Booms!

I just woke up. Work can be taxing and tiring esp. when your work is 50% field work. Environmentalist marrr. Today, once I got home fr office, I ran a 5km, skipped dinner.....and slept at 8pm. I could tell the time I slept, cause the TV3 news just came on when I think I dozed off.

Now wide awake, I immediately continue restructuring a major part of my Ph.D. thesis(?!!?) and mumbled to myself why the thesis is never ever perfect for my Prof. or was it that they don't quite get what my research is all about (=bad thesis) and I have to keep rephrasing my sentences? And yes...many ppl still asked me why the hell am I still having late nights despite work starts at 8am. THAT WAS WHY.

I am full of little-little set-backs this year. Well, who doesn't have unlucky days? This year wasn't too good for me cause I wasn't quite in my "zone". Anyways, hope that 2010 would be a great year - afreshed, renewed. I dunno why, but I can't wait for the new year.

As usual, I would recap my year with significant events that have both saddened and delighted me:



January - CNY at KL, Ipoh, Bahau, Bukit Mertajam with my ex; I started Salsa classes at Havana with Callie

February - Swimming classes in Klang begins, which paid me well $$$$. But I was always catching a cold and my health was very fragile; my ex's mum passed away :(

March - There's a swimming class almost daily; $$$$ vs. cold/flu

April - Our currently stalled project - Petite Pink was launched.

May - Ph.D. thesis due; teaching swimming a lot

June - My low-profile birthday. My ex's dad passed away :( Broke-up due to inconcillable differences, Standard Chartered KL Marathon (my first competitive run in 5 years)

July - Baptised at FGA Ipoh! PETRONAS structured interview and passed!

August - Amazing Bali with Jonie, Riza, Nina, Cynthia!!

Sept - Hantar thesis. PIPE training at Bangi; Coffee-overdosed; Salsa Havana; My OWN swimming classes.

October - Real work starts; my thesis thrown back at my stupid face for major corrections; Wacky Bar @ Jaya One.

November - My first gaji....ooo0... belanja satu dunia! Coffee-overdosed (again).

December - LOL @ Comedy Night at Zouk! and.....my upcoming xmas eve party!

More importantly, I am still one piece! Despite all, I still really love my life.

I am actually very blessed. Although one is never ever satisfied (human nature mar), can't complain much la, kan...

My selection for word of the year 2009: "Salam 1Malaysia", "Booms!", "See you at the run", "Teoh Beng Hock"

Trends 09

The year 2009 is coming to an end and I personally have spotted some 'trends' this year alone. These trends have affected me in many ways, directly or indirectly. Usually they affect me directly in monetary terms. Except the chanel-inspired bag, and the engagement (cause I am still very much single and I've got a genuine Chanel bag), I 'buy' these trends quite seriously:


1. Engagements (cough, cough)!!

Wooo...I know I am in my late 20s and that's where all your friends have gotten themselves hitched or married. But hey, I've never been to so many weddings in ONE year before! Pokai!! (Kidding, I love attending weddings.) And plus, I've never heaard of soo many engagements in ONE year which involved close friends...

**Mayday! Mayday! These are the trends that make singles like me go a little restless, uneasy and bewildered. I think I need Prozac to calm myself down. (read: watch the movie Bride's War and you're understand...)




2. Hairbands

I admit I have 4 hairbands! I first spotted the hairband-trend in Emma Watson. She never leaves home w.o one (I guess lah cause I've seen her ample times on red-carpets wearing one). I watched Twilight and Bella Swan too wore her fringe up with a plain black hairband. Though it's just plain nothing, I love it!

One great place to get hairband and won't burn your pockets would be at any Padini Concept Stores. They have simple, yet fashionable hairbands which can lasts you forever. A plain one is not wrong, but preferably get one that has a pretty ribbon, studs or bling-blings on it. It's an accessory that is hard to go wrong!

I have a huge/wide forehead, where any fashion-police would strictly discouraged me from putting my fringe up (and show my shiny 'headlights'). But, one reason put my hair up was to prevent zits on my face and hair that irritates my skin while I work. There!

