RIGHT AS RAIN

- Adele -


My dear friend,



I'm not quite sure why I'm so inclined to write this. In fact I was subconsciously writing this in my head while driving home. It doesn't say in the Life Saving Rules that you can't do so while driving does it?


I guess I'm so happy to see you talking about relationships THE relationship the way you do. I can feel the excitement in your voice even when it's just the silly conversations we had on the Communicator. I don't remember any of this behaviour, like....ever, so how do you expect me to possibly fathom such change! :)


Oooo....the young Alec Baldwin on TV! He looks so....thin!


Sorry, distracted there by his um....eyes.


Anyways, I hope you make the most of the next two days. After that, things may get a bit complicated, naturally, a lot of times unsure what to do or what comes next. But there'll be so much to look forward to, nothing but the most wonderful things. But only if you want to work on it and you must put effort in it, even if it's someone you've known all your life. I wish you the best.


If it makes you less scary, it can't be that bad eh?


(Hey, Sheryl Crow!)


Hugs-lah


p.s. I know you'll miss Ms Awesome Me but I expect to be kept posted on any development! :)  

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ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU

- Mariah Carey -


Did I tell you about the surprise gone wrong?

I think it was Independence Day weekend and I flew back to Miri to surprise my Mom, she wasn't expecting me. So there I was standing jovially and patiently in front of the gate, waiting for Mom to open it. Several minutes passed and still no sign of anybody, not even a shadow through the glass door and windows. That's when Jen from next door came out informing me that nobody's home. I called Mom and she was in Bintulu, a good 3 hours away! I laughed at myself, Mom laughed at me, saying how silly I was. Lucky my friends were willing to hang out with me another few hours. Needless to say, there were no more surprises of the sort ever again, at least not with Mom. Until today.

....KL Sentral 23.12.2010....

Debra missed her flight last Saturday and she told Mom that she won't make it for Christmas. But she actually booked the same flight as me and we purposely didn't tell Mom Deb's coming home. Mom's expecting some random backpacker to spend Christmas with us.

When Deb appeared Mom didn't think it was funny at first.

Few minutes later we were sipping tea.

There aren't any presents this year, no Christmas tree, this is the time we'll just be chilling out and catching up.

Then there'll be time to spend with friends.

There'll be time for frisbee at the beach.

Time with Little Jen next door (who's of course not little anymore)

Time to reflect on a pretty awesome year.

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POCKETFUL OF SUNSHINE

- Natasha Bedingfield -

....step forward....

3 months since our last breakfast, finally we met up again.

And I received the most wonderful news :) I am elated.

Back at the gym I bravely piled on 10 kilos today for my squats in Pump, I felt like a champion considering a proper session happened eons ago (mind you those days I was at the gym by 6.50 a.m., I reiterate A.M.)! But the Warrior Poses in Dynamic Flow killed me. That's when I realized I really have to get back to my Balance classes. I've lost so much strength in my legs I wobbled down the stairs after the sessions.

We had risotto for dinner, courtesy of Ki Chul. This is what I love about having random strangers in the house - make-up artists magically transforming into exceptional cooks.

Right now I am packing for my 2-week trip to Bandung. I'm too used to packing a small backpack only a few hours before I fly. This time I included my trainers, my gym clothes, jeans, books, crap that I don't normally bother bringing. But the place is proper so I might as well make the most out of it. It's gym every day *crosses fingers*.

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SEASONS CHANGE

- Corinne Bailey Ray -

....because tomorrow's the last for the season. But the next season will soon be here....





Good luck Billy.
(Billy's being transferred to another location on a new job role. There goes my very dedicated breakfast buddy, a distracter at work whenever I need one and above all, my Chuckie half. But the weekend missions will hopefully continue)break

BEAUTY IN THE WORLD

- Macy Gray -

....my no nonsense friend and me....


Kanchanaburi
Pina coladas, a read and eye candy
Shall we?





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MOONRIVER

- Audrey Hepburn -

....see you soon, Scott, after you're done saving the world....



Moon River
Wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker
You heart breaker
Wherever you're going
I'm going your way
Two drifters off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waiting 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend
Moon River and me

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ALWAYS LOVE

- Nada Surf -


Considering it's my Mom, it's very cool of her to accept the idea of random strangers living with us every now and then.




....Suzana, Scott and Sheri teaching / learning pick-up lines in Portuguese....



....Scott trying his pick-up lines....



....Big R is starving....

