer] Soldiers, attack.

A huge swarm of pissed off bees attacks the Interviewer, poisoning the Interviewer to death.

[Background music plays] Nate Dogg from Bitch Please II – “And you don’t really wanna fuck – with me, only Nxxga that I trust – is me. Fuck around and make me bust – this heat…”

Wrote and deleted a few posts, it’s like an abyss, writing out problems to get the stuff out of my chest, but the more I write about it, the more I feel that it really is up to me to accept the way it is, unless I can truly acknowledge that, my heart only ponders in circle and just feel lost.

“To do or to not do, aren’t these the only two choices in life?” – Shira

“Life is the sum of all of your choices.” – Someone

Choosing to live like this is the decision I’ve made, knowing the premises that it’ll take time and lots of bumpy hills before the path becomes clear and wide, I should not spend time feeling troubled, but I still do, and sometimes I can’t bear with the thought in mind, it’s difficult to focus on anything.

I guess everyone gets their up and downs, I just wish I can be more thorough and make up my damn mind, STFU, roll with it and not bitch about shit before I’ve finally done it.

Yeah I really wish I could do that.

Anyways, onto non-emo shit…

---

  
UNDERCOVER

Very unique decors, the outter window is composed of various pannels of vintage windows.

The interior wall is composed by patching up various types of doos also.

Not seen in this pic but it leads to a Noodle/Cafe (they serve 鼎泰豐) to the right
(images from Freshness)

Went to Undercover Taipei on Sunday to see if my dream jacket was there and BAM!
OH BOY it freaking was there! And better yet, it was ON SALE! 50% OFF!!!

This is probably the best looking jacket I have ever seen. This is not just a jacket, this is art, I can stare at it for so long and feel enlightened, pure genius.

Found it on a magazine cover a month ago while looking for some comics in 7-11. I bought the magazine instead and found out the jacket was from the Undercover A/W 09 Line, “I knew it.” was the first thing I had in mind.

This EXACT JACKET (which is the BEST colorway in my opinion) was standing in front of me, at 50% off! LAST ONE! I wouldn’t care how much it cost, I’M BUYING THIS!

BUT,

Sadly, my ass has been gaining some pounds and I couldn’t really fit in the last one in size 2 (Medium).…

幹!

Part leather rider jacket, part wool sleeves, part tribal details, ALL SEXINESS.

Hand sewn, real everything, original, classic, and rare. One jacket One size One colorway.

*Gulp*

Different base leather jacket

Love the tribal beads/flakes/stichings details.
(Images from Overdope)

Oh well, at 50% off, the price tag is still steep, although I think it’s definitely worth the price since I’m absolutely positive I will never see another jacket like this. I guess i’ll have to try my luck some other day.

Anyone actually owns the black one in size 3 and willing to sell please let me know; Any info leading to finding this jacket in a size 3 will be rewarded by my sincere gratitude!

Peace.

P.S. Bonus Track – remenicsing another great Dragon Ash track “Morrow”

Back to Taiwan… Back to Life… never been to Manhatthan, but this song suits the feeling well.

Strangest feeling, always get this when I leave… I don’t know where I belong, feeling kind of blue, feeling kind of lost, feeling like not knowing where is home.

“What a fool I was, thinking I could live in both worlds…

It’s just a train plane ride away,

I know nothing about leaving,

but I know I should do it today…”

 

I’ve had a blast in this trip though, the memories will be gratefully reminisced…

Going back to the places of my loved ones, knowing it’ll be some time before I know I can finally settle down there… quite saddening… but hey, when I am finally there in some unkown years, will things still be the same? I guess…it’s all in the bittersweetness of not having it all.

What if I really could and did have it all? Maybe all I wanted would be more. Who knows?

I guess I should just look at what I do have and be as content as I can be, although that just seems corny, but really that’s all I can do.

I’ve actually got a load of shit to do and shouldn’t spend time being emo right now.

