Hectic.

One word to describe the last few blurry days. It's been 'good hectic' and 'bad hectic'. My family is still in Sydney, while the poor ol' fourth born child (that would be me) is left home scrubbing floors and cleaning the fireplace.

Not that we have a fireplace.

Actually, it hasn't been too bad. Although I didn't expect to miss the hustle and bustle of the Leong family as much. I kinda miss my mum's nagging, my dad's whistling and my bro taking up space on the couch. On the upside, I don't have to give a status report every few hours and I have more privacy, wink wink. My cat, Happy, strolls into my parents bedroom every morning with her incessant meowing - I really think he's stressed that the Patriach hasn't been home for a week now. Cute kan?

On the social side, I've been drinking. And i don't mean bottles of mineral water mind you. Every since Haw announced he was leaving, it's been one party/outing after another all in the name of a farewell - I really think it's just an excuse to drink till we drop but hey, I'm not complaining. I took Friday off last week, which was a wise idea seeing that my Thursday night out stretched on a wee bit longer than I thought it would. I was also partially deaf from all the screeching guitars and pounding drums the night before at The Rawk. And there was a lot of shouting into microphones going on - Somehow they called it 'singing'. Ah.

Friday was also Haw's farewell party at the Kinabalu Yacht Club. It was small, simple and insane. Put simply, it was a blast and I think Haw finally realised how much he means to everyone in the office. Pics from the crazy night:


This is what happens when you ask boys to pose for the camera.

And more proof that boys simply cannot take normal photos:

Squeeeeeeezing into the frame.


Heh heh, somebody finally called it a night after one too many flaming lambos and beer.

Damn, can't post any more photos. Be back later.

The Cubby.

There are colleagues. And then there are friends. Sometimes you think never the twain shall meet. Colleagues, after all, are merely acquaintances you meet at work, discuss office matters with and occassionally greet at the pantry when making a cup of coffee. Once you punch out at 5pm, you do your thing and your colleagues, well, pretty much go on their own way.

You don't mix business with pleasure, they say. Or the other less finesse way of saying it,"You don't eat and shit at the same place." But what happens when the workplace becomes a place you actually ENJOY being at? And work becomes bearable? And -oh horror- your colleagues become your friends?

Well for starters, going to work every morning doesn't seem like a chore anymore, that's for sure.

It's like "Hey I'm getting paid to hang out with my friends 9 hours a day, five days a week. Cool!" Ok and plus you actually have to do work. For the last 2 and a half years (coming to 3, a record for me...), working here has been great. Sure I have moments when I want to strangle some people but hey, I feel the same way about my family. Not only do I get to do the one thing I'm half decent at (yes, writing. no smart remarks), I also get to travel now and then, meet interesting people and eat, eat, eat. Boy do I get to eat. And i get free massages! You get the pic.

But i also get to hang out with some great people day in day out. One of them is none other the Great Hawdini (haha i'm so clever, i know). Haw (it's pronounce 'How' as in How are you.) Anyway, the point of this whole post is to address the fact that he's leaving the company. Today being his last day (*sniff*). He's truly been my partner in crime and saviour at times when the shit was about to hit the fan - and for moments when it really did hit the fan. At work, not only does he entertain the most tedious of requests ("Can you burn this on the CD for me?"), he also goes the extra mile :"Not only will I burn this for you, I will also TEACH you how!" Upon which, I quickly forget within the next five minutes. Pemalas.

But Haw has been there for me beyond the call of duty. When my car wouldn't start, when I was too drunk to drive home after a-bit-too-happy hours and when my boyfriend ceremoniously dumped me. He's taught me loads of stuff from how to change a lightbulb to the difference between REAL rock music and Coldplay. But what truly blows me away about him is that I know he would do the same for just about anyone, and that's what makes him the best kind of friend.

He's going to Canada to learn how to speak funny and end all his sentences with 'Eh'. Ha ha. Actually, he's going to further his studies in digital animation and come back and impress everyone by making an updated version of Sang Monyet Dan Sang Buaya on Tv1 ("Aku tak peduli, aku tak peduli! Aku nak juga!"). Seriously, I wish nothing but the best for him. If I had my way, I'd bring Canada here so he could study and I'd still have someone around to remind me my car's about to fall apart if I don't service it soon.

I'm gonna miss ya.

One year.

Exactly one year ago, I was dumped and finally discovered what a broken heart feels like.

One year ago, someone came up to me and told me had secretly liked me for a while.

One year ago, I cried myself to sleep, didn't come out of my room the whole day and couldn't stop my head from pounding.

One year ago, I was rejected.

One year ago, I was loved.

One year ago, my best friends held my hand and told me I would get through this.

One year ago, I realised how much my family loved me and would always love me even when everyone else stopped doing so.

One year ago, I wasn't sure if i would pull through.

