fingerfries

Meet the Osbournes

2007-07-28T11:35:00.000+08:00

Ozzy Osbourne & Groupie
Ozzy meets Harry Potter

WErk

2007-06-11T20:27:00.000+08:00

After a few months of looking for work, i've found a place at a large law firm where i'm playing a small part in a very big litigation matter. The firm is large, much larger than any law firm in Malaysia, it takes up about 7 floors in a building in the heart of Sydney. And the case that i've been placed is so big there's a team of people looking solely into this matter.

As i'm entering into the team mid-project, the rest of the team are all already chummy with each other. it made me really miss my time back at Skrine. But the team has been real friendly and helpful towards me and i've been enjoying telling them stories about practising law in Malaysia. There's also another Malaysian girl on board who's been in Sydney for quite awhile now and we've been having fun reminiscing about home and talking about Malaysian politics.

Hopefully i'll be liking my time there.

MyTunes Loaded

2007-05-22T07:27:00.000+08:00

I've just added some tunes to this site. It's some of the music I'm currently listening to. Isn't this MyPod (on the sidebar) just the cutest thing? It looks just like mine, silver wrapped in pink rubber.

P!nk

2007-05-20T14:15:00.000+08:00

P!ink was touring Australia recently and I went to watch her show in Sydney. The show was fantastic and I had a great time. There's nothing like watching a great entertainer live and surrounded by other screaming fans.

This is me at the Sydney Entertainment Centre but far far away from where P!nk would be performing shortly. And so high up there I could almost touch the ceiling. And below and all around me, the screaming fans. My photographer had refused any photographic evidence of him attending a P!nk concert.

The superstar was well received by her mob of energetic screaming fans, most of whom are chubby teenage girls whose parents waited for them outside the venue when the show ended.

Some vids of the performance of Just Like A Pill and Who Knew. The images are so blurry and tiny, it can't positively be identified to be P!ink. It could be of anyone, or anything, really. Listen closely and some running commentary and extra backups can be heard.

My New Toy

2007-05-01T07:37:00.000+08:00

It's been awhile since i've last blogged. at times, i've been pretty bored and didn't have anything whatsoever bloggable to blog about... and at other times i've been busy with some visitors from Malaysia, but mostly i've been busy playing with my New Toy!

As most of you will know, i've been really into my new hobby. Sewing up my own garments! With a promise of mending many garments and constructing a few, CH got me a new Brother computerised sewing machine. It's a really cool machine and i am loving it! It's a 'beginner's computerised model' but it's light, super easy to use and it's got allll these cool functions like the automatic needle threader, quick set bobbin, an LCD screen to display the stitch type, lengths and widths, a needle positioning button and so much more!

So far, i've made a top on this machine, and previously i sewed up a blue tube dress in my sewing class (previous entry here). I'll put pictures of me in them soon. Let's hope i'll be making many wonderful pieces on this baby.

The New Toy

Bits that come with the machine

Ex Colleagues

2007-04-12T07:28:00.000+08:00

Az was in Sydney for a conference recently and I met up with her and Lini. It was great to hear from Az all the news and goss from the office about what everyone was up to, who is doing what, who's going where or staying put. It made me really miss alll my Skrinie friends and colleagues so much! I couldn't help but remember fondly all those great times with such wonderful friends. And it sure made me crave for PM, my ultimate favourite lunchtime with my great lunchlegs (kakis). What i wouldn't do now for a dry, big 'mit' one with added meatballs and my 3 sauceplates of chili. Yummm...

fingerfries.needs.to.gym - Reload

2007-03-29T15:21:00.000+08:00

Sad but true. Since coming over to Sydney, I've gained almost 3 kilos. Probably because i've conditioned myself to enjoy my own cooking, probably because i eat almost as much as a person who's almost twice my size, but mostly certainly because i have developed this recent craving/obsession for cakes and desserts and everything sweet. Not that I'm terribly unhappy about this (besides the fact that i had experienced extreme difficulties buttoning up a pair of jeans which i brought over, but hey, they were real tight to begin with) and CH does claim that the extra bits are flattering... hmm... But all the same, i think it's about time i get back into my good ol' gymming routine that i had kept many months ago.

Right. I've now joined Fitness First. I always thought that FF was big in KL, they're even bigger here. Not just in terms of having many locations (there's 3 within Sydney CBD itself, all within 10 minutes walking distance and there's 4 which i can get to pretty easily) but the size of the clubs are Huge!! Nothing like the FFs at MJH or even Axis in KL. Most clubs have extra facilities such as solariums (a concept unheard of in KL), boot camps, monsoon showers and a complete snack bar. But I've found down sides to the FF clubs here too. There's no free juice bar (yep, no free 100Plus!), there's no VCD library and there's no private cubicle changerooms. I was quite amused when i saw a "reminder" behind the toilet cubicle door reminding gymmers to be considerate to other gymmers and not to change in the cubicles! Hmm..

But one thing that is an absolute PLUS about the FFs in Sydney - the many specimens available for viewing are absolutely fa.bu.lous! Nothing at all like the specimen-deficit MJH. It makes me wonder why they even need to gym.

Anyhow, like last Friday, i'll be off to the gym tomorrow afternoon for a long long workout. First pilates, then yoga and then i'll treadmill myself to near death. I've miss doing that.

A Yummy Birthday

2007-03-07T09:46:00.000+08:00

On his birthday, he was greeted with a superfine truly authentic Malaysian meal - Nasi Lemak!

This is my first time preparing nasi lemak and i didn't know what to expect. Will it turn out at least edible, or would i have to suggest that i'd buy him a birthday dinner?

I toiled in the kitchen for more than 4 hours. I made a desperate phonecall to my mummy in KL. I had to endure tiny oil spatters all over my top and arms and boy, was my right arm so tired from that continuous cutting, stiring and frying! Luckily*luckily* everything went really well!

Here's the Nasi Lemak, complete with fragrant coconut rice, fried egg, fried ikan bilis and nuts, curry chicken and sambal ikan bilis!

The happy face of (another) satisfying meal. A ten out of ten!

Happy 3 candles! May your wishes come true.

If you're wondering, nope, i didn't make this.

Finally, his bday pressie. The surpirse unveiled!

Queen Comes to Town

2007-03-01T13:43:00.000+08:00

The Queen Mary 2 was in town for a day last week. She's the largest and most expensive passenger ship ever built. To witness such a historic event, people came out from everywhere to gather, picnic and party to the magnificent sight of the Ship. I really could not believe that soooo many of these Sydneysiders (and many tourists too) would take a day off from whatever they did, just to sit around and awe in amazement at the Ship.

Here are some pics i took of her. And the crowds.

The large crowds brought about chaotic traffic bringing it to a standstill. I guess the sight of the Ship is quite amazing and all, but if i were stuck in traffic and not enjoying the Ship scene, i would be pretty upset. Like, what's the big deal? it's just a big ship!!! Not like we'd get a free ride or something. Luckily, the Ship scene was comfortably within my walking distance.

CNY Roadtrip

2007-02-21T15:30:00.000+08:00

It felt a little weird and sad, that this is my first CNY away from any family. But it was a day of great fun going on a roadtrip out of Sydney.

Smile! We're off!

First to the Nan Tien Temple at Wollongong which was about an hours drive away from Syd. Nan Tien, meaning "Paradise of the South", is the biggest Buddhist temple of the southern hemisphere. It is a beautiful serene temple with vast open spaced gardens. As it was CNY, the temple was quite crowded with people coming for prayers and tourists. What surprised me was how commercialised it was - like instead of accepting a donation for some prayer joss-sticks, a tiny packet of joss-stick was sold at AUD20 per packet!

Next, we headed to a beach holiday town of Kiama. The local aboriginal meaning of Kiama is "where the sea makes noise". Kiama is famous for the Kiama Blowhole where water is projectiled and sprouted high up with the vigorous movement of the pounding waves beneath it. But there would be no blowing of the hole today. The sea was calm and the waves were mild. Here's my pic of the hole.

the blowhole in action! (as seen in www.kiama.com.au)

We took the scenic coastal route back to Sydney and drove through the Sea Cliff Bridge. This recently completed bridge is 665 metres above sea. Driving through and looking over the water made it feel like driving on water. Spectacular!

Perfect place to be jumping off something!

I didn't take this picture. I wish, tho! It's from totaltravel.com.au

Finally, there's not much worse than being tired and stuck in a horrendous traffic crawl bunched up with all the weekend holiday makers driving back to Syd.

Sew Simple

2007-02-15T06:54:00.000+08:00

I've signed up for a basic sewing class at the Sydney Community College and had my first class last Tuesday. It's a bit of an uphill task really, but I want to be able to design and create my own fashionwear, do my own alterations and make my own dresses. I think i was inspired by my new friend Rain, a designer/dressmaker who made PL's wedding dresses and the dress i wore to her wedding.

Given the timeslot for this class (10am to 2pm) I expected the class to consist of housewife aunties... but then that was quite a silly assumption as why would aunties join a sewing class? They would know it all already! There's 8 students in my class including myself. There were a few school leavers, a tourist, a housewife, and some inbetween jobs people. Most of them were around my age. There was a 19yo girl who i got along with and asked me how old i was. And when i told her i am turning 30 this year, she fillipped! She said i didn't look it at all and she expected me to be around her age! She didn't know that her comments totally made my day! Hehe *grin*

This class is for absolute beginners who know nothing about sewing. In our first lesson, we learnt how to take measurements of ourselves, all the functions of a sewing machine and how it works, and how to thread a sewing machine. In our next lesson, we'll start learning how to cut up fabric and start sewing!

I am really excited about this course. Hopefully when i complete this course, i can take up a dressmaking course and i'll really be on my way to making my own stuff!

One Tree Hill / Boston by Augustana

2007-02-14T14:19:00.000+08:00

I hopped onto YouTube to look for the music video of Boston by Augustana. And I found this!

It's an alternative music video of Lucas and Brooke, two characters out of the drama series One Tree Hill. OTH is a teeny highschool drama series which i follow religiously. Why is this *soon to be out of her twenties* hooked onto this teen drama? Maybe it's because this show has got fantastic plotlines (which centres around two half brother basketballers and their family, lovers and friends), nailbiting cliffhangers (*spoiler here* S3 ends with a car crashlanding into a creek and a newlywed brother jumps in for rescue. Who will survive?) Maybe it's for the great music and gorgeous actors, male and female (as obvious in this music video). Or maybe it's because its a fantasy of an exciting highschool life that i didn't lead.

