Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Someday... I'll get there... Somehow :)

KFC - Klang Jaya Fried Chicken

You gotta admit it. EVERYBODY loves fried chicken. Your mom loves fried chicken, your dad loves fried chicken. Even your friends loves fried chicken. Ask any Klangnite and they will tell you Klang Jaya is the Mecca for all fried chicken lovers. In a quaint, old, dark fired chicken corner by the road side in humble Klang Jaya, you will find locals queuing eager to sink their teeth onto the the scrumptious fried chicken. One bite of the tender and juicy fried chicken flesh, you feel on cloud nine you could almost hear the chicken angels singing hymns. The best part is the skin – it is like crispy wafer that melts in your mouth! Crispy haven. Flavourful and nicely marinated, Klang Jaya fried chicken gives KFC a run for its money. What goes well with Klang Jaya fried chicken? Apart from fried chicken they also serve french fries, fried skewers, fried meehoon and red bean soup. Personally I think Coke is your best friend when eating smoking hot fried chicken. Alternatively, 100 plus is great in case you get exhausted from mouth exercises from all the good eats. Another thing you got to love about Klang Jaya fried chicken is the price. For only RM2.40 per piece, your craving for fried chicken as a midnight snack will be satiated. Open from 7 to 11pm daily, the fried chicken stall is run by twin brothers for over 10 years and they sell like hot cakes. If you are lucky, you don’t have to queue to wait for long or worse to find that it is sold out. Other than that, just drive down to the small, modest corner stall at Jalan Selampit 24, Taman Klang Jaya to enjoy Klang’s finger-licking-good fried chicken. Just remember to get your blood pressure and cholesterol level checked the following day!

P/S: This is a very old write up found in my computer. Thought I'd re-live some finger-lickin' good moment! :)

Just Dive!

[life is too short; take a chance..]

"C'mon you can do this.. I know you can do this.. just R-E-L-A-X"

I picked up the pace as I inhaled and exhaled slowly trying to psyche myself. My breathings were heavy and I was starting to break into cold sweats in my blue tattered borrowed wetsuit. The sight of the sea calmed me and scared me at the same time.

"Hmm.. there is no breeze" my mind wandered off a little bit.

"Whatever you do just stay calm.. it'll be fine.." those words kept echoing in my head.

I accidentally dropped my fins; with those darn heavy air tanks I had to bend over slowly like an 75 years old grandma with severe back osteophorosis trying to pick them up.

"Hey wait up guys!!" I called out to Michelle and Audrey who were ahead of me; also walking like hagged old grandmothers.

"Ouch these rocks are painful!!" I shrieked as my barefoot stepped into the rocky waters. The tides were low you can literally do a feet reflexology by just walking on the marbled pebbles.

Giggles filled the warm sea air as we held on to each other trying to put on our fins. My fins were easier to put on as they were bigger and strapped in easily. Audrey had to struggle to control her balance while putting her fins on as the waves kept pushing us back to shore.

"Ok we have to swim to where the flags are and dive there" Andrea pointed at the orange buoy with red and white flags about 100 metres seaward.

"Alright let's do this! We have been trained to do this" said Michelle behind her fish eyed mask.

Well you think I would flip but I didn't because I have already flipped the day before when Andrea told us to swim from the shore to the boat and back in the middle of the ocean about 100 metres with only our snorkels and fins.

"WHAT?? Are you serious??" I panicked as I never imagined myself ever doing such a thing since the last time I couldn't feel the floor of the swimming pool I nearly drowned.

********

It was back then during my last year in campus where I wanted to do something fun and challenging before I graduate. So I signed up to compete in the inter-college swimming competition. Not much of a regular at the university's public pool nor trained for any such competition, I got listed under 25m breast stroke, freestyle and backstroke.

Then came the day of the competition, all contestant had to get into the middle pool and race to the shallow end.

"Brrrrrrr..." the water was cold and I couldn't feel my feet touching the swimming pool floor.

"Oh shit" I struggled to get to the middle lane where I was stationed to begin. I was already panicking as I couldn't feel the damn floor. The whistle were blown, the race has begin. All the partictpant swam forward to the finish line.

