Yesterday.
I went out of the office early since we are allowed to go by 4.30 during the fasting month. I headed to the pool to do my butterfly strokes again.
This time I had more time to spend at the pool.
I went back home at six and after I entered the apartment, I carried Hoshi along to go to the stalls downstairs at the opposite side of the road to get some food.
Everyone was definitely looking at Hoshi, either in horror or in amazement.
“He doesn’t disturb people, right?” asked an old seller lady at a stall.
It wasn’t really about the attention that I wanted (was it?) but I do think Hoshi needed some fresh air so I brought it along.
After eating at dawn, my body started to respond to the extra swimming that I did during the day. I started to feel sore at almost all parts of my body. I decided to rest and I fell asleep.
That night a friend asked me and my housemate (or can you call that ‘housmie’ because they call people ‘roomie’ for housemates?) to follow him for supper. It happened that his new Thai friend had just arrived in Kuala Lumpur.
This new Thai friend is really a cool guy. He can speak English. And he is quite a confident person. No wonder, he frequents Singapore before this.
And oh his shirt is so nice. You can get that type from Key Ng at a hundred bucks, but they sell those un-branded ones at twenty five in Bangkok.
But that night, on a Thursday night, we were dragged to go to the club. Imagine that, and the club was almost empty. It was sad. And I was wearing sandals! Good thing that I wore sandals so that I won’t hit the dance floor. If I danced surely I would be too tired to even get up to work.
Because of the late outing yesterday’ night, I was too tired to move from my bed for early sahur breakfast. Hm.
That’s all, nothing much from this posting, just a report of what I did yesterday. Hik.
hitting the road
I have a friend. My friend has a car. Sometimes I would ride this cute car of my friend to go and eat supper in any cool area in Damansara.
My friend’s car is a small economical car, which consumes less petrol than the other huge cars. This car has brought the owner to a lot of places, in Damansara and Kuala Lumpur.
My friend is a really cautious driver. This friend would drive at a very moderate speed, and maneuver the car carefully everytime being behind the wheel.
But too bad, drivers in the city vary in a lot of types. There are rude drivers who just change lanes without any warning. There are drivers who would horn at you even though it is not your fault. There are drivers who speed scarily on the road without concerning about other people’s safety.
So how did my friend responded to such people? My friend would curse out loud. My friend would shout and say how moron these drivers are. My friend would even speed slightly faster.
When my friend reacted to such cases, I would be a bit scared. I would keep quiet and just give a sad smile. It was odd, sad but funny too.
Someone told me;
“There are too many inconsiderate and emotional drivers on the road. If we learn to keep cool when we are driving, and just drive peacefully even when we counter other rude drivers, at least we would be one more good respectful driver in the city. There are so many rude drivers, so by adding one polite driver into the statistic, it would be really significant.”
Nowadays my friend do not curse anymore while driving on the road. When there is a driver behind would rudely pressing the car horn, my friend would just give way and uttered the words that reflected the civilized background of a driver.
I am impressed.
I am proud of my friend driver.
silent hill
Have you ever having a mood downfall and you feel not like talking to anyone around you?
I have seen people who suddenly act weird to everyone because of a lot of things. Some, may have a very serious personal problem to deal with. Some can even be moody the whole day just because the clerk at the counter was rude.
I experienced someone who is having a very strange mood today. It’s a bit complicated to analyze, because the person was being cold towards me and yet was fine towards the others. I thought hard, was it me the one who caused the trouble but I can’t seem to find my fault. Oh dear.
Talking about having a long day, or having bad mood, it’s hard to resist talking when my friends are around. The worst that can happen is just me being silent for ten minutes tops, and then I will be chatting cheerfully with them again.
Especially when this friend is nearby me.
I started knowing this friend during my first comeback after my long retreat from the university orchestra. The orchestra revived after it was half-dead, and that time we were playing nice songs like Ross Roy by Jacob de Haan.
This friend was a joyful person, and able to maintain his cool at all times.
He had gone through even the hardest part, that was when his favorite companion died and at the same time he had to juggle with the challenge of completing his thesis, during his final year. Picture that, you have to carry a big responsibility when at the same time you do not have the spirit to do anything at all, because of the loved one that you lost.
This friend does have his naughty side of teasing people, but if you know this friend very well, it’s just the innocent playful side of him if you don’t take it seriously.
I have witness this friend grew up becoming a very independent person, through all the challenges of life that he has experienced.
I saluted him when he could give a carpenter’s helping hand when he assembled his friends’ furniture in the middle of the night.
I am so grateful that he never mind at all lending some money to me when I was broke, anytime we had fun watching movie, or eating out, or even when we had a vacation at his hometown in Malacca.
And this friend was the one who replied to my weird text messages at the middle of the night when I need a friend to bear with my psychotic loneliness.
I only remembered once having an argument with this friend. It’s only a silly argument, but the fact that I remembered it means that this is one of the friends that I can get along together with very well.
This friend will always bring me to the cheerful mood each time after I had a long sad day. Meeting him, listening the gossips and the way that he tried to distract me from my negativity, is something that I really treasure.
Directly and indirectly, this friend had taught me how to make my own day with my own spirit and courage.
This friend is funny, witty, and all that you want to have from a friend.
I am thankful to have this friend.
kal ho naa ho
Life changes its beauty all the time
Sometimes it's a shade, sometimes life is sunlight
Live every moment here to your heart's content
The time that is here may not be tomorrow
One who loves you whole-heartedly
It is difficult meet that person
If there is someone like that somewhere
That person is more beautiful than all
Grab onto that (person's) hand
He or she may not be so gracious tomorrow
Live every moment here to your heart's content
The time that is here may not be tomorrow
Taking the shadow of your eyelashes, when someone comes near
You try to reason with your crazy heart
Your heart just goes on beating
But think, that which is here now
That story may not be here tomorrow
Life changes its beauty all the time
Sometimes it's a shade, sometimes life is sunlight
Live every moment here to your heart's content
The time that is here may not be tomorrow
The time that is here may not be tomorrow
dolphins and butterflies
The water fairy (that’s me!) squatted by the side of the old seventies pool, looking on his left. There were kids at each swimming line in the pool, doing their swimming like dolphins. Their butterfly strokes were effortless, and they can do a few laps without gasping for air.
It is fun to be like these children, having a proper swimming class and aiming for tournaments.
Wearing my own unique orange and gray low cut BodyKnits, I went inside the pool, slowly. It’s quite strange that the pool is always at the right temperature, regardless of the weather.
Sometimes a friend of mine would insanely invite me to his pool at 9 pm after a heavy rain, and the water would be as cold as the North Pole. The water fairy sometimes had to follow his friend, the Snow Queen, at such odd timing and shiver in the pool.
“Promise me now, Rose, that you will never give up, no matter what happened.”
The seventies pool wouldn’t be as unfriendly as that chilly pool. It would always be inviting, with its serene old school design, and with many people who came to swim, giving me the mood to swim too, even when I was initially feeling tired and weary after a long day.
The Snow Queen always tried to coach me doing butterfly strokes. That fine day, in the seventies pool, I decided to try and practice my strokes.
A few legs strokes with the arms static in front. That went well.
And a few arm strokes with my feet clinging at the side of the pool. I felt like a fool.
A few of both combining together. I looked like a helpless Titanic victim trying to kick Rose from her floating door.
But I really want to able to do butterfly strokes.
Like one of dramatis student’s said affirmably;
“I want…”
So I tried again a few days after that.
My butterfly strokes started taking shape in its chrysalis.
One day the water fairy will become a perfect pretty water butterfly..
the evil thing i did
Yep, I did a shopping sin quite a few weeks ago.
A friend even gave me that look when it was announced officially that night.
I bought myself a pair of Skechers. These lovely pair of shoes, were so outstanding, I could notice amongst the hundreds of other pairs in the boutique.
I contemplated on whether to grab those shoes or not.
1) They are 140 bucks only per pair. And you can’t get a pair of Skechers that cheap everyday. Oh, except if you live in the States and they have these wild off season sales there.
2) I do not have a pair of outing shoes for more than a year already. Oh, there’s the yellow sad pair of North Stars, but I bought that in my second year and the sole hurts. I only wore that because of the fact I do not have a pair of shoes.
3) My parent agreed to give me allowance purposely for a new pair of shoes.
So I straight away bought them, right on the next day after I fell in love with them.
Yeah, it’s a shopping sin, could have just bought a decent pair of Powers, but I love me shoes!!
the holy month
Ramadhan. The month which God promises us multiple of blessings whenever we do a good deed.
The first night of night prayers brings us total forgiveness from God, like on the day we were born.
I skipped the second night, so skip that. Oops.
Tonight the benefit of night prayers is that all angels in the sky would pray for us non-stop to be blessed by God.
The people thousand years ago had to fight with Pharaoh,
Or let themselves burnt in fire,
Or fight in war,
But we, as the last generation before the apocalypse, do not have to do that to get blessings from God.
The first night of night prayers brings us total forgiveness from God, like on the day we were born.
I skipped the second night, so skip that. Oops.
Tonight the benefit of night prayers is that all angels in the sky would pray for us non-stop to be blessed by God.
The people thousand years ago had to fight with Pharaoh,
Or let themselves burnt in fire,
Or fight in war,
But we, as the last generation before the apocalypse, do not have to do that to get blessings from God.
soon after the bomb blast
What shocking news from Thai. The military, under the orders of the general, had revoked the ruling power of the prime minister and a new prime minister will be soon selected within two weeks.
Perhaps some wouldn’t agree with this act, but their king actually gave green light to restore the country’s peace. This is something. And it is known that everyone in Thailand really respected and worship their king.
The general of the military is a Moslem, and all this time he helped the people who were abused by the prime minister’s policy.
The king had appeared on TV long ago, giving subtle gestures; hinting the administration to do new elections but the prime minister refused to go down.
The prime minister was the cause of the insurgency; 1,700 people were killed at least.
And he brought 20,000 troops to the south, declared emergency and detained suspects without any charges.
The prime minister thought that he could take advantage that the king is already old, but the king is not a fool.
the little mermaid. hik.
