My Haiku:I wrote this haiku
with the hope that just maybe.
It blows you away.
Introduction:The name is irrelevant.
The person is male.
The age is older.
The stories are true.
This blog is mine.
Stuff to surf:o Rage against the machine
o This Modern World
o Footie
o Toon Army
o Kaki Seni
o Alanis Morrisette
o Makcik Oprah
o Anything 80s
o Michael Moore
o AlterNet
o Wiretap
o Bernama
o Internet Movie DB
o Project Petaling Street
Blogs to read:o Kai
o Pon
o Nona
o Afti
o Sue
o Naddywoman
o Poe
o Borro
o Kuman
o Chit Chat Bola
o Maverix
o The Datin Diaries
o Kengster
o Chics
o AG
o Nik
o Nadia
o Affy
o Mooke
o Idlan
o Dhilia
o Shapeng
o Ninie
Contact:o Send me stuff
Archives:
- o December 2003
- o January 2004
- o February 2004
- o March 2004
- o April 2004
- o May 2004
- o June 2004
- o July 2004
- o August 2004
- o September 2004
- o October 2004
- o November 2004
- o December 2004
- o January 2005
- o February 2005
- o March 2005
- o April 2005
- o May 2005
- o June 2005
- o July 2005
- o August 2005
- o September 2005
- o October 2005
- o November 2005
- o December 2005
- o January 2006
- o February 2006
- o March 2006
- o April 2006
- o May 2006
- o July 2006
- o August 2006
- o September 2006
- o October 2006
- o November 2006
- o December 2006
- o January 2007
- o February 2007
- o March 2007
- o April 2007
- o May 2007
- o June 2007
- o July 2007
- o August 2007
- o September 2007
- o October 2007
- o November 2007
- o December 2007
- o January 2008
- o March 2008
- o April 2008
- o May 2008
Credits:o francey design
o blogger
DVD Clubs
The Anti-Climax
You Are What You Read?
Down and Out in Gasing Hills
To go or not to go
Last but not least
Highlights of My Yesterday
Humongous Words
Questionnaires Galore
AF: Benci Tapi Mahu
Time after time
Ya Saudara...
Mind Blowing Goes Syndication
Tag You're It: The Sequel
Ask me not
Disturbing behaviour
Endau Rompin: A photoblog
Tag You're It
Cikadis
Moving On
Michelin Man
Tale of Two Concerts
Selangor Maju?
After much thinking, worrying, getting sick and looking for Divine intervention, I made my mind up.
So I won't be going to Kemaman after all. So much for the hype.
Thank you for the wishes.
Thank you for the makan-makan.
Thank you for the solemn faces.
Instead, I took up an offer to join the Big G. (read: Gomen)
It wasn't an easy decision to make. To this day, it's the biggest decision I've made in my life.
Thank you to everyone who lent their wisdom and advice. You know who you are.
But I'm not gonna look back.
Instead, I will look forward to the future.
A brighter one, I hope.
Amin.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Saya berasa sedikit tersinggung apabila membaca artikel ini di dalam NST. Saya sebagai anak Melayu tulen tidak memahami apa salahnya membaca tentang hantu jembalang. Yang penting ia tidak bertentangan dengan aqidah saya dan saya membacanya sebagai hiburan. OK lah, mungkin saya tidak membesar di kota di mana watak-watak seperti Superman dan Spiderman bermain dalam imaginasi anak-anak kecil. Yang saya ada hanyalah cerita-cerita dari Opah saya tentang Hantu T*tek yang akan datang dan menyorokkan kanak-kanak yang masih bermain selepas waktu Maghrib. Di samping itu, kami juga dilarang bermain di semak belakang rumah kerana ada penunggu di situ.
Sebenarnya saya memang gemar membaca dan mengambil tahu tentang perkara-perkara misteri ini. Disebabkan orang-orang macam sayalah, rancangan seperti Misteri Nusantara dan pengedar VCD Entiti boleh cari makan. Di samping itu juga, boleh la tolong orang Melayu berniaga. Masakan tidak majalah-majalah seperti Variasari, Variapop dan entah apa lagi Varia boleh laku di pasaran. Bukannya apa, saya seronok apabila mengetahui orang lain terseksa di dalam kubur. Saya bukannya nak ambil pengajaran sangat pun, hanya sifat 'menyibuk' yang sedia ada dalam diri saya ini ingin mengetahui siapa yang bertukar menjadi anjing dan mayat mana yang tidak diterima bumi. Sekurang-kurangnya ada juga topik perbualan saya di Kedai Kopi Pak Mat setiap hari.