One year ago, I knew things would never be the same.

One year ago, I hated him.

One year ago, I loved him.

It's been the longest year of my life. So much has changed. Watch this space.

More photos!

Yay, I can post more photos! Continuation from my Seaventures-Roach Reefs Resort-Mabul trip earlier this month:

Seaventures Dive Resort. Used to be an oil rig, can you tell?

The main deck/lobby area. The dining hall is on the right side (white chairs). It gets super windy and I was annoyed at how quickly my food got cold! Haw's soup was all over the place before it even reached his mouth.

The Sun Deck as they call it. This is where they serve dinner (when it's not raining). Niiiiiiiice.

My teeny tiny sleeping cubicle...I mean, bedroom. Or something like that.
Snorkelling at Barracuda Point. You think I'm pale now? Imagine me after spending almost an hour in the strong currents and choppy waters trying not to get sick.

I FOUND LAND! It's the Borneo Divers Mabul Resort actually...

Weekend.

Five words: I had a great weekend.

How was yours?

Stephanie Klein

Stephanie Klein - She's excellent. I came across her by chance and maybe, just maybe, I was fated to read this. Excerpt from 'I can't make you love me, if you don't?' by Stephanie Klein:

I’d just have to be the girl he fell in love with, be loving to him, because men like how women make them feel. They spend their lives wishing we were just as we’d been at the beginning. “Be yourself,” bullshit landed on my door in one neat advice pellet. But how can I when I’m this anxious? “You act,” I was told. “Play it cool, like you don’t care.” But I’m supposed to make him feel good, not like he has to chase me, not now; it’s too late for that. And this is the dizzy mess I danced, in my head, thinking too much. But really, only men told me I was thinking too much. Women understood and helped me strategize.

When you’re buried in emotion and decision, everything seems messy and unclear. It’s obvious to outsiders who give the advice, capping it with “easier said then done,” because they know it sounds easy, even though it will feel hard. Here’s something I wrote to myself in my journal to help me tread and navigate through it: “Talking about it doesn’t make me feel any better. Hearing that it will be okay, that neither of us wants it to end only makes me feel better temporarily. ‘Cause he knows just what to tell me, so he’s giving me just enough, without giving me everything. The truth is that there is nothing, NOTHING, that is going to make me feel better other than hearing from him that he wants me and that he is sorry for having to have put me through this. The only thing that will make me feel normal again is if he’s so in love, so determined to have me as his wife that he declares it outright. God, it’s what I deserve. And staying and working things through will not bring him to this revelation. It won’t. It will be bending over backwards, walking on shells, worrying about what he tells his friends that he’s not telling me, all for him to maybe say that he’s still unsure. I don’t want to live a lifetime waiting in his doubts. For his epiphanies. In a world of his. It’s not a time to be patient; it’s a time to move on and live your life, not bound up in one person who doesn’t know. Life, as cliche as it is, is too damn short.”

Here’s the thing I didn’t realize when I was deep in it. When I wrote about having to not give him a hard time when he wants to hang with the guys, etc. When I tried to talk myself into being better for him, better about his parents, etc… here’s what I didn’t realize. OH MY GOD, there ARE men out there who WANT me around almost all the time, who would insist I join them at the game, men who can communicate, who don’t give a shit what their parents think, who put me first, who are so excited about being near me and doing things for me to show me this. I didn’t want to realize that maybe he wasn’t a good match for me, that maybe what I needed was someone who felt things more deeply, someone who wanted to be in a communicative important relationship, someone who honestly would rather be at a cafe with me, sipping wine than with his pals on the course—um, I’m not kidding (there are men out there who don't care about golf). And yes, now that I'm in a relationship like that, I don't care if he wants to spend time with others. I know we both want to be together, so when we're not, we communicate in sweet texts, eager to see each other soon. It's not the end of the world. But then, I didn’t want to realize that really we were mismatched. Instead I was dead set on making it work, trying to change, to bite my tongue and be a good partner. It was work, and sometimes work is too hard. So you need to make the even harder choice and leave. Which feels like quitting, like failing at another relationship, but really, you’re quitting a bad habit, the need to hold on when it’s time to let go. The need to make someone love you. Maybe you can do it, but it's too much work, and you'll only always question if he's there for the right reasons. It's no way to live or to love.

Read the whole article here .

If there ever was an article that hit home right now, this would be it.

Seasick. Almost.

* had more photos to post below but again, blogger failed me. Will post more soon.

Back from my seafaring trip to the East Coast of Sabah. With all that time on the sea, I feel like a pirate. Arr matey. The trip was good except for all the travelling. We had to squeeze two destinations in 3 days 2 nights. Sounded feasible until we actually tried it. Our journey went something like this:

Fly to Tawau from KK=45 minutes
Tawau-Semporna by road =1 hour
Semporna to Seaventures, Mabul island by boat =1 hour due to the choppy sea. It was quite an experience with me turning 3 shades of green
Seaventures Dive Resort overnight.