3. Diving

Not the olympic diving. But the Scuba Diving. I've seen that in this year 2009 alone, many of my friends have gotten their diving license. I've enjoyed snorkelling all this while and have decided to take one step further into diving. I love the sea (but not the tan), and since my work involves the sea and environment, I believe I should do this...of all ppl! Plus, hey...I am a swimming teacher.

I'm going to get my diving license this January with my petronas colleagues. One colleague of mine is a Master/Pro diver and works for the company fixing pipes and pipe-leaks underwater, etc. Isn't that cool!? 22-26 January 2009 (tentatively). Langkawi Payar Island. We didn't plan for East Coast's trips cause of the monsoon is said to persist until January. The weather is soo unpredictable nowadays!

P/S: Anyone interested can join us! This is not company trip. It's a personal trip, k.... contact me if interested for any dives/holiday.



4. Miu-Miu-inspired skirts



Need I say more?!??! But I noticed this was an early-of-this-year 2009 trend. Maybe because of Gucci's runway shows at the beginning of the year, many ppl horde into buying such skirts. It's pretty, waisteline-flattering, very feminine and but only if you've got nice long legs to show. Not everyone can pull this look off: your top must be skin-tight and plain to counter the flare of the skirt. You can add a clincher and do blend it with some heels.

I've got a TopShop skirt which is Miu-Miu inspired. I've been out twice in it. Amazing feeling!!




5. Running
It ALL started in SC's KL Marathon 2009. I see many friends and even swimmers (I spotted Daniel Bego at KL Marathon) running eventhough it was never in their genes (*unlike Jonie and Boon King). It was THE starting point of everyone's today's enthusiastic runs henceforth.

Ppl like me have been running since Form 6. But I stopped because there was no motivation. No kaki. But now, the trend has reignited and so is my motivation. It too started with the KL Marathon. I've stopped running for 5 years and my last run was the 10km Ipoh Run by Roadrunners. And though I will never stop swimming, I have started to love running and began running once again.

And backtracking to my previous post, I clearly have gotten myself a pair of Adizero.


6. Chanel-inspired bags/handbags/purse

If you browse thru the e-boutiques and other online stores, you will see these blogs selling replicas of Chanel bags or -inspired ones. Chanel's bags are not difficult to noticed. The features are outstandingly simple: quilted, bulgy squares; long, hooked, heavy-chained shoulder straps; magnet/clip-on lids; made of leather or velvet. You seldom see aunties holding a Chanel (!); it's the younger chics who are doning it so well (no matter genuine or not). So, so long LV and Gucci!!

FYI, one genuine Chanel tote costs at least RM6k.

7. Facebook games

Most ppl started with Barn Buddy, Farmville. And now it's Cafe World, some say Restaurant....watever!

But I have to admit. I am into Mafia Wars. Hooked!

8. WTF

WTF=what the f**k. I've spotted this word in a gazillion blogs and forums. Even I use it a lot in this blog!

And if you're driving in KL, start spotting the current KL number plates e.g. WTF 5560. Don't get into the paths of these cars!

________

Ivy-out! (with a swollen back, and a permanent head damage). Yah, I fell in a bathroom. Don't let it be a trend.

Meet Joe Black

"Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived".

[William Parrish] from the movie, Meet Joe Black (1998)

YES!

YES = Youth Engagement Summit (where politician and ex-master chess player Gary Kasparov spoke too). However, I was more interested in another kind of YES:

YES! YES! YES! = Year End Sale!

Where could be a better place to have your YES than in Suria KLCC. Everything is in KLCC except that when I wanted something from Forever 21, I had to walk across to Pavillion.

And....I got myself a pair of Adizero! I almost bought Nike's LunarGlide but I have always eyed that pair of Adidas.

And hey, come on, even my housemate has a pair!

Hers is red, mine in blue. I wanted the red so badly but that colour sudah sold out!

Then, I went to minum the best kau-kau coffee - in the foodcourt at the 4th floor. Not many ppl know of this good coffee at KLCC unless u work nearby, of course. Callie intro-ed me to this stall actually.

Then, I dunno whether this is part of the YES, but I had the inkling feeling of watching MPO's play, so I bought tics and also to next week's Sunday Matinee where they will feature Schubert, Mozart and forgot what's that Swedish composer di.... Anyway, the theme will be about 'Musical Mysteries' where they will explained why some symphonies were labeled 'Unfinished'). I always wonder that too....and "will the piece just stall halfway?"