Penulis artikel itu juga mempersoalkan kenapa bahan-bahan ilmiah di dalam Bahasa Melayu tidak laku di pasaran berbanding majalah-majalah hiburan dan yang berbentuk mistik. Maafkanlah saya jika saya tidak membaca The Economist, tetapi sebagai seorang penganggur yang berkelulusan PMR apa ke jadahnya saya nak membaca Dewan Sastera. Baik saya habiskan wang penat lelah saya kerja overtime di kilang belakang rumah ni untuk membeli bahan-bahan yang menarik perhatian saya. Itupun lagi elok saya beli majalah-majalah ini daripada membeli ganja seperti kawan-kawan saya yang lain.
Sebenarnya majalah-majalah seperti Mangga dan Mastika (yang suatu ketika dahulu merupakan sebuah majalah yang dihormati) tidak banyak bezanya dengan Us Weekly ataupun the National Enquirer. Fokus kedua-duanya adalah sama, iaitu gossip hangat dan cerita-cerita sensasi. Benda ini sama di mana-mana pun.
Mungkin apa yang pihak-pihak penerbit patut fikirkan adalah bagaimana untuk menarik perhatian orang supaya membeli majalah itu. Dan bukannya menyalahkan 'trend' pembaca. Anda penah membelek Dewan Masyarakat? Kalau anda sampai ke muka surat 7 tanpa menguap, saya berikan anda sepuluh sen. Ye laaa...kalau bagus saya rasa orang mesti la beli, kan? Sebagai contoh la, si polan ni..katakanlah namanya Stone. (pinjam nama saudara) Stone tidaklah suka sangat membaca tentang siapa beranak keluar ular ataupun apa yang Jehan Miskin buat di masa lapangnya. Walaupun demikian, Stone juga tidak membeli majalah-majalah seperti Dewan Sastera, Dewan Masyarakat dan dewan-dewan yang seangkatan dengannya. Bagi Stone, baik dia beli Time, Reader's Digest atau lain-lain majalah seperti itu. Walaupun harganya mungkin mahal sedikit (tidak banyak), namun isi kandungannya memuaskan dan yang penting...MENARIK pembaca.
Adakah Stone tidak mementingkan Bahasa Melayu? Dari nama samarannya mungkin tidak, tetapi kalau bahan bacaannya menarik, apa salahnya? Semasa sekolah dahulu, Stone dibesarkan dengan kisah-kisah hebat Ji Fatt dan telatah Doraemon bersama kawan-kawannya. Semuanya dipersembahkan dalam Bahasa Melayu. Boleh saja kalau hendak dapatkan versi Bahasa Inggeris. Tetapi bak kata orang, 'kick'nya tidak sama.
Mungkin cara terbaik untuk melihat 'trend' pembacaan orang Melayu bukanlah kepada jualan majalah-majalah tempatan sahaja. Dalam kunjungan saya ke ibukota, sering kelihatan orang-orang Melayu sedang mentelaah karya-karya John Grisham, Paulo Coelho dan Stephen King. Oh ya, saya terlupa Stephen King juga suka menulis tentang hantu jembalang.
Jadi mungkin dapat disimpulkan bahawa sesetengah orang Melayu lebih gemar membaca bahan bacaan di dalam Bahasa Inggeris. Kenapa ya? Itu susah sedikit la saya nak jawab. Ye laaaa...saya kan lulusan PMR sahaja.
Mat Batu, Mambau
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Personal matters aside, 2 things caught my eye as I picked up today's NST at the Sentral Station this morning.:
Newcastle is set for a takeover? To make things more interesting, rumours are that it's a Malaysian-based group. Wahhh...Malaysia Boleh!
Dr. M is back with a bang. This AP issue is getting more and more interesting by the day. Macam soap opera lak.
In any case, welcome back Tun. I miss your lashing tongue.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
A. You're just full of bulls***
B. You're not going? Darn it!
C. Attention seeker!!
D. Ceh. Buang duit je belanja ko.
E. I don't give a damn whether you go or not. Sama je.
F. Kau gile.
Something came up. Lagipun kasi saspens sikit... (if there are any)
A decision has yet to be made. Wish me the best. I really need it.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Last LRT ride to work.
Last time to catch a movie on a weekday.
Last time to taste the nasi lemak makcik.
It's not as if i'm going to Mars or something. Still here in good 'ol negaraku Malaysia.
Yet in some ways, I am sad.
I know this is not the end of everything in my life. Just changes.
But I guess one thing is for sure...
This is my last day of work here.
And with that, probably my last post from this trusty PC of mine.