I was looking up at this basic tutorial of building databases and then they use the same case study again: building up a video rental system.
Who would want to even start a video rental store nowadays? There are lots of pirated DVDs everywhere, and you can get an original VCD at 20 ringgit.
Oh yeah, I’ve forgotten that those tutorials are from the United States and they do not have pirated DVDs. And they would rather go to the cinema or buy video tapes instead because original DVDs are not cheap.
Talk about video tapes, dad bought me an original The Little Mermaid video tape at 39.90.
Remember those tapes back in the nineties?
At that time, considering my age and the existence of ten ringgit pirated tapes, a 39.90 original HVN is not cheap. Instead of the black colored body, this tape has blue and red plastic body, and the box cover has hologram stickers on it.
And of course the video picture been played is relatively the clearest during that time.
Mom, most of the time will always restrict us from watching videos. Unless we already have our homework done.
Due to this restriction, and because I cannot stand not watching the original Little Mermaid video often, I waited until three o’clock in the morning, when the whole house is dark, I tiptoed to my dad’s study room and played the video on the small TV there.
TV those days have funny kind of distortion sound on the speakers. And this distortion is of course more noticeable when there were not a single sound could be heard in the middle of the night (except the ringing sensation in your ears because it was so silent). And of course there was the sound of the tape being inserted inside the player, and the mechanical sounds of it being played.
All these slight noises, would be suddenly be extremely loud when I tried to secretly watch Little Mermaid at three am in the middle of the night. They made me cringe and I hoped that no one would wake up.
Funny, the silly naughty things that I am capable to do when I was a kid.
the first indonesian movie i watched
Disini kau dan aku
Terbiasa bersama
Menjalani kasih sayang
Bahagia ku denganmu
Pernahkah kau menguntai
Hari paling indah
Ku ukir nama kita berdua
Disini syurga kita
(Korus)
Bila kita mencintai yang lain
Mungkin kah hati ini akan tegar
Sebisa mungkin tak akan pernah
Sayang ku akan hilang
If u love somebody
Could we be this strong
I will fight to win
Our love will conquer all
Wouldn’t risk my love
Even just one night
Our love will stay in my heart
My heart
news from faraway and just in front of the door step
Last Saturday night, there was a bomb blast in Hatyai, nearby the Odeon Shopping Mall. I’ve passed this mall before. I think I even entered that mall too! Four Thais and one Canadian died. Seven Malaysians were among the 65 injured.
This is devastating. And to think that their country is just next to us. Peace is a treasure; invaluable. And the image of Islam is tarnished again. If the police could capture the bombers, I don’t care if they are tortured to death.
Meanwhile. Just close to home, last Friday morning when I rode my bike on the wet road just after the fresh morning rain, I saw a group of Indian guys at both sides of the road. They stood there, some still with their helmet on, and their bikes on their sides.
Two guesses. Either there were policemen checking bikes for license, or there is an accident.
I looked around, but there was no damaged vehicle at sight.
When my bike moved slowly, suddenly just beside my left foot and my tires, there laid on the wet tar, was the body of a dead man, covered with newspaper, with his head still uncovered. His eyes were closed, and his blood spread on the road, following the trails of water left after the morning rain.
That’s at least the fourth fatal accident just in front of my apartment.
This is devastating. And to think that their country is just next to us. Peace is a treasure; invaluable. And the image of Islam is tarnished again. If the police could capture the bombers, I don’t care if they are tortured to death.
Meanwhile. Just close to home, last Friday morning when I rode my bike on the wet road just after the fresh morning rain, I saw a group of Indian guys at both sides of the road. They stood there, some still with their helmet on, and their bikes on their sides.
Two guesses. Either there were policemen checking bikes for license, or there is an accident.
I looked around, but there was no damaged vehicle at sight.
When my bike moved slowly, suddenly just beside my left foot and my tires, there laid on the wet tar, was the body of a dead man, covered with newspaper, with his head still uncovered. His eyes were closed, and his blood spread on the road, following the trails of water left after the morning rain.
That’s at least the fourth fatal accident just in front of my apartment.
freaky morning
The small gap between the rear of the TV and the wall is the dustiest. I wondered for a minute how come the dust accumulated there, already in big chunks; you can even pick them with your own fingers, like picking Twisties snack from the pack. I tidy up the whole house once every weekend, how come I can miss the spot?
So that morning, with my shorts and teeth still un-brushed, I reached that gap with the old broom. And the dead creature suddenly bounced out from under the TV rack. Now I knew why I just ignored that spot.
But I was determined to continue my work. I can’t simply sweep back the dust into the gap again, right?
So with all my might and my eyes trying to ignore and not focusing on the hideous black thing, I continued. It’s as if I could feel the scary structure whenever I swept it towards the front door. I squealed a few times when the carcass spin each time I gave it a blow; I was like a hockey player, aiming the ball towards the goal as quick as I can.
Dead or alive, just wings or legs or even the tentacles; I hate cockroaches.
So that morning, with my shorts and teeth still un-brushed, I reached that gap with the old broom. And the dead creature suddenly bounced out from under the TV rack. Now I knew why I just ignored that spot.
But I was determined to continue my work. I can’t simply sweep back the dust into the gap again, right?
So with all my might and my eyes trying to ignore and not focusing on the hideous black thing, I continued. It’s as if I could feel the scary structure whenever I swept it towards the front door. I squealed a few times when the carcass spin each time I gave it a blow; I was like a hockey player, aiming the ball towards the goal as quick as I can.
Dead or alive, just wings or legs or even the tentacles; I hate cockroaches.
maxis
Yesterday on Friday the rain started to fall just after I kick started my bike engine. I went back upstairs, took of my shirt to avoid it being wrinkled, and lay down on the carpet hall.
When the rain stopped, since I am already late, I decided to go to Taman Tun Maxis center to register my prepaid phone account. It was the 15th of the month and they said they are going to block all unregistered numbers.
I have not been to Taman Tun for years, I got lost for a few times. There were actually different area of different shop house lots, and I always ended up at the wrong row.
Registering was easy. They just swipe your ugly MyKad into the machine slot and you will get free five hundred ringgit,cash.
You wish!!!
I mean, they swipe your MyKad and your data will be automatically registered.
And I got a free Siti Nurhaliza poster too!
When the rain stopped, since I am already late, I decided to go to Taman Tun Maxis center to register my prepaid phone account. It was the 15th of the month and they said they are going to block all unregistered numbers.
I have not been to Taman Tun for years, I got lost for a few times. There were actually different area of different shop house lots, and I always ended up at the wrong row.
Registering was easy. They just swipe your ugly MyKad into the machine slot and you will get free five hundred ringgit,cash.
You wish!!!
I mean, they swipe your MyKad and your data will be automatically registered.
And I got a free Siti Nurhaliza poster too!
so i'm blogging now
Yes, roll your eyes ladies and gentlemen, but I am going to write my blonde journal today. I had a very hot and long and sticky day today so I deserve writing a blog. Hik.
Yesterday, as usual the water fairy went to the pool after work. And then it rained. I waited for the rain to stop for hours until the water fairy title can turn into a frog already.
So when I had it already, I swam my bike into the rain, I was as wet as in my swimming trunk. If I knew earlier, I should have not changed at all; just stick to my trunk and ride the bike home, like a baby with diapers riding the tricycle.
When I arrived home drenched, luckily no one was in the apartment, so I just stripped off everything and tossed them into the washing machine.
After the rain had stopped and I was squeaky clean and fluffy dry, I went down and started my bike to go out for dinner.
Have you ever noticed the structure of a cloth peg? Have you seen the small metal wire that pin both sides of the thing together? What are the odds of that small metal wire existing on the middle of the road?
That funny thing got stuck in my bike’s rear tire, and punctured it.
I couldn’t use my bike so I chose to take a cab instead.
That was last night. Today, in the afternoon, I had to push my bike towards the workshop in Kota Damansara. That is like a few kilometers away.
I got exhausted and stopped at the petrol station. There were actually contact numbers posted there for punctured tire services, so I had to go back home and call them but no one answered. It’s a Saturday anyway.
So I walked back to my bike, and the petrol people there suggested me to push my bike to the flats at the other side of the road. But after I pushed my bike there, the workshop was closed. It’s a Saturday anyway.
I came to the part where I couldn’t stand pushing my bike here there everyway. My bike is supposed to bring me around, not the other way round. So I went up the bike, and rode it; and me and my bike can wobble and wobble together.
Some of the people that I know always say; do not go to the Chinese workshops because they will charge you more. I purposely went to the Chinese workshop. I went to the Indian workshops and they talked and talked and talked in Tamil spending their grandmother’s own sweet time to finish up the work. I went to the Malay workshops and they were plain dumb and blur, and couldn’t respond at us until we snap our fingers loud at their face. This is not a made up story. This is based on my own experience.
The Chinese workshop on the other hand, they will give me the best service that they can. They are friendly, and of course they would suggest us to replace all the parts (if can they want us to buy a new bike already) but you can always smile and say, no, next time.
So my bike was repaired and apart of the whole hardship of pushing it everywhere, I am happy that the bike is now okay.
Yesterday, as usual the water fairy went to the pool after work. And then it rained. I waited for the rain to stop for hours until the water fairy title can turn into a frog already.
So when I had it already, I swam my bike into the rain, I was as wet as in my swimming trunk. If I knew earlier, I should have not changed at all; just stick to my trunk and ride the bike home, like a baby with diapers riding the tricycle.
When I arrived home drenched, luckily no one was in the apartment, so I just stripped off everything and tossed them into the washing machine.
After the rain had stopped and I was squeaky clean and fluffy dry, I went down and started my bike to go out for dinner.
Have you ever noticed the structure of a cloth peg? Have you seen the small metal wire that pin both sides of the thing together? What are the odds of that small metal wire existing on the middle of the road?
That funny thing got stuck in my bike’s rear tire, and punctured it.
I couldn’t use my bike so I chose to take a cab instead.
That was last night. Today, in the afternoon, I had to push my bike towards the workshop in Kota Damansara. That is like a few kilometers away.
