LIVE LIKE WE'RE DYING

- Kris Allen -


The autograph session only starts at 6.00 p.m. but Deb's been lining up since morning. It's a spur of the moment kind of thing yesterday after seeing the promo poster. I had to open my mouth and Deb actually listens to me(?)! Not that either of us are die-hard fans to start with.

Now, I'm stuck in the office until she's ready to pick me up. Come to think of it, Kris Allen is 1 of only 8 walking, breathing, existing American Idol in the whole wide world you can poke in the flesh (forget the lame Facebook pokes!) so perhaps this is a chance of a lifetime.

What does it feel to be waiting for 8 hours to finally have a few seconds with Kris just to get him to sign a freaking CD?  

....I'm going to Hollywood!....

....a.m.....

....p.m. and the cameras are out!....

....all smiles at the end of the day, guess somebody's not sleeping tonight!....

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THE LOOK OF LOVE

- Diana Krall -

....don't ever go, don't ever go....

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THE WALK

- Imogen Heap -


First of all, I turn 32 today. I had a conversation with a friend a couple of weeks back about what this year's birthday's about. I told him that it's great passing down all that wisdom.

Which is meant as a joke.

I want to thank those who remember and sent their lovely wishes (the text messages, the Facebook posts, the cards, the letters, the calls....more text messages!), they mean a lot. Overall, it's an uneventful day today (objective met!). I chose not to work. It's my right to do so on my birthday-lah and partly because I just got back from a short holiday in Singapore, which is what I'd like to talk about.

Needless to say, I had a wonderful time.

Day 1

Our journey starts at 6.15 in the morning, the cab is already waiting downstairs. He's early and that's good, shows that KLIA Airport Limo is reliable. For those who are unaware, you can call them at least 5 hours in advance to pick you up from your residence; the fare is not bad and the service is good. My travel buddies this time around are Deb and Billy, Hemant couldn't make it due to complication in obtaining his Visa. We managed to get the 0 fare with JetStar, amounting to RM120 (airport tax) for a return ticket.

We arrived in Singapore at around 10.00 and took the MRT to Little India, where we'll be staying at the InnCrowd Hostel. It's very similar to Singgahsana Lodge in Kuching although personally I find Singgahsana more adorable. We checked in and breakfast was still open but we couldn't wait to dump our backpacks and check out the city (By the way, it's a unisex bathroom). We had lunch at a nearby mamak and the waiter seemed to be smitten with Deb. Then he asked her if she's from India. Ah....the nose piercing!

....73, Dunlop Street, home for the next 4 days....

That afternoon we took a stroll all the way from Little India to Clarke Quay to catch the boat ride. We passed Raffles Hotel on the way but felt a little bit underdressed to try out their famous Singapore Sling....next time perhaps.

....Raffles Hotel....

....backdrop....

We had a satisfying first day (we rewarded ourselves Turkish ice cream!) and rested early for tomorrow.

....entertained by the ice-cream man....

Day 2

Sentosa Island! Fine, it's a touristy thing to do but hey, we are tourists this time around. We made our way to the MRT station and was greeted by a colourful spectacle down the street. It's a Thaipusam procession! This is such a pleasant surprise eventhough we know that it is a holiday, we didn't expect we'd catch it! I never even thought of going to Batu Caves for Thaipusam. It was one of the most enlightening and memorable experience to see up close.

....a day of colours....

....navigating Sentosa Island....

Sentosa was awesome, I just love the beach. I'm already planning to stay at the Siloso Beach Resort the next time around.

Later in the evening we walked around Little India some more and man, everything is so alive!

Like how Billy simply put it, "I've never seen so many Indians in my life!". Billy lives in Klang. 

To close Day 2 after exploring Bugis Street, we had drinks at the tapas bar just opposite the hostel.


Day 3

Time to hit Orchard Road! By now, at least we know how much we have left to spend. The only shopping I had in mind, as always, is for those hard to come by CDs. But I was out of luck, every single one is out of stock. We also didn't manage to find the bicycle rental booth in Marina Bay, such a bummer.

