First Week in London

Without realizing it, I have completed my first week in London. What a first week it has been! I arrived on the 21st of September after a 12-13 hour cramped Malaysia Airlines flight from KLIA. Sitting on economy class for a long haul flight is not so pleasant after all. Fortunately, I have got a place to crash in at Leon's room when I arrive. Thanks Leon for the 5 nights stay in your room.
On the first day in London, we managed to catch the Chelsea vs MU game, not in Stamford Bridge though but in a pub nearby. It was a good experience as we sat in a pub with Englishmen drinking and cursing throughout the match. Most are Chelsea supporters (its London by the way) and it was quite a relief when Salomon Kalou equalized. A draw is a good result for a Liverpool fan.
Slept very early at around 6 or 7pm until the next morning which makes up to 12 hours of sleep. Blame it on the jet lag. The next two days was spent on finding a room which is a daunting task in London. Accommodation are darn expensive in London. Managed to find a room on Tuesday. A room for 2 awaiting my other half to come. It is quite a good deal for 2 but I had some doubts initially. Chanted about it and I hoped that this place will turn out fine.
Now that I have moved in and settled down, I await the start of my course on the 29th Sept. I am determined to do well and will give my very best shot at it.
Thats all for now.
Finsbury Park ( Does it look like Dialogue with Nature)

The Emirates Stadium ( not too far from where I am staying)

Yindee Lapidary Gem Scam

On my first day in Bangkok ( 2nd of September 2008), I was on my way to my hotel in Pratunam area when I asked a woman in front of Pratunam Complex for directions to my hotel.

She introduced herself as an employee of the Pratunam Complex and appeared to be very friendly as well as apologising for the state of emergency in Bangkok at that time. She cautioned us against going to the Grand Palace area and instead recommended us to go to Lucky Buddha which she said was open only once a year. She then said that we should go to Yindee Export which is having sales for the last day. She called up a Tuk-Tuk to bring us to the hotel for check in before bringing us to Lucky Buddha and Yindee Export. At that time, I did not know that Yindee is selling jewellery and we duly obliged feeling lucky to come across a friendly person. the Tuk-tuk brought us to our hotel for check in before bringing us to Lucky Buddha. The place was not what we expected it to be with very few people there and does not look like a tourist spot.

We were about to leave when we met a guy who introduced himself as a doctor waiting for her daughter. Again, he mentioned Yindee Export telling the same story as the lady just now. We then left and Tuk-tuk brought us straight to Yindee Lapidary. When we went in, we were given an introduction about gemstones by an old lady who speaks fluent English. She recommended some rings for my girlfriend to try and we were attracted to a white gold ring with red ruby. The price on the tag was 24000 baht and she gave us a discount to 15000 baht. She said that we can easily get a profit of double the amount if we sell it off in our country. She mentioned a few jewellery companies in Malaysia such as Poh Kong and Habib which imports stones from them.

It did not come across as a scam to us thanks to our gullibility. After much persuading and and convincing, I finally agreed to buy the ring for my girlfriend. We went off that day thinking that we have landed a great deal. The next day I googled on the internet on Yindee Lapidary and I instantly knew that I was conned. I immediately thought of going back to Yindee to get a refund. I met a policeman on my way there and I asked for his favour to follow me to the shop. When I arrived there, I demanded a refund and told the person that I have checked on the internet as well as checked with Poh Kong that Yindee Lapidary is a scam trying to con tourists. I warned that I will go to the Malaysian Embassy and will spread it in the internet if I dont get a refund.

After a while, she said that she can only give me a further discount of 3000 baht. I insisted on a refund which she gave in to. She issued a credit voucher which I was not very confident of. I called my bank and also checked with the Bangkok Bank branch in Platinum. She assured me that it will be credited in around 2 weeks. It was not credited in two weeks, instead it took 3 weeks. But it was a relief that the credit voucher does go through anyway. Having said that, I managed to get the refund but on the other hand, I spent quite a handful on the roaming charges for calling my bank in KL from Bangkok. Why are the roaming charges so darn expensive....

So what was supposed to be a wonderful holidays was tainted by this incident. It was however a good lesson for us to not be so naive and gullible in the future.

We have to use the internet to spread it to more people around the world to prevent them from falling into these scams. The authorities in Thailand have to do something to protect the tourists or else tourists will stop choosing Thailand as their holiday destination

Recap of the Journey thus far III

In early July, I was notified that there is one nominee who has deferred his scholarship and that makes the scholarship to be available again. As there are a few people who are qualified for the scholarship, I was asked to submit a project proposal to them in a few days time.

I was delighted by this opportunity. Now, there is hope again. I spent time to come out with the best proposal that will land me the scholarship. I chanted even more to have the wisdom to write a proposal that will be able to touch the committee.