Each second that goes by feeling all depressed about some overly-thought bullshit is another chance missed to appreciate how great this life really is.

Things to do in 2010:

1. Expos
2. More Expos
3. Developing more markets.
4. Do something about my tiny little savings.
5. Get in shapes with them treadmills.
6. Visit new places.
7. Stay busy, but never without a goal.

Happy 2010 Folks! WE ARE THE FUTURE!

(Lil’ John) Yay-ehhhh! In about 12 hours my ass will be sitting on 50-C ailes seat Taipei to SFO, jingle-belling my way back to the Bay-ehhhh!

First order of business when I get back would be hugging the crap outta Shadow Cheng and express how much I miss her. Then, I’m going to Target and get myself a prepaid phone. Then, calling my homies out and get super intoxicated just to warm up for my upcoming non-stop alcohol marathon for the following 2 weeks. I will not be stopped.

By the way, what the hell man? I remembered my flight date wrong! So typical Jack Cheng…I’m actually going back today, December 17th, instead of 18th, SMH. I found out just couple days ago checking my seats, double SMH.

I’ll be going on a Reno/Tahoe trip with Tom and others from 20th to 22nd, which reminds me of this little unpleasant incident, I’ve sent out emails to most of my friends beforehand and OH BOY, it was quite disturbing to know that NONE of my emails are replied. NONE, NADA, ZIP-ZERO, STINGY WITH De NIRO.

Hello!? Freaking 21st century man, START USING EMAILS FRIENDS! EVEN MY DAD USES EMAILS. (ok no he doesn’t.) You know what’ll happen if I don’t check my emails for 3 days straight? I get panic attacks with blood pressure elevating over 250 mmHg and explode. That’s why I’m still alive today. Best to chiggity check yoself befo’ ya wriggity wreck yaself.

Oh well that’s not important anymore, this is a once-a-year deal here and I’m just gonna sit back, relax and think about what I’m gonna do.

My 2-week vacation microbucket list:

1. Snowboarding
2. Poker
3. Karaoke
4. Vegas
5. Movies (Avatar 3D anyone?)
6. Good food
7. Sleep until I wake up naturally.
8. AT with Danny/Tom/Ray for Warcraft TFT.
9. Chopping it up with friends.

Until then… back to work!

Headed back to Tainan for my Grandpa’s 92nd birthday last weekend. This little alley leads to the root of the Cheng family, has not changed much over the last 3 decades.

My Grandpa’s birthday is the biggest event for all the family members, and is the only time where the big family gets together.

As some closer friends know, my family isn’t real tight, a lot of dramas over money, power, friends and whatnot, but on this day we put personal shits aside and celebrate the most respectable man of our lives.

Honestly though, our family don’t really get together at all, which causes this strange atmosphere when we get together, it’s all tensed up conversations, people gotta make efforts to make jokes that end up being explained because nobody really get it.

There are a few cousins that I’m close to, but as time goes on, I feel like I’ve grown so much for the past couple of years that our gaps become bigger and bigger, but it’s good that we acknowledge these feelings mutually, and thus we can still chop it up with the old times.

Very traditional Taiwanese gathering, luxirious foods, drinks, chats and laugters.

豬腳麵線 (Pork feet thin noodle), the permanent Cheng first dish because it’s my grandpa’s favorite, and also the thin noodles suggest longevity “長長久久”

Bunch of seafood stew, hella good.

Typical steam fish, freshness is all.

Very big, but too dry.

Uh…Chinese herb stewed turtle, pretty good though.

The OG Cheng brothers.

Cheers to 92!

New generation Cheng’s

——

Workload is steadily increasing. Went to visit Uni-President (統一), Taiwan’s biggest food-related corporation, controlling all the 7-11s, instant noodles, Starbucks, snacks, drinks…

They had a branch company which handles health supplements. My dad was supposed to go solo, but he brought me with him, hoping to maybe, just MAYBE bring them into our account.

