Being very careful with the harvested birds' nest. The size that i'm holding is worth RM80.  

Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts... 

ROACHES ROACHES EVERYWHERE! welcome to my nightmare... 

Two unidentified primates were also spotted at Sepilok... (that's me and Wences, my colleague). 

Orang utans at Sepilok during feeding time. Such amazing creatures. These two were inseparable... 

Huge monitor lizard napping on a tree. At first I thought it was a baby crocodile (ok, and so i figured crocs don't climb trees in the first place). 

Finally spotted some crocs. They're really tricky to get near though so we were lucky to get this shot. 

Cut. Paste.

A little something for everyone. I'm sorry i haven't been blogging but there's too much going on now. Enjoy:

THE GREATEST PIECES OF ADVICE

Don't date because you are desperate.
Don't marry because you are miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.
Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat. Don't lie. Don't pretend.
Don't dictate because you are smarter.
Don't demand because you are stronger.
Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough and know better.
Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals.
Don't stagnate.
Don't regress.
Don't live in the past. Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr. Right.
Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr Wrong because your biological clock is ticking.
Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won. Only a price to be paid for some of life's more hasty decisions.
To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.
Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.
To make yourself happy, pursue your passions and be the best of what you can be.
Simplify your life. Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.
Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.
Be true to yourself.
Don't commit when you are not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.
Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.
Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.
Take care of yourself.
Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life.
You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except YOU.
It is true that life does not get easier with age. It only gets more challenging.
Don't be afraid. Don't lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.
Live your dreams.
Don't lose faith in your God.
Don't grow old. Just grow YOU!

Sucker.

I have to buy leech socks. Well, I don’t have to but better safe than sorry. I’m going to Sukau tomorrow (wildlife central of Sabah, located in Sandakan…aiyah, just click here). I’m so worried about the leeches but I’ve been told it won’t be too bad if the weather’s been dry over there. Leeches aside, I’m looking forward to my wildlife excursion, heh. It’ll be a 45-minute flight from KK to Sandakan, and another 2 and a half hours by boat as we cruise along the Kinabatangan river to Sukau. Going to check out the proboscis monkeys, crocodiles and their fellow river-mates. I’ll be going with my colleagues Haw and Wences (who are plotting to feed me to the crocodiles, I just know it). The next day, we’ll be visiting the Gomantong Cave to check out the birds’ nest collection and guano extraordinaire. And the bats. You know what’s worse than the leeches in Sukau?

The cockroaches in Gomantong.

Ok happy thoughts, happy thoughts…. I’ll be seeing some very adorable Orang Utans at Sepilok. No leeches, no roaches. Just happy primates eating fruits and swinging from branch to branch. They have flying vipers though…

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.

I took half day off today to go computer shopping with my dad. My home PC is finally resting in peace after dying a sloooooow death. Thing is, I’m not too good with computers. I’m guilty of buying computers because they look good (Gasp. Shock. Horror). But it’s true. 512 Mb RAM, 80Gb Hard Disk space, internal modem, 2.8 Gz processor speed bla bla bla. Yeah ok mister, but do you have huge ass monitor, preferably platinum with classy trimmings and speakers that look like they’re from outer space? This looks nice (apple iMac G5) but i'm not a Mac person.

And I’m so worried I’ll get ripped off. Wish me luck!

“I sang your songs, I danced your dance
I gave your friends all a chance
Putting up with them wasn't worth ever having you
Maybe you've been through this before
But it's my first time so please ignore
These next few lines because they're directed at you
I can't always be waiting, waiting on you.”
- Sitting, Waiting, Wishing by Jack Johnson. Nice song. Nice video.

Eww.

I got this from a link in Yo’s blog:

From the article ‘Why Do Men Have Nipples?’ by John Zawadzinski

During the course of their research, Goldberg and Leyner found reports of gonorrhea, pinworm and roundworm found on toilet seats (eeeeeew!) -- but catching something from it isn't common. (phew. But I still line my seat with toilet paper wherever I go. It’s true).

The authors discovered that an office setting might be worse for your health than toilet seats. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, found the typical office desk harbors some 400 times more disease-causing bacteria than the average toilet seat.

So here I am, disinfecting my desk on a Wednesday afternoon. When I get home, I’m gonna douse myself in Dettol.

Mel’s Weekend.

I’m taking a break from work. I haven’t been able to write a coherent sentence for the last half hour – maybe because I keep thinking about my lunch hour, which is coming up soon, heh heh.

