If you are a singer, you look for that loud applause that comes right after your last note. If you are a cook, you look for that clean-licked plate after that meal you've prepared. If you are a writer... you look for that varying reactions on people's face and the multiple conversations that follow.
Recently a colleague of mine churned out an interview piece with a minister, and it got many tongues wagging. Fellow journalists, editors, politically-inclined individuals, bloggers, people on the street, even my mates and my family were all talking about it.
I'm not one who's qualified to judge if the article is good, bad or excellent, but I must say I was truly impressed by the excitement it generated. The tempias feeling is already even more exciting that receiving an award - I wondered what it would be like to have come out with such an article; and to have even people who you knew but never knew you discuss it with their peers.
If previously I'm a bit unaware on just how big a room for improvement I'm supposed to be working with, now I guess I have a tiny inkling about what kind of "space" I'm up against.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Salam Aidiladha
To all my friends,
Take care this festive season, please be careful on the road, and enjoy your holiday!
Take care this festive season, please be careful on the road, and enjoy your holiday!
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
"Owo..."
At certain point of your life, you'll start to notice things, and the realisation makes you go, "Owo..." (to be pronounced as "Oow woo.." in which the "O" is but a harkat shorter than the "wo")
For example, that time when you finally figured out that "In spite of" and "Despite" means almost the same, it's just the way you use it in a sentence is different, and you go...
Another example, finally you figured out what the word "suffrage" means, which is "the right to vote" (though the word did seems to sound a lot like "suffer" and "rage" put together, go figure!), hence you go...
An even further example, when you finally catch on what "elasticity" (keanjalan people, keanjalan) in economic terms is all about, again you go...
So pushing it to the brink, when you finally understand that RM1 as for government hospital bill for everyone means everyone pays RM1 to "enjoy" hospital treatment, why won't you just go...
p/s: This post is about me trying to look at the bright side of life as I sift out the garbage in my environment and dunk'em into vacuum plastic bags. Pastensu is supposed to be cleaner than this. Now c'mon gimme an "Owo..." will ya?
For example, that time when you finally figured out that "In spite of" and "Despite" means almost the same, it's just the way you use it in a sentence is different, and you go...
Another example, finally you figured out what the word "suffrage" means, which is "the right to vote" (though the word did seems to sound a lot like "suffer" and "rage" put together, go figure!), hence you go...
An even further example, when you finally catch on what "elasticity" (keanjalan people, keanjalan) in economic terms is all about, again you go...
So pushing it to the brink, when you finally understand that RM1 as for government hospital bill for everyone means everyone pays RM1 to "enjoy" hospital treatment, why won't you just go...
p/s: This post is about me trying to look at the bright side of life as I sift out the garbage in my environment and dunk'em into vacuum plastic bags. Pastensu is supposed to be cleaner than this. Now c'mon gimme an "Owo..." will ya?
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Good luck, good health, God bless you
This morning my carpool mate and I started our journey to office quite early. As she was turning into the road that leads to my office, a Wira from the opposite lane swerved swiftly, trying to overtake an Iswara which was going too slow for her.
Yes, the Wira driver is a female, a female with one hand on the handphone trying to SMS and the other barely touching the steering wheel. My carpool mate was quick enough to step on the brakes causing both of us to choke on the safety belt, and the Wira managed to avoid us by inches.
We quickly elapsed into a mantra of curses, hoping that the Spell of Seven Years of Bad Luck we had chanted for her will quickly be carried by the wind and gets sucked in to the air-cond duct of the Wira, which was fast escaping behind us.
Before we could start the next level of bad mantra (we were thinking of sending her the Spell of One Thousand Bad Hair Day and Spell of Chasing DBKL Compound), we saw the Iswara on the opposite lane had actually stopped and started to honk at us, not loudly nor madly, but rather musically, you know, that friendly little half-pressed honk-honk-honk just to get our attention.
My carpool mate rolled down her window. "Apehal lak ni?" I muttered under my breath.
"Are you two OK?" asked the guy in the Iswara. My carpool mate went "Aa?"
"Yes, yes, thank you. You OK?" I asked, slightly surprised that he was concerned enough to stop and ask, right in the middle of the not quite busy road.
"Ya ya, I'm OK. Have a good day!" he smiled as he spoke, at the same time rolling up his window and his car started to move.
My carpool mate quickly got her car back on the go, and we were silent for a while.
"That's really nice of him!" I finally said as we were approaching my office building.
"Very! I wish him good luck, good health.."
".. God bless him!" I sang the finishing line.
It strikes me how quickly we react to bad things that happened to us, and how a gesture of kindness got us speechless - had we become so unaccustomed to good things that when something nice happened, we just didn't know how to react anymore?
Yes, the Wira driver is a female, a female with one hand on the handphone trying to SMS and the other barely touching the steering wheel. My carpool mate was quick enough to step on the brakes causing both of us to choke on the safety belt, and the Wira managed to avoid us by inches.
We quickly elapsed into a mantra of curses, hoping that the Spell of Seven Years of Bad Luck we had chanted for her will quickly be carried by the wind and gets sucked in to the air-cond duct of the Wira, which was fast escaping behind us.
Before we could start the next level of bad mantra (we were thinking of sending her the Spell of One Thousand Bad Hair Day and Spell of Chasing DBKL Compound), we saw the Iswara on the opposite lane had actually stopped and started to honk at us, not loudly nor madly, but rather musically, you know, that friendly little half-pressed honk-honk-honk just to get our attention.
My carpool mate rolled down her window. "Apehal lak ni?" I muttered under my breath.
"Are you two OK?" asked the guy in the Iswara. My carpool mate went "Aa?"
"Yes, yes, thank you. You OK?" I asked, slightly surprised that he was concerned enough to stop and ask, right in the middle of the not quite busy road.
"Ya ya, I'm OK. Have a good day!" he smiled as he spoke, at the same time rolling up his window and his car started to move.
My carpool mate quickly got her car back on the go, and we were silent for a while.
"That's really nice of him!" I finally said as we were approaching my office building.
"Very! I wish him good luck, good health.."
".. God bless him!" I sang the finishing line.
It strikes me how quickly we react to bad things that happened to us, and how a gesture of kindness got us speechless - had we become so unaccustomed to good things that when something nice happened, we just didn't know how to react anymore?
Monday, November 26, 2007
First BERSIH, now HINDRAF
Can't really answer if anyone asks me what I think of these two events. Can't see if anything good came out of it. Can't believe people still try this kind of method (which everyone knows will end up like a twisted circus) to get their message across.
Seems like a waste of time because if they seek to get noticed, they got noticed as jammakers - them and their cause defined all wrong. In the latter event they seek to deliver a letter of demand but in the end they faxed it - it really got people wondering whadduh?
An old-timer sitting next to us during lunch simply said, "If you don't like it, don't agree with it, do something smart about it, don't make things worse. If you're just gonna sit there whining and complaining when you yourself had not done any good for anyone, you might as well crawl back into your hole. A lot of people are better off without your bad ideas and bad attitude."
I can agree with that.
Seems like a waste of time because if they seek to get noticed, they got noticed as jammakers - them and their cause defined all wrong. In the latter event they seek to deliver a letter of demand but in the end they faxed it - it really got people wondering whadduh?
An old-timer sitting next to us during lunch simply said, "If you don't like it, don't agree with it, do something smart about it, don't make things worse. If you're just gonna sit there whining and complaining when you yourself had not done any good for anyone, you might as well crawl back into your hole. A lot of people are better off without your bad ideas and bad attitude."
I can agree with that.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Nobody's perfect?
Recently I was told during an evalution process, no perfect score will be given.
Not cause nobody's perfect. Rather, the top score is not given in order to leave a bigger room for improvement.
Wow. That kinda went down twisted and wrong into my brain. I'm afraid after hearing such thing, my sub-conscious is now lowering my own standards in doing things, just so I could have that bigger room left for improvement.
You see..
.. if I had been washing three loads of my own and my household's kain busuk every week, my sub-conscious is now telling me to wash only two loads. So that the room for improvement will be bigger.
I mean, by lowering my wash load to twice a week, anytime I manage to make three, I'm already on the road to bigger things! Despite that three was actually my normal standard.
.. if I had been washing my own load and other people's kain busuk all this while, my sub-conscious is now telling me to not to bother about other people's load.
So if anytime I manage to clean theirs as well, I'm already improving in terms of my own standard of generousity. Despite that washing everyone's kain busuk was actually what I was sincerely doing before this.
.. if I had been washing and putting some softener in my washload (which used to include other people's kain busuk as well, well maybe once in a while it will again whenever I'm in the mood for increased level of generousity), my sub-conscious is now telling me not to put softener in anymore.
So - not only my room for improvement becomes even bigger, and my level of generousity higher, but even my personal body odour will also becomes less stinkier whenever I rise to the occasion to put softener in. That, I believe, would be one hell of a perfect score!
See what I mean?
Not cause nobody's perfect. Rather, the top score is not given in order to leave a bigger room for improvement.