Key phrase: Cultural Exchange. Even then I didn't think she'd buy it. I was prepared to hear something along the lines of "Are you out of your freaking mind???!!!!") Instead she liked the concept!
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SUNRISE IN ARIES

- God Is An Astronaut -
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....Saturdays are nice when you let your imagination run wild....
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So Billy and I decided to hop on the Hop-On, Hop-Off.
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As it turns out, we liked it. The only times we hopped off was at Bukit Bintang (for some McDonald's breakfast, what else and buy a new set of guitar strings) and Independence Square (my 14 years in KL, I never set foot on the field, this is my first time....yes, I'm no more a Merdeka field virgin....hmmm....I wonder, will two people making out in the middle of the field be conspicuous even in the dead night).
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We had lunch in KLCC before deciding to check out the PC Fair next door.
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That's the worst decision you can make if you're not seriously considering buying anything.
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The day went great. Looking forward to another one.
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STRINGS

- Sofa Surfers -

....Christmas in June....

We softly sang a Christmas song riding on the small boat up the river where the firelies surround us and the stars above us.

Perfect.




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SIGNS OF LIFE

- Placebo -

....the Fling Bling is born....


Sweet, short and potent.

Dash of Boston, Russia and Japan.

Shaken, not stirred.

Seeking offers for free liquer to experiment, first one gets to sample.

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WORLD BEHIND MY WALL

- Tokio Hotel -


Trust. Forgive. Accept. Believe.

(Or something else starting with the letter 'A')

....quoting Nil in his half stupor....

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LET IT BE

- The Beatles -


There will be an answer
Let it be....


Karaoke helps :)

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OUR HEARTS ARE READ

- The American Dollar -


How long has it been?

If I were to elaborate everything that has been happening the past 2 weeks, I'd never finished. And honestly I'm just too lazy and tired. But I shall provide snippets of the good times I've had while it's still fresh in my mind.

Taras showed up at the restaurant looking like an Afghan refugee (that's exactly how he described it and he wasn't joking). Just completing his India / Thailand tour, he looked more Indian and not a hint of Russian. Then I sat with him yesterday and I confessed to him that I felt he must think what a spoiled rich brat I am the first time we met, but he just smiled and said he already knew I was different. That culminated into a beautiful friendship, sharing the love for the same music, good food, photography and many, many more. He earned his permanent residency at our home, and graduated from being the dishwasher, to cook, to driver and Deb's own favourite pet. Saying goodbye was hardest, as he continues globetrotting towards self-discovery, and may he find what he desires and what he is searching for.

Together with Awais, we discovered how my key can actually open the gate to the rooftop! But how dissapointing it was that it's just an old, dark, and dirty empty space. We ended up sitting at home, just talking to a background of smooth jazz.

Bob then came several evenings after and straightaway being dragged to Central Market, the location of the baseball bat project Taras and I promised to do. That Friday, we had the best of times at Cavell's with a bunch of friends, listening to music from the 80's, singing along to Shout! and just chilling out.



....the Timbadias at Cavell's, Desa Sri Hartamas....





....the Russian and his Tangechi....



On Sunday, friends came over for Sarawak Laksa with us and Helle who just arrived the evening before (also straightaway being dragged to a late night movie nevertheless). Quirky little lady, this Helle, she's on a mission to get everybody try her packet of Haribo just to see who can stand the taste! (Nasty!) There's so much eating involved in everything we do, but nobody complained.

Ok, I'm just horrible in putting things down in words right now of how exciting things have been for me, not with the cronic cough and a minor separation anxiety and it feels crappy. But oh well, they're clear as crystal in my head, that's what matters.

But how do I feel you ask?

- shrugs and smiles -

" Don't cry cause it's over, but smile cause it happened"



Trivia: Previously Travel Solo listed St Petersburg, California and Tokyo as my ideal travel destinations. Guess where my guests come from?


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A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

- Shalamar -




Earth Hour 2010 and I was in the middle of a jungle in Perak, sipping wine basked under the bright shining moonlight and stars on a big rock at the waterfalls with two friends.

Not that I've never been to Lata Kinjang for camping, but I thought this was just a routine trip.

I was wrong. This is by far the best camping trip I've been to.

Sometimes, you just have to take what the rest are telling you with a pinch of salt. All is well and it's one of those things I'm glad that I did anyway.

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PANIC

- The Smiths -


Drama on a Saturday afternoon!

Due to the after-effect of the drug that knocked me out for a good 8 hours last night and rendered me half conscious today, I'll let Nil tell the story. (I swear they use that stuff on elephants).

If it was another half an hour late, I'd be looking like Hitch after an anaphylactic reaction to shellfish.

Images of my throat cut open or poked with a pen to get some air in lingers.