I also bought MPO tics on 23rd Dec, where they will play all the Xmas songs and the infamous Nutcracker Suit by that gay composer Tchaikovsky! Petronas staff get discounts. That's why I take this opportunity to go. Let me tell you, a shot of classical/romantic music after YES is the most pampering thing u can ever do for yourself. I believe a shot of coffee should do the same, shouldn't it? :)

My next buy (my heart lept a little here!) would be a Vios. Even Toyota had sales (discount)!Ohhh....YES!!! :

Finished reading Dan Brown's Lost Symbol. Errr...not nice. That's why I struggled to finish it only after 1 month plus. The storyline was not that all interesting with too much ancient secrets/knowledge for me to stomach. It's a forgettable book. Anyway, one statement caught my eye and I remember only this sentence from the entire book: 21.12.2012 will be the end of the world as we (already) know it.

"A rollercoaster ride"

After a bowl's full of kimchi soup and kimchi per se, the gang and I dragged our overload stomachs and asses to watch Phobia 2. We had to fiercely coax Bun to the cinema cause we totally thought that his excuse of having exams soon (on Dec 5th...wtf) was utterly irresponsible (to his fiancee) and unacceptable (to us BFF). Cause that's like 3 weeks away! Oh well, he gingerly followed. And he had to call his beloved housemate. Errrr...!

Phobia looked real scary on the preview, and guess what... it was scary. Phobia 2 consists of 5 short stories of ghosts and what not (e.g. zombies and monsters) and even before the first story began, FP nudged me to leave the cinema. Then she quickly reminded herself that it's like a rollercoaster thing and yet.... not quite: Once you put your ass on the seat, you'd better see the whole movie. Braised up! The horror's just started!

Actually, not that the movie was so very the scary .....but it was because we were sitted quite front, and the sound system ...mind you... was (purportedly) put on 100 decibel higher than a the sound level of normal movie, say....Transformers!! In addition to some really eat-my-heart-out and jump-out-of-your-sit scenes, I also quickly realised that there was no one sitted on my left (which made me go scared and cold at a point) and no one sitted at the row in front of us. So, it was as if the cinema was empty. Creepy! Anyway, most ppl were at 2012. Throughout the entire movie, we were at the edge of our sits. I closed my ears, as usual, while the rest closed their eyes. Hey, I still insist that closing the ears help more than closing your eyes. Isn't it the sound effect that made your heart leap out from your ribcage?!?!?!?!

I pity FP - I leaned myself on her several times. Thank God for hand-rest as dividers, cause if not, we would some how exchange seats at the end of the movie. My head curled-in in fetal position and ears closed most of the time. I was cold too...and kept thinking when will the whole movie end!!???

No spoilers:
Yet I could sleep soundly at night. All due to the final story. Why? Cause the last movie was lighter and easy going, though with some jumps that made me scream like a girl....(ok, i am a girl). I was in love with the final movie due to the storyline. Made me smile, even now.


Here's a photo of the main 4 actors for the final story.


Hey, actually, all the main actor in EVERY story was quite cute.

Psalm Of Caffeine

This is actually one of my fav. verse in the Bible. Memorized!

Psalm 23 (New King James Version)

Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.

¹ The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

³ He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD

Forever.

Canton-i

I hate reviewing about food. In fact, I just don't. Try to trackback my post, and you won't find food reviews. But I had to review this one:

Canton-i, Sunway Pyramid

The oversized menu. Typical HK style. (squint your eyes!)

And why one shouldn't confused this HK-style chinese restaurant with Dragon-i: though opened by the same big boss, Canton-i is definitely one notch higher than its overrated twin.

Thanks to an amazing person, who happens to eat good food his entire life (nope, he probably doesn't know what hawker stall food is :P), I was introduced by him to this restaurant. My first time too. The settings and environment was great. Service not too great cause we were the last couple out of the restaurant and we were both bogged by wild stares from their tired staff! "It-is-10-pm-get-your-asses-out-of-the-restaurant stares!"