Wow. That kinda went down twisted and wrong into my brain. I'm afraid after hearing such thing, my sub-conscious is now lowering my own standards in doing things, just so I could have that bigger room left for improvement.
You see..
.. if I had been washing three loads of my own and my household's kain busuk every week, my sub-conscious is now telling me to wash only two loads. So that the room for improvement will be bigger.
I mean, by lowering my wash load to twice a week, anytime I manage to make three, I'm already on the road to bigger things! Despite that three was actually my normal standard.
.. if I had been washing my own load and other people's kain busuk all this while, my sub-conscious is now telling me to not to bother about other people's load.
So if anytime I manage to clean theirs as well, I'm already improving in terms of my own standard of generousity. Despite that washing everyone's kain busuk was actually what I was sincerely doing before this.
.. if I had been washing and putting some softener in my washload (which used to include other people's kain busuk as well, well maybe once in a while it will again whenever I'm in the mood for increased level of generousity), my sub-conscious is now telling me not to put softener in anymore.
So - not only my room for improvement becomes even bigger, and my level of generousity higher, but even my personal body odour will also becomes less stinkier whenever I rise to the occasion to put softener in. That, I believe, would be one hell of a perfect score!
See what I mean?
Monday, October 29, 2007
It's Nat King Cole's all over again
Me love to sing. Me love to sing Nat King Cole's song. Me love to sing Nat King Cole's song, Pretend.
So let's sing along!
Pretend you're happy when you're blue
It isn't very hard to do
The world is mine it can be yours, my love
So why don't you pretend?
Or we can try Rambling Rose. Three, four!
Rambling rooooooose...
Rambling rooooooose...
Why I want you?
Heaven knows!
Or another Nat song, Unforgettable.
That's why darling
It's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am
Unforgettable too
Unforgettable...
OK me better stop now before ol' Nat himself knock me on my head and tell me to finish that film review. Oh btw guys, 30 Days of Night is quite a cool scary movie if you like gory story.
Pretend you're happy when you're blue....
So let's sing along!
Pretend you're happy when you're blue
It isn't very hard to do
The world is mine it can be yours, my love
So why don't you pretend?
Or we can try Rambling Rose. Three, four!
Rambling rooooooose...
Rambling rooooooose...
Why I want you?
Heaven knows!
Or another Nat song, Unforgettable.
That's why darling
It's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am
Unforgettable too
Unforgettable...
OK me better stop now before ol' Nat himself knock me on my head and tell me to finish that film review. Oh btw guys, 30 Days of Night is quite a cool scary movie if you like gory story.
Pretend you're happy when you're blue....
Monday, October 22, 2007
Abang Mus back from space
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha is back from space, and one minister said Malaysians can stand a few inches taller now that we have had a Malaysian travel in space.
Suddenly it all makes sense now. We wasted millions of ringgit to send people to sail around the globe, climb the highest peak and track across north and south pole so we can gain a few inches here and there.
I was wondering what was the main objective of such efforts. The one which was most mind-boggling was the project where 0.1 percent of Malaysia's population of mat rempits were sent to jump onto ice.
I'm not sure I feel taller now that we have had Malaysians been everywhere, but my 164cm is OK with me.
I'm not sure I want to be taller in fact. Be happier, now that's better.
I think the next Malaysia Boleh project should be Zero Poverty, or Zero Illiteracy, or Zero Crime campaign on a humongous, overnight-can-change scale.
If we become a country where everyone can get three meals a day with ease, read the morning press and walk around town without worrying about rapists, snatch thieves and swindlers; I'll be happier.
Not taller, but that's OK.
p/s: I would feel taller if Malaysians are known across the world as well-mannered, peace-loving people who lives in a clean (not necessarily modern) country and do not have too many crazy (berani mati) drivers.
Suddenly it all makes sense now. We wasted millions of ringgit to send people to sail around the globe, climb the highest peak and track across north and south pole so we can gain a few inches here and there.
I was wondering what was the main objective of such efforts. The one which was most mind-boggling was the project where 0.1 percent of Malaysia's population of mat rempits were sent to jump onto ice.
I'm not sure I feel taller now that we have had Malaysians been everywhere, but my 164cm is OK with me.
I'm not sure I want to be taller in fact. Be happier, now that's better.
I think the next Malaysia Boleh project should be Zero Poverty, or Zero Illiteracy, or Zero Crime campaign on a humongous, overnight-can-change scale.
If we become a country where everyone can get three meals a day with ease, read the morning press and walk around town without worrying about rapists, snatch thieves and swindlers; I'll be happier.
Not taller, but that's OK.
p/s: I would feel taller if Malaysians are known across the world as well-mannered, peace-loving people who lives in a clean (not necessarily modern) country and do not have too many crazy (berani mati) drivers.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Maaf Zahir Batin
Semuga Bergumbira dalam Kesederhanaan
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Gym Bag Girl
Who could muster enough courage to bring his or herself to pick up this morning's New Straits Times?
The picture of the young girl who was brutally abused and murdered is plastered on the front page, and knowing that the perpetrator had done crazy things to her and ended it by stuffing her in a gym bag left in front of a store, that's just too much.
So far, no one's claiming her as kin just yet. The press event ventured a question, "Was she homeless?"
Dubbed by the press as "Girl in the Gym Bag", police suspects the case may be serial and linked to the "Kampung Baru Molester". However I wondered why criminologist Dr Kamal Affendi Hashim refers to the culprit as a "he".
I hope police is not ruling out women in their search list. Remember that case in which a mother had beaten her own child to death and tried to put the blame on her step-son?
The identity of the girl is still unknown, but I think we all know she in a better place now.
The picture of the young girl who was brutally abused and murdered is plastered on the front page, and knowing that the perpetrator had done crazy things to her and ended it by stuffing her in a gym bag left in front of a store, that's just too much.
So far, no one's claiming her as kin just yet. The press event ventured a question, "Was she homeless?"
Dubbed by the press as "Girl in the Gym Bag", police suspects the case may be serial and linked to the "Kampung Baru Molester". However I wondered why criminologist Dr Kamal Affendi Hashim refers to the culprit as a "he".
I hope police is not ruling out women in their search list. Remember that case in which a mother had beaten her own child to death and tried to put the blame on her step-son?
The identity of the girl is still unknown, but I think we all know she in a better place now.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Puasa masa kecik-kecik dulu
Masa kita kecik-kecik dulu, bulan puasa memang best sebab:
1] Dalam otak memang 110% confident - hantu syaitan sume takde. Tapi masa Darjah 6 aritu terbaca lak dalam Mastika ade orang jumpa something scary time bulan puasa - hampeh..
2] Kat sekolah memang la cakap puasa full, tapi balik tengahari tu bukak pintu rumah je Kak Zah dah hulur air, siap masak nasi dengan telur goreng. Tinggal taruh kicap pastu bleh makan depan TV.
3] Petang-petang skit pergi beli kueh instead of main galah panjang (kalau main gak kantoi la tak puasa). Time beli kueh tu bleh jumpa budak-budak sekampung yang cun-cun and jarang dapat terserempak tu. Kueh pun tak mahal time tu - model RM2 je, kenyang satu rumah.
4] Pergi terawih buat 8 rakaat je, tapi balik saing dengan orang-orang tua yang buat 20 rakaat - time in between tu lepak dengan kawan-kawan pastu buat panggilan telefon palsu kat kawan-kawan lain, menyamar jadi peminat diorg yang nak ajak diorg kuar tengok wayang raya sok.
5] Dekat nak raya parents bagi keluar malam main lawan bunga api. Kalau join dengan geng galah panjang kat Lorong Pandan, mana bleh menang bebudak rumah lain yang mengharapkan adik beradik diorg je nak tulung.
6] Dah lagi dekat nak raya parents kasik allowance, weekend "pegi pekan" dengan member beli baju raya..
7] Dah lebih lagi dekat nak raya parents tak kisah if nak ronda naik beskal sampai kampung sebelah nak usha panjut fest serata area tu.
8] Even lagi dekat nak raya dah start dapat duit raya dah daripada pokcik2, mokcik2 yang singgah rumah.
9] Tinggal lagi dua-tiga hari nak raya stesen TV dah start air cerita macam-macam. Dulu cerita Melayu best, XX-Ray la, Bintang Malam la, Fenomena la.. start XX-Ray part 2 dah hancus dah.. Paling hancus time satu raya bila tah tu, ade ke TV bagi Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Sabar je la..
1] Dalam otak memang 110% confident - hantu syaitan sume takde. Tapi masa Darjah 6 aritu terbaca lak dalam Mastika ade orang jumpa something scary time bulan puasa - hampeh..
2] Kat sekolah memang la cakap puasa full, tapi balik tengahari tu bukak pintu rumah je Kak Zah dah hulur air, siap masak nasi dengan telur goreng. Tinggal taruh kicap pastu bleh makan depan TV.
3] Petang-petang skit pergi beli kueh instead of main galah panjang (kalau main gak kantoi la tak puasa). Time beli kueh tu bleh jumpa budak-budak sekampung yang cun-cun and jarang dapat terserempak tu. Kueh pun tak mahal time tu - model RM2 je, kenyang satu rumah.