But I mean, seriously, insect repellant? I was told by Nil and Ser who did some Googling that DEET was use in the military and agriculture.

It was scary when you are experiencing it, and it could be even more horrifying for friends and family members who are unsure how to react.

It's humorously portrayed in the movie as almost being a harmless incident but things could have been worse, and deadly. It looked too easy to just drive to the nearest pharmacy and down a bottle of Benadryl. Benadryl won't do any good in my case.

Always, always, let people around you aware what you're allergic to. Insist on not taking food that you're not supposed to take. Be careful when using / trying out anything that you're unfamiliar with, do a patch test.

It could save your life.

Me, I was lucky I have friends like Nil & Ser who did not think twice about abandoning the RM45/pax SkyTrex challenge before we even started and rushed me to the nearest clinic. Dr. Nadia at the ER was very kind and professional in handling my case.

Quite a scare but it was also a lesson, and something to look back at and laugh about that is our little Saturday afternoon misadventure.

The Boots bottle now remains sealed in a double plastic wrap in a Zip-Lock bag ready to be surrendered as evidence back to the owner, one fine day.

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SUNDAY MORNING

- Maroon 5 -

....it's something else....


I found myself humming to Sunday Morning this sunny day while making coffee for myself, Deb and Wade. Today's going to be a wonderful day and I could feel it. Wade and I started getting busy in the kitchen (I think he didn't even brush his teeth before efficiently picking a spot in the kitchen, and yes, I mean cooking). My friends were invited over for lunch that I thought Wade would like to get to know so yesterday we agreed to, how Wade describes it, make this a 'collaborative effort'. I ended up just watching Wade making hummus and bake a pumpkin. I only came up with the dessert and at the last minute, decided to prepare butter rice. Wade was gracious to let me get away with it :) Everything was ready and Shington and the Timbadias came. After a quick formal introduction, we sat there at the dining table; hummus and tortilla bread, baked pumpkin, butter rice, baked brown sugar and mint pineapple, wine, Harry Connick Jr., and just talking. Then the Billionaire box was taken out of the cabinet and that was it. I don't remember the last time I played it with friends until the wee hours but I'm reminded how much fun it was today. I was drenched at the end, I couldn't stand the adrenalin. Inevitably I had to say goodbye to all of them but this week started on a good note and I'm happy about it.

Michal is also back in the neighbourhood from his trip from Indonesia and I'm hoping to meet up again after hosting him the week before. Quite a different character from Wade the quiet, seemingly shy language teacher, Michal's a slightly goofy Energizer bunny with a thing for reggae (I find unusual even now). That was the weekend I had a taste of Polish vodka and Polish rock music and I think I quite dig it. The Polish reggae I just didn't get.

I started participating in this project a skeptic. Yes, I was excited to be a part of it but wasn't sure whether I can pull it off, especially welcoming strangers into my home and hosting, decently at the very least. I was determined to rediscover as much as I can about Kuala Lumpur to be able to tell Surfers which places they should not miss, local flavours they should try. By getting to know these people, I was hoping that I'd learn about their culture, their language, their history, and they would learn about mine. I never did dwell too seriously into such things but from whatever time I spent with them, I found something else, something better.

I found interesting individuals that I wouldn't imagine I'd meet. New friends I found not through work, which is a big, positive leap. Kind souls and insightful thoughts on life's perspectives. Above all, it has been a great experience and utter satisfaction. Signing up took a while, but it was an easy decison when I finally did.

I hope that after this, they'll too, regard me not only as another host in KL, but a friend.


Sunday morning rain is falling
Steal some covers share some skin
Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable
You twist to fit the mold that I am in
But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
And I would gladly hit the road get up and go if I knew
That someday it would bring me back to you
That someday it would bring me back to you


That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave


Fingers trace your every outline
Paint a picture with my hands
Back and forth we sway like branches in a storm
Change the weather still together when it ends


That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave


But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
Sunday morning rain is falling and I'm calling out to you
Singing someday it'll bring me back to you
Find a way to bring myself home to you


And you may not know
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow?

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RELEASE THE PRESSURE

- Leftfield -

....three girls, a dog, and a pizza place....

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PEEL ME A GRAPE
- Diana Krall -


9.45 p.m. Thursday, 17th December 2009.

I'll wave to the stars and a friend who'll fly by in the night sky.

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THE GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER

- Nick Perito -

My last road trip for 2009.

And Fifi's wedding.

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CISKO DISKO
- Rico Bass vs. DJ Bonito -

....stone wall....




Uprockin' floordroppin', spinnin' and glidin', windmill combinding, 1999'in

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