For your information, I was earlier primed by how un-worthwhile Dragon-i's food is but I was surprised by the different offerings on Canton-i's menu instead. Still very un-worthwhile if you compare a normal wanton-mee out in front of my Puchong apartment (RM3.50) to this Canton-i's at least RM11.00 per plate. Stop judging the food alone. It's the ambience. And it's the first date. You expect luxury.

I chose something different out of the menu. Earlier I thought of playing it safe, cause I don't want to waste/throw adventurous (=different) food in front of a cute guy who was obviously buying me dinner. Wanton-mee is familiar, but I went for Wanton-mee with Goose meat. A bit salty for the gravy and soup (ajinomoto!) but the goose meat was very tender. Tasty. I wallop the skin also. Actually, the skin was the best part.

Then he ordered oily deep-fried ghost wrapped with a thin-slice of chee-cheong fun-noodles. WTF. Such creativity! Who could ever think of such combo. Brilliant!

Then, there's this mantau that when you bite on it, it splurts out its yellow fillings. The taste of 4 melted egg yolks (=think mooncake yolks, but creamier) just burst into your mouth and though you are literally choke by the oncoming eggy lava, you still won't want to swallow it. Cause it's too good. Too good. Too good. Cause there's only two mantau. One's for him, one's must be for me lah. I really wanted to rob him off his mantau. Can't get enough of it. But but but but.....a very bad first-date dish = so sloppy!

Out of the 5 small pics: That's the sloppy dim sum I was mentioning about (purple mantau with yellow eggy in there). 2nd pic from your right. It's called errr...'egg custard bun'

It's more of the experience. Even you would reckon. The food is not THAT flabagasting. But it's better than Dragon-i's, definitely. Both are still good food but I sorta can tell the clear winner in the battle between Canton-i and Dragon-i.

Verdict: 3.5 stars for food and presentation, 4 stars for serving portions, 1.5 stars for myself for misbehaving (soo sloppy) on a first date.

Outcome: He asked me out on Date no. 2. Means, I didn't do that bad, did i?

Other reviews: http://genzie.blogspot.com/2009/03/canton-i-sunway-pyramid.html and

http://www.vkeong.com/2009/food-drink/canton-i-sunway-pyramid-truly-hong-kong/ also corroborated with me that Canton-i is better than Dragon-i.

I'll remember this week: 21-27 September 2009

This week 21-27 Sept 2009 was filled with food, fun and laughters. Where in the world can I get back this week. If every week was like that, it wouldn't mind getting retarded and...fat.

Started of with Setiawan (that's on Sunday tho') which I had ample food! Next day, a crazy text msg asking me for a golf game?!??!!. Hey, me an golf is like chocolates & onions. Nope. I had a great work out at gym @ RPGC, which was amazing cause there was just this ONE cute guy there, and me. JUST THE TWO OF US. GYMing. And then, it was movie at TGV Ipoh. A popcorn movie. "The Perfect Getaway". A cute but macho guy actor there kept my ass and eyes glued to the movie. Best scene of that movie: the way he proposed. Shucks! How I wish.

Then next day: my uncle's new bangalow at Bukit Kinding, Chemor. Right Up the hill. Just like "Up". Amazing view. Amazing house. Amazing jacuzzi. I have always loved his FairLady. But I loved his cats. And yes, for the first time I do admit I love cats. Only his cats. How come his cats are so sweet and adorable? Hate his dogs. A skinny irritating chihuahua and four crazy Rottweilers.

Kevin in KL. Arthur's Day celebration: BLACK EYE PEAS played some of their new songs, a few of their old songs, and most awaited song: Boom Boom Pow and I Got A Feeling!!!! A blast!! Feet killing me adi. THE FIREWORKS was soooo amazing.....loooonnger than the merdeka day ones...... Guinness got too much money...!

Quattro. Love you Pink. 4 tics for 6 pax. Pink, Me, Kevin, Chin Yee, Ling2, Gerry. Danced thru the night. Drink thru the night. Kevin and Gerry and Chin Yee bottom's up for like countless times. Kevin drunk. Gerry ate 4 eggs (wtf!). High cholestrol. Maggi goreng was sooo spicy that even I pengsan. I was little dizzy due to over-dancing (and not drunk!). Kevin hangover until next day. We left him in my car. Overnight. But dunno how he so pandai can walk up to my apartment himself.

