Singapura, oh Singapura!

On 21st July, I went to Singapore for a reunion with 21 of my SIF fellows. Can't believe it has been 5 years and everyone looked just the same as they were 5 years back!! Well, there are some minor changes though - Man became thin, Dat is sooo built and Claudia is 5-months pregnant. Otherwise, everyone remained the same as who they were 5 years ago. Our childishness has not disappear either - playing all those crazy drinking games (thanks Dat!).

Jo Nie, Boon King and I watched this silly, comedy, low-budget New Zealand film called "Black Sheep" (what else could New Zealanders do but to film their own sheeps...sigh). From the title, I knew it would be hillarious. Jo Nie and I burst out laughing each and every minute! Non-stop. But there were many bloody scenes too. Imagine you are in New Zealand and there's nothing there but sheeps, and this crazy GM sheep comes attacking you by munching at your flesh and then you turn into...ya....a sheep too!!! Oh, soo bloooooody and bloody funny!!! Good entertainment.

I missed my Harry Potter 7 dateline because of this Singapore trip. MPH man came right to my doorstep but I wasn't there. When I went to MPH to collect my book and free gift, MPH said that no transaction was being made and my name was not in their list of bookings. Ohhh...sooo sucky...First, I realised that MPH priced their HP7 book RM99.90 while Tesco was at RM69.90. I could have just cancel my online booking months ago and purchase the potter book from Tesco instead. Then, I had to go allllllll the way to MPH Midvalley twice to ask them about my transaction that has already been debited to my credit card. I became furious because they couldn't fix my problem. Money paid, but no book! So expensive some more..... Alas, MPH claim there was a mixed-up and finally after all this silly hassles, I got my Potter book.

First thing I did was to run through the epilogue - the last 7 pages. So, Harry Potter is alive. And that's it! That's all I need to know!!! I haven't open the book since. I shelved my Potter away and continued reading my other book that I have started since last week - Middlesex. Seems I am not a Pottermania anymore.

Girls, girls, can't wait to go Cameron Highlands. Camerons will be my final trip for this month or two. Saving money for overseas trips, and my parent's 30th anniversary this X'mas.

Months of movies

The month of June and July have been movies-month for me. Transformers was good. Watched it twice somemore. Even Titanic - I just watched it once on big-screen. And then there's Die Hard 4.0, but it was not as good as expected. Maybe because my expectations were a little too high. Die Hard 3 was the ultimate Die Hard. Die Hard 4.0 had no climax; the villain was a sissy computer guy and the scene where a jet shooting on this big truck that Bruce Willis was in looked entirely wrong and irrational. I prefer if the truck would just turn into Optimus Prime or something. More believable than a bunch of empty, falling highways. Samy Vellu would not like Die Hard 4.0 because the damaged highways would remind him soo much of our Malaysian ones.

Then, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (mouth-full!) was saddeningly not even to par with the other Potter movies. No quiddith, hate the maturity of all the casts, too much junk at the end and the movie ended abruptly. Well, it was the weakest book (and story line) so I guess it's the weakest movie soo far of all Potters.

I still believe that the British movie Hot Fuzz was the best soo far this year. Unexpectedly, the british humour did work well on me! The partnership between the 2 polices worked sooo well too. The whole movie had a good combination of humour, action (soo good!), and well-created script. I think the whole occult thingy that existed in the small 'crime'-free village is a little absurd though. I recommend this show to everyone!

I am now watching the season finale of Desperate Housewives 3 on 8TV! Wow, time flies..

Break-up and break-free.

I am sitting in a Starbucks cafe near the Jab. Pendaftaran & Imigresen at Pusat Bdr Damansara waiting for my passport to be renewed. I have to applaud the swift service by the pegawai(s) there as it takes less than 3 hours to get a passport done. Syabas! Five years ago, I still need to come back in 3 days time to get it, which had cost me addtional expenses on petrol, parking and time.

