Living Cost in Kuala Lumpur

I lived in Kuala Lumpur (KL) for 7 years as a graduate student. It was a great experience and the living cost is relatively cheap. But, of course, it depends on your lifestyle. Here is my expense during my stay in KL as a student:

1. Accommodation

In my first year, I lived in a mid-class apartment. I only rented a tiny room that cost RM300 a month. The property is clean with 24-hour security guarded and located next to a train station. It is also a walking distance from my campus (University of Malaya). Most residents are workers, students, and only a few families. The second apartment was RM 150 a month (it's a shared room with one roommate). It is cheap but not clean. Many mid-class families live here. But for a student like me who mostly stays on campus all day long and only goes home for sleep, it's not a big deal. I chose this apartment because I can commute by my campus free shuttle bus from here.

2. Meals

As a student, having cheap meals in the campus canteen is a privilege. Sometimes, I only spent about RM 7 a day. Roti Canai and drinks for breakfast only cost me RM2. I take away meals at the canteen for RM 5 and I can eat them for lunch and dinner.

But, somehow I went out to a mall or a restaurant. some are cheap and others are pricy. But, on average, I can have a delicious meal for about RM10 to RM45. 

Cooking is relatively cheap if you are a family. But for a solo like me, it can be a solution for saving money by cooking meals in a bulk and store it a fridge for the next few days. 

3. Transportation

Since I mostly took the free shuttle to campus, so I didn't really spend that much on transport. Unless if I go somewhere else. And as a student, the Malaysian government gives a 50% cut on public transport by using a transportation pass card. For a public bus (Rapid KL), it cost RM1 to RM3 (depending on the distance), meaning it only charged me RM0,50 to RM1,50. Same with the train fare. So, roughly, I spent RM15 - RM30 for a month. 

4. Miscellaneous

Any other expenses, like clothes, movies, and technology devices are relatively cheap. There are some affordable shops like Brand Outlet (for clothes), Bookxeces (for books), and Low Yat Plaza (for Electronics). For movies, it costs about RM10, but they have a discount every Wednesday. 

To sum up, here is an average of my monthly expense:

Accommodation: RM 200 (including utility without Wifi)

Meals: RM 300

Transport: RM 50

Miscellaneous: RM 350 (it can vary based on my needs)

TOTAL: RM900

Nevertheless, sometimes I spent about RM1500 to RM3000 a month if I have extra needs like electronics, academics, or a vacation. 

A Book Review: The Talent Code (Chapter 1. the Sweet Spot) by Daniel Coyle

It is a common sense that people have talent because they have the gift. It is no wonder when people with a gift are able to master a certain skill in a short period of time. But what about people without a gift can gain a talent by doing deep practices?

Reading Chapter 1 of 'Talent Code' was like being part of what Coyle. When I started visualizing Brunio's soccer practice and Jennie' vocal camp (p.13), it was synchronizing my experience when trying to play piano with trial, failure, then success. However, to gain the talent is not only by those three phases, as Coyle stated “When we see people practice effectively, we usually describe it with words like willpower or concentration or focus.” (p.13). But then he stated “those words don't quite fit, because they don't capture the ice climbing particularity of the event.”

I can say, this is because when we are practicing something to earn new skill, concentration will take a big role in it as our conscious thought are working effectively. For example, when first time driving motorcycle, car, bicycle, or any other vehicle, we mostly were focusing on our hand movement; things surround us; and/or the destination. Then when we earn the skill, concentration will not be big part of it, because the skill/talent will be formed effectively when the unconscious thought works. That is why we are able to talk on the phone while driving, daydream or even sometimes miss our next stop before getting on the destination (e.g. we forgot stop at the shop to buy grandma's order once we arrived at home). It is a common sense a pianist and other musicians often close their eyes while playing their instrument. Can we do the same thing when playing instrument beautifully for the first time? I believe not, as Dijksterhuis and Meurs (2006) stated that conscious thought may be focused and convergent, unconscious thought may be more associative and divergent.