Manutd won. Watched Fulham vs. Arsenal at Sri Bayu. 12am. 4 guys and a girl. Yes, I am a football fan. But not arsenal. Nm if Arsenal won. As long as Chelsea lose. They did.

Pavillion: Kevin watched me shop. Didn't shop til drop. Makan food court there. Conversation led me talking about Lenny and his magical powers. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, Lenny text (via Pink). He senses I was gossiping about him and then he text me. That's creepy.

Sunway Pyramid: Met Lenny and Dev. Lenny showed his magical mind reading power on me(not again!). He happy I am single. Duh! Intro-ed a guy to me. I will be his trophy wife. But said I should career-focus first. 28 is young. Fine! Talk laugh, Talk laugh. Lenny gossips more than me. Cannot tahan. Lenny and Dev talked me into joining salsa again. Dev: If Lenny can dance, so can you. Objective: Salsa gives you good 'performance'.

Today is a new week: All the shit work comes back. Here I am writing thesis, papers and reports again. This week will be shit week.

ASS Language.

The holidays sudah mau habises. I am so sads and scares. Scares of jams tomorrows. But betters go backs cause in ipoh, i can'ts concentrate on works..and i gettings sooosss fats. Fats like whens I was Form Fives that time onwards....

More weddings comes on next months. Pokais! Pokets kosongs. But see yous in Ipohs...!

*sweats*

Many FIRSTs this September.

My first page: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

About freemasonry

I bought this: Casio digital watch for teaching swimming purposes.

It's a kid's watch. Very cheap(skate).

See...got light wann..!

I bought this: SK-II facial treatment essence. I've tried the leftovers from FP's (thanks!) and it really works for my skin.
This is my first buy: a very good investment.


I did this: My first manicure.
A neutral colour, but...loved it!
You're right FP, I could get addicted with this.

12 Predicaments

1. I am Twittering more than usual. Because FB bores me quite a bit now. Hey, join Twitter cause I've no friend to kacau there! http://twitter.com/cchivy . <-------If you scroll thru and see the left panel of this blog, those are my twitter updates @ real time. I also follow 'NajibRazak' just to give my dua-cent worth.

2. I've got 4 weddings up, with 2 funerals down this year.

3. I passed my PTD M41 gov test (Peringkat 1). See my previous post about it.... but now what?

4. (hidden)

5. Swimming business or no swimming business? I would have to answer that very soon.

6. Mum says good things come only with patience. Just a little more patience....and all good things shall arrive (and maybe at the same time). She BEGGED me not to jump to any decisions so quickly as she knows I am very very agitated at my present situation now.

7. No more vacations. Focus on career development. And PBIM run. You can't blame me: I really pokai ady after all the angpows for weddings, clothes to attend them, and petrol back and forth Ipoh.

8. Lecturing? Thinking twice.

9. (Insyallah....) God willing, my Ph.D. viva may be this December.

10. Should I get a pair of Adizero running shoes? $$$$.

11. Pelik sungguh! Era asked me to teach English and Literature. To which I said yes(?!). My England also not very the good, how can to teach! But thank God, it's the Form 1-3 class he was talking about. I might have to re-read Wuthering Heights, Prisoner of Zenda or Great Expectation. Or I shall make all of them read and translate Zaid Ibrahim's "Saya Pun Melayu"

12. Sigh....

"Wake me up when September ends" - GreenDay

One of my fav song by Greenday. I think it's about time - my inaugural first post for the month of September. I really have been 'sleeping', so today is time to wake up.

There's so much to blog about, but there were certain things that struck me as interesting and worth mentioning:

Kanye West....bullied my no.1 female idol: Taylor Swift. I don't adore Taylor Swift as a person nor her songs. I just adore her curled-hair. And totally love her silver toga gown she wore at the VMAs. But Kanye was totally disrespectful to just barge up there and disrupt her acceptance speech! I feel for Taylor. She, as was everyone else, was appalled by what Kanye did. Good thing many ppl booed. Not even his fans condone his act. Nope, not any thousand apologies could render forgiveness for that act.