I will be going to Singapore this weekend to reunite with my SIF friends (yay!) and Camerons in the next to be with my best pals (yipee!). I also took a 2-week leave from my uni to concentrate on my writing and my comprehensive test. I guess I just want a break from everything this month.

I have to apologise to many of my close friends and (busy-body)relatives who has been wondering how I've been after my breaking-up with him. I know you guys/gals have been most supportive but I don't want to share sob stories of how it happened and what not because I just cannot explain the whole situation in mere words via the phone or blog. Thanks for the concern for those who called. I would love to be in the gossip pages (at last!) but truthfully, I am fine. And girls, we will meet up soon. So, no speculating on my story!!

Some of you know about my Brit beau Jon (ahem: Cal, Pink, YP). Well, Jon is superbly great (any other superlative that I can add?) but he's back at Imperial. He will be returning to M'sia soon. Love him. But still, no speculating!!!

I think I just need a break. See you all in Singapore and Camerons.

Writer's block.

After attending a seminar on 'Publishing for Postgrads' last week, I think I need to revamp my whole Ph.D. research. It's more like little changes here and there to cater for my publishing needs. To publish in citation-indexed journals is like...impossible (with regards to my research), but I think maybe I need to brush-up on my English and make it more professional/business-like. My grammar is quite good (chhe....!!), but I definitely write like a 5-year old! Many people do not realise that despite flawlessness in my spoken English (cheez....my scholarship interviewers were defeinitely impressed), I write English like a kindergarten kid - no 'flowery' words, no puns. And depite my hobby being reading (I read A LOT) and watching American movies (that's how I indirectly improve my English), I still cannot write professionally. It's like there's a 'barrier' in my brain that...okay, seeeeee.....I cannot find the exact word to say it (sigh). I cannot express anything properly in writing! How to publish?

(come to think of it, blogging is also a form of publishing)...nevermind...

I also had this 'writer's block' this month. I wanted to express myself but I just can't. Not in words and not verbally too. Not sure about the science behind 'writer's block' but I hate it. There's soo many stuffs that I want to say - about my country, my life, my friends, my studies...but cannot pour out to anything and to anyone. Nm. After my publishing seminar at UPM, I went to Camerons. And there, I got hooked up with this lady from MARDI, who knows almost every farmer in Camerons. She's an expert in this pesticide thingy, and she is tactful in asking pesticide questions when interviewing farmers (sensitive issue leh)....god, she knows like millions of languages...I just adore her.

When I was down from Camerons, I had ppl waiting for me to celebrate my birthday...not that I don't like my birthday...it's just like another day to me. Thanks all who celebrated for me. And just THREE DAYS in Camerons, I didn't know soooo much have happen down at lowland Selangor. I didn't know: "Pak Lah got married?!! Bird Flu in Sg. Buloh area?! Some landlord set-up hidden cameras to spy on naked tenants?!" Camerons is soo dead and un-cold (blame it again on global warming?) that you just don't get any breaking news there. Nobody talks about anything, but vege, flowers, pesticide and contaminated water. Cameron folks just do their thing and forget about the world beneath them. But I believe that being ignorant about the world is good at times. Carefree.

(okay...er...err....er...I dunno what to write!)...Writer's block syndrome coming back!!

Pui Wah came back from Taiwan to be with here family here for a month. Welcome back, Pui Wah!!! Glad you are back. We will meet up. Tell me about bird flu...or the chicken research you are working on (not!).

Hei, this SMART tunnel is not too 'smart' after all. Now, don't tell me it's to save KL from STORM floods and not FLASH flood?!!? So what is it EXACTLY built for, hah?! Also, there will never be an end to this flash floods in KL centre as long as SemiVallue still reigns his JKR throne.

So much has happened

So much has happened!

I finished reading Animal Farm by George Orwell. Pigs rule! Anyway, I am now reading Orwell's 1984 book too....guess, i will be finishin' it in 2 weeks (no time to read these days).

