Holly's Café

Closed indefinately

2005-10-09T18:40:00.000+08:00

Thanks for dropping by. Unfortunately, as the owner has gone to further his studies in Essex, this place will be closed. When will we reopen? Good question! Wish I had an answer...

Anyways, you can still follow the Cafe Owner's adventures here.

Cheers, mate! :-)

Owner's speciality

2005-09-30T13:32:00.000+08:00

Some things never change.

A few of you would remember that I started blogging using the nick "The Procrastinator". Yup, that's me. It has been like that for me for as long as I can rememebr. "Why do it now when you can put it off to later" was my tag-line in everything I did.

So when it came to Uni essays, filing affidavits for work, doing chores etc., it has always been left to the last minute.

At this point of time, I have not finished packing yet! My flight is tomorrow nite!

I have no excuses. I actually started packing a month ago! I knew I was leaving since more than one year ago! Yet, all my bags are not packed, I'm not ready to go...

Anyways... I still had time to catch a movie! Flight Plan. I figured that the airline would not be screening such a movie!!!!!

A very much older Jodie Foster - but she's still brilliant as ever!

Pic obtained from filmhai.de

It was excellent. Sure, after the movie, if you sat down and think hard about the show, you'd prolly find some holes in the plot here and there. But to me, you go watch a movie to be entertained - and entertained I was!

Something weird happened during the movie, tho. It was one of the scenes in the plane that suddenly freaked me out! It was simply the dark gloomy atmosphere in one of the scenes.

I've been telling a lot of people that I am scared - more now as the hour draws closer! I'm dreading the long miserable 13 hour flight where I'll be all alone without me mates and me family.

If I had a chance now, I'd prolly decide not to go. But I won't. I'll still go. And I'll just look back at this pre-departure jitters and laugh!

Still, it is not as easy as I thought it would be. I've been spending so much time wif mates and family - in the past week, I've been having "The Last Supper" every nite - wif Jon and Jee Lee (Sunday), wif me BSF mates (Monday), wif me "Bar-BQ Wings gang" (Tuesday), wif me cell group (Wednesday), wif another mate last nite and tonite wif some ex-Uni mates! Been having lunches and breakfasts and dinner (I'm scared of eating oredi!) wif so many wonderful people. It has just made me wonder - why am I leaving all these people???

To do wat I have always wanted to do. To make myself a more useful person for God. Oh, and to watch more musicals in London! ;-P

OK. Gotta stop now. I REALLY NEED TO FINISH PACKING!!!!!

Lamb chop/mutton

2005-09-22T18:23:00.000+08:00

" 'If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep or the goats, he is to offer a male without defect. ...He is to cut it into pieces, ... wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to bring all of it and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.' "

Leviticus 1v10-13

BETAPA HATIKU

Betapa hatiku Tuhan, berterima kasih Yesus
Kau mengasihi ku, Tuhan. Kau memiliki ku.

Hanya ini Tuhan, persembahan ku
Segenap hidupku, jiwa dan raga ku
S’bab tak ku miliki, harta kekayaan
Yang cukup bererti ‘tuk ku persembahkan

Hanya ini Tuhan, permohonan ku
Terimalah Tuhan persembahan ku
Pakailah hidupku, sebagai alatmu
Seumur hidupku.

(Loose translation:-

Lord, how my heart wants to thank Jesus
You love me, Lord. You own me

Only this is what I can offer
My whole life, my heart and soul
Because I do not possess riches
That are sufficient/meaningful enough for me to offer

Only this is what I ask
Receive, Lord, my offering
Use my life as your instrument
As long as I live)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12v1

Tuesday Supper Special!

2005-09-21T21:21:00.000+08:00

Last nite, I went out wif a couple of me mates again. It was supposed to be a repeat of wat took place last Tuesday!!!!

We (the same 3) went out too last Tuesday - and had an eating spree!!!! Here's wat we had:-

BBQ-ed chicken wings

Cockles dipped in the special sauce (chille, nuts, soy sauce etc.)

Satay (Barbequed skewered meat)

And we had Penang Loh Bak too - sori no pic.

Last nite turned out to be another gluttony session! We actually wanted to go and try the famous Bar-B-Q Chicken Wings which we failed to the week before (the wings we had apparently is not the famous "BAR-B-Q Chicken Wings"). To our dismay, the Bar-B-Q Chicken Wing stall wasn't opened!!!! Sigh...

Anyways, we had barbequed dried meat (while listening to a live band - serious!), fried rice noodles, fried oysters, A&W Root-beer float (sumthing which we had been craving for since last week-end) and Waffles!

But it's not so much the food but the company.

I mean, one of us had to work on Wednesday morning, another actually missed watching "Desperate Housewives" 2 weeks in a row, and I was totally exhausted and felt like I was gonna fall sick.

But yet we went and stayed out til the early hours of the morning. We talked about anything and everything - from armpit hair to... erm.. other kinds of hair, other people, strangers, our dreams, our fears, our families, our frens etc. The openess was so refreshing. I realised today that with them, it was the first time in so long that I talked about "W" so openly. I din even refer to her as "W" but by her real name!

It is hard to come to a point when you can share freely without any fear, be your crazy self, confront each other openly wif personal or even embarrassing questions and laugh at ourselves. (Oh, we laughed at others too ;-P)

I was actually quite sad (but I din cry! :-P) at the end of the nite as I realised that we won't be doing the same again next Tuesday nite - or any other Tuesday nites in the near future.

Onions and chocolates

2005-09-21T20:56:00.000+08:00

Been pretty emotional lately (or as sum people put it, a "wuss")!

OK, ok, me admit me have always been a cry baby! I guess it's the feeling of "release" when the tears flow that makes me cry so easily. Prolly one of the worst experiences I have had was being unable to cry when hurting.

But there has been a few occasions too many lately when I had tears in my eyes:-

1. After the camp we had for our frens in Temerloh last month, we had to say goodbye and there were many a teary eye - mine too.

2. Saying my first goodbye to a close mate up north - the reality of the situation finally sank in - I am leaving me close mates!

3. Last weekend, while worshipping in the wooden Church building in the middle of a jungle which I had helped to paint 2 years ago, I was touched at the sight of the young people there gathering together as God's children to worship him. It was wonderful to see how God is working in their lives.

4. After Andrew's birthday party, I was walking to my car parked parked far away - and I know I'd miss him so much.

5. Despite me drawing away from God, he showed that he still cared for me and that he still wanted me to live for him.

Heck, I even cried when I watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!!!!! Really! It was the scene when Charlie was given his anual bar of chocolate on his birthday and he opened it in front of his whole family. Even tho I had read the book and knew exactly what was gonna happen, the scene brought tears to my eyes!

Pic obtained from Movies.com

Excellent movie. Excellent Johnny Depp (as usual!).

As I was thinking about it, I realised that each time I had tears in my eyes, it was not so much because of bad, horrible and hurtful things. On the contrary, it was the opposite. It was because of the wonderful family I have, the brilliant frens I have made, the excellent moments I had while serving God and the wonderful love of my Lord Jesus which touched me so much that I cried.

I'm broke (actually, in debt), going away alone, and the future is uncertain. But I can truly say this - I am so blessed! :-)

Black forest cake

2005-09-20T02:31:00.000+08:00

Today is Andrew Lai's birthday. He turns 5 years old!

Have a slice of cake, suok-suok!

We had the celebration and cake cutting on Sunday. To view the pics, you can click here.

It was a happy occasion when both set of his grandparents as well as all his uncles and aunties were present. :-)

His maternal grandmom was chatting wif me after dinner. She was saying how brave I am to travel all the way to the UK all alone to do my Masters. I smiled. If only she knew how scared I am (or wat a "wuss" I am).

I'm gonna miss Andrew so so much!

Nasi lemak*

2005-09-17T01:43:00.000+08:00

*rice cooked in coconut milk served usually with hot spicy sauce, anchovies, peanuts and cucumber

Last nite was my last Area Home Fellowship (“AHF”) meeting.

My beloved AHF members. Yeah, me the youngest!

As a treat, one of the ladies, Angela made her special nasi lemak. Just for me! It was nice of her and of them to remember me. The nasi lemak was excellent! :-)

I had a great time too studying God’s word. We were looking at this verse:-

“…because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13v5)

As I read that verse, a still small voice spoke to me:-

“Remember more than 10 years ago when you were still young and left your family and frens for the first time? Remember how when you were in London and you never lacked anything? I did not leave you back then. I did not forsake you.

Now, as you go to Essex, dun you forget – I will never leave you, I will never forsake you.”

Thanks Lord. It’s a great comfort knowing and being reminded of that.

Harm choy* soup

2005-09-17T01:29:00.000+08:00

*a type of salted preserved vegetable

Here’s an excerpt of an e-mail I sent to out to some of me mates at 3:13 am yesterday morning:-

i'm suddenly freaking out that i won't get my flight ticket. can't sleep so got up and tried to do the discussion just now. o well... pls pray that i'll get a good priced ticket. i HAVE to get one which departs sat nite so i'll be there on sun morn cuz my uni only having bus pick-ups on sun morn!

It din help that quite a number of me mates were freaking out when they heard I have procrastinated buying my flight ticket!!!

I finally got sleep shortly after that mail (and some desperate prayers).

Well, to cut the long story short, I manage to get me flight ticket oredi. Thank God for it. No problems.

Flight no. MH 2
Departure: Kuala Lumpur 2340 hours, 1st October, 2005
Arrival: London 0550 hours, 2nd October, 2005

To put the icing on the cake, after I got me ticket, I was wondering around town and came across this chicken rice stall which was in an alleyway! The wonderful aroma of the rice and roast chicken caught my attention and I had me lunch there. The bonus of it ws that they served “harm choy” soup there! Authentic style – wif some roast pork, chicken bones, toufu, tomato and of course, harm choy!

I never thought I’d get to drink it before I go. I actually thought about it but decided against asking me parents to make it. It’s our “standard issue” soup that we drink during EVERY Chinese New Year celebrations. For you non-Chinese, the Chinese New Year celebrations is preceded by a reunion dinner. It is always a wonderful time when family members from all over will return to their homes and have a hearty meal together. The only time I have missed it was in 1994 when I was in London. The 2nd time I’ll miss it will be next year. :-(

Chicken

2005-09-15T13:10:00.000+08:00

Fried chicken from the "Maybank mamak" at Paramount Garden.
I'm gonna miss it - but I'll miss hanging out wif me mates there more!

12 years ago today, I woke up for the first time in Room 121, Marley Hall at the University of East London. It was a great feeling. A cool autumn morning. The excitement level was high. There I was, on the brink of a whole new experience in a whole new world. The best thing about it? Me mates were in the rooms right next to mine! Soon, we would be having breakfast together and then going out for shopping. We’ll be going to the City of London too!

The first 2 weeks turned out to be a vacation for us.

Here I am now, wif less than 2 and a half weeks before waking up in a cool autumn morning in a land far away. And I’m dreading it. I’m scared.

*Check out the list of things I’m scared of here.*

The main difference between then and now is that now, I’ll be alone.

Just the other nite, I was out wif a couple of mates – 2 girls – and they were talking about…. ARM PIT HAIR!!!! Yeah, they were exchanging tips on how they get rid of arm pit hair. It was too much information for me that I did not need to know and would still spend the rest of my life meaningfully without knowing it!

But that’s the beauty of my frenship wif them – and for my frenship wif quite a number of others. We have come to a point where we are just so comfortable wif each other. We know each other so well (too well, actually) and we have learnt to love each other in spite of our weird and irritating habits.

Then, I was reading some old letters I sent out to Shona when I got back home from London 11 years ago. I wasn’t happy back then cuz I missed London but more so, I felt so out of place when I got back. I could sense the distance between me and my mates back then. We had moved on, but for me, I had moved on in a different direction.

As most of you know, I was supposed to leave to do my studies last year. But I didn’t. Now one year passed and so many things have changed.

In this past year or so, I’ve drawn so much closer to so many people – sumthing which I know would not have happened if I was still a high flying partner in a law firm. I’ve drawn closer to my family members, I’ve drawn closer to my mates. And just like someone who discovered a treasure only to discover that he can’t take it away wif him, I fear if I leave now, I would lose it all. Would things ever be the same again wif me mates? Would things be the same again wif me family?

When I look back to the past year, it was like God wanted me to learn (and unlearn) so many things and the only way to achieve that was to go thru a year like wat I went thru. Perhaps one of the more important (if not the most) thing I have learnt is the value of my frens and my family.

So fine. I have learnt it Lord. Now do I really have to leave???

It’s so funny – last year, I couldn’t wait to leave the country. One year later, things have changed so much. Just imagine how much more it would change in the year ahead.

I used to be a person who thrive on changes.

“Used to” is the key phrase!

Rare or well done?

2005-09-14T13:38:00.000+08:00

It was the Reds first game in the group stages of 2005/2006 Champions League. The pundits over in S'pore predicted that they will lose this tricky away fixture. After all, the Reds haven't impressed at all in the EPL this year.

Anyways, I was up and watching in the early hours this morning. When I saw the first Liverpool player on the screen - it was Jamie Carragher - I was filled wif surprise! A pleasant one! It was more of wat he was wearing.

First, he was wearing this:-

Liverpool's NEW Champions League jersey! Excellent isn't it?

Secondly, I noticed he was wearing the Captain's armband!!!!! Yeah, that meant that Gerrard wasn't playing (yes, yes, if you still dun know yet, me not a big fan of Stevie!!!!).

Then, looking at the players coming out, I was filled wif more surprises - I see Sinama-Pongolle and Sisoko in the starting line-up.

And would you believe it - in less than 2 minutes, I was shouting and screaming wif joy! Liverpool scored! The first goal to be scored this year. And my, wat an excellent goal it was. A long ball by Carragher was neatly brought under control wif a brilliant first touch by Sinama-Pongolle. Crouch was drawing away the defenders when Sinama-Pongolle glanced up, saw the keeper off his line and chipped the ball sublimely into the top right hand corner of the goal!!!!

By the time the quarter hour mark was reached, Liverpool was 2-0 up. Garcia scored!!!

You've really gotta hand it to Rafa. Sumhow he manages to get the best of the players in the European matches. Sisoko was simply excellent in midfield. It was a joy to see the flowing football (esp one move which involved neat passing among Luis Garcia, Crouch and Sinama-Pongolle - altho it ended up wif a shot wide, it was still a thing of beauty to watch!). For a team which could only manage to score 1 goal in the EPL this season, they doubled that in just 15 mins of this first European game!

And I finally could see Reina in action, making a few good saves thruout the game.

Sure, it was a nightmare in the 2nd half when changes were made to the team but they defended doggedly and escaped wif a win!

A great start.

It was indeed a rare display (in this season) of their strengths and potential. Well done, lads!

Pics obtained from Liverpoolfctv and Premierleague.com

Birthday

2005-09-13T13:48:00.000+08:00

Today is Shona's birthday.

She would be 23 this year if she is still alive.

That's Shona, 2nd from the left. (Pic taken in Barking, Essex in Autumn of 1994)

I miss you!

p/s - you see the cute redhead holding on to my arm? That's Hollie! Yeah, the Hollie! This Café is named after her. I'll blog about her one of these days.

Glucose drink

2005-09-12T16:10:00.000+08:00

Here's wat that can happen if your body suffers from lack of glucose:-

It was his first participation in a distance running competition and the 22-year-old man completed the run in his debut.

But the construction worker from Sungai Long showed a bizarre way of ‘celebrating’ his achievement — he punched a few runners and abused his fellow runners.

He rounded up his strange behaviour in a spectacular fashion — he headed for the Putrajaya Bridge and took a 20-metre dive into the Putrajaya Lake, leaving other participants gasping in horror.

The marine police and Putrajaya cruise personnel responded quickly and pulled him out of the lake.

His experience should be a lesson to other amateur participants at such races as his behaviour is believed to have been triggered by a lack of glucose in his system.

You can read the whole story here.

When i read the article, I immediately thought of me mate, the Jester, and had to forward it to her. You see, this weekend, a group of us (Jester and me included) are heading to Tasik Bera and Jester has been bugging me to jump into the lake again!!!

Yes, again! We did that way back in Ocotber last year. Here's the photographic evidence:-

Me, Ng and the Jester, in the lake!

But I must admit that jumping into the lake was one of the many highlights of the trip we made last year.

One of me mate was telling me how he thinks I've wasted my life in the past year or so. Well, I just dun agree (tho I'm sure many would not argue wif him!). Looking back, the jumping into the lake was just one of the many wonderful experiences I've had and I'm just so thankful to God for it! I'll prolly put out a list on Holly's Lists soon about the brilliant experiences I've had in this past year and a half.

Some of you must be thinking - "This guy is crazy!!!!" Well, it's not just the simple act of jumping into the lake. It's about living! Sure, many people are alive today but how many are actually living?

If things had went as planned, I would be now a Masters Degree holder in Law. Instead, I'm broke, "Master-less", preparing for an uncertain future - but so much richer having experienced life to the fullest (or quite close to it).

Oh, Jester? We'll jump into the lake this week-end, that's a promise! :-)

Fast food!

2005-09-11T16:58:00.000+08:00

Hey, I've started a new blog - Holly's Lists

What is the blog for? Here's an excerpt from the first post from that blog to explain:-

"Some mates have complained that my posts are too long to read. So it is prolly easier for them to just come here and look thru the lists which are not so taxing on them! (See how considerate I am!!!)..."

So this new blog contains mainly all the "Lists" I have composed in ALL my previous blogs as well as new lists (which I can't figure out a nice food-related title name to post here!!!).

Enjoy.

Late nite special

2005-09-11T15:28:00.000+08:00

It was late Friday nite when I decided to watch a movie - I put on "Royal Wedding".

For those of you who went "huh?", dun worry. I'm sure a lot will say the same thing. This movie is pretty ancient. But it doesn't matter to me cuz it starred Fred Astaire!!!

Pic obtained from a link at IMDB

And Mr. Astaire was simply excellent in the movie!

For those who have not heard of him, well, it's your loss. Fred Astaire was one the best dancers in movie world, if not the best! He is so good that when his lady co-stars dance wif him, he make them look bad - even if they are not!!!

The movie brings back memories of way back when I was in my late teens. It was then that my interest in dancing was kindled. Unfortuantely, the interest remained just that - an interest and I have never pursued it save for watching Fred Astaire movies.

In the Royal Wedding, forget about acting or storyline. Watch Fred as he dances - wif his co-star Jane Powell and on his own!!! His solo dance in a gym (using a coat stand among other things) brought spontaneous applause from me! But the scene when he literally dances on the walls and ceiling left me totally open mouth amazed! This man can dance and he does it so effortlessly, so beautifully!