4] Pergi terawih buat 8 rakaat je, tapi balik saing dengan orang-orang tua yang buat 20 rakaat - time in between tu lepak dengan kawan-kawan pastu buat panggilan telefon palsu kat kawan-kawan lain, menyamar jadi peminat diorg yang nak ajak diorg kuar tengok wayang raya sok.
5] Dekat nak raya parents bagi keluar malam main lawan bunga api. Kalau join dengan geng galah panjang kat Lorong Pandan, mana bleh menang bebudak rumah lain yang mengharapkan adik beradik diorg je nak tulung.
6] Dah lagi dekat nak raya parents kasik allowance, weekend "pegi pekan" dengan member beli baju raya..
7] Dah lebih lagi dekat nak raya parents tak kisah if nak ronda naik beskal sampai kampung sebelah nak usha panjut fest serata area tu.
8] Even lagi dekat nak raya dah start dapat duit raya dah daripada pokcik2, mokcik2 yang singgah rumah.
9] Tinggal lagi dua-tiga hari nak raya stesen TV dah start air cerita macam-macam. Dulu cerita Melayu best, XX-Ray la, Bintang Malam la, Fenomena la.. start XX-Ray part 2 dah hancus dah.. Paling hancus time satu raya bila tah tu, ade ke TV bagi Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Sabar je la..
Thursday, September 06, 2007
I see dead people
Date: 5 September 2007
Time: 6.30PM
Venue: My condo block
Topic: My thoughts and conversations in bubbles
First bubble reads:
Yeah! I'm nearly home. Should check my mails before I go up, wonder if there will be a new Carrefour spamming the box.
Second bubble reads:
Nevermind, don't kecoh. Just check the mail and go up - even if there's a cute one among the men in blue.
Third bubble reads:
Hmm, so many people crowding! Takpe, takpe, just go check mail now.. Oh shit.
Fourth bubble reads:
OMG! Is that a body under that white piece of cloth? OMG, it is. Eh, very small and skinny la the body? Oh shit, I can see the guy's yellow shirt.
Fifth bubble reads:
Aik? What's L doing here?
Conversation bubble right next to the scene:
Me: L, why are you here? What happened?
L: That's my colleague's kid! He fell down from fourth floor.
Me: A kid! How old? How did it happened?
L: 9 years old, only son in the family. Told his grandma he's going down to get mails. His grandma did say wait for her, but he said no need to accompany him. Not sure exactly how it happened, but he must have been playing at the lift's window and toppled over.
Sixth bubble reads:
Alamak! The police is removing the white cloth! Shit! It's just a skinny Chinese kid! He doesn't look badly hurt at all - except for the little patch of blood under his head. Poor kid!
More conversation bubble in lift:
L: He broke his neck, but was still breathing. They immediately called ambulance, but didn't managed to save the boy.
Me: Owno.. Condolences to your colleague. Is the police report done?
L: Yes, they're taking the body to the hospital for post-mortem. Er this is the boy's father.
Me: Uh.. Ah. Er, sorry for your loss.
Boy's father: (Silent, nod once, more silence, nod again. Me and L exchanged helpless looks.)
Fifth bubble reads:
I'm such an idiot! Eh, apa pulak, what else could one say to one who just lost a loved one? Sheesh. Ugh, don't feel so good. Thank goodness I'm home.
More conversation bubble at home:
Me: Tets, did you know about the boy?
Tets: Yeah I know, I came home about 5.30 or so and saw an old woman crying next to the boy, he was already covered with white cloth. She spoke in Cantonese, I'm a bit rusty but I think she said, "Come back to popo..."
Time: 6.30PM
Venue: My condo block
Topic: My thoughts and conversations in bubbles
First bubble reads:
Yeah! I'm nearly home. Should check my mails before I go up, wonder if there will be a new Carrefour spamming the box.
Second bubble reads:
Nevermind, don't kecoh. Just check the mail and go up - even if there's a cute one among the men in blue.
Third bubble reads:
Hmm, so many people crowding! Takpe, takpe, just go check mail now.. Oh shit.
Fourth bubble reads:
OMG! Is that a body under that white piece of cloth? OMG, it is. Eh, very small and skinny la the body? Oh shit, I can see the guy's yellow shirt.
Fifth bubble reads:
Aik? What's L doing here?
Conversation bubble right next to the scene:
Me: L, why are you here? What happened?
L: That's my colleague's kid! He fell down from fourth floor.
Me: A kid! How old? How did it happened?
L: 9 years old, only son in the family. Told his grandma he's going down to get mails. His grandma did say wait for her, but he said no need to accompany him. Not sure exactly how it happened, but he must have been playing at the lift's window and toppled over.
Sixth bubble reads:
Alamak! The police is removing the white cloth! Shit! It's just a skinny Chinese kid! He doesn't look badly hurt at all - except for the little patch of blood under his head. Poor kid!
More conversation bubble in lift:
L: He broke his neck, but was still breathing. They immediately called ambulance, but didn't managed to save the boy.
Me: Owno.. Condolences to your colleague. Is the police report done?
L: Yes, they're taking the body to the hospital for post-mortem. Er this is the boy's father.
Me: Uh.. Ah. Er, sorry for your loss.
Boy's father: (Silent, nod once, more silence, nod again. Me and L exchanged helpless looks.)
Fifth bubble reads:
I'm such an idiot! Eh, apa pulak, what else could one say to one who just lost a loved one? Sheesh. Ugh, don't feel so good. Thank goodness I'm home.
More conversation bubble at home:
Me: Tets, did you know about the boy?
Tets: Yeah I know, I came home about 5.30 or so and saw an old woman crying next to the boy, he was already covered with white cloth. She spoke in Cantonese, I'm a bit rusty but I think she said, "Come back to popo..."
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Holy union my a.. !
I hate it.
I really do hate it.
With passion.
With conviction.
See, I've been getting wedding invitations from my Malay friends, and several of them were in English instead of the national language.
What usually read as,
"Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Walimatulurus
Haji A bin Haji B & Hjh C binti Haji D
dengan segala hormatnya menjemput
________________________
ke majlis perkahwinan anakanda kami
AE bin Hj A dengan MN binti Hj O
pada x X 2006 bersamaan dengan y Y 1427H
di No Z, Jalan 123, KL
Semoga dengan kehadiran dan doa restu semua majlis ini akan diberkati Allah.
Terima Kasih
Wassalam"
has turned into:
"May light of happiness shine our joyous event
We,
Suki & Dean
cordially request the honour of your presence
_______________________
to witness the holy union of our love
at 666, Jalan 4444, Sijangkang
x X, 2007 at 6.45PM
With warm regards from Hj V and Hjh Q and family.
Love is two hearts merging as one, and as angels ring our wedding chimes I declare my undying passion to you."
Adui mak... what's up with that la? Sure, perhaps such invits are only sent to friends, and possibly Suki (aka Sakiyah) and Dean (Abudin) are one of those people who work with MNCs with lots of Mat Salleh and Minah Foreigners to invite.
Last April I was delighted to receive a wedding card from a friend in Finland, which was written in Finnish and translated to Swedish (just for me she took time to translate it to English with her own handwriting), but I was honoured nonetheless, I figured that's one way I'll learn her culture.
So where's our culture here? Why so not Malay one? Isn't wedding a time to keep things traditional?
I remember when wedding cards featured baby pictures of the bride and groom - OK, cute.
I remember when wedding cards featured the biodata of the bride and groom - er, who cares?
But wedding cards in English with love vows in printed in italics that do not even contain a simple salam? - Nasty! And frankly, plain vomit material. No budi, no bahasa there!
If this is just another new trend, takkan nak trendy sangat sampai no traces of their roots can be seen?
But that's not all, one mate related to me at one wedding she attended, the usual nasi minyak and ayam masak merah are nowhere to be seen. Guests were presented a Mediteraanean infusion instead.
Guess to these weddings we can just show up in jeans, baby-Ts and Crocs huh?
I really do hate it.
With passion.
With conviction.
See, I've been getting wedding invitations from my Malay friends, and several of them were in English instead of the national language.
What usually read as,
"Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Walimatulurus
Haji A bin Haji B & Hjh C binti Haji D
dengan segala hormatnya menjemput
________________________
ke majlis perkahwinan anakanda kami
AE bin Hj A dengan MN binti Hj O
pada x X 2006 bersamaan dengan y Y 1427H
di No Z, Jalan 123, KL
Semoga dengan kehadiran dan doa restu semua majlis ini akan diberkati Allah.
Terima Kasih
Wassalam"
has turned into:
"May light of happiness shine our joyous event
We,
Suki & Dean
cordially request the honour of your presence
_______________________
to witness the holy union of our love
at 666, Jalan 4444, Sijangkang
x X, 2007 at 6.45PM
With warm regards from Hj V and Hjh Q and family.
Love is two hearts merging as one, and as angels ring our wedding chimes I declare my undying passion to you."
