show's flow

Closure

2010-11-22T22:26:00.002+08:00

This inactive blog will be closed soon. Yes I have not been writing for quite a while now. But, considering where I will potentially be in a few months, I think I'll be tapping away on the keyboard a lot more than I used to.

Watch out for the new and improved rant-space from moi.

Au Revoir....

GOT CAFFEINE?

2010-09-14T19:39:00.000+08:00

Well now that Raya is over, I'm definitely making full use of the ability to drink by having a cup of my favorite home brew everyday. I know this cant be good for me but hey, I've been caffeine free for a month.. bagi la can... not like im planning to give up caffeine anyway. :p

Let's see... what's been going on... (obviously don't have a specific topic to this entry)... Aside from the sizzling story of the make-up lady and her posse's tragic murder, and me getting getting fatter as I read up on the conspiracy theories and news clips surrounding it ,while gnawing through Raya cookies, rendang, chocolates etc, nothing much has been going on.

Not to say that I haven't had much to do during the holidays though; The room is spiffy clean except for one closet, been looking at a new car (thanks to a v. generous offer from beloved big bro which i still think is too much and unnecessary) and diving into a book about becoming an expert on using my Canon G10.

The G10 is definitely no point-and-shoot camera la. Although it can be set to AUTO to function that way, it's been doing wonders in my un-trained hands and compared to a buddy of mine's DSLR, the same image we shot came out with superior results from my nippy DSLR wanna-be. Hah!

Well I haven't even reached halfway through the book but I've already learnt stuff I never knew it could do before, like the face detection auto timer, the awesome flash compensation digital monitor, the stitch panorama and gosh, who the hell knows what more is in store..

I'm still working on the book but be sure that once I'm done, I'll show you what this bad boy can do. Of course, if you can't wait go ahead and google G10 reviews and you'll see some of the mad awesome shots from professional shooters. In the meantime, here's a couple of self portrait shots of yours truly using the auto face detect, of course, while not knowing what the heck I was doing.. very basic shots. hehe.

and this is a video i call "the blue car" ppffftttt..... nevermind... video took too long to upload....

raya

2010-09-08T21:07:00.001+08:00

Tonight, I thought, for once, the Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja might suprise us all. But, as usual, he didn't. But anyway it was nice to see hime again :)

Raya is here and I can't wait. I desperately need to restart my gym sessions and get my daily caffeine fix. Yes, I have been using the fasting month to not go to the gym. Shame on me. But honestly, there wasn't any time. Hehe.

Anyway, today I finally managed to submit my short story on receiptstories.my. Go an check it out and see if you can figure out which one is mine. But honestly writing a story in 100 words is actually quite a daunting task. I envy those who can do it, especially those who do within a short amount of time.

But more importantly, Selamat Hari Raya to all and do stay safe no matter where u are. MZB!

from the berry

2010-09-07T01:49:00.001+08:00

Well halluuu...
It's been a while. Haven't been able to find the time to sit down and write for the past few weeks. Thus to improvise and revolutionize how I work, I am trying to put in this entry via blackberry, and it seems to be going quite well, I must say.
Okay, now that it's established that this can be done, be sure to expect more entries from me on a more timely basis now that I don't have to sit with my laptop or steal work time to write. :)

Till the next one, keep it real :)

Moving Office

2010-08-18T16:04:00.000+08:00

Today marks the last day I will be coming into work at 3rd Floor Hangar 3 Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang. Fortunately, I still have a job but I will just have to move to the airport office in Sepang permanently due to a restructuring exercise.

So apart from the sadness, and dissapointment of having to move to the further office permanently (without compensation), I'm kinda bummed to have to leave this very spot that I have been going to for the past 4.3 years. I've gone through a lot while sitting here. Many people, issues, drama, joyful and idiotic moments, boring periods, time-wastage, hard work, long hours, weekend hours, haunted sessions, laughter and even tears happened here. And it will forever be a very important part of my life.

Goodbye my cube. You will be missed.

Let's hope this change is for the better yeah?

Money money money

2010-07-15T13:50:00.002+08:00

In case you haven't heard (in which case I gotta ask you where the hell have ya been?) RedFM is giving away RM 60,000 just like that. Yup. Just like that. And you read it right. It is Enam Puloh Reeeeebs. You just hefta listen out for our 60K Music Takeaway Song... and if you follow the instructions, BAM, you're rich. Checkout the details on www.red.fm

RedFM is your ultimate bank. Just check out the amount of money we've given or are giving out right now:
1. We just gave away 20K on the FB Frenzy.
2. We got over 9K on Word Up
3. We got over 3K on What's the movie
4. And now, we got 5K EVERY MORNING for a limited time, one RedFMs RM5000 Minute on Breakfast with JD and Dilly.
AND MORE...

All this on top of the 60K Music Takeaway thats going on right now.

Haiyoh... if you guys don't tap this i'm speechless la.

So make sure you're tuned in to Red FM every minute of every hour of every day (yes, even when you're asleep) and check out www.red.fm. Then when you're all richer, contact me for a night out, on you. :)

On another note,

I hate it when things get complicated. Period.

EXERCISES FOR SUPER FAST FAT BURNING AND MUSCLE BUILDING !!!! (Brandon C...

2010-07-12T23:46:00.000+08:00

Urut kaki

2010-07-12T13:41:00.000+08:00

I went for a foot massage yesterday. Must say it was one of the better ones I've ever had. Even compared to the ones i tried before. Even when compared to the ones I did in Thailand and China!

The interesting part was that for the first time, the guy doing the reflexology was a Malay guy from Terengganu. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It was just interesting because usually reflexology massages are not practiced by Malays. And to find one who does it so well... interesting indeed.

Unfortunately since he was from my hometown area, we chatted a lot and it kinda disrupted the whole 'zen' atmosphere of the place. Even got a "eh hello?" message from the friend i was with. LOL. Sorry bout that.

But anyway, go and check him out if you wanna try a good foot massage. His name is Mat in the massage parlor opposite HSBC in Damansara Uptown. I really cant remember the name but something tells me its called S8.

Later...

NOT!

2010-07-12T13:20:00.000+08:00

I think the picture says it all....

Netherlands

2010-07-07T00:41:00.000+08:00

Enter, World Cup Champions!

There ain't no Karate in Karate Kid.

2010-06-19T11:37:00.000+08:00

Here's my summary of the Karate Kid: it was an over the top effort from Jada Pinkett and Will smith to put their son in the limelight and on the fast track to Holywood.

First of all, if your looking for some good ol' Karate action that you would think would be in a movie called Karate Kid, then don't watch this movie. This was purely a Kung Fu movie.

Don't worry no spoilers here. They did maintain the same storyline, but this was purely based on Kung Fu ( of course la Jackie Chan, right?). So honestly, if it wasn't for the Smith's paying a whole load of money for the rights to the name Karate Kid in hopes of making more money and getting the most air time fir their son, this flick should have really been called Kungfu Kid. But we all know that won't sell right?

So as expected, lots of Kungfu action in this movie, (although surprisingly not much from JC) and lots and lots of unnecessary airtime for Jaden. Aside from that and the bits of humor here and there, I gotta say this movie was slightly a bit to kiddy for me. Definitely a good family movie to watch with your siblings or kids or nieces and nephews but for you martial arts junkies out there, don't waste your money on movie tickets for this. You know what to do instead ;)

But I think JC's performance in this movie is definitely worth noting. Aside from his usual action work, he actually seemed to have put extra effort in getting into character for this movie and it shows. Not exactly Mr Miyagi, but good enough to pull it off.

Okay aside from that I still have lots of movies to catch up. Haven't been watching anything much at the cinemas for a while. Time to start things up again especially when the summer session is about to start. Just gotta stay focused to avoid the snack counter. LOL

Later.

Looks, Personality or Wealth?

2010-05-26T19:38:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone!

If you didn’t manage to catch me last Sunday, you missed an excellent topic we discussed. On our Facebook page @ Red FM (Malaysia), I asked the question; “In finding a partner, what is the most important element; personality, looks or wealth? I was amazed to see so many responses and opinions. The original post and responses are still there on the page so do head there and check it out!

As expected, almost everyone, especially the majority females who responded, went for personality; kindness, responsible, big hearted etc. Sure, of course this is all good and ideal. But is it really the case?

Let me put this into perspective. Say you (a female) were out on the town socializing. And say, a guy comes up to you and says hi. He doesn’t look good and is penniless. But he has a great first impression personality-wise. Would you actually entertain him and continue the interaction? It’s a big maybe right? It’s a big maybe because personality can’t be judged so quickly. You need to get to know a person quite well before understanding his personality. But to get to that point, surely he needs to meet certain requirements for you to actually consider his personality.

First impressions are actually not really about personality, it’s about what stands out immediately about a person that catches your attention and then coerces you into wanting to get to know him a little better. This is almost always (of course arguably) about looks, and to some extent, wealth.

The key phrase in my question is “in finding a partner”. Finding. I’m talking about the point where your attention is whisked away buy a guy or girl you see. The point where you go “Oh wow!” or “hmm interesting” or “WHO is THAT?” Don’t deny it. This is usually because of how hot a person looks (applies to both males and females at both ends), or how rich he seems to be. (And never forget that beauty is in the eye of the beholder: to each, his own)

Sure, personality is important in accepting a partner and knowing whether or not he or she is good for you. It’ll actually determine whether or not the relationship is sustained etc. But, in my opinion, it’s starts after the point of meeting, after he or she has caught your attention. And what usually catches attention? That’s right. Looks and probably wealth. Personality too, but to me that comes a little later.

I’d love to hear more from you so if you have an opinion on this, find our facebook page @ Red FM (Malaysia), find this wall post from me, and leave your comments there okay? J

Praying for Bangkok...

2010-05-25T02:04:00.003+08:00

Just wanted to leave a short note here in honor of our neighboring country. Praying for the very best for them, and the rest facing the same situation. It's so sad to see how politics can bring down a city and community albeit only in certain parts. I am so thankful to be a citizen of, and living in Malaysia.

Learn from what we see. Be thankful for where we are. And pray for those in peril...

PerGo

2010-05-22T03:30:00.000+08:00

It's a Friday night.
And after a long hiatus, I finally brought myself to go out again.
I owe it to my friends, near and far, who happen to be in town this very night.
And so I did. Bringing myself to the epicenter of the city, where the dwellers crawl through the night, reveling into the morning, living life to the fullest, the way everyone should.

And there I was. Standing. Smiling. Being the person who should and ought to be there.

But I wasn't there.

I was with you. In a place when time moves neither backward or forward. In a place where everything was perfect and there wasn't a worry in sight. In a place that has now become my most beautiful memory....

The last time I was here, it was with you. The last time I actually smiled, it was with you. The last time I was where I should and ought to be, it was with you. And here I am again, without you. And thus, me being here, is not really true.

How did we get here? How did we end up living my worst fear? The answer for me will never be clear. How you are, where you are and whether or not your okay. Questions that I ask myself every single painful day.

As I was driving back tonight, this song was on air again. How apt. I'm not sure if Aizat himself wrote it, but whoever did, you got it right for me right now buddy...

Sayu terpisah
Hikayat indah kini hanya tinggal sejarah
Berhembus angin rindu
Begitu nyamannya terhidu wangian kasihmu
Sepi tanpa kata
Terdiam dan kaku tak daya kau kulupa
Apa pun kata mereka
Biarkan kenangan berbunga di ranting usia

Hujan lebat mencurah kini
Bagaikan tiada
Kaulah laguku kau irama terindah
Tak lagi kudengari
Kau pergi... pergi...
Pergi...

Missing you, are merely words. They don't come close to telling how I am feeling right now. Im still there. MTYEK...

Oh Shanghai

2010-05-19T15:58:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone!