To get over today's disappointment, we decided to treat ourselves to a nice dinner at Clarke Quay. The day coming to a close, we wished we wouldn't have to go back to the classes, work, everything that's waiting for us in KL. We quietly sat there at the river bank taking in the cool breeze, the bright lights and the intertwining smell coming from the restaurants around us.

....didgeridoo dude....

....from across the river....

Our trip to Singapore is kept in the one souvenir I bring back: The ezLink card I use to get around Singapore with Deb and Billy.

Fun fact: - Getting on buses has become such an unthinkable feat for me after a rather bad experience on KL's minibus. I've gone on a few hours of journey several times before on a cowboy bus, no aircon, in ulu Sarawak but the big city's minibus just puts me off this mode of transport forever. Or so I thought. Convincing myself to get on that freaking bus in Singapore I take as an achievement.

More photos on Facebook

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HALLELUJAH

- Leonard Cohen -

....give what you can, do what you can....


Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah


Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah


Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah


Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah


Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Because it could be you.

....photos from Times Online....

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MEET ME HALFWAY

- Black Eyed Peas -

....right at the borderline, that's where I'm gonna wait for you...


My first affair with a member of the Sony family was way back in the late 90s. This was not puppy love like I had with Atari or the on and off fling I had with a Nintendo boy. It was sweet surrender.

We spent so many late nights together, we had the whole universe to discover.

"I have a surprise for you", he said one day. 

That evening he appeared at my door, I noticed a subtle change. 

He looked more stylish, perhaps lost a pound or two and I later found out he even changed his name! He said I didn't have to spell his name anymore. I said hello. I was elated.

Everything went fine until one day, this sleek, modern, brash young brother of his came by. Something about him that I just couldn't resist. I fell for him instantly, so did he. 

Was it even possible, this addiction I have of someone just within grasp but seem so far away? I thought long and hard about what I was doing to myself. How can I hold on to One any longer when my heart was now with someone else? It was unfair. Eventually, we agreed to part ways and that was one of the saddest days of my life. 

A whole new adventure begins. Everything around me was so much clearer, vivid and colourful whenever I was with him. Like all relationships, we had our ups and downs, and that was also the time I started my first job.

We were seeing each other less and less and that it's taking its toll on us. We drifted apart. Just like that he left and I was alone again.

I was on rebound feeling miserable, vulnerable, and there was Slim (the fact that Slim is a splitting image of 2 made it too easy). I knew it wasn't real but Slim helped me through some tough times and I thank him for that. I finally was able to let go of the Sony brothers. Slim and I lasted only a few months.

Years passed and I was kept informed of the lives of the Sonys. Not that I ever asked but they're just everywhere; whenever I take my walks, whenever I fly, I even see them in Yahoo's main page!

Fate has it that Go Sony was in town, it was by chance that we met and sure enough, we hit it of instantly. I'm gonna stick around and see where this one leads to. I know this may not be different from the previous relationships I had with a Sony, but hey, you learn from past mistakes, they say third time's a charm and I have a good feeling this one's for keeps.

I turn a page.

....friends, lovers, past, present....

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IN REPAIR

- John Mayer -


137, 556 as of December 2009.

Give life a chance.

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BREED

- Nirvana -


Most viewed headline today:

'Take of your bra at the bar for free drinks'

A bunch a perverts or suckers for anything with 'free' and 'bra' 'bar'.

Actually,

'Take of your bra,
for free drinks at the bar' sounds catchier. 

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CARRY OUT

- Timbaland feat. JT -


I attempted to catch the movie Avatar today.


I walked to the cinema on the top floor and saw that the queue was reasonably long - 100-men (plus partner) strong.


No signs of any activity behind the ticket counters.


And yet, 'Selling Fast' was blinking mad.


I lined up like all civilized citizens of the world, oh, for about a second I reckon, before making a U-turn and headed the other way.