1. Took a ride on the LRT to work for the last time...errr..this year?
2. Smiled at the 'Awek Tingkat Tiga'. She didn't respond though. Huh.
3. I started to pack my things at the office and sent email notifications.
4. I realized that I didn't have as much stuff as I thought at the office.
5. Had a fabulous dinner with some university buddies.
6. Realized that you can be as loud as you want at Madam Kwan's.
7. Got treated to a great dessert at Strudels. Nyum.
8. Had Kuman to accompany me on the train ride home. This is a first.
9. The office took me out for a farewell lunch at La Rambla. I was so touched.
10. The staff even gave me a farewell present. Thanks a million. I'm gonna miss this amazing group of people.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
To feed my intellectual ego, i wanna use a big word today:
When i'm feeling lackadaisical, there's always the Gasing house to ameliorate me.
Errr...make that two words.
Am i being ostentatious?
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
January. i was born in it. why would i want another month?
if I were a day of the week I would be:
Sunday. laid-back, a lil' melancholic feel to it, just lazing away.
if I were a time of day I would be:
Dawn. I rarely see it, and so i cherish it.
if I were a planet I would be:
Mars, coz that's where men are from.
if I were a sea animal I would be:
A dolphin. Smart and cute. What i like to imagine myself to be. Hahaha.
if I were a direction I would be:
Lost. Because i don't know where i'm headed.
if I were a piece of furniture I would be:
A rocking chair. Watch the time go by.
if I were a sin I would be:
Greed. i want everything.
if I were a historical figure I would be:
Some significant symbol that people recognise yet they don't remember who. Like the Burning Monk or that guy who stood alone in front of the tanks in Tiananmen Square.
if I were a liquid I would be:
Teh O. Do i need to explain why?
if I were a tree I would be:
Those Sequoia trees in California. Thousands of years old and still going strong.
if I were a flower/plant I would be:
Daisies. A picture of happiness yet who knows what goes on inside?
if I were a kind of weather I would be:
Spring. Not too cold and not too hot. Keyword here is suam.
if I were a musical instrument I would be:
Guitar. The sound of it strumming just completes me.
if I were a color I would be:
Blue. No explanations needed.
if I were a vegetable I would be:
Carrots coz Bugs makes it so cool to munch on one.
if I were a sound I would be:
The sound of trees swaying in the wind because it's so soothing.
if I were an element I would be:
Water. Refreshing.
if I were a car I would be:
A Proton. Everyman's car.
if I were a song I would be:
A song written by Alanis. She knows me well. Honest.
if I were a movie I would be directed by:
Cameron Crowe because my life would have great soundtracks.
if I were a book I would be written by:
Garth Ennis. Violently funny. Okay, so he writes comic books but who cares?
if I were a food I would be:
Any kind of homemade masak lemak. Deliciously sinful.
if I were a place I would be:
Cheers. Where everybody knows your name.
if I were a material I would be:
Cotton. Soft and cooling.
if I were a taste I would be:
Bittersweet. Coz i'm like that.
if I were a scent I would be:
The smell of the outdoors after a heavy rain. There's no word to describe it.
if I were a word I would be:
@#$%&
if I were an object I would be:
A wheel. Simple yet usable.
if I were a body part I would be:
The eyes becoz that's the window to the soul.
if I were a facial expression I would be:
A poker face, becoz some say i don't have an expression.
if I were a cartoon character I would be:
Barney Rubble. I'm always the nice, blur sidekick.
if I were a shape I would be:
A circle. I have no edges.
if I were a number I would be:
0. because i think i'm worth that.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
but like it or not, demam AF is everywhere. even though for me..it wasn't demam like the previous ones. i have yet to watch a full AF concert from start to finish. and yet, i am still aware of what goes on. the scandals. the controversies. God help me.
tak namanya orang Melayu sejati kalau tak tau pasal AF. can i say that? of course. because from the office to even my own family dinner, people talk about AF. i can't believe we talked about Mawi over ikan bakar in Port Dickson. Mawi, you are one lucky dude. my Dad knows who you are. and i thought the only celebrity he knows is Clint Eastwood and P. Ramlee.
and receiving a forwarded e-mail about the so-called conspiracy against Mawi by ASTRO just takes the cake. for goodness sake, ASTRO called him up after rejecting him for the first time. what does THAT tell you? c'mon la AF fans, for one f***in' minute, please use your brains once in a while. he's the star attraction, why the hell would they want to get rid of him?