"Gasp!!" I took a deep breather and kicked as hard forward. But I wasn't moving. I began to sink. I kicked and I kicked but water kept gushing down my nostrils and my throat. In all attempts failed I raised my hands in the air and signal: I wanted out. Noticing my drowning gestures a random guy nearly wanted to jump into the water to save me but held back. However I did hear him telling his friends; " I think she can swim wan lah.." So finally nobody came to my rescue instead they all cheered me to the end the race. Determined, I swam slowly to the finish line. Even then all my hands and legs coordinations were wrong, even my breathing. I frantically struggled to keep my head in the air but still kept drinking chlorined-water.

Once reached the finish line, everybody roared with cheer for me. For the first time I felt the spirit of sportmanship as well as sheer embarassment. Later an announcements was made at the loud speaker: "partictpants for the next rounds please FINISH your race and what ever you do, do not stop swimming.." Oh how embarassing!! I quickly dried off and cancelled my other two swimming contests.

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

The sea breeze slapped me back to reality and the old washed-down wooden boat in the middle of the ocean caught my attention once again.

Turning towards Andrea again in desperation; "Wait, are you really serious?? I thought we already did the swim test yesterday?? Hoping that she was just kiddng but looking at a straight-faced Andrea I knew she was dead serious.

"No that was just floating in the pool for 10 minutes, you can do this.. plus I need to make sure you guys could at least swim to the boat and back to shore without any problems.. No worries I will keep an eye on you"

"OH-MY-GAWD"

Took us forever even to manouver ourselves on the peebled-rock beach to the ocean. And a whole load of fear.

One step two step.

"Just put your head and snorkel in the water and just paddle your fins." Michelle assured.

We donned our masked and snorkel and took a deep breath into the waters. The first thing I saw underwater was sea urchins. Never seen one before. Black and prickly. Long black prickles. Scared and curious at the same time. They had shiny dots that looks like eyes and red circles resemble mouth-like shape.

"Oh look at how cute they are especially their faces they look like cartoons. Oh my god there are tonnes of the down there!! Stay calm. Just keep swimming.. just keep swimming..."

The sea water makes you really buoyant so there was no need for a life jacket. With just a pair of fins, a mask and a snorkel; we swam our ways towards the boat. It was funny as although we were heading to one point but the fact was we were all over the place! Audrey swam super fast (betcha she could beat any Olympics' records!) and did not look up while I tailed behind. And Michelle tried to group us together.

Of course I was chicken scared. Well the thought of swiming into the unknown can be really scary. But after awhile the corals and fishes under does take our mind off the fact that you are in the middle of ocean with just flippers and a snorkel. Next thing you know we were swimming back to shore. Audrey was first (can you believe that??), Michelle second while I was last (really enjoying the swim slash snorkel) to arrive to shore. This too could be similar to a personality question once asked by a potential employer i.e. why do people climb mountains? My answer was; to enjoy the view (hah!). Yeah right enjoy the view. Susah-susah saja kan climb mountain? But after asking a few other people who gave a more thoughtful answers like; "to have a sence of achievement" I came to a conclusion that I'm a person who very much enjoys the process rather than achieving the goal (what's wrong with me??).

"I still can't believe we finally made it alive outta that!! Woohoo!!" There was a sense of achieving something. My fear of drowning, the deep ocean, and ultimately.. the unknown. Funny thing we never expected that to learn diving would be so streanous and stressfull. Initially Audrey even thought that she had actually signed up for a relaxing holiday. But talk about battling for our survival everytime we go into the waters! Ok it might sound exaggerating but that was exactly how it felt at that time.

Finally the time has come. To practise our skills in the sea. After the warm up we had the day before; swimming to and from the boat, this time we swam again to the orange buoy in the sea. Andrea had explained she wants us to do the mask skills i.e. filling up our masks with water and blast it out about 9 meters at the bottom of the ocean. As for me I really REALLY dreaded the mask skills. Never liked water getting in my mask. Stings my eyes plus goes up to my nose. Never liked it at all. So I had this paranoia water will get into my mask, I will breathe the water right up to my nose, choke and drown under water.

"Everybody ready??" Andrea signalled thumbs down for descend. Breathing like Darth Vader through the regulator, I took a deep breathe and slowly sink down to the ocean floor while deflating my BCD.

