| You Are Basic Panties |
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| You are a Brainy Girl! |
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Wow i feel so sexy now.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Brainy Girl in Basic Panties = Mel
Wow i feel so sexy now.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Tis The Season
My hands are shaking, my stomach is queasy and I've got cold sweat. My heart's palpitating like crazy and I think i'm gonna pass out soon. Breathe in... and ouuuuuut.
Yes, I have not completed my Christmas shopping.
Five more days. Die la, die la. Every year, I tell myself...nay...I VOW to buy Christmas presents throughout the year so come December, I won't have to go through the same old panic routine. Well, it's been 26 years and things haven't changed. Some traditions aren't meant to be broken I suppose.
Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. I heart it very much. And i love buying gifts for people (even better if I had a limitless bank account to go with my generosity). But as Christmas draws near and panic sets in, I start picking up gifts for people without thinking too much - time is precious after all. I always try to draw up a proper list of who and what but after a while, I tend to chuck the list aside and just go with the flow. Over the years, I've drawn up several categories of gifts. Here they are:
Practical Gifts
I like these because, although they seem boring, it's nice to receive gifts you can actually use/wear/eat/read rather than 'dust collectors' (see below). Practical gifts include cotton nighties (popular among the aunties) with a purple-furred Garfield or a wide-eyed girl with the words 'You and I Be Friend Forever' at the bottom , or bedroom slippers. Even better are toiletries (worst-case scenario: You break out in hives or smell like curry powder). I've received my fair share of practical gifts and although they were not my prettiest gifts, they've been put to better use than my 436 snow-globes.
Dust Collectors
So pretty. You know, those porcelain figurines of angels/teddy bears/KLCC. And although they come in the nicest boxes, the prettiest wrapping paper and matching ribbons, all they get from most recipients is a 30-second 'Aww...so nice' before being doomed to the shelf, to collect dust forevermore. The only saving grace to receiving/giving a dust collector is if the figurine etc. bears significant meaning. For example, maybe you've always wanted to go to KLCC so if someone gives you a three inch model of the building with a card attached that says, "One day you'll get there", the gift automatically gains bonus points and is shifted to the 'Sentimental Gifts' category.
Sentimental Gifts
These are the ones with special meanings, where perhaps you and the receiver are the only ones who 'understand' the meaning behind the gift. These gifts can be either 'Practical' or 'Dust Collectors'. Good examples are books (self-help not included), especially first editions (bonus points if its your favourite book/author); photo frames with a collage of photos, a stuffed animal that reminds you of the person (careful on this one). But the best sentimental gifts are the DIYs: a poem, a song, a collage, scrapbook etc. People who live in The Glass Is Half Empty Land call DIY presents cheap but I think they're far more thoughtful than an ugly Gucci handbag I'd probably never wear. Plus, DIY gifts show effort. Extra points!
Cha-Ching Gifts
Also known as 'that's-the-most-expensive-keychain-i've-seen' gift. This of course depends on your budget. And who you're trying to impress/keep happy. Most likely, you'd buy Cha-ching gifts for your boss or significant other. Gifts include perfume, jewellery (not the RM10 for 3 pairs of earrings kinda jewellery mind you), leather goods, electronic gadgets, cars, private islands...You get the pic. Although it might seem flashy, I think it's a nice way to show someone special just how special they are (loses its appeal if you do it too often though). As Maybelline puts it: Because you're worth it.
Damn straight I am.
Panic Gifts aka Safe Gifts
These I am familiar with, especially as Christmas looms. Photo frames, festive candy, gift packs,candles...You get the pic. I detest getting these gifts for people because I'm afraid they appear thoughtless. However, I also consider them Safe Gifts and are perfect for people whose last names you aren't too sure of ("Jeffrey...You know, that guy who's always with James?").
That said, I think the most important principle in gift giving is the old adage that it's the thought that counts. The fact that someone deems me important enough to get me a gift is a nice feeling by itself. To my friends, my gifts don't quite bear branded insignia or have Bluetooth services but it's just my little way of saying I love you guys and I'm always thinking of you. Yeah yeah yeah sappy as it may seem...Tis the season after all.
ok, time to hit the mall.
"All I want for Christmas is you."
-Mariah Carey, All I Want For Christmas. Now if only i could get Johnny Depp to sing this to me. Or Jeff Corwin. Or Josh Hartnett. I'm not picky.
Yes, I have not completed my Christmas shopping.
Five more days. Die la, die la. Every year, I tell myself...nay...I VOW to buy Christmas presents throughout the year so come December, I won't have to go through the same old panic routine. Well, it's been 26 years and things haven't changed. Some traditions aren't meant to be broken I suppose.
Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. I heart it very much. And i love buying gifts for people (even better if I had a limitless bank account to go with my generosity). But as Christmas draws near and panic sets in, I start picking up gifts for people without thinking too much - time is precious after all. I always try to draw up a proper list of who and what but after a while, I tend to chuck the list aside and just go with the flow. Over the years, I've drawn up several categories of gifts. Here they are:
Practical Gifts
I like these because, although they seem boring, it's nice to receive gifts you can actually use/wear/eat/read rather than 'dust collectors' (see below). Practical gifts include cotton nighties (popular among the aunties) with a purple-furred Garfield or a wide-eyed girl with the words 'You and I Be Friend Forever' at the bottom , or bedroom slippers. Even better are toiletries (worst-case scenario: You break out in hives or smell like curry powder). I've received my fair share of practical gifts and although they were not my prettiest gifts, they've been put to better use than my 436 snow-globes.
Dust Collectors
So pretty. You know, those porcelain figurines of angels/teddy bears/KLCC. And although they come in the nicest boxes, the prettiest wrapping paper and matching ribbons, all they get from most recipients is a 30-second 'Aww...so nice' before being doomed to the shelf, to collect dust forevermore. The only saving grace to receiving/giving a dust collector is if the figurine etc. bears significant meaning. For example, maybe you've always wanted to go to KLCC so if someone gives you a three inch model of the building with a card attached that says, "One day you'll get there", the gift automatically gains bonus points and is shifted to the 'Sentimental Gifts' category.
Sentimental Gifts
These are the ones with special meanings, where perhaps you and the receiver are the only ones who 'understand' the meaning behind the gift. These gifts can be either 'Practical' or 'Dust Collectors'. Good examples are books (self-help not included), especially first editions (bonus points if its your favourite book/author); photo frames with a collage of photos, a stuffed animal that reminds you of the person (careful on this one). But the best sentimental gifts are the DIYs: a poem, a song, a collage, scrapbook etc. People who live in The Glass Is Half Empty Land call DIY presents cheap but I think they're far more thoughtful than an ugly Gucci handbag I'd probably never wear. Plus, DIY gifts show effort. Extra points!