I got exhausted and stopped at the petrol station. There were actually contact numbers posted there for punctured tire services, so I had to go back home and call them but no one answered. It’s a Saturday anyway.
So I walked back to my bike, and the petrol people there suggested me to push my bike to the flats at the other side of the road. But after I pushed my bike there, the workshop was closed. It’s a Saturday anyway.
I came to the part where I couldn’t stand pushing my bike here there everyway. My bike is supposed to bring me around, not the other way round. So I went up the bike, and rode it; and me and my bike can wobble and wobble together.
Some of the people that I know always say; do not go to the Chinese workshops because they will charge you more. I purposely went to the Chinese workshop. I went to the Indian workshops and they talked and talked and talked in Tamil spending their grandmother’s own sweet time to finish up the work. I went to the Malay workshops and they were plain dumb and blur, and couldn’t respond at us until we snap our fingers loud at their face. This is not a made up story. This is based on my own experience.
The Chinese workshop on the other hand, they will give me the best service that they can. They are friendly, and of course they would suggest us to replace all the parts (if can they want us to buy a new bike already) but you can always smile and say, no, next time.
So my bike was repaired and apart of the whole hardship of pushing it everywhere, I am happy that the bike is now okay.
i will be away
Dear readers,
This would be my last posting for this season.
I will be concentrating on my system presentation and my internship schedule report for this week onwards.
It has been a pleasure to share my thoughts, my feelings and my ideas with you guys.
Till we meet again.
This would be my last posting for this season.
I will be concentrating on my system presentation and my internship schedule report for this week onwards.
It has been a pleasure to share my thoughts, my feelings and my ideas with you guys.
Till we meet again.
band conflict: case re-opened; lessons taken
I was being explained by one of the tutors of the school orchestra regarding on the conflict between the instructor and the tutors of the team. It is really interesting to listen the whole story being re-told by the other side of the party.
Hereby I put down all the facts of the conflict, along with its counter backs.
The instructor was furious when he came to one rehearsal and noticed that the tempo of one of the songs was being slowed down.
Justification: The tempo was slowed down only for practicing purpose. This is done to tighten the playing of the running notes, before it is replayed at the exact tempo.
The instructor claimed that the tutors have done rehearsals with the orchestra without his knowledge. All changes were not discussed and informed to the instructor.
Justification: At regular times, in meetings around the table, or when they travel together in the instructor’s car, the tutors have always discussed about the ways to improve the orchestra. Suggestions were made for changes and the instructor evaluated these suggestions. They leave it to the instructor’s judgment to accept or decline these changes.
The team member informed the instructor that they were exhausted due to excessive rehearsals.
Justification: The instructor received wrong information given by the problematic senior players. Rehearsals this year were less stressful compared to the previous year.
The instructor pointed out that the woodwind section was blaring when they tried to be heard instead of projecting a matured and broad tone, when they play the Malay piece.
Justification: The incident occurred in a music workshop when the instructor himself hardly came to guide the team. The quality degradation was not because of the tutors, but because of the wrong mentoring by the people involved in the music workshop.
The instructor went berserk when the student conductor guided the band incorrectly in the final competition rehearsal.
Justification: The mistake was purely done by the student conductor and not because of the tutors. If we look back at the progress from the first few months, the instructor has less interest in trying to closely guide the student conductor, whence actually the conductor is important to guide the orchestra when the perform. Instead, the tutors did the job.
Conducting is quite a relative subject. Famous conductors conduct in different ways. The conductor might be right, but the tutor could be correct too. Based on the explanation given to me, I could see that these conflicting parties have their own different but concrete reference of conducting; hence the crisis emerged.
The whole conclusion.
Both parties, regardless the tutors and the instructor, have given a very big contribution and support to the orchestra. Basically all changes were already being informed to the instructor, but during the final stage, the instructor refused to communicate and express his disagreement out to the wrong channel, including me.
When one of the tutors arrived here from overseas, he expected that come to just fine tune the band and correct the balance and give extra dynamics at certain parts. Frustratingly, there were so many parts that the woodwind section cheated and played wrongly. He had to drill them in terms of technical playing which the instructor ignored for a long time already. After the intensive detailed practice, the instructor only came to see the improvement, but do not really know how this thing happened.
Now that I have seen the whole complete picture, I could see that the instructor is also at fault. Knowing that he always go directly to his own conclusions without further investigation, and based on my experience with him.
I am relieved to get the clear explanation from the other party, instead of people provocatively force me to accept and acknowledge the contribution of everyone. The ironic thing is, I do appreciate everyone’s contribution. I do not need people to ask me to do so.
Whatever it is, now I could see from both perspectives. Caution should be taken when I myself have encounter with the instructor. It’s a question; is he actually being paranoid, thinking that people would topple him from his position? And is he being himself again, kiasu and putting his mood swings into his professional career? This is not the first time this kind of incident happened.
Finally, I am satisfied with the whole story.
Hereby I put down all the facts of the conflict, along with its counter backs.
The instructor was furious when he came to one rehearsal and noticed that the tempo of one of the songs was being slowed down.
Justification: The tempo was slowed down only for practicing purpose. This is done to tighten the playing of the running notes, before it is replayed at the exact tempo.
The instructor claimed that the tutors have done rehearsals with the orchestra without his knowledge. All changes were not discussed and informed to the instructor.
Justification: At regular times, in meetings around the table, or when they travel together in the instructor’s car, the tutors have always discussed about the ways to improve the orchestra. Suggestions were made for changes and the instructor evaluated these suggestions. They leave it to the instructor’s judgment to accept or decline these changes.
The team member informed the instructor that they were exhausted due to excessive rehearsals.
Justification: The instructor received wrong information given by the problematic senior players. Rehearsals this year were less stressful compared to the previous year.
The instructor pointed out that the woodwind section was blaring when they tried to be heard instead of projecting a matured and broad tone, when they play the Malay piece.
Justification: The incident occurred in a music workshop when the instructor himself hardly came to guide the team. The quality degradation was not because of the tutors, but because of the wrong mentoring by the people involved in the music workshop.
The instructor went berserk when the student conductor guided the band incorrectly in the final competition rehearsal.
Justification: The mistake was purely done by the student conductor and not because of the tutors. If we look back at the progress from the first few months, the instructor has less interest in trying to closely guide the student conductor, whence actually the conductor is important to guide the orchestra when the perform. Instead, the tutors did the job.
Conducting is quite a relative subject. Famous conductors conduct in different ways. The conductor might be right, but the tutor could be correct too. Based on the explanation given to me, I could see that these conflicting parties have their own different but concrete reference of conducting; hence the crisis emerged.
The whole conclusion.
Both parties, regardless the tutors and the instructor, have given a very big contribution and support to the orchestra. Basically all changes were already being informed to the instructor, but during the final stage, the instructor refused to communicate and express his disagreement out to the wrong channel, including me.
When one of the tutors arrived here from overseas, he expected that come to just fine tune the band and correct the balance and give extra dynamics at certain parts. Frustratingly, there were so many parts that the woodwind section cheated and played wrongly. He had to drill them in terms of technical playing which the instructor ignored for a long time already. After the intensive detailed practice, the instructor only came to see the improvement, but do not really know how this thing happened.
Now that I have seen the whole complete picture, I could see that the instructor is also at fault. Knowing that he always go directly to his own conclusions without further investigation, and based on my experience with him.
I am relieved to get the clear explanation from the other party, instead of people provocatively force me to accept and acknowledge the contribution of everyone. The ironic thing is, I do appreciate everyone’s contribution. I do not need people to ask me to do so.
Whatever it is, now I could see from both perspectives. Caution should be taken when I myself have encounter with the instructor. It’s a question; is he actually being paranoid, thinking that people would topple him from his position? And is he being himself again, kiasu and putting his mood swings into his professional career? This is not the first time this kind of incident happened.
Finally, I am satisfied with the whole story.
what's bugging the blogger
The internet and my circle of friends is a door which opens me to all the controversial and sensitive issues which is happening in my surroundings. My mind was invited to think of the things that I haven’t thought of, and it stays in there, echoing in the day, whispering in the night.
The constitution which is the base of the country. The economy plan set up by the government. The complaints of the citizens of the nation. The corruption. The swindling. The advantage taking. The laziness. The less satisfied. The unfairness. The crutch.
I am someone who is feeling guilty but at the same time dread myself doing my responsibilities. It’s a self-conflict which probed in me, trying to remind me of my purpose but at the same time rebelled inside me to not doing something I do not like.
Whatever it is, I hope that I will get through this and start afresh. The keys are given. The doors are waiting to be open, when the time comes. I am glad to have my friends who gave me the key to all these doors.
Thank you.
The constitution which is the base of the country. The economy plan set up by the government. The complaints of the citizens of the nation. The corruption. The swindling. The advantage taking. The laziness. The less satisfied. The unfairness. The crutch.
I am someone who is feeling guilty but at the same time dread myself doing my responsibilities. It’s a self-conflict which probed in me, trying to remind me of my purpose but at the same time rebelled inside me to not doing something I do not like.
Whatever it is, I hope that I will get through this and start afresh. The keys are given. The doors are waiting to be open, when the time comes. I am glad to have my friends who gave me the key to all these doors.
Thank you.
the dumb blonde loves dumb bells
Long ago when I was in primary, we live in this humble housing area at the suburbs of Ampang. Our neighbor was this Chinese family, and there was Uncle, Auntie, and Nyonya (Grandma).
One evening, when I was out at the parking area to play, Auntie commented on me, wearing a green and red singlet.
“Badan adik macam tebu”, she said. Translated, “Your body is like sugar cane.”
Repeated a few times.
From that day on forth, I have this small dream at the corner of my mind; to get a fit and well toned body.
When I was in secondary, some boys were gifted with body tougher than me. But when I looked back at the pictures, well, they were not that tough though. That means, well, you can imagine how lanky I was. If the ‘tough’ boys are normal, then I am skinny.