It's been a while since I managed to update my blog. Been out of the country in April. I actually tried to blog from there but apparently China prohibits anyone from entering blogspot from there. So here was what was supposed to be blogged the last time.

It's good to be back! Missed y'all!

Hi from 39000 feet in the sky

Yup. That’s right. I am writing to you from 39000 feet as I cross the South China Sea for the third time this month.

Hi everyone! It’s been a while since I wrote here. Work has been keeping me busy and honestly, every time I think about making an entry here, some other work thing manages to swarm and flood the cavities of my mind and wash the thought away. And I end up forgetting about it up until the next time it pops up.

Yes I’ve been away for a while. I haven’t been on air basically because I haven’t been in town. Day job’s been keeping me busy in a place which I recently discovered to be a mega-city called Shanghai.

It’s been a long trip. So long, that I actually had to celebrate my birthday here and miss out on my sister’s and Amy’s in KL. And it’s not even over yet. Yessirree, I am typing this from 39000 feet above the city of Hong Kong, and heading NORTH! For the second time this month, I’ll be stepping on the grounds of Mainland China. To be exact, the crazy city of Shanghai.

In what was originally a business trip which I went with much hesitance and reluctance (I thought Shanghai was more of an old school china kinda town), the realization of the sheer magnitude of this city, with the millions of its inhabitants buzzing around in what is seemingly a very foreign lifestyle for me, has brought me to the realization that there is so much more that I haven’t seen in this world. And for our lifetime, more often than not, we will never get to see everything anyway. So I guess we’ll just have to enjoy whatever comes our way. One by one. From one portion of the earth’s surface to the other. Embracing each of them through all our senses so that the memory will remain with us forever.

Here are some shots from over a thousand that I took while in this enormous city, with a population close to that of our country. Enjoy:

So I finally got myself the telephoto lens for my G10. That pretty much burned more spirit for me to go out and take more shots. Seems like the cease of my mission to actually discover the full potential of this camera is still further away with my new tele-lens. In fact, I’m actually considering to get the flash as well.

Anyway, aside from the camera, there’re lots to say about Shanghai. I’m not gonna go through every detail but here’s my personal top 10 to-do items when in Shanghai. If you don’t manage to do at least half of these, you haven’t seen Shanghai:

1. Take the MAGLEV train to and from the airport to downtown. Speed of up to 461 km/h

2. Walk along the Bund and Pudong riverside

3. Go up Jinmao Tower or Shanghai World Financial Tower (Highest observation point in the world to date on the 100^th floor. Best part, the floor is made out of glass and you can see below. There goes the “don’t look down” part).

4. Shop at either the Yu Yuan Gardens, 580 mall on Nanjing, Science Museum underground bazaar or the underground bazaar on Nanjing road. Good stuff here (especially if you’re looking for too good to be “not real” items)

5. Have a late-night drink on top of the Shangri-La Pudong

6. Visit Xintiandi district

7. Take a evening and night walk on Nanjing road.

8. Take a taxi ride on one of the many multi layered elevated highways in downtown – don’t be surprised to find 5 different highway levels at one time. You can even drive from downtown to the airport without touching the ground level.

9. Take a taxi ride to anywhere to experience how people drive here.

10. Have a hand-made noodle soup or Shanghai hairy crabs – whichever is easier to find.

Do any three of these, and consider yourself to have truly visited Shanghai. J

On another note, I just finished watching The Blind Side on this flight, and I find this movie truly amazing. Considering it’s a true story, I would have never imagined that such kindness exists among the richer Americans living in a more “red-neck” part of the country. (I’m not talk more about the plot in case you haven’t seen it for yourself).

And for Sandra’s Bullock’s character, oh wow. That is my definition of the perfect wife. Perfection, in my opinion, from every possible aspect. That person exists, and to whom that she belongs, truly that man is beyond lucky. J What a beautiful person….

Anyways, I’m still gonna be away for a while. Will be in and out of the country and more importantly and unfortunately, off-air for a while longer. I miss you guys. I miss KL. I miss my family. I miss Amy. All this missing is making me depressed. And when I’m depressed I eat. And now I am FATTER!!!

But I’ll keep that for another entry. Stay real. Adios!!

Google Schmoogle Frooooogle!

2010-04-01T13:56:00.000+08:00

I've been spending the whole week in a meeting with a group of Germans, so pardon the title for this week.

I've started working again yesterday after a week of the gym bag sitting and waiting in my car. So at the moment I'm all Gung-Ho about working the everlasting fat off. For some reason the intensity of this determination has fluctuated quite a bit since the past few months. Don't really know why. On some reasons I just feel like, okay diet all the way and get to my ideal weight. On some days it's like" yeah whatever, that burger and fries dripping with oil looks good". Bottomline: dieting is hard, continuously being pumped up about working out is even harder.

My biggest problem aside from the hopelessness of losing the gut, is the excess fat in the pectoral area, or better known as manboobs.

Manboobs can be caused by a hormonal imbalance disease or just plain fatness. I doubt that I’m infected with a disease. It’s just good ol’ fat hangin of my upper ribs. I hate it and believe you me, it’s the second hardest if not the hardest fat to get rid of.

So, in order to motivate and strategize my gym sessions, I have compiled the top workouts to target the pectoral area to eliminate moobs, For all us males out there with some bosom’ical issues, here’re some actions that may help us out:

1- Seated chest press: Sit with your back flat against the machine and slowly push the weights straight out in a horizontal motion, then return to the starting position. Keep your breathing controlled and the movement steady. Perform four sets of 8 to 12 repetitions.

2- Cable crossovers: Attach the handles to either side of a pulley station and stand with your arms extended at shoulder level, your elbows slightly bent and your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly bring your hands together in front of you and cross them. Return to the starting position and repeat. Concentrate on using your pectoral muscles to generate the power needed to perform this action. Do four sets of 8 to 12 repetitions.

3- Incline flyes: Sitting on an incline bench at about a 45 degree angle with the dumbbells held above you, lower your hands out to the sides (but not lower than your shoulders), then bring your hands back together above you, mimicking a hugging action. Perform four sets of 8 to 12 repetitions.

4- Bench press: Lie with your back against the bench and slowly press the barbell directly upward. Make sure that your back does not rise off the bench, and that you are breathing out on the upward movement and inhaling on the downward action. Perform four sets of 8 to 12 repetitions

5- Incline bench press: The first exercise you’ll want to focus on is the incline bench press. Most gyms have a machine that focuses specifically on your upper chest; this is the incline press machine. A greater amount of muscle mass in the upper chest will tighten some of that flab around the nipples. Remember that building muscle mass with a weight training regiment requires fewer reps with greater weight.

On another note, the Google phone is out. Can it challenge the likes of the Blackberry and the iPhone?

Sluurrpp

2010-03-24T12:32:00.001+08:00

I have a mad crave boiling inside me right now. It is causing an emotional turmoil within my skin without showing an end. I have succumbed to addiction that is beyond normal means of detoxification. It may end up, that I, a pathetic, self-admitting and self-loathing addict, will have to commit to rehab for this substance, this magical creation of human kind, as I will surely head nowhere but down should I not address this addiction and nip it in the bud.

Meet the substance that has put me in this addictive trance and destroyed whatever sense of reality I had within me…

STROOPWAFEL

According to Wikipedia, a stroopwafel is a waffle made from two thin layers of baked batter with a caramel-like syrup filling in the middle. They were first made in Gouda in the Netherlands, in 1784. Large versions are sold in the streets as snacks.

I was first introduced to these heavenly wafers back in 2007 when a Dutch colleague brought it over for an aircraft oven demonstration. At first it didn’t seem like that big of a deal. But now, a few years after I first tasted it, I started craving for it like a junkie looking for a fix.

Praise God, and as if Fate has already written it as my destiny, my responsibility in my day job has carried me across the oceans and mountains to the land of the Orange, where this heavenly, mouth-watering, perfectly sweet, satisfying, orgasmic, tongue-teasing dessert was first created.

These circle-shaped bites of paradise can’t be healthy; gooey caramel sandwiched by two rich waffles can only mean a detrimentally ridiculous sugar and calorie count. But in a single sitting, I can finish 10 large Stroopwafels. Large sizes are usually about 3-4 inches across. Believe that!

Whoever you are, regardless whether you know me or not, if you end up in Amsterdam, or any other Dutch city for that matter, I ask… no, I beg you to please bring back a pack of these mystical, disc-shaped cookies for me to indulge and entertain my craving. If you do that, I will love you for life!

Oh, if you haven’t had a chance to try it for yourself, believe me, you will not regret it! Sllluuurrrppp! I can imagine it already… Alamak! Saliva dropped on laptop keyboard. How?

1 hour to show you care

2010-03-17T10:48:00.001+08:00

It’s coming. This 27^th of March, we should all participate in what originated as a media stunt in Australia for the WWF that has evolved into one of the biggest phenomenons on environmental awareness the world has ever seen. Earth Hour is celebrated world-wide at exactly 8.30PM for exactly 60 minutes.

Though I’m not much of an environmentalist, I have started to put more effort in reducing my carbon footprint like using less or no plastic bags, avoiding driving whenever I can and conserving power by using less lights (not air-conditioning though… it’s too friggin hot here). These may not be a lot, but I thought it’s better than nothing. And if more people started with these little steps, I guess in no time it would have an impact on conserving the environment.

If you haven’t started worrying or caring about the environment, Earth Hour is definitely a good start. With the slightest effort, you can make an impact by spreading the word on the event. Tell everyone you know to switch off everything for 1 hour on the 27^th of March, 2010 at 8.30PM. Tell anyone you know, spread it on Facebook, Twitter, Buzz or whatever it is that you roam with in Cyberspace. Tell your colleagues, family members and friends. Plan to get together with others that night and celebrate the hour together.

What we’re doing here is simple. It’s a message. It’s a joint statement of the people of the world, telling the leaders of the world that we care. And it’s a 60-minute wake up call to each and every one of us to start thinking about the environment and to show a little more respect for mother earth. The more awareness spread, the more people will be considerate and careful, which will lead to nothing but a reduction of carbon footprint from each of us.

Join us as we will be celebrating Earth Hour at two separate Skool Daze parties, one at G Hotel Penang and the other in Zouk KL, happening at the same time on the said date. Not only will you be having a good time celebrating earth, you will also be making an impact on the environment by joining many others under one roof, sharing the same electricity instead of each of us being at home, before and after the hour. Win exclusive invites to the party by tuning in to us until that date.

It’s a Skool Daze party so come dressed up in your school uniforms. Make it an environmentally friendly challenge by wearing your old school clothes, or creatively making something out of what you already have, instead of buying something new to be used that one time.

But don’t forget, party or not, spread the word on Earth Hour as part of your contribution to our precious mother earth.

See you there!

I love KL... but...

2010-03-10T12:04:00.000+08:00

I’m proud to be a city dweller in KL. I’ve had the privilege of travelling to many places through my day job and college days, most of them to major metropolitans around the globe. I must admit I have the habit of comparing each and every thing I see in these cities to KL. Although from most aspects, nothing beats home, I have to say that KL still leaves a lot more to ask for. Hey, I’m not complaining. Its part and parcel of being a developing city, having starting a little later than the rest. To be fair, I’m proud of where we are today. I just want us to be better.

When travelling to other cities, I usually use the public transportation system within the city especially their buses and trains. Same goes for KL whenever I need to travel around the city, especially during rush hours. So here, I think I have some ideas that KL City Hall and I guess the federal Government should consider and implement onto our public transportation system to take our level up a notch.

Buses – 1Malaysia, 1 Bus System?

Although I’m currently not a bus user, there was a period of my life where I used the bus to move around. And to be fair, with our horrid traffic conditions, our bus system is pretty damn good. But to be at par with other developed international cities, I think we need to work on a few things.