Cha-Ching Gifts
Also known as 'that's-the-most-expensive-keychain-i've-seen' gift. This of course depends on your budget. And who you're trying to impress/keep happy. Most likely, you'd buy Cha-ching gifts for your boss or significant other. Gifts include perfume, jewellery (not the RM10 for 3 pairs of earrings kinda jewellery mind you), leather goods, electronic gadgets, cars, private islands...You get the pic. Although it might seem flashy, I think it's a nice way to show someone special just how special they are (loses its appeal if you do it too often though). As Maybelline puts it: Because you're worth it.
Damn straight I am.
Panic Gifts aka Safe Gifts
These I am familiar with, especially as Christmas looms. Photo frames, festive candy, gift packs,candles...You get the pic. I detest getting these gifts for people because I'm afraid they appear thoughtless. However, I also consider them Safe Gifts and are perfect for people whose last names you aren't too sure of ("Jeffrey...You know, that guy who's always with James?").
That said, I think the most important principle in gift giving is the old adage that it's the thought that counts. The fact that someone deems me important enough to get me a gift is a nice feeling by itself. To my friends, my gifts don't quite bear branded insignia or have Bluetooth services but it's just my little way of saying I love you guys and I'm always thinking of you. Yeah yeah yeah sappy as it may seem...Tis the season after all.
ok, time to hit the mall.
"All I want for Christmas is you."
-Mariah Carey, All I Want For Christmas. Now if only i could get Johnny Depp to sing this to me. Or Jeff Corwin. Or Josh Hartnett. I'm not picky.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Friday? Quiz time!
| Men See You As Choosy |
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| You Are Most Like Carrie! |
 Romantic prediction: You'll fall for someone this year... Totally different from any guy you've dated. |
Ok I get it, I'm choosy. Next...
| Your Hat Personality Is A |
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Floppy hat? mmm, ok la.
| You are White Chocolate |
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I'm insulted. For the record, white chocolate isn't even REAL chocolate, *pout* It's chocolate for wimps.
Feelin' blue.
From Condommia and Yoyellow:
Your Aura is BlueYour Personality: Your natural warmth and intuition nurtures those around you. You are accepting and always follow your heart.You in Love: Relationships are your top priority, and this includes love. You are most happy when you are serious with someone. Your Career: You need to help others in your job to feel satistifed. You would be a great nurse, psychologist, or counselor. What Color Is Your Aura? Take This Quiz :-) Find the Love of Your Life (and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance. |  |
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Vanity Fare.
I’m back from good ‘ol KL. Was there for work but I’ll spare you the details. Vanity, said Al Pacino in the Devil’s Advocate, is my favourite sin. I couldn’t agree with him more. Sometimes I feel guilty, even embarrassed that I’m so vain. But the great thing about growing older is that soon you learn to not give a flying fff..fish what people think. I’ll admit to stealing a glance in any reflective surface when possible to make sure I don’t have stuff hanging out of my nose or a strand of hair out of place. So sue me.
If you ever want to feel ugly about yourself, visit KL (Disclaimer: Not an anti-KL sentiment so spare me the hate mail). Nothing like air-brushed, size 2, tiny-waisted waifs to make you feel icky about your not-so-perfect skin and other personal hang-ups (Disclaimer: Not an anti-size 2 sentiment so spare me the hate mail). At the risk of sounding superficial (I’m already on a roll anyway), sometimes looking good matters. Why? For the clichéd reason that it makes you FEEL good. I don’t know about you guys but I do feel a wee bit better when I paint my nails or brush my hair.
You know what they about the grass being greener. Yeah yeah yeah, you can’t have it all but…There’s no harm trying right? Ok, here’s my superficial wish-list for Christmas:
1.Better skin. The type you see on magazines that glow and are completely pore-less (hah).
2.To lose another five kilos. At least this one is attainable. I’m not fixated on being skinny but I would like to feel lighter, healthier and finally be able to button my shirts in the chest region.
3.Thicker hair. I got fine hair. And I don’t mean ‘that-chick’s-so-fine’ kinda fine but not-thick-enough ‘fine’.
4.Longer legs. I hate wearing high heels so don’t bother telling me this look ‘elongates’ my legs.
That’s it basically. Oh and I’d like to be taller. Like, another five inches would be nice. I don’t know what’s up with this whole vanity rant but I just feeling bitching. You know what I don’t get? Boyfriends who tell their girlfriends that they like to see them au naturel, sans make-up, t-shirt and slippers but they get whiplash checking out girls wearing low cut tops and hot pants. There are times when I love dressing up. I used to make the effort to look extra nice whenever a particular boyfriend (from the depths of my past) wanted to bring me somewhere special. You know what? He never noticed. And it didn’t bother me until one day when I donned a pair of cut off denims and a black figureless t-shirt and had no make-up on, he remarked, “Hey, you look nice like this.”
I don’t know why I bother.
These days, I wear whatever fits. Heh and I can laugh about it because my weight’s at a stage where nothing looks right. Baggy clothes make me look fatter but snug clothes make me look like a bratwurst with legs. And I realize now it’s not what other people think of how I look like that bugs me. It’s how dissatisfied I am with myself. I wake up in the morning feeling so yucky about my physical appearance and I wish I could lounge in my sweatpants and t-shirt all day long. Strangely, that’s when I feel most at ease with myself. I feel most beautiful when I am not. Ha ha, deep stuff.
For now, I’m gonna summon my writing elves to help me get some work done.
“I feel pretty
Oh so pretty
I feel pretty, so witty and bright.
And I pity
Any fool who isn’t me tonight.”
-Maria in West Side Story. Someone has self-esteem issues.
If you ever want to feel ugly about yourself, visit KL (Disclaimer: Not an anti-KL sentiment so spare me the hate mail). Nothing like air-brushed, size 2, tiny-waisted waifs to make you feel icky about your not-so-perfect skin and other personal hang-ups (Disclaimer: Not an anti-size 2 sentiment so spare me the hate mail). At the risk of sounding superficial (I’m already on a roll anyway), sometimes looking good matters. Why? For the clichéd reason that it makes you FEEL good. I don’t know about you guys but I do feel a wee bit better when I paint my nails or brush my hair.