Day 2:
Seaventures to Semporna by boat = 1 hour
Semporna to Tawau by road = 1 hour
Tawau Yacht Club to Roach Reefs Resort by boat =45 minutes

And back to Tawau next day. You get the pic. But like i said, when it comes to island trips, I can't really complain, heh. Photos below!

Roach Reefs Resort, located some 45 minutes from Tawau by boat. It's a man-made island actually. Two barges were sunk, piled with rocks and sand and voila...Your very own island!


Me outside my cabin in Roach Reefs. Island trip+hammock = great photo op!


And then I tried my hand at being behind the camera and took one of the photographer. Doesn't Haw look so pretty?

Went snorkelling. Bad idea as the current was really strong. I gave up swimming back to the boat and had to be 'towed' back by Haw and our snorkelling guide. Pic of me having tea after the exhausting fiasco at sea. (all was not lost though. I spotted a barracuda!)
Doesn't get any bluer than this. My favourite view of the Celebes Sea to date.

Useless info for the weekend

Ok everybody, I'm off to islands again this. Friday in the meantime, some quiz results that bring you a step closer to knowing Fridaycat. Muah.

Your Lucky Underwear Is Red

You're confident and bold, and your lucky red underwear will only make you more sure of yourself.You have a great zest for life, and you tend to take on impossible goals - and succeed. When it comes to love, it's hard for you to take the time to open up. You're too busy conquering the world.So if you're looking for a little more romance, put on your red underpants. And see where their passion takes you!

What Color Is Your Lucky Underwear?

Your Ideal Pet is a Cat

You're both aloof, introverted, and moody.And your friends secretly wish that you were declawed!

What's Your Ideal Pet?

Your Pirate Name Is...

Arch-Pirate Flirty Fran

What's Your Pirate Name?

Your Famous Last Words Will Be:

"Nice doggy."

What Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

Reminder:Gotta get sunblock.

Off to another island this weekend. Seaventures and Roach Reefs Resort in Tawau. Seaventures used to be an oil rig but has been converted into a reosrt (very unique, no?) and is two minutes away from Mabul (refer to earlier post. Mabul = bliss). I think this might be my last island trip for the year. Then again...you never know.

In other aspects of my life: Same old same old. I cleaned out my closet yesterday and was depressed at how many items of clothing don't fit anymore. Maybe they shrunk. Maybe while I was sleeping, some tiny elves swapped clothes with me. Or tiny toyols - ok i'm scaring myself now. The point is, I've come to terms that I don't think I'll ever fit an XS or even S for that matter. I put them aside and decided to look at the brighter side of things:

I get to buy more clothes!

Ever the realistic optimist. I'm meeting a friend for coffee after work to discuss love, life and why we never win the lottery.

"If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Cause they're all wrong
I know better
Cause you said forever
And ever
Who knew"
- Pink, 'Who Knew'. She still got some good songs left in her it seems...

Cinemetiquette

I went to the cinema last night. I love going to the movies, especially if it's clean, organised and doesn't smell like rat piss.

However, I strongly believe there are some people out there whose sole purpose in life is to make the whole cinematic experience for others a living hell. Please bear with me as I take you through the Top 10 ANNOYING people/habits/whatever in the Cinema:

1. Handphones: Come on, SERIOUSLY, do I even need to mention this? Some cinemas even put friendly reminders on the huge-ass screen to put your phone on silent mode or turn it off. And if you're an ignorant moron who can't read, the picture of a phone with a huge slash across it should give you a hint. Still, at some point, a phone will ring (an annoying techno buzz tone to boot) and people go," Oi, ssshhhh". But noooooo. The next thing you hear is, "HALLO? AH MING AH? I WATCH MOVIEEEE. MA KAI?"

2. Food other than popcorn/soda: I've seen people sneak in fries and burgers. Noisy sunflower seeds (kuaci). Even 'mangga jeruk'. But last night really took the cake. The movie was about to start and these four girls in front of me whip out their dinner. And when i say dinner, I mean rice with FISH and some veggie cooked in sambal. Who the fuck eats sambal in the cinema? You have to be stupid multiplied by 800 to do such a thing. The guys behind me were saying, "What is that smell?" Please refers to row F seats 12 to 15.

3. Yappers: The movie already has a dialogue and yet some people feel compelled to ad-lib.

Girl 1: "Nah you see ah...He's the bad guy."
Girl 2: "No, he's the hero tu. *pause* I think he's the hantu.
Girl 1: "Ya ya! Hantu dat, hantu dat."

Or the people who give running commentaries:
Girl: "He's opening the door..."
Guy: "He's looking around..."
Girl: "He's turning on the lights..."

