Oppsy!

I looked out the window and saw the sun setting. So soon? A check on my watch tells me that it's already 6.40pm. Oh my!

Yet another day has gone by. Oh well....

{ Continue Reading... }

Indecisive

Why can't people just make up their mind if they wanted to go for dinner? Why can't people decide if they wanted to give the rest a lift?

Arghhh.....

They spent a few good minutes on the side walk discussing and discussing. No conclusion.

They got into their vehicles and started to discuss via phones. Still no conclusion. 10 minutes on the road, they finally decided something. 5 minutes later they decided to change their minds and head the other way. Great. Wasted time. Wasted fuel.

Is it really so hard to decide on something and make a go for it?

{ Continue Reading... }

Year of the Tiger

Just yesterday did I found out that I had so many relatives that I have never seen before all these years. "Psst..Mum....Who is that?" "Ohh, that's your dad's sister's son's daughter." "My aunt has another son?" Well well, and suddenly I have this niece that is elder than me. And all we said was "Hi, happy new year!" Yea...see you next year.

That is what new year is all about. Getting together and catch up with all these long lost relatives. And by catching up, I meant, interrogating. "My my, look at how you've grown. Which college are you in now? Oh, you've graduated? So where are you working? Where's your boyfriend? Why didn't you bring him along to meet the family? Oh, you're not attached? Why haven't you found anyone? You know, my son's in Australia. He's doing business there. And my daughter is in events. Got a lot of jobs. Met alot of people. And did I mentioned that we went to China for the holidays last year? It was so beautiful. You should bring your parents there as well. We got a new dog into the family. A very rare breed. I spent over a few hundred bucks for it. Ohh, my grandson scored high in his English test. Such a smart kid.." Boasting is also another one of our yearly activities.

Having been born and raised in the city, Chinese New Year is usually not a very big matter. Especially when you do not have elders around to tell you what to do. And you do not have to succumb to all kinds of customs. We were excited when we were younger. Reunion dinners. New clothes. New shoes. Lots of food. Shining decos. Ang pows. Cousins. Lion dances. Fire crackers. As the years go by, the new clothes and shoes were lesser. The ang pows were lesser. The cousins are all busy. It's a hassle for all the decos. You don't see lion dances that much. No one bothered about reunion dinner like before. Chinese New Year? It's just another day. No big deal.

Tradition is losing its grip on the new generation. It's no match for iPods and Blackberrys and Facebook.  What does reunion dinner mean these days? The Blackberry would be ringing the entire time of the reunion dinner. The kids don't even talk to their grandparents. The well wishes were just a formality. It's because the elders insisted. If not, they would be better off playing their PS2.

To me, Chinese New Year each year is just a yearly get together. With family and with friends.

{ Continue Reading... }

I've decided to leave

Yes I did.

A month from now, I'll leave the late nights. I'll leave the demanding bosses. I'll leave the never-ending work loads. I'll leave dreading to work on weekends and on holidays. I'll leave the deadlines.

I will be leaving them all. I'll leave and put the past 3.5 years way behind me....

{ Continue Reading... }

3 years plus

I have been lucky enough to meet a bunch of people that click from the very instant we met. I have never thought that you could be so close to your colleagues. Usually work and personal matters don't mix. But I guess we mixed it quite well.

Yes. The years have been flying past. It seems only yesterday that we were all happily chatting in the pantry after working hours. We've all moved on the past few years. At the gathering we had a moment ago, we've all changed. Yet, not entirely.

One got married and got a kid. Some are heading to work overseas. Some switched jobs. Some still hanging on. Some planning to settle down. Seems like we've all came a long way from where we started. Yet, certain things do remain.

Sharon is still that chatty. Sane is still late. Gene is still crappy. Sue is still that sweet. Uncle is still like a kid. Foo is still going strong with her boy. And Kenny still messes up all that he has planned.

3 years plus....

{ Continue Reading... }

The power of the hand

How do you usually cross a busy street?

The correct way would be to wait for the green light to flash at the zebra crossing. Or you could take the pedestrian bridge. Or follow the Malaysian way, just run!

This morning, I witness the full power of the hand. Yeap. That's right. The hand is a very powerful tool indeed.