Anyway, I’m gonna blog about my weekend, just to get my writing engines running. Let’s see, we’ll start with Friday night. I attended a charity dinner and it was quite a major event. The highlight was the appearance of two Filipino soap opera stars, Kristine Hermosa (total babe) and Jericho Rosales (yummy). My mum is a big-time fan and when she found out about my dinner, she was super duper excited. I felt really bad that I didn’t have extra tickets though, cuz from the way she was talking, she would have given an arm and a leg to go. Anyway, I got to meet them up close because a friend’s mum is one of the organizers so… yada yada yada six degrees of separation later…we’re in the same room with Kristine and Jericho. And I tell you…TV and photos do no justice to how MAJORLY good looking these two are in real life.

And here’s me and my colleagues squeezing in a photo op with them.


But here’s the star-struck moment. While Jericho was singing, he actually came down from the stage, walked down the red aisle, stopped at our table and, while I was trying to swallow my heart back into position, he looked straight me and stopped walking. He kept singing, smiled and winked. I went into temporary cardiac arrest and only managed a pathetic finger-wave and mustered a croaky “hello”. My whole table went nuts (Ok, I know we sound like a bunch of sixteen years olds at a Backstreet Boys concert but I was enjoying the moment). Plus it was quite a rush and I haven’t been star struck for a while. The last celebrity I actually froze upon meeting face to face was Gloria Estefan, who signed an autograph for me and Mia. And that was circa 1992. Anyway, when I shared my Jericho story to Mia,Wil and the rest, I kinda got a cocked-eyebrow reaction. Aiya, hard to explain la my excitement, you had to be there.

Saturday – I woke up with a smile still pasted on from last night. It was eight a.m and by my standards, I consider that sleeping in. But I had my day planned so without further ado, I got up, showered, dressed and was out of the door by 9am. Cleared my credit card bills, paid my phone bill and was extremely pleased that I had avoided the weekend traffic jam due to the early morning. It was only ten and I didn’t feel like going home yet. I ticked off the people I knew in my head: Lester, working. Mia, working. Wilson, working. Selina, sleeping. Puei, KL. Yolanda, too far (haha). So I figured this would bea good chance for me to spend some time with my brother, Ted. Drove to his clinic and he promised me he only had one more patient to see before we head for a quick breakfast. Several rounds of Crusaders on his PC later, it’s 12:30pm and we FINALLY go for breakfast. Ok, lunch. The rest of my evening, I went over to Lester’s place, spent some quality time with him (ok, actually he napped while I killed zombies on his PS2). At night, watched ‘Are We There Yet?’ while eating KFC for dinner. A pleasant Saturday after all.

Sunday – had to work. Gave out Orang Utan stuffed toys to 300 kids at the airport. It was hot, stuffy and I made a mental note not to have 300 kids. Went to watch Stealth, with some initial apprehension. Stealth planes, explosions, technical jargon: Yes, I was worried this was going to be a jantan-fest movie. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the whole thing. One of the few movies where the trailers reveal little about the whole plot, giving it an excellent surprise element. Go catch it. And don’t worry, the plot and outcome make-up for the loud explosions (which made me cringe every few seconds. So loud oh). Lest and I went to a bookshop after that (as usual) and then he wanted ice cream. We weren’t hungry for dinner so we joined Mia, Wilson and Andrina for a drink while they ate (some kedai kopi in Beverly Hills….I just realized that sounds funny if you’re not Sabahan and have no idea where Beverly Hills is).

So that’s my weekend. Oh and I forgot to add that I’ve developed an annoying cough. Just when I thought I was fit as a fiddle.

Ok, lunch time!

“You’re gonna fly away,
Glad you’re going my way
I love it when we’re cruising together.”
-Huey Lewis and Gywneth Paltrow, Cruisin’. You can be rich, beautiful, talented and married to Chris Martin but still make mistakes: Like naming your daughter Apple.

Last night.

Last night, I nearly threw in the towel. I had never come so close to giving up, but standing on the brink, I was suddenly scared. It’s like psyching yourself up to bungee jump and you’ve gone through the theoretical procedures a million times. But when you finally stand on that platform, six gazillion feet above ground with nothing but a harness around your ankles, you freeze. And you forget why you wanted to jump in the first place. And suddenly, more than anything else in the world, you want to get back on solid ground where everything is safe.

The words were on the tip of my tongue. I only had to say them. And I know he was waiting – anxiously anticipating – for me to say them. We had both said what needed to be heard and it all led to this one moment. I heard the sound of weariness and defeat in his voice too and I got angry. I wanted him to fight for it. Ironically, I wanted him to stop me and tell me I was wrong. But he didn’t. To my horror, he agreed and left it in my hands to do the deed. Neither of us wanted the blood on our hands, I sensed that. You know why they call it heartbreak? Because you physically feel a pain in your chest as your heart slams against your ribcage over and over. And it hurts so much; you just want it to stop.