Similar to Coyle‟s scenario (p.17) about the cabin steward‟s clear and smooth demonstration on how to put on a life vest. The cabin steward looks comfortably demonstrating it, as she does it for several times that we might think to do the same thing easily, then Coyle continued “But what happen when the captain's urgent voice comes on the intercom telling passengers to put on their life vests. How quickly could you do it? How do those black straps wrap around? What do the red tabs do again?” (p.17)

Coyle‟s illustration of the flight scenario above seems to directly reflect reader for doing the same thing like what other person do is not as easy/simple as it looks. Just like when we watch soccer matches, the spectators even look smarter than the soccer player that they usually blame the player when he misses the goal. It sounds wise what Coyle described "the collective talent of Brazilian soccer players‟ (p.14) where soccer stars like Pele, Zico, Socrates, Romario, Ronaldo, Juninho, Robinho, Ronaldinho, Kaka come from, and in detail he described how people in Brazil earn that talent including the history of popular term Futsal (p.26) that stand for futebol de salao (Portuguese) which means “soccer in the room" that most people including myself might not knowing that the word Futsal is actually an abbreviation in Portuguese.

In summary, echoing Coyle‟s quote “The best way to understand the concept of deep practice is to do it.” (p.16) Coyle‟s series of words on "the Sweet Spot‟ is a great piece of book chapter that reveals how talent can be formed by doing deep practice instead of having the talent because of a gift, from doing things with conscious thought to the unconscious.

Reference:

Dijksterhuis, Ap, and Teun Meurs. "Where Creativity Resides: The Generative Power of Unconscious Thought." Consciousness and cognition 15.1 (2006): 135--46. 

From Writing Fiction to Non Fiction

Comics, novels and movies have been friends of mine after school and inspired me somehow to write stories. I also used to write diary when I was a kid, people said it's a good start to be familiar with writing and it's a good way to enrich your ideas on writing and I used to be inspired by those novels and started write a stories, poems, even songs lyric. I did enjoy writing poems and songs, I read and sang mine and people appreciated it. 

Besides writing, I used to draw to illustrate the stories I wrote. Then once I know digital drawing, I then transfer my story ideas into digital animation, although it was not as easy as manual, digital drawing and animation are more practical. I then started to love watching animated TV show and movies, mostly the 3D animated and tried to learn creating 3D image and animation which was apparently not as simple as it looks. However, apart from drawing, writing stories were still exciting for me
 
But, when I started my new role as a student at university, it changed my life. I got stuck writing an article, proposal, thesis or any other such academic manuscript composing words by combining other quotes is totally different kind of thing I could not write anything I want, because there is a rule there: 'your words are weak without quotes' 

I have a lot of ideas, but when it turns to convert them into written form (especially academic writing) it takes a long time for me to finally type something on a blank page. Start writing on a blank page is a huge struggle for me. Blank Page, it is kind of mountain to climb; Grammar, Vocabularies and Structures are such big rocks to jump over. I am not too sure that it's a proper analogy of writing process, but that's what I am thinking. The closer I am to finish my writing, it's like the more exited I am to reach the top of the mountain.

My ideas will be nothing without previous related literature stick on them. And now I am struggling with google, libraries, journals, e-books, databases to find what people call 'related literature' 
that now I call 'Literature Adventure', those quotes such jewelries to make my writing more beautiful and powerful thus can impress the readers. Otherwise, my Ideas are just invaluable words or even just a Blank Page.

Hostels in Bangkok, Thailand (Review)

Hostels are one of the most favorite accommodation types for solo travelers, as it practical and affordable. I've just come back from my first solo travel in Bangkok, Thailand. I chose to stay in a hostel as I spent most of my time outside and merely used accommodation to sleep and store my stuff. Initially, I was actually quite skeptical about staying in a hostel because we don't have enough private space and security. Below is my review about the hostels I stayed in:

1. GN Luxury Hostel
Address: 78, 9 Ratchaprarop Rd, Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

This hostel located in the city center of Bangkok, Thailand. It is around 13 minutes' walking distance from Victory Monument. But if you carry a number of languages/bangs, I recommend you to take a taxi/grab. This hostel was surprisingly convenient and clean. It has a lift to reach all floors. My room is in level 3, so I didn't need to climb the stairs.