And then I entered university. That was when I got a bit serious in weight lifting. Following my friends, we went to the gym which was a walking distance away from our hostel. My aim is not only to shape up my physical figure, but also to maintain my cardiovascular fitness and sugar level.
One grandmother of mine suffered several heart attacks. She became really weak and fragile after each episode. It was sad to see her going through this every time. This is the long term effect of her fond of eating fatty food, including the crunchy yummy skin part of fried chicken.
Another grandfather broke his leg when his bike crashed with a car. He passed away soon after that, when his diabetes made his leg injury incapable to fight the entrance of germs and viruses.
One uncle, who seemed to be healthy, fit and strong, passed away because of a heart attack at the clinic after he complained that he had chest and arm pain. The doctor discovered that most parts of his heart filled with cholesterol, until that day it became clogged.
These incidents taught me the importance of taking care of your diet and doing exercise. I continued working out regularly towards my last semesters in the university. I made it a standard agenda in my daily schedule, but sometimes my friends would get annoyed because I chose working out first and then meet them later for dinner.
Some even jokingly said that I wanted to be Mighty Mouse; short height but bulky muscles.
Nowadays it’s difficult to get to the gymnasium. I have changed my routine; now I visit the pool and do a few laps. Every time I finish my exercise, I felt good. At least I have taken care of myself well.
One evening, when I was out at the parking area to play, Auntie commented on me, wearing a green and red singlet.
“Badan adik macam tebu”, she said. Translated, “Your body is like sugar cane.”
Repeated a few times.
From that day on forth, I have this small dream at the corner of my mind; to get a fit and well toned body.
When I was in secondary, some boys were gifted with body tougher than me. But when I looked back at the pictures, well, they were not that tough though. That means, well, you can imagine how lanky I was. If the ‘tough’ boys are normal, then I am skinny.
And then I entered university. That was when I got a bit serious in weight lifting. Following my friends, we went to the gym which was a walking distance away from our hostel. My aim is not only to shape up my physical figure, but also to maintain my cardiovascular fitness and sugar level.
One grandmother of mine suffered several heart attacks. She became really weak and fragile after each episode. It was sad to see her going through this every time. This is the long term effect of her fond of eating fatty food, including the crunchy yummy skin part of fried chicken.
Another grandfather broke his leg when his bike crashed with a car. He passed away soon after that, when his diabetes made his leg injury incapable to fight the entrance of germs and viruses.
One uncle, who seemed to be healthy, fit and strong, passed away because of a heart attack at the clinic after he complained that he had chest and arm pain. The doctor discovered that most parts of his heart filled with cholesterol, until that day it became clogged.
These incidents taught me the importance of taking care of your diet and doing exercise. I continued working out regularly towards my last semesters in the university. I made it a standard agenda in my daily schedule, but sometimes my friends would get annoyed because I chose working out first and then meet them later for dinner.
Some even jokingly said that I wanted to be Mighty Mouse; short height but bulky muscles.
Nowadays it’s difficult to get to the gymnasium. I have changed my routine; now I visit the pool and do a few laps. Every time I finish my exercise, I felt good. At least I have taken care of myself well.
crappy award ceremony again
Last weekend I stayed at home and watched the 2006 Anugerah Era. This year’s theme, according to my observation, is about fashion. Literally fashion, because they even have a catwalk ring that extended from the stage towards a part of the audience who attended the event.
A few catwalk sessions were done between a few sets of award announcements, and these fashion collections were created by unknown amateurs. And all the clothes being shown were horrendous.
For example, one collection by this designer is about the colors red, blue and white. Maybe the whole skirt is red, and the sleeves are white and the whole center top is blue.
Another one, so-called inspired by the designs of Dior, were all golden but the cutting and the shine of the whole collection looks so cheap and faux.
Enough of the fashion already.
All the awards given in this ceremony are based on the number of votes by the listeners of the radio station. So as what we have expected; the number-one-singer-without-quality managed to grab seven awards.
And the funny part is that his video clip won the best video clip award. So as long as you can get the most votes, you can still win regardless that your video is like a cheap raya at the kampong scene with people stirring the dodol and such. Gosh! I and my friend (who always bitch about TV awards) were speechless when this video clip won the award. It doesn't even deserve to be nominated at all!
On the next day, I watched this repeat of Ning Baizura, at Studio 1. It’s a small show where the singer can get closer to her fans. True as what people said about her, she can actually perform excellently in small closed events. She was superb, even though the hair was a bit messy and out.
Anyway, she really needs to build up her confidence in big shows like Anugerah Era. I have watched her performing in this small Dior function in KLCC. It was amazing.
Oh, if you guys are a fan of Ning, Yanie and Nikki, here is a link which might catch your interest.
http://mrmanager.blogspot.com/
A few catwalk sessions were done between a few sets of award announcements, and these fashion collections were created by unknown amateurs. And all the clothes being shown were horrendous.
For example, one collection by this designer is about the colors red, blue and white. Maybe the whole skirt is red, and the sleeves are white and the whole center top is blue.
Another one, so-called inspired by the designs of Dior, were all golden but the cutting and the shine of the whole collection looks so cheap and faux.
Enough of the fashion already.
All the awards given in this ceremony are based on the number of votes by the listeners of the radio station. So as what we have expected; the number-one-singer-without-quality managed to grab seven awards.
And the funny part is that his video clip won the best video clip award. So as long as you can get the most votes, you can still win regardless that your video is like a cheap raya at the kampong scene with people stirring the dodol and such. Gosh! I and my friend (who always bitch about TV awards) were speechless when this video clip won the award. It doesn't even deserve to be nominated at all!
On the next day, I watched this repeat of Ning Baizura, at Studio 1. It’s a small show where the singer can get closer to her fans. True as what people said about her, she can actually perform excellently in small closed events. She was superb, even though the hair was a bit messy and out.
Anyway, she really needs to build up her confidence in big shows like Anugerah Era. I have watched her performing in this small Dior function in KLCC. It was amazing.
Oh, if you guys are a fan of Ning, Yanie and Nikki, here is a link which might catch your interest.
http://mrmanager.blogspot.com/
the time has come
Goodbye, we have been together since I was 12. When I was in secondary, you went away unknown. You were replaced, but that replacement went away too. I admit that it’s my fault of not taking care of you and your replacement carefully, until both of you went away, ‘kidnapped’ by other people. And after a year, someone sent you back to me when they found you.
But now we have to be departed for good. Goodbye. I have to follow what the society wants. They say that you are no good for me anymore.
But I still care for you, because you were always there since I was still a small boy. But now I have to continue my life, regardless that you are not there.
Now I will have to live up with your second replacement, and I hope that this new replacement will be with me always.
So long.
Goodbye, my first standard six IC. Hello MyKad.
p/s: I don’t like you know. My photo in MyKad VERY UGLY.
those who experienced it first hand
These are the postings of three people; who went through it all.
For those who are already in oversea and live comfortably. There is no reason for you to come back to Malaysia. Life in Malaysia is getting tougher each day.
Frankly, as a Chinese, I don't see there is any future for our next generation.
Another dangerous mentor that people always use is JFK "Don't ask what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country."
Is sound nice, but isn't how German Nazi and Japan militarism started the world war using the same mentor? Under the great "ask what you can do for the country."
Patriotism? Yes, I understand how you feel. Your love for the country was spoilt by the political party. Since non-malays will always be a second-class citizen, so you are probably the same in any other countries, if not better.
You get cannibalised by your own countrymen, intellectually and professionally.
As someone else advised, be a global citizen.
Patriotism does not need you to be in Malaysia to work your due. Let no one pointed at you and say you are a traitor if your true intention is to generate good deeds for Malaysia wherever you are.
Save your time about coming back to Malaysia. Nothing will change in Malaysia. At least not even in this lifetime. Racism will still be here to stay, and also everything else.
I think there is such an entrenched discrimination against the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia, that it will take probably a whole generation to undo the damage.
This is happening in whole spectrum of the Malaysian government, civil service, state governments and universities. Just look at percentage of malays in all these government bodies - 98%..........
A whole generation of malays has been brought up to think that it is their inherited right to own Malaysia. The other races are damned.
I think the malays especially those in power, are scared right now that if they will to compete openly with other races, they will surely be the loser. You will see very strong resistance to hire other races even the most qualified.
The malays are never brought up to compete on even ground. This is fault of previous PM and now the present PM has to tread a balance ground to ensure the malays are not cast away as well as to make Malaysia competitive worldwide.
In US I never met a malay immigrant, although there are thousands of Malaysian Chinese and Indian immigrants. Why? Malays in Malaysia have an easier life where they are literately prince of the land.
We have infrastructure good enough to be considered first world or better. Look at the Cyberjaya, Petronas Twin Towers, Putrajaya?
Gleaming high-rise buildings but also in every city, dirty toilets abound, litter clogging up the drains, public telephones damaged, plus unreliable rubbish collection and disposal. We just treat public facilities badly, not caring about others.
Being an urban dweller myself, I am constantly disheartened by the poor public infrastructure and upkeep in our capital city.
Faulty pedestrian traffic signals, illogical positioning of bus stops, poor public cleanliness, poor quality sidewalks (which are paved using slippery tiles), un-integrated and poorly managed public transportation system, the list goes on.
Your children can't even walk safely along the Kuala Lumpur streets, as they might be bags snatched, kidnapped, murdered, raped, or robbed, as they do not know the jungle laws of Malaysia. The police won't help much as they now have a big pile of corruption cases running after them.
You owe nothing to Malaysia, you pay your due, so live on.
So, my last advice. Don't come back unless you are really suffering in oversea.
I am sorry this sounds very racist but I think we have to be honest in discussion.
I am a female Chinese Malaysian, living in the Washington DC area in the United States. I have read many of the letters that often talk about foreign countries when the writers have no real knowledge of actually living in those countries.
Many draw conclusions about what those countries are like after hearing it from someone else or by reading and hearing about them in the media or after four years in a college town in those countries.
I finished STPM with outstanding results from the prestigious St George's Girls School in Penang. Did I get a university place from the Malaysian government? Nothing. With near perfect scores, I had nothing, while my bumi friends were getting offers to go overseas.