this entry seems to be more foucused on Mawi rather than the show. which is exactly what the show has become anyway..The Mawi Show. okay, okay...i'm no big fan of the guy. so people say he's got the 'package'. he's the perfect example of the kid from the kampung who's living his dream. i'm not taking anything from him, but pleaseee la. we've known him for hardly 3 months. and to judge him as the next male 'Siti', isn't that a bit premature? we've even got politicians on the Mawi bandwagon. ahhhh well...artis and Datuks, what else is new?
for me, it seems kinda funny how much attention is given to this small lucky group of people. i think some singers who've been around years in showbiz doesn't receive this type of attention. the fact that i'm blogging about them is one testament to the popularity of AF. i feel that the show is quite enjoyable, but the stories behind it is what makes it yummier. without the controversies, AF is just another show. maybe ASTRO has AF spin-doctors of their own. and if they do, i tell you these guys are good. really good.
so what's next in Mawi's world? one thing i know, i'm rooting for Amylea. the girl may not have the looks, but the talent's there, baby. and she doesn't seem to be trying hard to act in front of the camera. because that's the way it should be. just be yourself.
macam nak demam je.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
1. was worried about how many friggin A's i was gonna score in the PMR
2. had a crush on Cikgu Aiza
3. never heard of the Internet
five years ago, i...
1. was partying in Bukit Bintang ushering in the new millennium
2. was busy preparing for AVD (in some ways, i think it was a waste of time)
3. was worried whether i'll finish my degree
one year ago, i...
1. had just changed jobs and started going to the gym (that's 2 items, huh)
2. was a happy chap without purpose
3. started to know this one particular girl
yesterday, i...
1. went to see my 3rd movie in 3 days
2. used the services of PLUS Ronda for the 1st time in my life
3. didn't have nasi for the whole day, which rarely happens because my stomach acts funny in the absence of rice. (i call it perut melayu)
today, i...
1. went to an engagement ceremony. Congrats Nadz!
2. feel sleepy as hell
3. am at home in seremban, where they are rationing water and it sucks. saya mau air saya.
tomorrow, i...
1. will be on my last week of working in KL before i move to the East Coast
2. feel sooooooo lazy to go to work
3. wanna start to pack my stuff. There. I've said it.
Thanks Chi for the Questionnaire. Got any more aaaa? You know I want to :)
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Lance Armstrong still leading the Tour de France after 11 stages. He announced that this will be his last Tour. Compared to previous years, this year i'm rooting for the man. (I hate favourites) 7 Tour wins back-to-back? The last time Lance wasn't wearing the Yellow Jersey, I was still in Banting. That long ago mannn. If there's one guy to do 7 in a row, i wouldn't want it to be anyone else.Amri Emre seems to be heading for Tyneside. Will he or will he not? Fingers crossed.
Lee Chong Wei's win over the weekend and the appointment of Rexy Mainaky as coach provides us some hope over Malaysia's badminton future. Time to start playing badminton at the pagar rumah again.
Negeri Sembilan qualifies for the Super League next season. Hooray! Lama tak merasa burger sejuk kat Paroi.
This is not really sports news, but Soccernet just turned 10. More remarkable is that it was founded by a 12 year-old kid. He's now 22 (duh-uh) and earning gazillion dollars because people like me depend on his website for all things football. On another note, they have this 10 Year Anniversary Special. It's great just to relive the memories of ooh-ahh Cantona and the great Keegan-esque attacking brand of Newcastle football that captured my imagination. O Ginola, where art thou?
And for those newly-converted Chelsea fans, you can also do your homework here. At least takde la malu sangat bila orang tanya Petrescu who?
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
1. Myself : I don't know how to describe myself. I'm a fusion of crazy+silly+loud mouthed+dreamy+sometimes sensitive guy who thinks a lot about nothing. How's that to challenge Seinfeld?
2. Wisdom : I like to think i'm a smartass. Wisdom-wise, i look up to my parents, my dad especially. I may not agree with him most of the time, but he's my hero. I like to pretend i know better than him during our clashes, but deep down...i don't know nuts. My mom's a gem too. She has this little philosophy on life that i like to listen to over late dinner with her. Her thoughts of course, would go along with a neighbourhood/family gossip in which in the end there would be a moral to the story. Haha...ini baru infotainmen namanya. It's nothing actually, but she's really a tough lady. Tak caya tanya bapak aku..hehe.
3. Regrets : I hate this word. It's like saying my life now sucks because ..... (fill in the blanks). My life doesn't suck now. It could have been better, yes. But no regrets. Seize the day, baby.
4. Family : Can't live without them. My heart and soul, i guess. My escape from everything. I have a dual-personality. At home, i am so-not-my-usual-self. I am the good son. Who mows the lawn when insructed, dan tidak melepak berpeleseran. Best.
