The Tie That Binds

You know what is awesome about having my dad as my dad? Free hotel stays.

Earlier this year, the family crossed a famous Malaysian bridge for a much-anticipated escape from the drama of the city.

The city is awesome in its own way but honestly, nothing beats good ol' sea and sand. There's just something about the blue-green colour of the large spread of salted water, the roars of the waves as they come crashing onto shore and the feel of every itsy bitsy grain of soft sand on your bare feet that sweep your worries away for that little while. Pop Jason Mraz's I'm Yours into the stereo and i've got myself a mini-heaven...

I love going on holidays with my cousins. They are mature enough for me to share some of my stories with yet childish enough for me to do silly things with. Nobody is there to judge anybody. It's just a get-together promising super fun times.

I remember going to Kek Lok Si years ago during a tuition trip but somehow, try as hard as i could, i cannot remember anything about it. Maybe i was too young back then to give a rat's ass about a temple. Or maybe i was too concentrated on a major crush. Anyhoo, Kek Lok Si is looking oh-so-pwetty now! I heart seeing pumpkins dangling above me!

The snake temple used to be rather empty but now, it is freaky! Snakes on the altar, snakes on the offerings, snakes on the statues, snakes on plants. Because i was such a big chicken but still wanted a pic with the slithering creature, i convinced the lil ones to hold onto it while i stand by the side. Damn! Can't believe I let the coward in me take over. I was so close to crossing take-pic-with-snake-on-my-shoulder off of my to-do list!

People say Penang is all about food. I've been there a few times and still haven't tasted anything that can give me that gastronomical high also. There was however, this uber funny rojak man at Gurney Drive who twirls and chants while whipping up rojak. He even has knife-cutting technics that are so drama yet graceful, he looks like a Sweeney Todd reproduction in ballet.

Seriously, this dude is so awesome, he even has youtube videos!

More pictures that i heart...

Looking back at most of my pictures, I realise i have too many ones of me trying to 'kiss' people. I need a new wacky pose. Smiley poses are prettier but boring.

A Kick In The Ass

Was in the car with my parents when we were caught in a mini-jam.

We came to a stop and before i could even say "Not another traffic jam", a strong force from behind shoved the car a few inches in front.

The car was hit.

By an idiotic motorcyclist who was oblivious to the jam in front and continued to zoom his way on the road. He was probably rushing home to masturbate to a poster of Siti Nurhaliza.

The right side of the rear bumper dropped and no thanks to that Mat Rempit, daddy now has to spend money to get it fixed.

And the asshole didn't even have the courtesy to stop and say sorry. He just sped off like nothing happened.

I hope the irresponsible fool will lose his motorcycle to a steamroller and for whatever amount dad has to pay for the damage, the fool will lose twice as much. No, that might be too kind. Make it thrice as much.

Of course, i did wish for him to die at first but now that the anger has somewhat subside, it sounds a wee bit cruel. Plus, karma will bite his ass someday. And bite it hard i hope.

One Heck Of A Ride

Yesterday's usual Saturday morning exercise session was so drama that it deserves to be a short film.

So crazy that it made me blank out, scared, angry, laughing all at once.

Ren, the story worked. Instead of having to face rock music, i only had to deal with mellow, Mraz-ish music.

The Vertical Lubangs

I can't remember who exactly it was but at the moment when i saw him/her playing the guitar and singing along, i knew i wanted to follow suit.

I've always loved singing and because most of the songs i played during my piano-learning days were classical pieces, i couldn't. Okay, maybe i could use my creativity to come up with lyrics to compliment the tunes of Fur Elise and Moonlight Sonata but well, it's just too damn hard.

So today, after putting the desire on hold for what seemed like a gazillion years, i told myself i am going to buy myself a guitar and learn how to play it.

With zero knowledge about guitars, i headed to the instrument store for a little Guitar 101. The owner proceeded to bombard my confused mind with gibberish about folk and classical guitars, nylon and metal strings, wide and smaller frets, pick-up and no pick-up...

As if battling with my predicament of whether to splurge over RM300 for an instrument i might or might not be good at was not enough, i now have to crack my brains and think of which guitar i want! So many decisions for one small clueless brain!

But in his defense, he did help me realise that what i need is a classical guitar with no pick-up.

To double confirm myself, i seeked the guidance of one former-tinted-spectacles-Sydney-boy and things became clearer. In order to tell a folk (which i found out, is also known as acoustic) guitar apart from a classical one, you can look at the head. The classical guitar (pictured right) has vertical holes in it...

So now you know.

Firecrackling Joy

I love going back to Ipoh. Even if the place is practically empty during the Chinese New Year season.

Seriously, it was so deserted, you'd think you've walked into a ghost town!

The simple quiet town is not my ideal holiday destination but it always turns out to be a rewarding trip when we pay visits to my granduncles and grandaunts and reconnect family ties.

Every time i look at my Yee Mah, i see so much of my Mah Mah in her. Bidding her farewell after every visit is like saying goodbye to my grandma: a goodbye that i have to but don't want to say...

The second-cousins i never knew i had. The baby girl is THE calmest baby ever! She didn't even make a sound when newly discovered family members (read: me) try desperately to make her break into a smile by pulling funny faces. She's no doubt any stand up comedian's worst nightmare.

I'm not from one of those families who can afford to go on overseas holidays whenever we like. I would love to but i can't and you know what, that's okay. I can be in any tropical paradise filled with hot white men but without great company, i'm no where.

P.S - I just came back from a Langkawi holiday yesterday and missing the beach and beautiful people already!

The High Without The Weed

I've been happy the whole of today. Guess why?

a) I only had to work in the office for 90 minutes today!
b) I heard Jason Mraz sing live yesterday!
c) I can still fit into my dress!
d) I'm going to Langkawi with Ren and Joyce tomorrow!

And the answer is b!

I don't know how to say this nicely but if you didn't go to Mraz's concert yesterday night, then you sure as heck missed out the BEST CONCERT EVER! And yes, as much as i love the Backstreet Boys, Mraz's show is no doubt, the top of the list!

I'm still so stoked from Mr. A-Z's fantastic voice and perfect showmanship that i didn't have to go through the everyday pain of thinking of what to wear to work today. My brain immediately made my hand reach for the Mraz tee.



If there is something happier than the happiest feeling in the world, i'm feeling it right now.

Initiate Countdown

Less than 10 hours to go.

I've got the album on replay on my iTunes since yesterday night.

So stoked!

I can't wait to get myself some Mraz loving! And to drift away to music land when he belts out his songs with that voice of his. Ah, the taste of bliss...

Nothing is forever...

...but good memories come pretty darn close to it.

Spent over one hour with Eunhae on the phone last night and it felt exactly like those crazy days we used to spend back in IH, wasting time, procrastinating and chatting till the sun rises up.

I was afraid that things might be awkward but it really, honestly, felt like nothing has changed. The gossips, the boy talk, that occasional oh and ah about Bart's latest drunk naked pictures...except for the distance, it was the same as before.

I've probably talked about this one too many time but i would not for any amount of money in the world, give back my time at IH. I met so many people that i truly cherish until now. People who accepted me for who i am. People who were there to share my anger, my sadness and my happiness. Most importantly, people who turned out to be friends.

So my IH friends, this post, i dedicate to you.