Is it too late for me to take up dancing???

Meal time entertainment

2005-09-10T12:17:00.000+08:00

I’ve posted before how reading the newspapers is one of my meal-time entertainment. However, reading the papers (and news) this morning almost made me lose my appetite!

This can’t be right!!!!

I read with interest last nite online about the British High Commissioner and a couple of other European Delegates staging a walk-out in protest over our former-can’t-keep-his-mouth-shut Prime Minister.

Imagine my shock when I read the local new this morning that the said former PM was speaking as one of the speakers at a conference on human rights organised by the Humans Rights Commission of Malaysia!!!!!! (See here)

What the…???

Mahathir speaking at a Human Rights conference?????

What next? Ask the Gloved One to speak at a conference to protect children from being sexually abused??? Or Charlotte Church to speak at a Alchoholic Annonymous Conference?

Swede and sour!

Yeah, more about the embarrassment suffered by the English football team lately.

The frustration by the English fans is understandable. There is no doubt that the England team consists of very talented players! But yet, they play so badly.

What I can’t fathom is that why can football pundits, former England greats and even normal everyday footie fans (like yours truly) see the problem as so crystal clear but yet a man who is paid millions of pounds just can’t?

So simple. The coach is playing these talented players out of their normal position!!!! Rooney who plays wonderfully for Man Utd week-in and out in his position just behind the lone striker was forced by the Swede to play in the left wing role! No wonder he was frustrated.

And midfield maestros like Gerrard and Lampard who basically hold their club team together were forced to play wide midfield positions!!!!! The only reason that one can think of is that the Swede just wants Beckham to play in Beckham’s favourite role – the central midfield.

It is no surprise then that only Beckham and Owen (who gets to play for England no matter wat shitty form he is in) is in support of the Swede!

The fall of the Russian Empire!!!!

Well, there will be no Russians in the US Open tennis Women’s finals this year (unlike last year where it was an all Russian final!). 2 of me fav players were knocked out of the semis.

The only consolation is that Kim Clisjters is in! Go Kim, go Kim!!!!

All pics taken from BBC News Online

Catch of the day!

2005-09-08T22:36:00.000+08:00

Me!

I’ve been pretty evasive when ppl ask me of the date of my departure. Simple – I dread having to go up on stage in church and be prayed for!!!!

Sounds very unlike me? In a way – since I love being on stage. And of course I value the prayers of the church!

It’s just that so many of me mates have recently been called up front and embarrassed!!!!! OK – I know for certain that it is not the intention of the church leaders to do that – but somehow, it always turns out that way.

I guess I oso wanna avoid the situation when everyone – yes, I mean every single person – comes up to me after the service wanting to shake my hand! Yeah, even those who spend their free time gossiping bout me, those who think it is their life duty to say bad things about me to everyone else except me, those who hate my guts, and those who din even bother to pray for me let alone call me up to show concern when I dropped out of church for a while! I’d see those hypocritical smiles and looks of concern and warm wishes and if I do not reciprocate it, I’d be branded as arrogant, unappreciative, vindictive, horrible… hhmm… I’m oredi labelled as such!

I digress.

So I’ve been avoiding and weaselling my way out whenever I am asked when I’ll be leaving. (Weaselman strikes again!!!).

But not anymore. I received a phonecall this afternoon.

Me: Hello?

Caller: Mun Onn? This is Hoong Cheong here.

Me: Oh, hi Hoonch (a fulltime worker in my church) What does he want????

Hoonch: Mun Onn, when will you be leaving to do your studies?

Me: Oh no!!! He wants to know so that he can get the elders to pray for me. Looks like it’s a job for Weaselman! Uh… end of the month.

Hoonch: Oh. Is the Date confirmed yet?

Me: Maybe he just wants to take me out for lunch Err… no. I haven’t bought my ticket yet. But it’ll be end of the month, thereabouts. My term begins only early October.

Hoonch: Oh I see. But you will only be leaving late this month…

Me: Yeah, - by the month end or early next month. Give up, give up…

Hoonch: Anyway, the church would like to pray for you…

Me: NNnooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hoonch: …so can we do that on the 25th of September?

Me: Over my dead body!!! Why, sure! *laughs nervously*

Hoonch: You will be around on the 25th?

Me: Not if I can help it! Of course!

Sigh… yes, as sumone once put it, my “shame-fest” is now confirmed and scheduled on the 25th of September 2005.

The bright side to it is that some people from Penang won’t be able to come and witness it!!! :-)

Shaken and stirred

2005-09-08T15:28:00.000+08:00

Got back home from a crazy road-trip (more like a food-trip!) in the early hours of this morning. Am still feeling slightly woozy! Have not shaken off the flu yet.

It was good trip – will blog bout it after I get the pics up.

However, sumthing happened during the trip which really shook me up. It was when we had to say goodbye to our mates studying in Penang at the Science University of Malaysia. Suddenly, it finally started to sink in. I’M LEAVING!!!!

Sure, I knew about it all the while – had more than a year to prepare myself for it. But when one is finally faced wif reality, no amount of mental preparation would suffice. As I said goodbye to them, I realised that it could very well be the last time that I would ever see them again, the last time I hear their voices and laughter.

Even if it’s not the last time, it’ll be quite a long, long while before I see them again.

I looked at the calendar today and counted slightly more than 3 weeks before I leave. I could still remember when it was 12 months!!!!

I’m oredi missing you guys!!! Yeah, especially the pink lady! Other than my fellow "Hall of Lame" members, WS & KC, no one else puts up wif my nonsense except you!!! :-(

POSTSCRIPT: Pics are finally posted. Go here to view them.

No booze served!

2005-09-08T15:09:00.000+08:00

But we do serve Boos!!!!! Hugo Boos, to be exact! Tho you may not want to drink it...

It's sumthing which I bought at Sitiawan during me recent crazy road trip wif some mates:-

It only costs RM2.00 (about 70 pence)!

Hot fudge

2005-09-08T14:50:00.000+08:00

Fudge:- Nonsense (definition no. 2 in the Concise Oxford Dictionary)

Dun you just hate sore losers? Here’s a classic quote from a supposedly champion who was beaten fair and square during the US Open tennis:-

Uhm, well, I think I was playing decent, you know. And she started playing like really bad, and it totally threw me off. She started hitting, like, these really weird shots and short balls and, like, just weird stuff. Just like it threw my game off. Next thing I knew, I was playing as bad as she was, …

That has to be the stupidest excuse I’ve ever heard – I lost because my opponent played badly and that caused me to play badly too!!!!!

I won’t even bother to put her mug-shot on me blog but here is a pic of her opponent – and one of me fav women’s tennis player today (who unfortunately has to play against my current fav women’s player in the semi-finals):-

Pic taken from US Open oficial site

On the brighter side, I’m glad that the US Open has made the turn to be more interesting after the ho-hum first week! It was seriously bad wif boring games and irritating commentators:-

Oh, it’s back to deuce now. *Pause*. Actually, it’s not 'back to deuce'. It’s the first deuce of the game. So it’s just 'deuce'.

(After Ivo Karlovic smashes another ace against Agassi) This reminds me of a Linda Ronstandt song – “Blue Bayou”. The ball ‘blew by you’, Agassi!

But it’s picking up. I saw the tail end of the nail biting tie-braker of the 5th set between Agassi and Blake earlier! Excellent stuffs. And earlier, Davenport was beaten by Elena Dementieva – an interesting match between the arguably best server in women’s tennis against one who would seem to do better if she just threw the ball across the net!

Even Federer dropped a set!

This weekend will be an interesting tennis extravaganza!!!

Mars

2005-09-04T16:38:00.000+08:00

News flash!

Here’s proof that there are alien life forms out there! Yes, extra-terrestrial beings!!! Perhaps from mars!

How do I know? Well, they tried to make contact wif me today! Really! They left a sign on me car – no, not a crop circle but a stone henge-like message!!!

Anybody knows how to interpret this?

(Interpretation: It was a bunch of monkeys with nothing else better to do who left these stones on top of your car!)

Sunny side up

2005-09-04T16:23:00.000+08:00

Pic obtained from freefoto.com

I was all stressed up. I was leading the first session and was under pressure to start off wif a blast! The practice session earlier today wasn’t that good. At the very last minute, I realised I forgot sumthing and had to rush to the church office to get it done.

It din help when I was told that they decided to bring the session earlier by 30 mins!!!!!

Finally, just a couple of minutes before I was due to come up, I sat at the front of the hall, trying to calm myself down, collect my thots and utter a short prayer.

A fren – who knew how stressed I was minutes ago – came to me and said “Oh, you are smiling! That’s a good sign!”

It was only until that point of time when I realised I had this silly grin on me face. I looked at him and gave him an even broader smile and went back to my thoughts.

I guess different people handle their stress differently. But I’m surprised to find out lately that a few of me mates deal wif it the same way I do – grin and laugh!!! Perhaps tt’s why I’m closer to them instead of the fren whom I quoted above – we understand each other better.

We can never know for sure but if you ever see sumone who is all lively and happy and loud and laughing away, remember that it could be simply a way for them to deal wif the pain and stress and hurt inside.

Does it mean that these people (me included) are hypocrites? No, I would like to think not. We are not putting on a show. We are just coping – in our own unique manner.

"Every clown must go home to his empty room"
Deborah Ann Gibson

For starters...

2005-09-02T23:09:00.000+08:00

I'm doing this post on me laptop. Me desktop has got "issues"!!! Sigh.... dun know lah. It's been "hanging" like crazy today. Me thot perhaps it could be cuz me c-drive is running out of space. So I was transfering some pics from me c-drive to me d-drive when suddenly, it hung again!!!!

When I manage to get it restarted... yeah, you guessed it - the pics which I was transferring ALL WENT MISSING!!!!!! I tried but I can't find them. Gone? So sad. It was pics of me niece's b'day last month. Well, I did post them onto me other blogspot but the quality of the pics were reduced to placed them there! So sad...

KC!!!!! I need your help!!!

Anyways, guess wat I've been up to? First, I went to a couple of supermarkets and checked out the price of some food stuffs that i may bring over to UK. Then, when I got home, I started packing!! Yup, even tho it is almost a month away from the EDD, I've oredi started packing and listing down the stuffs I'm bringing. For tonite, I packed all me clothes oredi! So proud of meself - it was really difficult!!! I had to make some hard decisions - like deciding NOT to pack me Star Wars t-shirt!!!!

The main reason why I'm starting so early (if you know me, I normally pack the nite before or the morning itself whenever I go for a trip, be it a short trip or long!) is that I dun wan a repeat of wat happened more than 10 years ago. I did start early back then but I basically put all the stuffs aside until the last day. Even then, on the last day, I was still not in any hurry and had time to drive all the way to... er... sumwhere la... to see sumone for the last time and give her a farewell gift (ironic-eh? I was leaving and I had to give her a farewell gift!!!!!).

So the evening turned out to be extremely stressful. It was a headache tring to stuff everything into me bags and after I did, I found out that me luggage was grossly overweight!!!! So I had to repack again. I din bring a lot of stuffs.

The worse thing then was that I ended up in a terrible mood. My parents did their best and succeeded in NOT giving me the "I told you so" lecture - altho they had every rite to do so. I was mad at everyone. When it came to dinner time, I shouted that I can't eat cuz I still have not finished packing yet. My family left me alone as I din want their help too.

Wat was supposed to be a final family dinner turned out terribly wrong.

I was such a pain. :-(

Yet, my family put up wif my tantrums and by the time we all got into the car to go to the airport, things were getting better.

It was a horrible experience (no thanks to me being so horrible to me family - all becuz of my procrastination) and I made up my mind long ago that I will be all packed and ready at least week before my departure date this time. Or at the very least, be 95% packed and ready 1 week earlier.

I wan my last few hours at home to be meaningful and special I dun wanna think back to my last day here and have bad memories. I wan to be able to sit down together wif my family and enjoy our dinner, talking and laughing.

I hope it will turn out that way.

For a start, I think I did quite well today - dun you?

Latest meal time entertainment

2005-09-02T00:01:00.000+08:00

This time round, I decided to grab 2 books at once. I seem to be finishing the books at a fast rate (for my standards) so this will save me an extra trip downtown!!!

I must say that the previous book – Digital Fortress – was very entertaining! To me, it was the best Dan Brown’s book I’ve read. The twists kept coming and wat was important was that the twists were believable and realistic, not forced.

However, the ending was a real let-down!!!! It was the “final” puzzle that the main characters had to solve – these characters are the best-est code-breakers in the world and the brightest minds on earth. Yet, it took them sooooooo long to understand the clue. Yes, a Malaysian lawyer who spends his time blogging can figure it out faster! (NSA people – you can call me at my mobile number for an interview – I’m sure you have my mobile number, rite?). And I guessed the final twist in the tale too! Sigh… dun you hate it when u r right all the time???? ;-P

Other than that, I would highly recommend that book. Good read.

I’ve started on Deception Point today. Hhhmmm… Dan Brown HAS gotta figure out a new way to start his novels.

Not another grissly death...

Visa preferred

2005-09-01T23:50:00.000+08:00

I was surfing today and I decided to check online on the status of me visa application. I wasn’t expecting anything as I only submitted my application last Wednesday and yesterday was a public holiday. To my surprise, I was told to go and collect my passport!!!!

It din say anything else. Does it mean they have granted me a visa? Or does it mean they are just gonna tell “Sorry, mate. We dun think u have enuf money to go and study in the UK”!!!

I started making plans on wat to do if my application got rejected. Shall I take up the teaching offer at TAR College? Is it still open? Or how bout that law firm down town which asked me to join them? Maybe I can check wif me former partner and see if he is interested to take me back in…

Well, anyways, it was all an exercise in futility as I was granted the visa. Thank God.

I asked for a 2 year visa but they only gave me 1 year and 4 months. It expires end of January 2007 (same time as yours, KC!!!). So I’ll be there til then, I guess. Dun sound too excited, do I?

Sigh… in exactly one month time, I’ll be leaving on a jet plane. One month left. Time is gonna fly…

Birthday treat!

2005-09-01T23:25:00.000+08:00

This is my nephew in one of his less flattering poses (his mom doesn't know I'm posting this onto me blog!!!):-

Yes, he is mischievious! And he never fails to bring a smile to our faces! He's sneaky too - prolly following in his uncle's footsteps!!!!

Today, if you had gone to his school, you would have noticed that ALL THE KIDS were treating him like a King! he got his way all the time and everyone was nice to him. In fact, every wish of his was a command to the rest - who followed willingly!

You know how he got them to be like that? He told them that tomorrow is his birthday!!!!! So naturally, everyone was being especially nice to him wif a hope that they'll share in his goodies which he'll bring to school tomorrow.

The problem is that his birthday is on the 20th of September!!!!

Wonder what is gonna happen 2moro...

Cup or water?

2005-09-01T11:11:00.000+08:00

I received the following from a mate recently. Thought provoking? Read it!

A group of working adults got together to visit their University lecturer.

The Lecturer was happy to see them. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

The Lecturer just smiled and went to the kitchen to get an assortment of cups - some porcelain, some in plastic, some in glass, some plain looking and some looked rather expensive and exquisite.

The Lecturer offered his former students the cups to get drinks for themselves.

When all the students had a cup in hand with water, the Lecturer spoke: "If you noticed, all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal that you only want the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. What all you wanted was water, not the cup, but we unconsciously went for the better cups."

"Just like in life, if Life is Water, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold/maintain Life, but the quality of Life doesn't change."

"If we only concentrate on the cup, we won't have time to enjoy the water in it."

Home cooked meal

2005-09-01T00:08:00.000+08:00

I have a confession to make. Today (I’m typing this at 11:59 pm), my country celebrates her 48th year of independence. It doesn’t stir up much emotion in me.

I’m not a very patriotic guy. Truth be told, I dun like my country very much! I grew up seeing certain race gets better and preferential treatment, I see corruption and cronyism, I have no faith in our police force who only seem to be interested in intimidating the public and getting bribes (at least those that I have encountered – I must say that one rotten apple does not make the whole basket bad), I see my fellow Malaysians with no civic-consciousness, I do not think it is safe for anyone to be out alone at night (except perhaps in Sarawak), I see rubbish everywhere, the public toilets are a nightmare, commuters pushing and shoving their way into trains, rude drivers on the road, justice being bought in the Courts of Law, people persecuted because of their religious beliefs …

I can go on and on wif the list.

Still, no matter wat happens, I am still a Malaysian. God made me one for a purpose. And I’m thankful for this country, for the wonderful frens that I have, for the delicious food all around, for the beautiful nature, for the peace and stability we enjoy (as compared wif some other worse-off countries. Of course things could be better. Things always can be better…).

Pic obtained in true M'sian style - without permission and not bothering about it!

This is Malaysia. And for now, this is my home. And home is where the heart is, isn't it?

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Romans 13v1

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior...
1 Timothy 2v1-3

Free buffet dinner!

2005-08-31T23:46:00.000+08:00

I made a bet wif me mate, Weng Soon. The problem about it was that neither of us thought he would win and as such, we both could not remember wat was his “win” if he won the bet. He thinks it’s some buffet dinner.

I lost.

The weird thing about it is that I WAS GLAD I LOST THE BET!!!!! Yeah, even if it cost me a buffet dinner!

The bet was whether Michael Owen would go to Newcastle United! At the time we “made the bet” (*gasp* How un-Christian!!!!!!), neither of us actually thought that Owen would go to Newcastle. Surely he would go to a bigger club like Man Utd, Arsenal or Chelsea.

However, in the past week or so, I was shocked to find out that NONE of the other EPL teams are interested in Owen – except Newcastle!!! And arguably, Liverpool too! So it was either Liverpool or Newcastle. Given a choice, any striker worth his salt and having his head screwed on correctly would choose the reds instead of the faltering magpies!

Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please dun let him go back to Liverpool!!!!

Why? Look, he left Liverpool because he thought that Liverpool would NEVER WIN anything and he wanted to win things. The irony now is that he comes back to England empty handed and not being able to secure a first team place in Real Madrid. Liverpool however, in his absence of 1 year, had secured the biggest European prize – the European Champions League Cup!!! And just last week, they oso won the Supercup!

So the greedy lil fella now wants to come back? No way!!!!

In any event, his motives are purely selfish – be warned, Newcastle fans! He needs to get a regular first team place so that his position in the England team for teh World Cup is secured. You think he gives a s*** about Newcastle?

In any event, I always felt that Liverpool’s previous coach depended too much on Owen. Because of that, it always hinges on whether Owen is on form or not. In other words, IMHO, methinks he is not good for Liverpool as a team. On top of that, I had always thought that he’s overrated. I for one was glad when he left. Sure enuf, Liverpool started winning cups after Owen left!