Last night, I sat beside the noisiest yappers. The girl beside me had the most irritating laugh and expressions. She kept saying, "Oh-doi!" every few minutes. I wanted to oh-doi her with a slap.

4. Fidgeting: I hate sitting beside people who can't keep still. Leg shakers are the worst. Hey, bozo, the seats are connected so when you shake you hairy leg, you're shaking the whole row.

5. Children (accompanied by ignorant parents): I like kids. Especially when they're sleeping. I don't like them when they are running around in cinemas, asking a million questions about the 'bad man' or need to use the toilet for the 17th time. Another tip for procreators: Movies have ratings for a reason. Bringing your 4-year-old to watch 'The Hills Have Eyes' is a great way to ensure sleepless nights for the next two weeks.

6. Latecomers: You know that thing with a short hand and a long hand and goes tick tick tick? Use it.

7. Couples making out...In front of you: Two words - back row.

8. Souvenirs from the last show: I don't fancy sitting on mouldy popcorn or stepping on someone's spilt soda. Why can't people pick up after themselves? It's like dogs who need pooper-scoopers during their walk in the park. Clean up your own shit.

9. People in the wrong seat: This never fails to amaze me. I can understand if you get one seat wrong ("Oh sorry, you're right. This is J12, mine's J13"). But a whole row??? Tip for the Idiot: The letter on your ticket is your ROW and the number is your SEAT. Seat M10 does not mean 'Mana-Mana 10'.

10. People who give away the plot: Very likely to be Yappers (see no.3). So you've seen the movie 3 times and you know who the bad guy really is. Shut the hell up. You're not gonna get a pat on the head for giving away the plot.

If you are guilty of any of the above, do us all a favour and watch the DVD at home.

Damn crystal ball.

I went to a fortune teller not too long ago. One of those things you do when your next best Saturday night option is watch paint dry.Now, I'm a cynical optimist. For example, I'd love to win the lottery but I know it won't happen to me. See? Positive but realistic. But I went to see the dude nonetheless.

Anyway, the fortune teller -who looked more like a Math tuition teacher than a Madam Zora type- calculated my birthdate and time of birth and based on that, he plotted out my whole life before me. He got a few things wrong (He said he sees a bad relationship between me and my siblings. Nope) but he got some bits right, which I realistically attribute to a lucky shot in the dark.

But he did say some things that bothered me. And I chose to ignore it until I realised he was probably on to something. Master Z (we'll just call him that) said that he could 'see' that I had a bad year so far and unfortunately, this year will see me 'cry some more'. To top it off, he said that I would experience a lot of relationships before finding the 'One' (no, not Jet Li). AND even after I find my so-called tall, dark and handsome stranger, my marriage would be a lonely one. Oh and to add insult to injury, not only would my future husband leave me lonely but the reason he'll be so bloody successful and loaded (hence too busy to spend time with his lovely wife) is because I bring him luck. I bring HIM luck and he can't spend the weekend with me??? wtf.

On a better note, he did say that my career would improve and the myriad of people I meet along the way will help me in some way or another. Apparently, my networking is the key to my success so he advised that I keep 'socialising' (no complaints there). And then he bent over his crystal ball, and in a crackling voice, accompanied by rumbling thunder in the background, he waved his crooked finger at me and said, "Oh woe be upon you should you choose to betrothe this year!"

Ok la, not exactly so but he did say, "One thing la, this year ah...Better don't get married wan. Not good year for marriage."

Oh gee well, Master Z, I better tell the 57 men lining up outside my door begging for my hand in marriage to wait till next year. *pbth*

He's right about one thing though: My tearducts have been working overtime the past year and I foresee I got a lot more tears to go before the year is up. Maybe i'm just PMS-ing 365 days a year. Whatever it is, i must bear in mind - This too shall pass. And good food will solve everything.

Ok its lunch time.

Time is of the essence.

It's 8:15 am and I'm already in the office. It's nice and quiet, i suppose everyone is still downstairs having brekkie or in the pantry making coffee. It's Friday, which means:
1. Lunch is a two and a half hour affair. Sweet.
2. THE WEEKEND IS HERE!

I can almost see time sprouting wings and doing that flying thing. It's July already. And in a week's time, it'll be August. I cannot stress enough how much I want the year to end. I just want 2006 to zoom by. It has been a less than pleasant year for me (it's gonna get less pleasant soon) and I dread what lies ahead from now till the New Year. Can someone press the fast forward button already?