Anyhow, this is a fantastic series. Seriously. Alto S4 hasn't yet been as good as the last 3 seasons, i will plough on, and keep bugging the gadgetboy to download the latest episodes for me.

On YouTube, i still don't understand why people go tru all that effort and post all sorts of stuff on YouTube... but i think i am gonna enjoy OTHing on YouTube. And to the maker of this music vid, well done!!!

Seafood Marinara

2007-02-01T09:08:00.000+08:00

In an effort to learn yet another skill (*and yes, i have been whipping up quite a few dishes since arriving in Sydney, much to everyone's surprise*) I searched for a simple marinara recipie over the internet and modified it to include some seafood and fresh mushrooms. And voilà! A masterpiece!

Here's the ingredients and directions :

1 can stewed tomatoes

1/2 can tomato paste

3 fresh tomatoes

a handful of fresh mushrooms

some marinara mix and prawns

1 diced onion

1 cup white wine

some garlic, mixed herbs, salt, black pepper and olive oil

Blend tomatoes, canned tomatoes and tomato paste, minced garlic, mix herbs, salt and pepper in a food processor until smooth.

In a pan, saute diced onion and mushrooms in olive oil, then blended tomatoes and white wine.

Simmer for about 20 minutes and add in the prawns and marinara mix.

Stir until the prawns and seafood is cooked.

Serve over cooked pasta!

ta da!

The taste tester gave this a 7.5 out of 10! (*applause! applause*) His comments were that it needed some sugar to neutralise the acidity in the tomatoes.

Jubilee

2007-01-15T14:22:00.000+08:00

I'm already missing my babies Hershey & Chino sooooo much!

Meet Jubilee. Like me, she's also quite new to Sydney. She's an adorable little 11 year-old silky terrier who's somewhat gender confused. She humps! She also knows a whole bag of tricks - sit, stay, handshakes, crawl, rollover ... alto she sometimes gets her left & right rollovers confused.

It was nice meeting up with Jubes. Hope to see you soon!

PL & Simon

2007-01-12T09:32:00.000+08:00

PL and Simon finally took the plunge and tied the knot. I am really glad that i was around to be a part of the beautiful event. Although i was sad that it was the last time i would hang with my friends for awhile, my last night in KL was a most happy and memorable one. PL and Simon are just perfect for each other, and i know this is just a beginning of a forever happily ever after.

Man and his Entourage

The man and his posse arrived bright and early to pick up the bride. Flanked by a group of loyal and courageous friends, the man will never walk alone.

Meanwhile, the bride waits...

The Obstacle Course

Is it the man that wears the ~~diapers~~ pants? The entourage ducks around the Man while he ponders on his love poem.

Is it the man that brings home the ~~cucumber~~ bacon? The Man and his friends courageously and fearlessly overcomed all obstacles in the way. The Man has proven himself worthy and is allowed to pickup his bride. The bride and her bridesmaids

At the Church

A father walks his daughter down the aisle Wows are made and rings exchanged

WeddingDinner & After Party

The happy bridesmaids, excited and a little nervous about their speech.

Friends from Monash! Sunny, the doting dad and baby Joshua Our table and the bride

SYDNEY!

2007-01-10T08:27:00.000+08:00

I've arrived in Sydney! Have been spending my time settling in and enjoying the sunshine. The weather's great! It's a sunny 23degrees today. Won't write much today. I have to go shopping now. There are sales everywhere!

A New Year

2007-01-03T15:50:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year 2007!

Despite all the happenings and festivities, i haven't been blogging much. There are things going on that i can't blog about. Suffice to say, goodbyes are hard and the next time i blog, it will be from a different place.

Heroes

2007-01-03T15:41:00.000+08:00

Recently, i've been glued to the new tv series Heroes. It's a story about some everyday folks who realise that they have extraordinary abilities and that they are destined for greater things. So far, the series is exciting and suspense filled. And unlike the other sci-fi series i've been watching, Lost, it has not yet lost the plot or revealed gaping unanswered questions.

Incidentally, this series is written by Bryan Fuller who also produced Wonderfalls, one of my absolute favourite TV shows (which i guess no one else really liked as it got canned after its first season)

Anyway, i realise that i may not want to be a superhero, but i wouldn't mind having these supernatural abilities!

Telepathy - It would be pretty cool to be able to get in their heads and read minds. We could know in an instant what someone else is feeling and thinking.
Teleportation and time travel - It would be great to be anyplace else in a blink of an eye. Or to go back in time to relive happy times or to make right mistakes.

Anyhow, life has been just fine so far without superpowers or superheroes. So superpowers & superheroes, do we really need them?

Hello Gift

2006-12-30T11:08:00.000+08:00

"I come bearing gifts", he says and i received the gorgeous ipod nano. I've been spending time famliarising with iTunes and uploading my music on nano. It's the coolest thing! and now i have my music with me where ever i go. I've dressed nano in a little cute pink fitting outfit and got a matching armband too.

Thanks for gadgetising me with them all, gadgetboy!

Goodbye Gift

2006-12-21T19:29:00.000+08:00

I got a great goodbye gift from my fabulous fabulous friends. Is it goodbye already?

It's a new Casio digital camera. I guess I've been talking about getting a new camera for awhile now. My old sony, which apparently has all these cool functions which i ~~don't know how to~~ never use, is chunky, heavy and bulky and could never really fit into my smaller handbags. My new casio is slim, sleek and light! I'll be carrying it with me everywhere i go.

Thanks alot, babes! Hopefully, i'll be able to show you all lotsa great pictures of a different life. And hopefully you all can be in those pictures too, once in a while. That would be fantastic!

Now and then

2006-12-17T21:12:00.000+08:00

And just like that, another year is flying past. It's mid december now. Time to reflect on what has happened throughout the year, and time to think of possible new year's resolutions that we can possibly keep. As whatever precious days that are left in 2006 fly by, i'm trying to enjoy every bit of 06 left. And i'm also looking forward to the days that will soon be here.

6 days till he comes back

8 days till Christmas

15 days till 2007

2o days till my best friend's big day

21 days till i say my goodbyes and get on that plane

Wedding in Penang

2006-12-15T11:41:00.000+08:00

Last weekend, I was in Penang for my ex-colleague's wedding (two-degrees of separation now, since we are both no longer at the place where we met). It was a great trip ... the food was yummy, the party places were fantastic.... the trip was great except for the place where we stayed - Bayu Emas... that was really sucky but we couldn't find any alternative accomodation.

Thanks for the pictures Leesh!

Drinks @ Soho

Us on the broken and stained couch @ Bayu Emas

Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving

2006-12-13T19:21:00.000+08:00

Do the Jung Typology test!! I first did the test a couple of months back, and i just did it again today (*after forgetting all the 70++ questions*). And it's freaky to know that on both occasions, i was classified as an ENTP. What is the ENTP "Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving" is here.

So here's some bits about me being an ENTP.

"Clever" is the word that perhaps describes ENTPs best. Hehehe... I won't try to argue with this!

ENTPs are usually verbally as well as cerebrally quick, and generally love to argue--both for its own sake, and to show off their often-impressive skills. They tend to have a perverse sense of humor as well, and enjoy playing devil's advocate. They sometimes confuse, even inadvertently hurt, those who don't understand or accept the concept of argument as a sport. I know some people who will agree with this. Totally! Do i really love to argue? I'm wondering, if i am the ENTP as they say, am i really meant to be in the profession that i'm in? And is my sense of humour that perverse? But it's good to know that i do have some sense of humour. ... And devil's advocate? me? and at least i play some form of sports :)

ENTPs are as innovative and ingenious at problem-solving as they are at verbal gymnastics; on occasion, however, they manage to outsmart themselves. Really?! So why do i still have sooooo many problems???!!! And I'm still waiting for me to outsmart myself.

ENTPs are basically optimists I don't think i am a real optimist. i mean, i'm not the eternal pessimist but i do sometimes believe that only the pessimist will survive.

ENTPs are also good at acquiring friends who are as clever and entertaining as they are so if you're my friend, you are clever and/or entertaining!

Hanoi - the Hen and the Chicks

2006-12-06T13:30:00.000+08:00

Not so long ago, a Deejay, with her entourage of a mommy, a singer, a model, a night-time golf instructor and a socialite took a trip to Hanoi.

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam located at her north. In the words of the Lonely Planet "The capital of Vietnam is a city of timeless grace, a grand old dame of Aisa who is ageing better than most of her contemporaries. Hanoi lay in a deep slumber after Vietnam's partition in 1954, until the effects of economic reforms began to kick in four decades later. THe city and its inhabitants survived American bombs and Russian planners to emerge relatively unscathed in the early 1990s as a superb example of a French colonial city. Hanoi's centre today is a quixotic blend of Parisian grace and Asian pace, an architectural museum piece evolving in harmony and its history, rather than bulldozing through it like many of the region's capitals."

Our stay was at the Melia Hotel, right at the fringe of the Old Quarter. The bustling and lively Old Quarter is a area of 36 streets, traditionally with each street having a different trade or product on sale. Today, the Old Quarter is abuzz with activity and opportunities to blow your tourist dollar at almost every step you take.

An evesdropped compliment on his beautiful eyes and a right guess on his nationality by ally & lis probably resulted in an upgrade to suites for all of us! Well done! Happiness is ... having a luxurious suite to come 'home' to for 4 days!

Hanoi - Food Alfresco & Beyond

2006-12-06T13:23:00.000+08:00

Our first night out, we went in search of local street food. We stumbled upon this place filled with locals sitting on tiny chairs around tiny tables on an alleyway outside a shop front. All of us being tired and hungry thought that in a place bursting with locals enjoying the food, the food must be great! The shop attendants didn't speak any english. So to order our food, we had to communicate in sign language. Alto an experience, we didn't enjoy the food. I felt that the pork smelt, well... much too porky!

A fastfood cart - Doner Kebap! It was pretty yummy.

A decent place to have Vietnamese food is at the chain restaurant Pho24.

We came across a street stall selling balut eggs. None for me, thanks! The Balut is a Vietnamese delicacy - it is a fertilized duck egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell.

The locals seem to eat all the time and everywhere! At every street you can see people cooking, selling, eating all kinds of food and drinks.

Hanoi - Her Sense of Style

2006-12-06T13:15:00.000+08:00

I've always thought that the people of Vietnam, it being a socialist country and all, placed no importance on the sense of style, and that style and fashion remained very much in the realm of (and the downfall or joy of, depending on your views) capitalist societies like ours. And before my arrival, i thought that Hanoi would be saved from the infiltration of luxury and all things expensive and esthetically pleasant. But i was wrong!!!

