a long overdue post

which was suppose to take place.. well, last year. sorry why, yarn? hahahaha

here's my 50+1 reason i *heart* malaysia

with conjunction with merdeka this month, i thought i should actually put it to action. so here it is..

feed me!
51. mamak - there's food 24 hrs
50. food are cheap - with some exceptions of the expensive restaurants
49. varieties - from indian to chinese to malay to mixed all 3 together
48. durians!! - durian bomb, durian tart, durian icecream, durian mooncake, durian itself!!
47. conventional - ever had your fantastic coconut drink in a plastic bag tied with raphia string at one corner and a straw, of cuz.

entertain me
46. our own fav - mia palencia, roger wang, reza salleh, sheila majid.. and it goes on and on, and they're really good! am proud of them.
there were also peeps like KRU, Nora, Innuendo.. still proud of them too
45. sepet - and gubra, and mukhsin.. and many more from yasmin ahmad that shows so much of the malaysia culture and authentiness
44. rainforest world music - something i'm yet to go but want to go. seems to be happening every year.. soon! i shall attempt to go for it!

43. our style - our own version of entertainment like this for this and this for this
42. performances - cultural performance every chance we can get to show it off

people
41. mixture - we've got all the culture under one roof and we can still talk to each other
40. language - a chinese can speak tamil, a tamil speaks mandarin.. why do you think most of the support centers are here?
39. slang - we have our own slang 'lah', 'wat', 'leh' and to east malaysians 'bah'
38. colourfulness - aside from our own majority - malays, chinese and indians, there's also so many other people around the globe
37. fooled - so nice to be able to fool others with asian looks and hide our age, our language ability, our skill.. ahh..

achievements
36. tallest twin tower - c'mon be proud about it!
35. sports - nicol david, lee chong wei, rashid sidek, foo kok keong, and my sista! well many more names of cuz
34. our own car brand - may not be the best but we have our own brand, our own car!
33. seeing it differently - we have world class peeps too like louis pang, kid chan, kenny sia
32. here! - we have managed to hold a few main events where leaders come together - Commenwealth, F1, OIC, NAM, etc..

culture
31. mixed - seen an indian in baju kurung, chinese in sari? come here la
30. celebration - we celebrate all the festivals together, seriously - its a holiday! we celebrate!
29. richness - go to Melacca and experience historical nyonya, east malaysia, kelantan, penang, etc..
28. fashion - seriously, the traditional has gone modern and yet, there is the essence of it
27. freedom - to worship our faith

shopping haven
26. 1Utama - one of those malls that has so so many shops in one place, and its still growing!
25. Sunway Pyramid - another megamall that even has an ice ring in the middle of the mall
24. Starhill, The Gardens - extremely highclass mall then when i go, i can only afford to go to the toilet.. and nice too!
23. RM5 per entry - to the highest class toilet in The Gardens. any sponsors?
22. Pekan Rabu - and like every morning market, night market, shopping is everywhere

da place
21. strategic - in between thailand (shopping haven) and singapore (update haven) and easy to travel to any other countries
20. homes - you still amazingly find wooden houses, urban to the most unexplainable expensive houses
19. beach - c'mon, almost every state is near to a beach! how convenient
18. montains - mount K, y'all.. and i'm planning to climb one of the tallest in SEA
17. still - dont feel the earth move, dont see any spinning winds or vulcanic mountains

my 2nd home - KL
16. city - that never sleeps, and so does the jam on the road
15. food - williams mamak! chilli pan mee!
14. driving - a good driving practice for anyone
13. contradictory - kg baru in the middle of the heart of the city. but if you want to see a malay lifestyle, its beautiful
12. potential - so much potential in the people here and the place.. simply amazing

my home - Alor Star
11. cheap cheap - food are extremely cheap. imagine a bowl of noodles for only RM1.50!
10. lingo - we have our own lingo like 'hang' means you, 'kupang' means syilings, 'depa' means them, 'panaih' means hot
9. paddy - kedah aka rice bowl of malaysia cuz there's paddy field almost everywhere and sunset there is .. ahhhh.....
8. parking - a guy walks up to you, with a piece of paper and each hour cost 30 cents..
7. lorong titi siam - if you say it fast enough and understand it in hokkien, you'll know how the name came about.

somethings dont change
6. da squat toilet - always get a glee from my cousins from aussie
5. old newspaper - siren screaming 'suratkhabar lama.. old newspaper.. old magazine.. old batteries'
4. pasar malam - 'night market', altho not much a fan of it but i realised its unique
3. travel - we still have cabs with no meters, trishaws, bicycles
2. wrapped up - some food are still wrapped up in newspapers like putumayam.. nice!!