And I dun think I’m the only one who thinks so – there has to be some really good reasons why seasoned managers like Alex, Arsene and Jose were reluctant to buy him even at a bargain price!!! And methinks Rafa wasn’t keen at all and is relieved that Owen turned down Liverpool’s offer.

So it was wif great joy when I heard the news that Owen has signed for Newcastle – yes, even if it meant that I have to buy Weng Soon a buffet dinner.

Family set meal

2005-08-31T23:21:00.000+08:00

We went for a family trip – me mom, dad, sis, bro, sis-in-law, nephew and niece. It was meant to be the “final” outing before I go. Sniff…

It was alrite. We went to Pangkor – at the insistence of our dad. But at the end of the day, it was not so much the palce that mattered but the time spent together.

Perhaps, the time spent was a lil too much!!! Yeah, in the short span of 3 days and 2 nites, we did get on each other’s nerves but thank God for Andrew and Adelyn, me nephew and me niece who never fail to put a smile back on our faces and push whatever disagreements far away.

Highlights?

1. The seafood was simply excellent! Yummy!

2. Playing wif the kids

3. The ferry ride was nice

4. Spending time just sitting around chatting

5. Watching the Man Utd and Newcastle match on the big screen at the restaurant across the street! (my first EPL match!!!!!)

Check out the pics here:-

Day #1
Day #2
Day #3

Check out ALL the pics in my Epson Photo Album here (4 albums)

Fortune cookies

2005-08-27T06:01:00.000+08:00

It may have taken some good fortune but at the end of the day, Liverpool is the European Supercup CHAMPIONS!!!!!!

It was all thanks to this crazy fella:-

Cisse scored 2 and superbly set up the 3rd goal for Garcia to head in!!!! Sure, the first goal was definitely fortunate – or lucky.

*gasp* I’ve said a “Christian bad word”!!!!! “Luck” has been frowned upon by Christians – so much so it has become ridiculous!!! Like instead of having a “potluck dinner”, we have a “potbless dinner”!!! Sigh… of all people, I think we as Christians should not be too concern with the labelling but more on wat’s inside!

But I digress…

Yes, the first goal may have been lucky – but at the end of the day, in footballing world, you “make your own luck”! It was an excellent long ball clearance from the Reina the goalie. It showed exceptional vision. Garcia was in excellent position to chest down the ball for Cisse. Cisse worked hard wif his pace to get into the “lucky” position!!!

To cut the long story short, WE WON!!!!!!

Wat I really enjoyed from the match tho was the performance of our new midfielder, Sisoko! This is the first time I’ve seen him play this season and I must say, he is very, very impressive! He is strong, he is aggressive, he wins balls! I’m really excited to see him play in more games!

But that was about it. Other than the excellent contribution by the aging Hamann, there was really nothing much to shout about! Sigh… For a moment, I actually thought I had jinxed Liverpool again by watching them play “live” and almost turned off the TV with 10 minutes remaining. But I’m glad I didn’t!

Oh well, at least we showed that we can win trophies without this fella who was sitting in the stands:-

As well as this fella:-

…who walked out on us thinking he won’t win anything big – and now trying to wriggle his way back in again!!!!

All pics obtained online from BBC Online and Premierleague.com

Foreign food?

2005-08-27T01:16:00.000+08:00

Last weekend was an absolutely brilliant time for me. It was the 2nd week of the English Premier League - and I missed ALL THE GAMES AGAIN!!!!! But...

We had a camp for some teens from the interiors of the state of Pahang, the biggest state in West Malaysia.

Altho these teens were Malaysians, they were almost foreign to us!

Who are they? Let’s just say that these teens are under-privileged kids – most, if not all live in wooden and bamboo houses with no electricity and no running water. They speak a different language from us and their lifestyle could not be as different as chalk is from cheese when compared with ours!

But having said that, we have learnt that they are not that different from us after all! They are normal teens – just like how some of us used to be (or still are) although for sum of us, it has been a long, long time ago…

Anyways, here are the reasons why it was brilliant for me:-

1. I had a great time getting to know the teens and hanging out wif them! They were a really nice bunch of people to be wif!

2. We had a crazy time playing games on the first day – ended up wif most of us either drenched wet or covered in flour – or in some cases like me, drenched wet AND covered wif flour!!!!

3. I had the privilege to work wif some of the most dedicated, gifted and crazy bunch of youth workers!!! A good example would be when at the end of the camp, all of us sat together, chilling out, totally exhausted, just wanting to go home and bathe – then we were told that we had to clean up the church building and mop the floors of the basement and all the rooms upstairs!!!! All of us got up and went about doing it – all cheerfully and laughing away!

4. I had the chance to catch up wif quite a number of me mates over tea time wif excellent “vadai” and “goreng pisang”, and supper of hokkien fried noodles!

5. Had a good time jamming – during the sessions and even the unofficial jam sessions! Been a while since I played the bass!

6. Experiencing God helping us out! For example, the trip to the Zoo was only confirmed at the VERY LAST SECOND!!!! When we had to decide immediately whether or not to go and we received news there and then that we could get the student discount!

7. Seeing the lives of the teens touched by God. There were 14 responses at the end of the camp!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!

8. The outings were loads of fun! We went to the Selangor Pewter factory (which despite initial doubts, turned out to be quite informative and interesting for all!) and to the National Zoo!

9. I played futsal again that weekend!!! Since I was without shoes, I played goalie and managed to keep a clean sheet!!! *beams wif pride* But must admit it had to do more wif the excellent covering by m team players! Oh, I broke a toe nail when I made a *ahem* brilliant save!

10. We had great food!! :-P The BBQ on the last nite was excellent!!! We kept on saying how sad it was that the Jews and the Muslims dun eat pork (no disrespect meant)! The food for the other meals were equally brilliant!

To me, it was truly a touching moment for most of us when we had to say goodbye in tears. It was especially hard for me as I prolly won’t get to see them again anytime soon as I’ll be going away to the UK.

Anyways, to you guys who worked wif me during the camp, thanks so much again for the wonderful time! Been really good serving wif you all, one hand, one heart!

Too lazy to post up pics onto me blogs. But I’ve posted them onto me album online so if you wanna view them, click here.

Past the expiry date?

2005-08-25T20:44:00.000+08:00

I’m getting old! Altho a lot of people, when they see me still think that I’m a student, it still doesn’t change the fact that I’m getting old!!!!

In fact, come December this year and I’ll be able to boast that I have done sumthing that even Jesus could not do when he was on the earth – celebrate my 34th birthday!

*gasp* 34?????

Signs that I’m getting old:-

1. The other day, me mom bought me claypot chicken rice for lunch. It was quite good but yet, I couldn’t finish it despite me not eating breakfast that morning!!!!

2. I was reading a blog belonging to someone whom I have seen growing up from a small girl in Church and found out that she’s celebrating her 21st b’day this year!!!

3. I’m getting careless – for an example, read what happened recently.

4. I’m getting forgetful!!!! For the past 10 years or more, each time I leave the house, I take out the same things which will definitely include these – my house keys, my wallet, my mobile phone. It is becoming frequent that I walk out of my house without one of these things!!!

5. I read the obituaries and find that I know some of them!!!

6. When I hang out wif me mates, we always (and almost only) talk about the “good ol’ days”!!!

7. I have stopped listening to 92.9 FM and find 94.5 FM much nicer!!!

8. When I climb a steep hill, I’ll be gasping for air at the top and my heart will feel like it is gonna burst!

9. The number of cups of coffee I drink these days is way much lower than a couple of years ago! In fact, I drink more water than coffee these days! *gasp*

10. When I go to the park and a ball comes rolling towards me, the kids will be calling out “Uncle, uncle, kick the ball back!!!”!*

* for you non-Malaysians, it is common courtesy among the young people in Malaysia to call an older adult stranger “Uncle” if he is a man or “Aunty” if she is a woman.

Latest meal time entertainment

2005-08-25T19:09:00.000+08:00

This is wat I'm reading now:-

Yes, no more Grisham! At least for now.

The last Grisham book I read, "The Last Juror" was simply excellent! One of his best. But unlike most of his books, it deals with many sub-stories.

Still, I think I better take a break from Grisham's books. Just like "The King of Torts", I guessed the ending (and saw thru the red herrings) of "The Last Juror" much earlier!!!!

Now, I'm back to Dan Brown. To be honest, I din really like Da Vinci's Code. It was good, a page turner but not great! I liked the first half of Angels and Demons betetr but the ending was pretty forced. He tried so hard to make the twist a surprise that to me, it backfired.

But on me mates' recommendation, I'm reading Digital Fortress now. At least it is not about Robert Langdon anymore. It is enjoyable so far.

Back to Grisham, I just watched Runaway Jury again last nite!

I was surfing channels when I came across the movie. And altho I wanted to watch Discovery Channel, somehow, I was drawn back to Runaway Jury. After all, it has John Cusack and Rachel Weisz, 2 of me fav actors and actresses! And I remembered the excellent performance by Dustin Hoffman!

So I watched thru the whole movie - and enjoyed it again, perhaps even more!!! It even moved me close to tears!

If you have not watched it, try to. Dun believe the bad reviews it received. The performances of the actors themselves are worth your time spent watching it. I especially liked Dustin Hoffman's character - the lawyer who is honest, who has scrupples and morals, who believes in justice and truth, one who truly cares for his clients. At the end, he was tested to the limit - hang on to your values and your client will probably lose. Bend the rules and play dirty like the rest - but your client wins and justice will be done!

So do the ends justify the means?

Watch it to find out!

p/s - KC, how is Runaway Jury, the book so far? You know wat I read on-line? The book is very different from the movie so even tho you have watched the movie, it won't spoil the book for you. In fact, I'll prolly be getting Runaway Jury when I'm done with Digital Fortress.

Mint chocolate shake

2005-08-25T12:51:00.000+08:00

Once i went to this place and noticed on their menu they had "Mint Chocolate Shake" and "Chocolate Mint Shake". I called the waiter over.

Me: What is the difference between the "Mint Chocolate Shake" and "Chocolate Mint Shake"?

Waiter: Oh, it's actually the same thing.

Me: Huh? (Did a double take) Alrite.... (not believing). I'll have one then.

Waiter: A "Mint Chocolate Shake"?

Me: No.

Waiter: Huh?

Me: A "Chocolate Mint Shake"

The waiter walks away with the sound of me mates laughing ringing in his ears...

OK, OK. I was mean but c'mon... If it was the same thing, then why was it printed as such on the menu?

Altho I acknowledge that 2 things which sounds different may mean the same thing.

Just a couple of nites ago, I went for a drink wif some mates. Another fren came and brought his frens along. Unfortunately, I was not in a very sociable mood (when am I ever???) - it was right after the camp and I was totally exhausted and just wanted to eat and go.

But me other mates were making small talk wif these new-made frens. One of them, S, lives in Subang Jaya too and he was describing the route he takes to go to work. I knew wat he was saying but another mate didn't. So I "took over" and explained the route - ending wif "...and he makes a u-turn there - which is actually illegal!"

S looked stunned when I said those words. He must be thinking - who is this little p**** who I have never met before but is telling everyone I am a regular traffic offender???

A few minutes later, he tried to justify himself. He looked at me - with a smile - and explained, "Actually, it is NOT an illegal u-turn! You are just not allowed to make the u-turn. but it is not illegal!!"

Yeah, rightttttt!!!!!!

I din make any new frens that nite...

All are welcomed here?

2005-08-25T02:21:00.000+08:00

This is a real life scenario:-

Me mate woke up early yesterday morning to find his maid dying. She attempted to commit suicide by drinking washing liquid or something. Unfortunately for the poor girl, it did not kill her but made her suffer and left her in agonising pain.

Me mate rushed her to the nearest hospital he could think of - the DAMANSARA SPECIALIST HOSPITAL. He din think a small tiny 24 hour clinic would be of much help and he din mind paying good money to a private hospital.

The nurses put the poor girl onto a bed and informed me mate that a doctor will be attending to her shortly. All the while, the poor girl was in great agony.

The doctor finally arrived about 10 minutes later.

He informed me mate that it appears that the girl had attempted to commit suicide. It is "the hospital's policy" NOT TO ACCEPT SUCH PEOPLE!!!!!! He told me mate to send the girl instead to the University Hospital.

Me mate was shocked. He din even bother to argue and asked instead that they at least provide an ambulance to send the girl there.

The doctor told me mate in a matter-of-fact manner that it would be faster if he sent the girl himself as it would take half an hour for the DAMANSARA SPECIALIST HOSPITAL to get an ambulance ready to take the girl there.

Imagine the scene:-

the pristine and expensive looking hallway of the DAMANSARA SPECIALIST HOSPITAL,
a young girl agonising in excruciating pain and dying,
a doctor standing nearby not wanting to do anything because it is the DAMANSARA SPECIALIST HOSPITAL's hospital not to treat suicide victims.

What happened to the Oath all doctors must take???

"... I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous...."

Hippocrates' Oath? More like hypocrites' oath!!!

Alphabet soup

2005-08-23T22:06:00.000+08:00

2 trucks loaded with copies of a thesaurus collided as they left a publishing company. Witnesses were stunned, startled, aghast, taken aback, stupefied …

(Copied from Laughter, the best medicine, Reader’s Digest December 2004 – which I read from cover to cover during me trip to East M’sia)

Lunch time

2005-08-20T00:37:00.000+08:00

I did not manage to send in my visa application yesterday!!!!

I went to me mate’s legal firm at the Taipan triangle near my house early in the morning to get him to certify some photocopies of documents as true copies. He din bring his name stamp!!!! So I left it there for him to get his colleague to certify the docs when he gets in.

Went home. Waited. No news. Called him up to find out that his colleague is still not in yet! I was losing patience. The British Hi-Com will not accept any applications after 3 pm.

It was 12 sumthing oredi. So I went back to Taipan – there were many other legal firms around. I located the Commisioner for Oaths – found out that he is the only one in Taipan triangle. Found out oso that he just went out for lunch. Called his mobile but he din pick up! Bugger…

Decided to get a lawyer – any lawyer – to certify me documents. Went to 5 legal firms – all closed!!!! No one bothered to answer the door/bell!!! Well, I know it’s lunch time but still!!!!

Now I know why the law firms in Taipan are not doing as well as where I used to be a partner. In that firm, there’ll ALWAYS be sumone answering the phone and the door during lunch time!

Finally found a lawyer at this firm called Messrs Tan and DH Chan!!! Over the glass door (no one dared to let me in! C’mon!!!! It was lunch time but I was decent enuf in a t-shirt, cargo pants and Velcro boots), she interrogated me as to why I want to see a lawyer, why I want the documents to be certified, wat documents etc. Finally, she said that it’ll cost me RM50 to get one document certified by her!!!! She said a Commisioner for Oaths will only charge RM4 (that is correct) but if she does it, she’ll charge me RM50 per document!!!!

For a moment, I was lost for words!!!! I wanted to scream at her and inform her that I was an advocate and solicitor of the Malaysian High Court for 7 years – and never have I once charged such a ridiculous amount just to certify a document!!!!!

But I din. I smiled, thanked her for her time and walked away in disbelief!!!

RM50 per document!!!! I asked me lawyer mate later, “Are our signatures that expensive???”

In the end, I gave up trying to meet the 3 pm date line. The bright side to the whole thing is that I discovered later that there were some fatal mistakes in a document I wanted to certify – so if it had been certified earlier, I would have submitted a bad document along wif me visa application!!!!

And oh, I saw this little toddler wearing those annoying squeaky slippers – she looked so cute that I had to smile. When she saw me smiling, she walked towards me, squeaking all the way, and reciprocated me smile and waved at me!

Yeah, that made my day! :-)

Vietnam Kitchen

2005-08-19T01:57:00.000+08:00

I had dinner at Vietnam Kitchen a couple of nites ago wif some ex-Uni mates. But this has nuthing to do wif this post!!!!

I took one of those on-line test - it's a non-serious personality test! It was on "What classic movie are you?"

I had the choice of choosing to answer 9, 18, 27 or 45 questions. I did all!!!! For the occasions when i answered 9, 18 and 27 questions, this was the result (a movie based in Vietnam!!!!):-

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Sure sounds like me, doesn't it?

When I did the 45 question one, I got something totally different!!!! I got this:-

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

But that describes me too, doesn't it? Well, almost... ;-P

Recommendation from the porch

2005-08-19T01:33:00.000+08:00

One of the joys of blogging is that I’ve made sum new frens. Wonderful people! My life has definitely be so much enriched since knowing them, reading their blogs, exchanging thoughts and sharing views.

You shud read Krissy’s blog. It belongs to a wonderful sister in Christ.

Besides all the spiritual encouragement I received from reading her blog (and the laughs over the funny incidents which happens in her life), I will always think of her as the one who introduced me to wonderful music!

It is pretty clear that while Krissy and I are so different and come from very different backgrounds, we have 2 things in common – we both love the Lord and we both share the same taste in music!

The first is Vienna Teng! Check out her website here where you can down load some of her brilliant songs (legally!). Excellent stuffs. She to me is like Jewel who plays the piano!!!

And recently, I was checking out wat Krissy has been listening to lately. She’s been listening to Missy Higgins. She’s an ozzie girl.

And again, Krissy’s taste is simply brilliant! I’m listening to Missy Higgins now! You shud try her out too! Check her out here.

Wonder if anyone knows where I can get me paws on these CDs...

Chicken

2005-08-19T01:08:00.000+08:00

I received a text msg from a mate recently. She asked me not to go to the UK!!! She said that I’ll prolly come back all snobbish and speak wif a fake accent!!!! I told her that it’s too late – I’m oredi snobbish and I speak weird!!!

Of course she was only kidding.

Still, I’ve been admitting to quite a number of people lately that I’m getting butterflies in me tummy over going over.

Yes, I’m scared!

There, I said it.

I spent the nite cracking my head over getting my visa application ready. Then I went on-line and surfed for a few hours, checking on everything regarding me studies – the cost of the airline tickets, the entry requirements, how to fill in the visa forms and about me Uni. Yeah, checked up a lot bout me Uni.

It’s real! It’s approaching. I am going. I’m leaving the comforts of home, of the local church, of mates. The pics of all the Brits in the Uni website is scary.

Money is one thing. All me savings are gonna be wiped out soon – it doesn’t help that so many things have happened recently which cost me, financially – car broken into, CD player stolen, cologne bottle broken, PDA screen smashed, increase in the cost of the visa, passport expiring…

But wat makes it really hard is the fact that I’ve drawn so much closer to me family and to me church mates in this past year. I’m so gonna miss them so much!!! Me neice has only recently learnt how to call me in Cantonese!!! Instead of “suok suok”, she calls me “yuk yuk”!!!! the other day, she grabbed a pack of cards, looked up at me and said “Juk, juk, play wit me?” :-)

Sigh… on top of that, so many uncertainties – I’m going back to study after a break of more than 10 years!!!! And a subject which although I’ve always been interested in but I’ve never really been in touch wif. And I’ll be working and studying at the same time! I’ll be going alone.