Watched 'Rent' the musical. It was brilliant! Absolutely brilliant. I was in tears at the final part of the movie. So freaking sad. Broadway/musicals is not my type (except Sound of Music, of course!) but, 'Rent' somehow manages to convey it's message that living unconventionally is OKAY. And then there's this theme song 'Seasons of Love' played in the background...reminds me of my SIF friends!!! Don't worry, will see you guys/gals in our reunion on 20.07.2007.

Last Sunday, my Aikido friends and I drove to Penang to find/eat good Penang hawker food. I love the cendol, the mee mamak, and the ice kacang. Managed to sapu 5 DVDs that is just RM4 a piece near Batu Ferringhi. Good deal. Next stop was Taiping - see the lake gardens and manage to catch the antics of some wild monkeys. Called Yeng Pooi to ask her where the public toilets are (you saved our lives) and together we went to market area to drink leng-chi-kang.

I didn't know Ipoh had 'Rum Jungle'. It was at Sunway City (I am more like a KL girl already, kinda foreign to Ipoh now) So, thank you uncle Ah Lieh for taking us there, and belanja-ing us the booze. Brian, Mhong, Sheaushin, Leong and I were dancing like mad ppl. Ipoh ppl really don't dance!! The band that was playing that night was extremely good, but, the Ipoh ppl were like separuh mati when it comes to partying. Weird Ipoh ppl.

Next morning, we went Gua Tempurung. 50 ppl went in at one-shot! So many ppl! Holiday marrr. Pity the tour-guide that had to manage 50 ppl one by one - especially at the lubang part, where he just pull our legs (sort of like impatient already!). I got my head banged onto a sharp end of a stalectite (wrong spelling!) and instantly that part swelled and there was this painful throbing after that. Not good. Can't comb my hair now. Actually, this is my 4th time in gua tempurung already, but each time, the experience is different because the ppl I went in with are different. I could go again - for the 5th time!!

Back at KL, we all went karaoke at Red Box @ The Curve. I was kinda tired, but manage to sing my lungs out at some of my favourite songs. Who could ever miss the 'Pang-yau (Friends)' song by Alan Tam. I think Mhong and I did very well in 'Barbie Girl' by Aqua. Hehehe. And sensei did impress us with one of his oldies that was pretty hard to sing - something about 'A dog name Boo'!

Just wanna thank some ppl that were kinda concern about my mum: Callie, Beat, Yeng Pooi, Bun and many others. My mum came back with her test results and she was cleared-off all diseases (it wasn't cancerous)!! My mum's second (opinion) doctor confirm that. I am thankful that my mum is okay, because she doesn't seemed so well lately. The doctor said that she's just getting old (not a word any woman wants to hear!) with pre-menopausal symptoms. Thank you Lord Jesus for listening to our prayers.

'Brave New World'

My form 3 tuition teacher (Mr. Low, who lives on the same street as I 'til today) have always talked about 3 books that have to be read by everyone:

1. Alice In Wonderland by a Reverend (?! wow) Louis Carroll, also a mathematician & logician.

2. Animal Farm by George Orwell, an anti-Stalinism.

3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

I read Alice in Wonderland..like..years years ago...when I was still a kid. Well, I read it uncritically and thought of the story as boring and weird or 'just-another-fantasy kinda story'. Now, it's is the most mathematically profound (exaggerating..) book I've ever read!! (okay, because I DON'T read maths book!).

I've read Orwell's Animal Farm also like....years years...ago whereby pigs, chicken and all sorts of domesticated animals playing politics right at your backyard. Hmmph...I actually totally forgot what it's all about right now. Guess I'll just go to UPM library to pick up this book and read it all over again...when I have the time.