First is definitely streamlining the bus system to be completely integrated with the city. And the only way to do this is to have ONE bus system. No more MetroBus, Selangor Bus (which use really old buses too) etc. We need to remove these different bus systems so that a completely integrated and streamlined bus system can be developed to ply the streets of KL and the surrounding suburbs. This way, a dynamic and wholesome bus route map can be developed and posted at each and every bus stop, so that users, both local and foreign, can easily move around the city. On top of that, since we have only one bus operator, the system can be easily maintained and further enhanced should it be needed.

Along those lines, our bus stands should also be upgraded to a more user friendly (and more importantly – provides more shade and seats) to further welcome users from every level of the society pyramid. Yes it’ll cost, but as this will also play a role in making KL more visitor-friendly, it’ll be beneficial in the long run.

Rail - Time for better connections

I like our rail transit system. However it’s far from sufficient for KL and I think it’s time for us to start working on it. The Ampang and KJ line is good for sure, but we need more links to areas like TTDI and Mutiara Damansara. How about adding another line through Subang Jaya and USJ? These are residential hotspots with major road congestions. Investing in another MRT/LRT system here will bring back money in no time as it will give a very viable option for KLites in suburban areas to get to downtown. There has been talk of connecting the newly vibrant SkyPark in the old Subang Airport via Komuter. Bravo! This is great news! But might as well connect more with this line! Go all the way USJ & Subang Jaya. Why not include Puchong as well? I really hope these plans are on the table. Even if they are too costly to implement now, we should start planning on how we can achieve this target when it does become affordable.

Midvalley. MID valley.

Almost everyone if not everyone has been to Midvalley. I personally love it because it’s a one-stop spot to get everything I need in a mall, especially since it’s so close to my apartment. But one thing almost everyone hates about this place is the parking. Though there are thousands available, they’re almost non-existent come weekends. Prepare to spend about an hour to find one on any given Saturday.

The funny thing is that MID Valley sits right in between to major rail lines; the KJ Line and the Komuter. But up until few years ago, non were connected to the mega mall. Sure, they finally built a bridge to connect the komuter station but it’s still quite a walk to get there. Since its an open air walkway, walking from the station to the mall at midday can get quite sweaty.

Even more amusing is the KJ line which runs about 500 meters away from the mall. Yet there is absolutely no walkway connecting them. Why don’t we build a walkway from the Abdullah Hukum station to Midvalley? The station is so close that I can see the people milling around the mall from there. But to walk there… phew.. you actually have to walk around Kampung Abdullah Hukum, cross the bridge and illegally cross the Midvalley ring road. Even then, it’s quite a walk to get to the mall entrance. I don’t know who overlooked the plans when all three monuments were built but c’mon, build that bridge! Just imagine how much road traffic and parking congestions that can be eased when these malls are accessible through the rail lines!

I have more ideas to help our public transportation system. If I were to write them all, it will take me all weekend. But I welcome more ideas here and together maybe, hopefully the City Hall or Federal Government will take note some day. This will make our city that much better, and more importantly, become more internationally friendly. I know that huge funds are required to make our public transportation system better. So I really hope that the relevant groups are starting to plan for it including how to get the funds. It’s time to make this city live up to everyone’s expectations. It’s time to put a stop on how the notion that everything is perfect down south but not up north on this Peninsula. We can do this.

50 Gs!!

2010-03-03T12:50:00.002+08:00

Yup. It’s that time of the year again. It’s not Christmas just yet, but Christmas might come early if you take part in Red FMs Forty Minute Fortune and walk away with your share of 50,000 bucks. Yessirreee. 50Gs is up for grabs.

Unfortunately for me, I won’t be able to win that moolah. Instead I can only wish and dream about it. So to make the pointless wish and dreams and thoughts actually worthwhile, I have decided to share with you 50 things I would do with RM50,000. Here it goes:

1. Obviously, I would clear off all my debt and outstanding bills.

2. Put a down-payment for a new apartment or house.

3. Investing in a new car is not very good as a car is a liability (can’t make money from it). Instead, I will repaint, overhaul and redo my current car including upgrading the cabin. This does not necessarily mean it is a better investment than buying a new car.

4. Open my own restaurant to make even MORE money. Help would be needed here.

5. Hire someone to be at my day job daily. He will just have to be there to attend meetings, take calls, get blasted by my boss etc and channel everything to me at the end of the day so that I can work on it at my leisure.

6. Enroll in a scuba diving course

7. Enroll in a smoking cessation course. This may be a prerequisite to Number 6.

8. After passing #6, spend a few days diving in Sipadan.

9. Buy my family a nice dinner and a nice gift for each.

10. Buy a new IPod. You should see the condition of the current one.

11. Donate to charities and funds etc.

12. Hire someone who can do this list better than I can. How on earth am I gonna get to 50.

13. Oh… buy a new BLACKBERRY!!!

14. Get myself to the next Kings of Leon concert, wherever that may be.

15. Get myself a whole new wardrobe and donate the current one.

16. Well, obviously throw a giant bash for winning 50Gs in the first place.

17. Open my own Starbucks so that I can have any amount of Dark Mocha Frappe that I want. I can also stay as long as I want without having these people give me the look for having a glass of water and using the net for half a day.

18. Get a new sound system with a 50 inch TV to boot.

19. Subscribe to B’yond.

20. Go to Maldives before it sinks.

21. Learn how to sail and hire a yacht to travel around the beautiful islands here in South East Asia.

22. Visit my college and watch a football game in the newly completed TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, USA.

23. Visit Egypt & Switzerland, for obvious reasons.

24. Visit Alaska before it melts.

25. Enroll myself in cooking school, so I can fall back on being a Chef when my 50Gs run out, and everyone I pissed off while spending it won’t give me my job back.

26. Get myself a personal trainer to work off the weight I will put on eating the results of #25.

27. Enroll myself in pilot school.

28. Oh Oh!! Buy World Cup Tickets in South Africa, if they haven’t sold out yet.

29. Buy a machine to travel through time to tell myself not to start this list. Or at least don’t go for 50.

30. Invest in the development of converting fart into energy. This is no joke. Can you imagine the amount of energy we can get?

31. Probably buy a Segway.

32. Get myself a Mac Book.

33. Enroll in a drums course.

34. Get Ke$ha to hold a concert here in KL.

35. Start a sugar cane and coconut farm near a calm beach somewhere around here.

36. Build a nice getaway house with kampong style décor on that farm.

37. Help Burger King start a Home Delivery service with a direct route to my apartment.

38. Get myself a Tag Heuer watch.

39. Order a computer generated image of me to show how I would look like in 10 years. I will then know what to work on to avoid looking like the photo. 

40. Re-book that time travelling trip to slap myself before starting this 50 list.

41. Open a Chipotle or Burrito Loco in KL.

42. Design a tool to lock laptops to a random desk so you can go to the loo when in a starbucks/coffee bean. (eeeppp!!!)

43. Set up a group to burn down each and every pair of those kids shoes with the built in skates in them. I’m sorry they’re just annoying.

44. Go to Hawaii

45. Go to a Lady Gaga concert, wherever that may be.

46. Invest in something that can get me another 50Gs. At the rate I will be spending, I’m gonna need this.

47. If it is probable, donate towards finding the cure for cancer.

48. Buy a lazy boy.

49. Hire a masseuse for the perfect Thai massage on a weekly basis (clean)

50. Throw another huge part y for finishing this list!!!!!

So there you have it. It’s not easy to spend 50Gs. Or at least to come up with a list for it. But it’s much easier to win it on Red FM through our Forty Minute Fortune. So make sure you pay attention and listen carefully on the hour every hour!!!! Check out Red.FM

Time to look into those bills… sigh.

Amazing Thailand

2010-02-21T12:35:00.000+08:00

Sawadikapp!!! Yes I just came back from Amazing Thailand. Phuket to be exact. And yes, I am still on vacation from my day job (hah!). Unfortunately, my fantastic 2-week vacation is coming to an end.

This entry is not gonna be about Phuket. I’m still speechless on the beauty of that beach-haven (but serioiusly, I’m proud of Redang too… it’s slightly better) … and it’s gonna take a while before I can find all the right adjectives for it. So you’re gonna have to wait for that one.

I’m more interested in talking about Thailand as a whole and how far it has gone when it comes to tourism.

I’ve been to most of the major towns and tourist spots in Thailand, namely Bangkok, Haadyai, Songkhla, Chiang-mai, Koh Samui, Phuket, and the southern regions of Pattani and Narathiwat. So although I haven’t been to all the major cities in Thailand, I have been to most of them throughout my life.

The one thing I noticed about Thailand no matter which city I am in, is the value they put on each and every tourist that arrives in their country. They have a profound respect on how much a tourist can bring, and they will go out of their way to make sure that tourists feel welcomed and will experience a stay that they will never forget.

For example, Thailand has now a rule that the Airport Authority has enforced, whereby free local simcards are given out to each arriving passenger at the airport. Not only that, a guide will be standing there to explain how the Thai telecommunication system works, the charges that apply, and why they are giving away these simcards for free. That’s one thing I haven’t seen here in Malaysia (or any other country yet for that matter) since each Telco here is still pushing for their sales and trying their best to make profit out of each person they see, regardless if it’s a local or a tourist.

The Thais are also of a different level when it comes to service. They seem to put an extra amount of effort in whatever services they offer and I keep seeing that for whatever services both our countries offer, theirs is always slightly better and of higher quality. For example, I once took a taxi when in Bangkok and we were kinda lost in getting to my restaurant. Even though the driver couldn’t speak English, he actually took the initative to park the car, took out his map and actually went through the route with me in order to figure out how to get there. Whereas here in Malaysia, I was recently following a tweet string of a fellow KLite on how a taxi driver actually refused service to a tourist when he was asking for directions. The driver just waved him off and actually said “Ini KL la. Takde masa aku nak tunjuk jalan. Kalau bayar lain la” (This is KL. I don’t have time to give directions, unless there’s payment). Sad isn’t it? A compadre’ of mine told me that it’s because the service industry in Thailand survives and thrives on tips and gratuity. OK sure. But honestly, so do we… so why the difference?

The other thing I noticed about Thailand is the cleanliness of their country. Sure it’s not as insanely clean as it is in Singapore… and I’m not talking about metropolitan-like clean sidewalks and streets… even in the rural areas or a small town like Phuket, everything is clean and it looks like someone just swept the ground at any moment of the day. And believe it or not, that is actually the case! There’s always someone sweeping the grounds to make sure that everything looks good! And when I was in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Phuket, it was amazing to see the locals actually sweeping the public beaches to remove garbage, right at the break of dawn. Hence why their beaches actually have golden or white pure sand… that basically ends up in a breathtaking view every single time! They care... and continue to care… naturally… without any law enforcement or campaign… which is truly remarkable. Sadly, I don’t see that attitude among us here… except for a few… who sincerely want preserve and protect what we have.

I also believe that another reason behind Thailand’s success in the tourism industry is their pride in their heritage and tradition. They are not just proud of it, they FLAUNT it. They push it and they sell it like mad. And, unlike us, they don’t charge a premium for it. It’s just part and parcel of visiting Thailand. It’s almost as if one can’t get away from it as soon as you get there. Yet, they still manage to be internationally friendly to ensure that the tourism is sustained throughout. Let’s take their language for example. Thai language is almost the one and only language spoken there. There’s no English in their basic education system and communicating with a Thai is actually close to impossible without the assistance of sign language. But, they adapt… they ensure that each and every major sign are also written in English and those in the tourism industry (from guides all the way to the roadside peddlers) are able to speak English (though minimal) in order to communicate with the tourists. They go out of their way to get it done. And it’s only because, like I mentioned earlier, they value the tourists that much and they know how much their lives depended on them. I’m not saying we don’t. But we’re not as serious about it as they are.