I was telling Weng the other day that if me former boss/partner offered me my job again as his partner, I might just agree to it! Seeing him “in action” recently at the Kuching courts and reading about a case in the papers where I was heavily involved in previously made me miss practice.

Honestly, if me visa application gets rejected, I won’t be feeling too disappointed!!!

Just last week, I found out that UNSW will be opening a branch in S’pore in 2007!!! Maybe I shud just forget about Essex, take up the job offer I received to tutor at TAR college (yeah, I got the offer last month) and then go over to S’pore in 2007 to do me Masters there. At least then the cost of living would be lower and I’m closer to home!

Yet… yet, having said that all, I know that if I dun go back to the UK, I’ll live to regret it for the rest of my life. This was sumthing that I wanted to do all these while since I got back in 1994. It’s just weird that now when I finally am so close to fulfilling it, I’m getting cold feet.

Sigh… I’ll get over it, I’m sure. I’ll go over, have the time of my life and laugh at this post when I re-read it.

I will!

Do i sound like I'm trying hard to convince meself???

East M’sian instant noodles

2005-08-18T17:36:00.000+08:00

Someone commented verbally that me posts on me trip to East M’sia have been too difficult to read. Quote - too much words, no pics - end quote!

So being the accommodating person that I am (read: nice!), I’ve decided to do a sort of “sum-up” post. It’ll be a “The good, the bad and the ugly” kind of post. But I’ll do it the “belakang mari” way!!!

THE UGLY – pics of me!!!

Ok, in actual fact, I only appear in 2 of all the pics I took!!! The other pics aren't that ugly...

For a quick overview, check out me post on me other blogspot here. These are me fav pics.

For all the pics, go here and here.

THE BAD

1. Having diarrhoea on the first day and subsequently constipation for the remaining days!!!

2. The toilets. Enuf said!

3. Being scolded and ridiculed by the bus driver in Sibu after a horrible bus trip (read here for the juicy details)

4. The pain in my neck during the whole of the 2nd week was really…. a pain in the neck!!!!

5. My first nite in Miri - Waiting in vain for a bus which never came (after being promised that it will) while feeding the mozzies in the hot and humid nite and nursing the pain in my neck which spread down to my shoulder blades. That was the worse point – I just felt at that point of time that I wanted to go home immediately!

6. Being extremely homesick at one point of time

7. Making many futile attempts to confirm accommodation at Bario! In the end, I din go.

8. Being extremely dehydrated in a part of Brunei where I could not find any place selling water – and ended up wif a massive migraine!

9. Those girls who walked around the halls in their sandals despite clear signs stating that all are to remove their footwear!

10. Discovering that me PDA screen got smashed!

THE GOOD

1. Travelling up the Rejang from Kapit to Belaga siting on the top of the boat!

2. Having dinner wif Kathy, Sarah and Lee every nite at Bako – and chatting wif them. We’d continue our chat on the porch of our dorms!

3. Worshipping at me mate’s church in Kota Kinabalu

4. Spending time catching up wif frens in Kuching, Bintulu, Miri and Kota Kinabalu and experiencing their wonderful hospitality

5. Watching “The Island” at Miri!!!! I really enjoyed the show!

6. Wandering around aimlessly in the Kampung Ayer at Brunei

7. The food! Seafood, Sarawak noodles!!!! Yummy! And cheap too!

8. Watching the football finals in Kapit wif some new frens in the hotel lobby!

9. The sunset at Kapit

10. Staying over at me mate’s place on the last nite in KK and reliving the good ol’ times in UK!

East Malaysian menu (final part!)

2005-08-16T14:54:00.000+08:00

DAY #13 (30/7 Saturday)

Brunei – Kota Kinabalu

Back to KK! Walked around town – so many memories. The place was so familiar. Had a small “cultural shock”, tho. After 3 days in Muslim Brunei (where only me and other tourists wears shorts out into the blazing hot sun), there were so many girls in short skirts and spaghetti straps tops!!!! Have not seen so much flesh for a while!!!!!!

Met up wif me mates at KK for dinner! It was really nice. The food was great too! Seafood! Yummy! All I had to eat that day was a small piece of cake at the jetty. So I was pretty much starving and cleaned off everything on the table that nite! ;-P

DAY #14 (31/7 Sunday)

Kota Kinabalu

Went to me mate’s church for service. Had a great time of worship there. Before that, we had dim sum for breakfast!

After lunch, I just wandered around town. Decided to pamper meself and had a cup of ice-blended coffee while watching the sun set. It was nice. Then, the nite market started and it had a lovely atmosphere.

Had dinner wif me mates again at one of the best Chinese restaurants in town. After dinner, me mates took me to try mango and durian ice cream! Lovely!

However, me last nite in a backpackers’ lodge ended on a sour note – some of me room mates were wearing their sandals ALL AROUND THE PLACE including the toilets when it was clear that everyone was to remove their shoes and sandals. Later in the nite, some fellas came back, obviously drunk and made a lot of noise. O well…

DAY #15 (1/8 Monday)

Kota Kinabalu – Tambunan – Keningau – Tenom - KK

Road trip! Me mate took me on his Range Rover and off we went! We basically targeted for Tenom and just drove off (after he came from Court!). It was a lovely drive – the scenery was fantastic – the Crocker Range! After weeks of boring and flat Sarawak landscape (although Sarawak is a beautiful place), this was so refreshing. And his Rover had no problems going thru the rough and hilly terrain!

We stopped whenever we wanted to and just took in everything – the view, the sights, the small towns, the water buffaloes in the stream, etc. The weather was simply lovely. Bright sunny day but it felt cold cuz of the nice cool breeze.

But wat was really wonderful was the time we spent chatting. It was great. Me mate is a Catholic. While a lot of protestant Christians have their doubts about Catholics generally, me mate was not at all like wat they perceived. He studies the Bible, understands the “rituals”, believes that Jesus died for his sins and is filled with the Holy Spirit! He was obviously bursting to talk about his faith and was glad I was interested to listen.

This was a man who clearly loves the Lord!

He oso took time to explain and clarify certain Catholics practices and beliefs.

We decided – wisely – not to spend the nite at Tenom and head back to KK. He put me up at his place and I spent prolly the best nite of me trip there!

I had dinner wif him and his family, and then played wif his kids for a while – his eldest girl showed me all her drawings of her family and immediately started a new drawing to include me wif her family! We then played Uno where she won most of the games!!!

After a wonderful home cooked meal, we had a mini fruit fest – local oranges (or tangerines), lovely sweet mangosteen and rambutans, steamed sweet corn.

After the kids went to bed, I stayed up wif me mate and his wife and we basically chatted til around 2 am when they had to go to sleep as they had to wake up early to send the kids to school. But it was a wonderful time. As usual, we talked about the time we spent in the UK. In fact, me mate told me that after that, he just couldn’t sleep as he was reliving the good old times!

DAY #16 (2/8 Tuesday)

Kota Kinabalu – Home!

After breakfast, me mate dropped me off at the Sabah museum. It was pretty good, actually. I enjoyed the historical presentation there. Sabah indeed had a very interesting history. The natural history exhibition was good too.

Wat was really good was the little heritage village just outside the museum – it boasts of live-sized replicas of houses and homes of the locals. Excellent!

After lunch, it was time was me last minute shopping, repacking my stuffs and then to the airport! Me bag was overweight 20 kgs and I had to do some creative repacking at the airport itself to avoid paying for it!!!!

Before I knew it, I was back in KLIA … and was welcomed by the haze!

Check out the pics taken during my stay at Sabah here, here and here!

Wild boar and curry Patin*

2005-08-15T19:14:00.000+08:00

* Patin, or silver catfish, is a freshwater fish. The most popular variety that is a favourite in Chinese restaurants is the patin buah. It is a pretty oily fish and has a fine texture. The patin has no scales on its body. In restaurants, patin can be steamed with soy sauce or prepared lemak or assam curry style. Because it loves to graze on muddy bottoms, the patin has that muddy flavour. (obtained from Kuali.com)

Finally, the wait was over! The English Premier League resumed last weekend!!!

The irony about the whole thing was that I DID NOT WATCH A SINGLE MATCH!!!!!! Instead, when the first match was being played, I was busy stuffing my face wif stir fried wild boar meat and curry patin!!! :-P

Me mate goes into the Orang Asli village once a month for mission – they would do visitations and conduct meetings and teaching.

He asked me to follow him as I’ve had experience and he would want my help. How could I say no?

It was tiring, tho. The nite before, I went out wif some others mates and we sat at A&W and chat til pass 2 am!!! Then when I got home, I had to type out the training materials for a training that I was conducting on Sunday evening!

And (as I blogged in an earlier post) as I was rushing to leave, I broke a bottle of expensive cologne!!!

But the trip was pretty good. Had a good time wif me mate. We stayed up late sharing and chatting. We also had some wonderful time chatting with the Orang Asli there. They were quite contented to do all the talking and we were contented to just listen and give encouragement. The OA are really nice people. Simple, genuine, frenly.

Excellent weather, nice clear sunset

The food was excellent! The wild boar was delicious!!!! It was the first time I had eaten patin cooked in curry. The fish was sooooo fresh – prolly just caught from the river nearby. But I learnt a lesson – never sit next to the host! Before I finish my plate of rice, he took me plate and got his wife to pile it up wif rice!!!! Definitely overate!!!

We ate using our hands and there was a small pail of water for us to wash our hands in. being the last to finish, I had to wash me hands using the water that everyone else had used to wash their hands… ugh!

After dinner, we were treated wif mangosteens and rambutans – local fruits which were excellent!

We slept on the porch which was brilliant. The nite was cool. The air was fresh and there was no haze at all. It was lovely to bath in the freezing cold river water and see the clear nite skies with the moon and sparkling stars above. When we went to sleep, I could hear the familiar noises one hears in the jungle at nite – the crickets, the insects, etc. Nice!

The Sunday School! Right after I took this pic, one of the boys said that it was lightning!!!! Until Wei Lyn pointed out that it was just the flash from me camera!!!

The next day, we did the children’s meeting and then me mate gave the sermon during the adults’ meeting. By the time we reached back, it was just in time for me to conduct me training. When I got home that nite, I was too tired to watch any of the Sunday matches oso!

No regrets, tho. It could be the last time I go to the OA village for a long long time as I’ll be leaving for me studies soon.

And we made a new fren too!

A blue-eye puppy!!! She din seem too bothered with the flashes from me camera!

In any event, I din miss much cuz Liverpool din win. :-(

East Malaysia menu (part… 4 or 5?)

2005-08-15T17:40:00.000+08:00

DAY #11 (28/7 Thursday)

Miri - Brunei

The trip to Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB for short – throughout the journey, I kept on having Backstreet Boys’ songs playing in my head!!!) was quite bad. I left Miri around 10:30 am and reached BSB at about 3:30 pm!!!! At the end of the journey, me neck ache which I thought left me for good came back! Sigh…

It was quite madness actually. The bus took me to the Malaysian border where we got out and got our passports stamped. Back on the bus to the Brunei border. We got out, took all our luggage, went thru immigration and then waited for a Brunei bus to get us. The bus took us to a river where we got out wif all our luggage, onto a small sampan which took us across a river. Onto another bus which took us to Kuala Belait. From there, we had to change bus again to Seria. At Seria, change bus again. and the Brunei buses dun have aircond!

Thank God the youth hostel there had aircond dorms! The weather there was blazing hot!!!! I tried to go out but in the end decided to shelter in the main shopping complex for a couple of hours. When the sun was setting, I walked along the Brunei river fascinated by all the speedboats ferrying people across to the Kampung Ayer (Water Village).

Had dinner by the riverside. Nice food! On the way back to the hostel, I realised that certain streets are closed to cars. They were having a celebration near the town square area. Quite happening. Food stalls all over, people hanging around, kicking inflatable balls around, kids having the time of their life. It was carnival-like atmosphere. By the time I got back and showered, it was almost time to sleep. Me dorm mate, a guy from Liverpool came back later than me and we chatted for quite a while.

DAY #12 (29/7 Friday)

Brunei

Went to the tourist info centre. Found out the celebrations thingy is in conjunction wif the Sultan’s 59th birthday.

Decided to spend the whole day in museums! Unfortunately, I chose the wrong day to spend a full day there. Everything closes at 11:30 right up til 2:30 every Fridays.

So at 11:30, I decided to walk in the hot blazing sun to a park outside the town area – a 30 mins walk… only to find out that the park is closed for repairs!!!!!

Went back to the hostel, did some laundry and slept!

After that, more museums. It wasn’t really as good as I expected. I feel that the Kuching museum is by far the best – and it was free!!! On top of that, the museum was out of town – and I was out of water! By the time I got back to town, I was all sweaty, dehydrated and had a massive migraine! I got me water and sat in the shopping complex for close to an hour!!!!

After that, I took a speedboat across to the Kampung Ayer (thanks to the recommendation of me dorm mate). It was really nice and interesting. People there were frenly, kite flying was the main past-time, and the village itself was really interesting!

That was it, tho. After that was dinner, shower, chat wif Liverpudlian again and then sleep.

To be honest, save for the Sultan’s birthday celebration and the very interesting Kampung Ayer (the real Venice of the East), BSB was a big disappointment for me. It was kinda run down and dirty, not wat I expected from the capital of one of the richest countries in the world!

DAY #13 (30/7 Saturday)

Brunei – Kota Kinabalu

Another crazy travelling day! Took a bus from town to the main jetty up north. Was gonna take a ferry to the town of Lawas in Sarawak and then a bus to either Beaufort or to KK.

Met a Malaysian. Man, he sure could talk! He talked non-stop during our 20 min wait for the bus and throughout the 40 min bus journey!!! But I din really mind and he was interesting to listen to! I guess he was just glad to meet another Malaysian!

Was really worried about the ferry journey after my nightmare last year when I took a ferry from KK to Labuan. But thank God, it was calm waters ALL THE WAY! The boat was pretty spacious too and I could look out of the window. In the end, I watched some lame Chinese movie throughout the whole journey (it starred Ng Man tat so you can guess wat kind of movie it is!!!).

From Lawas, a bus picked us up from the jetty and headed straight to KK. No time for lunch. Again, it was a nightmare journey. By the time I got onto the bus, there was only one seat left which was on the left side of the bus. So I got the sun on me throughout the entire journey!!! Wat made it worse was that the aircond broke down!!!! It was a 5 hour bus ride in a crowded bus wif no aircond, windows can’t open and the sun on me!!!!

I was so glad to reach KK!!!

Check out the pics taken during my stay at Brunei here and here!

To be continued…

Smells great!

2005-08-15T14:58:00.000+08:00

Had a “minor accident” in me room on Saturday. I was rushing to leave (went to the OA village last weekend) me room and the last thing I had to do was to spray me Issey Miyake cologne on and leave. I grabbed it wif me right hand and handed it over to me left. Me left hand couldn’t catch it properly. It flew from my fingers and onto the tiled floor before crashing into pieces!!!!

Pic obtained sumwhere online...

I thank God that I was pretty cool about it. I admit that it would be of no surprise if I had lost it and cursed like crazy. I mean, I was late, I was rushing for time and this had to happen.

On top of that, it was a gift from sumone special. :-(

I spent at least half an hour after that cleaning up the mess – wiping all the wasted cologne off the floor, picking up the glass pieces, sweeping the floor, getting on me hands and knees using sticky tape to pick up the tiny glass shards of the floor, taking out me floor rug to shake away all the tiny glass shards on it...

At least as I was doing that, me room smelt very nice!!!! Obviously!!! There was more than half a bottle left and I was to take it to the UK wif me!!!!

When I went down and told me mom, she said that explains why I smelt so nice!!!!

What struck me oso was when I got home late Sunday nite, me room still smelt of Issey Miyake!!! If fact, there is still some of it lingering in me room today.

And I remembered the incident in the Bible where Mary took some perfume to anoint Jesus before his crucifixion.

John 12

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.[b]" 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

(Bible verses copied from BibleGateway.com)

I would imagine the entire place where Jesus was at that time must have smelt wonderful!

Further, I thought how much it must have cost Mary!

To me, I was rather hurt that me cologne broke. Mainly cuz it was from a fren, partly cuz that meant I had to spend more money to get a new one – and cash-flow is rather dry at this point of time!

But for Mary, who wasn’t rich either, she was willing to sacrifice the whole jar of expensive perfume – for her Lord and Master. That was how much she loved him. And Jesus knew it and praised her for it.

How much am I wiling to sacrifice for Jesus to show my love for him?

Café Rules

2005-08-15T06:34:00.000+08:00

When this café was opened, it was meant to just cater to a small crowd – people who were specially invited.

But things change and I guess it is time to open my café to anyone who wishes to come in and hang out! (OK, OK – I have no choice in this matter actually, since me blog has been recently “infiltrated”!!!! But I have screened thru me blog, made the necessary amendments and deleted a few posts to make it … erm… fit for public consumption!)

There are some café rules which I hope will be adhered to by one and all.

The rules (in no particular order):-

Feel free to read. Unless stated otherwise, all writings are my own. I therefore reserve all rights pertaining to the writings herein. As such, kindly do not reproduce any of my writings (in part or in full) anywhere, anyhow, anytime.

You may link my posts and/or blog to your own post(s)/blog(s).The same goes for all pictures contained herein – do not reproduce any of them or save any of them without permission from me (and most prolly, I won’t give you the permission!!!).

Feel free to comment*. However, as this is one area which is open to great abuse, I will be strict about comments:-

I reserve my right to delete any comments posted herein for whatever reason (or for no reason at all!);
Feel free to criticise but do so constructively;
Respect other peoples’ comments;
No cheap shots, please! (Yes, you know I’m talking about you!)
No vulgarities (but “stars”, “asterisks”, “hashes” etc. are allowed!)
No links to any other websites except to your own blog

Words on the screen can sometimes not convey the message that it intends (or convey a different one). This blog was created not for the purpose to offend anyone. If any of me writings offend you, kindly let me know. Perhaps it could be a misunderstanding, perhaps it could me an oversight on my part.

Thank you. Enjoy your coffee and do come again.

*At this point of time, anyone can post a comment (even non-bloggers) and comments can be posted anonymously. I hope that nothing will happen to change that.

Nescafe

2005-08-13T02:54:00.000+08:00

I'm here now b4 me PC wif a cup of Nescafe. It's around 3 in the morning and I just got home. It's gonna be a looong nite tonite!