Hostel Lobby with a cafe on the left side

Common Room

Lift

The room for 8 persons

The bed with LCD TV

Shared bathrooms are available on every floor

1. Yellow Mango Hostel

Address: 68 49 Phetchaburi 7 Alley, Thung Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

This is the second hostel that I stayed in. It is located near Phetchburi Street Food stalls, BTS Ratchathewi, Mosque and Muslim restaurants. This location is ideal for Muslim visitors, but of course, any visitors would love to stay around this location, especially those who love shopping as it is a walking distance to Platinum and Pratunam clothing market. Ok, back to the Yellow Mango hostel, this hostel is more homie comparing to GN Luxury hostel, as it has a pantry with a fridge and a microwave. It also provides a coin washing machine, but without a dryer, so you have to dry your clothes manually at the rooftop. However, for room convenience, I still prefer the GN Luxury hostel. Yellow Mango doesn't have lift, so you have to climb the stairs because all the rooms are upstairs.  you also are not allowed to wear shoes or slippers upstairs, the owner has provided shoe shelf under the stairs for visitors.

The room for 6 persons

Shared bathroom available on every floor

Bed with a small storage box

Rooftop

Pantry where you can have a meal and do laundry

Hostel cafe that sells home-made ice cream

So, ya that's it for now. Sure I will post more once I stay in another hostel :)

Getting around Brunei with Public Transports

In Brunei Darussalam, there are only a few public transports available, as most locals drive their own cars to navigate this small country. But if you are planning to visit and explore Brunei by public transports, you have these three options:

1. Dart
If you are familiar and convenient getting around by Grab/Uber, then Dart is for you. It is a local transportation network that works exactly like Grab. So, make sure to download the apps on your smartphone before you reach this country.

Dart, Brunei transportation Network

2. Minibus
Brunei minibus is quite hard to find. Most people need to spend more than 30 minutes to wait for the bus. So if you are in a rush, I don't recommend you to take this bus.

Brunei Minibus

3. Water Taxi 
This transportation only takes you around places near the river and it cost at least B$ 1 per person.

Gadong Night Market: Culinary Heaven in Brunei

Gadong Night Market, Brunei

It is quite unfair to traveling somewhere without trying the local food. Besides visiting the attractions, most travelers would not leave the sites before sitting in a local food court or restaurant. Last month, I traveled with my colleagues to Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei Darussalam.
A night before leaving the country, we went to this market which open from 3 to 10 pm. It took us like an hour to finally decide what to eat because there were so many choices and they all were looked and smelled good.

Gearbox and Meatball soup

Light meals and fruits 

Chicken and Beef Barbeque

Simple Okonomiyaki Recipe

Batter ingredients:

- 1/4 Cabbage (chop it into thin slices)

- A handful of skinless shrimps (optional)

- 1 egg

- 1/2 cup of flour

- Salt and pepper to taste

- 1/2 glass of water (mix with dashi or bonito flakes)

Toppings:

- Okonomiyaki sauce

- Sunny side-up egg (optional)

- Mayonnaise

- Bonito flakes

- Seaweed flakes (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients 

2. Preheat a pan and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. 

3. Pour the mixed ingredients and form it like a pancake about 1 inch thick.

4. Wait about 3-5 minutes, then flip the pancake. It should be lightly brown.

5. While waiting for the other side to be cooked, add okonomiyaki sauce on the pancake and spread it evenly.

6. Place the sunny-side-up egg, squeeze mayonnaise over the pancake, sprinkle bonito and seaweed flakes.

7. Transfer the pancake to a plate, then serve.

Notes: If your mixture looks too much for one pan, you can cook the batter mixture in a half and a half or depends on the size you wish to make. 

Happy cooking :)