Hanoi does have a sense of style. She has opened her arms to Louis Vuitton!

Yes, LV is everywhere... even on motorcycle seats!!

In Vietnam, the average age is 26. So maybe love is in the air amongst the Hanoians. And maybe that's why florists like this is everywhere around town... so guys can go kau lui in style!

In Hanoi, the locals get around in motorbikes. The streets are littered with them! No Harleys or superbikes. Mostly kapchais. But yet, some Hanoians ride some pretty stylo ones. I couldn't resist posing with this pretty white one. I think it's a Vespa.

Some of Vietnam's exports are cashew nuts, coffee and manufactured goods. My Nike trainers are made in Vietnam (*just to make sure my Nike's weren't the only pair to be made there, I googled it, and came across this interesting read, ... sometimes we just forget these facts*). Anyway, one fabulous Hanoian homegrown product is the fashion label Ipa-Nima. The bags are gorgeous! All pretty, funky and trendy, it is a definite must buy when visiting Hanoi!

Hanoi - Honky Honky Tonks

2006-12-06T13:10:00.000+08:00

The cyclo (pronounced sic-clo),the bicycle rickshaw is a common form of transportation for tourists. However, we cabbed everywhere as they allowed all 6 of us to fit in a cab. An average ride to anywhere around Old Quarters and Central Hanoi would costs USD1. Except when once we were taken for a ride by a cabbie who most probably tampered his meter. He kept singing songs to us and telling us stories "Ho Chi Minh veli good!!". In the end we were forced to pay him about USD4!

Hanoi roads are chaotic and filled with motorcycles (and some cars) going in every direction possible. It is the practice of all who operate vechiles to keep their fingers on their horns and honk at all times. Basically, it is a MUST in Hanoi to horn at every other vehicle or pedestrian in sight. And don't just honk once. You need to honk-honk-honk for a couple of times. Somewhat like morse-code.

Crossing the busy roads is an acquired skill. Well, it's actually not skill but guts and a strong conviction that you won't be hit by the 10 motorcycles that are heading your way from all possible directions. The trick is to just cross the road. Look confident, look ahead. Do not look left or right. The vehicles will honk and avoid you. The Melia pocket travel guide advised "When crossing the street, do not change your speed of pace, do not run, do not step backward".

With all the din on the streets of Hanoi, it's amazing to see her sleep so soundly on a bike behind her man.

Having a haircut amidst all the motorcycles!

Hanoi - Halong Bay - A Cave and Some Rocks

2006-12-06T13:07:00.000+08:00

After 2 days of the hustle and bustle of Hanoi, it's time to head out for a road trip out of town! We were off to the spectacular Halong Bay, Vietnam's natural wonder inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Halong Bay consists of approximately 3000 incredible limestone islands rising up from the calm crystal waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. And hidden inside some of these serene undisturbed islands lie limestone caves waiting to be discovered.

Morning call came bright and early at 5am and our private van departed Hanoi quite promptly at 6am. The drive to Halong Bay took about 3 hours.

It was raining cats and dogs when we got to Halong Bay! And yet there were already hoards of tourists all waiting eagerly to get on the boats that would take them out to sea. I was a little disappointed ... and hesitant as well, since Halong Bay was hit by killer hailstorms the week before. But still, with the protection of just a raincoat we were packed off into our very own private boat and shipped out to sea!

Thankfully, shortly after we left land, the weather cleared up and the rainbow came out!

Our first stop was Hang Dau Go (Cave of Wooden Stakes). There, again we met with heaps and heaps of tourists (many of them sounded like they're from mainland China) all rushing eargerly up the 90 steps up into the cave. The cave opened into an amazing display of 'colour lighted' stalactites and stalagmites (*i can never remember which one refers to which*). We wondered if these power lighting and tromping tourists are slowly destroying these thingys that have taken thousands of years to form.

tourist boats waiting at the foothill of the Dau Go cave. The many many boats in this area did cause a traffic clog. We had to trespass across another boat just to get to ours.

After exploring the cave, we were off to enjoy the views Halong Bay has to offer.

We paid a 'visit' to this fishing boat... Our guide informed us that a family of about 15 lived on this boat. They had a few varieties of seafood for sale on board. We bought a cuttlefish as an extra for lunch for USD10 and our boatpeople would cook it for us. At USD10, it was obviously a 'tourist' price.

bon appetit!

Hanoi - Her Past Remembered

2006-12-06T13:03:00.000+08:00

Hoa Lo Prison Museum

The Hoa Lo Prison Museum is a stone's throw away from our hotel. Originally built by the French, the prison was nicknamed the 'Hanoi Hilton' by American POWs imprisoned there during the war.

Ly Thai To

This is Emperor Ly Thai Tho, founder of Hanoi around 1010AD. Man, he looks like a bronzed giant and yet confucius like.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

A strange thing about tourist sites in Hanoi - Most museums and places of interest with an entry fee opens early at 8am. They close at 11 or 11.30am and reopens at about 2 until 4pm. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum however, opens at 8 and closes at 11. The last entry is at 10.15am.

Imagine the difficulty in getting up early and going to the Mausoleum on time! We managed to hurry to the Mausoleum at about 10am but the cab driver dropped us off at a different entrance point. And like in the Amazing Race, we rushed into the huge grounds of the mausoleum complex. There were no signboards to lead the way and directions given by the guards standing around were wrong.

When we finally got to the Mausoleum, we had to handover all our cameras, phones and bags, and proceed to queue to enter the complex. We had just made it just before closing time! Tourists and locals were all made to walk in a single file line into the mausoleum and up the stairs where Uncle Ho sleeps. More guards everywhere ensuring that no one makes a sound. The square room was cold and quiet. Uncle Ho is embalmed and resting in a glass coffin surrounded by 4 guards looking ahead with another 4 guards ensuring that the single file of visitors walk quickly by - they won't allow anyone to stop to talk or gaze, so there can be no waving or saying hello to the man who established communist Vietnam.

Apparently Uncle Ho wanted to be cremated. He wrote "Not only is cremation good from the point of view of hygiene, but it also saves farmland." I wonder how he feels, having his embalmed body on display to everyone... from the who come to pay respects to their hero to those who come for curiosity's sake.

Hanoi - Reflections

2006-12-06T13:00:00.000+08:00

Hoan Kiem

At the heart of the city lies the Hoan Kiem (Lake of the Restored Sword). I think this is a place where the locals come to hang out during their free time and during their long lunch breaks. The Hanoians appear as a laidback lot. Most come to the lake and sit on the benches staring out into the lake..

The Ngoc Son Temple is on an island in the middle of the Hoan Kiem lake.

Lunch at a cafe by the lake. We would leave Hanoi shortly after lunch.

Wondermomo

2006-12-04T19:15:00.000+08:00

Do check out this new boutique Wondermomo at Plaza Mont Kiara (*and not Plaza Damas as silly me previously said*). Their official opening was last weekend and within just minutes i had gotten myself a Karen Millen top, a Diane von Furstenberg skirt and an MNG jacket all at too good to resist prices! They have the latest styles and loads of super pretty & flirty pieces for girls and awesome stuff for the suave metrosexual male. Wondermomo is a true gem indeed ... it's seriously runway fashion at runaway prices.

Gym.Update

2006-12-02T19:34:00.000+08:00

I will have to eat my words. Early last week, i resolved to go to the gym for at least four times a week. I didn't. The day after that entry, i went and did something to my hair, and i was not to get my hair wet for 2 days. So no gym during then. And after that, i was off to Hanoi with the girls. So, since the unkept resolution till now, i've only gone for 3 times.

Today, i went for a bodypump class. i both hate and love that class. i hate the pain and physical suffering when pumping those endless reps with weights that weigh what feels like a ton as i watch my muscles wobble like jelly. i hate it that i feel a little intimidated by the amazonian women who can do reps carrying weights which look like car tyres. but it feels so good after that hard work. i so love the way it hurts when i try to climb down the stairs or when it hurts just to drive my car.

And a few days ago, i went to give due notice to terminate my membership. The reason being relocation. Fitness First offered to have my membership transferred to where i'll be... wherever that may be. After all, Fitness First has made inroads into many cities throughout the world.

Change

2006-11-22T15:19:00.000+08:00

I was running through my things when i found this old quote that i stuck in my pencilcase waay back in secondary school. it said -

"Those who are always learning are those who can ride the waves of change and who see a changing world as full of opportunities rather than dangers. They are the ones most likely to be the survivors in a time of discontinuity. They are also the enthusiasts and the architects of new ways and forms and ideas. If you want to change, try learning, or more precisely, if you want to be in control of your change, take learning more seriously"

by Charles Handy (The Age of Unreason, 1990)

Normal

2006-11-20T21:56:00.000+08:00

I did this little test : Are you a good girl or a bad girl?
They say i'm normal after all... hmm...is that hard to believe?

You Are a Normal Girl

You are 40% Good and 60% Bad Sure you've pulled some bad girl stunts in your past.But these days, you're (mostly) a good girl.

Are You a Good Girl or a Bad Girl?

fingerfries.needs.to.gym

2006-11-20T19:26:00.000+08:00

Now that i am living (for a short while hopefully) the life of an unemployed, it's about time that i start to hit the gym again.

Back during my gymfreak period which was like earlier this year, i was at the gym about 3 to 4 times a week. I would usually go after work for a 9pm *midnite* class or for a run on the treadmill. Sometimes i would go during the weekends as well.

It was a good thing that the gym was just a stone's throw from my office. I was so familiar with that place and the people, it almost felt like a third home! And i enjoyed the gymming and the classes - Mondays would be combat or yoga, Tuesdays balance, Wednesdays pump and Thursdays pilates. My gym routine would fit perfectly into my life. Plus, this routine addressed, partly at least, the somewhat strange obsession (*i don't think it's strange. other people think it's strange*) i had with fighting the fats ... something no one seems to understand except a fellow gym freak EH who so understood how i felt.

But then laziness set in these last two months. Plus i had to work pretty late the last two months. Time passed, and i hadn't gone to the gym but once or twice during the last month!

I've managed to go to the gym 3 times last week. I sadly discovered that my fitness level has plummeted drastically. My stamina has gone bad - i could no longer run the distance i used to, my endurance is lousy and my balance and flexibility zilched. It's disgusting! i feel the wobbly fats solidifying and gunking permanently around my body.

So this is it. I have resolved that i shall go workout at the gym for at least 4 times a week.

Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

2006-11-14T19:08:00.000+08:00

Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol is being played repeatedly and in my head. It's a beautiful beautiful song, with haunting melodies and hearttouching lyrics. Everytime i hear this song, (thanks to the MTV) i imagine myself on top of the world watching this world from afar, watching what's happening below, making pictures with the clouds, not having to do anything at all... and if i fancy it ... i'll jump in and join the world in all its wonders and beauty.

We'll do it all Everything On our own

We don't need Anything Or anyone

If I lay here If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know How to say How I feel

Those three words Are said too much But not enough

If I lay here If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told Before we get too old

Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time Chasing cars Around our heads

I need your grace To remind me To find my own

If I lay here If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told Before we get too old

Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am All that I ever was

Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see

I don't know where Confused about how as well

Just know that these things will never change for us at all

Next Destination

2006-11-09T23:24:00.000+08:00

Next Destination : Hanoi, Vietnam

*exciteds* It's been awhile since we had a holiday with the girls.

*grumblewhinge* A short delay of 3 hours in booking my ticket on the AirAsia website costs me an extra RM200!

*majorwhinge* And after booking the tickets we recently found out that Airasia has quietly rescheduled the outbound flight from 9.30am to 3pm and the inbound flight from 12.35pm to 6.05pm. And this delay is perfectly timed! i've briefly read the insurance policy... delay claims are only payable for delays above 6 hours! *wtfwtf*

Now everyone should think twice before clicking on Airasia

FIshJUsh Finale

2006-11-08T18:52:00.000+08:00

This was to be FIshJUsh's final hunt for a while. And it ended with a bang with our hunt last weekend with the KLBar LexisNexis Hunt from KL to Genting.

Whilst the hunt was opened to public, it was divided into two category of hunters. We were in the closed category (for KLBar members and LexisNexis employees only) ... which leaves us separated from the professional "100-hunts-&-counting" treasure hunters, leaving us a better chance to get a good position.

Hunting for a third time now, we are really great at working together as a team. Even before the hunt, we've started to prep ourselves by reviewing pass year questions, compiling possible question types, listing anagram indicators and also preparing tables of lists and sorts ... *sounds kiasu? nolar...*

The hunt was a fantastic experience. We worked really well together and generated a car full of excitement. We shared times of delight when breaking the clues, relief when collecting a treasure, disappointment when failing to find the answer, frustration at the wrong tulips and raging frustration when the traffic lights just don't turn green and there was only 5 minutes till points elimination time!

In the end, FIshJUsh did do well! We got all the treasures, we got 5 out of 30 questions wrong and we slipped up one road safety question. We secured 4th place in the closed category and got ourselves a microwave each. I am real happy now about the 4th placing but when FIshJUsh was called and sh went to collect the prize, i was disappointed as we had just missed the top 3 placing which would have us win cash!

It was good to be hunting and great to have hunted with such a fantastic bunch of friends.

My previous hunts are here and here.

My teamies running back to the car after a treasure stop at Tesco

We found all the treasures!

and just like that... i'm free

2006-11-07T23:54:00.000+08:00

i was making my rounds saying my goodbyes and someone said to me that just stuck to my head ...

"a free-spirited heart will always find its way home"

the thing i am feeling about leaving a place and moving on is that all the stress, unhappiness, bitchiness, disgruntled feelings somewhat fades away, and i'm left with many faces and moments that will make me smile when i think of them... and i wish i had gotten to know more of them during my time, and gotten to know more of them better.

i am truly touched by the gestures and the friendship of some of them. They've made the place feel somewhat like home.

---------------------------------------------------------------

It is quite common for someone to send out a mass farewell email on their last day. There was one that i will always remember. And she said

"there's escape from Alcatraz after all"

My hat's off to her.

scenes from everyday

2006-11-02T15:35:00.000+08:00

In fear of forgetting snippets of the past 5 years of this life, or rather, in preservation of the mundane meaningless things and memories that have made this life, well ... exactly what this life is, i should remember these scenes from my everyday...

Only in DH can we see English signboards

Seen at the entry to the carpark - this signage just cracks me up every morning. Give your parking card a couple of strokes and the horizontal barrier magically erects itself allowing you entry!
This is the place where i have spent most of my weekday daylight hours, many nighttime hours and many weekend hours. At least i have a window so i can enjoy the sunshine.

My Money Plant - has long life! Doesn't seem to whittle yet doesn't seem to bloom.

What's on my corkboard / wall - *firm telephone extension list, *firm letterhead evolving since 4 years ago, *pic of the girls Singapore 2003, *pic of the girls at the Dunhill party 2005, *2 pictures of Hershey, *housewarming party invite from Fi and SW 2004, *birthday card 2005 which says "Miss Fit! You're always at the gym do you love it?" hmm..., *firm annual dinner invite 2004, *an article "Working with idiots can kill you!", an article "Weeding out the actors", *a forwarded email which was an inspiration, *Hau Xin Fen Shou (Cando Lo & Lee Hom) lyrics, *website passwords *my 'Losing Weight' detox programme, *some souvenirs from my colleagues *a quote from Garfield "We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot more information in our heads. So I'm not fat, I'm just really intelligent and my head couldn't hold anymore so it started filling up the rest of me!" *a quote (author unknown) "Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's Heaven on Earth" easier said than done! *

What's on the other wall - *Annual Dinner invites 03 & 04, *WWF canoe challenge certificate *name tags from conferences, *pics of Jen & i at EC's wedding

What's on my computer - *toy doggies which were birthday gifts *clay bowl made by karen *desk cleaner from Meals from her japan trip *fitness first 2006 calender

The World of Mystical Animals can be seen at the desk of this secretary

Health notices put up by a disgruntled employee seeking a "smoke free environment"

Yummy yummy lunch at Chef & Brew

Close to the end

2006-10-30T15:53:00.000+08:00

Since the last few working days, i have been busy preparing status reports on my files for handover... i've been sending out goodbye emails to my clients and contacts, to let them know that i have resigned and for some, to say that it had been a pleasure working with them.

it's with a heavy heart that i send those emails. A feeling of nostalgia overcomes me. And i feel a tinge of sadness when they reply to send their good wishes. Quite sad indeed.

Love?

2006-10-24T18:59:00.000+08:00

I heard an add over the radio today. It was a conversation of a couple like on their first date. It went something like this -

W : So... tell me more about yourself...
M : Well, I have a home filled with Italian designer furniture and Persian carpets ...blah blah ...

The conversation then fades off and I hear a blurb about CIMB's latest financing product which gives customers a chance to win a contest to makeover their homes or something like that. And then the conversation comes on again ...

W : Oh! ... I love you!!

I burst out in laughter. It may be seen by some as sexist (I am instantly reminded of the Bufori ad which caused a stir many years ago) but it was flaky and so funny it was a downright joke. Malaysian ads were never appreciated for frank honesty but this ad is waaay deceptive.

Deception 1 : Money cannot buy good taste or style. You may win the dough to get some of that Italian designer furniture, but if u ain't got the taste to put it all together, your home will just look like a crass exhibit of ugliness!

Deception 2 : Designer furniture won't buy you some lovin'! She doesn't get to keep it, does she?? Trust me, if love can be bought, the price to pay would be designer jewelry. Think Harry Winston, Mauboussin and Tiffany. Every woman will say I love you to those! Unless, of course, she had discovered your love for very ugly designer furniture!

Deception 3 : If you are lucky enuf to win a home makeover, you'll be lucky enuf to have a girl tell you she loves you on your first date?? Seriously, how does one come up with such an absurd idea of probability?!

Deception 4 : No girl is gonna say I love you to designer furniture and persian carpets she hasn't seen. You'll have to take her home for that, but that's another hurdle altogether.

It's such a comedy coming from Malaysia's fastest growing banking group. I wonder if CIMB's customers are going out right now to pickout designer furniture or dates who have them.

Bad Butterflies

2006-10-17T18:48:00.000+08:00

Have you ever gotten that sick in the stomach feeling, those bad butterflies swimming inside, making you feel all funny? And no… it’s not the funny (or maybe not so funny) feeling of a hangover…

Like when you got those bad exam results which you thought you’d ace, like when you lose a case which you should have won, like when you find out that a lover has betrayed your trust, or when you have just betrayed a good friend, or when you have no idea where to turn when there’s a life changing decision to make, or like when you have to sit around waiting for news that may be possibly bad…

What’s one to do to get rid of that feeling?

We Didn't Start the Fire

2006-10-14T18:39:00.000+08:00

I heard this Billy Joel song over the radio today. How apt, i thought, for the hazy skies and bleah smells around. None admits responsibility, none takes action. Everyone complains. Sigh...

We didn't start the fire

It was always burning

Since the world's been turning

We didn't start the fire

No we didn't light it

But we tried to fight it

We didn't start the fire

But when we are gone

Will it still burn on, and on, and on, and on...

Hazy

2006-10-12T00:34:00.000+08:00

Recent view from my office room window. Does it look like heaven out there? It sure doesn't smell like it! The haze is back once again. Oh how i miss the sunshine and my sunset views when it's not around...

The Day I Gave Some Away

2006-10-10T21:55:00.000+08:00

i've always wanted to do it, but i've always had excuses not to give... my reason was that i had no time, it was not convenient, busy ... but finally this time there were no more excuses. A company in my office building organised a blood donation drive. With just a lift ride downstairs, i could give some away.

I've heard that giving blood gets rid of old blood and allows the regeneration of new fresh & healthy blood. I've also read online that it reduces the risks of heart disease, lowers cholesterol and according to the Mayo clinic we burn 650 calories by donating blood (*and that's equivalent 2 gym sessions*)!

I've also wanted to determine if i have a fear of blood, and if i did, to overcome it. (*happy to say, i don't have that fear!*)

As a first time donor, i was made to fill out a couple of forms. Some questions really got me wondering ... do you have HIV, hepatitis and a host of other diseases, are you a homosexual, if you are a man have you had sex with another man, are you a drug user, are you a prostitute, have you had sex with a prostitute, do you have multiple sex partners (*one would hope this question was gramatically posed correctly*) is your sex partner any of the above ...

Anyways, upon approving my answers, i was made to lie down and a nurse pricked my vein with a tiny needle and then proceeded to poke a hugeass needle into my vein which connects to a tube and *wowwee* blood started flowing into a bag below. I was made to keep squeezing a tube thingy to ensure the juices kept flowing.

It was all over in less than 5 minutes. 350mls of it came out. i was asked to stay and rest for another 5 minutes. I was then given a drink, some food, some freebies and i walked out the door feeling pretty happy about it.

