MY WEEK IN A NUTSHELL

*a big sigh*

It has been a crazy + busy week. I'll summarise it in bullet point:-

• drove down to KL city as I needed to file a petition in the City High Court. It was mad and rushing as there are just so many procedure to adhere to and Mr.Mureli, [supposedly the man to see to file a petition] is so fussy, but I was glad he was a lot nicer to me. Annoying him would not be a good idea. Drove down on Thursday and came back late on Friday, well Saturday morning. I've forgotten how great it is to shop in KL. Tired as hell when I got home.
• My last petition was at the AG's office located all the way in Putrajaya. The Palace of Justice is most impressive, as it looks just like Moorish Architecture, though I shouldn't be surprise as the main culture of M'sia is similar to Arabic/Muslim anyway. Putrajaya is an independant City, small at present with the intention to expand as the Government base. Most of the government building can be found there. Too bad I did not have my camera with me.
• Spend a full day out on Saturday, doing what's there and what's not. Went up to Batu Ferringhi again.
• [Sunday] Met up with some old friends. That took up most of my evening.
• Back to work on Monday.

And here I am. Wanted to catch 'Corpse Bride' after work today with a friend, but tickets were scarce. Didn't think it was THAT popular. Hope to see it soon. So instead, we went for coffee at SegaFredo.

Tomorrow, 1st Nov is Deepavali. It's like X'Mas for you folks out there but this rises to the Indians. So it's a holiday tomorrow. Yippe!

Back to work on Wednesday, but only half a day! As it's the Malay Festive Season. We call it here as 'Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri'. Then I'm off work till the 7th! Whoa ... sure as hell looking forward to these festive holidays ... gonna catch up on my sleep. Yes, it's very merry over here at the moment. Fireworks everywhere. Food everywhere. Festive songs e'where. Sales e'where. Children e'where. Time to spend your money and make yourself poorer but richer with families and friends. For the first time ever in 4 yrs, I will be finally embracing Chinese New Year here in Penang, but that's not till February 2006. It's not too far away. Time goes quickly these days.

Righty-ho, that's all folks. Happy Holidays!

MIGHTY EXCITEMENT AND FRUSTRATION

I have been trying in vain to fix some virus infection on my desktop but to no avail. I tried to install Norton Antivirus and SystemWorks and it would not let me install it. It keep saying there is a need to restart the pc .. like for a dozen times! And upon restarting, it hangs too. So I am unable to do anything but keep rebooting the pc and this becomes a painful recycle. For some unknown reason, it would not let me install the software.

Can anyone please let me know if you have some slightest idea? Thanks. It's eating me.

On another note, I did loads of shopping today. No, it's nothing too exciting, but just officewear, but I got a lovely skirt today. Ahh, the joy of shopping. I guess you can conclude that I am seeking retail therapy.

And I start work on Monday! Weeee and Oh god, early mornings again. *groans*

A REQUIEM FOR DAVID

We departed from Penang on Wednesday [12/10] about 18:30 hrs and arrived at KL about 22:45 hrs. A dear friend, Tee came to pick us up at Puduraya, KL's major bus depot. We proceeded directly to David's wake held at St. Ignatius church just off the LDP. I haven't been to KL for the last 4 years and the circumstances that braught me there was needless to say, solemn. We arrived at the church about 23:00. We parked the car and Tee showed us the wake. I walked slowly, preparing myself for the sight. As it was late, most visitors had already left and I was secretly relieved with that, as I was not prepared to socialise at a moment like this. We gave our donations and spoke to David's parents for a wee bit. They thank us for coming from such a long way. We nodded. There really was nothing much to say but we all had a silent understanding, that David's gone and we were all very sad.

A little after, we went to where David was located. There were loads of flowers from his friends. The minute I stepped inside the parlour, I came face to face with his passport size picture, printed in a large A4 size. That was when it hit me real hard and I could not help but tears started rolling down slowly and it became rapidly. I had thought I was prepared for this, but nothing hits you hard like this when you witness it with your very own eyes. Pam consoled me. I got my grip and went to see David. He look a mere shadow of himself, dressed in his favourite black t-shirt. The parlour was cooling as the air-conditioning was still on. We sat by the chair and had a quiet chat. Tee left us to our own to say what we wanted to say to David. I went after Pam. I was immensely relieved for the privacy, a quiet time to have our last say. Then we went out of the parlour. It was about midnight and we left.

The very next day, we got to St. Ignatius church about 10ish. It started to rain while we were on our way to the church. Dark clouds were all over and it was as though, somone up there understood what kind of day this was. The service was already in full blown when we got there. We quietly sat down. I looked around and noticed that loads of David's friends were there and the seats were almost full. It clearly shows that David was loved by many ... by his families, his relatives, friends, colleagues and associates. The hymn sang at the church was slow and melancholic. The service was soon over and it was time to pay our very last respect to David. Seeing his body again ... as everyone else did, it was clear that David will be greatly missed. After the service, it was time to transport David's coffin to the crematorium. By then, the sky had cleared and sunshine were once again shining through the clouds, rendering it to dispersed.