of cuz..
1. my home.

happy merdeka peeps.

greater things are yet to come,
greater things are still to be done in this city!
- God Of This City, Chris Tomlin

sorry..

i might be away for awhile.. sorry...

dont worry.

i'm still fine :)

BIG - Pt 2

the biggest part of our body - our flesh.

and its the biggest challenge for me..

sigh..

but anyhow, i shall kill it! before it kills me!!

no i'm not trying to burn my skin or flesh, lest i become bbq pork.

a continuation from my previous post, the 90 days fast - to which i still donno what i got myself into, my most precious thing.. my morning sleep. and most of the time, my flesh kills me first.

some may have no problem waking up in the morning and all - but i have major problem waking early if its not to the last spare minute i can indulge into my sleep.

i'm already convicted that devotion should be done in the morning - especially now with 'Give Me 40 Days' book.. i'm even more convicted. but *ARGH*;^%$#$#%$^;^*

*ahem*

but just as Christ has said it

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Matthew 26: 40-41

lets keep to that advice.. we have gotta force ourselves to endure it.. even though many times we have no clue whats happening and what is actually going on.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Cor 4:16-18

so, just a random - no-to-sure - post this is, but something random which i hope it inspired you.. :)

BIG

its been a very logn while since i actually talked something really deep.. not that i'm not capable of making others really confused with my words.. but yea, something deep..

today's the 14 of July - abt 1 month since i had an msn conversation with cissie on the topic we were suppose to read on jaeson ma.. what started as "did you know he's only 28..? *biggrin*" to end with a bigger commitment.. a 90-day fast.

the part that really triggered the entire conversation was that jaeson was really passionate to see college students not ashame of God. he wasnt so he didnt know what would the rest be. well, he fasted and prayed and *boom* he had a revival in his college of 2000 ppl! but the thing abt what he said was.. he wasnt satisfied with it. he wanted more! gila greedy..! but its what i want to be able to say that too! then of cuz he started praying even more for them and more accepted.

the thing abt it is, i admit and this is my point of view, is that the word revival doesnt quite exist anymore. its more like Martin Luther King's time or the great older dudes rallying the revival where the year at 1900s. not in this millenium.. but i was proven its not true. revival can still happen now. where am i in part of that revival? i havent a clue.. but i want to be part of it!

i want...

we've also heard of Louie Giglio and his Passion rally thats happening around the world. his videos shows the college people being part of it and committing themselves once again to Him. I guess, it isnt coincident that all these is happening now - this year - this country of MALAYSIA! i'm praying for a revival of the young generation to happen in Malaysia.

cissie and i were talking as to how we all pray abt revival happen but never seem to happen or that our fire in us doesnt last as long. thats why, we have decided to have to fast 90 days..

why on earth 90 days..?

uz that the 3 months challenge. lindy mentioned to us that many times whatever we do, never last longer than 3 months - some even before the month ends, whatever we want to do dies away and we're back to our old self. when i asked cissie how long should we fast, i was thinking.. "3 months? hmm.. shall not be too adventureous or i might just get into bigger trouble"
but she said "3 months!" *gulp*

so yes..i've gotten into a way bigger commitment now.. my fast? my morning sleep..! i would sleep to the last minute to get up and when i do.. forget abt quiet time and morning devotion - i'm late for work! its really not as easy as it is.. i still love my sleep.. :( i'm trying.. really hard!

cliche as is sounds.. and very typical "Christian" talk.. but hey, is it wrong for me to say it? i know the greater challenge is that to maintain that passion and what happens after the revival? i havent a clue whats going to happen.. heck, i havent a clue what happens after this year.. but still, will you rally together with us..?

lets pray for the next Malaysian, this generation of youth, this generation that would be ashamed of God. He's to great to hide

My Dad's BIG..




