25 Random things about myself.

Twenty five random things about me. I know it's been publicised on FB, but like many others, I prefer to write it here. Here goes:

25. My Bahasa Malaysia scores were always better than my English scores in high school both spoken and written. I believe that's still the trend for me.

24. I adore the idea of 'reverse psychology'. It works well for me in many situations.

23. I love everything Japanese.

22. I am kiasi. But I drive my Kelisa really fast most of the time.

21. Yes, I absolutely love driving!

20. I have to boast that I have a very good sense of direction since young. But I cannot verbally direct people to places.

19. I have short term memory loss when it comes to names. I forget any names within seconds of introduction.

18. I have good photographic memory which means I remember landmarks and faces (not names).

17. I am a coffee addict but no preference to any particular coffee. Just COFFEE.

16. KL is still the best place on earth to live in, in my opinion.

15. I label myself as 'extremely independent' and fore-warn many guys about this before they date me.

14. I hate working in groups. I hate group projects. Oh no!...could look bad on my resume :P

13. At present time, I teach swimming for the MONEY. Think Adam Smith.

It WAS for the love of the kids.

12. I get bored of everything (I do) real fast! I have a short span of attention. Even writing these points about myself is making me yawnnnn like crazy!

11. I talk a lot, and I mean A LOT. My best skill yet: snatching people's conversation.

10. My EQ is definitely higher than my IQ.

9. I still want a Gucci or Burberry bag before I die. If not, I'll turn in my grave.

8. My smiles can be deceiving. My cuteness is a death trap. Some people already knew this.

7. I am shallow-teared. I cry easily at movies and depressing stories told to me.

6. I love watching American Idol and I believe whatever Simon Cowell says. Like some prophecy!

5. TV is my greatest sin, and to my opinion the best invention ever.

4. I hate wearing a watch. But I am the strictest person when it comes to Time.

3. I was born, bred and brainwashed as a Manchester United fan. I have no regrets though...errr...maybe it's the brainwashing!

2. I am actually proud when people calls me 'cikgu' or 'teacher' (when teaching swimming) or when I address myself that way.

1. Writing is my passion and wanna publish a book, but back to bullet no. 12, I think it won't work out.

In memoriam: Alan's mum

I was browsing through my own posts and my previous post was exclusively about the hometown of Alan's mum - Bahau. I still remember mingling with his mum's side of the family, albeit a huge one, was affectionally dear to one another with no air of squabbles or negativity. This was rare considering the family was very large. I felt instantly at home and never felt so close with a family that I had no relation whatsoever. I believed good relations between cousins, sisters, uncles and aunties run through the century.....hope it runs through Alan's gene's too.

Yes, she was the quieter sister, but it was she that stole the show. In her late 50s and with a disease that was diagnosed few months earlier, she took centre stage. She was calm when I saw her sisters and brother chatting her up with a few words of encouragement. Well, she said little, but I knew she enjoyed her moment. She wanted to live the moment. Neither was she shaken by the disease but was just ever so glad to be with her extended family, celebrating the new year. Alan mentioned that her mum was always worry about this and that...but never once was she worried about herself. What an act of selflessness and bravery despite her condition!

My moments with her were short but memorable. I observed her trying to set up a small chat with me once in a while but I was so sorry to have dissapointed her with my crappy Mandarin. She was always telling me about how her grandsons should be sent to my swimming school to learn good swimming. She didn't directly show her affections to Alan, but I knew she cared about him sooooo much. The night before she went for her surgery, I was glad to have a grand dinner with her and her family. And 2 days before, she cooked for me and Alan a nice dinner. I wouldn't like saying that it was her last home-cooked meal....but it sadly was. I still remember it was our fav steam lap-cheong, celery, eggs and tofu. All hakka style. She was also grateful for the organic vege my mum gave her during CNY and I was only glad to have contributed something somehow to her because she willingly accepted me for who I am (she initially thought I was toooo smart) and allowed me to be with her son.

She passes away today peacefully. The mood now is sombre as I stay home writing this postwhilst her family managing the whole funeral. She was a free thinker, but I pray that she's now in the safe hands of our Lord Jesus Christ. I still remember listening to her last words to Alan and my last glance of her before she went to the operation room and never regain unconciousness since then. It is sad, but I know this is Your will, Lord. For she was a good woman and she ran her race well. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Bahau on CNY

This year, I went to a little town called Bahau, 15 minutes off Kuala Pilah, N9. When my dad heard of the town Kuala Pilah, all he could think of is - Siti Nurhaliza. My dad adores Siti until she marries that old guy.

I wouldn't say Bahau is that ulu or small, but I thru' my own observation, Bahau is as large and buzzling as Kluang but has more Chinese residence than the latter. The houses there resembles my late grandfather's old house in PJ Old Town because they are mostly single story bungalows with obvious designs i.e. half atap-zinc roofs, half bricks-half cement walls and cement (tile-less) floors. The house I was invited to has their jamban outdoors! And aha....of course...the food: As the Chinese in Bahau are mostly ethnic Hakka and their variations, you can't separate yourself from: lui cha.

LuiCha:

My housemate is hakka but has never cook luicha for me also :P

I am only so-so with luicha. Too much fibre. Toooo green. Too much munching going around. Honestly, I felt like a cow (ya...welcome, Ox year!). I have only tried it once in Bandar Puteri's HoBoh, and this home-made luicha in the Fam's family was my second time. Ahem...looks kinda easy to make actually as I observed how they prepared and cook the stuffs right at their lovely kitchen. Taste okay la. Lack ajinomoto though. But I guess with all these fibre and go-green concept and with only ONE working stomach, I got full real fast. I had enough. Burp!

home-made luicha my unfinished plate of luicha

Bahau has this food market similar to the food market in Taiping. In the night, after a hefty dinner and bad service from a so-called luxurious restaurant, I was introduced to a better meal in that market. They proclaimed he's famous in his curry laksa noodles (this stall also sold many other noodles) but frankly, it's not that sedap as I initially thought. They don't put santan wan worrr. Not enough taste. Lack ajinomoto (again!). I till prefer the curry noodles in Ipoh Old town and Medan Selera. Or there's just something wrong with my tongue!

In the morning we woke up early to rush (yes, i meant rush) to the market once more for their so-called famous mee soup kicap. Soooo many people! Dissapointingly, it's just taste like drinking kicap soya without the saltiness. I think the restless chef with his ample orders and bulk cooking all in one go (for the CNY crowd. I spotted 4 Singapore cars) made his mee soup kicap tasteless! I can say, if more...ahem...ajinomoto was added in, the noodles would improved lots more. Really, it was tasteless. I gave the chef credit for the beef meat he added to the noodle though as they were quite aplenty in one bowl.

Yah, Bahau was great place to be. The people were friendly and I've met altogether 4 people who hailed from UPM! What a small world.....

But I still have to say: Shake some ajinomoto to your food, else, bad reviews from me. :P

Adios, Bahau.