You know what they about the grass being greener. Yeah yeah yeah, you can’t have it all but…There’s no harm trying right? Ok, here’s my superficial wish-list for Christmas:
1.Better skin. The type you see on magazines that glow and are completely pore-less (hah).
2.To lose another five kilos. At least this one is attainable. I’m not fixated on being skinny but I would like to feel lighter, healthier and finally be able to button my shirts in the chest region.
3.Thicker hair. I got fine hair. And I don’t mean ‘that-chick’s-so-fine’ kinda fine but not-thick-enough ‘fine’.
4.Longer legs. I hate wearing high heels so don’t bother telling me this look ‘elongates’ my legs.
That’s it basically. Oh and I’d like to be taller. Like, another five inches would be nice. I don’t know what’s up with this whole vanity rant but I just feeling bitching. You know what I don’t get? Boyfriends who tell their girlfriends that they like to see them au naturel, sans make-up, t-shirt and slippers but they get whiplash checking out girls wearing low cut tops and hot pants. There are times when I love dressing up. I used to make the effort to look extra nice whenever a particular boyfriend (from the depths of my past) wanted to bring me somewhere special. You know what? He never noticed. And it didn’t bother me until one day when I donned a pair of cut off denims and a black figureless t-shirt and had no make-up on, he remarked, “Hey, you look nice like this.”
I don’t know why I bother.
These days, I wear whatever fits. Heh and I can laugh about it because my weight’s at a stage where nothing looks right. Baggy clothes make me look fatter but snug clothes make me look like a bratwurst with legs. And I realize now it’s not what other people think of how I look like that bugs me. It’s how dissatisfied I am with myself. I wake up in the morning feeling so yucky about my physical appearance and I wish I could lounge in my sweatpants and t-shirt all day long. Strangely, that’s when I feel most at ease with myself. I feel most beautiful when I am not. Ha ha, deep stuff.
For now, I’m gonna summon my writing elves to help me get some work done.
“I feel pretty
Oh so pretty
I feel pretty, so witty and bright.
And I pity
Any fool who isn’t me tonight.”
-Maria in West Side Story. Someone has self-esteem issues.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Bad, Bad Sunday
Sundays are normally blog-free for me but today will be different. It’s almost 10.30pm and I wish I could blog about how wonderful my weekend’s been but... Ah yes, always the inevitable ‘but’.
Friday started great. Went to The Loft with my colleagues and had enough beers to keep the crowd happy. We were so at home that one of my colleagues actually brought her own CD collection and requested the DJ to play them (and he actually obliged!) Several rounds of beer later, the night is still young and I’m buzzy enough to make a fool of myself on the dancefloor. So off to Shenanigan’s for booty-shaking music and lots of sweaty bodies crammed into a small space. It’s 1am and I think it’s time to get home and wash the cigarette smoke out of my hair. Aaah…me happy. All happy.
Saturday has an early start. I have to attend the launching of a hotel beside my office. Minister arrives, speech speech, hooray, cut the ribbon, ooh, aah, bla bla bla and it’s back home so I can catch up on more sleep. Lunch with friends, hit the mall (yeah how original on a Saturday afternoon) and I’m supposed to go clubbing but I suddenly feel like crap. I figure it’s a combination of last night’s alcohol, lack of sleep and my PMS. Oh and the fact my wallet’s feeling the pinch. I spend the evening in my pajamas, channel surfing and eating chocolates. We all need days like these, heh.
Sunday. Ah Sunday. A reminder that Monday is ready to rear its ugly head. In a nutshell, there were good things and bad things about Sunday. Bad Things: Big fight with my brother’s girlfriend (no love lost. But I was annoyed nonetheless and discovered I could still be catty AND bitchy at the same time. Go Mel). Decided to call a friend for some cheering up and maybe hang out to forget about the earlier fight. Unfortunately, turned out I was about to be the on the receiving end of his ‘I got out of the wrong side of the bed so fuck off’ mood. Didn’t settle too well with me (gee, you think?). Anyway, on to the Good Things about Sunday. Went to a colleague’s Raya open house/house warming party, which got my mind off the Bad Things for a while. And after Bad Encounter With Angry Friend, I decided to cheer myself up and watched Aeon Flux with Haw and Walter. Nothing like the movies to bring me to an alternate universe where only popcorn and soda matter.
So here I am, with a headache and looking forward to sleeping my Bad, Bad Sunday away. I never thought I'd say this but...
I can't wait for Monday.
"Sleep and know that if I knew all the answers
I would not hold them from you."
-No Other Way, Jack Johnson.
Friday started great. Went to The Loft with my colleagues and had enough beers to keep the crowd happy. We were so at home that one of my colleagues actually brought her own CD collection and requested the DJ to play them (and he actually obliged!) Several rounds of beer later, the night is still young and I’m buzzy enough to make a fool of myself on the dancefloor. So off to Shenanigan’s for booty-shaking music and lots of sweaty bodies crammed into a small space. It’s 1am and I think it’s time to get home and wash the cigarette smoke out of my hair. Aaah…me happy. All happy.
Saturday has an early start. I have to attend the launching of a hotel beside my office. Minister arrives, speech speech, hooray, cut the ribbon, ooh, aah, bla bla bla and it’s back home so I can catch up on more sleep. Lunch with friends, hit the mall (yeah how original on a Saturday afternoon) and I’m supposed to go clubbing but I suddenly feel like crap. I figure it’s a combination of last night’s alcohol, lack of sleep and my PMS. Oh and the fact my wallet’s feeling the pinch. I spend the evening in my pajamas, channel surfing and eating chocolates. We all need days like these, heh.
Sunday. Ah Sunday. A reminder that Monday is ready to rear its ugly head. In a nutshell, there were good things and bad things about Sunday. Bad Things: Big fight with my brother’s girlfriend (no love lost. But I was annoyed nonetheless and discovered I could still be catty AND bitchy at the same time. Go Mel). Decided to call a friend for some cheering up and maybe hang out to forget about the earlier fight. Unfortunately, turned out I was about to be the on the receiving end of his ‘I got out of the wrong side of the bed so fuck off’ mood. Didn’t settle too well with me (gee, you think?). Anyway, on to the Good Things about Sunday. Went to a colleague’s Raya open house/house warming party, which got my mind off the Bad Things for a while. And after Bad Encounter With Angry Friend, I decided to cheer myself up and watched Aeon Flux with Haw and Walter. Nothing like the movies to bring me to an alternate universe where only popcorn and soda matter.
So here I am, with a headache and looking forward to sleeping my Bad, Bad Sunday away. I never thought I'd say this but...