There’re still many other factors leading to Thailand’s success in tourism, namely freedom from religious and traditional limitations and less strict laws for tourists. I’m not going to comment on that but it does have a profound effect on tourism.

The reason behind my strong salutations to our northern neighbors is only out of experience and nothing else. Each and every time I visit Thailand, I have nothing but good things to say about it. And it’s unfortunate when I compare it to the comments I receive from friends and colleagues who visit Malaysia. It seems that things are always better up north.

What’s amusing is that the numbers don’t show. According to Tourism Malaysia’s statistics, we had 20.9 million tourists in 2007 while Thailand had only over 14 million in the same year, according to their Tourism Authority (no solid data yet for 2008 and 2009). So the numbers don’t add up to what I’m saying I guess. But somehow, I see more tourists there than I do here, anywhere I go. Hmm… One wonders when it comes to statistics.

Photos from Phuket in the next entry! Already on FB!!

Won’t be around next weekend but will definitely see you guys in March. Don’t forget, you’re share of 50Gs is just waiting for you. Here’s a tip. Brush up on your song knowledge!!

Putraja Night Run (PNR) 2010

2010-02-11T10:04:00.001+08:00

Believe it or not, I entered myself into another run. This time it’s a 7.7km tread (2.3 clicks shorter than the first event I participated in: the 2009 Standard Chartered KL Marathon).

The original plan was a bunch of us were supposed to be taking part, but somehow ‘registration issues’ caused everyone else to cancel so I was left to run alone… at night… in Putrajaya. Thanks guys.

I got some comments about entering the 7.7km which is sort of a downgrade to the 10km I ran previously. But this is because of the simple fact that there wasn’t a 10km category in this event, and I don’t think I’m ready to do a half marathon just yet. (21 kms… are you mad?)

So yeah, there I was on a Saturday night, quite nervous as I didn’t know anyone there and I was about to run 7.7kms at night in a city that I’m not too familiar with. Plus with the little training I had before the event, I was also worried about being able to finish the job!

But all my worries were washed away as soon as I arrived to Putrajaya. This city is truly beautiful. It kinda reminded me of D.C. But as soon as night fell, the city turned even more majestic and spectacular than any other city I have ever seen! (Sorry didn’t carry a camera thus no photos only file pics – go see it for yourself!). I was excited to see the rest of it up close… and that pretty much alleviated most of my nervousness.

The event started with full and half marathoners being flagged off first, as usual. Everything seemed pretty smooth. I noticed some of the 7.7km runners milling around at the back of the full and half marathoners, so I went ahead and chilled there. But the funny part was that the sound system wasn’t that great so when the half marathoners were flagged off, the back end didn’t realize it! They were still chilling at the back and had to be chased down by the organizer marshalls! To add to that some of the 7.7km runners thought the gun shot was also for them so they started to run together with the half marathoners! Again, the organizers had to chase them down and asked them to turn back! Damn funny la I tell you.

Anyway, it turned out that the 7.7km and 5.5km runners were supposed to be flagged of on the other side of the road. So since me and a bunch of others were on the full and half marathoners’ side, we were also chased down by the marshals to change lanes. (It sure seemed like the marshals did a lot of chasing that night. Hehe)

So yeah, after standing at the starting line for like half an hour we were finally flagged off. The run itself was pretty uneventful except for the fascinating views of the Putrajaya skyline at night. Our route took us down the road from the Palace of Justice, all the way down to the new condos being built then across the bridge to PICC and back down to the main road for the finish. The track is a bit tougher than the KL marathon thanks to the hilly Putrajaya Terrain. And I never realized that the bridges there were THAT high. But it was all okay la.

Unlike the KL Marathon 10km, there was no digital timing for the 7.7km category in the PNR. So once the runners crossed the finish line, there was no way to tell his or her placement except for doing it manually by lining up the finishers (and obviously, you had to time yourself lah). So after finishing I had to join a loooong queue until they handed me my final result. But I did catch some runners of the same category bypassing the queue all the way to the front. Some of those, the marshals caught, some they missed. So some ended up with better results even though they finished behind me! This was one of the major minuses of the event and probably the only thing I would complain about.

It turned out that I was 335^th out of about 2000 runners in 41 minutes (wooohoo!!!). I was happy with the result although it could have actually been better if they had properly administered the finish line. Anyway, I still got the finisher medal (400 or below) and the certificate which was my target. To be honest, I was starting to doubt getting them midway of the run at the rate the others were overtaking me. Still can’t figure out how it happened. Hmmm… (wondering who were those people I saw… hehe)

The best part is that after finishing the run, I successfully gained back all the calories lost thanks to the slice of pizza and muffin from the snack pack provided, and by downing 6 glasses of oh-so-delicious iced milo and 3 glasses of 100plus. They went down like shots. But seriously, PIZZA?!! Anyhow, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life!!! I was absolutely famished!!

All in all it was a lot of fun. There’s still more room for the organizers to improve but overall they did a fantastic job. (The snack pack, end of run drinks, and drinking stations along the route were definitely better than that of the KL Marathon, I hope StanChart takes note).

Would definitely be joining again next year. Who knows, I might be fit enough for the half marathon then… NOT!!!! hahaha

Eating Healthy?

2010-02-07T11:26:00.006+08:00

I’ve been trying to lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle since last year. It’s not been easy but it’s progressing so okayla. Am quite happy with where I am right now. Although it’s nowhere close to where want to be.

The biggest challenge of getting there for me is the diet. I’m not very disciplined when it comes to eating… and I don’t deny that I quite often fall of the diet bandwagon with the mamaks and mom’s food etc. But when I’m in the office or roaming around town, I find it really hard to eat healthy in KL. Sure there’s always healthy food around but it’s just too darn costly!

For example, at lunch last week in my workplace cafeteria, I had 2 pieces of fruit, a diet coke and a yoghurt..and it cost me 6 bucks. The thing that really ticked me off was the guy in front of me had like rice with the curry and the chicken and the veggies and fried egg some more… with his teh ais, it cost him RM4.70! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! The amount of food he had was three times more filling (at least) and twice as heavy! And he paid over a buck less than me! It’s just ridiculous!

The other thing that annoys me when it comes to healthy food choices here is Salad. As soon as the word ‘salad’ appears in the dish, the price increases. And this is only because the perception of ‘salad’ being a type of ‘Western’ cuisine!!! C’mon people. Vegetables! Its supposed to be cheaper than your Nasi Goreng Seafood or Maggi Goreng! But nooooo. Because it’s a ‘SALAD’ kena la mahal kan.. Western… have to be something special.

I wonder how long it will take before the whole food scene in Malaysia (and maybe asia) will placate that of Europe and US where healthy choices should be similar if not cheaper than regular food. I mean, veggies and yoghurt and dairy products are almost free in the western world. Why is it such a big deal here? We don’t have to import anything too. Just sell what we have here!! Is that so hard?

Sigh.. all this ranting is making me hungry… time for a burger…

Bienvenue en France!

2010-01-27T15:33:00.004+08:00

Oui Madame, Monsieur. Once again I’m here in France. Give me two more trips and I can start my Green Card application and change my name to Pierre.Yes, thanks to my day job I have to attend another meeting here and this time dead smack in the middle of winter. Of course I’m not complaining as I really do love winter. It’s much preferred than the constant heat and humidity back home. At least I can do more walking here. If only I had the time to do it.

Arrived in Amsterdam on Sunday and it was completely covered in snow. I was pretty sure that we were going to be delayed flying out of there today to get to Toulouse. But surprisingly the airline pulled through. And for the first time ever, my flight had to undergo de-icing!

For those of you who think de-icing involves a cake, or if you think that the aircraft in this picture is on fire, you might be interested to know that it’s not. It’s basically a bathing session for aircraft during winter months to melt the ice away from surfaces. So it was exciting as it’s my first de-icing (sounds wrong) and it was kinda scary because being the paranoid that I am, I started wondering what would happen if they were to miss a spot…

Anyway, I brought my camera this time so managed to get a few nice shots off of the Toulouse skyline, albeit it was constantly raining, freezing rain.

So yeah, some of the photos were damaged by the raindrops. It was too cold for me to take of my gloves and actually work on the F and SS. Ape ape lah. As long as I got some shots of Toulouse in case I won’t be able to come here again.

I can’t really pinpoint what it is, but something about the natural light effect on European brickwork creates brilliant scenery. But I don’t seem to have found effects like these in Asian cities. Is it the light? Is it the building material? Is it the temperature? That would be an interesting study methinks…

Anyways, there’s really no specific point to this entry, except for enlightening everyone on where I am. It’s probably a form of alleviation of my homesickness, and the amount of stuff I’m missing this time. Still can’t believe I’m gonna miss Love Classifieds again! I’ve always wanted to go to Damai Laut to check the place out. And I just haaaad to go away when LC goes there! Some other time I guess.

Y’all have fun now… and stay safe!

It's all about the moooooooo-lah!

2010-01-21T12:52:00.001+08:00

I received this email in my mailbox today:

From: Kaila Rhona

Subject: Letter woman off you dream

I am girl. I have a black hair with pale shimmering. My eyes is purple. I am not high. I have beautiful neck. My hair is short wavy. I live in a metropolis. I work in tourism. I like to watch adventure films. Representations in the circus. I like music . I like mountains. If you talk about me I am naive panther. Most of all in men I value openness. When I noticed you in subway. I lightning realized : should. Because I can be for you a good friend if you want. I'm write me on my e-mail.

So this is pretty much a normal spam email that most of us received at least once in our mailbox, right? It's probably some non-English speaking dude jumping on the spam bandwagon which God-knows-how they would still make money nowadays. So, anyway, what's the big deal?

Well, nothing really. It's just that firstly, it’s funny. I mean reading it actually made me laugh. The English is fantastic! LOL

Secondly, it fits as a good introduction to topic that's been heavy on mind lately. MONEY. Making money, saving money, spending money, losing money lack of money..you know the drill.

So, okay, that email was probably written by some guy out to make a quick buck on innocent and naive (and possibly dumb?) netizens. But for the sake of the topic, let's, for a moment, consider that this email was actually sent by a non-English speaking woman who's desperately looking for a rich old fart, who's naive enough to think it was for real (and yes, people that naive still do exist!). A bit of a long shot right?

But the chance, that slight glimmer of hope, that some old fart might start replying and eventually gets trapped in this stupid con, is good enough for the lady to send it out anyway. The slimmest possibility of making money is good enough for the woman to send out something as stupid as this!!

Things we do for money can range from something respectable to the dumbest and most humiliating actions human can possibly fathom. I'm not gonna go into detail of what those actions are, but bear in mind that the scenario can get quite frightening.

Money, the absolute necessity and essence of life in this day and age, will drive us to do anything, because of the simple fact that today, money is everything. People who think otherwise, in my personal opinion, are either living in denial, or are actually rich enough to say so.

I've always believed this fact, and sometimes I even preach it. And believe you me, it's gotten me some nasty comments about how shallow and materialistic the principle is. But I'm still a believer. Because at the end of the day, at the end of every week, month or year.. we all sit down, and analyze how much heavier (or lighter) our wallets are compared to before.

Unfortunately, after all that's I have said, I myself am currently not of sound financial status. I mean, in the financial aspect, I'm nowhere close to where I want to be. And I only have myself to blame for that. But, I've done lots of things, gone to lots of places and seen lots of places that I wouldn't have been able to do, go or see if I was a... hmm.. what's a good word for this... spendthrift? Yeah, that's close enough. No regrets, of course.