I love Nescafe! I remember back in the UK when we went to watch our first movie there. It was at Romford and the movie was "The Firm". Can't really remember much of it but I do remember the Nescafe commercial.

The add started without any music. A girl was driving her car in the rain at nite. She is crying. She drives along until she reaches the beach. The rain stops. She opens the glove compartment, pulls out a mug and a heating element. She plugs it into her ciggarette lighter and fills the mug wif water. The music starts. The water boils and she makes herself a cup of Nescafe. She sits on the bonnet of her car, sips her Nescafe while watching the sun peeking out in the far horizon. The music carries on and the vocals start. It is "I can see clearly". The sun rises as she drinks her Nescafe and she smiles.

Me mate and I were singing out loud in the cinema!!!! We loved that commercial!

And last nite, when I was out wif me mates, I kept on thinking of that song - "I can see clearly now". Why? Well, THE HAZE IS GONE!!!!! Really! Initially, I noticed it was clearing but din get me hopes too high. The burning smell was gone tho. When we were in KL, we realised we could see the lights of the high rise buildings from afar clearly!

Thank God for the relief! Hopefully, it'll be like this for now!

Here's a pic I took outside me house just a couple of minutes ago! It was so clear outside! (If the pic looks hazy, it's prolly cuz me hands shook when I took the pic!)

East Malaysia menu (Part 3)

2005-08-11T21:07:00.000+08:00

Yes, more about my exploits at East M’sia. U guys are prolly bored wif all these stuff oredi – but hey, it’s me blog! And I’m gonna blog wat I wan to – for me own consumption! ;-P

DAY #8 (25/7 Monday)

Belaga - Bintulu

Took a ride on a 4WD to Bintulu – bout 5 hours ride. The initial part was terrible – really bad roads… trials! When we got onto the logging road, it was better. The scenery was nice. Even saw a “Kijang” along the way!

When I got to Bintulu, I checked in to a hotel recommended by the driver. I decided to pamper meself after 2 days in the interiors! The room cost RM52.50 – hot water (me first hot shower since I got to East M’sia), air-cond, satellite TV, clean toilets!

Hung around, watched Kate & Leopold on satellite TV, surfed at the nearby Internet café (people were either online gaming or surfing porn!!! One guy next to me kept looking on me screen – must be surprised that I’m actually reading the news online!!!).

Met up wif Jin Foong for dinner. He took me to have excellent prawn noodles!!! Yummy! Later we went for a drink and he took me for a drive around the suburbs! It was really nice chatting and catching up wif him!

DAY #9 (26/7 Tuesday)

Bintulu - Miri

Spent the whole morning sleeping in – enjoying the nice bed, clean sheets and aircond to the max!!!! Today happened to be the worst day of me trip.

When I finally dragged meself to the local bus station, it was around 12:25 pm. I found out the bus to the bus terminal leaves at 15 mins pass the hour. So fine. I sat there and read me Readers’ Digest. At 10 mins pass 1, I asked I the bus have arrived oredi. I was told that the bus just left!!!!! Sigh… another hour of reading RD!!!

Reached the bus terminal, got me ticket and had lunch there. There was some “excitement” just b4 I left when the authorities suddenly came speeding in and surprising all the illegal vendors there, confiscating their stuffs! So sad.

Bus journey was bad as expected and me neck really hurt as a result of it – again!

Reached Miri bus terminal at bout 8:20 pm. No one could be sure if there will be a bus into town or not. I took the chance. I waited til 9 pm. The bus came! Hurray! But the driver told me he’s not going back into town and that there’ll be another bus at 10 pm. So I waited there, feeding the mozzies til half pass 10!!! The taxi driver there assured me that there won’t be any more busses. So I had to take the cab into town. Since it was so late then, all I wanted to do was take a shower and sleep. So I took a bed in the lobby of a small hotel. It was literally a bed – cost me RM12. It was horrible. The bed was too short and being in the lobby, there were people making noises in the nite.

DAY #10 (27/7 Wednesday)

Miri full day

Had major problems trying to contact the travel agent and the Bario people. In the end, got so fed up that I decided to cancel me trip to barrio and stay on in Miri for another day, maybe go to Bukit Lambir nearby.

Relaxed the whole day – watched a movie, walked around town, went to the public library and read newspapers, sat in the park, surf for a while. Finally decided to leave for Brunei the next day.

Just before dinner, Dicky returned my call – I called him earlier in the morning. We made plans to meet up that nite. He came wif Carol and Arlene and we stopped first at Miri Gospel Chapel. They were having music practice – and the musicians were surprised to find out I am Chinese!!!

We went out for supper where they took me to eat some Miri speciality. They only know the name in… Mandarin or Hokkien! But it was nice. Little bits of flour in clear soup.

Dicky told me a lot of his work there. It was really interesting and encouraging. As he was sending me back, he asked why not I spend the nite at his place. He was prolly thinking of the neighbourhood I was in! It is safe but … got quite a bit of nocturnal activities going on there!

I agreed. He took me back to me hotel, waited for me to pack up (I tried to get some sort of a refund but no way!!!), and then took me back to his place. We chatted til really late, had a time of prayer and I was knocked out! It was the most comfortable bed I slept in – yeah, even more than the “expensive” Bintulu hotel!

DAY #11 (28/7 Thursday)

Miri - Brunei

Dicky and Carol took me out for breakfast after ending Arlene to school. More local specials – this time it was pork entrails in dark soup! After that, they took me for a quick tour around town before dropping me off at the bus station to get me bus to Brunei. I was taking the 10:30 bus.

Check out the pics taken during my stay at Bintulu here and Miri here!

To be continued…

This week's meal time entertainment

2005-08-11T19:18:00.000+08:00

Got meself another book:-

Paid a big price to get it - had to go out in the horrible haze! If u r not from this country - or if u are in Penang or Johor, lemme update u that the situation here wif the haze is getting extremely bad. The air quality is in some areas is considered extremely hazardous. :-(

Anyways, i finished the other book in record time (for me! 2 days!) mainly cuz I was cooped up indoors for the pass 2 days as the haze has been simple unbearable!

This book is oso rented and I’ve just finished chapter 1. It sounds promising!

But I always find that wif Grisham’s books. He starts of really well and the ending just cannot compare wif the start. Having said that, I still enjoy his books and his writings (I hear he’s a Christian. Can anyone confirm that? I am not surprise if he is!).

Still I must admit that “The King of Torts” disappointed me a little. Maybe I’ve been reading his books too much – cuz I guessed the ending very early on. Still, it was enjoyable, especially since I myself have been involved in torts cases before. Maybe my familiarity wif the subject did not make the book such a “novel” read to me this time.

I really enjoyed his books – the Pelican Brief, The Client, The Firm, The Brethren and The Testament are among my favourites!

I must take sum time here and comment about the book I was reading last month – yeah, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I guess at this point of time, many still have not read it yet so I’ll make me comment spoiler free.

Not much to say except how disappointed I am. After the fiasco the last book raised, I never did think that Rowling could get any worse. She did. If you thought that The Order of the Pheonix was bad, this is worse. Sure, it is not as long as TOFTP but it contains a lot of unnecessary stuffs. Unlike TOFTP which I felt kept my interest going until it fell flat at the end, THBP dragged along. It wasn’t bad but I was getting impatient reading it!

*C’mon, get on wif it!*

Until suddenly, the end is rushed by! Sure there are some interesting twists at the end but all too fast and all too quickly.

And the Half-Blood Prince? When u discover who he/she is, you’ll be disappointed 9or like me, you won’t be surprised!).

It is ironic that I only started to buy Harry Potter books when it started getting bad. The Prisoner of Azkaban was simply excellent. The Goblet of Fire was very entertaining! So I decided to invest in the next one. BIG disappointment. Ok, I thought. Everyone has a day off. Perhaps she’ll redeem herself wif the HBP. Nope. Methinks that the millions she has has changed her.

After all, all good stories are written on an empty stomach, are they not?

WARNING! Spoilers ahead (as usual, highlight the following portion to read it. be warned!):-

One of the reasons I din like too ws the fact that Snape was the one who murdered Dumbledore!

I've always liked how she potrays Snape in a negative light at the beginning only for it to be revealked in the end that he was in fact helping all along!

Not so this time.

But somehow, me got a feeling that even tho Snape was the one who murdered Dumbledore. things may not seem to be how it is. Perhaps Snape is still on the good side. Perhaps, Dumbledore's death was a necessary sacrifice.

Just thought I'd put me thoughts here - just in case I'm proven right in the future!!

Nando's special!

2005-08-11T19:10:00.000+08:00

No, no, no. I’m not referring to the Portugese style flame grilled Peri Peri chicken! Obviously, I’m referring to Fernando Morientes! His two goals against CSKA Sofia put Liverpool FC in the driving seat to enter the Champions League group stage!

Morientes scoring the 2nd goal and celebrating! (Pic obtained from BBC Online)

As the coach said, “Good to see Morientes get 2 goals. Class always comes through in the end!”

Home cooked food

2005-08-10T22:00:00.000+08:00

There’s no place like home, rite?

It has been a week since I got back. And this is wat I get:-

Haze!

Traffic jams!

And the worse of it all:-

Traffic jam in the haze!!!!!

Sigh… still, I’m happy to be wif the people I love! :-)

Japanese, anyone?

2005-08-10T21:52:00.000+08:00

It was niece’s b’day yesterday and the family went to Fridays for dinner. Yeah, we got those crazy waiters to sing the b’day song.

Anyways, check out the pics of the dinner and the subsequent cake-cutting at her place here.

I watch a movie today – yeah, finally dared to step out of the house during the day! The haze was horrible!

Anyways, the title of the movie is “Sekai no chusin de, ai o sakebu” – the English translation is “Crying out love in the centre of the world”. Really good show. Excellent performances, good story, sufficient twists, sweet girl, touching love story!

Some pics from the movie

Basically, it was about this guy who starting thinking about his love when he was much younger. Won’t say much so that I won’t spoil it for you in case u wanna watch it. Do try to.

Hard to swallow

2005-08-10T19:42:00.000+08:00

In the Cantonese dialect, there is this expression which translates literally as “Eat dead cat”. This is used when one is forced to admit to something that he/she is not guilty of. Eg., a person is said to be forced to “eat dead cat” when he is held responsible for something that he did not do.

I had a very bad morning. I went to sleep with a sinus headache – no doubt caused by the terrible haze. I woke up in the middle of the nite wif a bad migraine. When I finally woke up in the morning, I was totally exhausted. Thank God tho that the headaches were gone.

When I read the papers, I was very sad to read of a former client pleading guilty to the crime that he was charged wif.

Look, I know that I can get into trouble for writing this post but I’m really fed up bout the whole thing.

Let me put it this way – whenever you read a securities crime case where the accused pleads guilty, dun think for a moment that he or she indeed is guilty!

I won’t mention details etc – as this is considered privileged info. I speak generally of criminal cases instituted by the Securities Commission (SC) in this country – of which I have had a lot of experience being involved in.

In my learned view, I humbly state that most of them are not guilty of the crime that they are purported to have committed. In fact, I honestly believe that a lot of cases are politically motivated.

However, at the end of the day, the SC boasts of their wonderful track record, of the number of accused who have pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.

Now why, you may ask, would all these people plead guilty if they are not in fact guilty?

They do so because there comes a point of time when one just cannot bear having the charge hanging over their heads (like the sword of Demacles). The SC normally uses high handed tactics to intimidate the accused. They will call the accused in, search (read – fishing) their premises and offices, object to bail and generally try to make life difficult for the accused.

Further, the accused is usually a high corporate person. They cannot afford to have a criminal charge hanging over them. But the reality is that some of these cases take YEARS before they are completed. The SC will insist that their passports be handed to the court which means that each time these people have to travel overseas for work, they will have to make a Court application to obtain back their passports. And the SC will usually vehemently object to these applications. Some of these accused are from overseas and they would have to travel up to Malaysia each time their case is fixed for hearing – and which usually never goes on.

It will come to a point of time (after 3 or 4 years) when the accused gets fed-up and makes a deal with the SC – plead guilty and pay off a fine. No imprisonment. The money is not is a big thing to them.

There have been so many cases that I have been involved in when I was so confident that the SC will NEVER be able to prove their case. But every one of the accused can only hang on for so long. They know they can win. But when will that day come? SC will not be in a rush. Might as well “eat the dead cat” and get on wif their life back to normal.

That’s the truth. :-(

The root!

2005-08-09T12:25:00.000+08:00

This is the famous “Moon Gate” near the Botanical Gardens in Penang.

I took this pic early this year. It is the starting point if one would like to take the challenge of hiking up to Penang Hill. I did it when I took the pic– you can read about it here.

Now, lately there has been some “problems” faced by the Penang Island Municipal Council. First, they find that a lot of people urinate behind the walls of the Moon gate. Secondly, transvestites allegedly gather there at night, causing fear to hikers.

So wat does the PIMC do about it? Simple – they decide to demolish the walls which make the “wings” of the Moon Gate!!!!

What the…????!!!!

And they started doing so. See this pic from a local papers:-

Click here to read the accompanying article entitled “No Way To Treat The Moon Gate!”.

Ridiculous – but typically Malaysian! Instead of going to the root of the problem, they make fools of themselves! If people are urinating behind the walls, wat do u do? Tear down the walls? How bout building public toilets? And since when do people hike up Penang Hill at nite? Even if they do (I’m not a Penang-nite), will tearing down the walls solve the problems of transvestites?

Of course the public were up in arms when they heard that! Read a more recent article entitled “‘Restore Moon gate Wings’” here.

Dun just put out the fire, get to the root of the problem!!!! When will we Malaysians ever learn? Or shall I say, when will the Malaysian authorities ever learn???

Leftovers...

2005-08-09T11:48:00.000+08:00

I just realised sumthing when I was surfing in the East M'sia (as in internet surfing). If you was reading this blog using Internet Explorer (which I was forced to use over at East M'sia), my layout woun't fit! Some pics will be too big - like in me post on he Liverpool jerseys, the ladies' jersey pic got moved down instead of being on the right of the men's jersey (this explains why I referred to it in my my post as the pic "on the right" but it'll appear as the pic on the bottom if u r using IE).

Oso, most of the things on the right of me blog - "Window Seat", "Regular Patrons", "Menu", "Cafe Rights" and "Storage" will be shoved down to the end of the page if u r using IE! So if u r using IE and want to see me links to other blogs, me archives and me previous posts, go right down to the bottom of the page!

East Malaysia menu (Part 2)

2005-08-09T11:37:00.000+08:00

This post will be on me trip going up the Rejang River! It was awesome! I have great respect now for the longest river in Malaysia! The trip started at the town of Sibu and ended at the small village of Belaga.

DAY #6 (23/7 Saturday)

Sibu - Kapit

The overnight bus trip made me neck ache worse. It was oso freezing in the bus! The river crossing near Sibu took more than an hour despite it being in the early hours of the morning! But I did notice as the ferry brought us across the Rejang that there was a bridge being built nearby!!!! Finally! Cheers for the Sibu folks!

Sibu was a pretty unpleasant experience! It must be partly caused by the terrible bus journey!

When I got of the bus at the terminal, I looked for a local bus to take me into town. It was around 6 sumthing in the morning. I got onto a bus and enquired if the bus was going into town. The bus driver, an elderly man (who oso acted as the conductor) rudely replied sarcastically that the bus was going to Hong Kong! The few occupants in the bus laughed at me. I persisted and asked again. The bus driver scolded me and told me to get on the bus. I rushed out to retrieve me haversack and got on while the bus driver continued to verbally abuse me! Perhaps my silence angered him more and he just got angrier and angrier at me! He then got to the front and started to drive the bus. I was relieved – but only for a moment. When he stopped at a traffic light near the bus station, he started verbally abusing me again!!!!!

I was like “What the…? What did I do? Why was he so angry so early in the day?”

When I got to town, I tried to look for the place I had planned to stay that nite. It took me a while to find it. The locals I met weren’t very helpful. When I finally found it, I found out that the office only opens at 8 am. It was around 7 am. I was tired, my neck hurts like mad, I was sweating with all the walking around wif me haversack, I was pissed at the bus driver, I was feeling all alone, I had to use the toilet…

I went to the 2nd choice of accommodation. They gave me the key to check out the place. It was appalling!!!! It was a cupboard! Really! The room just had enuf space for me to open the door and the rest was taken up by the bed! 3 sides of the bed was touching the wall. No windows! The toilet outside was disgusting! Thank goodness the fan was not working. I went back down and told them that I won’t take it cuz the fan was not working.

The reception was actually a small window wif bars. I later realise that the place was prolly used as a brothel!!!! So much for Lonely Planet’s recommendation.

By then, I was so sick of the place that I decided NOT to stay in Sibu. Wat for? The purpose of coming here was to take the boat up the Rejang River. I might as well take a boat now!

After a quick breakfast – the only good thing!!! Delicious foo chow noodles at RM1.80!!!! – I got a ticket for the boat ride up to Kapit.

The boat ride was alrite – can’t go out so I sat inside and watched Garfield the movie!!!! Can’t hear over the boat engine so I had to depend on the Malay subtitles – but then again, how difficult is it to follow a movie like that?

Kapit was interesting. A small riverside town. After checking into me cheap hotel – which I really liked – I walked about town. Din take me long to complete my walk! I tried to check out a few of the churches there but there were no English services by any of the churches there. And there were no Saturday evening services too.

Checked out a nearby Fort wif some interesting historical facts there.

Enjoyed the atmosphere – people by the riverside, line dancing going on in the town square, stalls selling all kinds of stuffs, people rehearshing martial arts in the temple grounds. The sunset that day was beautiful!

At nite, it was a little scary but I din have to worry. Sarawak is prolly the safest place in Malaysia!

I ahd to rely on the public phone as there was no network connection for me service provider. It has been a while since I ahd to use a public phone. And no suprise that I had to try like 3 or 4 phones before I found one that was in working condition!!!!

Later, I had dinner at a small Chinese restaurant wif satellite TV and sat there after dinner enjoying a hot drink and reading Harry Potter! It was nice to just observe the Kapit townfolk in that little coffee shop. There was a group of old men enjoying their alcohol together. There was a game of Chinese chess going on at another table. 2 pretty lasses having a meal together – and was that sweet one looking at me all nite? :-P

A family – mother, father, grandmother and 4 kids – were having dinner together. It is hard to explain but it was nice to watch them, simple folk, in a small town in the middle of nowhere but having each other and enjoying a meal together. Better a simple meal in nowhere wif love than a grand banquet in a posh place but everyone hating each other.