I was reaching a row of shop houses. There was no zebra crossing. No pedestrian bridge. No traffic lights. A hunched old lady wanted to make it to the other side of the road. The vehicles were moving on fast. Obviously she couldn't just run across. So, she held up her left hand.

She held up her hand and limped a step forward. She limped another step. And another step. The on-coming vehicles stopped one by one, no matter how fast they were moving. No one honked. No one flashed their headlights at her. She didn't say anything. She just held up her hand and limped her way forward. The surprising thing was, all the vehicles patiently waited for her to reach the other side before accelerating again.

Walah..how cool is that? Macam kena jampi. Hmmm....I wonder if my hand could cause such an impact? Can I raise my hand and walk straight across? I'd be lucky not to be run over. Or get a RM500 fine.

{ Continue Reading... }

New year shock

Mum reminded me to check the expiry date of my driver's license the other day. I lazily took it out of my purse and glanced through it.

Wait a minute.....

What? Again....Rewind a little. Did I see that correctly?  Refocus....

Tempoh : 11/01/2005 - 10/01/2009

JANUARY 2009?

This is January 2010! OMG! I've been driving without a license for an entire year. An entire year! And no one noticed.

Mum is still the best. If it wasn't for her, I might have continued driving without a license for I don't know how long more.

No worries. I had it renewed. Someone care to remind me again in 2015?

{ Continue Reading... }

Here comes 2010!

Resolution for the year : Take things into my own hands. Be in control!

Easier said than done.

I'm having my fingers crossed.

{ Continue Reading... }

Adios 2009!

The year came and went.

I'm through with all the countdowns and well wishes bla bla bla. No matter what you do or what you say, 2009 will still be gone and you can't predict what's in store for 2010. The day continues when you wake up tomorrow morning. Life goes on as usual.

So, keep all the good memories from the past year and be glad that you lived through it. Learn from past mistakes. Forgive and forget, may bygones be bygones.

So long 2009, many thanks for 'stopping by'.

{ Continue Reading... }

In search for that something....

Nothing seems to interest me any longer. I find it boring to do almost anything. And yet I'm only 25. To certain people, life has just begun. To me, it started to get static.

I no longer anticipate to walk the malls or catch the latest movies. I no longer find it exciting to go for trips. I no longer find it happening to hang out at pubs or that new clubbing arena. I no longer find it fun to flirt and to attract male counterparts. I don't find any of the jobs out there interesting. I don't look forward to settling down and having kids. I find it no purpose in going to work everyday and to endure all that stress. I got tired of 'beautifying' myself. I find that it's a little waste of time to sit around and to catch up with my mates. I got bored of the people around me. Even the local cuisines have started to lose it's attractiveness. I've been doing all those so many many times. I ask myself, so what's next?

I go by everyday doing the exact same things. Everything is moving at the same pace every single day. Predictable. I couldn't find that something that would enlighten me. What is that something that would bring some excitement back into my life? Something that I could look forward to. Something that I'm passionate about. Something out of the ordinary. Something that you don't do everyday. Something that is worth remembering. Something that you could boast about 20 years later.

My search continues.

{ Continue Reading... }

Un-gentleman-ness

Ungentleman guys put me off.

I'm not being fussy. I'm not being demanding. But if a guy doesn't know how to treat a lady properly, he would be a real jerk.

He doesnt't escort you to the parking lot at night? He doesn't offer to carry that heavy baggage? He doesn't hold the elevator door? Screw him then.

Worse still if he chooses which lady to be nice too. So only the hot, pretty ones deserves the extra attention? The rest are not worth even a 'hi'?

Men, they are all shallow, ignorant and self-centered. One way or the other.

{ Continue Reading... }

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!

It's one more week to the end of the year. Do what you got to do.

XOXO!

{ Continue Reading... }

Office politics

This is all just so tiring. It's never ending. One after the other.

Just when I thought I could end the year with some peace and quiet, something came up again. Ruined what ever plans that I had made. Real sickening.

Emotionally unstable now.

{ Continue Reading... }

8D,7N Taipei 2009

This is a very delayed posting. I got to wait for Mr Photographer to be done with all the editing before I can get my hands on the pictures. And without them, it's rather hard to imagine on what I got to write.