Fish Jush Does It Again!

2006-10-04T11:18:00.000+08:00

it's Treasure Hunt time again for Team Fish Jush. This time it's a hunt organised by the KL Bar and LexisNexis from KL to Genting this November. We will do better this time and we will win loads of stuff!

**Exciteds**

Lemme know if you're joining ya...

Amazing Angkor

2006-09-30T01:14:00.000+08:00

So they say it's better late than never. Here's some pictures from my not-so-recent trip to Siem Reap last May.

To me, the ruins of Angkor being a UNESCO world heritage site is a must do in one's lifetime. A great experience! but unless you have an immense interest in Khmer history, culture or architecture, two days exploring this ancient city is sufficient to appreciate it fully. A great tip - if you arrive after 5pm and buy a ticket for tomorrow (USD20), you can enter Angkor today for free.

Do buy a guidebook to Angkor - but only at Angkor itself - there are swarms of child peddlers offering guidebooks and souvenirs for sale. So bargain! I bought mine for USD5 but was later offered the same book for USD2 at the end of my trip.

To get around the Angkor cities, we hired a tuktuk for USD10 a day which took us from one site to the other. A tuktuk decently fits 3 persons.

**************************************

Phnom Bakheng

This is where i begin my journey. At the foot of the hill which at the top stands the temple Phnom Bakheng. Great sunset views, apparently

After an arduous climb uphill, finally - the sight of the temple

Only 1001++ more steep steps to go!! I hope the sunset waits for me. These steps are narrow, steep and high. Quite a challenge for someone like me (ie. not a fan of heights)Sunset! I've seen more beautiful sunsets out of my office room window. The sun sets overlooking the Tonle Sap
Devata (female deity)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Angkor Wat

The world's largest religious monument and said to be the grandest of all Khmer temples which was also a city. An architectural masterpiece.
Bright and early at Angkor Wat. It's not even 6am yet.

bas relief - Khemr art on the walls depicting scenes from Hindu epics. the walls are completely covered with carvings like these Angkor Wat is a pyramid of 3 levels. The steps are steep and narrow. Makes me wonder if people then were smaller and had smaller feet.

at the top of the stairs. I have made it!

A nice pic of Angkor Wat taken with the point&shoot function of my Sony camera

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bayon

the complex of face towers.

The Linga. Stylised image of a phallus representing the essence of the god Shiva. Hmm...

-------------------------------------------------------------

Preah Khan

Temple & university built 1191

The heads of these guards crudely hacked off and probably now being displayed by 'collectors'

root of life amid the ruins

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ta Prohm

it's now about 3.30pm. By now, if you've seen one temple, you've seen them all...

...............................................................................

Banteay Srei

The exquisite ' Citadel of the Women' is a small and unique temple 20kms north of Angkor. We had to pay the tuktuk driver an extra USD5 after much haggling.

Siem Reap - out & about

2006-09-29T23:52:00.000+08:00

Where to Stay? of course Siem Reap has its fair share of Sofitels and Le Meridiens on sprawling lush spaces, but USD20 buys a large double room at a conveniently located bed & breakfast complete with ensuite bathroom, TV and aircond.

What to do? Shopping at Old Market. Clothes, knick knacks, jewelry, artwork, you may even be able to buy things that used to live at Ancient Angkor.

Don't feed the crocs! The crocodile pit at the Dead Fish Tower restaurant

To Get Around? Central Siem Reap is so small it is walkable to almost everywhere. But you can tuktuk it for a few USD per ride depending on distance.

Where to Party? What to eat? Central Siem Reap is littered with restaurant & bars catering to the tourist. The food there is just so-so. Unfortunately, i couldn't find an authentic Cambodian restaurant frequented by locals to try out. Saw a couple of roadside stalls but looking at the way the food was prepared, trying it would be a gamble for a tummy upset later. The grog though, was a steal! A can of imported beer (asahi) is USD35cents at the local minimart. The local
Angkor beer is only USD40cents a round!

Amok - The famous cambodian dish of fish prepared with coconut and spices

Pub Street - so aptly named. The street filled with hotels, restaurants and bars filled with tourists.

The Khmer people, although smiling, appear to lead such harsh lives, as if shouldering the weight of their sad history. Beggars litter the street begging for money, but often settling for food. Many of these are limbless amputees, children and mothers with babies. Market traders and tuktuk drivers appear pretty desperate for business. Hanging out in the centre of Siem Reap made me feel really homesick.

Hilary's Full Moon

2006-09-27T17:50:00.000+08:00

Lovely baby Hilary... welcome to life!

Livin' La Vida

2006-09-13T18:34:00.000+08:00

It was the firm's Annual Dinner & Dance over last weekend. The theme was Livin' La Vida ... (think i saw some matadors, zorros and flamenco dancers scurrying about) There wasn't much of an ADD feel around the firm this year and I was not too excited about attending the Dinner but I had to be there since i was coerced into participating in the Top Guns team's talentime performance. In the end, it was heaploads of fun and I had a great time partying with my friends and colleagues.

pre dinner drinks at the dinner table - chili anyone?Top Guns preformed a 'Story of Dance' a series of 5 different dances that moved through different aspects, themes and times.

This is the tribal cavemen dance which kicked off the performance

FAME! (or so we thought)

presenting... my supergroovy FAME outfit! complete with psychedelic shirt, yellow leggings and polkadotted headband

some afterpary/party shots

trying to act cool/cute at the end of the night

F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S!!

2006-09-12T12:42:00.000+08:00

Recently i met up for a fabulous time with the FABulous ms. frou f r o u. Had a good time catching up over a bottle of wine (*hic!*) at LunaBar. frou f r o u whipped out her camera and took this fab pic.

About Men

2006-09-08T17:23:00.000+08:00

I was sent this by a man who appreciates a good joke.
Another man called the originator of this (*jokingly *i think*) an f.c.s (female chauvinist sow)

Heh. I just think it's funny. :)

1. Men are like ...Laxatives ..... They irritate the crap out of you.

2. Men are like....Bananas ....... The older they get, the less firm they are.

3. Men are like ......Weather ..... Nothing can be done to change them.

4. Men are like Blenders .... You need One, but you're not quite sure why.

5. Men are like .....Chocolate Bars .... Sweet, smooth, & they usually head right for your hips.

6. Men are like ... Commercials ...... You can't believe a word they say.

7. Men are like Department Stores .... Their clothes are always 1/2 off.

8. Men are like ......Government Bonds .... They take soooooooo long to mature.

9. Men are like ....Mascara .... They usually run at the first sign of emotion.

10. Men are like... Popcorn .... They satisfy you, but only for a little while.

11. Men are like Snowstorms .... You never know when they're coming, how many inches you'll get or how long it will last.

12. Men are like ........Lava Lamps ... Fun to look at, but not very bright.

13. Men are like... Parking Spots .... All the good ones are taken, the rest are handicapped.

It's finally Friday and I have survived my first week back at work after a long vacation. What's not funny is that I'll probably have to work this weekend.

Sydney (Part 2) - Pictures

2006-08-23T07:34:00.000+08:00

balcony view from where i'm staying

a sunny day at Bondi beach

a piece from Milenko Prvacki at the Museum of Contemporary Art. He said "I do not trust cheap shoes or easy art". How true it is! I wore a pair of new (cheap) shoes and within 10 minutes i was blistered. CH had to get me a pair of (not-so-cheap) flipflops so i could continue on walking.

Sydney Opera House

A japanese choir singing outside the Opera House. An attempt for an opportunity to sing inside?

view of the city from the Opera House

Sydney (Part 1)

2006-08-22T07:25:00.000+08:00

I've been in this wonderful city for 4 days. The weather has been so welcoming. Considering it's winter, its been a warm and sunny couple of days so far with an average temperature of 20°c .

I have been eating heaps - yumchaed at a chinese restaurant, pigged out on seafood at the FishMarket, and the fine dining restaurants here are fantastic - we've got a booking at Tetsuya's.

What i found so beautiful about Sydney is how everything is so near the water, and how there is vast spaces of grenery everywhere. To get into the city from where i'm staying, i've got to take a 10 minute stroll past the Domain park and the Royal Botanic Garden. It is heartwarming to see people out and about running, taking walks, playing ballgames and lazing on the lawns enjoying lunch in the sunshine.

Certain things and parts of Sydney remind me so much of life in Melbourne. Such as the little shops and restaurants, the seagulls, the grenery, the fluctuating petrol prices and (this i almost forgot!) the window-washing service at traffic lights. And, oh yeah, the shopping! I'll save the shopping for another blog entry.

It's all been so far bonbons superbes.

Deleted!

2006-08-06T09:21:00.000+08:00

A couple of months ago - one Mr. Kewl, an acquaintance, sent me an SMS. On hindsight, it was probably one of those mass SMS that a person would send, like a happy new year sms or some sort like that. The SMS went some sort like this -

Mr. Kewl : Hey ... how's it going? Long time no hear ... it's been awhile ...

I was pretty surprised. I didn't realise he was one of those whom i would hear from. But anyways, fingerfries sent a reply a while later -

fingerfries : Hey, things are going well (*blah blah*)... How are you?

I never received a reply. That kinda irked me, cos unreplied questions in an SMS is a pet peeve of mine. I wondered what makes a mere acquaintance be keen to hear from me but when heard, not want to let me hear from him? Why would one want to send that general SMS anyways? Was it to solicit a response or a possible night out? Was it to confirm that one is still in the address books? Or to finish up unused phone credits and to keep one in the memory of others?

A few days ago, i received another SMS from Mr. Kewl -

Mr. Kewl : Hey How u doing? Long time no hear... time flies...

I am just dumbfounded. Delete. Delete.

Moving Up Moving On

2006-08-02T21:48:00.000+08:00

In the last year, I have had quite a few friends move up, move on or move away. Some moved back to their hometowns to be with their families, one got married and moved halfway round the world. A few saw their career taking off and taking them south to Sg or north to Bkk and and some even further to UK and US. Some moved on to a different career or life path altogether. All have gone in search for new life experiences and adventures.

I wonder what makes a person take that first step and make that leap to move on and move up. What does it take for a person to leave one's comfort zone and to seek the unventured? And i wonder how one tells it's time to move.

Luckily for me, some friends have moved on and moved up to KL and can hang out with me more often.

Saturday night @ Laundry

Next Destination

2006-07-27T22:08:00.000+08:00

Next Destination : Sydney 18 August 2006
I'm so excited I can hardly wait!