After a deliberating and making amendments after amendments, I was finally satisfied and send them my proposal. I wait with bated breath on the decision. During this period of time, I knew that I had to chant even more daimoku. I sent my daimoku to the people that I never met before but only correspond through the email. I wanted to really fulfil my mission in kosenrufu and life. I wanted this badly.

One day before the results were known, I chanted 5 to 6 hours of daimoku. I can feel that I am definitely going to UK. And the next day, I waited for my email the whole day but no reply from them. It was after 5pm and I was on my way back when my girlfriend checked my email and called me to say that I have been nominated for the scholarship.

Immediately, I poured out tears of joy in the car. But then, it was only a nomination. The journey has not ended. I submitted whatever forms that they ask me to return to them and it will be forwarded to the Association of Commonwealth Universities for approval.

I had to continue waiting. Time passes by real slowly. Then after around 2 weeks later, I was confirmed of the scholarship subject to a medical examination. Whoa! And finally I can say that I am really going to London and has changed the impossible to possible by basing it on the Mystic Law of Nam-myoho-renge- kyo.

There are more challenges ahead for me. But I do not fear anything now for I know that I will conquer everything that comes with faith.

Recap of the Journey thus far II

After around 1 week later, the people there emailed me that I need to get another referee which I duly obliged and sent it to them. However, they inform me that the nomination for the scholarship has already been done and as I submitted late, I would not be considered for the scholarship. I can only be considered for a place for the course.

What the heck! How can I go without the scholarship? Where do I find the money to go? It is downright heartbreaking to get the news. After harbouring some hope of getting it, it all seem to evaporate into thin air. No matter how I try to convince them of my sincerity of wanting to join them and appealing to them, they say there is nothing they could do. I have to get my own funds if I want to go.

I was disappointed and lost. I wanted to just give up. But fortunately someone close to me encouraged me not to give up and continue chanting and pray for to change the impossible into possible. I try to pick myself up. I need to continue to chant. I have heard of other people's experience in achieving the impossible. (Thanks to Serrene's experience) Why cant I be like them? I chanted that somehow they will allocate an extra place for me.

I chanted hours of daimoku. I wanted to share my experience of achieving the impossible. That was a few days before I went down to KL. I wanted to show the actual proof of the Gohonzon. At the same time, I emailed them and numerous times to show my persistence in wanting the scholarship.

TO be continued

Recap of the Journey thus far

I was browsing through the Commonwealth Scholarship website somewhere in June and came across Commonwealth Shared Scholarship for Masters taught programme. And London School of Pharmacy is one of the schools that is offering the CSS for their courses. Alas, the closing date for the Scholarship is long over as it states 30th of April 2008. Disappointed that why did I not come across the website earlier.

However, I tried to email the School's coordinator to ask if I could still submit my application. Who knows, anything can happen..... So I waited patiently for his reply and replied he did. After a few days, he replied that I can submit the application before 16th of June 2008, 9am( I remember clearly) with all the necessary documents. I did not open my email until the 16th of June, 8am (Malaysian time) and gosh , I had to send everything to him in less than an hour. I hurried home and sent the application form which I had filled up together with the documents. But there is one referee report that I need to get my lecturer's signature. How can I make it on time. Only later I realize that their 9am is our 4pm which gave me enough time to see my lecturer and got his signature and send everything to them on that very day. Thanks Prof Yuen.

I was relieved that everything is done and all I had to do is wait. I was very interested in the course offered and London is simply a great place too. I had a feeling that I stand a chance. I chanted with hope when I got home that day. Although the coordinator told me that he could not guarantee me that I will be considered for the scholarship as the dateline was already over, I did not give up. I know that I have to employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra and chant lots of daimoku.

Somehow I had the feeling that this is the opportunity that I had been looking for.

To be continued

Almost there

It has been ages since I publish my last post. These few weeks has been unpredictable and filled with challenges to say the least. But I have managed to pull through that and now is on the brink of achieving the impossible. It is all because of maintaining faith and applying the strategy of the Lotus Sutra and the power of Nam-myoho-renge- kyo.
Turning the impossible into possible would not have been possible without the power of the Gohonzon. The journey has its up and downs. I hope to recollect every single moment of my challenge in this blog. More of that in the next blog.
I still have some teething issues to overcome before victory is absolutely certain. No matter what, I will definitely win.

Another Poem

This is another poem by Sensei which encouraged me a lot at this time-

The curtain has opened on the second decade
Moving no longer in a line but over a broad surface
you work to build the towering and fruitful culture of the twenty-first century
This will be the stage upon which you perform!
This will be your debut!
I have a mission which is mine alone
You too have a mission which only you can fulfil.

- SGI President Ikeda

How meaningful! How encouraging! It has deeply touched my heart. I will fulfil my mission.