I can't wait for Monday.
"Sleep and know that if I knew all the answers
I would not hold them from you."
-No Other Way, Jack Johnson.
Friday, December 02, 2005
Melissa's Must-Haves
Ah Christmas. I can smell it already. Inspired by Sellie Wellie, I too shall spare everyone the misery of wondering what the perfect gift for Mel would be this season. I bring you,
Melissa’s Marvellous Must-Haves This Christmas.
A pashmina shawl – Not those flimsy ones but a real pashmina wrap that goes all around and keeps you warm yet oh-so-trendy. I actually had a colleague wear one to the cinema and she was snug as a bug in a rug compared to the rest of us in our pathetic excuse of a cardigan.Which reminds me…
Sandals/heels – Buy me shoes and you can never go wrong. Again, size five. I don’t wear stilettos and if they’re jeweled, make sure they don’t look ‘auntie’. No espadrilles neither. I think they’re pretty but kinda hard to wear.
Bags – handbags, big bags, dinner bags…You name it, I want it.
Books – ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee. And anything else you think I’d read. Note: No Stephen King please.
Spa vouchers – Nice.
And any of these under my tree on Christmas morning is fine by me (sans the giant tarantula please):
Ok, start shopping!
Melissa’s Marvellous Must-Haves This Christmas.
A pashmina shawl – Not those flimsy ones but a real pashmina wrap that goes all around and keeps you warm yet oh-so-trendy. I actually had a colleague wear one to the cinema and she was snug as a bug in a rug compared to the rest of us in our pathetic excuse of a cardigan.Which reminds me…
A cardigan – Sad as it may seem, I still live in these, so sue me. They’re not the most fashionable thing but they are pretty darn practical. But only in the following colours please: white, light pink, red, violet
A hooded cardigan – Bear with me here, please. I have a faded blue one that I wear to death (I think some of you might recognize it). I bought it Australia more than three years ago and it’s finally giving up on me. It’s hard to say goodbye, sob, but if anyone wants to get me a new one, here’s a rough idea:
Lipstick – Contrary to popular belief, I do not own 624 tubes of lipstick. Right now, I am living on ONE, yes only one, tube of lipstick. You know what to do.
Lipgloss – A cousin of lipstick.
CDs – Latest albums by Low Millions, Kelly Clarkson, Michael Buble, Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, Destiny’s Child, The Killers, Garbage.
Sandals/heels – Buy me shoes and you can never go wrong. Again, size five. I don’t wear stilettos and if they’re jeweled, make sure they don’t look ‘auntie’. No espadrilles neither. I think they’re pretty but kinda hard to wear.
Bags – handbags, big bags, dinner bags…You name it, I want it.
Books – ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee. And anything else you think I’d read. Note: No Stephen King please.
Spa vouchers – Nice.
And any of these under my tree on Christmas morning is fine by me (sans the giant tarantula please):
Ok, start shopping!
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Chocolate hugs.
You know, I just realized I haven’t had a good, solid hug in a long time. Don’t you love hugs? I do. Especially when I’m feeling down. I hugged Leilana few days ago, my 2-year-old niece, but she wiggles out of my arms faster than you can say ‘Barney’. I want a real hug. A nice, cozy, lingering hug which lasts for at least five seconds. And some people smell so good. I’m not talking about roses or chocolate chip cookies but everyone has an individual scent. And some people I know have a scent that make me feel at ease when I’m near them. Sometimes, I have to resist the strange urge to inhale people when I’m standing near them (hey you’re talking to someone who sniffs baby clothes in the shopping mall ok…)
Back to the hug. I never grew up in an overly affectionate family but there were enough hugs and kisses to ensure I had a healthy childhood and would develop no aversion to displays of affection well into adulthood. With all my boyfriends, I love the whole hand-holding, big bear hugs and cuddling package. And psychologically, it makes me feel better. For a brief moment, I forget my problems and indulge in the human touch. It’s nice. I guess we can trace it back to the gratification a baby gets when a mother holds him/her close. A sense of security, albeit short-lived. But I’m quite picky when it comes to who gives me hugs. I don’t like to share my physical space with just anyone. Basically, if you’re Johnny Depp and smell good, then it’s fine by me. Heh.
I’ve got a chocolate craving. No points for guessing why. I’ve had a few bars of Snickers the last few days and last night, after dinner, I rummaged through the fridge because I SWEAR there was a box of chocolates in there somewh….
I found it. In all its glory…I found it.
Still wrapped in pristine condition was my box of truffles from London. My brother bought them for me a month ago and I almost forgot about it! Oh the sin. I wasted no time. Grabbed a glass of water, my blanket and plopped on the sofa. I had an ‘upacara perasmian’ and gleefully unwrapped the pretty box to reveal my cocoa babies. I had one piece, and then two and then…Well, let’s just say I managed to stop myself before I wiped the box clean. I went back to the kitchen and…Hid the box of truffles waaaaaay in the back of the fridge.
It’s MINE. ALL MINE. (it’s my PMS so I’ll be miserly if I want to)
It’s ten am in the office and all I can think about are my truffles. I’m getting cold sweat just thinking about it. Truffles, truffles, truffles…Ok focus. Snickers, Snickers, Snickers…
You know what would be great right now? Johnny Depp covered in chocolate giving me a hug.
"Your love is better than chocolate...Better than anything else that I've tried."
-Ice Cream, Sarah Maclachlan. When I find a man whose love is better than chocolate, you can slap my ass and call me a monkey's uncle.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Busy.
I am busy. No other reasons/excuses as to why my blog has come to a standstill lately. I promise to provide more ramblings in the next few days. Until then, watch this space.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
God and His Infinite Wisdom
An email fwd I received today:
A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home. He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed: "Dear Lord: I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home. I want her to know what I go through, so please allow her body to switch with mine for a day. Amen.
God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish. The next morning, sure enough, the man awoke as a woman. He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate, awakened the kids, Set out their school clothes, fed them breakfast, packed their lunches, Drove them to school, and stopped at the bank to make a deposit, went grocery shopping, then drove home to put away the groceries, paid the bills and balanced the checkbook. Then it was already 1 P.M. and he hurried to make the beds, do the laundry, vacuum, dust, and sweep and mop the kitchen floor. Ran to the school to pick up the kids and got into an argument with them on the way home. Set out milk and cookies and got the kids organized to do their homework. Then set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing.