DVeight

2006-07-22T14:29:00.000+08:00

I received a call from the hair salon that i have been frequenting since the beginning of the year. They informed me that the salon DVeight is no longer in operations. It's sad. Tragic even. Just when i found a stylist that i really like, I now can't go back to her anymore. And so now i need to search for a new place to go to. Any recommendations?

Technophobia?

2006-07-20T09:23:00.000+08:00

I learnt a new word last night : luddite n. one who opposes technical or technological change.

A related word : technophobia : n. fear of or aversion to technology, especially computers and high technology

To a certain extent, these words sort of describe me. i am so not a techie and i have have not seen a need to embrace technological change unless really necessary. But it's now time to evolve and embrace change and step into the high tech world. It's my challenge. One step into this challenge is by starting this blog - I've learnt many things i never believed i could understand!

Another new word of the other extreme end of technology : technopheliac - A person who is constantly buying new technology (cell phones, mp3 players, etc) for the purpose of showing them off. A person that just "bleeds" technology. comes from technophile and hemopheliac. (source - urbandictionary.com)

Thanks CH for the vocab lesson and the bedtime stories. :)

Amazing Azzurri!

2006-07-10T18:52:00.000+08:00

Its 7.30pm and I'm still standing. After only 2 hours of sleep last night.

It was the result of an event that happens once every 4 years. Last night was the night the World Cup 2006 final match was played which saw Italy's Amazing Azzurri win the World Cup after a penalty shootout against France.

I supported the Italian team. For sentimental reasons - i supported the Italian team the first year i started to follow the WC, for the fact that they turned out to be an excellent team this year, and mostly because the Azzurri have great hair and great tattoos.

The heated drama-filled match which started at 2am ended at close to 5am. We watched it at Slippery Senorita (again) where a table was booked a week ago. And having a full day at work today, I have survived the day with endless cups of coffee and doing brainless work.

And with the end of the WC, I feel a sense of emptiness... we are left wondering what do we do now when we hang out. What were our nights before the WC? What will we talk about during our lunch breaks? When will I take my huge WC chart off my office wall?

A sprinke of jerks

2006-07-04T18:26:00.000+08:00

Don't you just wonder why we meet them, love them, hate them and can't get rid of them?? Heh! Now you know...

Another funny one from Larson

Surprise Birthday Cookout

2006-06-29T17:27:00.000+08:00

Surprise! My friends threw me a BBQ pool party for my birthday. I am really touched by the amount of thought, effort and planning that had taken place in organising this event. It's pretty amazing! They had it perfected right down to the finest details - the best cut of meat from the early morning TTDI market, the menu & drink list, the kamdar table cloth, the ikea serviettes and the pink aprons. And all this time, trying to keep it a secret from me!

It was great to spend the day with you peeps. You guys made growing older kinda fun!

I absolutely loved the personalised menu! It's a nice tribute to all our pups who were unable to make it to the party at the barbie

This sweetie bartender makes the meanest cocktails

This homemade tiramisu is seriously *yummy*

Yes, i'm finally turning one!

Out of the Dinosaur ages

2006-06-28T17:33:00.000+08:00

Yay! i am now interneted during daylight hours which means i am finally out of the dinosaur ages. My office has revised its policy a few days ago and is now allowing us access to the world wide web. Almost immediately, my colleagues and i started to IM each other on MSN messenger and searching for cute emoticons. And it's funny how we now communicate via MSN instead of our office emails like we used to do.

With the advent of the internet, will I be more productive at work? So far, the internet has been quite useful as i have been updating myself with the happenings on and off pitch of the World Cup 2006. I am sure i'll be more productive after the World Cup season.

And since i'm writing about dinosaurs, here's a real funny one from Gary Larson -

Slippery Senorita Birthday

2006-06-27T20:01:00.000+08:00

At Slippery Senoritas with my favourite bunch of colleagues. Look what I got for my 18th birthday (Yes, the card does say 18) ?? It's a stickerbook!! In line with the World Cup mood, they got me a six-pack of footballers as well (erm... I mean a packet of stickers of football players). Too bad that the footballers were neither the yummy hairpulling footballers or the ones that i can actually name.

Slippery Senoritas - the food's not exciting, the drinks aren't cheap and the waitstaff are quite blur, but on the brighter side, you can get takeaways from the pizza place next door and its a great place to watch the matches during this World Cup season.

World Cup Fever

2006-06-11T16:19:00.000+08:00

I have just caught the bug! It's World Cup time ... time to spend a month watching 22 men chasing after the one ball on the football field. Let's hope this season's World Cup will see a display of matches filled with excitement, goals and good looking men!

Here are my World Cup 2006 favourite team picks :

England : because everyone else loves England, I'm jumping on the bandwagon
Australia : for sentimental reasons
Sweden : What can i say? I like Swede men
Germany : According to a friend, home ground advantage pushes a team one and a half rounds further
Brazil : historical favourites ... because history always repeats itself
Angola : this sad country's maiden appearance in the World Cup. Supportlah

On Friendships

2006-06-11T13:25:00.000+08:00

As i watched the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2006 at Souled Out waiting excitedly for the first World Cup 2006 match to begin (Germany v Costa Rica, the Germans won 4:2 *yay*), I received a phone call from PL. She says she just saw Roberto Baggio on TV. She wanted to tell me that reminded her of World Cup 1994 when i was so starstruck over Baggio i stuck a picture of Baggio on my pencil case. And now, many years later, after the pencil case and the picture of that great footballer has long ago disappeared, i am so glad that our friendship stays true till this day.

Here's to friendships of a lifetime

I am so lucky to have the great friends that i have. But sometimes i can't help but to wonder, which hurts more - the loss of a friendship, or the realisation that there never was a friendship?

The Great Singapore ...

2006-06-03T22:44:00.000+08:00

Rocked down south to Sg recently on the First Coach to seekout great buys at the Great Singapore Sale and for a great birthday celebration.

It was my first time on First Coach. It turned out to be a very pleasant coachride, with the coach departing punctually at 7.30 am (it's early i know... *yawn*). The coach was clean and the seats were comfy, i could recline and plonk my foot up onto a footrest. Although the coach was full, the passengers were all well-behaved and were quick at the reststop and there were no snorers or screaming kids. I'd definitely recommend the First Coach to travel down. My only complaint was that i could not purchase my ticket online and the ticket had to be collected at least 3 days before the date of travel. A big thanks to Lis who booked and collected my ticket. You're such a darling!

It was the first weekend of the Great Singapore Sale. And along the shopping paradise of Orchard Road, mobs and mobs of Singaporeans and tourists filled the malls in a buying frenzy. The sales were great! Too bad i didn't have that unlimited spending capacity.

Some pics of the weekend :

Dinner @ Sage, the Restaurant at Robertson Walk. This cozy little restaurant was definitely a great idea! *yummy*

Grr... it's COLD @ Eski Bar. Freezing in Singapore's first subzero temperature bar. Luckily we were provided with these eski warmers, if not, i would have been frozen in that dress!

The Freezer. Vodka shots in Russia anyone?

Big smiles after a successful shopping trip. Chilling out at Alley Bar.

A Chic Affair

2006-06-03T22:19:00.000+08:00

EC & M's wedding was simply perfect. I am really happy and touched to have been a part of the splendour.

Grease! It's still the word

2006-05-15T23:07:00.000+08:00

I've made plans to watch the musical Grease! It's still the word at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. I have confessed to several friends, and i confess here ... that I 've yet to watch Grease - the movie. Friends were shocked. How could i not have seen THE MOVIE? Although i have not seen the movie, i know just about all the songs (and sung and danced to quite a few of them), and i know the main casts - John Travolta when he was young and hot and Olivia Newton-John and i know it's a story about a good girl meets bad boy and they live happily ever after, a storyline which in today's world so passe.

Let's hope it'll be a good night out!

Working?

2006-05-09T19:49:00.000+08:00

Not a very bad way to spend a working afternoon...

Team Fish Jush

2006-05-07T17:31:00.000+08:00

Hospis Malaysia's 5th Charity Hunt was our second attempt at treasure hunting. This time, our team name Fish Jush was coined - from a combo of parts of our names. Excited we were to enter this hunt, after a fun first experience at the KL Bar Treasure Hunt a few months back.

With barely 3 hours of sleep after a pretty late Friday night, I was awake even before my alarm buzzed, frantically getting ready for my pickup was at 5.15am. Thanks to the determination and persistence of my eager teamies, we arrived at the flagoff point as car no.3 in good time for the coveted early bird prize! It was well worth the effort as our Glibert (our trusted treasure hunting car) had the his picture in The Star the next day, as we were flagged off by OKT.

The hunt was from KL to the finishing point at Gopeng, with a hunting trail along the towns of Rawang, Bidor, Tapah and Kampar. Thereafter, an overnighter at a hotel at Cameron Highlands where prize-giving dinner was held.

Did we get smarter in these few months? This time round, the hunt was just as trilling and nail-biting as our previous hunt (this time, our computer crashed on us *argh!!*), but we felt that the questions were less stupefying and significantly easier... we were on a roll answering the questions and figuring out the treasures!!

Still, there were a few questions that got us dumbstruck. For example, The Question : "He sells Fords, perhaps?" We went with the answer "Michael something". Obvious choice, right? Who hasn't heard of a Michael that sells Fords?! Nope! The Answer : Focus Dispensary... [being a play on a Ford motorvehicle model] WTF!!! We went round and round a road of two blocks desperately trying to figure out the answers. At that point, with our eyes almost popping out of their sockets we could almost regurgitate all the names of the shops on those blocks!

At the end of the race, we managed to rock up to the finishing point well before cut-off time, and being like the 5th car to arrive. At the prize giving dinner, it was a great delight to hear team Fish Jush being called as 8th place winners, with 77 out of 90 points, losing to last year's grand prize winners on a tie-break. I felt really happy, for having done so well, but yet, i felt sad, as we could have done so much better (ie. 4th place) if only we could have managed to find and purchase the treasure we were looking for, and if only we gave the right answer which we had considered but disregarded as being too far fetched. Sigh! If only!!

Here are some tips on how to compete in a treasure hunt with style : 1. Girls, try to get the organisers to let you have a kiddies' tee-shirt. Even S size tees are waaay too big. Do manufacturers think that Malaysians are that fat? 2 . When you have identified a treasure, start locating it immediately. Don't wait! You may not find it at later stops. 3. Be wary of spies! When you have located a treasure, casually look around you for spies before you attempt to pickup and purchase the treasure. 4. if there are spies who won't budge from behind you, throw them off scent. Buy the treasure together with several other (incorrect) treasures.