Nevermind what happened; it did happened. But what was the cue that made that mad-man go up to just speak his mind at the wrong time. Maybe he's just Gemini, and that's my theory. Very typical behaviour of male-gemini. He has the same birth date as I: 8th June; that's why I think I know why he loves the attention so much and at the same time being reckless about it.

This September began with my OWN (yes, my own) swimming classes. I've got many students who are willing to brave thru' the strict management of my apartment just to be my faithful followers. They showed passion in swimming and that's why I love teaching all of 'em. Now, I have a good many followers in my new religion of swimming. How faithful!! What do you think of the name (of my so-called future swim business): *"DIP DEEP"

*Nope, not just yet. Cause I can't pay for the rent of the pool just yet.

I would have to thank my dearest friend *Jonie for this opportunity. I was always afraid of water-rafting because:

1. I love my body;

2. Though I might have some permanent head damage, I need the head and what's in it;

3. Honestly, I am a little height phobic, that's why I don't go on roller coasters or solero shot (ever again);

4. I love my fingers: All of my digits are designed for scientific research, write, type and Facebooking;

5. I might have to redo my manicure.

6. Kiasi!

But the trip in Ulu Slim has awaken some amount of confidence, and with such crazy friends (or some said I was the only crazy one*) to raft along, I am hoping for the next trip....say at KKB, yah?!

*Jonie, you were sooo composed during rafting! But nope, I'll never ever Kiteboard (try convincing me again).

Maybe I should stick to swimming and running. But some say, I might just die in a car crash, or get knock by a car while running our Malaysian roads......instead. Kiasi is not an excuse.

As Jonie would have said: Trudge on.

Delete the obsoletes

It's been 3 weeks since I last came back to Ipoh. I quickly notice the changes in my own room. My parents had someone remove the wallpaper that once beautified my entire room. Well, I won't say exactly the word 'beautiful'. I thought it was just different. Today, the wall has just been re-Nippon and I am somehow very happy with the plain new blue. I have never said this before, but I used to loathe my own 'ugly' wallpaper; I didn't tell my parents because I did not want to hurt their feelings for their initial plan and concept of a wallpapered room. Wallpapers may fit a hotel room but to me, wallpapers are a big no-no for private residences.

Many things go obsolete. I dunno if there are people who still paste wallpapers to their houses. Other simple noticeable obsoletes in my room that I've noticed are my printed photographs and their negatives(!?!!?!?!), my Aiwa radio cum cassette player and my KRU's AWAS cassette. That's crazy. But as much as I want to do away and dumb all these obsolete stuff into the recycle bin (not the photographs, of course), I just can't do it now and now!! They have sentimental value. How I wish my parents hadn't discard the old stamp books I once had. Besides Beh, I dare say that no one does stamp collecting anymore.

Oh, ya....one very very obsolete thing in my room: my Encarta encyclopaedia set that cost a bomb (RM1000 at when I was 10 years old was a lot of money) and the Atlas book that came with it! They still had Yugoslavia! Madras was still Madras!

I found another obsolete in my room: The floppy.

Good read:
http://tech.msn.com/products/articlepcw.aspx?cp-documentid=21159559

Q: What's obsolete in your room?

I don't even play 'FRIENDS FOR SALE' application anymore on Facebook....but Pink spotted this on her facebook, and even I got goosebumps!!!

my selling price is $111,100

STOP FOLLOWING ME...or Pink!

MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia

Clockwise from top left: Pink, William Quah, Me with the crowd building up below us.

20,000 rockers.

Okay, it's a 1.3 MP phonecamera. So, we did look kinda flat 2-D.

Apart from Fipink being called "Aunty" by a bunch of kids sitting next to us in VIP (Gold) area, MTV World Stage was a BOMB! What a blast!! So wanna go to rock concerts again! Hoobastank was my ultimate favourite, though many would agree that All American Rejects (AAR) was THE act of the night.

Shucks! THE kids who called us aunty

Those with Gold tics like us were usually famous ppl/invited guest. Xandria Ooi and hubby was sitting right behind us; Niki Cheong too; a couple of Cleo Bachelors spotted; Kenny Sia dropped by though he left quickly for the mosh pit (ref: Niki Cheong). In the early hours, NTV7's William Quah was spotted behind us with his thick English accent; we spotted Joey G and last but not least, our bestie: Raj who jumped from Platinum to Gold to Mosh Pit to everywhere. And there was a couple of famous celebrity but we don't give a damn anymore. What matters is what's on the stage.