Adui mak... what's up with that la? Sure, perhaps such invits are only sent to friends, and possibly Suki (aka Sakiyah) and Dean (Abudin) are one of those people who work with MNCs with lots of Mat Salleh and Minah Foreigners to invite.
Last April I was delighted to receive a wedding card from a friend in Finland, which was written in Finnish and translated to Swedish (just for me she took time to translate it to English with her own handwriting), but I was honoured nonetheless, I figured that's one way I'll learn her culture.
So where's our culture here? Why so not Malay one? Isn't wedding a time to keep things traditional?
I remember when wedding cards featured baby pictures of the bride and groom - OK, cute.
I remember when wedding cards featured the biodata of the bride and groom - er, who cares?
But wedding cards in English with love vows in printed in italics that do not even contain a simple salam? - Nasty! And frankly, plain vomit material. No budi, no bahasa there!
If this is just another new trend, takkan nak trendy sangat sampai no traces of their roots can be seen?
But that's not all, one mate related to me at one wedding she attended, the usual nasi minyak and ayam masak merah are nowhere to be seen. Guests were presented a Mediteraanean infusion instead.
Guess to these weddings we can just show up in jeans, baby-Ts and Crocs huh?
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Pantun Mak Itam
Pa's passion for the cute Melaka houses led me to Pak Itam's house, a popular youth hangout in the kampung. Pak Itam married three times, first to a pantun primadona who kids call Mak Itam.
According to Pak Itam, Mak Itam was his only wife who stayed. His jodoh from the second and third unions ended in divorces.
When her husband developed interest in other women and committed to two others, Mak Itam, who gave up her glamourous life, experience a total blow. To her ears her new state of bermadu tiga screams she wasn't loved anymore.
Mak Itam promptly succumbed into a phase of unfathomable depression, reveals her daughter. "First she went mute for years. Years! After eons of silence, she suddenly rediscovered her voice and began to sell pantuns at any chance she gets.. That's when we discovered she's no longer her sane self."
Looking back at her two favourite four-liners I can only guess why after all these years she never managed to recover from her husband's actions. She chants:
"Pasang jerat di hujung tanjung
Dapat seekor landak betina
Panjang ku kerat, pendek ku hubung
Baru dapat menjadi sama."
"Layang-layang terbang melayang
Main layang di panggung wayang
Siapa kata abang tak sayang
Bagaikan bunga jatuh melayang."
The first pantun reeks of her struggle to be an equal and only partner to her husband - whatever the shortcoming, she will do her best to iron things out. The second pantun sounds as if she's trying to convince herself that there's still space for her in her husband's life. Sadly, to equate "bunga jatuh melayang" to her husband's love for her rings bells of insecurity and hopelessness in my head.
Today in her 70s, the bob-haired, sarung-clad Mak Itam paints a picture of an old woman who is chirpy and well cared for. The snarky lady also loves driving her daughther crazy with her kid-like antics, ranging from spitting the food she chewed off everyone's plate to mocking her daughter's nagging.
Her daughter kids her back by telling her that her pantuns are all stale. When this happens she only growls in dissatisfaction.
During our visit Mak Itam asked my older sibling if he has settled down. When he replied "No," she smiled approvingly. "Muda lagi, enjoy dulu. Betul tak?"
According to Pak Itam, Mak Itam was his only wife who stayed. His jodoh from the second and third unions ended in divorces.
When her husband developed interest in other women and committed to two others, Mak Itam, who gave up her glamourous life, experience a total blow. To her ears her new state of bermadu tiga screams she wasn't loved anymore.
Mak Itam promptly succumbed into a phase of unfathomable depression, reveals her daughter. "First she went mute for years. Years! After eons of silence, she suddenly rediscovered her voice and began to sell pantuns at any chance she gets.. That's when we discovered she's no longer her sane self."
Looking back at her two favourite four-liners I can only guess why after all these years she never managed to recover from her husband's actions. She chants:
"Pasang jerat di hujung tanjung
Dapat seekor landak betina
Panjang ku kerat, pendek ku hubung
Baru dapat menjadi sama."
"Layang-layang terbang melayang
Main layang di panggung wayang
Siapa kata abang tak sayang
Bagaikan bunga jatuh melayang."
The first pantun reeks of her struggle to be an equal and only partner to her husband - whatever the shortcoming, she will do her best to iron things out. The second pantun sounds as if she's trying to convince herself that there's still space for her in her husband's life. Sadly, to equate "bunga jatuh melayang" to her husband's love for her rings bells of insecurity and hopelessness in my head.
Today in her 70s, the bob-haired, sarung-clad Mak Itam paints a picture of an old woman who is chirpy and well cared for. The snarky lady also loves driving her daughther crazy with her kid-like antics, ranging from spitting the food she chewed off everyone's plate to mocking her daughter's nagging.
Her daughter kids her back by telling her that her pantuns are all stale. When this happens she only growls in dissatisfaction.
During our visit Mak Itam asked my older sibling if he has settled down. When he replied "No," she smiled approvingly. "Muda lagi, enjoy dulu. Betul tak?"
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Bloggers in headlines for wrong reasons
Let's just be clear about something.
My definition of a blogger is a person who is:
1. .. in love with writing
2. .. have something to say (to him/herself or to the world)
3. .. responsible for everything he/she wrote
My definition of a gobblogger is a person who is:
1. .. basically an idiotic, unthinking coward who thinks he/she's being brazen and brave
2. .. have something to say but it is not worth saying because it is the result of shallow thinking
3. .. not taking responsibility of what he/she posted
Of recent the word blogger has been in the main headlines for all the wrong reasons, so much so the government wants to introduce a new legislation which involves serious, serious penalties as result to irresponsible publishing.
It appears as if some bloggers out there think it is cool to flame others - government, religion, race, royalties not spared! (Er.. not that I think the Kinabatangan MP deserves to be spared.) Even if you have a so-called constructive criticism to air, please, be responsible when going about it, and do it with the utmost respect of the involved party.
If with what you publish your only aim is to sincerely want to make things better, I'm sure there's a way to do it sensitively, tactfully, diplomatically, no?
If more bloggers become gobbloggers sooner or later there's not gonna be any room for casual bloggers like me, your lovely ol' Pastensu gal to write her thoughts out on small items she finds interesting in the newspaper anymore. Now that's a sad thought!
Imagine reading today's Berita Harian Sentral's report then not being able to talk about how weird it is that they chose to change the name of the district of Batang Berjuntai to Bestari Jaya? That's like an itch you can't scratch, argh!
My definition of a blogger is a person who is:
1. .. in love with writing
2. .. have something to say (to him/herself or to the world)
3. .. responsible for everything he/she wrote
My definition of a gobblogger is a person who is:
1. .. basically an idiotic, unthinking coward who thinks he/she's being brazen and brave
2. .. have something to say but it is not worth saying because it is the result of shallow thinking
3. .. not taking responsibility of what he/she posted
Of recent the word blogger has been in the main headlines for all the wrong reasons, so much so the government wants to introduce a new legislation which involves serious, serious penalties as result to irresponsible publishing.
It appears as if some bloggers out there think it is cool to flame others - government, religion, race, royalties not spared! (Er.. not that I think the Kinabatangan MP deserves to be spared.) Even if you have a so-called constructive criticism to air, please, be responsible when going about it, and do it with the utmost respect of the involved party.
If with what you publish your only aim is to sincerely want to make things better, I'm sure there's a way to do it sensitively, tactfully, diplomatically, no?
If more bloggers become gobbloggers sooner or later there's not gonna be any room for casual bloggers like me, your lovely ol' Pastensu gal to write her thoughts out on small items she finds interesting in the newspaper anymore. Now that's a sad thought!
Imagine reading today's Berita Harian Sentral's report then not being able to talk about how weird it is that they chose to change the name of the district of Batang Berjuntai to Bestari Jaya? That's like an itch you can't scratch, argh!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Buzzing off to Pastensu?
In holiday mood? Here's what you can do to fake it at the office on those few last days before you get on that plane and buzz off to Pastensu:
1] Blog. It's been a while since your last update anyway. So type away and try to look busy before ol' boss give you something new to do.
2] If you're gonna do research on the place you're about to visit, don't. Not in the office. Maybe a bit excusable if you're into it during lunchtime, but as your colleagues return, kill the webpage. They'll know about all your trip within minutes and suddenly you have to buy them souvenirs, and you're already broke after plane and dorm bookings.
3] Eat a bit. Not too much. You might as well get slightly bit thinner in order to appreciate the upcoming meals you're gonna be having while you're on your trip. Besides, it will condition your stomach to behave while being fed less than usual, just in case you cannot swallow most of the things you're offered to eat.
4] Clear off all that back log. Yes, we're talking about those assignments you've got hidden under your big butt all these while - yep yep they need to be done. That way no one from office will call you and that'll save yer a lot if you're gonna be roaming.
5] Tidy your desk. Anything you think someone might need while you're gone, put it where they can easily find it without having to call you or snoop around your personal stash.
6] Off your desk, grab a pen, the tiniest notepad you can find, some rubberbands and safety pins - these might come in handy during your trip. See, you can start packing even when you're still at the office! Smart huh. Heheh.
