Updates From Hong Kong

I had been receiving the same question again and again but I do see the logic behind this question. Being away from home for a long period, it makes sense for friends back home to ask this.

People, I am here in Hong Kong not entirely for leisure, that is for sure. Hong Kong is not a country like Thailand where you can survive with minimal spending. The pace and living standard in Hong Kong is high, it is only logical for you to earn and spend here. So i will update a bit on what I am doing, why I made this move and when all this will be over.

Thanks to my years of networking in the cyberworld, be it blogging, facebooking, twittering, etc, I was requested by a company here in Hong Kong to assist on their website revamping. This is an international company with networks across 18 cities around the world. Unfortunately, their business had grown rapidly that they ignored entirely the importance of web marketing.

So I was given a task to do a total makeover on their website and at the same time advice them on activities to run online. For the past 2 weeks, I had meetings with the owner of the business and was requested to understand fully on their business before they award me the whole project. So in a way, I am sort like a web marketing consultant if you need to give a position to it.

In terms of knowledge on internet, I would say Malaysians are doing better than the people here in Hong Kong. The people here are more practical and more revenue centric kind of thinking and to invest a substantial money onto web, I need to have a certain level of convincing power towards my client. The few days I had checked in their office and I was given a work desk by them. Though in terms of knowledge we Malaysians have the human resource in this area but unfortunately in Malaysia we are enjoying crap internet connection. The infrastructure here is amazing, in terms of bandwidth that makes surfing a pleasure here not to mention downloading & uploading files.

Client's office is in the Hong Kong International Airport (I will talk about in depth of their businesses in another day). I was given a chance to tour the whole airport both Terminal 1 & 2 and Arrival Hall. This airport is massively huge and a lot of walking around, a simple tour can last about 3 hours per session. I had done 3 tours so far and now is in the final stage of getting all the collective data and findings for my analysis to client.

I am supported by designers in Malaysia and dear if you are reading this, thanks for the great support, we can do great things together and my apology for pushing and giving you info on the very last minute each and every time. As for me, I will be doing the copy writing for them. So I am sort like a medium to coordinate and communicate client's needs and requirements to my designers.

In terms of my own revenue, I would say the amount is not what many would assume it is, in short, OK lah, if not I wouldn't have travel so far for this. That amount was pretty similar to what I made during my employment days in XX company.

Then why do I make this move? Firstly, it is the exposure. Not many would have a chance to work and experience how is it like working in Hong Kong. I had a chance to join the sales & marketing meeting recently and I got to say it is totally a fresh experience for me even though I had been working with Koreans for about 8 years. Secondly, this short project of mine if successfully implemented will do good for my resume definitely. And really, it does make an impact. People with overseas experiences most of the time will have its plus points compare to those with local experiences.

So friends out there, you guys know what I had been doing. And of course, during these period here, I do try my best to meet up friends who make their visit here in Hong Kong. With AirAsia, more and more Malaysians will frequent Hong Kong. Next week will be meeting ex-colleagues who will be here for a launching and I will be attending it. The week after, another 3 female friends will be coming for a shopping trip and the following week 2 other friends are coming. So I manage to squeeze my time to juggle between work and leisure here.

My mom and my youngest brother had just gone home today. So it's home alone most of the time for me here and yes I do miss friends back home. I do not miss Malaysia to be frank but I miss my friends who are able to listen to me, to cheer me up when I need to, I miss them a lot! And I do hope I can conclude my project here and meet up with them for a short time in December, fingers crossed! Brothers, pray for me ya!

And for the next year's plan, I will share when the time is right. At the moment, I just want to focus on this project and I cannot afford to flop at this point of time. Ending this long winded post with a photo taken in Elements in Kowloon.

Until then, work aside, I will update more about my life here soon! Love you!

The Plan

Well, I am unwell for the past 2 days ever since I am back from Genting to cover an LG event up there. Really hope for a speedy recovery as I am flying to Thailand this Friday for a week, then back here to Malaysia for few more days before flying off to Hong Kong (HKG) to spend my remaining days & months of 2009 there.

This will also be the very first time that I am out of the country for a long time and to be frank I am really anticipated about it. What I will miss most of course my family & friends here and not to mention the food here.

And to my brothers - Rim & Chong, don't worry I will be back!

What prompted me to do such decision to leave? Am I not worried leaving a stable job in LG and venturing into something that I am totally green about it? Yes, I am especially seeing my bank account decreasing day by day. But at 30, I looked at what I had achieved in LG, I told myself I had enough, I rather stay happy & healthy than to seek & fight for something that I do not foresee that I can achieve there. Happiness play a key role to my decision, and last I heard my junior who I had been working with close to 2 years leaving too! So to the public reading my blog, I should not talk much bout my ex-company, it does not require a genius to understand the culture and work-like there. Brother Jeremy, I wish you the best in your undertakings, been a pleasure to work with you.