I think Hoobastank playing the theme from 'Ghostbusters' as an attention-builder towards the song The Reason was crazy crazy crazy! It came as a surprise. After Ghostbusters, the lead, Doug Robb labelled the crowd "ridiculous"!

Kasabian was the final band on the list, but we left after AAR's "Gives Me Hell". So did most of the crowd. I pity Kasabian with the dwindling crowd, but business' as usual. The volcano at Sunway Lagoon 'erupted' at the end of all of it but we both missed that (Reference: Niki Cheong) cause we were both left right after rocking with AAR. And also, who the hell are the Kasabians?!?! Sorry for my ignorance for the music industry of late....but I know the Kardashians though.

MTV doesn't fail. Good organizing. Good weather (I know Pink would also agree that it was so-not-cool to bring an umbrella). And best of all, there was no traffic jam cause we kiasu-cum-oldies left early for home, while the whole of Sunway was still partying at clubs nearby.

Pink and her Pope (or Nazi?) salute to AAR.

Pink has a better camera phone. So, wait up for new pics.

Check out MTV WorldStage Live in Malaysia on MTV 28 August 2009 (on Astro, of course).

Bali 8-10th August 2009

I don't really know what is it about Bali, but it makes me wanna go back again. I told Jonie that probably I'll return to Bali in another 2 years time because it's time to save $$ for New York. But the inkling feeling of returning to Bali is lingering hot. It could be because of my short(ened) stay there. The less you get, the more you yearn.

It was a short trip, but bare in mind, I had seasoned travelers together with me in this trip -Jonie, Riza, Cynthia (and parents were avid travellers) who just can move (or not move i.e. hatta yoga!) and can make up their minds real quick. Which is soo important! They said to have from Plan A to Z, just in case 25 other plans don't work out. But in my own observation, the whole trip was not planned at all! We've covered relatively a lot of places in spite of the lack-of planning, and because all plans(?) went so smoothly, you'd thought it was planned! (ok, sound like tongue-twister already).

But I can pin-point one factor to the smoothness of this trip - it was Wilson! A native to Bali, he was Nina's Friendster buddy. Errrrr....pretty creepy, but like us, even Nina has never met him in person 'til this Bali trip! And despite not knowing anyone in person (as well as Nina), he joined us in everything we do and everywhere we went. We were pretty bless to have our Indonesian friends too - Nina, Riza and Wilson - who were the key in braving thru' all language barriers, much-much-cheaper bargains, know-hows, and the north-south-east-west of Bali island with our rented coklat Avanza.

PEAK PEAK PEAK PERIOD:

Even Riza sighed at the sight of the our own human race in Bali. He's been to Bali many times and probably is his second home, but he has never seen soo many human beings in Bali in his entire life. Well, I told my dad: "How not to mingle with the Whites, eh???!?!?! Wanna avoid terrorist??? How to avoid??? And btw, Noordin M. Top looked like everyone else!" I blame the surfing competition held at Kuta and the National Day of Singapore.

Top's still alive! So smart lah, this Malaysian. 'Proud' of you :P

Terrorist-on-the-road: This man just lie on the road bringing the whole Ubud's traffic to a standstill about 5 min. I dunno why too. The polisi came and apprehended him.

Trivial: In Malaysia, TERRORIST ON THE ROAD means, bad drivers...like me.

We stayed in Legian for a night at Fourteen Roses Hotel which was the epitomy of a modern balinese architecture; the vicinity was way beyond my expectations. But where I was staying in Ubud was ...hmmphhh...unbelievably amazing. I still dunno the name to this hotel. And yes, because the place that we stayed in Ubud did not have a name (yet)! It was a genuine balinese style family home-turned-hotel (bed & breakfast). And if there was one compliment about this hotel, it was the rooms!

Hotel in Legian Room in Ubud.