Speaking of time, there are moments that I would love to freeze frame or put into slow mo. Like my time in Mabul island *dreamy sigh*, Mataking *BIG SMILE* or Saturday afternoons with people who make me happy. Call me crazy but I like being happy. Not enough of those Kodak moments these days. But all the money and sitting,waiting wishing in the world isn't going to stop/move time. So there is only one thing left to do: Take each day as it comes, expecting the worst while hoping for the best. As for those lovely moments with lovely people, I'm just going to soak it up and indulge while it lasts. As much as I feel that the year is creeping oh so slowly, time is fleeting. And there are things I need to do and say before time is up. I have to let go of the past and embrace the future...Because I know all the shitty things behind me have to stay there if I ever want to carve a better future for myself.

We're running out of tomorrows and we live in too many yesterdays. And damn, I'm not getting any younger.

Mabul Island: Me likey.

Photographic evidence of one the best weekends I've had in the past year:

Sunset at Mabul. See that light in the background on the right hand side? It's an oil rig that's been converted into a dive resort, operated by Seaventures. I might be heading there soon to do another story.
An hour upon arrival...Taking a quick tour of the island and enjoying the shade. That look on my face says, "Ok enough photos, me wanna jump in the sea!"This is my room. I stayed at the Sipadan Mabul Water Bungalows. My own king sized bed, Astro, a DVD player and balcony! Too bad it was only for a night.
Each bungalow is given two bicycles each, to allow their 'lazy' guests to explore the island via wheels. That's me taking a breather and checking out the fishies.

Aaah, the Ka'andaman Spa at Mabul. Is that a view or what? Waves lapping, trees swaying, me lazing.


A foot massage was in order. Me? Pampered? What would you give you such an idea...?
Look at that soft, white sand. And the sky so blue!
Another shot of Mabul as the sun goes down. They told us that turtles are often spotted around 9pm or so. We waited that night but no sign of the beauties. Better luck next time.

All that sun, sea and foot massaging had me exhausted, so here I am, soaking in more rays at my very own sun deck. What can I say...All in a day's work.

Quick, I can post photos!

OMG I can post photos! Ok gonna take this opportunity while i can...More photos from the cruise liner, Superstar Virgo: That's the pool area. Hence, the pool behind me. Duh.

Look who I found onboard! Fellow cruiser Selina. (by the way, that railing my elbow is resting on is really hot). The bbq at my place couple of weeks back. Carol (sexy chick in blue) was the sambal belacan queen. Pink tights would be me. It took half an hour for Sel, Rol and yours truly to get that tiny pit going. AND we didn't burn down the house. How's that for effort?

My brother Johann trying to look busy. He's actually just waiting to jump on those huge prawns (punya main sedap, by the way). Selina in the background, Queen of Coal, haha.
Sel: Ta-da! haha, i love this photo of her! Again, note huge-ass prawns.
Trust my brother and his monkey friend, Sofian, to steal the limelight.

"Come on Haw, faster faster!" - Haw the Man of Fire fans the flames. Note the tiny sparks coming out from the base of the pit. Oh yes, there was a hole in my pit (now that just doesn't sound right).

Yep, as fate would have it, that was the last photo blogger would let me post. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS!?!? Till the next episode...

Wedding Belles

Here comes the bride! It's not quite wedding season but I do have two lovely friends who will be tying the knot in the near future. Oh, whaddayaknow, they're my fellow bloggers! I bring the you the lovely Lynn and jambu Joyce - who are also the best of friends. Sigh, don't you just love it when the universe is happy and in order? Congratulations girls!

I love weddings, the more original the idea, the better. I really think people should veer from the whole Chinese-sit-down-dinner style, no offense. Not only do I find it impersonal but out of 500 guests, you'll probably recognise only 50 of them. And the food. Ai. Don't get me started on the whole fish-maw-sweet-and-sour-whatever-with-ten-season-treasures-whathaveyou. And if you've been to a Chinese wedding, you'll notice that the Bride and Groom look really uneasy with pasted smiles, doing whatever the drunk MC on stage is instructing them to do (Cut the cake! First dance! Hug your parents!) and the spotlight is on them all throughout the 8-meal course.

Me? I would much rather do a painless church service, followed by a nice cocktail by the beach (or pool. or any water element), lots of people dancing, drinking, laughing until the bride and groom disappear into the sunset, embarking on a romantic one-week honeymoon.

But knowing my luck - and heritage - my wedding would certainly involve:

1. 600 of my 'closest' family members.
2. Two kerbaus (buffaloes. A Kadazan thing)
3. Lots of alcohol (this I don't mind, heh heh) and...

4. a Chinese-sit-down-dinner style banquet.