The way down was a slow and gradual descent. Had to equalize our ear pressure all the way till we reach the bottom of the ocean. Took us awhile to stabilize ourselves at the bottom. We were on our knees waiting for Audrey to park herself next to us in time for the underwater skill test. The ever dreadful mask skill.

As I was waiting for everyone I kept fidgitting with my mask. Pulling and tighthening the straps for the fear that water might seep in and fill up my mask. And suddenly I heard a snap. Oh my Lord, to my worst nightmare, the mask strap actually snapped! I could only held on to my strap and mask. Bottomline is I sabotaged myself. Frantically I tried to call the instructor who had her back facing me so obviously she couldn't see what was going on. Stretched out my hands to her but she was out of reach. I couldn't speak nor make a sound. I was already picturing the worse that was about to happen (i.e. dead/drown) then I remember to stay calm and signal for trouble. I quickly signalled Michelle next to me that my mask is NO GOOD. Took her awile to figure out what happened and she signalled Andrea towards me and I showed her my mask that gave way but still held it tightly towards my face. Lord, I could never imagined what would happen if the mask totally came off my face. Within seconds we ascended to surface and had my mask strap fixed. To my surprise it got fixed and I wasn't too delighted as I knew I had to go down and do it mask skills
anyhow. Dang!

Again we had to descent to the sea floor. Sea cucumbers bounced off the ground as we touched down. One-by-one each had to do the mask skills and it was my turn. Took in deep breaths trying to calm myself down. Seeing my instructor signaling it's time, I closed my eyes, took out the mask and quickly pinch my nose before the water could get in (a tip Andrea taught me). The whole time I pinched my nose and breathed through the regulator. Then I held my breath, let go my nose and hurriedly put the mask back on. Blasted the water off
my mask and task done. I was still alive. My eyes did sting but I was just so glad to have completed the skills test, even after all the drama. We swam a little and resurfaced. And that was my first experience diving.

Hell it was scary but the chance to be even enjoy the view underwater is just breathtaking. It was like being in an alien planet with magnificent creatures. Everything felt so SURREAL underwater. My aunt and I always argue about diving. My arguement has always been; "the world is made of 70% water.. imagine what you have not discovered". Cliche. I know. Other than that I think the rich-compressed-air really makes you feel good. Not nitrogen narcossis. The deep controlled breathing underwater and nice slow swims with awesome view of colourful fishes is just pure bliss.

They say there are 2 types of divers; one who takes their license and never dive again and the other; hooked to diving! I think I'm the latter. However I still have fears and paranoia. And the fact that I still swim like a seahorse. But the only way to overcome your fear is to actually do it! After my license in March, I went to Tenggol in April (they have the best isolated beaches great for honeymoon!) and Tioman again in May. I have seen turtles and the best part a 1.5m white reef shark in Tioman! So far counting: 11 dives and definitely many many more to go.

After my worse nightmare I'm still happily diving! Well as long as I don't have to do mask skills!

Moral of the story: buy a good mask.

Next thing to do: get an underwater camera!

Getting there

Look ma I'm on TV (but gosh why am I squinting??)

Doing a live crossover with the main studio.

Note to self:

1. Sit up straight

2. Less hand movement (apparently my hands moved too much thus a bit distracting)

3. Put on more make up

4. Wardrobe makeover

5. Loose weight (it's true you look 10 pounds fatter on TV!)

6. Use proper BM (no matter what!)

7. Controlled speech

8. Smile (play with facial expressions)

9. R-E-L-A-X

10. Enjoy the adrenaline!

Life!

Bicara Pungguk Dan Bulan

Pungguk:

Bagaikan pungguk rindukan bulan, bulan yang kejauhan,

bagaimana harus ku luahkan, rindu yang terpahat di hatiku..

Umpama diriku, merinduimu dikejauhan,

ku hanya bisa berharap bisikan bayu malam membawa rinduku kepadamu..

Bulan:

Mana kan sanggup daku mendengar rintihan gelora jiwa di kejauhan,

walau jarak memisahkan kita..

Namun ku terus memancar cahaya,

hanya untuk menyinari gelita kerinduanmu..