“I’d rather be with someone compatible than someone I love. And you and I are not compatible.” Heart slamming. Not a good feeling.

Sometimes we argue about which movie to watch or whether Rottweilers make good pets. I guess last night was a whole new ballgame.

Last night, it nearly ended. But it didn’t. If it’s all good again, why is my heart still slamming?

The Mount Fuji mountain race takes off. There are about 3000 over runners and it was horrifying to watch some of them pushed to the ground and get trampled on at the starting line.  

In case you didn't notice, I'm the one NOT wearing the kebaya. They helped distribute flyers at our booth at the Fujiyoshida City Hall. Yes, our booth did well. Wonder why... 

At the Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine. Devotees rinse their mouths with the water to purify and clean the soul. I didn't do it in fear i would combust into flames. 

Believe or not, this guy really ran up and down Mount Fuji in a Santa suit. Who said the Japs didn't have a sense of humour?  

Temper, temper.

I have a temper. Yes i do. I also have bouts of sulkiness and Idontwanttotalkaboutit-itis. My anger only goes two ways: Blind fury where I say things i'll regret later and spew enough swear words to write my own Dictionary of Cussing. Or I do the 'silent' thing, where I can go days, nay, weeks without speaking to the unfortunate soul who dares pisseth me off. It's tiring but as I grow older, I find that i do the 'silent' thing more often than the blind fury number. See, i figured God gave me bucketloads of patience (X: "Hey Mel, let me take complete advantage of your willingness to help while i take credit for everything." Me: "Oh, ok as long as you'll be my friend.") in exchange for my bad temper. So basically, I'm slow to boil but when i boil, i put volcanoes to shame. But you know what? After 26 years, here's what i figure:

I don't care.

I'm not going to apologise for having a temper. For throwing a tantrum. Or for mouthing off. Sometimes it gets tiring to be the 'bigger person'. My best friends know that my temper rarely rears its ugly head and when it does, it's for a valid reason. You know what I love about my friends? They love me despite my outbursts and rantings. Everyone needs to blow off steam now and then. My dilemma as I oh-so-gracefully age is finding a guy who can accept my emotional dramaticism now and then. I had an ex who was suicidal so he definitely top me in the drama department. And another ex was scared of me half the time that even if i wanted him to walk on water, hell, he'd find a way just to make sure I didn't so much as frown. Sweet but after five years, having someone walking on eggshells around you isn't the most promising relationship.

So yes, I willingly admit that I am not the easiest girlfriend in the world. Seriously, which woman can honestly proclaim herself so? But sometimes i wonder if it's really me. That guys give up on me eventually because i'm a handful. Yes, i have a temper and any guy dating me has to live with the fact that he will inevitably be dragged to watch any B-grade horror flicks. But on the upside, I seldom blow a fuse and in return for watching my B-grade horror flicks, I'll watch mindless car-exploding action movies with you. haha. Any takers?

Sorry if this sounds like a lame attempt to make myself feel loved but we all have our days. Usually, Gaya's the only one who can make me feel truly precious at a time like this.

ah shit, now i'm really depressed.

Meows.

This is an Abyssinian and absolutely gorgeous. Very lithe, long-limbed and larger-than-usual ears. I saw one in MidValley during my last trip down and it reminded me of a lion cub. It's huge! It's the closest you'd ever get to owning a pet lion, i tell ya. It's also known to be one of the most loyal cats around (dogs aren't the only ones who can play the 'loyal' card y'know...)

This luscious one on the right is a British Blue. I've always wanted either a Russian Blue or a British Blue. They've got short but thick fur and are the ultimate cuddling device. You don't know what cuddling a cat is REALLY like till you've held one of these babies! Chubby face, long tail and all-around fleshiness: How can you not love a British Blue?

Ok, next we have the Ragdoll. I'm not partial to really furry cats but I like the Ragdoll because it has the typical Siamese markings (white body and grey points). Did you know that altered Ragdoll males can reach up to 20 pounds? And amazingly they shed very little despite their thick fur. Nice kan? I've never seen a Ragdoll in Malaysia.

I've got more cats to share with you but my ride's here (yes i'm still in the office on a Monday evening). Don't mind me. This is just my way of dealing with my loss. Nothing could really replace Gaya. I'll take my RM150 cat (came with his own cardboard box too) anytime over a purebred RM2000 feline.