When I got back to the hotel, the reception guy was watching footie on a small 14 inch TV wif another mate in the dark. I joined them. That’s the beauty of football – you can sit down and watch it wif anyone who will yr best buddy instantly! It was actually the local league finals between Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, the state I’m from!!! OK! But Selangor was trailing 2-0 and it was the 2nd half oredi. Still, 10 mins b4 the end, they got a goal back! Interesting. Then during the injury time, Selangor managed to equalise!!! Whoa! Extra time! In the 2nd half of extra time, Negeri was sure to score only to have the ball cleared off the goal line. A few minutes later, Selangor scored! 3-2!!!!! And in the dying minutes of the game as Negeri tried to find an equaliser to bring it to penalties, Selangor took advantage of the lax defending and scored again! 4-2!!! Woohoo!

Time to sleep. I was the only person on the whole floor!!!! But I slept pretty well in spite of the bad neck ache!

DAY #7 (24/7 Sunday)

Kapit - Belaga

Woke up early to check for the boat. It was leaving at 9 am. The market was pretty happening. Fishermen were hauling large fishes from their boats to the fishmongers. I could hear the Malay church service starting in a nearby shoplot. I couldn’t join them as I had to get the only boat to Belaga.

It left at bout 9:20 am. A smaller one compared to the one I took from Sibu. The aisle separated 3 seats on the left and 2 on the right. It was no wonder that I felt the boat tipping to the right side. The river was no longer smooth and the boat rocked a lot!

But I noticed that the boat door was left opened and I decided to go and stand by the door! It was wonderful! It was oso scary as I looked at the river. It was huge and and it was raging. Whirlpools were everywhere on the river! If anyone were to fall inside, I doubt if he or she will survive.

Then we came to the rapids! Exhilarating! After that, I decided to go out and sit on the roof of the boat (in spite of Ru’s dad’s warnings!!!). It was great! The sky was cloudy so it wasn’t so hot. Just nice. Riding down the river wif the wind in yr hair. We passed many small villages along the way – women were washing clothes and kids were bathing in the river. I even had me own “Worship meeting” on the roof top, singing my heart out – until one of the boatman sitting at the front of the boat stuck out his neck to see where the funny noises were coming from…

At some points, we had to go thru some more rapids. That was scary as I hung on to the short railings on the top of the boat as it rocked violently! Another tourist came and joined me on the roof later! The sun came out but we both stayed on top. We dun really feel the heat when the boat is whizzing along the river but when it stops at certain villages, I can feel the burning sensation of the sun onto me skin!

When we finally reached Balaga, I clambered down and into the boat to fetch me things – it was then that I was really glad I sat on the top. I could smell the stench of vomit in the boat! Ugh… I would have prolly been sick meself if I was stuck inside all the way.

Got to me room and collapsed onto me bed wif a bad headache. No surprises. Thank God I din get sun stroke. I was burnt black!

Belaga is really a tiny town by the river wif no proper roads leading from it! I woke up in the evening and sat around the town area watching life go by. Basically, everyone is into sports! I was surprised to see a tennis court there. Even more surprised I was when I heard the familiar sounds of tennis ball being hit by a racquet! Yes, there were people playing tennis there – and pretty well too. It was obvious that these are not the locals. The locals tho were playing basketball and badminton.

That was about it for Belaga. Found a small restaurant wif satellite TV. Realised after a while that it was not Astro but the Indonesian satellite TV! More channels! Watched the F1 qualifier while having dinner. Returned there later in the nite for a hot drink and finished Harry Potter that nite.

Check out the pics taken during my trip up the Rejang here!

To be continued...

Teapot

2005-08-08T22:39:00.000+08:00

A storm in a teapot???

The following pic is taken from the Star Online, a local newspaper:-

The pic was placed under the following news article:-

KL's Arab Square almost ready

By BAVANI M

WORK on building Ain Al Arabia or Arab Square Jalan Berangan in Bukit Bintang is progressing smoothly, with 90% of the job completed.

The site in the heart of the Golden Triangle has already taken on a Middle Eastern look with its Arabic architecture and design.

The most striking feature of the project – a water feature depicting a giant teapot – is almost ready.

You can read the entire article here.

Here's wat a local lawyer commented about it:-

Giant teapot in Terengganu*: Un-Islamic, deviant, against the law, a threat to national security

Giant teapot in Bukit Bintang, KL: No problem

Moral of the story?

If you attract Malaysians, it's a crime.
If you attract Arabs, it's laudable.

If you use your own money to build a giant teapot,
you're a national threat.

If you use taxpayers' money to build a giant teapot,
you're a national hero.

* you have to know about the recent local news regarding "Ayah Pin" and the "Sky Kingdom" to understand this comment.

Crispy skin...

2005-08-08T13:19:00.000+08:00

Me skin is peeling off like crazy! Had to wear a long sleeve shirt yesterday to church or else might frighten ppl off!!! they may think I'm suffering from skin disease!!!

Methinks me spending too much time in the aircond since me got home!

But really, it's the price to pay for spending too much time in the hot blazing sun over at East Malaysia!

Anyways, the hot blazing sun over there is MUCH BETTER THAN THIS:-

Hazy skies over PJ yesterday morning (since the day I got back!!!)

East Malaysia menu! (Part 1)

2005-08-08T13:03:00.000+08:00

I went for a backpacking trip to East Malaysia recently.

From KL, I flew to Kuching. I spent a couple of days there and went over to the Bako National Park.

Thereafter, I took a bus to Sibu. From Sibu, I travelled up the Rejang River, passing by small towns like Song and Kanowit and reaching Kapit. After a nite at Kapit, I went further up river and pass some rapids to Belaga. From Belaga, I took a 4WD along the logging road and reached Bintulu.

From Bintulu, I took another bus to Miri. Unfortunately, I could not confirm my arrangements with Bario so that was struck out of me plans.

Instead, I went to Brunei (changed buses 5 times). After a couple of days there, I took a boat out to the open sea and back to Sarawak at Lawas where I travelled over land all the way to KK.

From KK, me mate took me to Tambunan, Keningau, Tenom and then back to KK. From KK, I flew back to KL.

Here’s a brief account of me trip to East Malaysia recently:-

DAY #1 (18/7 Monday)

KL – Kuching

Flight was good. It was really hot in Kuching, tho. The place I stayed (the guest house at St Thomas’ church) was really good. The caretaker, Elsie was extremely nice!

Din really do much – walked around, made me arrangements for Bako National Park, then met up wif Ru for dinner and after that, coffee!

DAY #2 (19/7 Tuesday)

Kuching – Bako

Woke up late (stayed up ready Harry Potter) and by the time I reached Kg Bako, it was quite late in the day. Met Kathy at the jetty and had lunch together while waiting and hoping that others will arrive – the boat will charge us the same price no matter how many people are on it.

Kathy is a traveller from the UK. She has been travelling in this region for a couple of years. It was nice to hear her actually calling out my name correctly! She wanted to eat cockles but they had some other conical shaped seashell which she had big trouble eating. A local from the next table (who looked like the HK star, Eric Tsang) come over to help!!!

Anyways, 2 other ladies from Holland arrived and all 4 of us shared to boat to Bako. It was a wonderful ride, all 5 of us (plus the boatman) on a speedboat out into the open sea.

Upon reaching Bako and checking in, I decided not to waste time and did a circular walk – the “Jalan Lintang”, a 5.25 km walk. For details of the walk, you can read this.

The walk almost killed me! It was really hot at some parts and I was sweating buckets all along the way! But when I got back, Kathy told me of the proboscis monkeys near at the mangrove area. I dragged meself over there to watch them!

Then back, a shower and I slept til bout dinner time.

I joined Kathy for dinner who introduced me to 2 other travellers from the UK – Sarah and Lee. “Sara Lee”!!! We had a really nice time chatting and sharing our experiences. They were having their beers while I had me teh-tarik!

When I went back to me dorms, I found out that Sarah and Lee were staying at the same dorm but in another room. We sat on the small porch outside – feeding mozzies – and chatted til Lee could hardly keep her eyes open! After that, I stayed up and read Harry Potter!!!

Oh, there were another 2 Brit girls in me room – very nice and considerate cuz I owke up really late and they were trying to keep as quiet as possible. One of them was a redhead and she reminded me soooooo much of Holly!!! Holly is a wonderful girl I knew when I was in London some 12 yrs ago. She was a small kid back then. She was killed in an accident a couple of years ago and this blog is actually named after her. If she is still alive, she’d been around the same age and the girl in me room that nite. She (the redhead in me room) spoke just like Holly and she was sooo jealous when she found out I was reading Harry Potter!

Check out the pics taken during this day here!

DAY #3 (20/7 Wednesday)

Bako full day

I went on the Teluk Pandan Trails today – one leads to a cliff wif fantastic views and the other leads down to the beach whre the famous sea-stack can be seen.

To read more about these trails, go here.

I got back in the late afternoon and slept by the sea side for a while! Then I went over to the mangroves again to see the proboscis monkeys. Kathy was there too and we both sat quietly there watching the wild life.

Thereafter, I took a walk along the beach – it was low tide and made it to the other beach, Teluk Delima where the erosion patterns on the sandstone have exposed beautiful colours and created bizarre shapes. There was this alien looking rock too. I clambered over the barnacle covered rocks to as far as I could go – met another guy there who was “stuck” on top of a rock!!! He climbed up there to take a pic but had difficulty climbing down so I had to help guide him down!

After that, I enjoyed the sunset at the beach – the sun setting behind the Santubong Mountain.

That nite, a couple shared the dorm wif me – an American girl wif her Aussie boyfren.

Check out the pics taken during this day here!

DAY #4 (21/7 Thursday)

Bako – Kch

Back to civilisation! Went for a movie too! Fantastic 4!!! Ru took me to Top Hat for dinner – yes, mussels, prawns and lobster, all at reasonable prices!!! A big surprise awaited me there! Tan Hock Chuan and Cains were there! There were in Kuching for a case.

After dinner, Ru took me to her office where I downloaded the pics onto me Epson photo album online. And yes, coffee again!

Bad news is I was having this really bad pain in me neck – must be the bad posture I adopted while reading Harry Potter late at nite in Bako! :-(

DAY #5 (22/7 Friday)

Kuching full day

Ru picked me up in the morning to go to Court where we watched THC in action. Thereafter, THC invited us to join him for lunch – dim sum at Hilton!

I did some shopping in the afternoon and was supposed to have Mee Tomato for dinner wif Ru. But instead, Ru’s parents invited me over for dinner. Good stuffs – her dad cooked crabs which was excellent! There was oso roast duck which I cleaned off (did I frighten yr family members wif the amount I ate, Ru?). I was telling meself that it was prolly the last good home cooked meal I’ll have for the next 2 weeks!

After dinner, we sat around reading papers (yes, I was news starved) and I checked out Ru’s bro’s aircraft collection.

Then it was out for a quick drink before dropping me off at the bus station for me overnite trip to Sibu. It was not sumthing I was looking forward to, to be honest! Stuck in the bus for hours, leaving the familiarity of Kuching and frens, having the really bad neck-ache, going into the unknown! But at the same time, the thrill of adventure kept me going and excited!

Check out the pics taken during my stay at Kuching here!

To be continued…

Meal time entertainment

2005-08-08T12:11:00.000+08:00

Here’s my latest meal time entertainment!

I normally dun buy novels – with some exceptions of which I will talk about later! I rent books instead cuz I know I’ll never re-read them again. As a big fan of Grisham, I have read ALL his old books (except “The Runaway Jury” cuz I watched the movie instead!!! Hey, it had John Cussack and Rachel Weitz!!!) and have been trying for a long long time to get me grubby paws on his latest – “The Last Juror” and “The King of Torts”. Well, after months of searching, I stumbled into this little shop at BB Plaza last week and to me pleasant surprise, they had both books there!

So far, it is living up to expectations! :-)

But just to remind me of how out-of-touch I am wif legal practice, when I rented this book, someone else in the shop looked at it wif interest and asked me what does “Tort” mean?

“Oh...” I started confidently “…it’s err… well… like a claim against… err one person and another… for err… injury and err…”

Thankfully, at that moment, me mate called me on me mobile and I quickly answered it, making a show at how annoyed I was at being interrupted!! And then I sped out of the shop flashing a smile as a good bye!

Sigh… can’t even explain what “tort” means to a layperson!!!

Here’s wat the Merriam-Webster dict defines it as – “a wrongful act other than a breach of contract for which relief may be obtained in the form of damages or an injunction”.

Yeah, that was wat I was trying to say. REALLY!!!!

Business as usual

2005-08-08T01:57:00.000+08:00

It’s the month of August and yes, business is back as usual:-

1. English Premier League starts again!!! Woohoo!!! After wat seems like years of football deprivation, the EPL is back to fill up me Saturday nites!!! We had a foretaste wif an excellent Community Shield match earlier on where Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-1!

2. Just as the whistle blew for the kick-off of the Community Shield match, a phone call for me!!!! It was me new Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) leader – who is obviously NOT a footie fan!!! But he called to introduce himself and remind me that BSF resumes on the 22 of August!!! Yes! I really miss the BSF sessions and doing the daily “homework” in preparation for it. And of course, the suppers after each BSF sessions.

3. I’m back from me back-packing trip! So now, it’s back to blogging, late nite suppers, satellite TV and DVDs! It had been a memorable trip and I will certainly blog much bout it soon. Check out the pics in me other blog by clicking here (KC, the first pic is specially dedicated to you!).

p/s – to view ALL the pics taken during me trip, click here for pics taken in Sarawak and Brunei and here for pics taken in Sabah (view the albums entitled “KK 2005 (1) – (3)"). Not that many interesting pics but you’ll get an idea of wat I did in me trip by looking at them and reading the captions. Enjoy!

Closed

2005-07-18T00:51:00.000+08:00

I'll be away backpacking for about 3 weeks at East Malaysia. Do pray for me! I shud be back on the 5th of August. If you dun hear from me shortly after that, send in the rescue parties!!!!

I'll prolly drop by an internet cafe whenever I can and maybe post a short update!

God bless!

You can place your orders now

2005-07-17T17:46:00.000+08:00

Pre-orders can be made for Liverpool FC's new away jersey for 2005-2006 season now (go to Liverpoolfc.tv)

There's even a ladies jersey (on the right) for her majesty, the queen!!!! (Queen Shelby, that is!)

p/s - Liverpool beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in a friendly match last nite (this morning Malaysian time)

Duck

2005-07-16T23:45:00.000+08:00

Yeah, I'm on a roll today - gotta do all me blogging as I may not have the chance to do so for the next 3 weeks!!!

Swimming wif fishes!

I always like the illustration of a swan - or in this case, a duck (can't find any pics of swans now). As you see them glide over the glassy surface of teh water, they look so graceful, and move almost effortlessly. This is far from the truth. If we look underwater, they are kicking like crazy to saty afloat and to move forward.

I had lunch the other day wif a full-time worker. A FTW is wat we call a person who has a full time job serving the church. These people are usually professionals and/or trained individuals who ahve given up their secular jobs to work in the church - some as pastors, some as administrators etc.

Oh, they are usually paid pretty badly. Perhaps the leaders think that the FTW will have more rewards in heaven??

So usually, we think of them as "super Christians"!

In actual fact, they are very much like any other Christians. But we see them like ducks, so graceful, so relaxed, not realising that underneath, they go thru the same struggles - or perhaps even more - as we non-FTW christians do.

He shared his problems, his struggles, how he sumtimes feel that if he is doing his previous secular job, he would be eaarning so much more, his financial problems etc.

Yet, he remains faithful to his calling.

Let us never forget the FTWs in our midst and continue to pray and uphold them in any ways that we can.

60 cents for char siew farn*

2005-07-16T23:00:00.000+08:00

*barbequed pork rice

Char siew farn (pic taken from ThaiTable.com)

It was getting late and the people were saying their goodbyes and making their way to the door. Me? I was still busy enjoying the durians (thorny local fruit) provided by our host!

It was the end of another home fellowship. Soon, everyone was leaving but the host and his wife asked me to stay on and help finish the durians!!! I din have to be told twice!!!

Honestly, it was not just the fruit. I enjoyed being with the host and his family. I’m close to his son and I get along well wif his wife and 2 daughters. On top of that, it has been a while since I caught up wif them.

I sat wif him and we started chatting while his wife and his youngest girl cleared up – and occasionally chipping in a comment or two! In the end, I stayed there til close to 2 am!!!!

The host started sharing his past wif me! It was almost like a father-son conversation!! He talked of how he started to work, how he had struggled – his first salary was 65 dollars a month!!! He had to pay his aunt 30 dollars as rental leaving him only 35 dollars to live on for the rest of the month!!!! Sure, he started working the year I was born – but 35 bucks a month back then still is very little!!! He would spend 60 cents for char siew farn instead of 70 cents for the roast duck rice!!!

He shared about his sacrifices and his struggles. He even talked of his first love!!! At one point of time, his wife chipped in sayin that she has never known about certain things tat he was sharing wif me!!!

I felt really awful listening to him – as I recounted how fortunate I am to have parents pay for me good education and to be able to earn so much and how I have been so irresponsible wif me money, living life to the “fullest”, spending so unnecessarily! I told him that he shud have told me all that 10 years ago!! He said that it’s still not too late!!!

At the end of the day, he wanted to encourage me to stay on in this country!!! In his sharing, he told me of numerous occasions and opportunities he had to leave the country but in the end, he remained. He was basically encouraging me that no matter how “bad” things are here, it’s still home! And he personally din wanna see me leave for good! Of course, the decision will be left to me.

I was very touched by the whole incident – him taking the time to chat wif me, to share of his past – even intimate and private things, his struggles, the decisions he had to make etc. And although I was super exhausted that nite, I din mind staying on and listen to him share.

Truly, it is wonderful to be in God’s family, in the household of faith. I have gained so many brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers in Christ. I am truly so blessed.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich

2005-07-16T22:06:00.000+08:00

The only thing the 2 movies I watched on Wednesday (RM6 a movie!!!) had in common was peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

Tom Cruise offered to make his children that for dinner – and ended up with a slice of bread stuck to the window, being held up wif peanut butter!!!

Morgan Freeman offered Jet Li the same after he got up from his sleep.

I watched “The War of the Worlds” and “Unleashed”.

Prolly the other common thing bout the 2 movies was that despite not expecting much from either, I ended up enjoying both!

Unleashed

I never really liked Jet Li’s English movies. I never thought he was a good actor too. I enjoyed watching his Chinese movies which showcased his kung fu skills.

Still I enjoyed this movie. The fight scenes were almost pushed to the background. It was not too bad and thankfully, they din use much wire-work this time. Wat really worked for me was Morgan Freeman! He was excellent! I’ve always liked him ever since I watched Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves (yeah, the one where Robin spoke in an awful American accent!!!) where I thought he stole the show as being a muslim member of Robin’s merry men!