But now, being at this age, it's time to start fresh and change things up a little bit. I plan to clear any debt I have and significantly increase my net worth by the end of this year. Spend less (and more importantly, less impulsively - long story), earn more and hopefully own a property by the end of this year. That means, no more parties (unless of course it’s a very special occasion), no more impulsive vacations (okay this is an iffy), and no more gadgets (for now). I don't believe in New Year’s resolutions, but this is gonna be my mission for 2010. Believe dat! (Pronounced ebonically)

Oklah so this is basically a big move for me and I don't know if it's gonna work.. but with the seriousness of it in place, I hope it will pull me through and get me to where I wanna be. (Insert: encouraging background music here)

Err wait, maybe that email was from some really hot non-english speaking chick named Kaila?

Ok. The return... For real this time

2010-01-14T20:13:00.002+08:00

Hellloooo!!!!!

Yes, I am back. This Blog has been like DEAD for the past year or so... lots have changed and its time for me to start blogging again.

What changes you ask?.. Well I think you'll be finding out throughout my future entries. :)

For those of you who are visiting this place for the first time, please bear in mind that some of the older entries here are quite dark. That was from a certain part of my life which is hopefully closed now.... I was thinking of deleting them and starting fresh... but on my second thought I'd rather keep it because it identifies me, and shows you a part of the journey that I have taken to reach where I am today...

OK.... enough for now. American Idol time. :)

-H

The return...

2009-02-28T17:40:00.002+08:00

Wow,

It's been a long time since I stopped by here. Time to reactivate... wait for more to come...

Facing reality

2008-06-06T18:31:00.002+08:00

I did what i had to do yesterday. I did what I should have done 2 years ago. I did what I should have done everyday for the past two years. I did something which I never thought I was able to do. I did it without planning to. I did it without hesitation. I did it, because I know it's the truth.

I have deliberated it enough. I have thought about it enough. I have contemplated it enough. And I have obviously prolonged it enough. To come to this point however, I realized that I was too late.

Knowing that I failed to do something; knowing that I am not capable of doing something; knowing that I am not brave enough to do something; all this is of course a tragic occurrence. But knowing that I am too late, it is something most tormenting and unbearable. It's beyond sorrow. It's beyond grief. It's the paramount of regret.

But I know it was my mistake. And there is nothing I can do to reverse it. I had my chance and I blew it. And now, God is making me feel the torment and the sorrow that I have caused her. And I am willing to go through it to understand the consequences of what I had done before. The consequences of my short-term thinking and lack of positivity topped of with my selfishness and greed. This are my dues that I have to pay for. I thank God for making me understand this. For making me go through this painful, gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, hopeless period for me to feel what I have done unto her. I accept this and I will not run away.

I have made a mistake. I have admitted this to everyone that I know. I have lived in regret day in and day out. And I have been and I am trying to change for the better. I may have blown my chance at eternal bliss. But I pray to God to give me another chance, another life, another hope, another dream. It will never be close to the greatness and beauty of what I have lost. But at least, while I dutifully pay my destructive dues, I know that my lost chance, my one and only, my bliss, is happy.

"If you love something let it go, if it comes back, it's yours"
I guess the saying is untrue.

untitled

2008-06-02T01:02:00.004+08:00

Ketika...

Ku rasakan sudah...

Ada ruang di hatiku...

Yang kau sentuh...

Dan Ketika...

Ku sedari sudah...

Tak selalu indah cinta...

Yang ada...

Mungkin memang....

Ku yang harus mengerti...

Bilaku...

Bukan yang ingin kau miliki...

Salahku bila...

Kaulah yang ada di hati ku...

Adakah ku singgah di hatimu...

Mungkinkah kau rindukan padaku...

Adakah ku sedikit di hatimu...

Bilakah ku mengganggu harimu...

Mungkin kau tak inginkan adaku...

Akankah ku sedikit di hatimu...

Bila memang...

Ku yang harus mengerti...

Mengapa...

Cinta mu tak dapat ku miliki...

Salahkah ku bila...

Kaulah yang ada di hatiku...

Bila cinta...

Kita takkan tercipta...

Ku hanya...

Sekadar ingin untuk mengerti...

Adakah diriku...

Singgah di hatimu...

Dan bilakah kau tahu...

Kaulah yang ada di hati ku...

And its true...

2008-05-27T10:24:00.001+08:00

A hundred days had made me older since the last time that I've saw your pretty face
A thousand lights had made me colder and I don’t think I can look at this the same
But all the miles had separate
They disappear now when I’m dreaming of your face

I’m here without you baby but your still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby but your still with me in my dreams
And tonight it’s only you and me

The miles just keep rollin as the people either way to say hello
I've heard this life is overrated but I hope that it gets better as we go

I’m here without you baby but your still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby but your still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl it’s only you and me

Everything I know, and anywhere I go it gets hard but it won’t take away my love
And when the last one falls, when it’s all said and done it get hard but it won’t take away my love

I’m here without you baby but your still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby but your still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl it’s only you and me

a

2008-05-25T17:36:00.002+08:00

When we know what we want to say but we can't...
When we know what we should do but we can't...
When we know what we must achieve but we can't...

It matters not because it's too late...

When we regret what we did...
When we shouldn't have done what's done...
When we hate ourselves for what we didn't do...

It matters not because it's too late...

When we want what we can no longer have...

It matters not because it's too late...

When there's nothing left to do because it's too late...

It's just too late...

zzzzZZZZzzzz

2008-05-22T09:21:00.002+08:00

Haven't written in a long time. Reason is, I just simply don't have anything to write about.

Last night I was supposed to watch Man U win the UEFA Champions League Cup. It was a good start with Ronaldo scoring early. Then, in all my couch glory, with the TV blasting, the fan blowing, the laptop beeping, the lights glaring and the phone ringing, I was dead asleep.

I think I'm just getting a little older.

To you, I'm sorry for not saying good night. That's strike 2. I just hope you have a good trip and get home safe.

But still, nothing to write about. Sometimes I wonder if I even need a blog.

Old PM quit party. Will rejoin if current PM quits. Does old PM want to be current PM again? Isn't it time for him to move on? And why is current PM not doing anything about his reputation? Maybe giving way is the best solution? I nominate my self to be new PM.

Politics.. blargh.

needs and wants

2008-05-07T21:59:00.003+08:00

Things I need to do before the end of 2008:

1. Lose 11kgs
2. Learn the stock exchange game.
3. Subscribe to an insurance policy
4. Buy an apartment/house
5. Rent my own place.

Things I want to do before the end of 2008.
1. Lose 17 kgs
2. Invest in mutual funds.
3. Get a new car sound system.
4. Get my own LCD tv (on installment payment)
5. Get an iPhone (only if its officially released in Malaysia - no cracks)
6. If not item 5, get a PDA phone.
7. Pending on item 1, get a new custom made office wardrobe.
8. Pending on item 1, buy new regular clothes.

Lacking something? Yeah. But it's cool.

Oh. Jakarta is still awesome. Maybe slightly awesomer than before. Not much photos this time. Busy having fun.

Need island.... have to find way to island......

PROJECT COMPLETE!!!

2008-04-30T00:57:00.002+08:00

Finally. It's all done. Let's just hope it works. And the hiccups are mitigated. It's all up to the executioners now. And later, I will be laughing at management on the repercussions coming from the public disgust and dissatisfaction. (I'm talking about work).

Yes bro, JAKARTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I've been there before. Yes, there not much there. But it's fun. And I wanna get away. Woooohooooooooooo!!!!

Lets just hope I can catch a flight out.

See ya all Next Week!

oh, btw ---> Sudanization = Only porn influenced erection.

23rd April 2008, 745PM, The Curve.

2008-04-25T00:11:00.000+08:00

As I sit here in Starbucks watching all the people go by, I cant help but think to myself how happy people seem to be. But are they really? It's amazing how humans can put up facades of being so happy, satisfied and content with him or herself without others really knowing if what they are feeling is genuine and real. We will never know. We can only imagine what they are truly feeling.

Which brings me to my never ending quest to determine what is the true meaning of happiness. To what extent is the definition of happiness varied when analyzed by different people. And.. (Anwar Ibrahim and Nurul Izzah just walked by - congrats?.. I guess). And will we ever come to one overall complete definition to be agreed upon by all?

Of course the question "what is happiness?" has been beaten down to death. It's a cliche question that can't get anymore cliched. There are so many ways to approach this question; socially, financially, emotionally and, of course, spiritually. No matter what the approach, I believe that the quest for the answer to this question will never come to an end for as long as humans exist.

Which brings me back to the purpose of my thought for today. It is not the definition or the answer to this question that I am talking about. But rather the ability humans to simply be happy. The ability to set aside all our worries, all our pain, all our sorrow, and all our fear, to enjoy, even the briefest of moments, to simply enjoy the moment of being alive, there and then in that particular point in time and space. Be it with a significant other, friends, family or alone, the ability of the human mind to compartmentalize thoughts and memory to provision a path for a simple joyous feeling to overwhelm the mind, body and soul, will truly remain an awesome, fantastic and absolutely mind-boggling mystery that us humans, the creatures that are actually subjected to this phenomenon, will never be able to solve.

God is truly great.

2008-04-19T02:48:00.002+08:00

Haven't written in a while. Don't know what to write about really. Nothing much is going on.

Birthday came and went. No big deal there.

Political scene is still the same, and its slowly creeping up my annoyance ladder. Some people have actually moved on from the whole election drama and got on with life. Thank God for them. But most are still harping on the outcome of the elections. Still wondering why things are the way they are. Still trying to get others to talk about it. And still wanting more drama, as if the one we had wasn't sufficient to fulfill their needs.

So the ruling party lost more seats than usual. So what? Isn't that an acceptable outcome of an election in a so-called democratic country? What is the big deal? Why can't most of us deal with it and move on with our lives. It's not like we're undergoing a massive change or anything. The same people (well, almost) are still at the helm. Everything is still the same. One of the reader views on a major local daily yesterday criticized all this talk about resignation and what not. And that particular view was, if the ruling party had done so bad, why call for one person's resignation? The whole damn crew should resign and take responsibility for it, since it's such a big deal to them. I couldn't agree more with this.

I'm not gonna talk politics. It's not my thing. Well, at least not at the moment. I hate politics. I've seen it take the best out of people and give nothing back but sorrow. I've seen it lie. I've seen it cheat. I've seen it destroy one man, until there is really nothing left to live for.

Sure, I have my preference. And I have my reasons to have that preference. But I only think of it come election time. Once that is done, we're all the same. As long as the country remains stable, we shouldn't really worry, dwell or even talk about politics until the next election comes around. It's a waste of time. And with all the deceit, corruption and lies that surround it, politics will never end.

On a personal note, I am feeling like I am reaching a major turning point in my life. I don't exactly know what it is or which direction it will take me. But I know I am slowly changing. Deep inside it is as if I am reverting to my original self, returning to a person whom I was once before. I dont exactly know to what extent or in what manner. But I feel it. It feels like in the recent period of time, probably a year or two, I have not been myself. And now, that person is slowly seeping into my veins and returning me to the person I once was.

I don't really know if this so-called change is good or bad. It might be neither. But I hope it brings me benefit in one way or another. I guess only time can tell...

How far are we from the truth...
When truth seems far from being clear...
How clear are we on our purpose...
When our purpose recludes our eyes and ears...

How sure are we of our needs...
When our needs slowly dissapear...
How lost are we in this life...
When life seems to be out of steer...

How much of facts can we really tell....
When telling seems to be the hardest part...
How do we know we've past the end...
When our only chance is to go back to the start...

I hope everyone has a good weekend. Thanks for all the birthday wishes.

Why McLaren, Why?

2008-04-10T20:54:00.004+08:00

Wow. The later turned out to be almost a week later.