I can't wait for the next treasure hunt!

What Not to Do at a Club

2006-04-15T22:21:00.000+08:00

Do not consume so much alcohol that you spew your guts out onto your friends and unfortunate acquaintances, that you are so passed out that your body slides itself off the sofa and you lay on the floor and become the carpet, that you are so passed out that your jaw drops ajar and your mouth is opened in a compromising position, that you will need a few kind strangers to carry your body into a car.

But if you must, do all that, do not do it in a miniskirt.

But if you must, do all that in a miniskirt, at least make sure you have great looking legs and thighs.

And if you want pictures of what not to do at a club, send me an email.

Sexy Pink

2006-04-11T22:22:00.000+08:00

Last weekend... an event details of which not to be spoken of. Some sneaks...

Good vs Evil

2006-04-08T15:21:00.000+08:00

Good or Evil : which will prevail?

When you read GOOD you will read EVIL. Is it a visual concept that good only exist in the presence of evil? Perhaps what makes something good is the possibility of something evil?

You've Got a Friend

2006-03-31T12:03:00.000+08:00

Nothing brings out the beauty of true fiendships like a special occasion. This special occasion was a wedding celebration which brought together friends from near and far to begin festivities as early as 7.30 am. On a very early Sunday morning, the girls chee muis had gathered early to strategise on the games and tasks to be with the boys heng tais!

Ally holds a tray of 5 glasses of a concoction consisting of tabasco sauce, bittergourd juice, honey and lemon. The tasks is for 5 of the groom's men to drink this potion which symbolises the many taste and flavours in a marriage. We were later told by the boys that it was really yummy!!

Sharon holds the boys' reward for their hard work ... BEER!

The groom arrives, a little late, but in style!

For a best friend, this heng tai walks a mile in stockings and stilettos for the groom to pick up his bride. This is how it feels like to be a girl!

The boys eagerly await their next challenge while enjoying their reward

The groom takes on his challenge : to list down 5 bad habits and wow to change them.

The groom passes the test with flying colours and the chee muis gladly permitted him to pick up his bride.

The girls after a Klang bak kut teh brunch

At the dinner reception

Friends at work - the girls man the reception and the guys shoutout the time!

Surprise! a rendition to great friends

The best man and maid of honour

the mcs

Everything

2006-03-19T17:27:00.000+08:00

Song-of-the-moment (listening to repeatedly) : Lifehouse's Everything, a song found on the Smallville soundtrack. It's just beautiful and the lyrics captivates me. Hanging By a Moment and You & Me are other excellent tracks by them.

find me here / and speak to me / I want to feel you / I need to hear you

you are the light / that's leading me / to the place / where I find peace again

you are the strength / that keeps me walking

you are the hope / that keeps me trusting

you are the life / to my soul / you are my purpose / you're everything

and how can I / stand here with you / and not be moved by you

would you tell me how could it be / any better than this

you calm the storms / and you give me rest

you hold me in your hands /you won't let me fall

you still my heart / you take my breath away

would you take me in / take me deeper now

cause you're all I want / you're all I need / you're everything everything

you're all I want / you're all I need / you're everything everything

would you tell me / how could it be / any better than this

and how can I / stand here with you

and not be moved by you / would you tell me

and how could it be / any better than this

would you tell me / how could it be / any better than this

Karen & Kent

2006-03-12T19:12:00.000+08:00

Karen recently celebrated her marriage to Kent, her longtime sweetheart with a reception at Renaissance Hotel. Longtime - as in, they've been going out since i first knew her, which was (i think) during my fourth year in Monash *many years ago*. Although we knew of each other before then, we never actually got to know each other until we took a class together. Since then, we hung out loads together during uni days with our other friends *shopping/eating/partying/movies/holidays*. Karen, thanks for being a great friend. Congratulations gal!

PS : I loved the personalised heart pillows and the choc strawberries in the suite!

Simple Ways to Get Smarter

2006-03-12T13:48:00.000+08:00

I recently read that mental exercises can boost brain power by 40% in a week. Some of these (which looks pretty easy and doable) are :

controlling the computer mouse with the wrong hand
walking around at home blindfolded
doing puzzles, memorizing lists
brushing your teeth with the wrong hand
playing games such as Scrabble & charades

I'm already used to controlling the computer mouse with the 'wrong' hand. For the past few days i've been trying to brush my teeth with the 'wrong' hand. That hasn't been easy and my teeth don't feel very clean!! I've needed to complete the brushing with the 'right' hand.

Let me know if you think i'm getting smarter!

Girlie Weekend

2006-03-06T22:54:00.000+08:00

Enjoyed a most amazing weekend with the girls in celebration for a very special girlfriend and her very special occasion.

An early start with a leisurely breakfast @ LaBodega at an early 10am *ok… so we were a little late…*

At noon, we rocked up to Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa. After checking in and our initial hiccup with the rooms allocated by the hotel (we were given rooms where the terrace faced the back of a restaurant where we could appreciate the buzz of the aircond vent / extractor fan), we enjoyed a couple of hours by the pool chilling and soaking up the glorious sunshine, drinking ice-cold beer and hanging out whilst waiting for our individual spa session appointments.

Spa @ Sembunyi – After a relaxing dip in the Jacuzzi bath I went for a ‘Rub-A-Dub-Dub’ body scrub. It started with a quick massage followed by a traditional lulur rub (lulur is a blend of rice powder, round tumeric, tamarind & jasmine) and another massage and finally a cold yoghurt rub. After the session, I felt relaxed and rejuvenated and my skin felt totally refreshed. Just heavenly!!

Dinner @ Bistro Cascata – At sunset, the girls glammed up for dinner at the hotel italian fusion restaurant and dessert at the poolside. As for the rest of the night, it was spent with sharing girly talks and enjoying our own company.

We met up at breakfast the next morning and after that it was another beautiful day at the pool before checking out and kissing goodbyes. A most perfect weekend. When can we do it again, girls??

KL Bar Treasure Hunt

2006-03-03T09:23:00.000+08:00

Participated in a treasure hunt organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar. It's a motoring hunt from KL to Malacca with a time given of 8 hours. The objective of the hunt is to search for answers to questions, which are found along the way (on signboards, roadsigns, graffiti etc) and to collect treasures which must be first deciphered from the cryptic clues given. A 5 question bonus consisting of legal related question were also given. Each car should consist of a driver and navigator and 2 passengers.

We prepared ourselves well for the hunt - printout of information on the KLBar, dictionaries of sorts, laptops, we looked at possible treasures, attempted a mini dry run and collated information that may help along the way.

The hunt was flagged off from the Swedish Marque in Sungei Besi and cars were handed with the questions and tulips, which are simple directions which would lead us from one place to the next - Sungei Besi - Cheras - Kajang - Serembam - Malacca.

The hunt was an adrenaline rush the whole way!! Taking things at a leisurely pace at the initial legs of the Hunt, we later raced against time from one leg to the other, rushing for time (late arrivals are penalised) and brainstorming throwing out suggestions and questions and possible answers to our teammates and calling out with joy when an answers were found. At some points we found ourselves walking up and down busy roads under the scorching sun trying to find answers, which we later realised were either right in front of us or nowhere within where we were looking.

There were also tense and nailbiting moments in the car - when we made some mistakes and had gotten lost on a driving misadventure in Seremban with it's lunch hour traffic! And blazing down the highway at over limit speed and barely making it to the Ayer Keroh rest stop in time! And the rush run into a shop to purhase a treasure (which turned out incorrect anyway - *keep the change!*) and the chock-a-block traffic on Jongker St.

In the end, we completed the hunt and reached the pit stop Riviera Bay Resort albeit slightly delayed and with a deduction of a couple of marks.

The next day was a treasure hunt of a different kind - one that satisfies the tummy and the soul! Chicken rice balls and cendol - true Malacca specialities, although we were disappointed with the cendol. A leisure walk down Jongker Walk looking at tourists treasures. A treasure we couldn't find was Satay Celup - apparently the shop only opens at night. At our destination (home! KL!) we chowed down our favourite lat tong (spicy soup with porky stuff inside). Yummy!

I hope to participate in another treasure hunt (*soon*). The weekend sure made me wanna join the Amazing Race.

@ flagoff : team 15 & team 16

randomly snapping possible clues to answers.

Nope, it wasn't the right answer!

Hershey & Chino

2006-02-05T19:01:00.000+08:00

Here's two recent pics of my babes...

Steamboat CNY

2006-02-05T18:05:00.000+08:00

CNY dinner steamboat style. A wide selection of goodies feast upon - including handmade wontons & meatballs, a variety of mushrooms, seafood and abalone (thanks for my share, guys *yummy*) After dinner was another round of visits to the house of lucky jacks and delicious cheesecake (thanks for the compliments peeps!). Big thanks to the gracious host & hostess for a great night.

artistic? corn eaten intricately

Happy Chinese New Year

2006-01-28T19:17:00.000+08:00

11 yr old Malaysian artist with autistic savant Ping Lian has done this country proud when he held his debut art exhibition in newyork. His piece 'Still Life - A Basket of Fruits I' (below) graced the cover of a Chinese New Year greeting card recently.

Happy Chinese New Year! Welcome the year of the dog!

Speed Trills

2006-01-27T19:21:00.000+08:00

As a birthday surprise for a trill seeker friend, a gokart event was held at the Shah Alam Circuit. For many, including myself, it was our first and very exciting karting experience. Adorned with 'shower caps' beneath our safety helmets we took to the track in style. With scorching heat bets were made and sides were taken. Entertainment was plentiful - some went on a 'road less travelled', some spun, some crashed and one had a pillow overboard! Prizes went to the best drivers.
An afternoon of fast cars, beer & sunshine. Go team josh!

Banished!

2006-01-10T14:59:00.000+08:00

Lake Superior State University recently released their 2006 list of words and phrases that should be banished from the Queen's English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness.

A few interesting ones are :

AN ACCIDENT THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN - ... so, do some accidents did have to happen? ... would it still be an accident?

97% FAT FREE - ... with 3% pure gunks of fat. Healthy? Nope, it's delusional!

BREAKING NEWS - Ron Jeremy pledged to keep delivering "I'm still working ... as long as the penis works I'm going to exploit it," he said. Is that breaking news!/headline worthy?

And a few more from previous years :

ALL NEW - in reference to TV shows... what's the diff b/w ' all new' and just simply 'new'?

CAPTURED ALIVE - How else could capture be? Captured dead?

SWEAT LIKE A PIG - Argh! Pigs can't sweat!