Another yearly overseas trip with my close friends from college. We decided to head to Taipei for the food and for alot of shopping. Little did we know, Taipei do offer many breathtaking views as well. This was a free and easy DIY package, where we chose our own destinations and the travel agent arranges everything for a quoted price. The entire trip had costs me not more than RM4k with half of it for air fare and accomodation and the other half for my own expenses.

We went in late October, where the weather was sunny but real windy. Autumn season. Just nice to move around comfortably. It got dark around 5.30 in the evening and the sun comes up 12 hours later. There was no need for thick jackets or trench coats, just a normal sweater to keep yourself from the wind will do.

I will be highlighting the activities of each day here. I'm not going to talk about the food that we had cause I would have forgotten what were they called by now or where did we tasted them. I was there for a vacation, not to keep track of everything I ate.

Day 1:
Ours was an evening flight. Approximately 4 hours. We reached Taipei at mid night. No. We didn't go to bed straight. We went to a 7-Eleven for cup noodles. Man, we were hungry. We were arranged to stay at this Taipei Meadow Hotel. Not recommended. Their service were very poor. They misplaced our room reservations. They had no hot showers. They had no proper storage spaces. So so so so not acceptable.

Day 2:

Headed to Yi-Lan Shangri-la farm. It's out of town. We travelled by train for an hour. It's like an orchard, where you get to pick fruits and eat them on the spot. They've got activities lined up for us at night. People there are very friendly. We played tops, made "tong yuen", raised the "hung-ming" lanterns with our wishes written all over it, chased ducklings and fried some peanuts.

It's a very relaxing place. Serene. Surrounded by trees and shrubs. Very refreshing indeed. Not to mention they were located on a hill. So, it got real freezy at night.

Day 3:
We spent the third day in Taipei city. We happened to come across a promotion package to the National Palace Museum, so we took it. Certain original artifacts from China were on display there. I didn't even know which dynasty they were from. All I know is that the place was damn huge and it was full of stuff that I don't read. Paintings, ancient Chinese scrolls, porceleins, official stamps etc etc. We can't wait to get out of the place. I admit. We, youngsters, just don't appreciate history.

By night, we were riding on the Eye of Taiwan. The gigantic ferris wheel. I've not even been on the one in Malaysia. Hah!

Day 4:

This is the day where we planned to enjoy a good hot spring bath. But before we get there, the tour guide took us to few breathtaking places. First stop, the volcanic mountains where the hot springs originated. It stinks. You'd smell sulfur all over. Even after you get out from the hot spring pools, you'd smell of sulfur too. Cause that's what made the water hot. Sulfur. Yellow ones.

Next, we were brought to this open field. On Yang-Ming Shan. Yes. Up on the mountains too. Nothing but green green grasses. People were there to read. To walk their dogs. To fly kites. To feel the breeze. To snap pictures. To jog. To do almost what ever they want. You can't find places like this here. It was one of those moments where you were lying on the grass and feeling the air on your face, without any worries, that there is so much more to life than what we are going through now.

Oh, and you got to see this too. It's a little hut on the foothill. They sell windmills. All over. How adorable. Too bad you can't have a place like this in Malaysia. Even if you successfully turn your garden into one, where would you get all the wind from? The fan?

We finally made it to the hot spring resort in the evening. Tien Lai Hot Spring Resort. There were no more pictures here. We were too busy soaking ourselves in sulfur pools, with temperatures ranging from 18 degrees to 45 degrees. The warning was, you can't soak in one pool for more than 15 minutes. You need to get out and rest. Cause the heat accelerates your heart beat, not many can with stand that. And you can't bathe after each soak. You got to let the sulfur seep into your skin over night. It keeps the skin smooth. That's the benefit of it.

Day 5:

This was an extremely tiring day. We were all slumped on the bed, unable to walk to the bathroom even, when we got back to the hotel at night.

In the morning, the tour guides brought us to Ye-Liu Geological Park. Here's where sun, sea water, wind and rain over the thousands of years have caused the erotion of rocks. With a little imagination, you'd see many many shapes out of these erotions. For example; toes, turtles, the map of Taiwan. This is a very famous one. It's called "The Queen's Head". Which queen? For you to find out.