7] Start composing your I'm-out-of-the-office automatic reply on your Inbox. Er, scrape that!
1] Blog. It's been a while since your last update anyway. So type away and try to look busy before ol' boss give you something new to do.
2] If you're gonna do research on the place you're about to visit, don't. Not in the office. Maybe a bit excusable if you're into it during lunchtime, but as your colleagues return, kill the webpage. They'll know about all your trip within minutes and suddenly you have to buy them souvenirs, and you're already broke after plane and dorm bookings.
3] Eat a bit. Not too much. You might as well get slightly bit thinner in order to appreciate the upcoming meals you're gonna be having while you're on your trip. Besides, it will condition your stomach to behave while being fed less than usual, just in case you cannot swallow most of the things you're offered to eat.
4] Clear off all that back log. Yes, we're talking about those assignments you've got hidden under your big butt all these while - yep yep they need to be done. That way no one from office will call you and that'll save yer a lot if you're gonna be roaming.
5] Tidy your desk. Anything you think someone might need while you're gone, put it where they can easily find it without having to call you or snoop around your personal stash.
6] Off your desk, grab a pen, the tiniest notepad you can find, some rubberbands and safety pins - these might come in handy during your trip. See, you can start packing even when you're still at the office! Smart huh. Heheh.
7] Start composing your I'm-out-of-the-office automatic reply on your Inbox. Er, scrape that!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Why do I like my school?
I just had a tall glass of nescafe tarik so I'm a bit hyper this morning. I feel like singing my school song. There's several reasons why I wanna sing it. Reading Encik Ara Payung's comment on my previous entry was the last straw. Heheh!
Last week after updating my Friendster account I bumped into an old school mate of batch '91-'95, N.S.W, but of course now no one calls her by that name anymore - got glam name already. Hey why not! And last month when my drop-jelah-Geography-cause-it's-not-gonna-make-your-SPM-result-any-better classmate, Manja and I reunited in Cherating, we sang the school song on our way back to Legends from Kuantan. Gave goosebumps to our van-mates we did.
My school is cool because:
1] Our school is very much into co-curricular activities. Some of us get to escape a few lessons in the name of SUKMA, debates, hockey matches, pantun, field trips, integration camps, plays and those corny prefects' suaikenal (where prefects of boarding schools come in their blazers and ties, wahahah!). These are considered legal activities, so you're not really fly-ing. (Gals sneaking out at 10:20AM after calling up their boyfriends on their handphones from under the table while the 9:40AM Math class is going on - now that's fly-ing.)
2] Most of my schoolmates, even L.A.L the specky girl who catches katak purus with bare hands in the name of science, are really really nice gals.. Even the pretty-but-ganas W.C.M who gave the class of 4 Kemboja 1994 a taste of what "gertak-saja-lebih public suicide attempt" look like, is actually a very approachable gal, as long as you're not her best friend who stole her boyfriend.. And the Geography '95 classmates (a.k.a. Let's Sing M. Nasir Songs classmates), are the coolest of them all!
3] Teachers are cool too! BM maestro Encik AS who let me nap for 15 mins after he found out I stayed up to watch an international football match.. Puan SR who also let me go to sick bay after I couldn't keep awake during Science lab (again, football or was it GP?).. Cik W for teaching us tai-chi and how to conceal panty-lines.. Encik F who was nice enough to skip the next two History classes after the only other Malay gal in 4 "Bunga Kubur" Kemboja, P.N.R threw him that "Wow, bontot cun..!" comment while he was chalking notes on Malaysian constitution.. Puan FT who let W.S.W off the hook despite the two times she caught her red-handed dancing silly to the beating drums and cymbals of death processions.. Huh, Puan ShA, you're still the meanest Kemahiran Hidup teacher ever for saying I'm not as bright as my sis (true, but I rather not have you point it out to me OK?) and threatening my mate M.C.M that you'll ketuk her kepala with a gandin getah! We rather have Cik M who (apparently still) thinks she's a prophet teach us how to cook, sew and wire up an electronic LED board! Oops!
4] My seniors and juniors are nice - those who let me and J play April's Fool's jokes on them.. Those who lepak-ed with us under the big ketapang trees or the Dataran.. Those who didn't laugh when I did those extra loud announcements via the school's PA system.. Those kind-hearted senior prefects who let me walk in school every morning at 7:40AM instead of 7:20AM..
So for all the cool people in the RPS alumni, let's sing sing song! (C'mon Silverheadbanger I know you still remember it! 3, 4!
Sekolah R P
Jadi banggaan kami
Teruslah maju
Sepanjang zaman
Sebagai sinaran cahya
Dalam mengejar ilmu
Tabah hati selalu
Di bidang sukan persefahaman
Disiplin jangan abaikan
(coda) Kejujuran menghasilkan
Kesempurnaan bakti
Menjadi pedoman kami
Tetap diikuti
Mari penuntut semua
Berusaha hingga jaya
Harumkan nama
Tinggikan cita
Se-ko-lah R P ..
I should really find out who composed this nice little number. It's still one of the most prettiest hauting melodies I've ever heard. Haunted me during schooldays it did. Especially on Sundays cause I know I gotta go to school on Monday and sing it during assembly (it wasn't so beautiful then).
Do I hear calls for encore? Yeah? Return to Coda baby!
Last week after updating my Friendster account I bumped into an old school mate of batch '91-'95, N.S.W, but of course now no one calls her by that name anymore - got glam name already. Hey why not! And last month when my drop-jelah-Geography-cause-it's-not-gonna-make-your-SPM-result-any-better classmate, Manja and I reunited in Cherating, we sang the school song on our way back to Legends from Kuantan. Gave goosebumps to our van-mates we did.
My school is cool because:
1] Our school is very much into co-curricular activities. Some of us get to escape a few lessons in the name of SUKMA, debates, hockey matches, pantun, field trips, integration camps, plays and those corny prefects' suaikenal (where prefects of boarding schools come in their blazers and ties, wahahah!). These are considered legal activities, so you're not really fly-ing. (Gals sneaking out at 10:20AM after calling up their boyfriends on their handphones from under the table while the 9:40AM Math class is going on - now that's fly-ing.)
2] Most of my schoolmates, even L.A.L the specky girl who catches katak purus with bare hands in the name of science, are really really nice gals.. Even the pretty-but-ganas W.C.M who gave the class of 4 Kemboja 1994 a taste of what "gertak-saja-lebih public suicide attempt" look like, is actually a very approachable gal, as long as you're not her best friend who stole her boyfriend.. And the Geography '95 classmates (a.k.a. Let's Sing M. Nasir Songs classmates), are the coolest of them all!
3] Teachers are cool too! BM maestro Encik AS who let me nap for 15 mins after he found out I stayed up to watch an international football match.. Puan SR who also let me go to sick bay after I couldn't keep awake during Science lab (again, football or was it GP?).. Cik W for teaching us tai-chi and how to conceal panty-lines.. Encik F who was nice enough to skip the next two History classes after the only other Malay gal in 4 "Bunga Kubur" Kemboja, P.N.R threw him that "Wow, bontot cun..!" comment while he was chalking notes on Malaysian constitution.. Puan FT who let W.S.W off the hook despite the two times she caught her red-handed dancing silly to the beating drums and cymbals of death processions.. Huh, Puan ShA, you're still the meanest Kemahiran Hidup teacher ever for saying I'm not as bright as my sis (true, but I rather not have you point it out to me OK?) and threatening my mate M.C.M that you'll ketuk her kepala with a gandin getah! We rather have Cik M who (apparently still) thinks she's a prophet teach us how to cook, sew and wire up an electronic LED board! Oops!
4] My seniors and juniors are nice - those who let me and J play April's Fool's jokes on them.. Those who lepak-ed with us under the big ketapang trees or the Dataran.. Those who didn't laugh when I did those extra loud announcements via the school's PA system.. Those kind-hearted senior prefects who let me walk in school every morning at 7:40AM instead of 7:20AM..
So for all the cool people in the RPS alumni, let's sing sing song! (C'mon Silverheadbanger I know you still remember it! 3, 4!
Sekolah R P
Jadi banggaan kami
Teruslah maju
Sepanjang zaman
Sebagai sinaran cahya
Dalam mengejar ilmu
Tabah hati selalu
Di bidang sukan persefahaman
Disiplin jangan abaikan
(coda) Kejujuran menghasilkan
Kesempurnaan bakti
Menjadi pedoman kami
Tetap diikuti
Mari penuntut semua
Berusaha hingga jaya
Harumkan nama
Tinggikan cita
Se-ko-lah R P ..
I should really find out who composed this nice little number. It's still one of the most prettiest hauting melodies I've ever heard. Haunted me during schooldays it did. Especially on Sundays cause I know I gotta go to school on Monday and sing it during assembly (it wasn't so beautiful then).
Do I hear calls for encore? Yeah? Return to Coda baby!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Kes bocor
Aw, c'mon, another tiff in the Parliament and we're paying taxes to pay these shitheads to talk c*ck about women's menses? And another a**hole even remarked he personally thinks the two (retarded) MPs need not apologize.