BLING-BLING - overused for glitter glitter decorative material

LOL - in IM land ... does anyone actually laugh out loud?

POSSIBLE CHOICES - ... and the impossible choices are?

RM10 fine

2006-01-07T20:02:00.000+08:00

it's now been decided that the powers that be, Mykad applicants who failed to meet the 31Dec05 deadline must pay a RM10 fee. after my one failed attempt to apply for a Mykad before the deadline, i'm glad i didn't join the bandwagon of the truckloads of people who scrambled to get the 'free' Mykad by starting to queue at NRDs as early as 4am during the last couple of days before the year end.

Hmm... sometimes procrastination doesn't bring that much trouble!

Happy 2006!

2006-01-02T15:22:00.000+08:00

Happy 2006 peeps! May it be a fantastic and productive year for us!

Bring on 2006 - NYE @ the penthouse. Awesome view of the fireworks. great music. lots of food. lots of drinks.

To old friends & new friends, it was great spending the night with u guys. *smuacks*

view from the top - fireworks!

farewell 2005 : reading of the 2005 resolutions.

Christmas Christmas Christmas

2005-12-25T16:27:00.000+08:00

lunch @ Delicious - some salad, some breakfast - mushy burgers taking too long - a late arrival dressed in style of Laura Ashley - a choc brownie sent over by a *ahem* client - to dig in or not? who's first? - click click clicks - next table with his mama, a very good looking albeit vain male specimen *he keeps checking himself out in the mirror!* - my q: why the smile? her a: smiling is good (!!??!) his comment : that's the lamest excuse ever

yin

2005-12-25T15:58:00.000+08:00

met up with yin. she's back with phil to throw her wedding party. it was so great to see you again, to hangout, chat and have fun. eventho we are now worlds apart and on a different life tangent. gal, i love u and i am so happy for you. And i promise no more one-liner emails!

in 2 weeks

2005-12-17T11:17:00.000+08:00

in two blinks, the year is almost done. in just two weeks, we'll be celebrating to greet another new year, and saying goodbye to 2005.

it's time to clear remaining days of leave, to live for a few days like an unemployed, to recharge for a next year.

it's time to look back at this year that flew past so quickly, and to think of what mistakes (if any) we've made which we wouldn't want to make in the next, the experiences which we'd want to treasure for years to come, and for those who made them, to determine whether we've kept any of our 2005 resolutions. i made three. And i kept two of the easier ones. and yes, guys, i still have that resolution jar...

and maybe it's time - to reaccess and rediscover and perhaps reinvent.

Mykad Mayhem

2005-12-08T11:54:00.000+08:00

question : what do i wear for a picture of a lifetime? My mykad picture...
got to maju junction at 9am. and already there were mobs mobs and truckloads of people there - all rushing to apply to mykad before the 31dec deadline. i stood in line for my number - 3762 and at that point number 3073 was being processed. Wtf!! 700 people ahead of me! The man behind the counter told me to come back after 5! *govt dept working overtime??!*
had b/fast at starbucks. flipped through the latest bazaar and read a few chapters of my latest read (marian keyes - the other side of the story) and it was still only 10.20am. want to hit the shops... but looks like they don't open till 11.
2nd question : what do i do till 5? i can't possibly hangout in this hole for 7 hours, and endure a peakhour drive back at the end of it all.

and so i went to try my luck at the pj outlet. but as my luck would have it, when i got there i was informed "nombor sudah habis!" and he added "come back 7.30am tomolo!"

i can't be arsed to drive all the way down to maju junction to become no. 3762 and back.

slap me with the fine. Mykad is now on my 2006 to do list.

Detox Plan (Part 2)

2005-12-04T00:45:00.000+08:00

Detox Diet Day #4 :
[Day #4 : Up to 3 glasses of milk and up to 8 bananas]
I imagined it to be the worst day of this detox week since i don’t take bananas - haven't eaten one in like a million years (banana fritters excluded) and i am no fan of plain boring milk. But i've suprised myself again. It went well. i found that i didn’t dislike the taste of bananas quite as much as i thought i did. i didn’t even need all 8 bananas to keep myself from being hungry.

Detox Diet Day #5 :
[Day #5 : Boiled or sprouted black gram (or kidney beans) + up to 6 tomatoes]

No one knew what black gram is. And kidney beans??? Urgh! And so we modified the plan a little.

For lunch i had some tomatoes, boiled broadbeans, steamed sprouted beans and steamed chickpeas. A bean or not a bean?? Fi was certain “those are PEAS!!! Not beans-lah…” Ls later googled and confirmed that "chickpeas are actually beans" … oh well…

Day #5 @ 5.30pm : still pretty full from lunch. My colleagues .. one has gone out of jurisdiction and has given up. Three plan to give up ‘after office hours’ and at 5.45 they’ll be going for their oreo binge…. Should I join them??? It’s so tempting!
i did. in the end, everyone caved. those oreos were just too irrisistable! must go gym. must work out. must work out.

Decided to 'relax' the diet plan. i can start to enjoy normal food but i resolve to finish up all the detox food i still have in the fridge - and that includes more broadbeans, tomatoes, cucumbers, sprouted beans and salad.

Detox Diet - The End Result :

By the end of day 5, i feel cleansed, i feel healthier, my skin feels cleaner (alto i can't dare say 'looks better' ... heh...), and i lost 2 kgs (and you may say 'what weight do i have left to lose' and i will say 'i can see my fats even if you can't!'). I now view food in a different light - i appreciate it in its most natural form and yet, i want to enjoy all the taste that junk and processed food brings, in moderation. and, ... and this is important, i know i don't have an addiction to anything *wink*

i'm glad my colleagues did this detox plan with me. i wouldn't have made it without them. it was motivational and was lots of laughs with the constant group emails complaining about hunger and cravings and calculating how many mini bananas make one giant banana. and of course the banana jokes.

Eventhough i didn't make the whole 7 days i am happy with my first ever attempt to diet. i think i am going to repeat this diet, once in a while.

Detox Plan

2005-11-30T21:30:00.000+08:00

Detox Diet Day #1
[Day #1 : to consume only all fruits [except bananas and other sweet fruits]

I am on a detox diet for a week together with a few colleagues. According to fi, following the Detox Diet, we will ‘lose weight and have clear skin’ in just 4 days. Besides a strict diet everyday, detox also means, to those who indulge no tea/coffee, no alcohol and no cigarettes.

The reason for this diet : to attempt to feel more energised, to be in a better mood, less lethargic, healthier, a challenge to myself … and I need to determine if a holistic no-meat, no processed food all natural diet actually works!

I’m glad my colleagues are attempting this diet together with me. I imagine me on my detox diet whilst my colleagues enjoy a hearthy lunch and me sitting there stuffing my face with an apple just watching. That would be the saddest thing!

Day #1 consumption : 2 large pears, 2 large apples, 2 tomatoes, half a pomelo, 3 litres of water.
Midway through day #1 @ 4pm : I feel bloated with liquid but yet empty. Lightheaded. Irritable. Sleepy. Blur. Hungry. Just cannot eat another piece of fruit!
End of day #1 : I feel happy. My mood is elevated. I have made it through day #1.

Detox Diet Day #2
[Day #2 : to consume only all boiled vegetables or salads except potatoes]

Day #2 consumption : corn, broccoli, snow peas shoots and cucumber, vegetable soup.

Day #2 : Physically I feel better than yesterday. No more of that lightheaded and bloated feeling although I still feel sleepy all day. Had strong cravings! For peanut butter biscuits, burgers & fries and chocolate cake. Feeling cold from the air-conditioner in the office. Surprised myself with a good workout at the gym.

My colleagues are thinking of calling it quits already. Must convince them not to.

Detox Diet Day #3
[Day #3 : combination of Day #1 and Day #2]
It was a breeze. Didn't even need coffee.

Bday @ Loft

2005-11-30T21:12:00.000+08:00

Was at Loft to celebrate at's birthday. Lots of drinks. Lots of friends. Lots of fun. Lots of pictures - thanks to ls the photographer for the night.

A & N

2005-11-27T22:14:00.000+08:00

Was invited to another wedding - this is of Al, a partner in crime during the not-so-long-ago pupilage days, to his longtime sweetheart Nic. I think they make the cutest cutest most adorable couple.

Al reads his wows...

Road Map

2005-11-22T19:51:00.000+08:00

I need to get to (what i see it to be) some obscure place tomorrow. Having no idea whatsoever how to get there, i asked al for directions via msn. as always, she's my one phonecall for kl city directions. she spent 1/2 an hour detailing (*very patiently*) the step by step approach of how to get from where i would depart right to my destination. and dearest al even drew up a sightseeing programme for me - things to see along the way!

In her words "Start with Royal Selangor Club, followed by Dayabumi, then, National Mosque, Chinese Assembly Hall, VI and Pudu Jail and further ahead Berjaya Times Square"

Thanks gal! You're a lifesaver!

post road trip : the directions and the sights were just perfect!

Saturday...

2005-11-19T05:27:00.000+08:00

it's Saturday afternoon. i should be home watching my dvds, or out shopping, catching up with friends or doing anything else that rewards me for having survived a long and gruesome week. but instead- today- i have to attend to work commitments and i have to work. Sigh. do i see light at the end of the tunnel? as i look out my window - i see - it's pouring outside.

Here's a cute pic forwarded recently. Caveat! it's not relective of my sentiments.

stick with u

2005-11-15T22:48:00.000+08:00

It just seems like nowadays when the days go by so quickly, the only time i meet and catch up with most of my friends are at weddings. This time round, it's wc's turn. It was great to meet everyone and their partners and to hear all about the who where when whys, and to reminisce about the past - the good ol' fun days when we saw one another practically everyday. And it was great to greet the future and what lies ahead with all the cheering and the yamsengs! And of course there was me saying a couple of times : "err ... who's that ... i can't remember his name..."

In the spirit of love and romance and everything nice, this is a little bit from the song stickwitu by the pussycat dolls. wc, may you have a wonderful journey ahead.

Nobody's going to love me better I must stick with you

Forever

Nobody's going to take me higher I must stick with you

You know how to appreciate me I must stick with you

My baby

Nobody ever made me feel this wayI must stick with you

And yes, that's my most-listened-to- song of the week!

Advice of the week

2005-11-15T22:43:00.000+08:00

Twentysomething father to be : Don’t go looking for men in clubs and discos… those are all not good men … look for them at uncle pubs… or better yet – at libraries.

Fingerfries says :??!!?!?! hmm… ok …err... now, where’s the nearest library?