At 4:30 he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad, breaded the chops and snapped fresh beans for dinner. After dinner, he cleaned the kitchen, ran the dishwasher, folded laundry, bathed the kids, and put them to bed. At 9 P.M. he was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished, he went to bed where he was expected to make love, which he managed to get through without complaint. The next morning, he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said, "Lord, I don't know what I was thinking. I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day. Please, oh please, let us trade back."
The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied, "My son, I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were. You'll just have to wait nine months, though. You got pregnant last night."
tulah, that's why...
A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home. He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed: "Dear Lord: I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home. I want her to know what I go through, so please allow her body to switch with mine for a day. Amen.
God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish. The next morning, sure enough, the man awoke as a woman. He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate, awakened the kids, Set out their school clothes, fed them breakfast, packed their lunches, Drove them to school, and stopped at the bank to make a deposit, went grocery shopping, then drove home to put away the groceries, paid the bills and balanced the checkbook. Then it was already 1 P.M. and he hurried to make the beds, do the laundry, vacuum, dust, and sweep and mop the kitchen floor. Ran to the school to pick up the kids and got into an argument with them on the way home. Set out milk and cookies and got the kids organized to do their homework. Then set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing.
At 4:30 he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad, breaded the chops and snapped fresh beans for dinner. After dinner, he cleaned the kitchen, ran the dishwasher, folded laundry, bathed the kids, and put them to bed. At 9 P.M. he was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished, he went to bed where he was expected to make love, which he managed to get through without complaint. The next morning, he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said, "Lord, I don't know what I was thinking. I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day. Please, oh please, let us trade back."
The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied, "My son, I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were. You'll just have to wait nine months, though. You got pregnant last night."
tulah, that's why...
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Mel's Moment of Manic Panic
Hello kawan kawan. Ok, I'm slacking and losing my blogging credibility but hey, I'm here now right? There are days when there's lots to blog about and days where some things are better left unsaid. Oh, and days when you actually have to do that thing called 'work'.
Today all my e-mails disappeared again. For a good six hours mind you. Long story short, I'm still having problems with my office e-mail (what else is new) which means I have to check my emails via the webmail server. It's slow, temperamental and not user friendly to say the least. However, they've 'upgraded' the webmail system...which of course means...they wipe out my existing e-mails.
Deeeeeeeep breath.
I refuse to panic. Or curse. Or cause bodily harm to anyone in the so-called IT department. I make a few phonecalls, wipe off the cold sweat on my forehead and cross my fingers. The resident IT dude tells me to calm down and to open up my Microsoft Outlook.
About-to-panic Me: "But it DIED months ago..."
Him: "No no... your Microsoft Outlook."
About-to-panic Me: "Ya ya i know, cannot. I'm using Mozilla but that died on me too..."
Him: "'No, Missy, Microsoft Outlook. The brown icon on the scr..."
Panicking Me: "Tiada! Really! Cannot use oredi!!!"
Him: "You're talking about Outlook Express. I mean Microsoft Outlook."
Calming-down Me: *scans the screen for Microsoft Outl...* "Ooohhhhhhhhhh. Found it. So...click here la?"
Nyeh nyeh malu malu.
So after a few clicks here and there, I finally retrieved my almost-lost e-mails. Phew. Problem solved. Almost la...Now most of my e-mails aren't going/coming through. To sum up my sentiments in a nutshell:
It's raining outside. It's almost five pm. I'm going for a drink with my colleague to drown this annoying day. The upside? I had a yummy lunch. Grilled chicken with baked potato, coleslaw and a side serving of Minestrone soup. A bit much, you say? I totally agree and am darn proud of it!
Today all my e-mails disappeared again. For a good six hours mind you. Long story short, I'm still having problems with my office e-mail (what else is new) which means I have to check my emails via the webmail server. It's slow, temperamental and not user friendly to say the least. However, they've 'upgraded' the webmail system...which of course means...they wipe out my existing e-mails.
Deeeeeeeep breath.
I refuse to panic. Or curse. Or cause bodily harm to anyone in the so-called IT department. I make a few phonecalls, wipe off the cold sweat on my forehead and cross my fingers. The resident IT dude tells me to calm down and to open up my Microsoft Outlook.
About-to-panic Me: "But it DIED months ago..."
Him: "No no... your Microsoft Outlook."
About-to-panic Me: "Ya ya i know, cannot. I'm using Mozilla but that died on me too..."
Him: "'No, Missy, Microsoft Outlook. The brown icon on the scr..."
Panicking Me: "Tiada! Really! Cannot use oredi!!!"
Him: "You're talking about Outlook Express. I mean Microsoft Outlook."
Calming-down Me: *scans the screen for Microsoft Outl...* "Ooohhhhhhhhhh. Found it. So...click here la?"
Nyeh nyeh malu malu.
So after a few clicks here and there, I finally retrieved my almost-lost e-mails. Phew. Problem solved. Almost la...Now most of my e-mails aren't going/coming through. To sum up my sentiments in a nutshell:
It's raining outside. It's almost five pm. I'm going for a drink with my colleague to drown this annoying day. The upside? I had a yummy lunch. Grilled chicken with baked potato, coleslaw and a side serving of Minestrone soup. A bit much, you say? I totally agree and am darn proud of it!
On my speakers right now:
"I'll be loving you forever forever...All this love's for you and me."
-I'll Be Loving You, New Kids On The Block. Omg.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
44 days.
So it's Thursday. Enter cliche: How time flies. 44 days to go before the new year rolls around. In light of trying to be optimistic, I await the new year with bated breath with hopes of a brighter tomorrow.
Basically, I hope next year will be less shitty than this one.
Let's see, here are a few things I'm hoping for (and working on) in 2006:
1. Travel: At one point next year, I must must must travel. Even just once. And no, not to KL. I have my sights set on Melbourne, just to get a feel of the place in case I plan to head there for further studies. Other alternatives include Bali, Bangkok (yes again), Sydney, Cambodia or Manila.
2. Get my writing career further up and going, so i can eventually ditch any form of 9-5 jobs and work from my beach house overlooking the South China Sea and make gazillions of dollars.
3.Fall hopelessly in love with a foreigner who will sweep me off my feet and take me far far away....Ok, wishful thinking but I do hope to have matters of the heart settled and if not, I'll just swear off men for another 365 days.
4. Drink more milk. I read that as women reach their 30s, chances of osteoperosis is higher and even when you start to take more calcium then, your bones won't absorb it as good as they would in your 20s. Brittle bones: Not very fun.
On another note, this just in:
Basically, I hope next year will be less shitty than this one.