Can't someone talk about why there's still people living way below poverty line in this country and yet they're funding mat rempits to go jump onto an ice block?
Can't they talk about those Puduraya, Subang and Shah Alam cabbies who rip off people like there's no after life? Or maybe why people need to take three buses instead of one/two just to get to work with the new RAPID "strategy"?
Can't they please address the public education and health concerns? Don't they think the As race is getting a bit too nauseating or suggest that old folks above 65 with no family members should get free health treatment at government hospitals?
I'll be a bit happier if they're bickering about where to build the next high-tech government hospital or how to stop young female teachers from getting hitched right before finishing their last KPLI semester so that they won't be sent to kampungs to teach.
I'll be more happy if they're considering of allowing public arrest on errant cabbies. I'm game for this!
I'll be even more happy if they point out all those VIPs, celebrities and companies who donates a big sum of money and make noise about it so that they can escape tax and gain glamour and look good in front of the gullible. Buat amal pun nak kecoh satu kampung, siap nak sakit hati kalau orang tak tau?
Hish, sometimes I wonder why I still read newspapers when there's more items that "make my blood go upstairs" rather than something to feel happy about?
Oh I remember why.
Once in a while, news such as Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah saying he'll fund his own wedding instead of using the state's money is truly a feel good piece to read.
Can't someone talk about why there's still people living way below poverty line in this country and yet they're funding mat rempits to go jump onto an ice block?
Can't they talk about those Puduraya, Subang and Shah Alam cabbies who rip off people like there's no after life? Or maybe why people need to take three buses instead of one/two just to get to work with the new RAPID "strategy"?
Can't they please address the public education and health concerns? Don't they think the As race is getting a bit too nauseating or suggest that old folks above 65 with no family members should get free health treatment at government hospitals?
I'll be a bit happier if they're bickering about where to build the next high-tech government hospital or how to stop young female teachers from getting hitched right before finishing their last KPLI semester so that they won't be sent to kampungs to teach.
I'll be more happy if they're considering of allowing public arrest on errant cabbies. I'm game for this!
I'll be even more happy if they point out all those VIPs, celebrities and companies who donates a big sum of money and make noise about it so that they can escape tax and gain glamour and look good in front of the gullible. Buat amal pun nak kecoh satu kampung, siap nak sakit hati kalau orang tak tau?
Hish, sometimes I wonder why I still read newspapers when there's more items that "make my blood go upstairs" rather than something to feel happy about?
Oh I remember why.
Once in a while, news such as Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah saying he'll fund his own wedding instead of using the state's money is truly a feel good piece to read.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Flying saucer route
^ I love this pix. Took it using my new Sony on 30/3/2007 8:45AM Malaysian time.
Was aboard UA OHare -> HKG and busy getting mad at a United Airways stewardess to notice that I just caught the sunset with three flying saucers buzzing by.
Either that or I was really tired due to the 6.5 hour delay we had to endure at OHare.
OK la. I was too distracted cause I found out that I'll have to spend a night at HKG and not get back to KL on schedule. Pretending to be totally "preoccupaiyed" with your gadget is way better than bawling your eyes out.
Besides, I sobbed through the last half of that Japanese film Udon on an earlier flight and used up all my credit limits for public show of sorrow.
Don't think they're flying saucers though. But I was still within the US airspace. And we all know all UFOs go to US and all Ultramen live in Japan.
Monday, April 16, 2007
No fulus, no story
A native of Lexington met up with a foreigner from Ipoh recently:
Lexington babe: Whatca want in your omelette, honey?
Ipoh mali: Some mushroom and capsicum please, thank you.
Lexington babe: And what, honey?
Ipoh mali: Capsicum? Er.. that one.
Lexington babe: That's pepper, honey. So what brings you to Kentucky?
Ipoh mali: I'm supposed to find out (tooot!) and send a story back to Kuala Lumpur. But everything's embargoed. Can't shop either, cause I don't have much money and stuff are expensive here.
Lexington babe: Yes, certain things are expensive, but not horse s*** though! Hee hee! So you've got no money and no story, what are ya gonna do, honey?
Ipoh mali: Tangkap gambar la sweetie.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
How many KFCs are there in Kentucky?
I dunno. A lot maybe. But I only saw one. A tiny one. The rest are all Wendy's, Arby's, McDonalds, Subway... White Castle even!
Maybe everyone in Kentucky has their own secret recipe so Colonel Sanders didn't think it was worth it to have so many branches there.
And everyone is called "Honey" or "Sweetie" there. So forget names, even though a foreigner there you may be.
If you get lost, just call out, "Hi there honey, do you know how I can get back to Radisson Plaza Hotel from here?" Someone on the street's bound to say, "Right this way, sweetie."
Yep, apart from great but rare fried chicken and friendly people, the Bluegrass state also has lots of horses. Lots. But none will come near you unless they're on duty at the Kentucky Horse Park.
And it is a waste to send a non-drinker to the multiple award-winning bourbon factory Buffalo Trace Distillery. "No, I ain't drinkin even if you shove me a 20-year old bourbon to my nose, Freddie honey." (Freddie's our tour guide at the distillery.)
And Macy's, thanks for the USD27 Levi's 501s. Mates back home really loved it. Wish there was more cash for those nice smellin' Victoria Secret sprays that was on sale for 6 bottles at USD30.
Now, if only it didn't have to be three flights in and three flights out for the return trip from KL to Lexington, Kentucky. That's 41 hours worth of flying, 8 hours of transit and 7 hours of delay plus two sad films!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
"What makes bloggers tick?"
Dear fellow bloggers, as I read Silverheadbanger's respond to my earlier post, it struck me that whatever I don't know and want to know, I should just ask. I should just ask the right people.
So here's me asking you all out there who's been blogging for some time already by now, "What makes bloggers tick?"
What's driving you to write?
(Me, it's those little things that kept nagging in my head. I just gotta get it out. Like the issue about fried eggs and ketchup after a tiring school day - the memory kept jutting out amidst my other thots like the millenium bug, so I just gotta blog about it to get it out of my system.)
What's inspiring you all these while?
(Me, it's all the things that I notice day in day out. It's all the things that I should have noticed earlier but didn't until now. It's all the new things I discovered. It's all the things that kept me reading till the last line of the newpaper article.)
In what way does blogging affects you?
(Me, blogging gets me started. It's like I have to practice using the keyboard after a night's sleep cause I could not remember how I did it yesterday. Blogging takes the cloud out of my skull everytime I need to see things a bit more clearly (not necessarily rightly). On days I'm forced to write about topics I don't like, I'll blog first so that my mood gets better by the time I get to the dirty work.)
What do you want to achieve?
(Me, I want to achieve inner peace. Blogging helps me rid of the garbage that's cluttering my nerves and atoms. Told you about those nagging thots, no? Therefore I blog.)
What have you achieve so far?
(Me, a piece inner peace. After all I haven't had time to blog about people who stand so close behind the ATM line, or those chee kuais who kept spitting in public, or those who let their toddlers pee on the shopping mall's flower pots or those who thinks doing charity means investing a bit of time and money so that they become more popular of a personality, or those segelintir jilbab-clad tua-sebelum-waktunya mamas who think they have the right to tell everyone they're right and everyone else are citizens of hell.)
Berbaloi ke blogging ni? (Is blogging worth it?)
(Me, I'll say sure! It kept me sane.)
Anyone else care to share? I appreciate your feedback - maybe with your help I can get that assignment going and do it as a parting gift for my ex-boss. (Erm, but before that I gotta blog first.)
So here's me asking you all out there who's been blogging for some time already by now, "What makes bloggers tick?"
What's driving you to write?
(Me, it's those little things that kept nagging in my head. I just gotta get it out. Like the issue about fried eggs and ketchup after a tiring school day - the memory kept jutting out amidst my other thots like the millenium bug, so I just gotta blog about it to get it out of my system.)
What's inspiring you all these while?
(Me, it's all the things that I notice day in day out. It's all the things that I should have noticed earlier but didn't until now. It's all the new things I discovered. It's all the things that kept me reading till the last line of the newpaper article.)
In what way does blogging affects you?
(Me, blogging gets me started. It's like I have to practice using the keyboard after a night's sleep cause I could not remember how I did it yesterday. Blogging takes the cloud out of my skull everytime I need to see things a bit more clearly (not necessarily rightly). On days I'm forced to write about topics I don't like, I'll blog first so that my mood gets better by the time I get to the dirty work.)
What do you want to achieve?
(Me, I want to achieve inner peace. Blogging helps me rid of the garbage that's cluttering my nerves and atoms. Told you about those nagging thots, no? Therefore I blog.)
What have you achieve so far?
(Me, a piece inner peace. After all I haven't had time to blog about people who stand so close behind the ATM line, or those chee kuais who kept spitting in public, or those who let their toddlers pee on the shopping mall's flower pots or those who thinks doing charity means investing a bit of time and money so that they become more popular of a personality, or those segelintir jilbab-clad tua-sebelum-waktunya mamas who think they have the right to tell everyone they're right and everyone else are citizens of hell.)