Then, it's off to shopping! First stop, Jiu Fen. Very unique.  Shops were situated up hill. So, happy walking! The place sells a combination of food, accessories, clothes, souveniers etc etc. They were famous for a few delicacies. It's a must try if you ever go there. I couldn't recall what were they already. Do ask around the locals if you really want to go.

By night, we were back in the city again. And more shopping to be done. We got to Wu Fen Pu. It's more like 'warehouses' for clothes. What ever clothing apparel you want, you can be very sure you'd get them here. Similar to our Sg Wang or Platinum Mall in Bangkok. You know those online fashion blogs? Yea. Here's where those clothes came from. Some things can be a real bargain. Like RM10-RM20. The more you buy, the cheaper it gets.

Day 6:

One whole day dedicated to shopping. This time around, it's off to Xi Men Ding. A more high-classed area compared to Wu Fen Pu. Branded goods could be found; Nike, Levi's, Addidas etc. Not Sg Wang stuffs, more like Mid Valley or 1 Utama that kind.

Here's where everyone left with bags and bags of what ever. Even my guy friends got a few goodies for themselves. Another friend got herself 6 pairs of shoes. 6 pairs! In just an hour. Gosh!

Well, not everything is about shopping. We want to make a mark for ourselves too. We "climbed' the tallest tower in the world. Okay. We didn't climb. We took the elevator. The fastest one in the world as well. Taipei 101. 388 metres. The elevator got us up to the observation deck in 38 seconds. How cool is that. I've been to the tallest tower in the world! Our Petronas Twin Towers comes in at fourth place.

They allowed visitors to this open balcony at the top. It was a very scary feeling. You could feel like you would be blown away any minute. The wind was absolutely strong. And it was dead freezing. If it wasn't for the experience, I wouldn't set foot up there. It was definitely worth it. Although Taipei's night view has not much to boast about, it was still worthwhile. It's the tallest tower in the world man! In the world!

Day 7:

According to this travel book, there's this jetty up north with a spectacular view of the sun setting. Let's see what's so special about the sunset in Taipei. The Fisherman Wharf, Danshui.

It was worth all the trouble getting there. Sunsets are very romantic. Don't you think so?

Day 8:

Our final day. Guess where we went? Shopping again of course! It was back to Xi Men Ding. For those last minute souveniers. Those tops and pants that we still want to get our hands on. Some more shoes and bags. Our luggages were already damn packed with our previous "goods". As if those were not enough, we bought more. We had to get additional luggage bags to bring them back. Hah!

Oh, we had our dinner at this interesting place. In a bathroom. We sat on toilet bowls. Ate on bath tubs. Ate from toilet bowls as well. Drank from, errr...... see it for yourself.

Taipei. You really ought to know Mandarin to communicate there. They don't speak much English. If you really plan to visit Taiwan, do it while your young. They have promotions for youths. Up to 30 years of age. You could get discounts for quite a number things. And you need to walk real a lot. Get better shoes. My friend need to get pain killers for her aching feet. It was that bad.

Truly a place worth visiting. Truly enjoyable. I had so much fun.

{ Continue Reading... }

The language we all speak

I was at this hawker stall the other night, having dinner. The table next to mine was occupied by an Indian couple. After the meal, they called for the bill. "Boss, kira!" The boss happened to be an old Chinese aunty, about 60 years old. She came, gave the table one look,"Elam blas tiga puruh. Ala duit kecik?" The Indian man paid the amount and the couple left.

At times like this, there's a tiny feeling inside that made me felt proud being a Malaysian. Diverse races, diverse cultures, understanding each other through one common language. The old aunty didn't seem to have much education, even though the Indian couple were of a younger generation. Still, they managed to communicate and send their messages accross. It is from living together with each other that we are capable of this. I do take pride in all the various races that Malaysia "housed". You don't get to see Chinese, Malay, Indian, Punjabi playing soccer together on the same field any where else in the world.

It's sad to to see that people these days didn't seem to know how to appreciate the blessings that were bestowed upon us. All the 'fights' against each other. One race trying to out-do the rest. All the gossips. We can achieve so much more if we don't allow ourselves to be blinded by racism. What a waste.

{ Continue Reading... }