Even those with 2As got into university. I was so depressed. I was my parents' last hope for getting the family out of poverty and at 18, I thought I had failed my parents. Today, I understand it was the Malaysian government that had failed me and my family because of its discriminatory policies.
Fortunately, I did not give up and immediately did research at the Malaysian American Commission on Education Exchange (MACEE) to find a university in the US that would accept me and provide all the finances. My family and friends thought I was crazy, being the youngest of nine children of a very poor carpenter. Anything that required a fee was out of our reach.
Based on merit and my extracurricular activities of community service in secondary school, I received full tuition scholarship, work study, and grants to cover the four years at a highly competitive US university.
Often, I took 21 credits each semester, 15 credits each term while working 20 hours each week and maintaining a 3.5 CGPA. A couple of semesters, I also received division scholarships and worked as a TA (teaching assistant) on top of everything else.
For the work study, I worked as a custodian (yes, cleaning toilets), computer lab assistant, carpet layer, grounds keeping, librarian, painter, tour guide, etc. If you understand the US credit system, you will understand this is a heavy load.
Why did I do it? This is because I learnt as a young child from my parents that hard work is an opportunity, to give my best in everything, and to take pride in the work I do. I walked away with a double major and a minor with honours but most of all a great lesson in humility and a great respect for those who are forced to labour in so-called 'blue collar' positions.
Those of you who think you know all about Australia, US, or the West, think again. Unless you have really lived in these countries, i.e. paid taxes, paid a mortgage, taken part in elections, you do not understand the level of commitment and hard work it takes to be successful in these countries, not just for immigrants but for people who have lived here for generations.
These people are where they are today because of hard work. (Of course, I am not saying everyone in the US is hardworking. There is always the lazy lot which lives off of someone else's hard work. Fortunately, they are the minority.)
Every single person, anywhere, should have the opportunity to succeed if they want to put in the effort and be accountable for their own actions. In the end, they should be able to reap what they sow.
It is bearable that opportunities are limited depending on how well-off financially one's family is but when higher education opportunities are race-based, like it is in Malaysia; it is downright cruel for those who see education as the only way out of poverty.
If you want to say discrimination is here in the US, yes, of course it is. Can you name a country where it doesn't happen? But let me tell you one thing - if you go looking for it, you will find it. But in Malaysia, you don't have to go look for it because it seeks you out, slaps you in your face every which way you turn, and is sanctioned by law!
Here in the US, my children have the same opportunity to go to school and learn just like their black, white, and immigrant friends. At school, they eat the same food, play the same games, are taught the same classes and when they are 18, they will still have the same opportunities.
Why would I want to bring my children back to Malaysia? So they can suffer the state-sanctioned discrimination as the non-bumis have for over 30 years?
As for being a slave in the foreign country, I am a happy 'slave' earning a good income as an IT project manager. I work five days a week; can talk bad about the president when I want to; argue about politics, race and religion openly; gather with more than 50 friends and family when I want (no permit needed) and I don't worry about the police pulling me over because they say I ran the light when I didn't.
How about you.............?
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Well, here is one for you if you think that economic ground is the only reason for many to emigrate.
I will be leaving this country within the next one year.
If you must know, currently I am earning a five figure salary, living in a luxury condo in the heart of KL, own another landed property in Bangsar and have two kids who are three and five respectively. I also have a maid, who for a mere RM400 a month, helps my wife to look after the home and kids.
Yes, I will be emigrating to the land of the white-man soon. And guess what, I don't even have a job to go to yet in this white-man's land. But you know something? It doesn't matter to me as I know that with my skills, I can get a job there if I look in the right places.
They do not ask me if I am Muslim or a bumiputera before giving me a job. All they look at is my CV which speaks for itself. And I don't need to be connected to a 'Dato'.
I wouldn't even mind taking up a lower level job as long as I can look after my family and at the same time give my kids the option of a better and fairer future. There is no guarantee that my kids will become doctors or scientists. But merely knowing that they have a fair option is more then enough for my family to decide to take this giant step to uproot.
My lifestyle in this white-man's land will definitely be different. But just as I had strived for 10 years in Malaysia to create my wealth from nothing at all, what is there to stop me from doing it all over again? In fact with the same effort, I should be much better off.
To put it bluntly, I am prepared to take the risk of emigration at the age of 38 with my family 'on tow'. The question arises - why should a person in my capacity want to leave when I have all that a person can wish for?
One should stop looking with malice at people like me who make a choice to emigrate for the betterment of our family's future. He might want to do a proper study on how much Malaysia stands to lose from skilled people leaving this country simply because they have had enough of it.
Please crawl out of your tempurung and look around at the amount of money that is being wasted in this country to make the well-connected bumis rich. They have nothing to complain about as the government is prepared to give you anything even when in many cases you might not deserve it.
If you want to talk about fairness, then look at the titles that have been given to bumis who had not done much at all. The round-the-world sailor who had to be assisted by the Royal Malaysian Air Force with an expenditure of about a million ringgit and the swimmer whose feat is not accredited by organisations monitoring English Channel crossings.
What about the first Malaysians to make it up Mount Everest, where are their 'Dato' titles? Perhaps a title for the medical student who recently crossed the English channel in almost half the time of the former 'hero'?
I know of bumi students in University Malaya. I know them well. You see, I didn't get the chance to do a proper science course locally and had to struggle to fund my overseas education by begging and borrowing.
You might also want to find out the real reason why the 128 students were not given medical seats in local universities even though they had very high scores. Are you saying that these students are inferior to the matriculation students?
Do you know the pains of studying in order to score excellent results in the STPM?
Please, feel free to furnish me facts so that poor souls like me would be convinced that the policies of this country are just and fair.
If you have ever heard of the simple saying, "Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime," you will realise that many non-bumis have learned how to fish but the government is still handing out fishes to the bumis.
One day the fish will run out.
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We made a decision to emigrate to Australia 15 years ago deserting my high fly corporate position with our three children.
If history could turn back, we would still do the same.
It is a joke when our three children are fully qualified in their respective professions, then our Malaysia leaders only realize that "Actually English is very important in this era of globalization, let us go back to English again in our primary school for science and mathematics subjects."
It is fortunate that we had our own thinking and were able to jump out from this "black box" of trial and error type of management in practically every aspect of the government administration machinery. As a result, our children do not waste their precious years.
Our children enjoy the experience of equal opportunity not only in education but also in employment. That has a very strong impact in character development because then they believe in themselves, i.e. their own ability and equal opportunity available for personal development to the fullest extent.
And they could fight for their own rights too simply because the environment encourages them to do so, i.e. freedom to think, and freedom to express. They enjoy their work in their respective professions and they have both close Asian and Australian friends.
The Australian authority treats the problem of racial discrimination very seriously and takes action very fast. I still remember those days when my youngest son was teased by certain racial remarks by his schoolmate. My wife reported the case to the school authority and after a proper investigation, the Aussie kid was made to make a public apology to my son and was suspended a week from school attendance.
Australia herself is a country of migrants from all over the world, the Britishs, the Italians and other Europeans also never give up their citizenships although they may stay for over many many years. If they tell you to go back to China, you have equal right to tell them to go back to whatever country they come from. "Fight for your right" is the spirit.
What we are concerned is actually the management of the country. There is enough wealth to be distributed among all the people who can theoretically enjoy better education, better life and medical facility. But poor management and the evil "corruption" have eroded away what the people deserve. If people demand a change, "racialism" is always a powerful tool to protect the regime.
The Australian government extinguishes any little spark that concerns racial issue. There are strict laws and they are very good in enforcement. The two party systems ensure no one monopolizes the government. If the government is not good, people will vote it out for sure.
It is a land of plenty, and of equal opportunity for everyone. One will make his way if he is prepared to seize the opportunity and work hard for it. No one believes in "God" will give, and most believes the creation and reward from their own hands and intelligence.
Though we pay high taxes, the future is more or less ensured as in case we are sick or in difficulty, we have all the assistance from the authority. It is the right for every kid in Australia to have the opportunity to finish his tertiary education if he could make an attempt and possible financial assistance is always there.
Australia's economy is very robust now and most graduates and school leavers are doing very well. My three kids who are qualified as professionals at a very young age are doing very well. They would not have achieved that type of level if we were to remain in our country of birth. Thank God!
We face less racial discrimination in university and workplace in Australia than in our country of birth.
The ironical fact is that we are being treated more a first class citizen in our host country than in our own country.
Human rights, good administration, equal opportunity and transparency convince us that it is no point wasting our precious time in our own country.
If you really miss our own country, earn and save more money in the host country and join the shiver hair program later on. If you have the money, any country will welcome you for sure.
In general, it is an educated society. People talk not shout, and people reason not accuse and more over it is a much cleaner and more beautiful place to live. I am pleased with my decision and have no regrets at all.
For those who are already in oversea and live comfortably. There is no reason for you to come back to Malaysia. Life in Malaysia is getting tougher each day.
Frankly, as a Chinese, I don't see there is any future for our next generation.
Another dangerous mentor that people always use is JFK "Don't ask what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country."
Is sound nice, but isn't how German Nazi and Japan militarism started the world war using the same mentor? Under the great "ask what you can do for the country."
Patriotism? Yes, I understand how you feel. Your love for the country was spoilt by the political party. Since non-malays will always be a second-class citizen, so you are probably the same in any other countries, if not better.
You get cannibalised by your own countrymen, intellectually and professionally.
As someone else advised, be a global citizen.
Patriotism does not need you to be in Malaysia to work your due. Let no one pointed at you and say you are a traitor if your true intention is to generate good deeds for Malaysia wherever you are.
Save your time about coming back to Malaysia. Nothing will change in Malaysia. At least not even in this lifetime. Racism will still be here to stay, and also everything else.
I think there is such an entrenched discrimination against the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia, that it will take probably a whole generation to undo the damage.
This is happening in whole spectrum of the Malaysian government, civil service, state governments and universities. Just look at percentage of malays in all these government bodies - 98%..........
A whole generation of malays has been brought up to think that it is their inherited right to own Malaysia. The other races are damned.