Berbaloi ke blogging ni? (Is blogging worth it?)
(Me, I'll say sure! It kept me sane.)
Anyone else care to share? I appreciate your feedback - maybe with your help I can get that assignment going and do it as a parting gift for my ex-boss. (Erm, but before that I gotta blog first.)
Monday, March 05, 2007
Bloggers aren't created equal
Once my ex-boss asked me to write an article on "What makes bloggers tick?". My oh my. What a big piece that would've been.
But I chickened out immediately.
Yes it is quite sad to report that an enterprising young gal like me, who have all the potential and a golden opportunity to write on a subject as hot and interesting and possibly controversial as this, to say "No, at the moment I'm not the right person for this task." like that.
My reason is simple - For I have been blogging and blogreading for years, I know for a fact that: Bloggers aren't "created" equal.
Some good, some bad, some experienced, some humble, some arrogant, some shy, some shout, some blind, some sees, some important, some worth walking over, some serious, some ridiculous.
And blog-readers are just the same - meaning, just like bloggers, they also aren't created the same.
Some wise, some foolish, some cautious, some naive, some sane, some nay.
As both blogger and blogreader, which I guess it is safe to assume that I am an insider in this independent publishing phenomenon, I hate to say I still can't see the big picture.
There's lots of blogs out there - there are cool ones. Mind my own business types, count calories types, just me thinking types, what I wanna say to the world types, why am I dangerously in love with myself types... go ahead, baby, go ahead.
But some are funny, sad, worrying, prejudiced, grotesque, blatant, optimistic, suicidal... and it scares the shit out of me to think that behind each blog there is a person who could cook up all of these, and even scary it becomes when I realized that there are people out there who actually devour, and sadly, come to believe these stuff.
Until I figure out the big picture...
But I chickened out immediately.
Yes it is quite sad to report that an enterprising young gal like me, who have all the potential and a golden opportunity to write on a subject as hot and interesting and possibly controversial as this, to say "No, at the moment I'm not the right person for this task." like that.
My reason is simple - For I have been blogging and blogreading for years, I know for a fact that: Bloggers aren't "created" equal.
Some good, some bad, some experienced, some humble, some arrogant, some shy, some shout, some blind, some sees, some important, some worth walking over, some serious, some ridiculous.
And blog-readers are just the same - meaning, just like bloggers, they also aren't created the same.
Some wise, some foolish, some cautious, some naive, some sane, some nay.
As both blogger and blogreader, which I guess it is safe to assume that I am an insider in this independent publishing phenomenon, I hate to say I still can't see the big picture.
There's lots of blogs out there - there are cool ones. Mind my own business types, count calories types, just me thinking types, what I wanna say to the world types, why am I dangerously in love with myself types... go ahead, baby, go ahead.
But some are funny, sad, worrying, prejudiced, grotesque, blatant, optimistic, suicidal... and it scares the shit out of me to think that behind each blog there is a person who could cook up all of these, and even scary it becomes when I realized that there are people out there who actually devour, and sadly, come to believe these stuff.
Until I figure out the big picture...
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Farmer leaves the coop
Mayday, mayday!
The farmer has left the coop.
It is a May day indeed.
Suddenly sunny day, like one likely happenning in May.
Farmer dear, thanks for everything.
Even for those times when you were nasty.
Cause those times taught me even nice people can turn ugly.
Best of luck Farmie!
We chickie-chickies are now happy...
The farmer has left the coop.
It is a May day indeed.
Suddenly sunny day, like one likely happenning in May.
Farmer dear, thanks for everything.
Even for those times when you were nasty.
Cause those times taught me even nice people can turn ugly.
Best of luck Farmie!
We chickie-chickies are now happy...
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Bangkok jam
What makes Bangkok memorable?
1. The taxis They're brightly coloured Toyotas - green, orange, blue, pink you name it they've got it. I didn't get to ride one - yeah, that's what work trips are all about - not much time to do much at all.
2. The bazaars Big wide spaces packed with small outlets selling everything you don't need but want to buy anyway. Try thai silk - 4m sheets at 300 baht ok what? OK lah for Suan Lum Market (accessible via BTS to Lumpini) which is made merrier by expats (also made it pricier than other markets). Now a bit menyesal for not buying more.
3. The tut tuts
Wanna try that Ong Bak scene? No choice - once you're on it, you're in for the ride of your life. For 70 baht you can ride quite far, say KLCC to Dataran Merdeka.
4. The food
For muslims halal stuff may be a challenge, but there's lots to choose from. Even sireh comes in commercial packs. But those home made sausages looks damn inviting man!
Monday, February 05, 2007
The OKs and not OKs
DiGi's Konsert Rentaq Serantau last weekend was..
^ Found you: When Search's onstage, Amy was the only one capitalising on the stage and wireless system.Good
Great turnout - long lines queuing at both the RM28 and RM38 entrances, and more at the ticket booths too. The venue had previously hosted Alanis Morrissette, SO7, Dewa, etc so most people knew what to expect in terms of seating/standing arrangements.
They did a great job with the stage. Tilted at an angle to address three corners effectively, the setup made everyone feel that they're close enough no matter where they seat/stand. Lights and visual projectors were very well coordinated as well.
Bunches of concert goers yang berhemah shows the rest of the crowd how to have fun, go crazy and be wild, without causing distress to anyone else. It was simple, you wanna sing and dance to the music, choose a spot wee bit away from the starstruckers, and have your ruckus well done with fries on the side!
Bad
Not enough staff/authorities manning the grounds. Some people crowd a certain spots in huge numbers, a couple of times the rowdy ones seems poised to simply trample onto seated audience for a better view.
Sound? Macam haremmmm... Masalah equipment ke? Or adakah Malaysia ni very lacking in terms of experienced sound engineers, or is it the venue/stage setting that's making it impossible for the soundmen to get their act in place? Maybe when I'm part of the backstage crew, I'll understand and appreciate their efforts more.
Class act
Inul - where did all the gelek gerudis go? Frankly she looks a bit off-center as she tries her best to spin and sway uncharacteristicly. Heard she had to sign and pledge best behaviour agreement with the organizers before coming on stage. Sigh. Not much of a fan, but since you're there, give it all out already!
Ella - major gripe: very small repertoire. But being the performer she is, even during that short stint she manages to make an impact. "Sebentar.. Sebentar.." takes a new meaning as Ella impulsively cues her musician. Guess I'll have to catch her next time at her Sunday Nite Live.
Search - gimmicky, gimmicky. Perhaps a mini version salvaged from whatever they've planned for their 25th anniversary gig. Ada lak mic problem tu but as expected Amy carried on ikut suka dia. On the other hand despite being equipped with wireless tools, Hillary and Edrie hardly take advantage of this edge. Don't you just miss Kid and Din!
Radja - too bad the crowd carrying the Sabah flag decides to start you-push-me-we-push-you ponggo right in the middle of their opening sound. But what's most memorable bit about their performance is the vocalist's outfit... Ngapain pakaiannya kayak Achik Spin dalam pilem Diari Romeo?
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
How silly can you get?
We've all heard it - in life, you'll never stop learning. Why? Because we can be so silly sometimes.
Let me demonstrate - take me as example:
When I was 3, I was so silly that I thought I will always be a bald kid.
(They never told me sometimes a kid just takes a bit more time to get more than just strands on their scalp. Luckily there aren't too many photos of me taken during the so-called dark ages.)
When I was 4, I was so silly I believed my siblings when they told me that I'm adopted.
(Hey, when you get roasted from playing all day at the beach of Batu Buruk and your siblings are in Ipoh drinking the magical tap water that's making their skin SKII-esque, who wouldn't? But I don't really mind, cause it made me feel quite special actually.)
When I was 6, I was so silly I believed calling my neighbour's kid Shasha budak Camca (Shasha the teaspoon kid) will get her off my back.
(No, she took it as a compliment and kept shoving her Barbie Dolls up my nose everytime she comes over. Boy next door with his Kam Kam toys also didn't mind being called Kam Kam Kambing (Kam Kam goat boy) instead of Kamrin. Sorry Shasha, Kamrin, wherever you guys are.)
When I was 12, I was so silly I believed being the tallest girl in my class is the worst thing that can ever happen to me.
(Oh my goodness, no! Apparently my height is quite normal. And lucky for me, it was from sitting in the last row that my short-sightedness was discovered by my class teacher.)
When I was 13, I was so silly I believed I will always be friends with my schoolmates from primary school.
(Er, actually no, this is one instance in which I was a bit smart. I'm still in touch with so many of them! And they are still the coolest bunch of people ever! But I know many people out there are not so lucky. I mean, I can cite about 20 mates from Standard One who are still actively keeping in touch with me. Can you?)
When I was 17, I was so silly I believed my SPM results will get me somewhere.
(Hell no! I got to a community college in the east and there I learnt how to say the F word without an ounce of guilt.)
When I was 20, I was so silly I believed I must've met all the fuckwits in the world already.