[ notes: this is only part 1 of what i want to say.. more to come! ]

hahaha

i *heart* books

well, i've never quite been a bookworm kinda person.

okie, i'll rephrase that..

i never liked books.

ironically, i love hanging out in borders. mainly cause starbucks is there. and the feeling of being able to take some books (though you know you wont be buying them) and getting your coffee and read there.. ada gaya wei. hahaha.

but at the 'best selling' area or the '3 for the price of 2' area, the books there are actually pretty interesting. so, i thought, might as well try to read the 'so-called' famous books that others have talked about.

so, my first book that i've actually finished reading from cover to cover was 'da vinci code'. the only motivation for me to read that book was because the movie was coming out. and since there've been heaps of discussion and forum about it, i'd thought i'll read it and judge it for myself just before the movie came out. and its true.. the book is waaaay much better than the movie. by the way.. it took me 6 months to actually finish reading that book..! my mum took 1 week. so, i still couldnt understand how reading a book can be so 'exciting'.

then, my 2nd attempt to read a book. 2nd attempt to try to look 'smart'.

if you guys are trying to be in the same attempt as me - try reading this book: Tuesdays With Morrie - Mitch Albom. really a good book. i *heart* it alot!


a memoir of his favorite college professor, Morrie Schwartz, compiled from Albom's meetings with Morrie on Tuesdays during his fight with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease).

altho, his writing has alot to do with flashbacks and imaginery. and if you can cry at some part of the story.. fantastic la. some lesson to learn about life.

so, i've continued reading his books and most of them are about - someone dying, someone died, someone committed suicide... *smilez*

other books i've read - shame (jasvinder sanghera), ugly (constance briscoe)
no, i'm not in a morbid mode. its actually pretty interesting books..

anyone got any other books to recommend..?


"Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
- tuesdays with morrie


song in head: here in my home - various artiste

i *heart* ..

just thought of *trying* to have a series of things for me to blog about.

so..

bare with me while i try to have this series of topic.. hahahaha..!!

:)

song in head: find 100 ways - james ingram

i want a kaki..!!!

cant believe i'm saying this but...

i want to play tennis..!!

sigh..

i really want to play tennis..!!!

anyone wants to play with me..? i'll promise i wont complaint.. hehehe.. i just want to whack some strokes..

too much badminton is bad for me... *tsk tsk*

quick.. any takers..?? :D

all it takes is a muffin

location: starbucks

they both had the best seats in the place. its a weekday and a new mall, so you wouldnt quite expect as any people coming in to this place. there are a few other regular drinkers in the place. just like the rest, they ignored the people around them. they had all the time and space to themselves. they're in a world of their own.

a world just the two of them.

he had his notebook opened. she had her books laid out on the coffee table. and a hot drink between them. its always nicer to share with your loved ones, somehow it taste nicer. like every couple, they we in love. really in love. i assume so cuz for one, he couldnt keep his eyes from her and the way he touches her. she was trying, really trying, to concentrate on her studies but hands are interlocked with his. he's staring straight to her beautiful face while she's trying look straight to her books and controlling from smiling.

they are really in love.

whilst trying to concentrate at her work, they whisper to each other, trying to keep the conversation very private and confidential.

they are anyhow in a world of themselves.

he must have said something. she must have heard it otherwise.
he must have really meant what he said but she took it as a joke.
he got really upset, she wasnt taking it serious.
he sulked, she was laughing.
he sulked, she kept quiet.
she knew something went wrong.
now both of them arent talking to each other. their face were looking straight to space.

no more smiles.

cold silent treatment is agonizing.

even though in the midst of their silence, they were still looking at each other. Only this time they're stealing looks from the corner of their eyes. she wanted to talk to him but retreats back to silence. he was looking at what she was doing but still, didnt want to talk. he sat opposite from her and read the papers. she saw the empty seat thats now beside her and his eyes were glued to the papers. he closes his notebook, packs his cables and notes. she looked at everything he was doing but didnt want to do anything to stop him. i'm sure she wanted to but somehow, didnt want to give in. and somehow, i'm sure he wished she did that too.

silence and coldness was in the air.

'hi miss, would you like to try our new blueberry muffin. please let us know what you think about it. thank you!' the barister gives a sample to her and to him. they looked at the barister and as soon as she leaves, they looked at each other. they ate it and looked at each other. he talked first. they were both prolly talking a one-liner to each other. couldnt tell what they were talking but he was still packing his stuffs. she gives up and packs her stuffs too and his face were stunned to what she was doing. they both had their things packed.

they were ready to go in anger.

the old lady from the next table were ready to take their cushion seats but they werent leaving yet. he talked to her more and hold her hands from going. they were getting closer to each other. he hugged her and held hands. the affection for each other were just to great to be contained. he sat down again with his things and she walked away. poor lady had to get back sitting on the hard chair cuz she knew they werent going yet.

she came back with the blueberry muffin.

**coffeexified**

sometimes, its really nice to just observed the people around you.

sometimes, you've gotta realised you're being observed.

sometimes, i've just gotta learn to give it a chance.

sometimes, its amazing what blueberry muffin can do.

=)

song in head: rome wasn't built in a day - morcheeba

finally..!!

sharks..

what was i going to blog about?