To my complete surprise, the purchasing managers and product manager are two fine, beautiful girls….in MY AGE, probably 27 or 28ish. Jesus… And what amazes me more is how well they handle themselves, the postures and body languages, and the way they subtlely chit-chat about non-business matters which lead to critical, business questions, is just..SEXY. Nah I’m exaggerating it a little bit, but on the real, they ARE very polished.

I like meeting people like them, they motivate me to learn more things, work harder, cumulate more experiences and just become a better person.

—-

Was my dad’s birthday last weekend also, we went to watch 2012. CGIs looking insane yo.

My dad’s been very pleased with my work performance lately, I’m just happy that he’s happy. I think my dad wants to part with the company gradually over the next, maybe, 5 years; I’m at the point where I can finally kinda criticize him in terms of work without being blasted at for the rest of my life, which means he actually accepts MY advices and opinions! I think I’ve definitely grown!

Till later.

Back to Taiwan, not used to this cold, moist weather, but it feels good…

I guess it’s pretty cold already in the Bay; for me, I’ve been living in 30 degree C all year long, Taiwan was still pretty hot the last time I came (like…early November?). I get to wear my favorite jackets and shirts, layering them up, no more plain sweaty sticky icky tees.

Work is still ongoing, busy busy! We are now hiring a lot of new folks to share some of the work load.

These new employees will probably make the 4th “batch” of people that are hired since the beginning of 2008. Sadly, all the employees from previous “batches” are either let go or have quitted. I don’t know what is it that is so difficult about finding great talents and keep them fighting with us.

Actually I do know, it’s kind of a paradox, the management and the employees; the chicken first or the egg first kind of deal; employees expect the company to provide this, provide that, train them this, train them that, when most of these are supposed to be obtained in the so called “degrees” they’ve had; wer’re supposed to tell them what to do, show them how to do it, do it ourselves, then we realized we’ve essentially hired them so we can show them how to do their jobs, and then do it for them.

On the other hand, the employer asks the employees to learn this or that, to be self-motivating, self-learning and self-educating, but then we don’t provide proper supports and educations, and when they do what they’re told, we think they’re not being creative and innovative enough.

I don’t know, all I know is, so far all the people that we’ve let go or quit weren’t really worth the time and money we spend on them anyway.

Oh well, who cares, it’s life, and like finding a girlfriend, I believe someday I’ll find the right one(s)!

Until then, life is more fun inside a game:

So that’s what I’ve been doing (up until last weekend), re-playing SanGuo 11(三國志11), but this time creating and using characters that are composed of all my family and friends (and of course my awesome self). Thanks to Facebook I was able to gather most of my friend’s pictures and all that to make up thumbnails and full page character photo.

Life is great, I’m in Jacky world, I get to control all of you, and if you betray me, I get to decaptivate you, it’s a win-win situation, for me.

Going down to Tainan to celebrate my Grandpa’s 92nd birthday this weekend and visit my mom. Hope it’s warmer down there…

Peace.

I know I’m too late but damn… finally got to see QT’s newest film:

Inglourious Basterds.

So freaking good.

I don’t think I’ve been this satisfied watching a movie since The Dark Knight from last year, definitely did not fail my expectation as a fan at all, the only thing that I felt slightly disappointed with was that the film had to end, and the run time is 152 minutes!
 
Actually the first time I saw it, due to shitty bootleg DVD quality and my lack of comprehension, I couldn’t fully understand the plots, or catch some of the witty dialouges. But the second time made the film so much more enjoyable, despite knowing what will happen.

And of course the film’s got all the Quentin essentials in there. The trunk view, the Chapters, Witty Dialouges, Mexican Standoff(s), the bare foot, and of course, great music!

The cast is great, everyone is excellent in it, I found BJ Novak pretty funny, spoiler or not you can expect Ryan the Temp somehow ending up in the Nazi occupied France.

Col. Hans Landa played by Christopher Waltz. Two words, Gang-Sterrrrr.