(HELL NO! There may be a lot of fuckwits in college - the pious ones who quotes God's words in every other sentence but once they become your project partner not even a sentence do they deliver, one that wants to kill you cause her short ugly BF has a thing for you, ones that call themselves friends but asks you out on a double date with a couple of bald, boroi, gatal married men.. One must never forget that some of them actually graduated too, and given the opportunity of employment, they become fuckwits in the work place pulak.)
When I was 26, I was so silly I believed there's nothing bad about my job.
(Yes, I was delusional for the first four years of employment. Who wouldn't? It's fun, easy, hardly stressful, I get to play with the latest gadgets and even keep some, eat at the latest posh spots in town, travel to countries I never imagined setting foot on, meet cool people... BUT MY PAY SUCKS!)
Now that I'm 28, I know I'm still so silly cause I believe next month I'll get a raise.
(Ha ha! Me hoping for the best but trying my best not to show it. Hu hu! Say a prayer for moi, thanks.)
See? That's how silly I can get. So how silly can you get?
Let me demonstrate - take me as example:
When I was 3, I was so silly that I thought I will always be a bald kid.
(They never told me sometimes a kid just takes a bit more time to get more than just strands on their scalp. Luckily there aren't too many photos of me taken during the so-called dark ages.)
When I was 4, I was so silly I believed my siblings when they told me that I'm adopted.
(Hey, when you get roasted from playing all day at the beach of Batu Buruk and your siblings are in Ipoh drinking the magical tap water that's making their skin SKII-esque, who wouldn't? But I don't really mind, cause it made me feel quite special actually.)
When I was 6, I was so silly I believed calling my neighbour's kid Shasha budak Camca (Shasha the teaspoon kid) will get her off my back.
(No, she took it as a compliment and kept shoving her Barbie Dolls up my nose everytime she comes over. Boy next door with his Kam Kam toys also didn't mind being called Kam Kam Kambing (Kam Kam goat boy) instead of Kamrin. Sorry Shasha, Kamrin, wherever you guys are.)
When I was 12, I was so silly I believed being the tallest girl in my class is the worst thing that can ever happen to me.
(Oh my goodness, no! Apparently my height is quite normal. And lucky for me, it was from sitting in the last row that my short-sightedness was discovered by my class teacher.)
When I was 13, I was so silly I believed I will always be friends with my schoolmates from primary school.
(Er, actually no, this is one instance in which I was a bit smart. I'm still in touch with so many of them! And they are still the coolest bunch of people ever! But I know many people out there are not so lucky. I mean, I can cite about 20 mates from Standard One who are still actively keeping in touch with me. Can you?)
When I was 17, I was so silly I believed my SPM results will get me somewhere.
(Hell no! I got to a community college in the east and there I learnt how to say the F word without an ounce of guilt.)
When I was 20, I was so silly I believed I must've met all the fuckwits in the world already.
(HELL NO! There may be a lot of fuckwits in college - the pious ones who quotes God's words in every other sentence but once they become your project partner not even a sentence do they deliver, one that wants to kill you cause her short ugly BF has a thing for you, ones that call themselves friends but asks you out on a double date with a couple of bald, boroi, gatal married men.. One must never forget that some of them actually graduated too, and given the opportunity of employment, they become fuckwits in the work place pulak.)
When I was 26, I was so silly I believed there's nothing bad about my job.
(Yes, I was delusional for the first four years of employment. Who wouldn't? It's fun, easy, hardly stressful, I get to play with the latest gadgets and even keep some, eat at the latest posh spots in town, travel to countries I never imagined setting foot on, meet cool people... BUT MY PAY SUCKS!)
Now that I'm 28, I know I'm still so silly cause I believe next month I'll get a raise.
(Ha ha! Me hoping for the best but trying my best not to show it. Hu hu! Say a prayer for moi, thanks.)
See? That's how silly I can get. So how silly can you get?
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Shows over the weekend
Friday
Spider, Wings & Slank concert
^ View from the press box. Yes, that old, that far.
So there I was, shouting out my deepest thoughts despite knowing no one - not Dubai nor Bob who were seated on the same row, or Encik Ara, Kak Nadia & co seated three rows in front - in the crowd can hear me, amidst the loud music mingled with reverbs, feedbacks, and bad balancing everytime a band switch happens:
"Menda aa Spider! Takkan lima lagu je, mana cukup? Orang baru nak syok-syok dah abis."
[Lame Shakespeare eavesdropper translation: "What doth Spider! Mere five sonnets, tis hardly enough? My fluttering heart is just speckled with drops of joy, alas! Came the end too swift."]
"Waa.. Wings lu orang sound macam dolu-dolu la. Awie dah boleh 'tarik' baek balik.."
[Enid Blyton fan translation: "Well done boys! You all sounds just like how you were in the good ol' days. Our boy Awie here is now capable of notching the elusive high notes once again."]
"Fuiyo memang dasat aa Slank ni! Okeh wa pun jadi Slankers la ini macam!"
[Cult follower translation: "I see the light, mastah. I am your chosen one, mastah. I am humbly your slave, mastah!"]
Sunday
XPDC, Wings and Eye on Malaysia
Near the base area of the 30 storeys high Ferris wheel, we witnessed not only Malay rockers back in their element (that's what free concerts are all about):
Sireh pulang ke gagang..
XPDC has its former members back on the line up, with Mael and Amy and Zua rejoining Izo. Hopefully this means Zua will not revive his Viper project. Er, sorry Viper fans.
Belut pulang ke lumpur...
Having warmed up from their show just a couple of nights before, Wings has Awie on the frontline again. And just like on the Friday night before, Awie brought his own mic tied with what looks like a piece of blue pashmina to wave to the crowd again. (Kaka of Slank used his mic stand to wave the Indonesian flag. Hmm.)
Monday
Kembara Si Raja Gondang
^ Actors in character: (FL) Gadis-gadis Kampung Baru,
Rakan-rakan Burn and Rakan-rakan Kesuma.
Renamed Kesuma (so that performance art lovers out there will not mistake it for a Mak Yong), this musical has ASWARA students, graduates and performance art professionals from all over joining forces to bring to life a story of an old man who went mad searching for his dead son in Kuala Lumpur.
Tonight is the only night left to catch it.
Spider, Wings & Slank concert
^ View from the press box. Yes, that old, that far.
So there I was, shouting out my deepest thoughts despite knowing no one - not Dubai nor Bob who were seated on the same row, or Encik Ara, Kak Nadia & co seated three rows in front - in the crowd can hear me, amidst the loud music mingled with reverbs, feedbacks, and bad balancing everytime a band switch happens:
"Menda aa Spider! Takkan lima lagu je, mana cukup? Orang baru nak syok-syok dah abis."
[Lame Shakespeare eavesdropper translation: "What doth Spider! Mere five sonnets, tis hardly enough? My fluttering heart is just speckled with drops of joy, alas! Came the end too swift."]
"Waa.. Wings lu orang sound macam dolu-dolu la. Awie dah boleh 'tarik' baek balik.."
[Enid Blyton fan translation: "Well done boys! You all sounds just like how you were in the good ol' days. Our boy Awie here is now capable of notching the elusive high notes once again."]
"Fuiyo memang dasat aa Slank ni! Okeh wa pun jadi Slankers la ini macam!"
[Cult follower translation: "I see the light, mastah. I am your chosen one, mastah. I am humbly your slave, mastah!"]
Sunday
XPDC, Wings and Eye on Malaysia
Near the base area of the 30 storeys high Ferris wheel, we witnessed not only Malay rockers back in their element (that's what free concerts are all about):
Sireh pulang ke gagang..
XPDC has its former members back on the line up, with Mael and Amy and Zua rejoining Izo. Hopefully this means Zua will not revive his Viper project. Er, sorry Viper fans.
Belut pulang ke lumpur...
Having warmed up from their show just a couple of nights before, Wings has Awie on the frontline again. And just like on the Friday night before, Awie brought his own mic tied with what looks like a piece of blue pashmina to wave to the crowd again. (Kaka of Slank used his mic stand to wave the Indonesian flag. Hmm.)
Monday
Kembara Si Raja Gondang
^ Actors in character: (FL) Gadis-gadis Kampung Baru,
Rakan-rakan Burn and Rakan-rakan Kesuma.
Renamed Kesuma (so that performance art lovers out there will not mistake it for a Mak Yong), this musical has ASWARA students, graduates and performance art professionals from all over joining forces to bring to life a story of an old man who went mad searching for his dead son in Kuala Lumpur.
Tonight is the only night left to catch it.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Apa benner? Search batal konsert?
For a split second I hate being in the media.
Just heard rumours that the Search concert - yes the KL one - has been cancelled.
The JB one has been postponed, and now KL cancelled?!
Not sure why, not sure if tis a valid source.
So let's check tonight's news and tomorrow's newspapers ja.
Just heard rumours that the Search concert - yes the KL one - has been cancelled.
The JB one has been postponed, and now KL cancelled?!
Not sure why, not sure if tis a valid source.
So let's check tonight's news and tomorrow's newspapers ja.
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