Sigh. But before I digress any further, I had a point to this post. Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Louis Pang, a photographer friend of mine who I think is a complete genius at what he does. He is the founder of the Love Storybook, a concept where couples can have their whole wedding immortalised in a book. We're not talking 150 pages here. More like 30-60 pages of really beautiful photos (taken by Louis himself) of the bride, groom, family and friends. He has it printed in Japan so I can assure you we're talking top-notch quality here. The books are done in a really stylish yet classy way, something you'll be proud to whip out 50 years from now. And best part is, the damage on the wallet is pretty reasonable - You would probably spend the same amount on ridiculous studio shots of you and your future spouse in matching Samurai outfits. Sad. Very. Oh and Louis is a fantastic person to boot. Friendly, good looking (married, sorry girls) and, as i mentioned earlier, a genius at what he does. And so modest about it too, heh heh. It's the first and only of its kind in Malaysia and the response is so overwhelming that Louis is 2 weddings shy from being fully booked for 2006! Check out his work at his website and if you need to get in touch with him, I'll help you. Word of advice: Book him WAY in advance.

Plus he's Sabahan. He SO rocks.

"if this life gets any harder now,
It ain't no never mind
You got me by your side..."
-Aerosmith, Fly Away From Here. Dedicated to the Wedding Belles. Wishing you a lifetime of happy mornings waking up beside the only person you'd want to wake up to.

In today's news...

Friday already. How the week flies. Yes, yes, the usual round of 'I've been busy bla bla bla' but since i have some time to squeeze before I get chained to my desk answering mundane phonecalls and replying even more mundane e-mails...Here goes.

And guess who beat Germany (sorry Yo. I wanted them to win too) and is going to the finals:

Mama mia, Italia!
I'm hoping my Frenchie boys will win the Cup - Arsenal's almost French anyway.

Oh yeah, last month I visited the Superstar Virgo liner while it was in KK (it was a twin-docking as Superstar Gemini arrived a few hours later). It was massive and impressive, to say the least. I think it had at least 15 floors (I kid you not), complete with a lobby, casino, several restaurants, gym, spa, hair salon...Even a jogging track on the upper deck! I took a few shots to show my kids and their kids years from now, "Grandma Mel sailed the seven seas in her heydays. Life was full of luxuries back then. Until I married your father/grandfather." haha.

Pic: In the elevator. The ship has an ELEVATOR. I'm so damn sakai, i know.

Anyway, I had loads more photos to share but blogger's photo posting failed me yet again halfway through this entry. Dang...Is anyone else having this problem? In other updates, I will be in Mabul island this weekend. Yes, for work. Oh woe is me. NOT. heh heh. Tonight I'm off to Gunter's for some German sausages (yes, work again) followed by a little bbq in my house. A little gathering my brother organised for his flight school students.

A little info I heard on the radio that nearly made me swerve into a tree on the way to work today: Ronan Keating is doing a cover version of Goo Goo Doll's 'Iris'.

What is this world coming to? Johnny Rzenik must be vomiting blood somewhere right now, listening to his song slaughtered by Keating - who really should stick to his 'awwww so sweet' ballads.

"I found a reason to show a side of me you didn't know. A reason for all that I do. And the reason is you."
- current MP3 blasting away in the office. Hoobastank's The Reason.

Five good reasons to watch the World Cup.

Ljungberg: My favourite Swedish surprise. Landon Donovan: Who cares if the Americans can't play?
Kaka: *words not necessary*
Ballack: Dorky is cute. In a big German way.
And for the boys:
Things you never thought you'd say: "Check out the balls on that chick!"

I am acid. See me trip.

Your Personality Is Like Acid

A bit wacky, you're very difficult to predict. One moment you're in your own little happy universe... And the next, you're on a bad trip to your own personal hell!

What Drug Is Your Personality Like?

Wine and cheese

I want to be a piece of cheese.

Let me explain. I was listening to the radio the other day and the DJs were talking about Shakira (whose hips don't lie, apparently). She and her boyfriend/fiance/significant other - who happens to be the son of the former Venezuelan President or something - have been dating since 1998. So in 2000 (or was it 2001) they decided to get engaged. Fast forward 6 (or 5) years later, she's become an international hip-shaking, body-writhing, funny-sounding, award-winning Latina but minus the ring. So apparently she's getting a bit restless with Mr. Shakira for not wanting to set a date yet. Soooo since she's been put 'on hold' indefinitely, she's decided to wiggle her hips another way and most recently in the direction of Robbie Williams. Interestingly, her fiance finally saw the red flags and sent his 'people' (i dunno who they mean here: aunties and uncles? homies? hitmen?) to LA to check on his chica and Mr. Williams. Shakira claims nothing was going on and they were only 'hanging out'.

Anyway, the whole story led to one of the DJs making a rather interesting statement: "Well, put it this way, if you leave good food on the table too long, someone else is gonna eat it."

How very poignant. I loved it! Somewhere along the Sutera Harbour highway, the revelation hit me hard. The conversation had callers ringing up the station with their own take on how long a couple should date before finally settling down. 1 to 3 years, said one guy and to quote him, "If after three years you haven't decided...Why waste each other's time?" Another school of thought brought up was the belief that couples who courted for a shorter period of time had longer-lasting marriages compared to those who have been dating for five million years. "Think about it," said the DJ, "if you've been living together for five or six years, and you know each other's bathroom habits, annoying mannerisms and what not, what else is there left to discover once you get married?" In the words of BB King, the thrill is gone.