Thus, ends David's life on this earth but I do know that he won't be forgotten in my life and many others. It is not everyday that you get to make a friend such as David.

REALITY BITES

I am so very sad. About a few months earlier, a dear old friend of mine, David was diagnosed with liver cancer. He undergone an operation and they took out 14 cm of his liver. It was advised for him to consume loads of vegetable and fruits as to increase his immune system and to encourage the growth of his liver. That would take roughly about 3 months. But sadly, David did not have that chance. About a few weeks after the operation, he was hospitalised again and this time, the doctor said the cancer cell is spreading, rapidly and deadly. The doctors at Sunway Hospital concluded that he has about 3 weeks to live. Seeking second opinion, his family moved him to Selayang Hospital and the doctors there told the family that it was best for them "to accept the fact". The doctors could not do much and David was relying on painkillera to ease his pain away.

Pam and I were gonna go down to KL to visit him this coming Saturday but it's too late. David at age 28, passed away peacefully this morning at about 7:25.

David had been such a dear confidant while I lived in KL for 2 years. He has been a great friend, always ready to lend a helping hand and always so honest without ever expecting anything back in return. Full of laughter, extremely likeable with a great sense of humour and selfless, also not to mention one hell of a party guy, he is one of the few people that I know which a nicest friend one could possibly have. One can only imagine the depth of pain he must have went through and for that, is the only consolation I have, that he's no longer suffering his pain and torment silently. I will remember him always and I hope he will be in a better place.

It will not be the same without him for losing a friend like David, is such a big loss.

It scares me just thinking how fragile life can be. And even the most modern medical technology can't help to save a life. It really is so unfair.

Pam and I will be attending his funeral this Thursday.

[pic] David Thong in his younger days.

FADS
I'm currently into:-
1] Fix You - Coldplay
2] Speed of Sound - Coldplay
3] Seven Days in Sunny June - Jamiroquai
4] Tallulah - Jamiroquai
5] Love Blind - Jamiroquai
6] Hide + Seek - Imogen Heap
7] Being a vegetarian
8] Black, professional working shoes
9] Smart + sexy working apparels
10] Nike trainers!
11] My blog!
12] Smallville, season 2
13] Cheap DVD!
14] A Different Feeling - The Avalanches
15] Don't Lie - Black Eyed Peas
16] Cruising in Pg with my fav music on, nothing beats that, except maybe s*x, *sinister grin*
17] Car stereo system.
18] CV Template

etc ...

KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

Before I left for my travels in Europe sometime this year, I was reading a book titled 'The Kindness of Strangers' (Lonely Planet S.) by Don George (Editor). It's a book based on the real life story of travellers all around the world regarding the kindness that they have encountered during their travels. As I read the book, I was amazed at the fact that there are truly an act of kindness, at times, unexpectedly around the corner when we thought that this is the end. The book was convincing but it was not as convincing as to what I truly did experienced myself.

I was half-way on my travels and this time my location was in Spain. The itinerary was from Valencia and then off to Madrid, then off to Granada. I was still in Valencia when I 'lost' my digital camera. It had in it a 512 MG card and about 700+ of pictures taken in Italy. Needless to say, I was utterly upset over my lost pictures and to be deprived of the luxury of taking picures in future. So, as an aid I bought an older version of Canon IXUS I 3.2 at only Euro 30. The only problem was I need to find a compatible charger for it. I could not do that in Valencia as it was unavailable. I moved on then from Valencia to Madrid in the hope that I would be able to find a compatible charger as it's a capital city and surely, they would have more camera shops there.

As we all know, I do not speak Spanish. So here goes my attempt in trying to communicate with the locals of what I really intended to buy. I went from all shops of sizes to those at the departmental stores. Namely, I was at El Corte Ingles, the largest and most premier departmental stores in Spain. EVERYONE goes there and it was jammed packed with Spanish and Spaniards of all shapes and sizes. I got to a point where I was utterly frustrated in trying to tell them I wanted a charger. I was at El Corte Ingles at the lowest/ground floor and I was trying in vain to tell this Spaniard that I was wondering if he had a compatible charger for IXUS1 3.2. He thought I meant the travel adaptor and showed me 7 with his finger pointed up. Ahh, seventh floor. Apparently, I was at the wrong floor. Up I went.

Seventh floor - I was talking in err .... English with this salesman about charger and he was a bit dazed with what I was saying, obviously we did not understand each other. I hit a point of frustration and I was gonna give up with the intention of saying , 'Nevermind, it's Ok' but before I could, a bespectacled man stood next to me said "Oh did you wanted a charger? It's not this floor, it's on ground floor". And to imagine my relief when I exclaimed "Oh great! You speak English! I have been trying to buy a charger but I don't speak Spanish!" He grinned widely and smiled at me. So, he offered to take me down to the ground floor and said that he would tell the Spaniard that I actually meant a charger and not an adaptor. So off we went. Ahh, we got there and communication was great as Primi could say what I could not say in Spanish. But alas, he did not sell that particular charger and referred me to another shop. Primi again took me there and it was closed. Such rotten luck.