Let's see, here are a few things I'm hoping for (and working on) in 2006:
1. Travel: At one point next year, I must must must travel. Even just once. And no, not to KL. I have my sights set on Melbourne, just to get a feel of the place in case I plan to head there for further studies. Other alternatives include Bali, Bangkok (yes again), Sydney, Cambodia or Manila.
2. Get my writing career further up and going, so i can eventually ditch any form of 9-5 jobs and work from my beach house overlooking the South China Sea and make gazillions of dollars.
3.Fall hopelessly in love with a foreigner who will sweep me off my feet and take me far far away....Ok, wishful thinking but I do hope to have matters of the heart settled and if not, I'll just swear off men for another 365 days.
4. Drink more milk. I read that as women reach their 30s, chances of osteoperosis is higher and even when you start to take more calcium then, your bones won't absorb it as good as they would in your 20s. Brittle bones: Not very fun.
On another note, this just in:
Guess who's watching the premier of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire tonight? I never saw the rationale of braving the crowds of excited, noisy and sometimes smelly people on the opening night of any show. However, tonight is different. It's not because I'm a die-hard Potterhead rather I've been invited to attend the grand opening KK's newest cinema, Mega Pavilion followed thereafter with the first screening of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The City Mayor is the guest of honour so there'll be a bit of 'la di da' social niceties to perform before the show begins. No matter, it'll be worth the free tickets and smell of new carpet. And fresh popcorn...mmm.
Would you marry someone who shot you in the groin? I didn't think so but apparently someone did: Woman to wed man who held her hostage. To quote the bride-to-be:
“I love Christian today as deeply as I loved him before this awful thing happened to us,” Stebbins wrote in a victim impact statement. “We are soul mates.”
Riiiight. Anyway, enough about crazy people for now.
"When I'm done with thinking then I'm done with you.
When I'm done with crying then I'm done with you.
When I feel so tired then I'm done with you.
Everybody feels this way sometimes everybody feels this way
And I do."
-Lisa Loeb on my speakers, 'I Do'.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
What's your sign, baby?
2006 prediction for Taurus - Growth
As the world continues to change radically, Taurus, you feel that you can no longer afford the luxury preferred by that archetypal Bull, Ferdinand, who just wanted to sit and smell the flowers. Instead, you’ll take a long look at past and present goals. One cherished goal involves romantic happiness. A trip overseas with a love partner beckons, and possibly a wedding. Another involves making your money grow – but investments can be tricky. Avoid anything even marginally risky. Career prospects involve opportunities in the arts and in the healing professions, or anything involving modern technology. You’ll have a lot on your plate, and may be confused as to exactly what you should pursue. But remember, there’s no rush. Let it sit for a while. You’ve got time.
Go here to gaze into the crystal ball...
As the world continues to change radically, Taurus, you feel that you can no longer afford the luxury preferred by that archetypal Bull, Ferdinand, who just wanted to sit and smell the flowers. Instead, you’ll take a long look at past and present goals. One cherished goal involves romantic happiness. A trip overseas with a love partner beckons, and possibly a wedding. Another involves making your money grow – but investments can be tricky. Avoid anything even marginally risky. Career prospects involve opportunities in the arts and in the healing professions, or anything involving modern technology. You’ll have a lot on your plate, and may be confused as to exactly what you should pursue. But remember, there’s no rush. Let it sit for a while. You’ve got time.
Go here to gaze into the crystal ball...
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
I am happy.
I am happy because my cats love me.
I am tired because I would have liked to sleep another hour this morning.
I am upset because of her little white lie.
I am disappointed because I trusted them and didn't expect them to disappoint me like the rest.
I am angry because I don't have the guts to speak my mind.
I am weary because all this is making me tired.
I am confused because I don't know who else to trust.
I am resentful because I find it hard to forgive.
I am frustrated because I want to be happy 99 percent of the time.
I am tired because I would have liked to sleep another hour this morning.
I am upset because of her little white lie.
I am disappointed because I trusted them and didn't expect them to disappoint me like the rest.
I am angry because I don't have the guts to speak my mind.
I am weary because all this is making me tired.
I am confused because I don't know who else to trust.
I am resentful because I find it hard to forgive.
I am frustrated because I want to be happy 99 percent of the time.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Quiz Overload
| You Belong in New York City | ||||||||||
 What City Do You Belong In?
haha omg...
Who Are Your Celebrity Sisters? Ok they got the daddy's girl bit right...next quiz:
What Style Of Jeans Are You?
I'd rather smell like freshly baked chocolate chip cookies though. Ok enough quizzes. I'm just procrastinating at work as you can tell... |
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Wednesday's Wisdom
The first e-mail for the day and I thought I'd start my morning by sharing this mantra:
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
True dat.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
True dat.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Yawn.
I'm too lazy to blog. Lazy lazy lazy. Almost one week away from the office can do that to you. Engines...stalling...Can't...start.... *sputter. wheeze. kaput*
Ok quick updates on my past week:
1. Spent last weekend at Lankayan island. Photos below.
2. Went to Pulau Sapi with friends. Had fun and lots of sandfly bites to prove it.
3. Watched Exorcism of Emily Rose. On Halloween. Not as bad as The Exorcist but still giving me horrid visions at night. And i don't think Haw has regained blood flow in his right arm - sorry dude.
4. Watched Corpse Bride. Entertaining and MUCH better than Doom.
5. Spent time with my nieces who never fail to entertain me.
It's quiet in the office and honestly, I've caught several people playing online games, heh heh. I'm not one to talk considering here I am ,blogging and uploading photos. I'm attending Double Take's (Sabahan jazz duo) press conference and album launch at 6pm today. My day has proved light and easy. More thoughts when I snap out of my state of sloth.
Ok quick updates on my past week:
1. Spent last weekend at Lankayan island. Photos below.
2. Went to Pulau Sapi with friends. Had fun and lots of sandfly bites to prove it.
3. Watched Exorcism of Emily Rose. On Halloween. Not as bad as The Exorcist but still giving me horrid visions at night. And i don't think Haw has regained blood flow in his right arm - sorry dude.
4. Watched Corpse Bride. Entertaining and MUCH better than Doom.
5. Spent time with my nieces who never fail to entertain me.
It's quiet in the office and honestly, I've caught several people playing online games, heh heh. I'm not one to talk considering here I am ,blogging and uploading photos. I'm attending Double Take's (Sabahan jazz duo) press conference and album launch at 6pm today. My day has proved light and easy. More thoughts when I snap out of my state of sloth.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Doom. Doomed.