But back to the cheese. If good food is all the rage, then I definitely want to be a piece of cheese. Check out buffet spreads. You got the salads (too healthy), desserts (too fattening), the meat (no go for vegetarians)...But the cheese! Ah the cheese. You can almost see the light beaming down from the sky when you see the cheese. Feta, Brie, Cottage all lined up waiting to be slathered on your cracker and bread. Or for the true cheese connoisseur, enjoyed plain with the perfect wine. Salads wilt, meat goes bad but cheese...Only gets better with age. And what i love about cheese is that even when there's a little mould action going on, it's 'character'. Plus, all you have to do is slice the affected area off and voila! fresh cheese on the inside all over again. Can't go wrong with cheese.

I think I'd love to be a generous serving of Blue cheese:

When you dig into Blue, you may find a creamy, blue-veined interior - or a crumbly, blue-veined interior - depending on its age. The fact is every Blue you try will have its own charming quirks - slight variations in its peppery flavor, texture, or artful pattern of veins that will make it your new true love. Both Blue's texture and tangy, ripe flavor intensify as it ripens. Scrumptious on salads or served with pears, raisins, figs, walnuts and fruit or nut breads, Blue is guaranteed to add some kick to any meal.- www.ilovecheese.com

I am SO Blue cheese. So heck, I don't care how long I'm left on the table because seriously, who can resist good cheese? Men, on the other hand, should be like wine: Improves with age (my cut-off age is anyone old enough to be an older family member ie: dad, grandad, uncle etc. thankyouverymuch) And as you all may know, nothing goes better with cheese than wine.

I am so the genius, no?

I want to be a piece of cheese. Have you seen my wine?

"I'm gonna try anything to just feel better
Tell me what to do
You know I can't see through the haze around me
And I do anything to just feel better"
-Steven Tyler and Santana, Just Feel Better. A song for everyone these days.

A literary spew by Fridaycat

"I must admit...I love you less."

She choked, just a little, and felt her throat tighten. Her pulse raced and she could hear her heart pounding. Her palms turned sweaty and her heart increased its pace. It was no longer pounding; it was slamming against her ribcage so hard, she was certain HE could hear it.

"The feeling has changed. It's not the same anymore..." he continued, twisting the knife deeper into her open wound as slowly as he could. As painfully as possible. Hell, he was doing a wonderful job. She still hadn't found the words at the point. She suddenly had the urge to break into song, just to kill the silence. Just to get some words -any words- out of her numb mouth. "You will find another guy. Someone who can make you happy." He couldn't seem to twist the knife deep enough. Her happiness was the least of his concerns, she knew. He just wanted out. Away from her, from this vile, unlovable, loathesome creature before him. His eyes, glassy and blank, glanced at her. He opened his mouth again.

"Don't. Please, don't." She almost gurgled the words. He cast his eyes downwards and let the uncomfortable silence take over. The slamming of her heart was deafening, her breath quickened and tiny, bright spots started to blind her already fading vision. So, she thought to herself, this is what it feels like. It will pass, it will pass...she whispered in her head.

***
Months went by and things changed. Her heart slammed now and then. Other days, it sat still. The vile, unlovable, loathesome creature. No wonder.

"I must admit...I love you less."

My cup runneth over...

BALL FEVER!

And no, that's not the newest STD in town. Empat tahun...Hanya sekali...Kita main bola di sana Germany...(sung to the tune of the Hari Raya jingle). Anyway, the World Cup is here and while thousands, nay, millions of office workers have turned into zombies and are surviving on their 15th cup of coffee for the morning, it never fails to amaze how the World Cup seizes the world by its loins every four years.

Men are at the mercy of Astro and Yo is still in love with 500-year old Klinsmann. My household is at a standstill at 9pm every night and even if our rooftop gets ripped off during a freak hurricane, my parents would remain glued to the sofa and keep praying England scores. I enjoy football, don't get me wrong, but I do believe life goes on even if Brazil/England/Kepulauan Micronesia doesn't win the World Cup this year. Here's my take on the World Cup:

What i love about it:
1. The football-related ads on TV/Radio
2. The exhiliration when your team of choice scores
3.The 'semangat perpaduan' that draws everyone together.
4. The creative ,er,costumes worn by fans.
5. My parents not batting an eyelash even when I come home at 2am

What i hate about it:
1. The football-related ads on TV/Radio (overdose ok)
2. The TV hijacked from 9pm onwards until the Final match eons from now.
3. You bring your guy friends clubbing and they spend the night watching the match on a teeny TV set in the corner of the club.
4. Overpriced World Cup merchandise. Seriously, I can dye my favourite t-shirt orange, paint the number 8 on it and sell it on the street for no less than RM150. They wouldn't even notice the 'Whirld Kap' scribbled across the chest.
5. The Australian team.