But through out it all, I was so glad and so appreciative of his help. For without him, I would not have known which actual proper shop to look for that charger and I would have gone back to my hotel feeling hopeless and down. Primi was so helpful and I could not let him go off without buying a drink as a token of thanks. So, he took me to a nice bar, but not overly priced for a glass of 'sangria'. We chatted a lot and this was when I found out that he was actually Spanish but have been living abroad in Australia for the last 20 years ever since he got married. So, that explains his fluent spoken English! He was out on a visit to his family and sightseeing in outer Madrid. He had a good recommendation of that bar too, though I have forgotten it's name by now .. the bill came and the 'sangria' cost only Euro 7 for 2! The ones I had in Valencia cost Euro 5, each!

Although it was only a simple scenario, and not a matter of life and death situation .... nevertheless, I am still so grateful and appreciative of such helpful attitude. Primi actually took his time to accomodate my lingua deficiency and even showed me around Madrid in finding the shop that was referred to by that Spaniard in El Corte Ingles. He clearly had no ulterior motive as he did not make a move on me and not ask to keep in contact. Think the whole incident took up about 3 hours.

Primi must be one in a million. So, yes truly .... there are good, honest and kind people out there. It's a fact. I have long thought that Samaritans have long perished but I am proven wrong.

MY VERY FIRST PERSONAL CAR

This is what my car looks like, only imagine it in dark gray.

Ain't it cute .. it's so much like a Mini. 

Backside 

DENGUE ALERT

Life over here has reached critical state, at least socially. I am sure you peeps out there are aware that Malaysia and Singapore are most high on dengue alert. Yes ? No ? CNN would not be so bad as to discard such news in Asia as non-important, would they ? Anyway, it has gotten even worse in Penang and there has been 265 cases, prolly even more as we speak. Another more alarming news is that my residential area has been listed as the most highly rated on dengue, meaning we lots here are breeding these darn annoying 'Aedes' mosquito. But in actual fact is, we are not of course. Who in their right mind would ? It's those darn MPPP duty and obligation to lawn long grasses and clear the drains out, on a FREQUENT basis.

The government at least, at this point is doing something about it. They were here twice last week to implement the use of larvicidal biological control Bti through fogging. How it smells but at least it get rid of these Aedes, or at least, I hope it works for our sake as 4 people from my area had already passed away due to DENGUE FEVER. It gives me the creep just thinking that I and my family is in such invisible danger!

Picture depicts how Aedes goes about, becoming a mass murderer.

RANDOM PIXS OF PENANG (click on thumbnail to view actual size)


Penang in daylight.

Penang after dusk.

Peaceful and quiet.  

Gurney Drive where I hang out here a lot. 

PICTURES OF LATE


I, Pam + Elle at SegaFredo.

Lovebirds - Elle + Chris 

Chris at Danai Spa, looking pensive! 

An unobstructed view of the jacuzzi.  

Danai Spa - sure does looks tempting eh. 

Danai Spa, a place to relax. This is where I had my massage, indoor of course.

AT THE GYM

I am so very glad that I went to the gym today and after a session there, especially sweating it out at the sauna and steam room, I am feeling much more exhilarated. Finally, someone .. OK a personal trainer manifest the proper way of using the machine[s], but I have to say that my favourite of all time is still the cross-trainer machine. But compared to the one they have here at Fitness First and those at Canons Health Centre back in Bristol, I would have to say that I much prefer those at Canons. Firstly, it has better display screens, more options and the pedal aren't that big! I have small feet, you see. Although, I have to say that the cycling machine at FF is a whole lot more better as they have 2 types namely, one that works just your thigh and the other type that works specifically on your butt.

For the very first time, I tried the 'Step Machine' and it was cool. Have always wanted to try that out and altough it's kinda simple, still need some getting used to it cause if you do not control the impact of your step, it might just kinda jumbled up your momentum which is not a really good thing cause the pedal of the 'Step Machine' is about 30 cm off the ground!

And ! I love the sauna ... it's cool. And the steam room too! Too bad they do not have a swimming pool there or else it would be like my second home! O.K Enough about gymnasium.

Afterwards, as I drove my car out of the parking lot, it was raining heavily much to my dismay as I intended to have my dinner at Gurney Drive. It's a promenade along the sea, (DUH) so obviously, it's an open space and I did not want to get drenched! So I met up with another friend who just so happen to be leaving work and had dinner with her at Gurney Plaza. It's a relatively new commercial department store and it's hure. Actually, it may not be that new but since I have been away so long and just discovered it, it's new to ME.

It's the monsoon season ... so an umbrella is vital. Need to remember that.

Went on an attempt to look for a proper working shoes, one which is professional looking and yet comfortable enough to be worn to work on an everyday basis, but alas, did not see any nor find any to my liking. Penang is such a crap place for shopping. Honestly!

I need a job soon. Gasoline is not free! And I need a new trainers and why on earth did I ever disposed of my old NiKES !?