Ok movie review time. Went to watch Doom last week. I was pretty excited for a couple of reasons:
1.I’m not a huge Doom fan but was interested to see how they would interpret it on the screen, given that Doom is somewhat a religion to hardcore gamers.
2.The Rock. Over the top, just the way I like him.
My consolation? It was better than Sound of Thunder.
1.I’m not a huge Doom fan but was interested to see how they would interpret it on the screen, given that Doom is somewhat a religion to hardcore gamers.
2.The Rock. Over the top, just the way I like him.
I'll just pick up this big gun and wear it around my neck so I'll look ten times manlier.
Alright, so my blog title pretty much gave away my sentiment on the whole movie. First of all, I couldn’t get over how ‘cartoon-drawn’ The Rock appeared. He didn’t look…human. He looked like he stepped out of a Marvel comic book, complete with bulging muscles, almost-robotic movements, crazy eyes and gleaming skin (I kid you not). It’s not a bad thing, just something that made me go…Hmm.
Oh crap. That's a big gun if I've ever seen one...
Plot-wise, something goes vewwy vewwy wrong in a lab located light years away from Earth – Mars actually. Monsters lurking, people screaming, limbs torn apart…The usual eek-fest. Enter The Rock and the Macho Men Patrol, complete with cool nicknames (The Rock is known as Sarge. How original). In true Hero Style, they arrive on the planet and as they enter the lift to get to the lab, they actually stand in a V-formation so everyone is in the frame! I couldn’t get over that. Definitely the cheesiest point of the movie.
Of course, you must be wondering where’s the estrogen element of the movie. Introducing Hot and Brainy Scientist in Sexy Lab Coat. Turns out she’s one of the protagonists’ twin sister and there’s a whole story behind why she’s a scientist and he’s a soldier bla bla bla. Well, at least they TRIED to put a story in. So she plays Scully and does all the autopsies after the boys kill monster after monster. She starts to make ‘startling’ discoveries. Long story short (ok, warning, spoilers ahead) monsters start appearing, people start dying till only The Rock and Reaper (yep, Mr. Twin Brother of Hot and Brainy Scientist in Sexy Lab Coat) fight each other to death. Wait a minute, you say, aren’t they supposed to be on the SAME team? A-ha, the plot thickens. Basically, The Rock turns out to be such a baddie deep down, that once he’s bitten by a mean monster, he turns into one himself. Reaper is bitten too but he’s got goodness in his heart so instead of being Nasty Monster, he becomes Stronger Than Ever Man. So they battle it out and The Rock actually finds the mother of all guns in one of the labs so this spells bad news for Reaper aka Stronger Than Ever Man. Anyway, fight, fight, fight, explosions, more fights…Good conquers evil and all is well again. So the twins head back to Earth. Or something like that.
They're making a sequel? NOOOO!?!?!?
My consolation? It was better than Sound of Thunder.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Monster ronster
| Your Monster Profile |
 You Feast On: Grass You Lurk Around In: Flocks of Freshmen You Especially Like to Torment: Crybabies |
Presenting...Whatever Thursday!
Thursday is here. And here’s where I’ll be this weekend:
And this caught my eye: School Orders Students to Remove Blogs. How about that? Seriously though, how do you actually monitor bloggers? I can shut one blog down and create another under a totally different persona. I can change my blog add five million times just so no one can 'find' me. Things that make you go hmm...
Got this in my email today: Guide to Beer Troubleshooting by Dave Avran. Some excerpts -
SYMPTOM : Feet cold and wet.
FAULT : Glass being held at incorrect angle.
ACTION : Rotate glass so that open end points toward ceiling.
SYMPTOM : Beer unusually pale and tasteless.
FAULT : Glass empty.
ACTION : Get someone to buy you another beer.
SYMPTOM : Beer is crystal-clear.
FAULT : It's water. Somebody is trying to sober you up.
ACTION : Punch him.
SYMPTOM : Everyone looks up to you and smiles.
FAULT : You are dancing on the table.
ACTION : Fall on somebody cushy-looking
SYMPTOM : Don't remember the words to the song.
FAULT : Beer is just right.
ACTION : Play air guitar.
Heh. Ok i'm gonna do some quizzes now, compliments of Yo.
A jewel- like tiny island in the Sulu Sea and hour and a half boat ride's north of Sandakan, Lakayan is soon to be declared part of an immense Marine Protected Area. Unpopulated and covered by think tropical island vegetation on its topside, this peaceful, untouched tittle bit of paradise is ringed by an endless pure white sandy beach, offering simply elegant and exquisite accommodation in a handful of wooden, roomy and perfectly appointed seafront double-occupancy chalets.
Meals are informally served at the central open building, which boasts at amazingly beautiful open-air wooden terrace, the ideal spot for after dinner relaxation and chatting, all the while admiring the dozens of juvenile blacktip sharks swimming leisurely a few feet beneath. While the ideal destination for those who search for tranquility and relaxation in a virgin natural setting and for families with children, Lankayan Island is also one of the hottest diving destination on the map today: its dive sites - all just a few minutes away - boast unbelievably colorful macro fauna, fascinating wrecks and, in season from March to May, regular sightings of gigantic and harmless whale sharks, the "dream date " of every diver in the world. 
Yep, I’m off for my long-awaited beach holiday at Lankayan Island. I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning at 7am with a couple of friends and will be back on Sunday. Got my sunblock and bikini all ready! My only regret is that I don’t scuba dive and Lankayan is considered one of the best diving spots around. Ah well, I’ll just have to focus on sipping my pina coladas and working on my tan… Life is tough.
Today is relatively quiet and slow in the office. It’s been two hours since I clocked in and I still have no sense of urgency to do anything. Thing is, there isn’t much left to do today. My magazine’s gone to print so I can just sit back, cross my fingers and hope nothing shitty happens. So, on that note, I would like to share some brain candy with you. Click here, just for the fun of it:
And this caught my eye: School Orders Students to Remove Blogs. How about that? Seriously though, how do you actually monitor bloggers? I can shut one blog down and create another under a totally different persona. I can change my blog add five million times just so no one can 'find' me. Things that make you go hmm...
Got this in my email today: Guide to Beer Troubleshooting by Dave Avran. Some excerpts -
SYMPTOM : Feet cold and wet.
FAULT : Glass being held at incorrect angle.
ACTION : Rotate glass so that open end points toward ceiling.
SYMPTOM : Beer unusually pale and tasteless.
FAULT : Glass empty.
ACTION : Get someone to buy you another beer.
SYMPTOM : Beer is crystal-clear.