5. Films : I am inspired by them. Movies have been my fascination ever since i could understand what they were saying. When there's nothing else to do, there's always a good movie to keep me company.
6. Faith : Sometimes i can't understand Atheists. In times of need, when you have no where else to go and no one to help you, who do you turn to? Faith in a Greater power have always helped me go through the tough times in my life. I hope i never, ever lose this faith. Alhamdulillah.
7. Friends : I am nothing without my friends. I feel blessed to have known every single one of you. Aku rasa aku takde musuh, even though aku tau korang mengumpat belakang aku...hehe. I wish i was more closer to my childhood friends though. Tu pasal la balik seremban boring kot.
8. Ideas : Saya ada banyak idea, tetapi kebanyakannya agak radikal dan tidak berfaedah. Saya suka idea-idea saya. Ia memberi saya satu macam kepuasan. Luahan di blog ini adalah satu bentuk luahan idea saya. Saya harap idea saya dapat diluahkan dalam medium yang lain juga. :p
Tagging time. I pick Kuman, Popo, Keng, Affy, Nik, Chics and Nadz. I don't have a reason. I just want u to update ur blog...hehe
P/S: Tag/send me those dumb questionnaires. Make 'em up if you have to. I don't care. I am officially addicted.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
1. Who's your favourite serial killer?
Wahhh...favourite? I hate favourites coz u have to decide which is the best among the many best that you like. Being an undecisive person, my choices may vary from day to day. I'm not answering the question here, am i? Okay laa...if there is a favourite serial killer it would be Jack the Ripper for the simple reason that after 100+ years, we still don't know who he/she really was. Dahmer, Bundy, Berkowitz might be superstars, but look what happened to them. Jack? He literally laughed his way to the grave. During a time when serial killers didn't even have a name for what they did, Jack the Ripper was the first. And he didn't get caught. He didn't even have Marlyn Manson or violent Hollywood movies to blame for what he did. Genius.
2. Serial killers are born, not bred. Discuss.
No way. They're not born like that. It's how they were brought up and their surrounding environment. In short, they were bred to be monsters. Look at all the notorious killers. They didn't exactly have a rosy-dosy childhood did they? The traits are almost the same. Broken family, bullied, molested and traumatised during childhood. I don't think Dahmer would become like he did if say, he was my brother or something. Not that i would love for him to be my brother, but it would have been a different story. Totally different.
3. In your opinion, why are there no serial killers in Malaysia?
Hmmm..interesting. I guess i blame psychopaths on the economic situation of a country, being the more advanced you are, the more likely that you'll have madmen running loose. That's why the good 'ol US of A has tons of these psychos. I guess Asians generally are not that violent due to our tradition of close family values. So i repeat here again, it's how these people are brought up. Let's see...Mom is smoking pot. Dad just came back from the bar. Sister is high on cocaine. Brother is shooting empty cans at the back. I think i'll study some calculus. Yeah right.
4. What is your most humiliating experience?
Oh boy...i cringed when i read this question. This is not a well-known fact, i don't tell about this much, but since i wanna be as honest as i can on these questions, here goes. Masa Form Four dulu, aku penah jatuh ke dalam kolam Masjid Negara. You read that right. Kolam Masjid Negara. Lepas Maghrib pulak tu, time orang ramai baru abis sembahyang berjemaah. Dah la masa tu PPM Final, tambah lagi celaka. That was the worse day in my life mannn. Nasib baik sekolah aku menang. Tak sia-sia aku buat kuak lentang kat situ. Bodoh punya badge, sebab nak pasang kau la aku jatuh. Dah laaa..i'm turning red as i'm typing this out. Shit.
5. Many parents panic and experience bouts of depression when their grown up kids don't show any signs of getting hitched by the age of 25, especially so when it's their daughters. Why do you think this is so? Is this an appropriate model for the younger generation?
I guess parents being parents are concerned about their kids. So by the time when the jiran sebelah and all the sedara-mara starts to ask THE question, they get jumpy. They start to panic. Oh noooo...my superstar kid prodigy is gonna grow old with cats. Abang/angah/adik, bile nak kawin? Dah ada boifren/gerfren? Orang mana? Lawyer? Magistrate? Whatever.