Nothing is more awesome than to know that a good movie is going to be made, you know it’s gonna be good, you wait for it then you watch it, and it’s good.

And finally I’ve gotten to see Public Enemies as well.

Before I saw this movie there were a lot of negative reviews. I was like really?  It’s Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Michael Mann directing, and a freaking crime thriller at that…what can go wrong?

Well, as it turned out, it’s the negative reviews that were wrong. Public Enemy is no Heat, The Insider, or Collateral, but it is definitely Michael Mann quality.Whatever it is It’s definitely not a bad movie. The gun fights are intense as always, Johnny Depp just being a real badass in it; however, I think the director should have spent some time developing characters besides John Dillenger, I felt that Christian Bale’s character deserved a little more story, other than that, I wish there were more lights in the movie, some scenes I couldn’t see anything.

Oh well, just glad that I finally got to see these two films, been waiting for both since 2008! And thanks to strict Malaysian viewer protection program, these two weren’t showing in most of the theatres in Malaysia… so I never had the chance to see them on big screen.

But then as always, we’ve got Plan B, the Basamalams (Evening Markets) that sells massive bootleg DVDs, thanks to piracy I get to “preview” movies in okay-quality DVDs before I cop the original copies.

Next up is 風聲,

yet ANOTHER movie set in the 1930s, except it’s a Chinese film, from the director of 雙瞳 (Double Vision), I heard a lot of good stuff about it, but then Inglourious Basterds was so good I took the time of watching 風聲 to watch IB 2 more times lol…

Oh well, I’ll probably finish it this weekend. Haven’t been sleeping well for the last 2-3 weeks…going to make it all back…this weekend.

Till later.

(ALL PICTURE SOURCE FROM GOOGLE IMAGE)

Yes, yes, yes…it’s finally OVAH!!!

I’ve gotta say my Jacky Juice was completely sucked dried for this shizbiz, I mean what teh FACK!? 10am to 8pm!? Freaking Grrrreat.

Anyways I am so happy that our second phase in this Expo project is finally put to rest. I can’t believe we pulled it off, I must have downed at least 50 gallons of coffee like in the old days! I am proud of the fact that Jenny and I pretty much planned, prepared, and executed two exhibitions in two countries within a month and a half. What a long ass never ending month and half…

 
And a case of ice-cold Carlsberg beer so rightfully deserved.

The quality of this exhibition in Malaysia wasn’t quite well, it felt more like an upgraded version of flea market rather than a business-oriented trade gathering; I tried my best to push our products, you know how it is, gotta hustle my way out.

And onto the snaps of memories…

Preparation phase, chaotic.

It’s never-stopping rain since I got back

Pictures really can’t tell how strong the rain is, I actually felt like I could get struck by the lightenings taking these pictures, these are some life-threatening pic-taking.

Driving in K.L is equally life threatening, see anything odd in this pic?

WTF is the right expression, btw there are millions of these mysterious crop-circle type of signs in Malaysia. Freaking IQ testing on the road.

And here we are!

Indeed.

The set up day…arrived at 3pm, and the booths weren’t even fully set up yet, SMH.

Almost identical setup as our Taipei booth.

Hanging out with staffs from other booths, since business was low.

Fun taking pics, Jenny looks quite evil here.

Pretty cool guys and gals.

Me being all depressed to be here.

Stop taking pics with Mascots Jenny, stop it, knock it off.

Freaking tired…

But at the end of the show, we treat ourselves well…
 

MMMmmmmmm…Life ain’t so bad after all…

Got home at around 11:30ish pm, even Little White is sad that we gotta get our ass up again in 8 hours to repeat the damn cycle.

And the long day is over… lying on the couch, mind completely blank.

Mascots gotta rest too…

Tune up some Nujabes and just relax…

Going back to Taiwan on Nov. 30th…then ready to fly back and cuddle with Shadow…one more month…30 Mo’ Daaayyyyyzzzzah!

till later.