Pungguk:

Tetapi apakan daya, hanya rindu dan rintihan menemaniku setiap malam.

Tatkala sinaranmu menerangi kegelapan, gelap gelita hidupku tanpamu.

Oh bulan, terangilah malamku..

Agar ku dapat menatap wajahmu, memerhatikanmu dari kejauhan,

sebelum mentari datang, mengembalikan kesunyian di jiwa si pungguk..

Bulan:

Wahai pungguk gemala jiwa,

Dapat ku rasakan betapa sucinya hatimu,

betapa luhurnya perasaanmu, betapa dalamnya rindumu,

dan betapa seksanya deritamu..

Selagi akan ada malam, selama itu aku menyinarimu,

tanpa henti, tanpa penat, tanpa jemu..

Biarpun masa berlalu, musim berganti, zaman berubah,

takkan ku biar sunyi menghinggapi jiwamu hingga ke akhirnya...

Kokopelli

they make me feel young all the time ;-)

Just Me!

i ♥ polaroid effects that i painstakingly editted it myself :P

New Year's Resolution. Gah!

Ok supposed I didn't have any New Year's Resolutions. Yada yada yada. I've said it tonnes of times. No thanks to Fadzli, I'm inspired to list down my very own. I'm such a lalang I know. So here goes..

To a more happy and carefree life!

1. Diet starts TODAY!

Enough said.

2. Hit the gym often

Exercise regularly to work and tone the body (not just to exercise the eyes!)

3. Salsa!

Almost forgotten how much fun it was after not doing it for some time.. need to add more "attitude" and groove into it. Pick up more styling and confidence! Might consider taking up Zouk dance cos its oh-so-hawt!!

4. Travel

Next destination: Bandung <3

5. Pick up new hobbies

Hiking, scuba diving & muay thai (doesn't hurt to know how to kick @$$)

6. Read more

I have been buying too many books and have yet to read them. Need to find time to read.. preferably by the beach!

7. Write a book: Fat and Fabulous!

Just kidding. But I do want to write more creative pieces. Short stories perhaps? But first I need to close my eyes and go to a happy place. Zzzz...

8. Explore new opportunities

Hoping for a career change. Perhaps a job that pays more? Tired of being broke bah.

9. Be more courageous and less shy

I mean what is there to lose right? Be it in interpersonal relations or trying new things. Step out from comfort zone and just do it! One who hesitates is lost. Try everything (or everyone) at least once!

10. Search myself

Practice #9 and I will find #10

P/S: there are 2 aspects; financial and time management that I resolved not to resolve as it is and will be a perpetual dilemma. I need professional help.

SO what's your New Year Resolution?? It's ok to NOT have one. But it's kinda fun though.

Goodbye 2009.. Hello 2010!!

Day 1 of 2010:

Actually I did not plan to have any new year's resolution this year. My new year's resolution is.. I will have NO new year's resolution! Gah. Knowing me, I constantly need a reminder. Even have lists of things to do on my mobile phone otherwise will procrastinate till God knows when.

So here are just 3 things I hope for this year (yay, I love doing lists!):

1. To be in better shape.. anything but round

2. To have a career change (for the better) *fingers crossed*

3. To be happy.. even though single!

I would say I had a fair share of fun in 2009. It would surprise me to hear people lamented that it was a bad year.. for me it was just as good. Even better than my previous years I would say. A lot has happened over the year; had to get used to mom being away so long and so far for work, me moving out to a new place in KL, my first debut in performing arts for KLPAC's Short+Sweet competition, attended numerous auditions just to explore oneself and of course met many wonderful people along the way..

Wow I think 2009 should be named "My Debut Year". Last July during my cousin's wedding it was also my debut performance, a duet song with my cousin, Philip. Just like when we were kids we liked to sing in front of our relatives and play the back-then-famous reality singing competition, Asia Bagus. Well I guess all that training paid well. My cousin leads vocals for his band and as for me, well.. I love to sing in the showers!