FAULT : It's water. Somebody is trying to sober you up.
ACTION : Punch him.
SYMPTOM : Everyone looks up to you and smiles.
FAULT : You are dancing on the table.
ACTION : Fall on somebody cushy-looking
SYMPTOM : Don't remember the words to the song.
FAULT : Beer is just right.
ACTION : Play air guitar.
Heh. Ok i'm gonna do some quizzes now, compliments of Yo.
"Everytime you go away, you take a piece of me with you..."
- Paul Young, Everytime You Go Away. (you know, i used to think he was saying 'you take a piece of MEAT with you')
Monday, October 24, 2005
My Weekend Retreat.
What a weekend I had. And for the first time in a long time, I mean that in a good way! I had to do a feature on a newly opened beach resort in Kuala Penyu, namely the Bukit Naga Amanpuri Beach Retreat. It’s located some 2 and a half hours from KK by road and trust me, it’s worth every second of the journey. I wasn’t sure what to expect except that there would be a beach (BEACH retreat. Wow, I’m a genius). Sometimes having no expectations is the way to go, that way you can’t get too disappointed.
Anyway, we arrived there at around 3pm and were greeted by Max and Robert, friends and co-owners of the lodge. Max is a lanky Chinese dude with messy hair and one of the most hospitable people I know, without being overbearing. Robert is an interesting character, complete with tattoos, a perpetual tan and a devil-may-care air surrounding him. Together, they made quite an impression and reminded me of retired surfer dudes. Surprisingly, the duo are the only people running the show: they cook, clean and keep unwanted trespassers at bay (Robert: Some guy simply drove into our place and I threw stones at his car. What the hell man…You think I simply build a gate in front of my house issit?) Anyway, back to the retreat. The view is amazing. Just sand and sea as far as the eye can sea! And there’s a constant breeze and at night, the air is cooler. Robert actually lives here (it was his home and he converted it into a retreat for guests) so the whole place has a very homey feel. He’s got quite a selection of books but don’t look for a TV. This isn’t the place for you to veg out and channel surf, my friend. Rather, I’d recommend sitting in the hammock and staring at the sea. That’s what I call quality spacing out.
The rooms are built away from the main house, longhouse style. And right outside your front door is, yes ladies and gentlemen, the beach. The white, sandy, clean beach. And the water is purrrrr-fect. We took some makeshift surfboards and had fun with the waves. I’ve got a few bruises here and there but it was worth the ridiculous fun I had. The final wave I rode (I’m literally straddling the pseudo-surfboard) was a HUGE one and I slammed my butt so bad that I took it as a sign to call it day. I’m grateful I had no ‘family jewels’ to worry about, if you know what I’m saying…
Dinner- home-cooked by the semi-menacing Robert no less- was followed by more stories of how stupid people do stupid things, the state of the nation’s airline industry, politics, politicians and then some. Robert and Max then woke the boys up when they whipped out their boys toys. Playstation? Xbox? Please. I’m talking about toys for BIG boys. Believe it or not, they had quite a collection of crossbows and other archery equipment. CROSSBOWS. Not those tin, wimpy Robin Hood ones. They had these huge, camouflage-coloured, hi-tech, don’t-mess-with-me crossbows. Oh and did I mention that they used to rear pythons around the house for protection against trespassers? Three pythons. But they disappeared. Gulp.
Several beers later, we headed to our cabin but I was still up for some roaming. So a colleague and I took a midnight stroll along the beach. The full moon was out and it lit up the whole place. Nice. Next morning, we couldn’t resist charging into the sea again, followed by a simple breakfast, more lounging around and lunch. We left after noon and I took one last swing in the hammock, wishing the weekend wasn’t over yet. Oh, and I saved the best piece of info for last:
Free flow of beer throughout your stay.
How about THAT?
Photos below. Enjoy! I know I did, heh.
Anyway, we arrived there at around 3pm and were greeted by Max and Robert, friends and co-owners of the lodge. Max is a lanky Chinese dude with messy hair and one of the most hospitable people I know, without being overbearing. Robert is an interesting character, complete with tattoos, a perpetual tan and a devil-may-care air surrounding him. Together, they made quite an impression and reminded me of retired surfer dudes. Surprisingly, the duo are the only people running the show: they cook, clean and keep unwanted trespassers at bay (Robert: Some guy simply drove into our place and I threw stones at his car. What the hell man…You think I simply build a gate in front of my house issit?) Anyway, back to the retreat. The view is amazing. Just sand and sea as far as the eye can sea! And there’s a constant breeze and at night, the air is cooler. Robert actually lives here (it was his home and he converted it into a retreat for guests) so the whole place has a very homey feel. He’s got quite a selection of books but don’t look for a TV. This isn’t the place for you to veg out and channel surf, my friend. Rather, I’d recommend sitting in the hammock and staring at the sea. That’s what I call quality spacing out.
The rooms are built away from the main house, longhouse style. And right outside your front door is, yes ladies and gentlemen, the beach. The white, sandy, clean beach. And the water is purrrrr-fect. We took some makeshift surfboards and had fun with the waves. I’ve got a few bruises here and there but it was worth the ridiculous fun I had. The final wave I rode (I’m literally straddling the pseudo-surfboard) was a HUGE one and I slammed my butt so bad that I took it as a sign to call it day. I’m grateful I had no ‘family jewels’ to worry about, if you know what I’m saying…
Dinner- home-cooked by the semi-menacing Robert no less- was followed by more stories of how stupid people do stupid things, the state of the nation’s airline industry, politics, politicians and then some. Robert and Max then woke the boys up when they whipped out their boys toys. Playstation? Xbox? Please. I’m talking about toys for BIG boys. Believe it or not, they had quite a collection of crossbows and other archery equipment. CROSSBOWS. Not those tin, wimpy Robin Hood ones. They had these huge, camouflage-coloured, hi-tech, don’t-mess-with-me crossbows. Oh and did I mention that they used to rear pythons around the house for protection against trespassers? Three pythons. But they disappeared. Gulp.
Several beers later, we headed to our cabin but I was still up for some roaming. So a colleague and I took a midnight stroll along the beach. The full moon was out and it lit up the whole place. Nice. Next morning, we couldn’t resist charging into the sea again, followed by a simple breakfast, more lounging around and lunch. We left after noon and I took one last swing in the hammock, wishing the weekend wasn’t over yet. Oh, and I saved the best piece of info for last:
Free flow of beer throughout your stay.
How about THAT?
Photos below. Enjoy! I know I did, heh.
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