Miss Venezuela/Universe 2009

Oh my god, she really is so god damn pretty and I really like her hair. I've been trying to curl my hair but it can never look as good as it does on her. What's their secret ? Do I need to attend lessons as how to curl your hair ? *he he*

Oh right, it's probably done by professionals horrrr .....

[featured pic: Stephanie Fernandez]

Literature OD

I think I read too many literature novels for the time being. Ergo, I stopped reading "The Night Watch" by Sarah Waters and dived in for a chick lit. Has anyone ever read anything by Adele Parks ? I'm reading her latest novel, "Tell Me Something x". Hmm, it's alright. The novel is written from a first person point of view and it doesn't contain much humour. It has an attractive book cover ... I think the author is a fan with *sex on legs*. Most of her other books have covers as such too. I like them too. *he he* Anyway, Amazon.com claims it as "Another sure hit". Hmm, not too sure about that. Anyway, I'm only on Chapter 9 at the moment. So, we'll see how it goes.

On a different note, I've been thinking about something i.e. when someone says something offensive to you, should one tell how she/he feels? Or should one just swallow with a faint hope that it won't occur again? Or should one argue and try to make the other person see one's point of view? Sometimes you wonder whether is it really worth it, all these troubles .. all these arguments ...

Should we treat the ones who doesn't earn nor has a proper job with disdain and less respect, because they do not conform to society level or somehow do not live up to familial expectations or simply because they choose to? Does it mean that they have no social purpose and are render useless ? Or is one life a different life altogether ? Are people entitled to their choices in life, no matter how negative it sounds and should not be judge? I really don't know sometimes. I think I have been reading to many novels on Living Social.

Just something to think about.

For some reason, I really like this picture. Though it could have been better, if taken with a better angle. But I haven't got wide angle in my Canon Ixus. Speaking of that, I dropped it the other day with a loud 'thud' and the lenses are all shattered. Time to get a new one.

INDECISIVE MIND

Well, it has been a rather lazy day. Not that my days are busy thesedays. Am itching to start work again and I hope to find a good offer out there. Times are bad but no harm to be optimistic and hopeful right. Anyway, had my lunch at about 2pm at The Curve. Lately, I've been eating a little unhealthily, lots of fried stuff and seafood. I think I had seafood a dozen times from CNY till now. I really, really need to stop for a while. Anyhow. I got bored of my old blue-ish layout. I think I was having an identity crisis as I couldn't decide on which background but finally settled on this lovely lavender pink one. Ok right ?

THE ROBBER BRIDE

I have known of the author, Margaret Atwood for sometime now but it wasn't till of late that I actually read any of her books. I just literally finished reading one of her literature novels, The Robber Bride. I could really relate to this story. Although it is just fiction, the storyline of the book is a pretty accurate manifestation of our social living. It shows how friendship are form, through strangers, inexplicably linked through a series of unfortunate events and what one will do when there is none to turn to, especially in that horrible and gloomy hour of one's life. I do not wish to be a spoiler but the story is basically about four women and how one of them affects their life. Let's call her Miss Z. She at point in time, destroy each of their lives but also saves them in which I think she prolly did some of them a favour. I know that's a paradoxical statement but it is interesting to note that the other three ladies will never be able to truly see it as a favour. To know more, you have to read the book. I give two thumbs up as I truly did enjoyed reading this book. I might read another one of Margaret Atwood's novel next, The Blind Assassin, wherein she was awarded the Man Booker Prize in 2000.