Speaking of debuting, 25 May 2009 also marked history as my first debut on TV as a sidekick in a live talk show on RTM called Di Luar Lingkungan. Though it was only 5 minutes of fame, I enjoyed every minute of it. Till that day I have been hoping and still hope I get to do more of it. More of TV I supposed. When will my next opportunity be? On the downside, 2009 have been the most attempt at auditions and resumes I have ever had or sent and they have all return void. But that doesn't mean I will give up, NOOO! Come 2010, things are going to be different I hope. I pray for a better career that will take me to greater heights so I can do more and achieve more.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

-- Jeremiah 29:11.

Apart from that, 2009 has also been an award winning year for me. Well it was awarded for my works I did in 2008 but of course presented the following year; Ministry of Health and from Bernama itself. It was literally one after another. After having received award for Best Health Radio Program that night, the next morning it was Best Radio Broadcasting Award. Double happiness! And recently just last October after having completed the International Journalism Fellowship (IJF) with a bunch of vivacious people across the globe, being awarded the best local participant was really the icing on top! Oh how I miss my IJF mates!! They really added colour and life into my year end. Can't wait to see them in Bandung this year!!

Deep down in my heart I KNOW that 2010 will be a good year (at least that's what I really hope for).. not to mention my birthday even falls this year on 10.10.10!! That is awesome right?? So it's gotta mean something.. Can hardly wait to see what's in store this fabulous year!!

Happy New Year everyone!!

"No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived

what God has prepared for those who love him"

-- 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Addicted To Kolok Mee

A bowl of scrumptious kolok mee bound to tantalize all of your senses!

"Slurp!"

"God this is delicious!" I thought to myself as I took another mouthful of the springy noodle drenched in fragrant oil.

On the table there was silence. Just the sounds of chopsticks clanged with the porcelain bowl.

Meanwhile in my mouth, there was an orchestra of flavours. Springy noodle. Sweet juicy roast pork – all begging to invade my senses and bring me to a who le new world of satisfaction.

Topped up with crispy minced meat, mixed together in savoury lard. Simply marvellous!

Within minutes, all that was left is the greasy bowl and a smile of sheer delight on my face.

"I just love to cook", she smiled when asked why she did it.

"The secret recipe is the lard. And garlic oil. Those were the most important ingredients for kolok mee" Anna Ng says with much pride in front of her stall at the corner lot shop along the streets of Kuching.

"I have tried others and made my own research on how to cook a delicious kolok mee", she said. And she should know, as she has been in business selling the beloved local dish for the past four years.

"I usually fry the garlic combined with lard and that makes the noodles so fragrant. The chopped meat is maintained to its original taste."

"Therefore my noodles taste different from others. And many of my customers like it."

Kolok Mee is a type of noodle dish commonly found in Kuching, Sarawak.

"Kolok" in the local Hokkien dialect describes the method of the noodle is being cooked.

Springy egg noodle blanched in hot water that looks like instant noodle and served in lard with some condiments like sliced pork and minced meat. It is served throughout the day – for breakfast, lunch and even supper!

Kolok mee resembles wantan mee which is popular in the Peninsula, but with an oomph to it!

The difference between the two however, is that kolok mee is not drenched in dark soy sauce and water is not added to the noodles when served. The helping of noodles also does not come with wantan. Instead, there is minced pork together with slices of roast pork or char siew.

Kolok mee comes in two common flavours; plain or seasoned with red sauce. Either way they taste just as good! Not to mention it is reasonably cheap too. A dish can cost anywhere between three and four ringgit. Cheap, delicious and amazingly satisfying. What more can you ask for?

Since Kuching has a sizeable Chinese population especially of Hakka and Hokkien descent, kolok mee is very much entrenched in the food culture here.

To suit the local Muslim community, the kolok mee is even replaced with strips of chicken instead of pork. That way everybody gets to savour the local delight.

For John Lister Chan, 31, kolok mee reminds him of home.

Thus, whenever he leaves town, the first thing he would look for upon returning to Kuching is kolok mee.

"Because it is our hometown's special dish. You can't find it anywhere. It is famous here in Kuching", he gushes on as he shared about why he loves the dish.

"Kolok mee is our traditional food. Therefore the government should promote this dish as our local pride before it is forgotten”, he laments.

"Kolok mee has a history of many years but nowadays the locals tends to switch to other foods such as dimsum"

For every cat you see in the city, there you will find kolok mee. Literally, everywhere around the city. It is undoubtedly everybody's favourite traditional dish.