He played a blind man who helped Jet’s character rediscover his humanity again. The girl who played Morgan’s step daughter did a good job too! She is Irish girl Kerry Condon whose mischievous smile can win over any heart!

Oh, Bob Hoskins was simply excellent as the cruel “owner”!!!! Brilliant!

Jet? It can’t be too difficult playing a role that requires u to act like an idiot, rite? His fight scenes were good tho.

The movie was set in Glasgow but everyone was speaking in a cockney accent!!! The way music was tied into the story was nice.

The War of the Worlds

I understand that a lot of the younger people din really like this movie. Quite a number of people were oso turned off by the ending.

Hello? You mean you have not read the story before???? Even if you did not read it before, surely you would have heard about it???

I din expect much – after all, it was a Tom Cruise movie – so that means, lots of close-up of Tom, Tom standing in a nice pose, Tom sitting in a nice pose, wind blowing on Tom’s hair (but NOT messing it up)… you get the picture?

But it was great!

Tom wasn’t too bad himself – although I did think he looks a bit too young for the role. Perhaps Viggo Mortenson? Harrison Ford?

Dakota Fanning was excellent, as expected. Not as good as she was in “Man on Fire” but still, she was good!

My little tribute to Dakota Fanning

Tim Robbin’s appearance was a nice surprise and he was excellent, as usual!

But at the end of the day, it’s the director! I must take my hat off to Steven Spielberg – and ask for forgiveness for losing faith in him (wat’s his obsession wif Tom Cruise anyway???). This movie reminds me of why I used to think he’s the best director of all time. This movie brings back the magic I saw in Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, Empire of the Sun, Raiders of the Lost Ark (and its sequels) and Jaws!

Some of the scenes just left me wif my mouth opened! Others had me gripping the handle of me seats.

Spielberg trademark - shadows

--------------------Spoilers ahead--------------------

(highlight the following portion to read)

The “thunderstorm” scene was really good.

The first scene when the tripods appear was SUPER!!!! – and left me wif me mouth opened! The tar on the road cracking up. The buildings braking apart, the church building falling apart, the tripods finally emerging, and then zapping everyone in sight!

When Tom cruise emerges from his ex-wife’s basement, I expected everything on ground level to be destroyed. But nothing prepared me for the sight of the jet engine and then the whole fuselage of the 747 crashed outside the house!!!! The scene left me wif me mouth wide, wide opened!

The scenes in Tim Robbin’s basement was a real nerve-wrecker – far much better than the basement scenes in Signs (which I tot and still think is really good!). Now this is wat a horror movie shud be!

Finally the close-up scenes catching the emotions – typically Spielberg-fashioned!

Truly, a great visual fest! Spielberg back at his best!

I know I’m in the minority but this is highly recommended!

p/s - oh, another common denominator of both movies (truly trivial trivia) is that Morgan Freeman is in both! He was the narrator for The War of the Worlds!

p/p/s - all pics obtained from www.filmhai.de

p/p/p/s - oh, oh, oh how could I forget!!! The added bonus I got watching The War of the Worlds was that I caught the trailer for King Kong!!! Awesome!!!!

What a boar!

2005-07-16T19:16:00.000+08:00

We normally get served wif wild boar meat cooked in soy sauce whenever we go into the rural villages.

There is also this place in PJ that serves an excellent chilly wild boar! Yum!

But I’ve never really encountered a real live wild boar – until last week when I was at the National Park (“Taman Negara”)!

Wild boars! the whole family - papa boar, mama boar (hidden) and baby boars!!! 

Finally, I went to the National Park. It was one of the places I’ve always wanted to go but never went. I remember back when I was in Secondary 3 (15 years old), we were planning to go there after our final exams – only to discover that the park closes after our exams due to the monsoon season!!!

Now, almost 20 years on, I’ve fulfilled that desire!

Check out the pics at the following posts:-

Taman Negara – day #1
Taman Negara – day #2
Taman Negara – day #3

I went there wif another mate a couple of weeks ago. Here are sum thots on me trip:-

1. Everything has a price!

We could only spend 3 days and 2 nites there as me mate could not afford the time to stay there longer. It turned out to be a good thing tho cuz we realised that a lot of things cannot be done there without paying a fee!!! Yes, even nature has a price now.

2. I’m getting old!!!!

I used to laugh at a mate of mine when he tried to climb the quartz ridge at Ampang (a series of peaks just outside the capital). After the first peak, he felt like he was gonna die and had to turn back.

Well, the same happened to me at Taman Negara!!! We tried to go up this hill. Half way thru, I realised my heart was beating rapidly! I was short of breath and had to stop. Even then, my heart did not slow down in its pace. In fact, I could even see my heart thumping against me chest!!!! I thot I was gonna have a cardiac arrest!!!

After 15 mins, when me heart beat still din slow down, I threw the towel. I gave up. I can’t make it. Me mate was nice enuf (more bout this later – he’s SUPER NICE!!!!) and din push me at all.

Perhaps it was the long drive the nite b4 plus the lack of sleep plus the 3 hour boat ride plus the heavy lunch and the blazing afternoon sun that killed me off.

Still, whatever it was, I have to admit I’m getting old. Sigh…

All in all, a great time. A fun trip. A good experience.

NEW meal time entertainment!

2005-07-16T11:30:00.000+08:00

Yes, no more frustrating stories about imcompetent leaders putting their feet into their mouths! I got a new meal-time reading material!!!!

Ok, ok - after the super disappointment wif the last book (Order of the Pheonix), me not getting me hopes up on this. And that means I'll prolly enjoy it more!!!

Got it from MPH this morning. Quite cool - it came in this bag:-

And there were some goodies in it too:-

2 Narnia bookmarks, 1 can of vanilla coke, 1 pack of KitKat Bites, 1 ruler and 1 pencil!

OK - time for me brunch. Hopefully, I won't stain the book.... ;-P

Second helpings?

2005-07-15T17:46:00.000+08:00

Well, the Bar Council's appeal to the Court of Appeal has been unanimously dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

Read about it here.

For some context, I have previously blogged about it (and was criticised, too! see comment)in my older blogspot here when the Bar Council lost at the High Court stage. That post links to a detailed outline of (IMHO) the salient points.

The decision comes to no surprise to those who use their brain and look at the law - as compared with those who look at the law with their emotions.

It is embarrassing that the governing body of the lawyers in Peninsular Malaysia has been proven again to be unable to understand the law!!!!

Guess wat? They may be appealing to the Federal Court!!!! Sigh...

Put it on my tab

2005-07-15T10:28:00.000+08:00

This was sumthing which I read a couple of days ago.

Again, it was at the Parliament.

The Opposition Leader, Mr. Lim raised an issue regarding a former Chief Minister of the state of Sabah at East Malaysia.

Basically, the gist of his point is summarised as such:-

"He could accumulate such astronomical wealth as to gamble RM158.7 million, lose RM31.6 million and run up RM7.1 million debts in a London casino a year after political retirement, apart from bigger gambling debts in other casinos in London."

However, Lim's application to debate the issue was - not surprisingly - rejected on grounds that "...it was not urgent and not of public interest."!!!!!!!!

Wat crap!!!!

How can it not be of public interest???? How could a minister accumulate so much wealth in the generally poor state of Sabah??? It no doubt smacks of the irressistable conclusion that there is a strong possibility of improper use of power (yes, yes, I'm using big words here to prevent meself from being locked up for sedition or sued for defamation).

Lim said it was of great public interest to ascertain how the national integrity system had failed to prevent corruption and abuses of power as evident in this case.

You can read the entire article here.

An investigation must be launched! After all the talk of weeding our corruption, surely our beloved PM cannot just sit back and do nothing (except publicly reprimand the said former CM).

Me mates at Sabah always complain about the corruption that happens there. Unfortunately, wif this kind of attitude by our ruling government, it's gonna be a long, long road to recovery (if ever we do recover!).

Is it any wonder that in a survey done by the Malaysian Integrity Institute, teenagers have honestly declared that if they were in a position of power, they would probably accept bribes? (see article entitled Teenagers willing to take bribes). Can't blame them - look at the example set for them today.

A couple of minutes...

2005-07-14T22:42:00.000+08:00

Fruits galore!

2005-07-14T17:28:00.000+08:00

I just received this from me sis not too long ago.

Unfortunately, I won't be in town so I'll miss it. But if any of you guys are free, try it out and lemme know wat I missed!

Oh, and take loads of pics too!

Birthday yesterday

2005-07-14T16:17:00.000+08:00

As a tribute to Han Solo, here are some of his Memorable Quotes from the Original Trilogy:-

Episode IV

Han Solo: Well, you can forget your troubles with those Imperial slugs. I told you I'd outrun 'em.
[nobody is listening]
Han Solo: Don't everyone thank me at once.

Luke: Why don't you outrun them? I thought you said this thing was fast.
Han Solo: Watch your mouth kid, or you're gonna find yourself floating home

Han Solo: Not a bad bit of rescuing, huh? You know, sometimes I amaze even myself.
Princess Leia: That doesn't sound too hard.

[comm is blinking, Han hits the button and pretends to be a Stormtrooper]
Han Solo: Uh, everything's under control. Situation normal.
Voice: What happened?
Han Solo: Uh, we had a slight weapons malfunction, but uh... everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
[winces]
Voice: We're sending a squad up.
Han Solo: Uh, uh, negative. We had a reactor leak here now. Give us a minute to lock it down. Large leak, very dangerous.
Voice: Who is this? What's your operating number?
Han Solo: Uh...
[shoots comm]
Han Solo: [mutters] Boring conversation anyway.
[shouting]
Han Solo: Luke, we're gonna have company!

[as the garbage compactor closes in]
Han Solo: One thing's for sure, we're all gonna be a lot thinner.

Episode V

Han Solo: [after being tortured] I feel terrible.

[Han is getting ready to leave the rebel base in Hoth]
Han Solo: (with feeling) Well, Your Highness, I guess this is it.
Princess Leia: That's right.
[Leia is angry. Han sees she has no warmth to offer him. He shakes his head and adopts a sarcastic tone.]
Han Solo: (cooly) Well, don't get all mushy on me. So long, Princess.

Princess Leia: Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herder.
Han Solo: Who's scruffy-looking?

Princess Leia: You're not actually going IN to an asteroid field?
Han Solo: They'd be crazy to follow us, wouldn't they

C-3PO: Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1.
Han Solo: Never tell me the odds.

Princess Leia: Let go.
Han Solo: Shh.
Princess Leia: Let go, please.
Han Solo: Don't get excited.
Princess Leia: Captain, being held by you isn't quite enough to get me excited.
Han Solo: Sorry sweetheart. I haven't got time for anything else.

Princess Leia: Han, we need you!
Han Solo: We?
Princess Leia: Yes.
Han Solo: Oh, what about you need?
Princess Leia: (mystified) I need? I don't know what you're talking about.
Han Solo: (shakes his head, fed up) You probably don't.
Princess Leia: And what precisely am I supposed to know?
Han Solo: Come on! You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me.
Princess Leia: Yes. You're a great help to us. You're a natural leader...
Han Solo: No! That's not it. Come on. Aahhh -- uh huh! Come on.
[Leia stares at him, understanding, then laughs.]
Princess Leia: You're imagining things.
Han Solo: Am I? Then why are you following me? Afraid I was going to leave without giving you a goodbye kiss?
Princess Leia: I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee.
Han Solo: I can arrange that. You could use a good kiss.

Han Solo: Well Princess, it looks like you managed to keep me here a while longer.
Princess Leia: I had nothing to do with it. General Rieekan thinks it's dangerous for anyone to leave the system until they've activated the energy shield.
Han Solo: That's a good story. I think you just can't bear to let a gorgeous guy like me out of your sight.
Princess Leia: I don't know where you get your delusions, laser brain.
[Chewbacca laughs]
Han Solo: Laugh it up, fuzzball.

Han Solo: Then we'll have to go out on Tauntauns.
Deck Officer: Sir, the temperature's dropping too rapidly.
Han Solo: That's right. And my friend's out in it.
Assistant Officer: I'll cover sector twelve. Have com-control set screen alpha.
[Han pushes through the troops and mounts a Tauntaun.]
Deck Officer: Your Tauntaun'll freeze before you reach the first marker.
Han Solo: Then I'll see you in hell!

[After slicing up his dead tauntaun to keep Luke warm]
Han Solo: Oh. I thought they smelled bad on the *outside*.

[heading into a cave on a large asteroid]
Princess Leia: I hope you know what you're doing.
Han Solo: Yeah, me too.

C-3PO: Sir, it's quite possible this asteroid is not entirely stable.
Han Solo: Not entirely stable. I'm glad you're here to tell us these things. Chewie! Take the Professor in back and plug him into the hyperdrive!

Princess Leia: Would it help if I got out and pushed?
Han Solo: It might!

Han Solo: Hey, Your Worship, I'm only trying to help.
Princess Leia: Would you please stop calling me that?
Han Solo: Sure, Leia.
Princess Leia: Oh, you make it so difficult sometimes.
Han Solo: I do, I really do. You could be a little nicer, though. Come on, admit it. Sometimes you think I'm all right.
Princess Leia: Occasionally maybe... when you aren't acting like a scoundrel.
Han Solo: [laughs] Scoundrel? Scoundrel? I like the sound of that.
[Han takes her hand and starts to massage it]

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

C-3PO: Excuse me sir, but might I inquire as to what's going on?
Han Solo: Why not?
C-3PO: Impossible man.

Han Solo: No time to discuss this as a committee.
Princess Leia: I am not a committee.

Han Solo: Chewie. This can't help me. There'll be another time. The Princess. You have to take care of her. All right?
[Leia and Han shares a passionate kiss before Han is dragged towards the freezing chamber by the imperials]
Princess Leia: I love you.
Han Solo: I know.
(IMHO, one of the best scenes of the Original trilogy)

[Evacuating the Rebel Hoth base]
Han Solo: [to C-3PO] Hurry up, goldenrod. You're going to be a permanent resident.

Leia: They're getting closer.
Han Solo: Oh, yeah? Watch this.
[he throws the hyperdrive lever, the engine sputters and dies]
Leia: Watch what?
Han Solo: I think we're in trouble.
C-3PO: If I may say so, sir, I noticed earlier the hyperdrive motivator has been damaged. It's impossible to go to lightspeed.
Han Solo: We're in trouble.

Lando: I had no choice. They arrived right before you did. I'm sorry.
Han Solo: Yeah. Well I'm sorry too.

Episode VI

Han Solo: I think my eyes are getting better. Instead of a big dark blur, I see a big light blur.
Luke: There's nothing to see. I used to live here, you know.
Han Solo: You're going to die here, you know. Convenient.

C-3PO: His high exaltedness, the Great Jabba the Hutt, has decreed that you are to be terminated immediately.
Han Solo: Good, I hate long waits.
C-3PO: You will therefore be taken to the Dune Sea, and cast into the pit of Carkoon, the nesting place of the all-powerful Sarlaac.
Han Solo: Doesn't sound so bad.
C-3PO: In his belly you will find a new definition of pain and suffering as you are slowly digested over a thousand years.
Han Solo: On second thought, let's pass on that, huh?

Han Solo: Together again.
Luke: Wouldn't miss it.
Han Solo: How we doin'?
Luke: Same as always.
Han Solo: That bad, huh?

C-3PO: Wonderful. We are now a part of the tribe.
[an Ewok hugs Han]
Han Solo: Just what I always wanted.

Han Solo: Chewie! I can't see, pal. What's going on? Luke? Luke's crazy! He can't even take care of himself, much less rescue anybody. A Jedi Knight? I'm out of it for a little while, and everyone gets delusions of grandieur!

[3PO announces that Jabba will listen to them beg for mercy]
Han Solo: 3PO. You tell that slimy piece of worm-ridden filth, he'll get no such pleasure from us.
[to Chebacca]
Han Solo: Right?

Birthday today!

2005-07-13T22:00:00.000+08:00

Here is the main reason why the Original Trilogy was far much entertaining and enjoyable compared to Episodes 1-3!

Happy birthday, Harrison Ford!

More meal time entertainment

2005-07-13T20:49:00.000+08:00

Here's wat i read during me brunch (this time round, it's not a bunch of ministers but a school headmistress wif the classic one-liners!!! Looks like "foot-in-mouth disease" is not only the problem of church elders and cabinet ministers but even school headmistresses!!!):-

Parents unhappy Penang school keeping them out

BY DERRICK VINESH

BUTTERWORTH: Some parents here are upset with the move by a school to stop them from entering its premises during school hours.

Since SK Taman Inderawasih introduced the new ruling on July 4 as a security measure, hordes of parents have started gathering outside the school fence during recess to pass food to their children.

...

A notice at the school entrance stated that no one was allowed into the school for unofficial matters.

...

School headmaster Annas Goh Abdullah declined to comment on the new ruling when met at the school yesterday but said: “If you quote me in the papers, I will sue you.”

You can read the whole article here.

Meal time entertainment

2005-07-12T22:32:00.000+08:00

It’s prolly a bad habit but I read during my meals. Of course, when I gather for family meals, the reading material will be chucked aside.

But most of the time, I eat alone and so, I read! And usually, unless it’s a book which can stay open by itself on the table, I’ll read the papers. I’ll devour every single page and article (as I devour my meal!).

Here was wat entertained me today:-

“…certain advertisements have come under fire for projecting the “wrong image.”

Deputy Information Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said one of the advertisements showed a blindfolded woman driving a car and crashing into other cars.

The other cars were badly damaged but not the one driven by the woman, said Lim.

“We cannot allow such advertisements.

“Children may grow up thinking that it is normal to drive a car blindfolded,” he said after attending the Taiping Hawkers Association anniversary on Monday night.

(You can read the whole article here)

Whoa!!!! Read that line again – yes, he did say “Children may grow up thinking that it is normal to drive a car blindfolded”!!!!! What? Do have some really STUPID AND BRAINLESS children in our country?

Maybe the wise Deputy Minister (yes, this is the kind of people we have running our country) was reflecting on his own childhood and how gullible he was then.

What an insult to the children in our midst!

Well, at least that minister was reflecting on his childhood. Some of our ministers are still in their childhood!!!!

In the Parliament yesterday, certain members of the Opposition Party were commenting that our beloved country is not an Islamic state but a secular state.

Well, instead of having a intellectual mature discourse about it, a backbencher of the ruling party jumped up and shouted “If you don’t like the definition (that Malaysia is an Islamic state), you can get out of the country!”

Of course, being a member of the ruling party, that particular child escaped punishment for his disrespectful, childish behaviour!!!!

You can read the whole article here.