*thinking*

song in head: september - earth, wind and fire

my first time

i guess its true that there's a first time to something.

first time the opposition won quite a big share in recent election.
first time many other countries having their elections.
first time America have a different look of the candidates running for presidential.

but for me..

my first time attending a chinese morning session wedding (fetch the bride).
my first time witnessing the whole ceremony.
my first time being the driver for the married couple.
my first time photo-sitting James' camera overnight.
my first time taking wedding photos.

i like it.

despite the election news, hoo-haas thats happening, the wedding made it far more interesting and joyful. it is afterall a happy occasion.

anyway, here are some of my photos that i took of my first time.

ps.. btw.. still not my first time voting yet.. hehe

another one goes

keong hee!

[ picture taken: gunung jerai, kedah ]

Keong Hee Huat Chye..!

i just love saying that in hokkien instead. for some reason, its easier to pronounce or sound more.. chinesee.

anyway, chinese new year has always been a big festival here in my little town. to the extend where the malls are actually closed for a day at least. smaller shops closes for longer days.

although, like every other year, there's..

1. traffic jam going back to hometowns
2. cars from every big city appears in the smaller town
3. traffic jam in the small town
4. traffic jam going back to the city

*sigh* isnt festive season the greatest after all.. :D

there's also the gathering of the family from almost everywhere. its kinda like once a year gathering and its also like the only way the younger generations meet with the other younger generation with hope that we'll continue to tradition of meeting each other - at least to my case.

and as always, since it happened two years ago, it is still happening.. this time a bit more.
"nahh.. this year i give you ang pow, next year you better give me back liao ar.." says an aunt whose kid is married with 1 kid already.

i think i'm "enjoying" my new year more each year..


oh well.. KEONG HEE HUAT CHYE!

i guess it is about time..

for some updates.. :)







how's your year been.. or rather, how's your 41 days of 2008 been?


i think i should really get photoshop soon.. but at the mean time.. allow me to show off some pics from my SonyEricsson's camera phone.. hahaha

i had to use it cuz my camera ran out of battery..

song in head: always on your side - sheryl crow & sting

the end is coming..

.. for the new beginning to begin.

song in head: next year, baby - jamie cullum

Next year, things are gonna change
Gonna drink less beer, and start all over again
Gonna read more books, gonna keep up with the news
Gonna learn how to cook, spend less money on shoes
I’ll pay my bills on time,and file my mail away, everyday
Only drink the finest wine,and call my Gran every Sunday

Resolutions, baby they come and go
Will I do any of these things? The answers probably no
If there’s one thing I must do, despite my greatest fears
I’m gonna say to you, I felt all of these years
Next Year
Next Year

I’m gonna tell you how I feel
I‘m gonna tell you how I feel

Resolutions, baby they come and go
Will I do any of these things? The answers probably no
If there’s one thing I must do, despite my greatest fears
I’m gonna say to you, I felt all of these years
Next Year
Next Year

sigh.. has it really been that long ago? lets hope that next year would be a good year :)

shh..

i just watched 'enchanted' in the cinema with some friends, and i must say, its a nice show. its been awhile since i last watched a disney movie and like most disney movie, it normally leaves the girl wishing upon a star and all in the fantasy mood.

well, maybe just me. :) but really, its a nice show.

there is one part in the show when Pip, the chipmunk suddenly realized that he cant talk. and he had to converse in chipmunk language. and had to mime out in order to get the message across. then in the end, he wrote a book 'when silence is not golden' - or something like that.

when do we keep silent?
when do we speak out?

yes, i know there is a time for everything under the sun. and to be wise to know when to say when you need too.

but there are so much time that i wish that i could just speak my mind out. to just speak what i really have in mind. to speak out what i feel and my think and what i want to know. to really know what others think.

then again, the question that stops me would be, 'it is worth speaking it out?' 'is it beneficial?'

one time there were two friends that were really close to each other. the time that they spend with each other was more than just having fun. they hang out so much that they were comfortable with each other. like most other friends, they started sharing with each other their problems, their thoughts and their opinion. and like most close friends, they would only speak to each other their thoughts that most other friends would not know about. it was more than in-depth conversation.

one day, when one of the friend was sent away to another town, the friendship between these two friends began to fade. they met new friends, they met new interest in life. they lived separate lives. when they met again after awhile, there was the awkwardness between each other. they tried to talk again like how it used to be, but it only stayed surfacial.

both had lived a separate lives. but both knew each other's thoughts. both knew what they used to say to each other. about each other. the promises they made towards each other that never achieved.

the price is paid when too much is said, i guess. you're already like in a fear factor show by speaking out your thoughts or your feeling to someone. its a risk. well, its the faith and trust that you have towards someone that only you are willing to pour out everything or some secret. right?

what about the silent treatment?

i know that girls are usually known for using that weapon next to the crying. hahaha.. proud to be one! just kidding.. :) guys are learning that trick too. anyways, what about not speaking it out. not saying it out what you have in mind. not saying out what you want to say. the risk is there too. either you end up eating yourself up or eating someone else because of silence.

so, it is 'speak now or forever hold your peace' or 'silence is golden'?