However it is more than just a hearty bowl of noodles. It is close to the hearts of many locals. To them that is where home is. This simple yet delightful dish does not just bridge the local community but has even got me, a non-local, caught up in its craze.

“A bowl of kolok mee please?”, I smile to the lady standing behind the stall. I watch her prepare the meal as she places the sliced roast pork on top of the noodles.

My memories took me back to 3 years ago. That was the last time I had kolok mee. It was love at first bite. And that was all I have been thinking of since my recent flight to the city of cats.

Anna brought the dish before me. My nose tingled as I caught a whiff of the rich aromatic smell. I delightedly picked up the chopsticks and mixed the noodles together with all the accompaniments inside the bowl, blending them together to a perfect harmony. I took a mouthful of it. And another. And another..

Ever since then, I have been having them for 3 consecutive days. And I’m not even complaining. Why? Because I simply just can’t get enough of it!"

Puppy Brown Eyes

He held my hand. His fingers entwined with mine.
Shy. I pulled away.
My mind went ahead of me.
He's just fooling with me, I thought.
So I pushed him away.
After dinner with the rest, he held on to me tightly asking me to stay.
I wriggled my arms from his hold.
I walked away.
Was I too much? I was quite flattered I must say.
He's adorable and I liked him.
But it's not possible. We are not possible.
I'm afraid he even thinks that I was into girls!
Cos I was hanging out more with them.
But the facts is, I'm in love with those puppy brown eyes.

The Other Woman

“You think I didn’t know what you were doing? Late nights, drunk, smelling of women.”

He just walked in the door, ignoring the screams of his wife.

He placed his brown leather bag down on the sofa and starts to unbutton his shirt.

“You were with that woman huh??” She grabbed his shirt violently, inspecting the fabric and demanded an explanation.

One hand on her waist.. “I smell female perfume.. How could you do this to me?? I‘ve been with you for 10 years!! And our children??”

Two little girls in their pyjamas, quietly sitting at the staircase. The smallest one hugged her doll tightly as her sister held her and they both started crying.

He just ignored her. Nothing came out of his mouth. As he sits down and flicked through the channels on the remote control.

She began to loose control as she rummaged through his leather bag. Papers flying across the room.

“What are you doing?? Are you out of your mind??” He stood up and his held on to the bag.

“HAH! What’s this you bloody bastard?!?” She held a black pantyhose right in front of his face.

“Tell me who’s that slut?? What does she has that I don’t have??”

“I’ve been wanting to tell you if you weren’t so crazy woman..”

“These pantyhose are mine..” he snatched them back. Later he held out a bright pink wig from his bag.

“Don’t worry honey. There is no other woman. He’s my ex-boss.”

Her jaws dropped as her knees weaken and like a feather she allowed gravity to pull her to the sofa.

He then placed the wig over his head, turned around and walk towards the door. He swayed his hips as he walked out the door with HER red heels.

Dreaming Of A Dream

The clock on the wall shows it’s quarter to 5pm. 15 minutes seems like forever. Just as I was about to finish the last sentence of my report, he gives me another file to process.

“What the hell? I was already packing my bag and ready to go home for dinner with family.”

His seems to be mumbling though I can’t make sense of what he is saying as my gaze moved to a picture of a pristine beach stuck on my cubicle wall.

“Boy, can I have a glass of cold Pina Colada? I asked the shirt-less waiter who was holding a tray of drinks near the beach benches.

“Yes madam..” He replied as I put on my sunglasses and continued with the book that I was reading.

The salty sea breeze kissed my skin and the hammock moved along with the wind.

The sound of waves and birds chirping were so soothing that it made my eyelids grew heavier.

“I am freezing ALL your annual leaves as we are short of staffs this month. I understand you applied for leave the next 5 days but we are going to have to freeze those days honey. Sorry..”

“OH NOOOO…… I have already booked my holiday in Redang!!!”

“Madam.. Are you alright? Here’s your Pina Colada.”

“Oh thank you.”

Wow what kind of nasty dream was that? I shrugged it away as I sipped from my drink and continued my book. The wind blew even stronger.. I lost balance and my hammock overturned.