So what's my plan next? Travel only? Nah... I am taking up a job of website revamping in HKG, submitted my quotation, been shortlisted and will still need to do my presentation to client and hopefully can beat the rest of competitors mainly from HKG. Should the project be awarded to me, I will be there to coordinate the implementation up to the execution stage.

Since it is the last quarter of 2009, HKG allows Malaysians to stay up to 90 days, meaning I can at the same time celebrate my X'mas & New Year there, an opportunity that I do not want to miss. I will also be meeting up friends in HKG & Macao (Josie & Sexy, see you people soon!). Plus, will have few friends visiting HKG during my stay there, Deric & Alan, see you guys there!

And this period will also be the best time for me to be a bit slimmer. I somehow lost weight each & every time I travel, the place I am staying in HKG will have all the facilities like gymnasium, swimming pool & jogging track. Must be disciplined enough to look better myself!

For those who want to contact me, sorry peeps, I will be suspending my maxis line before flying off but rest assured I will share with you guys my HKG number on facebook ya! And for friends who want me to help them buy stuff in HKG, email me and visit my other blog @ Shop With Mike, I will try my very best to get it for you all ya!

And cross fingers, hopefully I can spare time to visit China, got my China visa standby as well.

I shall be back in February 2010 just in time for Chinese New Year here. And what's the plan ahead? I am seeking a full-time employment job or perhaps a joint-venture in Bangkok, Thailand. Why Thailand you may ask? Well, it's complicated and remember earlier in my post I mentioned, happiness is the key.

Till then people, more updates on my travelogue!

Life After LG

So this is my final month of employment in LG. Being associated with a company for almost 8 years now, finally, it's time to move on. Many had asked, where will I be? What company I am joining? What's my plan? Well, here you go, some of my plans, both confirmed and pending confirmation.

I will spent more time blogging @ MikeMmery and I will still continue to blog for LG Blog as long as my service is required. That means I will be part of the media once I left to be invited for all their events. Now this is confirmed!

And of late, I am dating someone out of the country, guess I will go and visit her for one more time before I proceed with my other assignments.

I am setting up a company on my own to do web development & web designing. I had also set up a separate company to manage on project biz focusing on electrical & electronics products.

I will also be in Hong Kong soon!!! I am also going to take up a job of designing & developing a corporate website there. I am currently looking for freelance designer to be part of this team. This client is based in Hong Kong with networks mainly in the Asia Pacific region. Will be there perhaps in the month of September, all depending on whether I can get a reasonable fair during that month considering it is also peak month as we celebrating the Raya. If everything is on track, I will be in Hong Kong for a bit, perhaps 2-3 months and celebrating both my Christmas & New Year there. Friends can still get my updates here, I assure you!





Now the plans that awaiting confirmation - during my few months in Hong Kong, I plan to visit Taiwan & China when I have the time, any friends there that willing to take me around???

And upon returning from Hong Kong, I might be joining a Thai company, got an offer of marketing position there and that position will only be available in 2010.

And if I have additional time, I want to improve my biking skill, improve my financial capability and do a bit of golfing.

Now I really cannot wait to my days of self employment :)

Between A Marriage & A Job

To working individual like me, a job is like a marriage. A good marriage will normally end up with a happily ever after ending, in other words you will be walking into office in a jovial mood without having the dreaded feeling of going to work. It is like you just cannot get enough seeing your wife. However there is also possibility that a marriage ends up in a divorce which is like in an employment point of view, you are not motivated, you felt dreaded, that is when you resign.

About more than 2 years back, I landed myself in a hot soup for being too vocal, blogging about my disappointment on certain individual at work. I apologized for that as the language that I used which I got to admit was a bit too much. People grows up, just like me, being vocal can be in many ways and I had never change a single bit of my personality.

The decision of leaving a company that I am affiliated for almost 8 years now was not an easy one. To me, I am proud to be a part of the company. The passion I had when I first joined as a fresh graduate til now on its product is still there. Every year I am being introduced to many new innovative, fascinating products in conferences I attended. The exposure I had, the culture that I nurtured, all these had molded me into a tough person that I think can brave through challenges ahead.

With many of the plus points, why I leave? Survival, job motivation & satisfaction. In fact, I left, rejoined and for the second time I decided to leave again. But when offers laid down on the table offering much lucrative package, the temptation is always there. I need to work with people with global mindset to get the motivation, not a superior who acted like a teacher in primary school. I had gained all the wisdom & knowledge during my university days, I need a troubleshooter and a leader who can enlighten me on new things. These are the words of my frank self which I do not think will be very nice to throw to someone more senior than I am. When I start to question why this and why that, that is when I have doubts on certain decision. Bad decisions do happen but if the leaders kept on making doubtful and bad decisions, that will be when the subordinates suffer. Decisions need to be made if business sense prevails, but what if it is not?