"When You Left
I Lost A Part Of Me
It's Still So Hard To Believe
(Come Back, Come Back) Come Back Baby
Please Cuz' (Come Back, Come Back)
We Belong Together."
- We Belong Together, Mariah Carey. The song on the radio. Strangely appropriate.

Gaya.

I came back from Japan on Monday night. Tired, longing for my bed and nursing very dry skin, I was greeted by mum, dad and Lester. Hugs and kisses all around, there was another thing that I couldn’t wait to put my arms around: My cat, Gaya.

When I arrived home, I anticipated a furry white face to greet me with the incessant meowing which translates to, “Where have you been?”. My parents paused when I asked them where Gaya was. They told me my cat was missing since Monday last week, the day I left. My parents got back from Manila on Thursday after a five-day trip so they too weren’t sure about the details of Gaya’s disappearance.

It was my turn to pause. I’m sure I heard wrong. I think they meant Gaya was missing since dinner time. Which is typical of my sweetie cuz he’s ever the adventurous one, especially at night. I went outside and called for him. Over and over. I went through the bushes. I explored the shed behind the house. Under the car. Inside the drain. I left no stone unturned, despite my dad’s insistence that he’s been doing the same since Thursday.

It was true. My cat was gone.

My cat is gone.

So after an exhilarating and tiring 7 and a-half days in Japan, I came home, curled up in bed and cried myself to sleep, guilty I had left Gaya unattended for so long and hoping he was okay wherever he was. Yesterday was my day off and I felt a bit better in the morning. But I kept expecting to see Gaya appear from nowhere. I kept hoping that I’d turn around and see my borderline-fat cat sleeping on the sofa or messing with the curtains in the living room. And last night after dinner, I swear I heard a cat meowing in the distance. I saw a cat saunter in the shadows but my heart fell when I saw the silhouette of its long tail: In place of a tail, Gaya has a tiny gray stub at the end of its body.

I love my cat. When I’m feeling lonely or unwanted, I know I can depend on Gaya to make me feel like a million dollars. I love the way he settles on my tummy when I’m watching TV and, more often than not, his purring puts me to sleep on the sofa. I talk to him all the time and he looks back at me with non-judgmental eyes, rubbing against my legs as if to say, “Ok whatever. Just pick me up and cuddle me.”

I’ll update you guys on my Japan trip real soon but for now, I’m dedicating this space to my sweetie.

Werk sux.

KL was fun. So much fun that i'm still recuperating and it's been four days. To my KL buddies that i didn't get to meet up with, sowwy. It was tight, tight schedule: nights were partying, daylight was spent sleeping/shopping/eating every two hours (you know who you are, oink).

Since i came back, it's been work work work. In fact, it's a bloody Saturday afternoon and i'm still here. Every night i've had to pack my work home and after dinner, i'm back in front of the computer. The reason i've had to put in extra hours is because i have to clear my work before i leave for Japan this coming Sunday. Yes people, i am headed to the Land of The Rising Sun! Before anyone gets too excited, it's for work. We are chaperoning two Sabahan athletes who will be participating in the Mt. Fuji Climbathon. Basically, the first six days we will be at Fuji-Yoshida - Kind of like the Genting or Kundasang of Japan. I'm glad it's summer though, i'm not a fan of the cold, trust me. The last two days will be spent sightseeing Tokyo and making courtesy calls to the Tourism Malaysia and MAS people there. Good thing there are direct flights from KK to Tokyo (six hours) and i was told that the trip from Narita Airport to Fuji-Yoshida is another six hours by bus. Jet-lag anyone?

Anyway, more on my Japan trip once i come back. For now, I'm still chasing time and trying to wrap things up in the office. For the record, my trip to KL with my chicitas wasn't that good - IT WAS GREAT! Check out mia's and yolanda's blog for further details and photographic evidence. I too learned a few things (in addition to Yo's list):

1. We know the lyrics to 'We Are Proud to Be Malaysians' which we gladly sang on the LRT. Stares, shmares.

2. Puke residue should be washed off IMMEDIATELY or else you will reek, much to the dismay of those sleeping next to you all night. heh. sorry.

3. When a diners requests for you to wipe the table at a restaurant , it's rude to reply "I know that". (i still think we should have bitch-slapped her).

4. Do not rest heavy menus against glass ashtrays as they tend to crash into a million pieces when they slide off the table. ehem.

5. Five girls, one bathroom: Never a good idea.

6. Carol is fascinated with crotch sizes.

7. Watching Malay movies on TV3 is more entertaining than you think (esp if produced circa 1988)

8. After experiencing three delays, I propose a new tagline for Air Asia : "Now Everybody Can Wait"

9. It's not easy being Miss Valedictorian 1998. I swear.