Sometimes, reading causes me to lose me appetite…

Breakfast set

2005-07-11T23:04:00.000+08:00

Ok, when I bought the cookie jar (see earlier post entitled Cookie jar), I oso bought a "Breakfast Set".

This is the "Breakfast Set":-

Yup, it's an R2D2 Breakfast Set!!!! Really!

Here's the packaging:-

The front, the back and the side

OK - so how is it a breakfast set? Look at the side of the box for directions:-

First, pull out R2's leg!

From his legs, you can find 2 cereal spoons!!!

Then, take off his head and flip it over - you get a cereal bowl!!!

As for his body/torso/watever, you can pull off the bottom for another cereal bowl. The main body part can be used to store the cereal!

Is this cool or is this cool?

Sweet and sour

2005-07-11T22:32:00.000+08:00

Sweet and sour pork! Yummy!!!!
(Pic taken without permission from somewhere...)

After the previous happy post, it’s kinda weird to blog bout wat I’m planning to do rite now.

Nope, dun let the pic and the title mislead you on wat this post is all about. The title refers to how frenships can be sweet one day, and then turn sour the next.

It’s just sad to see how frens can suddenly stop being frens just like that!

C is a fren of mine. C has a really good fren, P. They are really close. C is somewat like a mentor to P!!!! They have been frens for years – if I’m not mistaken, since P joined the company C is in. They have lunch together almost every day. They share and talk about their frustrations and joys. C is always “promoting” P to others! C never fails to tell me wat a wonderful person P is.

Then suddenly, it ended. I was shocked to hear that C and P are no longer in talking terms!!!!

Wat happened? I dun really know the full picture. But basically, there was a breach of trust. In December last year, P received news that she’ll be promoted. But somehow, for reasons that no one can figure out – and which prolly only P knows – she kept it a secret from all her frens, including C. Ok, not too bad, rite? But she put on a “show” by complaining how unhappy she is in the company, how she is so unappreciated, etc. C has always been a frenly listening ear to P. In fact, C and P’s other frens tried to support her, encourage her, talk to bosses etc.

It even came to a point that P started telling everyone that she was so unhappy that she was gonna resign.

C was affected by it, naturally.

Then, suddenly, out of the blue, everyone learned about P’s promotion!!!! P left her department and took up her new place in a new department. The people in her old department and C were shocked. Why all the play-acting? Why was she playing on their emotions? What the heck was going on???

And to make matters worse, P started being good pals wif S. S, as everyone knows, happens to be C’s “arch-nemesis”!!!! Back in those days, C, P and the rest of their clique would complain about S. Now, P and S goes out for lunches together!!!!

So tt’s it. May I just add that all I’ve recounted above is purely hearsay.

My first reaction was “What a waste!!!” Such a good frenship turned sour literally overnite!!!! But one can understand how hurt C must have been. And now wif P being buddy-buddy wif S, there seem to be no more hope of a reconciliation.

It is so sad.

I am thankful to God that no matter wat happens between me and me mates – and lemme say that A LOT HAS HAPPENED!!! – we would still be frens. I’m thankful to me mates who have put up wif my mistakes and wrong-doings. I just hope and pray that no matter wat happens in the future, me mates will remain as that!

Reservations for 2!

2005-07-11T22:14:00.000+08:00

Haha!!! Finally, the kuching telah keluar dari beg!!!!

I’ve been suspecting it for a long time – but never plucked the courage to ask. (Yes, yes, I'm a dodger in disguise after all!!!!) After all, if I was wrong, then it would be quite embarrassing! It might even cause sum problems.

Then it came to a point when it was sooo obvious – but yet, I can’t be 100% sure.

Anyways, me mate finally ended my agony and … well, basically told the whole world (World Wide Web) that yes, he is going out wif her!!!!

Of course, I must admit that when I finally found out, one of Queen’s song started playing in my head!!!! Yeah, “Another one bites the dust”!!!! LOL!!! But perhaps, that is a bit premature.

Still, dun u just love it when 2 people get together? All the more when both are yr good mates and both, to you are simply wonderful people! Woohoo!!!!

Am happy for you guys!!!! Will be praying for you. It’s a long road ahead and no doubt it’s gonna be difficult! But it’ll be absolutely brilliant too! :-)

Free for a drink?

2005-07-11T14:10:00.000+08:00

I was having a drink wif a mate the other day and I was laughing at her. You see, she’s a… how shall I say it… a dodger!!! (Not my choice of words- sumone said it!!!). She was non-confrontational - and would do almost anything to dodge having to "confront" anyone!

And I was laughing at how she had to go out and have lunch wif this guy whom she hardly knew and whom she had absolutely no interest in. but she couldn’t say “no” to him even tho she din wanna go for it. So she did!!!!

Well, I better be careful about who I laugh at about wat!!!! That happened to me last week.

You see, an ex-colleague celebrated her birthday 2 weeks ago. So I just dropped by to me old office and gave her a gift – it was nuthin much. Just some chocs.

She asked to meet up that nite for a drink. OK, I said. It had been a while since I chatted wif her. So I did.

That was on Thursday.

On Friday, she called me up to go out again that nite. I couldn’t find an excuse not to and I couldn’t say no!!!!! Sigh…

Anyways, thank God she had to work late that nite and as I was on the way to meet her, she called to ask if we could meet up later. I told her I can’t and got meself off the hook!!!!

Then on Saturday nite, while at a CG gathering, she called me up!!!! She asked if I had MSN and whether I was on-line to chat or not!!! I told her I was not in. Escaped again!!!!

Last nite, Sunday nite, during the b’day dinner of a mate (see previous post entitled "Cheers"), she texted me again!!!!! She asked if I was free for a movie on Monday nite!! She wanted to watch THE AMITYVILLE HORROR. I told her that I dun watch horror movies!!! She texted back to ask then if we could go out for a drink on Monday nite. I said I’ll confirm again. She then called me!!! She wanted to talk wif me but realised I was out of me house.

Man…

So how? Shall I go and have a drink wif her tonite? Sigh… look who’s the dodger now! :-(

Wings!

2005-07-11T13:55:00.000+08:00

You know wat Rafa Benitez (Liverpool FC’s coach) and I have in common? We both have this weakness for wings!!!!

I absolutely love chicken wings! It is prolly the most tasty part of the chicken. I love deep fried wings, roasted wings, BBQ wings, etc!

Well, Rafa have this thing for wings too – except it is a different kind of wing!!! He has a weakness for left-wing players!!!!

“Now we have discovered what Rafael Benitez's weakness is: wingers. Or, to be precise, left wingers. To Harry Kewell, Luis Garcia, Stephen Warnock and John Arne Riise, he has added Mark Gonzalez and Boudewijn Zenden. Luis Figo could give the Spaniard a seventh option on the left flank.

Liverpool, the city of Militant, have more left wingers than the Labour government.”

(Norman Hubbard, ESPN Soccernet.com)

LOL!!!!

New winger in new jersey! Bolo on the ball!
(Pic obtained from ESPN Soccernet)

But it is not necessarily a bad thing. The writer of the above article went on to say “But the focus on wingers suggests a recognition from Benitez that Liverpool need more than a counter-attacking masterplan to succeed in the Premiership”. He oso realised that the left-wingers of Liverpool are actually very versatile and can play in many different positions – strikers, left-back, right-wing.

Read the whole article here!

Well, methinks Liverpool would have been so much better off if Gerrard had left – but so much has been said about it that I won’t go into it now. Anyways, it is purely academic – at least for another year!!!

Cookie jar

2005-07-11T02:19:00.000+08:00

This is a cookie jar:-

Really!!!!!!

I kid you not!

Here're pics of the packaging it came in:-

And how does it function as a cookie jar? Just pull off Vader's helmet and store the cookies!!!

Neat-eh?

Details of the cookie jar!

Cheers!

2005-07-11T01:02:00.000+08:00

1. Lee Chong Wei won the Malaysian Open!!!!

The Malaysian Open finals was last nite. The 4th seed, Malaysia’s Chong Wei, won the finals by beating the top seed and World no. 1, Lin Dai!!!

It has been a while since I watched badminton. It has just been too much a heartache to watch Malaysians play badminton.

However, Chong Wei has revived my interest in this sport.

It took him 3 sets to win the game – and he just loved to do it the hard way!! He won 17-15, 9-15, 15-9. In the first set, he was done 10-0 before clawing his way back up and forcing the deuce to win the game. In the 3rd and decider set, he was trailing 7-0!!! Yet he came back to win the game.

Wat made it nicer was that I watched it wif me dad and wif some of me mates who came over to me place.

2. Celebrating me mate’s birthday

It was M’s b’day on Thursday. After some coordinating, we had to fix Sunday nite for his b’day dinner – that was last nite (yes, that was the reason why I couldn’t go up to Penang yesterday too!!!).

M and I go back a long, long way. We could not have been any more different! And that caused much friction at times. But yet, tt’s wat being frens is all about. And we had a strong common ground to keep our frenship going strong – Jesus!

So it was a really nice time to just hang out wif him and other mates, talking, joking, making a lot of noise.

It was oso prolly one of the last b’days of M that I would spend wif him. I’m glad it was a really good one!

3. Jit Seng’s back!!!

This is prolly the biggest cheer – and will be for a long, long time.

A couple of months ago, we received a terrible shocking news. Jit Seng was diagnosed wif cancer. It was so serious that he had to be hospitalised almost immediately and pout on chemotherapy.

Jit Seng was one the most well-liked person in our church. He never has shortage of smiles to share. Wif him, there is always happiness. But more than just that, he was one of the most detailed and hardworking person in the church. Whatever the task was, big or small, he would take it very seriously and work tirelessly.

He has a wonderful family too – his wife and his 3 young kids.

So the news came as a big shock and it really caused us to be down.

However, after 3 rounds of chemo, he is back wif us again!!!! He was back last Sunday!!! After the service, I heard a familiar voice behind me talking cheerfully, laughing. I turned around and it was Jit Seng wif a group of brothers, chatting away. Except for the fact that all his hair has dropped off, no one would guess that this was a man suffering from cancer and had gone thru 3 rounds of chemo and still is uncertain whether he will overcome the cancer or not!!!

It was wonderful to have him back. It was so touching to see how he is still so strong in his faith and still so cheerful despite the circumstances (he still has some chemo to do and until then, we won’t know how effective the chemo had been. He could come back because he is on “hospital-leave”. As long as the docs think he is alrite, then he is allowed back home. If not, then he has to be in the hospital).

He came over to me, shook me hand and thanked me for sending his kids and mom to church in his absence. I waved it (the compliment) away saying it was no big deal. After all, they stay just 2 mins away. Still, he insisted wif his appreciation – and he really made me feel so blessed to be able to help even in such a small way.

I’m truly so blessed and encouraged and cheered by him. Thanks, Lord.

We will continue to pray for him.

Orange!!!

2005-07-11T00:07:00.000+08:00

Thanks, SAN! I like it! :-)

Closed

2005-07-08T11:45:00.000+08:00

No, I have not “moved” to a new blog. I was away for a couple of days at the National Park (“Taman Negara”).

There is so much to blog about in these past couple of days.

However, this blog will remain “closed” for another couple of days as a sign of respect and mourning for the at least 37 innocent people who lost their lives in a senseless and barbaric act of cold-blooded murder in a major city yesterday.

I have oso decided against blogging about the incident as this will only further the objectives of those inhumane and wicked people – who are enjoying all the publicity they are getting and the fear that is put into the lives of many. We will not tolerate such despicable people and their acts and we will not be terrorised by their dastardly cowardly acts.

Business will resume as NORMAL in due course. In the meantime, a prayer is said for those who are in critical condition, those who are injured – physically and mentally, and those who have lost a loved one. My thoughts are wif you now.

Saying a prayer (pic obtained from BBC Online)

Sorry sir, you can't come in!

2005-07-03T00:01:00.000+08:00

Don't you just hate it when some snotty waiter tell you that? I was at this famous joint years ago - Modestos - to meet up wif a mate. But the fella din allow me in. I was like "What the...???" I was dressed in a smart white shirt with mandarin collar, jeans and me Doc Marts boots! Apparently, my jeans were torn and because of that, I wasn't allowed in! Bugger...

This is the USS Nimitz:-

It docked at our West Port recently - as reported in our local daily here.

I remembered years ago when the USS Enterprise docked here too. Me and another mate took a drive down to Port Klang to view it. It was opened to the pulic. Unfortunately, the whole world decided to go oso - and we were caught in an awful jam for 2 - 3 hours. We had to turn back in the end. No regrets tho as we had a really nice time chatting.

This time round, I was very sure I wasn't gonna miss the chance! The Nimitz! With the F-14s and the F-18s on board!!!!

So I took a drive there this afternoon. Upon reaching the entrance of the West Port, I was greeted with this:-

No entry. No way. Closed to the public. Even if the security let me in, the Nimitz is not opened to the public. I tried to pursuade the security but to no avail. I even told him that in the past, they allowed public on board their carriers! But the security smartly replied that ever since the 9/11 incident, the Americans have been very strict about the whole thing. He suggested perhaps I drive to the "Star Cruise terminal" further down to perhaps catch a glimpse of it.

Pity the guy too as in the short span of around 5 mins when I was there, there were like over 10 cars/van/bikes which tried to get thru to see the carrier too!

As i drove along the outside, there was no way I could see it. All I managed to get were the following:-

I can tell that those planes (circled in green) are F-18s!!!

A peek at the tip of the Nimitz!!!!

So off I went to the Star Cruise terminal. Unfortunately, it too was closed as there were no Star Cruise ships around today.

I made me way to the edge of the terminal, along the esplanade but no way could I catch a glimpse of the elusive Nimitz!

I did manage to get a pic of some people trying to fish there tho!!!!

My daily bread

2005-07-01T23:16:00.000+08:00

A lot of people think I am pretty rich. Sure, I’ve been out of a proper job for more than 1 year. But I have still been working! Sure, I’m going to the UK to do me Masters – but I’ll be selling off my car here and I’ll be working there to support meself.

It has been something which had been gnawing at me for a while. Initially, my plan was to go to Singapore to do me Masters. That would be much more affordable. But as things work out, I ended up going to the UK. I am pretty sure now that it is God’s will for me to go there – and am quite at peace wif the decision.

But there’s still the thing at the back of me mind – MONEY!!!! Sigh…

I’ve been checking the exchange rate quite religiously – almost like a stock-broker checking on the shares. The good news is that the sterling pound is going down a little. It used to be around 7.2 plus. Today, I actually saw a money changer which was offering to sell at 6.8!!!! That’s quite a fair bit.

Then, there’s me bank account. Wif no proper income, it is quite scary to look at the monthly statement end of each month, to see the amount getting lesser and lesser.

And I can’t seem to stop spending money either! Altho I have stopped buying action figs, I’m still spending money – at times unnecessarily – every month!

At this point of time, I am trying to do some writing. The problem is that it requires a lot of discipline. I haven’t started much – although I do have a lot of ideas in me head!

Thank God me family is not waiting for me to bring in the money – they are pretty much self-sufficient. In fact, me family has been supporting me materially too – and they dun mind. I am truly blessed.

As much as I try not to let it bother, I must admit that there are times when I fail. And I worry.

But I was listening to some old songs lately and this song by Amy Grant entitled Jehovah really touched me. It’s actually not anything new. The song is based on Luke 12 v 26-28 (and oso Matt 6 v27-29) – but it is such a timely reminder.

Jehovah

Consider the lilies of the field,
Solomon dressed in royal robes has not the worth of them.
Consider the lilies of the field.
He takes after each and every need.
Leave all your cares behind,
Seek Him and you will find
Your Father loves you so.

Consider the creatures of the air.
For all of the diamonds in all the earth have not the wealth of them.
Consider the creatures of the air.
Jehovah loves them with tender hand.
He knows your every care,
His touch is always there
To see you through the night.

And Jehovah I love You so,
And Jesus I want You to know,
All you've done for me to set me free,
I'll never let you go.
And Jehovah I love You so,
And Jesus I want You to know,
All You've done for me to set me free,
I'll never let You go.

Consider the lilies of the field.
For how much more does He love His own,
If Yahweh cares for them.
Consider the creatures of the air.
He takes after each and every need.
If we ask Him for bread, will He give us a stone?
Jehovah loves His own.

And Jehovah I love You so,
And Jesus I want You to know,
All you've done for me to set me free,
I'll never let You go.
And Jehovah I love You so,
And Jesus I want You to know,
All You've done for me to set me free,
I'll never let you go.

(G. Thurman)

By his grace, I'll indeed never let him go - I can be rest assured that he won't let me go!

POSTSCRIPT:-

Me neighbour is planning to buy a new house. This involves selling off their houses - they have 2! If everything goes as plan, they have agreed to sell their house next to us for a really cut-down price! Wow! If they do, with the price of property in the land, we will be able to raise up the money to cover my tuition fees easily! I'm prayin that things will work out.

Toblerone Cheese Cake (Part 2)

2005-07-01T22:35:00.000+08:00

Still feeling a lil' miserable. Had a bad migraine today. Me mate at Penang did not reply me text msg. Another mate got played out big time by someone whom I recommended him too (man, I feel awful bout that). No one is on-line now.

On a brighter side, Federer beat Hewitt in straight sets!!!! Woohoo! And the cake din turn out too bad after all!!!!

Trust me, it taste better than it looks!!!

The verdict? Me nephew was declaring that it is "NOT NICE!!!!" :-( He said he prefered the cakes me sis makes, the kind which has choc cream on top of it!!!!

On the other hand, me sis-in-law loves it! She was suitably impressed! She even called me later to tell me the secret of how to make a better base - use McVites biscuits!!!! I used "Biskut Marie", the cheapest I could find!!!

The problem I said I had - using the wrong kind of cream cheese? Well, it wasn't too bad oso. Wat happened is that there are small chunks of cheese in the cheese cake! I could pretend that it was meant to be this way! ;-P

Toblerone Cheese Cake

2005-07-01T04:38:00.000+08:00

Am feeling so miserable. No one is on-line, no one e-mailed me in the last 7 hours (at least no one of importance), Maria Sharapova lost to Venus Williams, me mates will be going to USM later today (and they never said good-bye!!! Sob!).

I tried making a cake - it was a disaster. I used the wrong kind of cream cheese. Sigh...

Disaster area!!!  Toblerone Cheese Cake! 

You can't see it in the pic but there are little chunks of cheese all over - the cheese I used wasn't creamy enuf. O well...

W used to be able to make a really nice cheese cake. She'd make the baked cheese cake type. This one is my first ever attempt at making a cheese cake and it's the mix and put it in the fridge kind. And even then I still can't get it rite! :-(

Miserable, miserable, miserable...