Claypot?


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BROKEN BISCUIT

- Sia -


Tengah boring-boring duduk baca buku-buku kat Knovel ni kan (trust me, kalau semua masuk kepala, kira dah jadi master expert ni), tetiba terbayang pulak kisah masa-masa dulu.

Masa kecik-kecik dulu, kalau rasa-rasanya nak muncul kat rumah kengkawan ker, saudara-mara ker, unannounced sebab rumah diaorang kebetulan 'on the way' (on the way dari mana ke mana tu tak kisah la, kadang-kadang saja je nak menyinggah sebab boring macam sekarang ni la) perkara biasa je. Diaorang pun tak pernah kisah. Tak payah la nak question 'Sure ker diaorang tak kisah?' sebab dari air muka orang tu kita tau la ikhlas ker tak. Air liur tengah meleleh sebab diaorang tengah sedap tidur tengahari pun diorang bangkit, buka pintu, buat air, lepas tu borak la pasal isu-isu semasa (80% gossip la). Masa tu mana ada cellphone kan, so kalau nak alert diaorang cakap nak singgah rumah mana nak cari pulak telefon awam, nama pun dah 'on the way'. Aku pun kalau ada member muncul tak diundang pun excited jugak, kalau ada yang bawak makanan kira plus point.

Kalau nak dibandingkan sekarang ni, lain sikit. Kalau tak kena jemput, we are expected to call first before dropping by at anybody's place. Not just because of courtesy but the technology is already there so you're expected to use it la.

Tapi the whole point of this ranting is, dah banyak kali dah dengar orang cakap, modern technology and advances have made us closer, but worryingly, it can work the other way around too. We are in danger of becoming even more strangers to one another, sebab kita dah kurang bercakap in person with our neighbour. Heck, pasal malas sangat, aku pun pernah jugak menghantar text message to my sister who's just upstairs in the same house, semua pasal berat sangat nak naik tangga. Boleh?

Yelah, convenient memang convenient tapi a real conversation is vital in nurturing relationships, no? 

We have evolved into a society that is suspicious of everything around us. Aku faham jugak, memang ramai yang niat tak baik kat luar tu (angsa jiran aku baru kena curi, sampai sekarang aku tak faham pencuri tu nak buat apa ngan the poor angsa yang sungguhnya tak bersalah). So aku tak condemn la kita jadi macam tu sebab nak berhati-hati. Aku pun kadang-kadang bersalah jugak, because hey, we're just human. Aku tau korang ingat celoteh kosong ni bukan apa pun, this is one of the those moments where I'm so bored that I start think about 'the good old times'.

Tapi, tak kira meleleh air liur ker tak, when I say you're welcome at home ANYTIME, I really mean it. Kalau takde mende sangat nak offer dari dapur, I will at least bagi kopi ngan biskut Marie, tak pun Reader's Digest edisi terkini (but that's not why you want to drop by in the first place kan?). Nak call atau tak call dulu ikut suka hati la. Kalau takde orang kat rumah kira nasib....

Entah, maybe sebab aku cincai.

p.s. Wonder why parents put padlocks on house phones back in those days? Land lines were retardedly cheap, 30 sen PER CALL. You can talk till you drop, literally.

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PERMANENT

- David Cook -


What I feared most happened. The attacks reached home ground. I was clearly wrong to think that it wouldn't. How does that make me feel? Deeply saddened. Shitty as hell. I refuse to believe that my neighbour would do such a thing, but perhaps I'm too naive.

What do our trusted authorities do? Tell the shocked rakyat that 'we don't have enough resources', wow, bravo!

How low can we go? Until the fire burns our homes, our ties, blood is shed?


Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without


My grandmother, who's been sick for a while (and who, by the way, does not read and does not speak Malay) never misses her daily prayers. She does it the way she was taught as a child, in Iban, as did her mother before her. If this is really happening, you go explain it to her because I don't know how.

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