So please excuse them. Orang Melayu memang suka bab-bab kawin ni. Favourite topic. So that they can boast they have the best reception, The best food. The coolest guests. Or it can become a great topic to gossip on. Makan tak sedap la. Servis tak elok la. Apa tuk nenek lagi laa. In short, it's all peer pressure. Not just peers, but the whole keturunan pressure. And it's not good for the young ones. Ingat kawin ni main2 ke? Belaja tak abis lagi dah kawin. Mana ko dapat duit? PTPTN kasi loan extra ke sapa yang kawin masa study? Or takkan FAMA kot. Oh yeah, of course la kann. Thank goodness for parents like these. Next to Goverment subsidy, parental aid is what keeps the orang Melayu going. Cayalah.
The Official Interview Game Rules
1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Sila, sila. Jangan malu-malu. Saya takde keje ni. Kalau nak tanya saya lagi pun bole. Just make sure there's 5 questions. Boy, i'm gonna miss this.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Last weekend was a blast. Me and a couple of buddies went down over to spend the weekend away from the big, bad city of Keyel and went to Rompin. Because if u wanna get away, this place is really away. Actually, this was a trip long overdue. I can't even believe that we finally did it. The journey there was an adventure itself, through the kampung roads of Kuala Pilah, Muadzam Shah and finally, Rompin. And how i love long road trips, but only if i have company. And in Tippie and Mandorm, i had the best ones around, especially Tipah with her endless supply of sn
acks. The journey didn't start off as rosy though, with some people getting a glimpse of my short-temperedness. Luckily, all is fine and things were buried by the time we reached our destination. My sincere apologies to all. Altogether our rombongan of 3 cars with 9 people could challenge Mak Cik Kiah any day. Making our way from that house in Jalan Gasing on Friday night was really a smart move. Driving at night is a delight, especially when there's not too many cars on the road. And by using the Seremban-Bahau-Muadzam Shah route, i don't think i would be dissapointed by the traffic which was almos
t non-existent. Reached there around 2.30 am, with the reception desk waiting eagerly for our arrival. No prizes for guessing why. It's a good thing we were greeted with a smile after a long journey, so kudos to that awek-jaga-reception Summerset Resort Friday night shift. Other than that, their staff wasn't particularly happy shiny people like how they appeared on those dumb travel brochures. But a few unreliable hotel staff wasn't gonna ruin our vacation. No way, Jose. We were gonna have fun. And fun we did have right, Jeg? Hehe.
It's a shame though that Jeg could have had fonde
r memories of our trip here. Takpelah, setakat Endau Rompin ni apa la sangat compare dengan Ibiza, kan? Actually, the resort was a great place for a getaway from everything. And i mean everything, because i had to go all the way to the town of Kuala Rompin just to get a decent line for a phone call. The best bet you can get in the resort area is probably from the top of one of the palm trees. So mobile coverage aside, this was the place to laze around and do fun stuff all day. We played water polo, volleyball and swam in the swimming pool till the chlorine got to our heads. T
he beach? I lost count the number of times we went down there. This is the way life should be. Stay in the sun until it scorched our skin. And watching the sun rise in the morning was one helluva sight i tell ya. I'm not known for my early rise in the morning, especially during the weekends. But this one was really worth it. No wonder people live longer when they wake up early. Dawn breaking is just a picture of calm and peacefulness. Am lucky to be able to get it all in. I guess a breath of fresh air that isn't fortified with carbon monoxide really feels good too. I
t's kinda funny that when i think about it, i can't imagine how i can survive in the rural areas, where the shops are dead and buried by nine and where everything seems to be so laid back and moving in slow-motion. It was peaceful and relaxing yes, but living everyday like this could make me go berzerk. But since this was the weekend, i just let everything out. I just did what i wanted to do. And i think the salty air got to my head too, coz i was doing cartwheels all over the place. High gile menerbalikkan diri tau.
I dunno why, but on some moments i think that this would be among the last 
time i'll enjoy myself with this amzing group of people. With the move to Kemaman and all, it really did strike me that my life will change dramatically from next month. I always thought that being away would be good for me, because i've always thought of myself as an independent person. Yet, it frightens me to know that i have to start things afresh, the last time being 13 years old where i knew no one and every face was a stranger. The unknown future awaits me. Though frightening, it is intriguing to see how far the rabbit hole goes. The trip back to KL was a pleasant one. Being so used to driving, it's nice to sometimes lay in the back seat
and let someone else worry about the traffic. At least it gives me some time to just relax and let my mind loose. (read: think and worry about the future) By Sunday evening, we finally stumbled upon something that was strangely missing for the past 2 days: A traffic jam. Yes, Kuala Lumpur at last. Polluted air, crazy drivers and all. It's nice to be home.
Thanks to everyone who was involved directly or indirectly with this trip. You know who you are. Thanks a million. You people are like brothers and sisters to me.