I think the malays especially those in power, are scared right now that if they will to compete openly with other races, they will surely be the loser. You will see very strong resistance to hire other races even the most qualified.
The malays are never brought up to compete on even ground. This is fault of previous PM and now the present PM has to tread a balance ground to ensure the malays are not cast away as well as to make Malaysia competitive worldwide.
In US I never met a malay immigrant, although there are thousands of Malaysian Chinese and Indian immigrants. Why? Malays in Malaysia have an easier life where they are literately prince of the land.
We have infrastructure good enough to be considered first world or better. Look at the Cyberjaya, Petronas Twin Towers, Putrajaya?
Gleaming high-rise buildings but also in every city, dirty toilets abound, litter clogging up the drains, public telephones damaged, plus unreliable rubbish collection and disposal. We just treat public facilities badly, not caring about others.
Being an urban dweller myself, I am constantly disheartened by the poor public infrastructure and upkeep in our capital city.
Faulty pedestrian traffic signals, illogical positioning of bus stops, poor public cleanliness, poor quality sidewalks (which are paved using slippery tiles), un-integrated and poorly managed public transportation system, the list goes on.
Your children can't even walk safely along the Kuala Lumpur streets, as they might be bags snatched, kidnapped, murdered, raped, or robbed, as they do not know the jungle laws of Malaysia. The police won't help much as they now have a big pile of corruption cases running after them.
You owe nothing to Malaysia, you pay your due, so live on.
So, my last advice. Don't come back unless you are really suffering in oversea.
I am sorry this sounds very racist but I think we have to be honest in discussion.
I am a female Chinese Malaysian, living in the Washington DC area in the United States. I have read many of the letters that often talk about foreign countries when the writers have no real knowledge of actually living in those countries.
Many draw conclusions about what those countries are like after hearing it from someone else or by reading and hearing about them in the media or after four years in a college town in those countries.
I finished STPM with outstanding results from the prestigious St George's Girls School in Penang. Did I get a university place from the Malaysian government? Nothing. With near perfect scores, I had nothing, while my bumi friends were getting offers to go overseas.
Even those with 2As got into university. I was so depressed. I was my parents' last hope for getting the family out of poverty and at 18, I thought I had failed my parents. Today, I understand it was the Malaysian government that had failed me and my family because of its discriminatory policies.
Fortunately, I did not give up and immediately did research at the Malaysian American Commission on Education Exchange (MACEE) to find a university in the US that would accept me and provide all the finances. My family and friends thought I was crazy, being the youngest of nine children of a very poor carpenter. Anything that required a fee was out of our reach.
Based on merit and my extracurricular activities of community service in secondary school, I received full tuition scholarship, work study, and grants to cover the four years at a highly competitive US university.
Often, I took 21 credits each semester, 15 credits each term while working 20 hours each week and maintaining a 3.5 CGPA. A couple of semesters, I also received division scholarships and worked as a TA (teaching assistant) on top of everything else.
For the work study, I worked as a custodian (yes, cleaning toilets), computer lab assistant, carpet layer, grounds keeping, librarian, painter, tour guide, etc. If you understand the US credit system, you will understand this is a heavy load.
Why did I do it? This is because I learnt as a young child from my parents that hard work is an opportunity, to give my best in everything, and to take pride in the work I do. I walked away with a double major and a minor with honours but most of all a great lesson in humility and a great respect for those who are forced to labour in so-called 'blue collar' positions.
Those of you who think you know all about Australia, US, or the West, think again. Unless you have really lived in these countries, i.e. paid taxes, paid a mortgage, taken part in elections, you do not understand the level of commitment and hard work it takes to be successful in these countries, not just for immigrants but for people who have lived here for generations.
These people are where they are today because of hard work. (Of course, I am not saying everyone in the US is hardworking. There is always the lazy lot which lives off of someone else's hard work. Fortunately, they are the minority.)
Every single person, anywhere, should have the opportunity to succeed if they want to put in the effort and be accountable for their own actions. In the end, they should be able to reap what they sow.
It is bearable that opportunities are limited depending on how well-off financially one's family is but when higher education opportunities are race-based, like it is in Malaysia; it is downright cruel for those who see education as the only way out of poverty.
If you want to say discrimination is here in the US, yes, of course it is. Can you name a country where it doesn't happen? But let me tell you one thing - if you go looking for it, you will find it. But in Malaysia, you don't have to go look for it because it seeks you out, slaps you in your face every which way you turn, and is sanctioned by law!
Here in the US, my children have the same opportunity to go to school and learn just like their black, white, and immigrant friends. At school, they eat the same food, play the same games, are taught the same classes and when they are 18, they will still have the same opportunities.
Why would I want to bring my children back to Malaysia? So they can suffer the state-sanctioned discrimination as the non-bumis have for over 30 years?
As for being a slave in the foreign country, I am a happy 'slave' earning a good income as an IT project manager. I work five days a week; can talk bad about the president when I want to; argue about politics, race and religion openly; gather with more than 50 friends and family when I want (no permit needed) and I don't worry about the police pulling me over because they say I ran the light when I didn't.
How about you.............?
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Well, here is one for you if you think that economic ground is the only reason for many to emigrate.
I will be leaving this country within the next one year.
If you must know, currently I am earning a five figure salary, living in a luxury condo in the heart of KL, own another landed property in Bangsar and have two kids who are three and five respectively. I also have a maid, who for a mere RM400 a month, helps my wife to look after the home and kids.
Yes, I will be emigrating to the land of the white-man soon. And guess what, I don't even have a job to go to yet in this white-man's land. But you know something? It doesn't matter to me as I know that with my skills, I can get a job there if I look in the right places.
They do not ask me if I am Muslim or a bumiputera before giving me a job. All they look at is my CV which speaks for itself. And I don't need to be connected to a 'Dato'.
I wouldn't even mind taking up a lower level job as long as I can look after my family and at the same time give my kids the option of a better and fairer future. There is no guarantee that my kids will become doctors or scientists. But merely knowing that they have a fair option is more then enough for my family to decide to take this giant step to uproot.
My lifestyle in this white-man's land will definitely be different. But just as I had strived for 10 years in Malaysia to create my wealth from nothing at all, what is there to stop me from doing it all over again? In fact with the same effort, I should be much better off.
To put it bluntly, I am prepared to take the risk of emigration at the age of 38 with my family 'on tow'. The question arises - why should a person in my capacity want to leave when I have all that a person can wish for?
One should stop looking with malice at people like me who make a choice to emigrate for the betterment of our family's future. He might want to do a proper study on how much Malaysia stands to lose from skilled people leaving this country simply because they have had enough of it.
Please crawl out of your tempurung and look around at the amount of money that is being wasted in this country to make the well-connected bumis rich. They have nothing to complain about as the government is prepared to give you anything even when in many cases you might not deserve it.
If you want to talk about fairness, then look at the titles that have been given to bumis who had not done much at all. The round-the-world sailor who had to be assisted by the Royal Malaysian Air Force with an expenditure of about a million ringgit and the swimmer whose feat is not accredited by organisations monitoring English Channel crossings.
What about the first Malaysians to make it up Mount Everest, where are their 'Dato' titles? Perhaps a title for the medical student who recently crossed the English channel in almost half the time of the former 'hero'?
I know of bumi students in University Malaya. I know them well. You see, I didn't get the chance to do a proper science course locally and had to struggle to fund my overseas education by begging and borrowing.
You might also want to find out the real reason why the 128 students were not given medical seats in local universities even though they had very high scores. Are you saying that these students are inferior to the matriculation students?
Do you know the pains of studying in order to score excellent results in the STPM?
Please, feel free to furnish me facts so that poor souls like me would be convinced that the policies of this country are just and fair.
If you have ever heard of the simple saying, "Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime," you will realise that many non-bumis have learned how to fish but the government is still handing out fishes to the bumis.
One day the fish will run out.
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We made a decision to emigrate to Australia 15 years ago deserting my high fly corporate position with our three children.
If history could turn back, we would still do the same.
It is a joke when our three children are fully qualified in their respective professions, then our Malaysia leaders only realize that "Actually English is very important in this era of globalization, let us go back to English again in our primary school for science and mathematics subjects."
It is fortunate that we had our own thinking and were able to jump out from this "black box" of trial and error type of management in practically every aspect of the government administration machinery. As a result, our children do not waste their precious years.
Our children enjoy the experience of equal opportunity not only in education but also in employment. That has a very strong impact in character development because then they believe in themselves, i.e. their own ability and equal opportunity available for personal development to the fullest extent.
And they could fight for their own rights too simply because the environment encourages them to do so, i.e. freedom to think, and freedom to express. They enjoy their work in their respective professions and they have both close Asian and Australian friends.
The Australian authority treats the problem of racial discrimination very seriously and takes action very fast. I still remember those days when my youngest son was teased by certain racial remarks by his schoolmate. My wife reported the case to the school authority and after a proper investigation, the Aussie kid was made to make a public apology to my son and was suspended a week from school attendance.
Australia herself is a country of migrants from all over the world, the Britishs, the Italians and other Europeans also never give up their citizenships although they may stay for over many many years. If they tell you to go back to China, you have equal right to tell them to go back to whatever country they come from. "Fight for your right" is the spirit.
What we are concerned is actually the management of the country. There is enough wealth to be distributed among all the people who can theoretically enjoy better education, better life and medical facility. But poor management and the evil "corruption" have eroded away what the people deserve. If people demand a change, "racialism" is always a powerful tool to protect the regime.
The Australian government extinguishes any little spark that concerns racial issue. There are strict laws and they are very good in enforcement. The two party systems ensure no one monopolizes the government. If the government is not good, people will vote it out for sure.
It is a land of plenty, and of equal opportunity for everyone. One will make his way if he is prepared to seize the opportunity and work hard for it. No one believes in "God" will give, and most believes the creation and reward from their own hands and intelligence.
Though we pay high taxes, the future is more or less ensured as in case we are sick or in difficulty, we have all the assistance from the authority. It is the right for every kid in Australia to have the opportunity to finish his tertiary education if he could make an attempt and possible financial assistance is always there.