At present, I am reading Brave New World. Well, it's like a science fiction thingy (dystopian fiction, they call it) but it's inconceivable that our world would be divided into two worlds in the future as 'humans' search for 1) stability and/or 2) freedom. Which world is utopian? Which world is dystopian? U decide. A 'civilised' world -where people literally worship the maker of their world (they depise God), nobody gets pregnant, nobody becomes old, everyone is squeakily hygiene, babies are hynotised to live in their unquestionable own castes when they grow up, little girls taught to be promiscuous, no families, kids asking "what is a 'mother'?", hormone therapy everyday, etc. etc, etc (nighmare!). In 'civilisation', stability is achieved. No clashing, no fighting, no wars. Everyone is made to understand their own role in their respective castes. No questions asked.

The dystopian world is the one we currently live in. Women conceive viviparous-ly, people do get old and fat, worships God, stinkingly unhygienic, wage war against one another, there is such thing as 'family' and 'mother' and 'father', and there is such thing as 'romance', etc. etc.....all those things you own/have today. In Brave New World - these are percieved as wah lau...'uncivilised'.

Come to think of it, I prefer THIS world - overwhelmed with abnormalities and oddities. Makes us more human, right!?

Remember the movie - "The Island" starring Scarlett Johanssen? Something like that lorrr.....but, of course, different plot la..

House

Searching for a house in Klang Valley is not easy. I have been asking for advice from various people and parents. I used to have knowledge about houses and apartments in Klang Valley as I was doing some real estate brokering after I graduated.

I have set my mind to get a landed-property. Condos and apartments sounds terrific - with their amenities and gym and swimming pool (!), but it is not a good buy/investment because of the maintenance fees. Even after you've payed-up the whole sum for the condo/apartment in say...15 years, you still have to keep paying the maintenance fee. Sometimes, a condo or apartment may be priced even higher than a landed one. The downside of high rise is that you may somehow get stuck with ppl you don't like, and you cannot avoid their disgusting or irresponsible antics (Thanks Sensei for this advice).

So, I'll get a landed one. But where? Puchong? I heard Bandar Puteri Puchong is real good. The place is superb. But, since the high demand for the houses there a couple of years back, the prices of the house there has shot-up tremendously. Puchong is great as it is a very convenient, the place is growing like hell, and it's on the way to my uni. I stayed in Puchong for 3-4 years already. I love Puchong, but I had to pass the bloody Sunway toll to get to town/aikido (downside).

Bukit Jalil is great too. I love the bypass, which seldom gets jammed. Then, the LRT station in the stadium is good for commuting to town for work. And it's near UPM. I teach swimming in Bukit Jalil too. But no new development there. Kinrara is nearby and there's this hill near the bypass that is currently developed into a large housing areas, just behind Kinrara Golf Club. But seems like another 3-4 years (I can't wait) for the developer to finish the estate. Sentul is great too. But, no new landed properties in Sentul.

Many things to consider before getting a house. Lots! Cannot think now. Talking about 'house' - hmmphhh...reminded me of my fav. Dr. House.

To be continue....

Post Mt. Kinabalu

At last, I’ve ascended Mount Kinabalu and climbed to the highest peak – ironically called Low’s Peak at about 4000++m. The weather was good throughout the 2-day hike up (and down). It was physical and mentally strenuous because I was not particularly okay with the altitude change and couldn’t take the cold. Physically, it was easy for me going up, but coming down was bad because first, descending the mountain just right after you’ve reached the peak all in a single day is terribly tiring, and secondly, there was no motivation/drive anymore to descend. Nothing to look forward anymore.

I kena altitude sickness – symptoms such as heartbeat rate at 90 beats/min while resting in bed, slight dizziness, and breathing difficulties. But, my Milidon helped me a lot. I think I often go to the toilet too because….hmmphh…. I drank too much and I ate too many bananas at one go!

I was quite surprise the weather was great during our ascend – the sky was clear (you could see the whole load of planets and stars), and not a single drop of rain. I was expecting the worst because it had been raining every evening in Kota Kinabalu park at the foot. The moon was almost full and there was no need for torchlight when we climbed up.