Work
What a week it's been. Things seem to have really piled up while I was away. And some almost reached critical stage. I guess I got back at the right time. If it wasn't for trusted colleagues, work would have tumbled and crashed all over the place. Thanks guys and girls. But whatever it is, work is still work and there's still a lot to do for the new orders that were announced.

Personal Life
No comment.

Life in general
Good.

I faced killer conversations recently.

"are you not seeing anyone now?"
It was a yes or no question. Shit. I hate yes or no questions.
"no"
"since when?"
"since January"
Just a few phrases later, the conversation ended.

Another one with a different person started the same way, and continued further.
"...why?"
Damn. Why is it that as soon as I'm on a roll with the yes or no questions POW! I'm hit with an open one.
"i don't know. i guess i'm done with all that. i think i know what i want now."
"what is it that you want?"
"i know who my future lies with."
"so what are you going to do about it"
"there's nothing that i can do"
"so you're screwed"
"tight. And topped up with sealant"

Another one. With a more elderly person. In malay.
"haa la... akak ni dah tak tahan dah dengan perangai anak sedara akak tu. gedik sini sana. kepit manjang. so nak selamatkan diorang, family akak pun kawinkanla. senang. tapi masalahnya dua dua tu budak lagi. keje pun tak seberapa."
"nak buat camana kak. dah jodoh"
"hmmm ye la. banyak la ko boleh cakap. yang tak sepatutnya kahwin, nak cepat cepat. gopoh. tapi yang sepatutnya kawin. yang stable macam ko tu... ntah apa la ditunggunye".

....

burn.

Good to be home

2008-04-06T18:59:00.002+08:00

I'm back! What an amazing week it's been. Will update more. Check out photos on facebook.

Now it's time for some Formula 1.

Later

it's you...

2008-03-27T15:06:00.002+08:00

Kasihku usia sudah cintamu
Cinta yang kudamba selama ini
Mengapa ku biarkan terjadi
Rasanya ku tak percaya semua ini
Aku masih menyayangimu
Ku tak ingin semua berlalu
Bila mungkin engkau kembali
Kembalilah kembali padaku
Seperti waktu yang dulu
Bermanja kita berdua
Hanya engkau yang mengerti
Tentang aku
Ku rasa hari-hari sepiku
Tanpa canda tawa bersamamu
Ku tahu ini semua salah ku
Aku tak mahu tanpamu
Ku rasa hari-hari sepi tanpamu

Week

2008-03-26T01:17:00.002+08:00

1.18am... tired... work not done... haven't packed... don't know what to bring...

God please make them give me the Lounge Pass tomorrow...

And may You strike down whoever took my rm18 japanese cigarette and lighter gift pack which i accidentally left on the table at Samantha's. Damn you whoever you are. I spent rm18 just to get that lighter with portable ashtray. At least have the decency to leave it with the manager or bartender!!! I drove all the way back just to find out that it's gone.. so if i ever find out who you are, you're cat food!

..... bitch.

I'm gonna be away for a while. So you all stay cool. Except for you, you thief. You son/daughter of a bitch coward who picks up stuff people left behind without the slightest decency or civility to do what's right.... damn you to hell.

I miss you when I'm not supposed to.
I hope all is well going, at and coming from down there.

Weekender

2008-03-22T03:47:00.000+08:00

Well there goes the week and the end of my one-week stint as Acting STSE Interiors. It was fun I must say, and thankfully nothing too major occured during that one week span, making the whole period of me being at the helm of this beloved section, enjoyable to say the least.

I am in love with my job. And I'm not trying to comfort myself. Really I do. Sure, the technical side is all meticulous and detailed and precise etc. But the whole experience of being in charge of the sole section of the aircraft that leaves the passenger with the final impression of the airline is actually fulfilling, and quite overwhelming, in a positive manner.

So, I think my aim to actually gain as much experience as I can in this field is something that is good for me and hopefully will land me in the position I really desire to be, one day, in this beloved company of mine. Although the management has a lot to make up for, I'm sure, one day, everything will fall into place and the whole mechanism of running this airline, at least from this aspect, will be on par with the rest of the 5-star airlines today. I am planning to ensure this will happen, and it requires nothing less then being on top of the arena; knowing as much of every inch of the field of aircraft interiors as realistically possible. (trust me, at the rate technology evolves, it's almost impossible). I love my airline, and nothing anyone can say about anything will change my mind about it. I may leave the job, but only in hopes of returning to my pride and joy as a more efficient, proficient and knowledgable leader. This I promise myself. Because, one day, I want to see my airline be ranked number 1 in every possible category for a commercial transport enterprise. Not so much because it represents my country, but rather because I grew up with this airline and, without any exaggeration whatsoever, it makes me feel at home as soon as I step on board at any foreign airport that I have been in. That's why, my company is so special to me.

Say what you want about shortfalls and weaknesses of our flagship carrier. The price, the service (both on and off ground), the meals, the seats, the punctuality etc. Sure, it may seem far below par or does not meet expectations or does not come close to making it worth your ticket price. But coming from the aviation industry, I can assure you, that all the negative things being said about my company is common within any airline serving the world today, including the other 5-star airlines. People say our neighbouring airline is 10 times better. Sure, you may be right. But did you ever actually stop and think about why you feel so? Did it ever occur to you that you feel so harshly towards your airline because it is your airline? Because it is your flagship carrier, any weakness will be amplified numerous times in your feelings and expressions because of the dissapointment and shame that it impedes onto you. It is exactly that, because if these weaknesses and voids were found in other foreign airlines, the complaints won't be as strong and harsh because you don't really care because it doesnt cost you anything in terms of pride and dignity. It's someone else's airline. But if it was your own, you would be more worried or offended more than the others.

So you see, it's not really the fact that my company is bad. But rather, its the perception that our flagship carrier should be perfect. There should be minimal weaknesses, or better yet, none at all. Because it represents our country. Our pride. Our identity.

Be that as it may, I am not denying that there is a lot to ask for from our current level of service. I am staff and I don't deny it. But hey, we're working on every inch of it. Trust me, we really are. Of course I will not disclose any of the work being done to address these issues, as clearly it is not my prerogative to do so. But things are being done and is being forcibly and strenuously being put into action. With the current leadership, everyone is pulling their weight to ensure that our service remains on top, in our strive to, one day, become the number 1 airline in the world. However, I won't put any optism on this. Because it doesn't require any. It WILL happen.

And why are am I so adamant about this? The answer is very simple. Because of money or rather, lack thereof. No I'm not complaining. I am saying that I am not making as much money as I am supposed to be. And of course, being the person that I am, this matters greatly. But for some reason, the realization, which has beseiged me for quite a while now, has rendered no negative effect on me. Instead, I am content. I love my job. And I don't mind putting the long hours and sometimes even weekends, just to get things done. It's just simply because I want everything to be correct so that I give my best product to this airline. And being in interiors, which pretty much is the only section within engineering that has most effect on the passenger during their travel, I find it the most fulfilling. (of course, there are more, much more critical areas within engineering that ensures the continuity and perfection of the day-to-day operation of the airline, but the passengers won't feel or see the same siginficance of this compared to that of the cabin, as they sit and wait until they reach their next destination)

Bottom line is, I love what I am doing and I will ensure that I give my very best, so that my pride and joy can continue to fly and serve our loyal passengers, and, most importantly, continue to be recognized as a 5-star, global airline leader, in our strive, to one day become the number one airline in the world.

Okay enough serious stuff,
I am feeling a little dizzy right now. Facebook is boring. The net is boring. No one is online at 4am. And of course, my email account is full of spam. So, to entertain myself, I was thinking of accepting and setting up all the invites I got on facebook (290). By the time I reached 287 I thought "screw this" and was trying to find a delete all the invites, but to no avail. It's amazing how people can keep the invite count down to zero. Their facebooks must be full of useless, mindless and pretty much cluttering crap. Although, it did keep me entertained for the past 15 minutes (while installing the software and inviting random ppl to install it - of course, by the time I realized how gay and boring this was, I was stressfully looking for the 'Clear All' button.

On a more trivial note, I got a plant today. Don't ask from where, from who or for how much. I just got it, and I think it's pretty cool. It's sort of a not-so-dense plant with long stalks but really small leaves. It's kinda big but I think it looks really cool in my cube. Sort of gives me a slight zen feeling, like how it was when I had all those awesome table-top mini fountains back in college. I wonder if the office allowed me to install those fountains in my cube... hmm, interesting.

So that pretty much wraps up my rambling about almost nothing. It's formula 1 weekend here in KL, and I really hope I get some last minute tix. I wonder if my sister was serious in her offer the other day. But then again, it might have been a "oh, by the way.." kinda thing and she totally forgot about it. Its cool. Watching it on the tube at home or at Chillis is way more comfortable and fulfilling anyway. (even the food is cheaper than the crap they sell at the circuit!)

Oh, and today I went to a wedding of a sort of a cousing of mine. And a lot of my extended family members were there. It sure was nice to meet up with them again and mingle. I can tick with them a little bit. Even though we meet almost zilch times a year. I met a lot of old but yet familiar faces. And even though I fumbled with their names, it gave me a sense of belonging and togetherness. The wedding was simple and nice. (Congratulations Mas - well done). I left the place with a sense of .... I don't know. Happy is not really the correct word. I think satisfied and relieved is more like it. While driving home, I couldn't help but think of planning some sort of a reunion kind of thing where I get in touch with all of them and we go for a 2 nite stay in some resort and just simply catch-up, and get to know each other better. I dont know if its a good idea, or even if its a feasible idea, but I think I'll put more thought into it. I mean, it's family. And in my life, they are almost non- existent. And I think, in so many ways, that's just wrong. Regardless of whose fault it is. If our elders weren't good at staying close, there's no reason we should do the same right? Right. So more thought it is then.

I hope it's really because of that (family), and not because I miss the sense of belonging...

When the future becomes now...

2008-03-20T03:30:00.000+08:00

Isn't it ironic, when the least expected happens...

Isn't it amazing, when the impossible becomes real...

Isn't it fantastic, when what was lost, returns...

Isn't it surreal, when fate changes what had seemed sealed...

Isn't it a pity, when lives are lost unlived...

Isn't it a crime, to lose what was rightfully possessed...

Isn't it a sin, when mistakes only lead to regret...

Isn't it a shame, when it's too late to deny the end...

Isn't it exciting, when the end brings a new beginning...

Isn't it sensational, to learn what should not be known...

Isn't it funny, when the false is perceived as real...

Isn't it confusing, when symphony drowns in the silence around...

Isn't it mortifying, when the denied is realized...

Isn't it piercing, when the irreversible is done...

Isn't it flawed, when destiny becomes undesired reality...

Isn't it perplexing, when denial disappears and reality stuns...

Isn't it awkward, when the future becomes now...

Isn't it weird, when now becomes the past...

Isn't it strange, when the forgotten is being remembered...

Isn't it peculiar, when what was done mattered none at last...

It is, isn't it?