Australia's economy is very robust now and most graduates and school leavers are doing very well. My three kids who are qualified as professionals at a very young age are doing very well. They would not have achieved that type of level if we were to remain in our country of birth. Thank God!
We face less racial discrimination in university and workplace in Australia than in our country of birth.
The ironical fact is that we are being treated more a first class citizen in our host country than in our own country.
Human rights, good administration, equal opportunity and transparency convince us that it is no point wasting our precious time in our own country.
If you really miss our own country, earn and save more money in the host country and join the shiver hair program later on. If you have the money, any country will welcome you for sure.
In general, it is an educated society. People talk not shout, and people reason not accuse and more over it is a much cleaner and more beautiful place to live. I am pleased with my decision and have no regrets at all.
the meeting
I went to a meeting. Yes.
I was sitting in front of my desk and suddenly the executives here called me and dragged me along to a meeting room at the next block. The only few formal meetings that I remembered getting involved are the one that I had to meet the orchestra manager, conductor and tutors in the Cultural Center meeting room, and also the AGM for the school band when I was a senior.
With one tiny note book I borrowed from a friend, I entered the meeting room, not having any slightest idea of what is the meeting is all about.
After paying attention, roughly I could see that this meeting is between two parties; between the IT staff at my company and the IT staff from one bank.
What’s the purpose of this meeting? The bank is actually paying us to do the credit card ‘manufacturing’ so that they will have less work. In order to do this, all data about these cards will be wired to our company’s server through an internal network. What they discussed was to make sure that we are capable to do the work perfectly, according to their expectation, either the cards, or the network that we are going to build.
The meeting was like a battle between the genders. On our side, most of us are guys and on their side, they are ladies.
So the ladies went on attacking us with questions.
“How can you assure us the network won’t be entered by outsiders when you do not have any intrusion detection software?”
“You better make sure that your volt is safe and be prepared to keep our cards; before we agree to pass this task to you.”
Talking to their own staff; “You better get it clear with them. After we already outsource the job to them, if anything goes wrong, it’s our reputation that will be affected.”
These power ladies were really stern. And on our side, the guys are soft spoken and they all explained everything in a very, very nice way.
Such an experience. I nearly laughed when I see them debating among each other.
I was sitting in front of my desk and suddenly the executives here called me and dragged me along to a meeting room at the next block. The only few formal meetings that I remembered getting involved are the one that I had to meet the orchestra manager, conductor and tutors in the Cultural Center meeting room, and also the AGM for the school band when I was a senior.
With one tiny note book I borrowed from a friend, I entered the meeting room, not having any slightest idea of what is the meeting is all about.
After paying attention, roughly I could see that this meeting is between two parties; between the IT staff at my company and the IT staff from one bank.
What’s the purpose of this meeting? The bank is actually paying us to do the credit card ‘manufacturing’ so that they will have less work. In order to do this, all data about these cards will be wired to our company’s server through an internal network. What they discussed was to make sure that we are capable to do the work perfectly, according to their expectation, either the cards, or the network that we are going to build.
The meeting was like a battle between the genders. On our side, most of us are guys and on their side, they are ladies.
So the ladies went on attacking us with questions.
“How can you assure us the network won’t be entered by outsiders when you do not have any intrusion detection software?”
“You better make sure that your volt is safe and be prepared to keep our cards; before we agree to pass this task to you.”
Talking to their own staff; “You better get it clear with them. After we already outsource the job to them, if anything goes wrong, it’s our reputation that will be affected.”
These power ladies were really stern. And on our side, the guys are soft spoken and they all explained everything in a very, very nice way.
Such an experience. I nearly laughed when I see them debating among each other.
the louis vuitton kuala lumpur
I frequently use the road in front of the StarHill Kuala Lumpur when I am going towards the public pool in KL. Finally the wooden boards for construction were already removed, and there, standing huge and proud, is the huge classy front entrance of Kuala Lumpur’s Louis Vuitton boutique.
This branch was launched recently and my number one singer attended the event. I can’t help but being proud.
this is well said
I read this entry posted by someone on his blog.
Happy Independence Day
As we celebrate our 49th independence day, let us take a moment to reflect on what we've achieved, and where we are going. Although we've certainly achieved a lot in the last half century, we Malaysians cannot take things for granted. We need to realize that Malaysia owes its success to all its citizens; no one race is is more important than the other.However, if we search the deepest parts of our soul, many would admit to thinking otherwise. I suspect many harbour feelings of envy, competition or resentment, to be exposed occasionally when hotheaded political leaders speak before thinking. For how many of us truly consider ourselves to belong to the Bangsa Malaysia? Instead, as noted on our drivers license, or IC, or even school report cards, we are either Bangsa Cina, Melayu, India or others. Political parties, schools, universities, even some medical centers (Pusat Rawatan Islams, Chinese Maternity Hospitals, etc) are racially divided. It's all a sore reminder that we're different, and that our practices promote disintegration.
As my American colleagues quite accurately put it, we practice controlled racism. Where skin colour matters in issues of politics, education, economics and every integral part of our nation's machinery. From buying a home, to even reporting a burglary. When political groups are divided by race, looking after one's race becomes an interest even before that of the nation as a whole.Some argue that affirmative action (aka 'special rights') is still needed to safeguard the rights of certain races. However, we need to take a step back and ask ourselves, if affirmative action over 50 years of independence and 2 generations still has one race lagging behind others; is this truly something of benefit, or is this merely a crutch for people to walk with? For, if the latter is the case, one may become so dependent on the crutch that one is unable to ambulate without it.
The concept is simple. Protectionism, whether we apply it to race, or the car industry (take Proton for example), or education (pseudomeritocracy via the matriculation courses), in the long run does more harm than good. It decreases competition, efficiency, productivity; promotes laziness, inflation, corruption and abuse of power. It weakens a group, and makes it so comfortable that it strives less. As Charles Darwin put it, it's all about survival of the fittest. If you artifically promote the weak and not teach it to be strong, that species never betters itself, and outside of its protected bubble that species will never thrive. Recently, a leader reprimanded a group for relying too much on handouts. In the same papers, some groups were accusing a state leader for marginalising and not giving enough to a race. No one wants to admit; if you're gonna keep handing out candy for free, why should I work for it?
"I don't care if your company does better work. All I'm interested in is helping my people, even if it costs more. If your company wants this contract, sell away your shares."
To think that this blatantly racist comment was said at an official business meeting of a certain industry. Such is a consequence of protectionism and segregation. And our PM is wondering why our projects are delayed or incomplete, cost so much or are of poor quality.
Even young people these days have this overpowering sense of entitlement, being born with a silver spoon. Even though they were born in the same country, on the same soil, to the same citizens, in the same hospital, as I. My blood boils when I recall that Malaysian Studies class in college (something private colleges have to do these days); the teacher had a humorous way of poking fun at the subtleties of the Chinese, Malays and Indians. Until this one chap who got offended stood up and shouted at the 'Cinapeks' that we should consider ourselves "damn lucky that they let us stay here." Like my grandpa swam over from China illegally. How does that make me feel? Like a 2nd class citizen in my own country.
We talk big about 'towering' over others, or being 'glocal' (a word some politician coined, of being global yet local), but yet Malaysia is never seen as a serious competitor in the international world of research, medicine, education and the arts. Looking south towards our neighbour who is a younger nation than we, we wonder why we lag behind so much when we should be the older sibling, showing them the way. We wonder why most foreigners have heard of Singapore, but not of Malaysia. Why is it surprising? When we can't compete within our country without bias, how can we compete internationally? Thus we come up with fancy slogans and words to convince ourselves everything is fine and dandy.
Don't get me wrong; I love my country, its people and cultures. I miss it dearly, and for this reason I wish to see things improve. Being patriotic sometimes doesn't mean singing the anthem louder, or faster, or forcing people to hang flags on their homes. It isn't shutting up and accepting things as they are, for if we do not admit our faults, we can never improve on them. Sometimes the patriot is the one who truly puts the welfare of his nation above those of his personal biases and agenda. I'd like to see more patriotic leaders like that. Perhaps it is time for us to face reality, and to be up to the challenge.
Happy Merdeka Day, my fellow Malaysians.
http://doctorslife.blogspot.com/
Happy Independence Day
As we celebrate our 49th independence day, let us take a moment to reflect on what we've achieved, and where we are going. Although we've certainly achieved a lot in the last half century, we Malaysians cannot take things for granted. We need to realize that Malaysia owes its success to all its citizens; no one race is is more important than the other.However, if we search the deepest parts of our soul, many would admit to thinking otherwise. I suspect many harbour feelings of envy, competition or resentment, to be exposed occasionally when hotheaded political leaders speak before thinking. For how many of us truly consider ourselves to belong to the Bangsa Malaysia? Instead, as noted on our drivers license, or IC, or even school report cards, we are either Bangsa Cina, Melayu, India or others. Political parties, schools, universities, even some medical centers (Pusat Rawatan Islams, Chinese Maternity Hospitals, etc) are racially divided. It's all a sore reminder that we're different, and that our practices promote disintegration.
As my American colleagues quite accurately put it, we practice controlled racism. Where skin colour matters in issues of politics, education, economics and every integral part of our nation's machinery. From buying a home, to even reporting a burglary. When political groups are divided by race, looking after one's race becomes an interest even before that of the nation as a whole.Some argue that affirmative action (aka 'special rights') is still needed to safeguard the rights of certain races. However, we need to take a step back and ask ourselves, if affirmative action over 50 years of independence and 2 generations still has one race lagging behind others; is this truly something of benefit, or is this merely a crutch for people to walk with? For, if the latter is the case, one may become so dependent on the crutch that one is unable to ambulate without it.