There are things that I left behind:- my red beanie fell off my head somewhere during the ascend, and it was too dark (opps..I am contradicting myself with the bright moonlite I’ve just mentioned), and I didn’t want to fall right into some valley or something, so I presume some lucky person might have found my red lovely beanie. Sob Sob. I also left some of my waste behind a real big secluded rock, because I couldn’t stand it anymore when nature calls. Silly, I actually said “Sorry, sorry ahhh…I am sooooo sorry Mr. Rock, but I need to do this right now!” Hope the penunggu of the rock did not blame me or even follow me back to KL!!! Mount Kinabalu is known for their spirits and myths. Something like dat.

So I thought KL has traffic jams. Wait ‘til you see the peak. Soooooo many climbers want to be on that small little Low’s Peak! Human traffic jam! My SouthAfrican mate almost fell-off the peak because he lost his balance while snapping pictures!

I’ll put up some pictures in the next time. Have to collect pictures from other cameras. Cheers.

Cellulite or no cellulite, that is not the question.

Never is a thousand years would i thought of going to a gym. I basically hate the thought of enrolling myself in a fitness centre because I heard that there are many 'aunties' there working out. Well, I don't want to be labelled 'Auntie' marrrr. Another reason why I loathe fitness centres was because I knew it would be a dull thing. You are alone doing your stuffs, using the equipment. Nobody is your friend when it comes to fitness. All alone. I have always prefer pure sports such as swimming, badminton, and martial arts like Aikido because competition, contact and skills are involved. We make many close friends in sports. In short: not dull.

I went for my first class of aerobics. Wow, I thought I can do aerobics, because I presumed that my swimming and aikido would have made me fitter than any other ppl. Once the class got started, I realised that I was soooo lost! Lost & blur. People can just jump, leap, and dance and dance and dance non-stop for an hour, and here I am drinking a whole bucket of water and resting on the bench all the time.

Then, I tried bodycombat. Bodycombat is like kickboxing and dancing in synchro. Okay, I know Aikido, so I again presumed that I can do this like a piece of cake. I almost died. These 'Aunties' are 10 times better than me in terms of fitness. They kick-box (and shout kiai) like they have just murderlized someone in the hall. I can't do kick boxing at all! I have no strength to continue. What more: I am suppose to climb Mount Kinabalu on 1st Feb.

Peak of Kinabalu

My Personal Trainer did not make my day either. He said that he has climbed Mount Kinabalu 3 times, and people like Ivy Chai will 'suffer' their way up. He assured me that in 2 weeks, I would be the fittest and the first in the group to reach the mountain. Okay, he make me do push-ups 30 times. I died. He made me run the treadmill and cycle to check my endurance. I died. I died in almost everything he asked me to do. I am not fit. Aunties with cellulite also can beat me. In 2 weeks, hopefully this will change for the better.

Gym is boring. Period. I have NO friends, no motivation. My personal gym trainer is my only friend and motivator. Almost everyone's goal is either to be fit and toned (that's my ultimate goal) or to lose weight (not my goal). Almost after every run at the treadmill, or after kickboxing or after aerobics, I will still return to the swimming pool in the gym to swim my favourite backstroke. And then, in the evening, I love a piece of good whacking, rolling, shomen and flips in Aikido.

Resolutions that can be kept.

I try not to make NY resolutions because I just can't keep them all these while. But well, I have one this year and I'll try to keep it:

1. Climbing to the peak of Mount Kinabalu this February.

Then, I thought...hmmphhh...maybe I'll make another resolution which I can keep:

2. Go to a F1 race this year.

Last year, I bought two F1 tickets and finally have to give it to my brother because of the bloody appendicitis on that week.

So, that's it for this new year's resolution. One requires fitness, one requires money. Both are my passion though.