Friday, July 08, 2005
1. i'm an egoistic self-centered male
2. i don't care and don't give a damn when you last kissed someone or what your favourite colour is. i do care about what you think though...
3. it's my opinion that you do these kinda quizzes when you have nothing else to write about.
referring to Number Three, i don't have anything else to write about today. besides, i've tendered my resignation oredi, so i don't feel like doing any kinda work. i just wanna blog all day...haha. okay okay, i'll just shut my mouth and here goes:
Source No. 1: Kuman
The Things I Do When No One Around Me Wants To Go Out And Play?
1. watch my compiling stack of unwatched DVDs
2. blog: reading or writing 'em
3. read something other than a book: porn mags magazines, newspapers
What lowers my stress/blood pressure/anxiety level?
1. Doing any sports activity
2. Bebudak Gasing
3. Makan
4. Blogging
5. Balik rumah Seremban
6. This is the honest-to-goodness truth: praying
Source No. 2: She-who-shall-not-be-named
3 screen names you have had:
Wahhh...semasa zaman kehangatan MIRC, i've used:
Mr. Brown (taking cue from Reservoir Dogs...ehem)
polyester_sucks (i dunno why the hell i chose this name)
maguire80 (this is the cheesiest of 'em all. i just love Jerry Maguire. period.)
3 physical things you don't like about yourself:
It's not being tak bersyukur or whatever. But if i have to answer i would say my round face, my funny hair and errr...that's about it.
3 parts of your heritage:
Honestly, i dunno much about my heritage. what i know is that my dad is half-Melayu half-Japanese and that my mother's ancestors came from the island of Sumatra. (i did some Googling and lo and behold...my great-great grandfather is on Wikipedia Indonesia. hehe...sapa la rajin Wiki pasal dia tu)
3 things that scare you:
The unknown, dissapointments and not being free.
3 of your everyday essential:
Johnson's baby oil, deodarant and fresh pair of underwear...hehe
3 things you are wearing right now:
Office flip-flops, jeans (haha...we get to wear jeans on Friday) and a black chequered shirt
3 of your fav bands or musical artists:
U2, Kak Alanis and the Beatles (i like things in black and white)
3 of your fav songs: benci sial soalan camni, banyak gile dowhh lagu sedap. so i'll put whatever song i'm listening to over and over recently: Howie Day's Collide, Stereophonics' Dakota and Peter Pan's Mimpi Yang Sempurna
3 things you want in a relationship:
Chemistry (is there such a thing?), lotsa love and knowing someone cares for me like me mama. ohhh...sungguh poyo ayatku ini.
2 truths and a lie: I like writing, i'm a dreamer and all my dreams will come true.
3 physical things about the preferred sex that appeal to you:
Nice eyes, huggable (betul ke eja ni?) and something i cannot mention here. :p
3 of your favorite hobbies:
Movies, dreaming and writing crap like this
3 things you really want to do badly right now: Shut the loud-talking guy on the phone beside me, go makan and go home
3 careers you have considered: 3 je?? ok laaa...FBI Profiler, superstar journalist like Christiane Amanpour and screenwriter
3 places you want to go on vacation: The Big Apple, Russia and maybe a road trip across America...i too have this thing for all things American :)
3 kid's names you like: a kid?? i'm not even married yet. tak nak jawab la. i'll save this when the time comes...
3 things you want to do before you die: 3 words: Seize the day!
3 ways that you are stereotypically a guy:
my ego is as big as you-know-what, i like to talk dirty (refer the phrase before this) and lazing around talking bulls*** is a favourite pastime
3 celeb crushes: I used to have this hugeeeeeee crush on Martina Hingis (almost wrote a letter to her...stalker siall), Cameron Diaz wooed me in There's Something About Mary and Julia Roberts' smile is as good as Mona Lisa
3 people that I wud like to see take this quiz:
Those who have nothing to blog about, those who are on my links and the guy who came across this blog while Googling for Najwa Ampang. for the friggin hundreth time, I DO NOT HAVE THE CLIP. thank you.
Mannn...the last time i ate one of these was probably 1986. But the taste remains the same after all these years. (or maybe becoz i was too jakun finding Chickadees on the shelf) I didn't know they manufactured this anymore. I think every kid who grew up in the 80's must have heard of Chickadees. This was the king of junk-food, who ruled the snek ringan world long before Twisties and Super Ring. I'm a nut for all things retro, so i grabbed a packet the moment i saw it. Somehow, the Cheeky Chicken tagline on the package bothered me. Reminded me of the Cheeky Song....eughhh
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
this statement sounds so bold, doesn't it? it usually screams out in front of the leading newspapers whenever someone important resigns. (or is forced to do so)
i'm not important nor will the newspapers care. but...