The concept is simple. Protectionism, whether we apply it to race, or the car industry (take Proton for example), or education (pseudomeritocracy via the matriculation courses), in the long run does more harm than good. It decreases competition, efficiency, productivity; promotes laziness, inflation, corruption and abuse of power. It weakens a group, and makes it so comfortable that it strives less. As Charles Darwin put it, it's all about survival of the fittest. If you artifically promote the weak and not teach it to be strong, that species never betters itself, and outside of its protected bubble that species will never thrive. Recently, a leader reprimanded a group for relying too much on handouts. In the same papers, some groups were accusing a state leader for marginalising and not giving enough to a race. No one wants to admit; if you're gonna keep handing out candy for free, why should I work for it?
"I don't care if your company does better work. All I'm interested in is helping my people, even if it costs more. If your company wants this contract, sell away your shares."
To think that this blatantly racist comment was said at an official business meeting of a certain industry. Such is a consequence of protectionism and segregation. And our PM is wondering why our projects are delayed or incomplete, cost so much or are of poor quality.
Even young people these days have this overpowering sense of entitlement, being born with a silver spoon. Even though they were born in the same country, on the same soil, to the same citizens, in the same hospital, as I. My blood boils when I recall that Malaysian Studies class in college (something private colleges have to do these days); the teacher had a humorous way of poking fun at the subtleties of the Chinese, Malays and Indians. Until this one chap who got offended stood up and shouted at the 'Cinapeks' that we should consider ourselves "damn lucky that they let us stay here." Like my grandpa swam over from China illegally. How does that make me feel? Like a 2nd class citizen in my own country.
We talk big about 'towering' over others, or being 'glocal' (a word some politician coined, of being global yet local), but yet Malaysia is never seen as a serious competitor in the international world of research, medicine, education and the arts. Looking south towards our neighbour who is a younger nation than we, we wonder why we lag behind so much when we should be the older sibling, showing them the way. We wonder why most foreigners have heard of Singapore, but not of Malaysia. Why is it surprising? When we can't compete within our country without bias, how can we compete internationally? Thus we come up with fancy slogans and words to convince ourselves everything is fine and dandy.
Don't get me wrong; I love my country, its people and cultures. I miss it dearly, and for this reason I wish to see things improve. Being patriotic sometimes doesn't mean singing the anthem louder, or faster, or forcing people to hang flags on their homes. It isn't shutting up and accepting things as they are, for if we do not admit our faults, we can never improve on them. Sometimes the patriot is the one who truly puts the welfare of his nation above those of his personal biases and agenda. I'd like to see more patriotic leaders like that. Perhaps it is time for us to face reality, and to be up to the challenge.
Happy Merdeka Day, my fellow Malaysians.
http://doctorslife.blogspot.com/
facts of the shopping mall
At the Ikea café, I will buy two pieces of curry puff and I will drink two cups of coffee with lots of milk. I will get really dizzy and the world will spin after that. *Groan.. all the nice things have their price*
If I pass by the toys section, I will excuse myself and let my friends go ahead. I will spend my time browsing at the pink boxes, looking at what’s new in the Barbie fashion trend. *Oh dear*
I will spend more time in house interior shops, looking at the cushion covers, window drapes, and unique Balinese or Oriental ornaments. *Gosh what’s with me*
I always love Nike shoes. But all the Nike shoe designs that I like happen to have WMNS printed inside them whenever I pick them. *Darned*
All swimming trunks are boringly black and dark blue. I want to go to Lot 10 Bodyknits again. I have a bright orangey low-cut Bodyknits trunk now *tee hee hee*
My friend accidentally kicked the huge wooden duck in front of a gift shop. *Hahaha*
I really like the bright striped red-and-blue Renoma shirt but it costs a hundred bucks after discount. *Hmph*
I prefer Dome and Starbucks than the rest of the coffee shops, because other coffee shops like the Coffee Bean have really bitter coffee. Oh, I don’t really drink coffee actually but I mentioned about coffee more than twice here. *Weird*
I always go to the pet store and compare my Hoshi with the sickly measly iguanas there. But there was one green fat iguana at Mega Mall, and it really reminded me of Hoshi. *Cute!*
It’s nice to go to the Jusco marketplace and get myself a low-cost sushi set. *Yummy*
It’s even nicer to go to Giant with dad and buy lots and lots and lots of groceries.
I skidded at the Bangsar Mc Donald’s while going up the stairs, and my fries and orange juice flew from my tray, and fell on to the stairs.
I re-bonded my hair a few years ago. *Choi!* And I spent 400 bucks for that. *Double choi!*
I bought my lovely Seiko watch at Sungei Wang. I came really early in the morning, just after dad gave me the money, and waited for the shops to start their business. The earliest shop got me as their first customer.
A group of promoters flocked in front of me and my friend, to advertise their foreign language classes. My friend answered, “Dah ada, dah ada.” *Like talking to the carpet seller like that*
I tried a cheap Tesco brand of cereal, and it tasted like plastic.
Wow, that’s a lot of things to do at the mall. And they sound boring too. I don’t care! I am gonna post this anyway! *Snigger*
If I pass by the toys section, I will excuse myself and let my friends go ahead. I will spend my time browsing at the pink boxes, looking at what’s new in the Barbie fashion trend. *Oh dear*
I will spend more time in house interior shops, looking at the cushion covers, window drapes, and unique Balinese or Oriental ornaments. *Gosh what’s with me*
I always love Nike shoes. But all the Nike shoe designs that I like happen to have WMNS printed inside them whenever I pick them. *Darned*
All swimming trunks are boringly black and dark blue. I want to go to Lot 10 Bodyknits again. I have a bright orangey low-cut Bodyknits trunk now *tee hee hee*
My friend accidentally kicked the huge wooden duck in front of a gift shop. *Hahaha*
I really like the bright striped red-and-blue Renoma shirt but it costs a hundred bucks after discount. *Hmph*
I prefer Dome and Starbucks than the rest of the coffee shops, because other coffee shops like the Coffee Bean have really bitter coffee. Oh, I don’t really drink coffee actually but I mentioned about coffee more than twice here. *Weird*
I always go to the pet store and compare my Hoshi with the sickly measly iguanas there. But there was one green fat iguana at Mega Mall, and it really reminded me of Hoshi. *Cute!*
It’s nice to go to the Jusco marketplace and get myself a low-cost sushi set. *Yummy*
It’s even nicer to go to Giant with dad and buy lots and lots and lots of groceries.
I skidded at the Bangsar Mc Donald’s while going up the stairs, and my fries and orange juice flew from my tray, and fell on to the stairs.
I re-bonded my hair a few years ago. *Choi!* And I spent 400 bucks for that. *Double choi!*
I bought my lovely Seiko watch at Sungei Wang. I came really early in the morning, just after dad gave me the money, and waited for the shops to start their business. The earliest shop got me as their first customer.
A group of promoters flocked in front of me and my friend, to advertise their foreign language classes. My friend answered, “Dah ada, dah ada.” *Like talking to the carpet seller like that*
I tried a cheap Tesco brand of cereal, and it tasted like plastic.
Wow, that’s a lot of things to do at the mall. And they sound boring too. I don’t care! I am gonna post this anyway! *Snigger*
wahlau so perasan
It was quite early when I, private teacher and pakar IT went to Uptown for our dinner.
The chee cheong fun (also known as yong tau fu) stall was full of people, the longest queue that we have ever seen our whole life going to that stall.
I was on budget, can’t afford the bolognaise, or the slightly costly Malay dishes, so I went into the long queue.
There was this girl (that looked exactly like the orchestra-biatch-girl) in front of me, and she suddenly turned around with one weird look, as if I am a pervert going to pinch her butt or something.
And then the even uglier boyfriend in front of her switched places with her, as if trying to be a satire to protect her ugly girl from me. D’oh? I purposely walked closer and brushed myself against this ugly guy just to annoy him.
Very the.
The chee cheong fun (also known as yong tau fu) stall was full of people, the longest queue that we have ever seen our whole life going to that stall.
I was on budget, can’t afford the bolognaise, or the slightly costly Malay dishes, so I went into the long queue.
There was this girl (that looked exactly like the orchestra-biatch-girl) in front of me, and she suddenly turned around with one weird look, as if I am a pervert going to pinch her butt or something.
And then the even uglier boyfriend in front of her switched places with her, as if trying to be a satire to protect her ugly girl from me. D’oh? I purposely walked closer and brushed myself against this ugly guy just to annoy him.
Very the.
something about ports
When it’s already late, and I am about to shut my eye while rolling on my bed, I would always face the same problem again. Especially when there’s nobody else at home, and at night it would be a scary house rather than a comfortable cozy place.
I would always shut my bedroom door when there’s nobody around, so my room would feel more secure and safe, and monsters won’t peep in from the hall. My apartment’s balcony faces the open air, towards the golf course down below, and at ungodly hours the whole scenery is dark and eerie, and the you-don’t-know-whats would probably lurking there to scare people big time.
So, normally I would lie on my bed for a while before I really go to sleep. But I still need to turn off the lamps that lit up my bedroom. I have three lamps; one on the white drawer, one on my computer CPU, and another by the bed.
It would really be a hassle for me to jump at three points to turn them off before going back to bed. And who knows when I turn the last light off, there would be a sea monster already lying on my bed in the dark. Spooky.
Thankfully my former housemate left me one multi port socket that I can easily attach at the main port under my bed. Besides the plug for the fan and the other for the computer, I connect all lamps to this multi port.
It’s the famous Adaport brand, which would cost me around fifty bucks if I am going to buy it on my own. Now that I got it for free, I do not have to worry.
Dulu takda port, now Adaport.
It’s so easy now. Still lying on the bed, I can simply move my hand onto the switch and with one click, all the lights are already turned off.
I like!!
alexander wang lee hom: heroes of earth
I was first being introduced to this singer by my housemate back in Sri Damansara. He was all over heels with Lee Hom since the album Evolution. I wasn’t really keen on Chinese pop music at that time, though, so did not really notice anything.
Anyway. Now that I’ve already got the songs from Evolution, I tried this new album I got from private teacher. After listening through the tracks, I found that I really liked the whole thing.
Besides the evolution of Lee Hom’s music which is focusing towards the hip-hop genre, he is also still doing nice ballads with strings and deep bass which really comes out when I play the songs on my Altec Lansing. It’s not a wonder this American Chinese is one of the top-listed.
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