14.02 Weekend – Malacca Historical City

That’s where I was for the 14.02 weekend. The minute we arrived in Malacca, it was swarming with horde of people and copious cars were heading into the main part of the old town, i.e. Jonkers Street. It was jammed up all over. It was a fine day, with lots of sunshine, clear blue sky and little breeze. We were in search for our intended accommodation, none than the other - Majestic Hotel (“MH”) which is an establishment by the YTL Group. Incidentally, it is also the same group which manages Pangkor Laut Resort and Tanjung Jara Resort. The street orientation in Malacca City Centre is very tiny but neat. So we thought MH would be an easy find. Furthermore, we have the location map to aid us, albeit not a very good one. After a few rounds, we discovered that MH was located on the road which didn’t have any road sign to it. But once it was found, MH was almost a perfect embodiment of typical old architecture found in Malacca. It reminded me very much of my old house in Logan Road, Penang. The plants are well trimmed and I just simply adore the cute little windows. The room had a quaint charm with its wooden flooring and lovely china. All we did was eat, sleep, massage and eat eat eat. If spa is your kinda thing, I do highly recommend the lomi-lomi massage. It was soooo good, even better than the one I had at the Spa Village, Ritz-Carlton in KL. The masseur managed to get rid of all my tight knots at my shoulder. It was a really good experience, particularly especially when we were looking for an old quaint charm and we got it at Majestic Hotel. Here are some pictures taken at Majestic Hotel. To view the actual size of the picture, please click on the thumbnail.

                  The frontage of the Majestic Hotel

                       Lobby area.

            Floor tiles of the lobby area.

Coffee house, where we had our breakfast.

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              Attempt at arty shot.

Four posted bed. To the left, is where the bathroom is, with a wide sliding door. Sexy.

                   The bathroom.

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           I like these bathroom tiles.

                   Library area.

         Floor tiles of the library area.

PICTORIAL ENTRY

I was quite a sentimental person, even as a child. Whilst I was doing some spring-cleaning back in Penang in order to accost the CNY, I came across some old photos taken when I was really young. (note: I am hardly sentimental now.) Thesedays, I live by "Out with the old, in with the new". For clarification purposes, this is in relation to stuff and junk and not men k!

The photo featured above was taken in one of the school premises (think it was a dilapidated tennis court) back in Nov 1995. I remembered it very clearly because it was the very last day of our SPM exams and we were all so happy! NO MORE STUDYING! We were walking out of our school, heading towards the main gate to get our lunch and head into town. Oh man, at that time, it was such a liberating feeling. All four of us have been studying our asses off and since we didn't have to do that anymore, we were estatic! Not to mentioned relieved too.

These were my main friends during high school days. From left to right, Maureen, me, Sharifah & Florence. Actually Maureen wasn't really close to us, she comes and go in this tiny group. They used to call us the 'Muhibah' because we each represent the main race in M'sia.

Amongst all, Florence & I are closest for we have known each other since primary school at 12 years old. That's a good 20 years. We were classmates and she used to live just about a 5 mins walk from my house. We decided to enter the same secondary school and we did everything together. Going to school, breakfast, recess, lunch ... shopping .. etc. Sharifah became close to us when she was 13, at Form 1. She wasn't a typical malay gal and she was fun. Best of all, she speaks good English. So all hell broke lose when the three of us got into the same class for the last 2 years of our secondary school, i.e. Form 4 & 5. Florence or Flo (we used to call her then) were the matured one amongst us. Sharifah or Shark (we used to call her then) were my partner in crime and Flo would run the strip of morales with us .... but after a few attemps in making us good, which she failed, she joined us in our mischievous prank too! Wahahahha. And we used to sit side by side to one another in class. Very convenient.

As I know, Florence got married in 2004 and she had a baby in 2006. I didn't attend her wedding as I was in the UK but I think my parents attended it on my behalf. Sharifah was working in KL but moved back to Penang in 2006, the year I moved to KL. She got married in 2008. I got a call from her when I was in Hong Kong, just one day before her wedding and of cos, to inform me that she was getting married. One day before. Hmmm ... and I met Maureen in Penang, during one of my night out in 2005. Think it was SS. She was working at the door. If I remembered correctly, she was in events.

I haven't seen any of them for a long time. Florence was the last person I saw, back in 2005 when I just got back from the UK. We were all so close once. Funny how things change.