2008-03-19T12:59:00.000+08:00

Top 20 Billionaires (Current)
1. William Gates III
2. Warren Buffett
3. Carlos Slim Helú
4. Ingvar Kamprad
5. Lakshmi Mittal
6. Sheldon Adelson
7. Bernard Arnault
8. Amancio Ortega
9. Li Ka-shing
10. David Thomson
11. Larry Ellison
12. Liliane Bettencourt
13. Prince Alwaleed
14. Mukesh Ambani
15. Karl Albrecht
16. Roman Abramovich
17. Stefan Persson
18. Anil Ambani
19. Paul Allen
20. Theo Albrecht

Top 40 richest Malaysians (Current - in-order)

Robert Kuok
Ananda Krishnan
Lim Goh Tong
Lee Shin Cheng
Teh Hong Piow
Quek Leng Chan
Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary
Yeoh Tiong Lay
Tiong Hiew King
William Cheng
Azman Hashim
Ong Beng Seng
Yaw Teck Seng
Vincent Tan
Yaw Chee Ming
Vinod Sekhar
Jeffrey Cheah
Chong Chook Yew
Lim Kok Thay
Lim Wee Chai
Kua Sian Kooi
Tiah Thee Kian
Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar
Anthony Fernandes
Seri Eleena Raja Azlan Shah
Lee Oi Hian
Lee Hau Hian
Mokhzani Mahathir
G Gnanalingam
Abdul Hamed Sepawi
Kamarudin Meranun
Lau Cho Kun
Ong Leong Huat
Lin Yun Ling
Liew Kee Sin
Lee Swee Eng
Ahmayuddin bin Ahmad
Hamdan Mohamad
Khoo Kay Peng
Kasi K L Palaniappan

I don't know if any in the above list are engineers or former engineers. But I sure as hell know this; One day, I will be in Top 40 Richest Malaysians. Rest assured, I will be there. (by God's Mighty Will, of course)

A lot needs to be done, and it's a long way to go... but I'll get there.

2008-03-15T03:52:00.000+08:00

Masih tertinggal bayanganmu...
Yang telah membekas di relung hatiku...
Hujan tanpa henti seolah pertanda...
Cinta tak di sini lagi...
Kau tlah berpaling...

Biarkan aku menjaga perasaan ini...
Menjaga segenap cinta yang telah kau beri...
Engkau pergi, aku takkan pergi...
Kau menjauh, aku takkan jauh...
Sebenarnya diriku masih mengharapkanmu...

Masih adakah cahaya rindumu...
Yang dulu selalu cerminkan hatimu...
Aku takkan bisa menghapus dirimu..
Meski ku lihat kini...
Kau di seberang sana...

Andai akhirnya...
Kau tak juga kembali...
Aku tetap sendiri...
Menjaga hati...

Biarkan aku menjaga perasaan ini...
Menjaga segenap cinta yang telah kau beri...
Engkau pergi, aku takkan pergi...
Kau menjauh, aku takkan jauh...
Sebenarnya diriku masih mengharapkanmu...
Sejujurnya diriku masih mengharapkanmu...

Long day..

2008-03-14T00:02:00.000+08:00

A checklist for everything that happened today.

Personal life? None
Work load? Slightly better, but still fucked up.
Having to do stuff you don't really want to but you have to cuz its a family friend and you owe them? Check.
My boss and overall management of my division? Fucked Up
Car making squeaks when braking? i.e. brake pads out. Check.
Something to look forward to at work? None.
Hoping that some day a rich airline calls me up and buys me off? Yes. Silently.
Sick and tired of looking a certain faces you just feel like puking your shit out and shitting your vomit? Check.
Ipod? Havent played in three days.
Food? Breakfast Lunch and Dinner. Might damage my 1 kg a week decline.
Boredom Level? High

But,

at the end of this dreadful day, I saw this on gmail...

" Muka Awak HodohMuka saya pun hodoh tapi saya kaya Jangan jadi hodoh dan miskinwww.kayarabak.com "

....priceless.

February 7th 2005, 2.57PM. Akerman Hall, UofM Twin Cities. Working hard on final project: SAE-Boeing Heavy Lift aircraft. (Crashed to 7 pieces after 10 seconds airborne)

... good times.

maybank...

2008-03-07T20:00:00.000+08:00

WelcometomaybankcustomercarethisisZurahowcanIhelpedyou?
Hi Zura, I'm calling you from your branch in Damansara Utama and I have a problem with one of your cash deposit machines.
Sure Sir I can help you. Can I get your name?
Hazim Ismail.
Encik Hazim Can I get your account number
1641258045
Encik Hazim can I get your mailing address for verification
660603 Fajaria Condo Jalan Pantai Baru Bangsar KL.
Postcode pls Encik Hazim
59200
Ok Encik Hazim, can I have your IC number?
8204170****5
Thanks Encik Hazim. And can I have your contact number?
012306***9
Ok and one more verification question En. Hazim, what is your car nickname?
Michelle
Ok Thanks for the verification En Hazim.
You sure you don't need to verify any further? I can give you my shirt size as well
No thank you Encik Hazim. Now what seems to be the problem?
Well like I said some time ago, I was trying to deposit some cash into my account when the machine died on me, with the cash in the machine. Then when I went to check the balance there the money wasnt debited.
Ok How much did you try and deposit Encik Hazim?
500 ringgit
Ok Please hold Encik Hazim.
-2 minutes-
Encik Hazim, did you say you were depositing 500 ringgit?
Yes
Please hold
-1 minute-
Was that all RM50 notes Encik Hazim?
Yes
Ok hold on ya
-2 minutes-
Encik Hazim do you happen to note which CDM machine was involved?
Number 1.
Please hold ya Encik Hazim
-3 minutes-
OK Encik Hazim, I have reported your case to our control center and they will inform the technician and security when they open the machine. They will then tally the transaction and once they find the extra money in the machine they will credit it back to your account and you will be notified.
Ok. So what time are they coming?
Oh Sorry Encik Hazim, this will take 3 to 7 working days.
You're kidding
Encik Hazim, this will take 3 to 7 working days.
So what am I suppose to eat for the next 3 days at least?
I'm sorry Encik Hazim thats all I can do for you now.
Can you get the technician to come out here now?
I'm sorry Encik Hazim but we cant do that. This involves security and the technician so they can only help when the machine is serviced.
So are you telling me that this machine will be out of service for the next 3 to 7 days??
No, the technician will probably come by tomorrow or day after.
So It could be as soon as tomorrow la?
Encik Hazim, this will take 3 to 7 days.
I know you said that already. But if the machine is going to be opened tomorrow I can get my cash then right?
Sorry En. Hazim, but these cases take 3 to 7 days.
And there is no compensation?
No Sir. Sorry
Fuckup Gila
Sorry Sir?
I said thats a bummer. So what am I supposed to do now?
Im sorry Encik Hazim, but theres nothing anyone can do but wait the 3 to 7 days
Yeah yeah I know. Stupid system thats all I can say. Well oklah. Nothing else to do right? All because your stupid machine died on me right?
Is there anything else I can do for you Encik Hazim?
Obviously not right?
Thank you for calling Mayb...(HUNG UP)

Fuckin Maybank I swear to God. Although they're a one stop solution for a lot of stuff. This ices the cake and makes the whole thing rotten. My money better turn up or I'll find Zura and shove her head up her ass.

Here goes a boring money-less weekend....

"Blogs are for singles"

2008-03-05T01:09:00.000+08:00

"Blogs are for singles!" Yup. That's what he said. And I think Lock was on the ball with that one. I have to agree, that the only time I feel having a blog is not too lame and obnoxious is when I'm single. Like right now. Kalau tak.. haram nak nampak blogspot. I don't even read blogs whenever I was in a relationship. Hell, I was barely even online.

So what does that mean really? Does that mean that you are really not yourself when you are attached to another person? That you somehow change who you really are just so that you can adapt to the relationship? An adaptation that you deemed necessary upon yourself just so that you can feel loved by someone else? If that's the case then we're screwed aren't we?

I don't think so. It's just time. Time is actually the determining factor of whether or not you are able to reflect upon yourself. And by reflecting I mean blogging (or journalling if not blogging.. or whatever the heck you want to call it) My point is that it all boils down to time. Obviously, when you're in a relationship, you don't really have that much time to waste wandering around in cyberspace. Only quick pitstops to check your personal email, then swoosh, you're off on your next date. But the lack of time doesn't necessarily have to be a repercussion of being in a relationship.

I am not in a relationship right now, and yet I find that there's hardly enough time for me to blog. Hell, I don't even have enough time to check my Gmail nowadays. I'm too busy with work that I don't even have enough 'ME' time! But then again, the reason I am able to be working that hard without being too bothered by it is because of the fact that I am single...

... So I guess he is right... now that it has come full circle back to where we started i.e. SINGLE, I guess Ihe is right. Blogs are pretty much for singles.

Not that I hate being single, of course. I think I'm enjoying the moment for now. Not much to think about in terms of personal life which gives my modest brain ample room to occupy with work stuff. Boring, maybe, but at least its useful. And this causes me to thank God much more for making me be so passionate and interested in my job!

OK It's not all about me. Friends of mine who were in a relationship together for abt a year and a half recently broke up, so I just wanna say sorry for u guys. Maybe its better this way and you'll find better avenues later.

Then another friend pretty much got back together with her weird ass ex dude for umpteenth time. I don't know if its such a good idea but I'm happy for you guys and try to make this one last a bit longer yeah (a month and a half - or a plate of nasgor for me)

Nasgor.. Jakarta... Nice. I forgot to mention that all the photos of my Singapore Jakarta Bandung Nasgor Tour 2008 have been posted on my FB. Do feel free to browse. Since pictures say it all, I dont think I have to give you a narration of the whole trip. Just view the photos and let them do the talking.

Next trip in the planning phase is Bangkok Somewhere around the 12th-14th. However, I might have to been in BKI for that whole week for work, so I guess its either of the two. Then after that, there's probably gonna be a Phuket trip lying around somewhere end of March. I'm also interested in getting a Perhentian/Redang trip going for the KRC club either in early April or sometime close. Will have to check the books, cuz I might be in Hamburg early April. Fuh busy busy busy.

Will keep everyone updated.

"So I heard you've been having food poisoning eh?"
"ye la boss. It's really bad right now"
"You should get those chikit teck aun pills u know"
"dah. I finished a bottle already"
"Hehehe. Tu la. U look pale anyway."
"Yeah but our smart doctor tak kasi MC, I did mention it but I think she didn't hear me so I'm gonna stop by her clinic aga.."
"Yeah so anyway, the LOPA and UA reports ye, I want it by 5PM"
"ok" (fuck)

Tersadar didalam sepiku
Setelah jauh melangkah
Cahaya kasihmu menuntunku
Kembali dalam dekap tanganmu

Terima kasih cinta untuk segalanya
Kau berikan lagi kesempatan itu
Tak akan terulang lagi
Semua kesalahanku yang pernah menyakitimu

Tanpamu tiada berarti
Tak mampu lagi berdiri
Cahaya kasihmu menuntunku
Kembali dalam dekapan tanganmu

Terima kasih cinta untuk segalanya
Kau berikan lagi kesempatan itu
Tak akan terulang lagi
Semua kesalahanku yang pernah menyakitimu
-Afgan

Feeling good...

2008-02-27T01:06:00.000+08:00

Having just arrived from CGK, I am feeling extremely excited, refreshed and rejuvenated. The Singapore-Jakarta "NasGor" Tour 2008 proved to be the best trip I have taken in years. A complete write up will be coming up with a special introduction and endorsement for one of the best resorts in Indonesia. Watch out for that one coming soon.

On a more bitter note, I am supposed to be on leave tomorrow but unfortunately I have been called back for an important meeting tomorrow in KLIA. This sucks a.s.s.

Travelling is awesome. Period. Will be doing more of this.

And, I think, with some amount of doubt but not too much, I think, I am at peace.....

Later.

Saturday was it?

2008-02-17T04:38:00.000+08:00

Lumix... done.

SAD day

2008-02-16T04:00:00.000+08:00

No it's not a sad day. As many of you may know, today has been designated as SAD day = Singles Awareness Day. I dont know what it means for sure, but if i were to guess, I think its a day for us singles to celebrate being single. I'm also not sure if this is day is actually for real, or if it was a fad created by Hitz.fm. I learnt of this day through the hilarious Morning Crew team of Rudy and Junior. (Kudos to you guys for an awesome V day morning show. It really helped me go through the rest of the day. hahaha funnyeehh)

So yeah, 14th Feb came and went. Again. Second year in a row. 2 years ago on that day, I would have never imagined that the next two v days would be spent alone, considering that I was at the peak and happiest part of my life then. But, with the beautiful and mysterious way this life goes, it turns out that the unexpected happened and things have definitely unfolded the way I never thought it would be. Amazing.