“BUMMP!!” I hit my bum on the floor..

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE FLOOR??” my boss asked.

“Oh I’m sorry.. What were you saying Sir?”

“I said you leaves have been frozen. You will work extra hours from now onwards!!”

“No extra claims. Think of it as for your personal development. Since you are still new, it’s good for the big boss to see you working hard.”

The clock shows 5.05pm. Oh well there goes my dinner plans.

Season of Loneliness

At this moment here are 3 people I missed the most; momsie dearest, salsa boy and my super bubbly ex-housemate. Now that they are not around, life does seemed a little dull, boring and yes, lonely.

There’s this movie coming up, The Ugly Truth. I don’t know with whom to watch it with. Need somebody to cuddle with and share a box of popcorn, while laughing out loud in the movies (the last time I laughed so hard I cried was Kung Fu Panda). My favorite romantic-mushy-movie-kaki has already promised her church friends she’d watch it with them. It’s been awhile since I have been in the company of familiar faces. Somebody I can really connect with and just rant about my day at work and frustrations. At the moment blogging about them will just do. Not many people really listen nowadays. The last time I remembered it does feels good to have somebody to just listen to you. Take in all your crappy jokes and lameness. Sigh where are all my friends? They must be busy I think. Can’t rely on others to make myself happy. It’s only me, myself and I.

You don’t really know how much someone means to you until they are gone. It is when you really missed them and think about them everyday. Life feels different when they leave. Or maybe I’m just too used to them, it’s taking some time to adjust. But why is it taking so long? Ouch. Didn’t really appreciate my housemate until she left. Every night she would be the first person to greet me “Hello, How are you?“ with a bright smile as I enter the door. Always cheerful and happy, we’d share our stories at the doorsteps of our rooms. She’s quite a hyper one I tell you. Each night the other roommate will be far asleep in La-La Land while we were still up in the late night laughing away at our silly jokes and games. Nowadays I come home to emptiness and quietness.

Mom has always been always my comfort and joy. Truly the home is where the heart is. Where mom is, that’s home. What huge sacrifice a mother has to make to be apart from family and loved ones just to earn a better living. A mother that provides only what’s best for her children. Never thinking of herself but always putting others first. Mom, you are my hero!

Losing a companion is just as equally as bad. Somebody who is up for just about anything. Someone just as adventurous and like-minded, whom you feel connected somehow. We can just talk about anything (even about boys!), often having deep discussions over supper. What I’d miss most is about his absolutely funny and random remarks (and sometimes actions). During dance night outs he’d comment about how hot or sexy I looked and notices the clothes and accessories I wear. And I liked that. He’s such a fun guy. When we salsa or dance, nothing else matters, it’s just having the great chemistry on the dance floor and I feel most comfortable to slut-dance with him. He’s also someone whom I can pseudo-flirt and ask out for movies/dancing/dinner/theater/shopping/events/just-about-anything! So far I think he’s the only one who fits the jacket. But of course he had to return back to homeland for good and it was goodbye from him.

So.. life goes on. Like it or not, I have to pick up the pieces and move forward. But at the mean time I’d prefer to be left alone reminiscing the good times. I guess I could also use some hug.

Seducing Mr. Perfect

Hubba hubba

There's this guy. To me he's just perfect. He cooks, bakes, does house chores and loves kids. Best part is, I can totally imagine myself with him because he knows me well and accepts me for who I am. The lame-ness and airhead-ness that is me. There's definitely chemistry as we could talk and engage of different levels of discussion. He'd listen to my funny stories and we'd have a good laugh.

He's my Oracle. Gives me directions on the road as well as in life. Not to mention he's also charming, smart, opinionated, outgoing, spontaneous and funny. Like me, he loves to travel, loves food and loves love.

A gentleman like him is hard to find. Opens the door for me. Prepares me food and there was once he even grinded the pepper onto my meal which drew envy from another table next to us. He treats me like a princess. Held my hands when crossing the street. Made me felt safe. Well not that I'm insecure of anything, but it sure felt nice!