CNY is still happening. At my last entry, I left this blog in a very disgruntled manner. Admittedly, things picked up from then. Visited relatives. Thank god it is only a 1 day affair. I don't think I can handle it if it was too long. I was hoping to meet my cousins this time 'round but they had already left for the capital city on the 2nd day of CNY. My eldest (paternal side) cousin is getting married and I think she had her registration of marriage on the Friday just passed.

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Well, that was a long sidetracking. All in all, CNY was quiet this year. But it is usually quiet for most years. Just the way I like it. Short and sweet is the best way to go about it. Left for KL on Friday and I left my book, A Mighty Heart in the plane. I got distracted with this little girl I met, Chloe seated next to me. She's 3 years old and she's such an enchanting little girl. I think I'll just start on this book I picked up at the airport, Mayada, Daugter of Iraq. Hope it won't be too emotional.

Saw Underworld III, Rise of the Lycans on Friday night. It was alright. I still prefer the Underworld I, with Kate Beckinsale in it. Caught a couple of previews before the start of Underworld III and I wanna really see the following:-

1. Watchmen
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4. Valkyrie
5. Changeling
6. A Mighty Heart

Freaking Hell! I was nicely asleep and suddenly there was this loud alarm buzzing off "... Beep, beep, beep, POOOoNNNn POnnnnNNN, Toooott, tooot, Toooot, Tiiiiiitttt, tiiiiitttt, TIIIIIiitttt, TAnnnggg ... " and it goes on and on for a bloody 15 mins or so coming from a car parked directly in front of my house. An idiotic relative of someone has accidentally triggered off his/her car alarm and it was freaking 9am! To make matter worse, it wasn't an alarm in its classical meaning. It was one of those 'Tu kau' alarm where it consist about 12 variations of different sounds. OMG .... this define the meaning of utter annoyance. No, that was a kind word. It was a NUISANCE! And the best part of it was that they didn't do anything about it and just let the alarm buzzed! Needless to say, I was wide awake. Not by choice! I am feeling that feeling ... you know the feeling when you "woke up unpleasantly and didn't want to wake up". Well yea, THAT feeling.

Of course I tried to resume sleep in vain but obviously failed. Pffffttt! First day of CNY and I'm off to a bad start already. I'm almost skeptical to resume doing anything.

Oh he he ..... Happy Lunar Year to everyone. I hope you all have a better morning than I did.

Busy! Busy! Busy!

Chinese New Year ("CNY") (the year of Ox) is upon us soon, which also means that I am back in hometown, Penang to be with my family. And of course, to see old friends too. I just hope I am able to squeeze in some time for that. Anyway, I've been a busy little bee since I got in. No no, not with social but with cleaning. All I did yesterday was to mop, wipe, vacuum & wash. Started from 2pm and finished at about 6pm. My hands are kinda tired. At least today, it won't be so busy. Just have to wash the porch area. I'm glad the latterns are up which means I don't have to do it! Haha!

I am in charge of the decorations, again. Gotten some new decorative stuff to hang from Living Quarters in KL. Then have to look presentable for tonight's reunion dinner, which will be held in my house. It's a small one. Ever since my grandparents have passed on, my youngest uncle (which I am very close to and fond of) will be joining us. My other uncles are too busy with their own family. But I guess I will see them on first day of CNY. Now that I'm an old fart, CNY is not really my favourite anymore. It used to be a lof of fun when I was a little kid and each CNY at Logan Road (my paternal grandparents' residence then) had a huge playground. I and my other 8 cousins would just play and run around, laughing like mad children. From catching to fireworks, singing and god knows what else, it used to be a lot of fun. Ahhhh the good ol' days. Sure does brings back good memories. CNY at my maternal grandparent' house was a lot of fun too. It was located at a hillside. I remember there was this huge, huge bougainvillea plant with its enormous trunk and it would bloom very vigorously every CNY, without fail. It looked so pretty as the petals were cherry red and bright pink in colour. I have a picture taken with it before. Wonder if I can find it again.