On empowerment & delegation, when roles & responsibilities are not clearly defined, that will be when staff will be demotivated. In a company, no one is indispensable, including me. And one transparency, I do not think this word is even in the dictionary for some seniors I worked with.

So to some of my closest buddies and the bosses that I truly respected, thanks for the persuasion. I think the marriage bond just need to be ended here. I want to part in a way where there will be no sour feelings towards any specific individual. Perhaps we will cross path in a very near future?

I guess I put my freedom of speech to good test, hope my remaining days will not be as hell. Robin Hood, where are you?

So Here's The Updates

My blog has been in a very sorry state of late. It had been ignored for a bit and finally I have found time for it at least for now. Yes, resigned... DONE... so many would ask why you still serious about your job? I would like to let go totally but it would be nightmare for my clients, it is just not me to just to leave it to someone who totally has no idea what or how to manage the corporate clients.

For my clients who had been following my blog, rest assured, I will be at my best to service you all until my last day of employment. I will be serving my notice until early September. To be frank, I have not accept any offer put on the table. It does not mean I am being arrogant or ignorant about the whole economical situation. To me, the next move I would have make will be critical for my life, so therefore I am seeking a bigger role, bigger responsibility and of course a bigger pay.

Not too bad after all, I had 2 offers and now I believe your experiences sell. And your name sells as well. One from an automobile company and another is pharmaceutical company. Got a call today from Singapore for a role in a European MNC and another in Thailand (this is my choice perhaps).

And I just need to be a bit more patient with my current situation while serving my notice as I had come to encountering Tai Chi Masters internally. I believe in karma though and I guess I had made the best choice and decision in my almost a decade of employment. Time to move on and with offers pouring in, I believe I can excel and put my strength to bigger test in life.

So, health is also another reason I quit my current job. Friends & family knowing me, I spent quite a substantial amount of time in my work. Blood pressures and BMI numbers not being good to me, it's time to do something for myself. Something money can't buy, and that's my health. So, there will be badminton every Thursday now for me. Mountain biking on the weekend. And perhaps pick up my golfing real soon.

And travelling!!!! Yeap, back from back to back Indonesia & Thailand trips. I might be heading either Thailand or Hong Kong in September or October if there aren't any offer that can catch my attention. Before any readers having wrong assumptions of me heading to Thailand so often, well I am seeking for opportunities there, it is a country I would call it home if possible given the cost of living and the people in consideration. Some real sorry stories here had influenced my opinion of my born country. Teoh Beng Hock's case, ISA, etc... it just goes on and on...

And well... who knows I am in the road of finding my soul partner. I just felt all good things will follow suit soon. Just that this good feeling and I trust my feeling.

To my family and best buddies who had been concerned about my future, I am more worried than you all, with all the commitments I am having now. As a human, always aim higher and never stay in your comfort zone, that's me! That's Michael Song!

Signing off for now... shall be back with full strength ;)

It's A Relief

I had done it. And the results are so obvious, the moment I took the decisive step, I felt a sense of relief in me. It's my second time in the same company, and I guess a man got to do what he needs to do, now I have time to do more things for myself

• Exercise and shed some weight and look good again
• Travel, end July to Thailand and with Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines & Krabi in the pipeline of my traveling itinerary
• Look for new challenge in my career - perhaps regional basis
• Go and find my fate & love perhaps ;)

People asked will I regret making such decision? Hell no! I felt a sense of relief. Guess perhaps there will better candidate to fit the position. And secondly, I had done at my best, cross fingers, if all the deals that I secured come in this year, it will be a history making for my current company in terms of dollars & cents, volume and value too. And if ever there is a counter offer, what will I do? We shall see, we shall see...

For the time being, it's yippee yay yay time for me!!!! No Monday blues!

Earning With Blogging

It felt just like yesterday, this year I am entering my 4th year blogging at this site. I am still an idiot to be frank on some jargons, whatever SEO or search optimization, blah blah blah... Even this decent design of my blog was done by fellow blogger Splashmilk. I just write when I am inspired to regardless how many unique or visitors actually read my blog.

I think (not sure) my readers are mainly comprising of my friends, family members, relatives, people close at my heart, colleagues, my bosses & even my clients. Perhaps this blog is the other side of me which they find interesting. Perhaps so, I am not sure.

I blogged about everything under the sun, politics, love, my trips, food I ate, my relationships, etc. 4 years ago, there was no Nuffnang. But I did played a minor role in my day job shortlisting "big bloggers" to review some of the products that my company carries such as mobile phones. There was a blogger who charged my company as high as RM4000/post but his traffic was high back then. Most of the big bloggers charge averagely about RM2000/post. Good money huh?

