Presents for Self...

As he is looking at the calendar filling in all the commitments that he has, categorizing them into must attend or do, nice to attend, or attend or do when nothing else to attend or do, Nakamora also noted the many special days allocated for special causes or subjects. There are Earth Day, Children Day, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Teachers Day, etc. days.
All those special days come together with special deeds, vows, gifts, and presents that are of course nice to give and nicer to receive.
When he was small, many decades ago, everyday was just a day; fun day. Nakamora remembers that when visiting relatives there will always be presents on hand. Often times they were just fruits or produce plucked from the farm, or even chicken or sugar - simple, down-to-earth, everyday things; nothing special except the intention and the sincerity of giving the presents. There were no presents for kids or if there was, it was not the norm.
Presents have the positive effect of lifting the spirit. It is a mark signaling approval, of sharing the joy of success. That approval need not come from others all the time. Nakamora thought it could come from within himself. Thus sometimes he just give himself presents, or rewards. Nothing complicated or expensive. At times the presents or rewards were just driving around the country side, strolling by the park. The are low cost, in terms of hard cash.

Hanoi, Viet Nam...

It's 7 am. The street, Ly Thuong Kiet Street in Hanoi began to cry, to shout. Endless sound from car horns fills the air. It is like that all day long and into the night when the street gets tired and started to keep quiet, and perhaps go to sleep. Nakamora did not wait that long to see if the street ever goes to sleep. But it was much more quieter than in the day time.
Being here only a few days, and mostly spent away from the noisy and crowded street, Nakamora could not fully taste the city or understand its heartbeat. But the roads of Hanoi, one of the major cities of this country, Viet Nam, with population of over 80 million are filled more by motorbikes and bicycles than with cars. Driving in Hanoi definitely is not for the weak-hearted and non-spirited driver. Even while riding motorbikes Hanoi bikers can read and reply sms on the hand phone. No problem. Can you beat that, asked Nakamora.
Nakamora has seen the name of the country spelled in two different ways, Vietnam ad Viet Nam. Both are correct but perhaps the later is a closer description of the old history of the country. Viet represents and ethnicity of the people at the south, Nam, of China. It was not after looking at a map, subsequent to asking his host, that Nakamora realized that Hanoi, this almost closing parenthesis-like country is actually slightly to the West of Kuala Lumpur. His mental image has always been that Vietnam is a country east of Malaysia, and hence would see the sun rise earlier.
The seriousness on which they market and promote their crafts to tourists impressed Nakamora. There are actually so much to learn.

One Sen No More...

Just for a record. 1 April saw the disappearance of the Malaysia one sen coin from circulation. The lowest denomination is now five sen. Physically, it followed the footstep of the RM one coin, that has similar brownish color, but bigger that was also discontinued last year. The value, one sen, still exists. Goods are still priced at that lowest denomination, but rounded up when transacted in hard cash. No rounding-up or down to the nearest five sen for other, non-hard cash transaction.