Saya letak jawatan.
i resigned from my current job yesterday.
i guess a better opportunity and experience came by. they say opportunities doesn't knock twice. that's why i'm answering the door.
i hope i'm making the right decision. as with all things in life, it's a gamble. and only time will tell if it's the right one. i honestly do hope so.
another change of environment. from the hustle and bustle of the inner city to the hot and humid conditions in Kemaman.
maybe it's my way of getting away from it all.
maybe i'll find solace in the land where my mother was born.
maybe i just want the money.
whatever the reason is, like sheryl crow said, 'A change will do you good.'
yeah, i hope she's right.
Monday, July 04, 2005
but there's something about changing a flat tyre that's so manly.
macho sial aku.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
come on laaa...let's weigh in the factors: Live 8 comes in the footsteps of Live Aid held in London 20 years ago. it's probably the biggest musical event of our generation held in 10 cities with the hope of eradicating debt in Africa. Konsert Akademi Fantasia comes in the footsteps of AF1 and AF2 where the winners become super-huge popular mega-stars. though not held in 10 cities, it's held in the centre of our country's administration, Putrajaya. though both concerts are free, one could argue that the hyper-charged emotional environment and suprises in store for Akademi Fantasia viewers outweigh those from probably all 10 venues of Live 8. tit-for-tat, it's a close one to call. which one would u rather see? the botak head of Micheal Stipe or Mawi? the sexiness of Madonna or Marsha? the quick-wit of Will Smith or Felix? you get the idea of my dilemma here, people? i almost tore my brains out.
so as someone who can't really make tough decisions in life, i opted for the safe side: i juggled between the channels. channel balancing is no easy feat, especially when you have a mother and relative within close proximity of the telly. because u know the preference. where the difference between Bob Geldof and Bob AF2 are not clearly distinguished.
in any case, i got the best of both worlds. i got to see history being made for two reasons: the first time two contestants were ejected from Akademi Fantasia, and on the other hand, probably the biggest musical gathering held with the hope that poverty will one day become history.
though some see Live 8 as another marketing strategy where the biggest stars do something to give back to society (read: superstars have a heart too despite the gazillions they earn), i think it sends out the correct message. i mean, what better way to raise awareness other than through pop icons? face the facts: we thrive on celebrities. and when they say something, most times out of many, we listen. and by making Live 8 free, i think that was in good taste, because when you want the world's G8 leaders to cancel debt in Africa, you've gotta say, "Hey, we don't want money for doing this. If i could use without the extra cash, why can't you too?"
it's good to get an idea of how African countries will benefit from this debt relief. CNN has great coverage on Live 8 and the upcoming G8 meeting in Edinburgh. some critics argue that debt cancellation will do nothing to change things in Africa, as long as there are corrupt goverments and leaders still in power. my view is let's take things one at a time. there will of course be certain terms if say, the superpowers are willing to cancel the debt. i really hope that the money gained from this will be used entirely and wisely to assist the poor in Africa, and not some leader in Tanzania who gains to make a few bucks just because he can.
sometimes these people really make me angry. how the hell is the world going to help you if you can't even be trusted to help your own kind? corrupt African leaders with their own agenda are like parasites that feeds off its host. and in the end, everybody dies. i guess everywhere in the world is the same, whether you're rich or poor.
i read that 18 African countries are set to be able to benefit from these cancellations. that's a good start, don't you think? as long as the correct channels are used, and that the money gained from the cancellation of debt be put into good use, i say why not?
i'm glad they held this concert. it certainly opened up my eyes on the issues in Africa. i think the best way to gain from Live 8 is to be aware. awareness can do wonders. take a moment and have a read through the following websites:
Make Poverty History
Whiteband.org
One.org
Other good links
Official Live 8 Website
and if you have the time, why not just sign-up your name, too? i'm no activist and don't claim to be one, but just imagine how meaningful it would be for someone in Africa who's barely surviving to know that hundreds of miles away, someone is worrying about their future and is doing something about it. just imagine how it would be if we were to be born right smack in the middle of Ghana? is it a choice to be born into that situation? nobody wants to be poor. and i think the world could really use without poverty.
can we make poverty history? we sure can try.
Friday, July 01, 2005
this is due to Selangor's efficiency in clearing out the Bukit Cherakah area, the ever-so-reliable state agencies, and the quickness of its local politicians in getting to the scene whenever something is highlighted on TV.
Tahniah Datuk! i'm looking forward to the free sate during the celebrations.