After spending two v days doing pretty much nothing, I am slowly coming to a conclusion that there is really no point in celebrating the v. I used to be one of 'those' but now no more. This, in no way, has anything to do with religious and moral values, of course. It's more of a principle kind of thing. Sure, it's common to hear single people bitch about v day, but I think, if I were ever to be in a relationship in the near or far future, one thing I would change is celebrating the v. In fact, I think I'm no longer acknowledging it. I dont hate it. I still send out wishes to everyone who celebrates it. I just dont think I'll be one of them from now on.

My argument will not be the usual "why would you need a special day to celebrate love when it should be done all the time", but rather its a waste of money, effort and time. Especially time. Every freaking couple wants to go out on V day hence causing a massive, painful, fucked up traffic jam that's even worse than new year's eve. All the highways and restaurants and bars and clubs and chill-joints and whatever else is filled up with couples who fall prey to the commercialized concept of the V. Last year it took me more than an hour to reach home because of these idiots. This year I learnt my lesson and stayed in the office till late. Sounds lame I know, but at least I reached home in 15 minutes while the lovey dovey doofuses were busy having their 500-ringgit dinners. Don't get me started about the ridiculous prices of everything on that day. Bodoh.

I can't deny that I was one of them. One of those who jam up the roads and succumb to the devilish enticements of the bloodsucking establishments that are trying their best to make a quick buck on v days. And boy did I splurge. No more, dude. No regrets, of course, but I'm done with that shit. Been there done that and now, i know better.

Now, I treat it as any other day. Last year, on v day, i chilled with my buddies in my pool and later for an awesome dinner, burning each other throughout. This year, i worked, to accomodate the approaching deadlines and piled-up to-dos. So instead of slaving over a day (v) that no one really knows where it came from, I actually end up having more fun. Last year's chilled out pool/loser bash will be well remembered. This year, well,at least working will help my future kan?

Of course, on a day when everyone celebrates their love ones, I tend to think about my past and what's going to happen to me... and tho it looks kind of bleak.... ehh what the fuck.. ape nak jadi jadi lah. Janji duit ade, makan cukup, lawak lebih, and party over and over and over. (kononnye la. blakang kalu stuck at home main PS2 or random guitar sessions or books.. but then again, there's always KRC, bitch!!!)

Going out of topic as an end note, I'd like to share with the small little world that visits this blog (mungkin sorang saje? thanks for your support azah - haha) a very useful quote that will help you through anything that happens. Believe you me, it has done wonders to calm me down anytime shit hits the fan.

"Things are never as bad as they seem."
Harper Lee, spoken by character Miss Maudie, To Kill A Mockingbird

Stay cool. And enjoy the weekend. SIN, CGK! HERE I COME!

Sometimes I feel
Like I am drunk behind the wheel
The wheel of possibility
However it may roll
Give it a spin
See if you can somehow factor in
You know there's always more than one way
To say exactly what you mean to say

Was I out of my head?
Was I out of my mind?
How could I have ever been so blind?
I was waiting for an indication
It was hard to find
Don't matter what I say
only what I do
I never mean to do bad things to you
So quiet but I finally woke up
If you're sad then it's time you spoke up too

2008-02-13T00:26:00.000+08:00

I have decided that I want a new digital camera.

After the tragic and mysterious dissapearance of my trusty 4-year-old 3.2 megapixel Canon (God strike thunder to the dickhead who took it), the time has now come for me to impart my mediocre scenery capturing skills via a new digital friend.

Although I read stuff magazine quite adamantly, I am nowhere near to being a techie or a gadgeteer. Thus, I don't know whats latest in the market and what should be the accurate street price for one. All I know is I need a new camera.

So as part of my new "analytical" approach to online journalling (if there is such a word), I have decided to list down some of the interesting looking ones and compare their specs, although most of the jargon sounds like Swahili to me. Note to self: You're not much of a photographer so don't be too ambitios with the specs. Something simple, point and shoot, sleek and above 6 megapixels will do.

1. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX33

Okay this bad boy looks pretty good although it is slightly over my budget (MSRP RM1299). But it looks damn good with the black body and silver accents. 8.1mps and it comes with all the standard stuff that you would find in most point-and-shoot digicams nowadays. 3.6x digital zoom and 4x optical is pretty standard for that price i guess. Screen is 2.5" and storage utilizes Built-in Memory, SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard. Tempting, but mainly because of how it looks!

2. Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W55/B

Alrite, this badass-looking Sony comes slightly cheaper at MSRP RM899 although that accounts for it snapping pictures at only 7.1mps compared to the Lumix. But then again, I'm not much of a photographer so I don't really think I'll see the difference. Still comes with a 2.5" screen although it can go only 3x optical (and 6x digital which doesn't really do much for the picture quality... err.. or so I think). The rest is yada yada yada whatever. Of course Sony won't part ways with their storage partner; Memory Stick MS Duo MS PRO Duo.

3. Nikon Coolpix L18

Okay so Nikon released the sexy L18 about 2 weeks ago and it's been quite a relief to see them moving on from their usual side-hump design to a more sleeker look. Kan smart tu... definitely worth for me to go take a look at the shops. No price yet online but I'm guessing its around the 1300 vicinity. Probably more considering they managed to squeeze in a 3 inch LCD into this 125-g sweetness. 8.1mps. Definitely worth a visit to the camera store. Let's just hope the price wont make me scoff with disgust.

4. Canon Digital IXUS 75

Although it doesn't come in black, I can't resist these new slim 7.1mps from Canon. Not to mention the mere fact of Canon's superior durability and quality. (my conviction after seeing my previous Canon went from the top of Mount Olympic all the way to beneath Sungai Ulu Yam - and it still worked). 3 inch screen and opticals and the rest are pretty much similar to average. Too bad it doesnt come in black though. But knowing that it's a Canon, I won't go wrong.

I got more Canons to analyze but I'm too tired now.

More more more!!! There're so many more to look at! Olympus especially. Adoi. Why la I start surfing at midnite... stupid blog. Ok I'm too tired to go through the rest now, maybe tomorrow. But if there's anyone reading this and got some suggestions do let me know. Anything goes as long as its below 1200 and shiny metallic black! Wuhu!

I know its been a long time,
I know I did you wrong,
I know the fault was mine,
I knew it all along,
But now I can't seem to get you out of my head
Although its been quite a while that we quit.
I hope its nothing. Or is my mind trying to tell me something...

It's been a while...

2008-02-11T23:15:00.000+08:00

Yeah. It's been a while....

I haven't been blogging for almost a year now and suddenly, for some reason that goes beyond my comprehension, I feel the suddent itch to start again. Probably I've been occupying myself too much before. Or probably I was too busy riding through the highs and lows of my life that I lost touch with the concept of blogging; the one medium for me to let it all out for the world to see (or not, you know, whatever)

Anyway, I can't deny that on the past few occasions of our usual lepakking, my buddies and I kept on arriving on the topic of blogs. And of course, along with it comes the occasional 'burns' of my previous undertaking to write, especially during my darker days (in college) where I wasted so much time moaning and nagging about something that, at the end of the day, turned out to be one of, if not the worst, mistakes of my life. I tend to reminisce those days and think about how stupid I was to shutdown the blog without even saving the entries. It would have made excellent 'burn' material if the guys were to find it, or maybe, and even better, if i were to open it 40 years down the road and let my grandchildren burn me then.

But this time around, I want to try to keep things more analytical, or maybe even parodical to properly reflect my maturity level, which hopefully has gone beyond the "Fuck You Bitch!" and "I think I am cursed hence I'm unhappy" - mentality(yeah.. right). Although, don't be surprised if my usual deep and pointless poetry crawls out of this screen every once in a while.

But truly, maybe this itch to start typing again is the fruit of my last relationship which pretty much went down the drain as soon as it started. It might very well be, as it took me less than my typical shitting session to realize that she was the worst mistake. Yes. The worst. And come to think of it, it took me about 20 minutes to get over the shock of how it ended, and it has returned me to my usual selfish asshole self, well, at least for the time-being, until another lass comes around and I start putting on the facade of "how we are made for each other". (Thus thou have to cometh with me to my bed)

Hah! I wish. No, that was pure exaggeration. I'm obviously not that kind of person. At least I think I'm not. Except for when I have to be. Maybe. Well come to think of it.. No.. wait.... Anyway.

Yeah. Well, there's nothing much to say I guess. Ups and downs are the norm for everyone. I can see that pretty clearly now, although there are some of my associates out there who seem to not be bothered about the downs at all. I'm amazed at that and truly I salute you guys. It's quite incredible to see how drama-less life can be when you don't let the petty stuff bother you. I'm slowly learning that, and I have my funny and mostly carefree friends (and of late, a Godlike brother) to thank for that. Now that I'm writing all this down, I think I'm doing okay with my life. Work's good although the money sucks. Family's doing okay. Friends are still friends though some are not around for the moment. But on top of it all, the daily grind keeps me going; keep everything hard; work, play, party, love and.. well you know the other one.

Love, yeah. Sort of a bullshit concept for me right now. After a few stints with the so-called 'ones', I have decided that relationships are not the thing for me at the moment. I got other more important things to do which I shall not dwell on this time. I just simply don't have the energy to go through the pain of being in a relationship right now. I've had a few miraculously beautiful ones, a few mediocre yet ironically amusing ones, and of course, not to frogget, the fuck-ups which I shall touch on a bit later.

The beautiful ones, I will always cherish, and silently hope that one fine day, each of them will reveal and give themselves to me. No wait, I meant one of them err... and by reveal and give, i subconciously meant the relationship and not the person. Fuck it. What I'm trying to say is that, I cherish those that meant something. And until today they still do, and who knows, one day, maybe what's meant to happen will happen (gggiilllaababehhh)

The mediocre flings... well, they're mediocre.

And the fuckups, ah... the fuckups. Thank you fuckups for making me who I am today. Cuz there was just barely enough hatred in me to survive, but thanks to you bitches, my hatred level is perfect! I mean seriously, what would I do without you? What would life be without you? My dear fuckups, thank you for being you. Stay the same, don't ever change k? Cuz you're God's gift to us human kind. We can't all be perfect. We need fuckups like you to fuck it up. And by staying the same, you will always be fucked up and I hope your fucked up till you die. Maybe you should die while being fucked? That would make it perfect. :-)

Okay enough hatred. I think I've gone too far for an opening entry. So now I have a blog and at least I can pretend to be busy when I am trying to ignore work. Yay!

Boys and Girls, welcome to Sho's Flo. A place for me to vent. And hopefully, a place for you to be entertained. I'm not very familiar to this blog site so I'll try to add fun shit here and there. Then all you people can put your own shit here. Stay calm y'all.

Song of the week has got to be...

SOULDJA BOY UP IN THAT HOE!
WATCH ME RIDE AND WATCH ME ROLL
WATCH ME CRANK DAT SOULDJA BOY AND SUPERMAAAAAAAAAAAN THAT HOE
NOW WATCH ME (YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU)
CRANK DAT SOULDJA BOY
NOW WATCH ME (YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU)
CRANK DAT SOULDJA BOY
NOW WATCH ME (YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU)
CRANK DAT SOULDJA BOY
NOW WATCH ME (YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU)
CRANK DAT SOULDJA BOY
NOW WATCH ME!!!

krcunts - we gotta scream out this song one last time dawgs.