'a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak' ~ king solomon, ecc 3:7



song in head: big girls dont cry - fergie

it wasnt me

yes yes.. its been a very long time since i updated anything here. but seriously, its not my fault..

not my fault that i have quite alot of things to learn at work

not my fault that i have not much energy after work to go online

not my fault that i see this everyday when i can go online..

hehehe.. i have been blocked by super alot of websites at my client's place... cuz i'm suppose to be.. well, working.

anyway, if many that do not know.. i have changed job after 3 1/2 yrs there. i miss the people the environment. but, i guess i just have to move on. i still miss them.

but, in the new place - its been good. and crazy! well, i'm suppose to be at client site most of the time, so i hardly meet the rest of the colleagues. but we've heard abt each other. but still, my seniors that i meet everyday at work - they're crazily amazing. :)

since i have been blocked by SOOOOO many websites lately, when i can finally go online.. here's what i found out:

1. too many unread blogs

2. dont remember my password to friendster

3. dont recall all the new faces in my 'friends' list

4. found out most of them got married! [ whatever happened to 'hi, here's my bf/gf' ]

5. dont remember how to move around friendster

6. dont remmeber how to see MY own profile

7. everyone's on facebook pulak

8. everyone's asking me to join facebook in ALL my email accounts

9. what IS facebook..!?

10. forget to check out those unread blogs by then

sigh.. too many things at one time.. stress, man. hahaha..

yes, i havent join facebook.. YET

have some patience, ya *wink*

song in head: call me irresponsible - michael buble

a quarter

yes.. finally reached a quarter..

still feeling good and happy.. and the same.



darn casino guards.. still want to check my IC .. (-_-)



song in head: i choose - india arie

ehwoo!

[ a picture i took in pekan, kuantan using jon's camera. one of native kids there. ]

i donno about you but i'm loving this picture alot! makes me want to have the same expression as the kid.. maybe minus the snort-fluid.. hehe

anyway, october is here! soon will be november then 'jingle bells, jingle bells.. jingle all the way' ahh~ i'm loving it

:)

song in head : aku cinta padamu - sheila majid

* dum dee dum dumm.. *

too many times i have tried to update the blog, tell of my thoughts.
too many times i get caught up with other things.. events.. people.
too many times i neglect some stuffs thats closest to me
until its too late.

i'm trying

yes..i'm still alive and very much well. a few events had happend. some good and some bad. anyhow, i'm thanking God for what has happend. it is kinda amazing how sometimes simple events - that sometimes doesnt interest others - means the most to us. it is afterall a personal encounter.

no worries, i'm not trying to sound too deep - altho, my dahling housemate always think i am. maybe its my superpower.. fuh~ too much of Heroes. hehe..

i did have a few things in my mind that i have been wanting to tell it out but so far, with the time that i have, i will try. lets just hope it's soon.

at the mean time, i'd like to hear from you. tell me what has happened since you last visited here. its been awhile, dont you think? :)

coffee?

drum rolls, please

i know nothing about drums or any musical instruments but hey, at least i know how to enjoy music.

in conjunction with our country's 50th year of independence, almost every event thats happening has "50" in it.

drummerforchrist will be having a big thing going on. they'll be playing the drums for 50 hours - non stop! and not just one of them.. a few..! talk about being loud.. starting on the 31st August at Sungai Wang.

if you play drums - go join in..!! it'll be great. they're attempt is to put a name in the Malaysians Book of Records..! imagine.. you're part of that big event. dont wait till malaysia is celebrating its 100th year instead. haha..

i'm not sure if a specific theme is required or you can just simply whack but just go for it!

like i said, i dont play any musical instruments at all, but i'll drop by. a few peeps would be playing too.. Altered Frequence, 1am, Unbashed.. John Thomas, Arthur Kam.. [ ok, i admit.. i only know 3 of the names mentioned ]

so.. ready for the drum rolls? ;o)