I know I shouldn't have share this piece of info but then let this piece of info inspire those who really have passion for blogging to seriously think of this as a profesion. There are not many big bloggers, just handful of them and people who read blogs will definitely bump into their blogs before.

Then come Nuffnang, earnings not much but no complain isn't it? Our main agenda as blogger is still writing quality piece. Best thing about Nuffnang is every blogger can register it, whether you are big or small and of cos if you are as big as the coconut, your purse will definitely be thicker than small fry just like me. Though small, thanks to Nuffnang, I do have a few hundreds in my account, no complain. Give it a shot for a start.

And on Google Adsense, this is something I could not be bother to even analyze it. You must be good in some search engine optimization and high page rank which I do not what the hell was that.

And this year, besides maintaining my own journal here, I am looking forward to managing another virgin blog from a MNC and some of its online campaigns. I never expect to be selected but when the call come and in view of the dollar & cent, I grabbed the opportunity. It is still under progress and will share once it's in the execution stage.

So bloggers there, you might not be big but opportunities are everywhere. With the additional portfolio, I hope I can still blog as much as I can here but I assure you people I am gonna bring more love & peace to my readers during this sorry state of recession.

Cheer up! My wedding coming soon....

Life @ 30

This post is specially dedicated to one of my best friend in high school, Michael Ang. This post is to welcome Yu Chen to the world. Buddy, congrats & I am seriously happy for you.

Not many of my close buddies who I grew up with have settle down. I have not seriously thought of settling down after my previous relationship. But I do open up myself to welcome a fresh start for this girl who I am fond with but unfortunately she still felt doubtful on certain things about me. To all my readers who thought I am attached all this while - No, I am not attached. Yes, I am seeing someone as a 'special' friend. How long does this 'special' friend relationship be dragged, I am unsure myself too.



Seeing my best buddy's first child on video did gave me a certain rush of emotions. I love kids, I always do. Even the girls that I got involved with in the past commented that if I ever have kids, I will neglect the wife. I like to be surrounded by kids, I like the way they pester you at times to play with them. Then I think to myself, is this a sign that I am desperate to have a family of myself? My family, I know my dad & mom eagerly waiting for that day as I am the eldest in my family. Mom & Dad, if you are reading this (they are my readers as well), your son is working very hard towards it.



I had mellowed down a lot on my work. I used to work late hours, forcing myself to be in office although I can be home. But lately, I felt tired with work. Tired at times having to face pretenders in workplace. It is hard to find people who can work with passion, I can see more pretenders who are hungry for power & politicking in the office. Nobody will remember the milestone you achieved for long and when a slight error inflicted in your work, people tend to put a death sentence to you. So I had made a vow not to let working life kills off my quality lifestyle.

I am spending more of my after work time with my chilling with my buddy talking about business opportunities, discussing about my new house, parasiting his family life while I am single & spend more effort pursuing my next piece of jigsaw puzzle in my life. I spend more time reading blogs & posting at least a post a day to share what is it in me everyday. Blogging has phenomenonly inspire my life and amazingly it had been the best listener for the past 3 years for me.

Now if you excuse me, I gotta continue my PSP God of War. What a life @ 30?!?!?!?

The Ladder Is Too Hard To Climb

As you entering your middle age, for those who are working & climbing the corporate ladder, job motivation & satisfaction play a significant role to push you up to another level. I had just gotten my evaluation and the results are not up to my expectation.

To many who knows me through my blog will thought that I am a highly paid manager after throughout these years I spent in the same company but to many who knows me in real person would commented that I am underpaid based on the contribution & hours of work I spent in the office.

I am always hesitated to write about my job but the uneasiness I am having now prompted me to vomit what I felt inside me. Looking back on the increment & promotion, at times you wonder, why certain individual seem to be appreciated more than the others? I am not particularly super upset over my increment & promotion, I feel it is only fair for me to be evaluated again next year as I am holding a new portfolio altogether this year and I am pretty sure my department will fair well this year. Life is about 2 choices anyway, I had sent ultimatum to my immediate boss and he agrees that my increment is not justifiable as well, I am keeping my option open and at the same time my passion for my work is still burning as ever. I just hope it will not die off, I see myself to be somebody here and I want to make the best out of my career here.



As a consolation to my bad days last week, I pampered myself over the weekend, I put aside all my job assignments and took time off to try out the Fish Spa. I tried the Sampuoton Fish Spa located in the Merchant Square, Tropicana. I took the Fish Therapy package which comes with an hour of fish nibbling my whole body. It does feel akward but it was a good experience.



After the fish therapy, I went for 2 hours body massage at The Sokushindo, Bandar Puteri Puchong. It was really good, highly recommended, I felt so much refreshed on a Monday where many would be experiencing Monday blues.



Congratulations to my colleagues who got a fair bit of increment & promotion and to those who felt like shit me now, patient... Life is all about 2 choices, isn't it?