You have to try the ever, famous, highly recommended babi guling. But nah....we all went to Bumbu Bali which was located exactly next to babi guling stall instead. I laughed and laughed to myself; my travel mates as well as Mr. and Mrs. Chang looked in amazement when I didn't wanna order any specialty from Bumbu Bali restaurant. Yes, you've guess it: because there's an exact franchise at Bandar Puteri Puchong - also by the same name. I've patronized the one in Puchong like 5 times. Why should I eat the one from Bali? The food in Bali is, of course, exactly the one served in Puchong's Bumbu Bali. Meh!

Oh, which reminds me I need to get to Bandar Puteri soon. Ivy-out!

P/S: more Bali pics at HERE

PTD M41

I went for a civil service entrance exam specially for Admin & Diplomatic officer (PTD - M41). I know, I know, many people will now start questioning my intentions to be one, but it's about Malaysia. I do love Malaysia. Nothing political of that sort. Doesn't mean I sokong the current government either, although I am supposed to (you have to be politically inclined to the Ruling gov.). I believe in Malaysia. Malaysia needs me or someone like me now (chehhwah!). I know I am just one drop of water in the vast ocean, but surely does make a ripple.

When I knew I really wanted to do this, I called a friend of mine who is already in the civil service with federal gov, but under the Perak administration. He's under the Economic Planning Unit, placed under Perak state government umbrella. He's Chinese, okay??!?!?! (uuurrrggghh....stop asking about race; typical Malaysian!). Since he has been thru' this presumably tough gov. exam, I asked him for tips. Also, there are so little Chinese (race again?!) in civil service that he said it would be easy for me to get in (and not harder as everyone would expect). And then I can spend tax-payers money on luxurious trips around the world as a diplomat. Kidding!!!!!!! (BTW, this friend just came back from training in Tokyo and Osaka, fully paid by tax-payers money(?)).

What's weird: I hope by the time I get into the government as a civil servant, it would be the current opposition ruling the federal gov, no?! Hope. And more non-bumis would have applied for civil service by then (I guess). Which makes my life easier, because I have less competition now than later on.

So, I promulgated my interest in PTD. And then: the uproar. And of course, friends have presumably tested me in a many LOL ways; friends who started testing me questions like e.g. So, who killed that Mongolian girl: A. PM B. Baginda C. Suicidebombing D. Wife. I told my friends I would 'gladly' (coercingly!) select 'Tiada di atas' if given the choice.

And when the real exam day arrived, I was calmed. In my examination hall in Putrajaya, out of 100 ppl, I spotted only 3 Chinese and about 10-11 Indians. My opinion: It is not about why the government is soooo biased towards bumis in the civil service. It is the non-bumis the ones NOT APPLYING to get in. And then, if 1 chinese gets cut-off from civil service cause he/she didn't pass the exam.....then the big huuuuh-hahh starts in the media implying "oooh, chinese get kick out due to double-standards in selection", or " hey, it's 1/3 or 33.33% chinese get kick out from entrance exam". If you look into the numbers correctly, it's all about the impact. Non-bumis feeeeel the impact more if they were not selected for civil service because of the less no. of applicants! So, it's rarely about the race. Look at the big picture, please.

If you've been thru' Form 6 - the first part of the questions are easy. It's like Pengajian Am. But with general questions e.g. "which of these movies did P. Ramlee acted in?", "what is Phishing?"....etc. But the second part was the hardest due to the time given to answers 40 maths and IQ questions in mere 45 min. I went panicky, of course. But who wasn't panic that time, eh?! Essays were okay: I answered the BM question about H1N1 and Influenza A, while I talked about the definition of success and its correlation to academic achievements in the English essay .

So, nothing political at this point (of the entrance exam). But it gets tough. However, I pray to get into the next part "THE ASSESSMENT" - physical fitness tests of timed- 2.5km run (yes!), mock parliamental debates, speech in BM and speech in English. Oh yes!

Can't wait.....

My lovely deskboard....

....a little closer.....

....closer.....

.....closer, closer....

YES!...

...it's the MTV World Stage (Live in Malaysia) passes that everyone is DYING for. Literally!

SCREAMMMMM!!!! And I have the GOLD passes. Which means, it's time to shake the hands of the lead from Hoobastank!

Thanks FP and Gary's sis (muaks!) You've made my year!