His parents? They simply adore me! His mom even suggested him to marry me. Well I always knew I'm a good daughter-in-law material. Which I actually don't mind. Tall, nice bod, has career, car, cash. You name it! Indeed an eligible bachelor. Ok maybe a wee bit too old for that. Men of his age would have a teenage kid by now. But that's not a problem to me. Men tend to look better as they age, unlike women.

However there just seems to be only ONE problem. Mr.Perfect is not available (well most of the time they aren't anyway). Not in a million years. At least not for me.

Unfortunately, he has a boyfriend.

Now how can I compete with THAT???

S+S Experience

With awesome dancers, Suhaili and Weijun!

Gala night was great although we didn't win anything (except for our fellow dancer, Suhaili which took home the award for best female dancer for Shades Of The Moon, and best choreographer AND best production for her other piece, Nerds Gone Nuts. Yeah the woman is multi-talented. However I guess Weijun was more disappointed due to the feedback we got from some audience that our dance was rather "artsy". Apparently not many people actually understood the piece. Deeming it as too "deep". Well I guess that's the challenge of being too artistic when the audiences are not. Sometimes you need not crack your head too much to solve the mystery, but just enjoy the art as it is. At the very least for its aesthetic value. Well that's what I think. Art (even paintings in art galleries) always leaves room for personal interpretations.

The art of lights, sound and movements perhaps?

Oh well whatever is it for me, I'm very much happy with the outcome. For me it was the whole experience, the whole package. Since I had no dancing background whatsoever (except salsa) and I just wanted a stage to perform. And the fact that I was an outcast (as nobody actually picked my during the auditions) but Weijun took me in. He told me that everybody who auditioned should deserve a chance and for that I'm just so grateful. Being in the gala night itself was such an honour. And for me working with such professionals like Weijun and Suhaili, I couldn't ask for more as I learnt so many things from them, besides getting to meet new people. Truly, I'm very much inspired by all these talented dancers. They have the talents, the commitment and most importantly the passion to dance!

My debut performance in "Shades Of The Moon". And that my friend, is the block.

Most of the time backstage, I would feel so small and insignificant compared to others in the Short+Sweet Dance. I understand that some of the dancers were trained ballerinas from the age of 5! Others could do headstands, splits, flips, twirls and stunts almost effortlessly which I could only dream of doing. Therefore, I'm only good at what I do, which is the choreography on the block. Oh but it was just so inspiring to see them dance nevertheless! It felt just like in the movies (being backstage) but lesser dramas of course. Dancers getting ready warming up before the show as my nerve creeps up!

Adrenaline pumping 10 minutes before show. From the backstage monitoring screen we could see the audiences as they enter the hall and fill up the seats. The stage manager cues us and the show begins! Nothing else that went through my mind as I stepped up the block and do my 'thang. In mind, all I could think of was "I just needed to get it right, every step, don't screw up!" And add in some soul to each choreographed step (which am still figuring out how!).

Auww.. Backstage with The Moonies.

I'm also thankful I didn't have any wardrobe malfunction the whole time we were on stage as it was just a thinly-strapped white baby doll dress clinging over my shoulders. Thankfully nothing snapped, otherwise it would ended up as a peek-a-boo show! And the white dress I got from Times Square, oh it was just perfect and cheap!

Dressing room 2 : Moons + Nerds + Mamis!

What also made the whole experience most memorable was sharing the same dressing room with a crazy bunch of people, Nerds Gone Nut and Mami Jarum. They are just hilarious! We would laugh our heads off watching Little Rascals together in the dressing room backstage while getting ready for the show. Plus having Fuzzy together in the same competition and same dressing room is just the cherry on top! I think we were destined to get into it together, we auditioned together, we got in together and share the same dressing room together! Although for different dance pieces. But it was fun to have him around and he's such a sweetheart for doing my hair every night before the show! Apparently he had always had a dormant passion for hairstyling since childhood! Just missing was a make up artist!

My hairstylist, Fadzli. Thanks dude for doing my hair!

All in all, it was a wonderful experience for me as I will surely not forget my debut dance performance (not to mention artistic dance!). Besides, I don't know when will I have a chance to do it again. I must say the timing was just perfect. If it was any bigger production I wouldn't have the time to commit due to my work schedules. Indeed it the experience was Short+Sweet!