And what's all this 'Ladies, give your man a break, it's the World Cup' crap I keep hearing everywhere? Hello, in case you haven't noticed, some of us women are REJOICING it's the World Cup. First of all, please don't be a sexist pig and think football is only enjoyed by men. Women enjoy it too. (I wanted to post photographic evidence as to why this is so but again, Blogger is being a beeyatch).

Seriously though, I have female friends who are avid football fans and I bet they could explain what an offside is much better than a man (We ARE the more articulate species after all). On another note, the World Cup also means you won't have your nosy soccer-loving man bothering you as much. During the World Cup, every night is LADIES NIGHT! Women everywhere are enjoying uninterrupted shopping sprees (the guys won't even notice their credit cards missing, muahaha), remodeling their kitchens without having their husbands whining about the tiles costing too much and discovering that sometimes all you need is the iGallop *wink* So what if he only crawls into bed at 3am? More bed space for you! And the TV remote is suddenly as sacred as the Holy Grail so ladies, imagine the bargaining power you have when you hold his baby hostage. He'll spin straw into gold if you'll just let him finish the South Korea game.

"I'll do anything for you, baby, I promise."

And be sure to hold him to that. Big time. Enjoy the game!

iGallop iWant

I was traipsing through one of the shopping malls with H over the weekend and this caught my attention:

Now it LOOKS harmless enough but not until I actually saw what this baby does. Granted, the first time I saw it in action, it involved what may have been a six-year-old girl who thought she was riding a pony. It looked wrong on so many levels. Let me explain why. The Osim iGallop is actually designed to "help you shape and tone your tummy, hips, seat and thighs. Best of all, iGallop™ is fun to ride! The secret is in its zero-impact, tri-axial riding action. Your body automatically responds to its multidirectional movements to maintain balance. This constant balancing by your body engages certain muscle groups, and may help improve balance, coordination and posture."

In layman's terms, you straddle (note that I did not use the word 'sit on') a chair, hang on to its tiny handles while the chair obscenely rotates and vibrates, swinging you in several directions.

Yee-ha, cowgirl.

It disturbed me quite a bit that children were pushing each other off the chair to have a go. And parents watched in fascination! First of all, it's NOT a toy. Second, it looks plain obscene. Fortunately, the salesgirls were smart enough not to hop on and give eager customers a demonstration on how to use it. Unfortunately, Sel told me that she actually saw a pretty mama and her teenage daughter give the iGallop a go in public (cue glazed looks of passers by and men rendered speechless). Talk about a free show.

Ooh and get this...It comes in three speeds: Trot, Gallop and Race. And several colours too. Boys, if you wanna make your women really happy, forget the diamonds, iPods and Gucci shoes. A REAL man would rush to the nearest Osim store and grab one of these beauties. It'll keep your woman 'busy' for hours and is perfect in light of the World Cup season. You get to watch football and the missus stays ooooh-so-happy. And ladies, who needs a man when you have an iGallop?

iWant. (seriously, all sexual connotations aside...It looks fun. In the privacy of your home of course).

*not suitable for children below the ages of...Well, all children to be exact. Hazardous to male genitalia, not recommended for men.

Since i can't post photos...

Blogger is having PMS so I'm gonna do this thingy from Mia and Yo:

1) Name someone with the same birthday as you.
Ho Soong Leng from primary school. I'm amazed I still remember this.

2) where was your first date?
I can't recall but I'm pretty sure it involved other friends. I never do a 'one on one' date thing when I first start liking someone. I find it awkward. I like natural progression where at first two people just 'hang out' and then BAM! You're on a date.

3) Have you ever seriously vandalised someone else's property?
Perhaps.

4) Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?
Does my brother count? If so, yes, all the time.

5) Have you ever sang in front of a large number of people?
Yep. School choir, kindergarten (I sang Do Re Mi). Er...karaoke?

6) What is the first thing you notice about the opposite or same sex?
Looks - kinda hard not to. And then the way he/she talks.

7) What do you usually order from starbucks?
I don't drink coffee. So some fruity tea or anything chocolatey.

8) What is your biggest mistake?
Giving my all and not holding back. I should have known better.

9) Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?
Refer to the above. I have no one to blame but myself so...Yes.

10 ) Say something totally random about you.
I feel like having sushi.

11) Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
Yes, Coco Lee. Wha...?

12) Do you still watch kiddy movies or tv shows?
Yes. It makes me forget about grown-up realities for a while.

13) Did you have braces?
No.

14) Are you comfortable with your height?
After 27 years, I better be. I could be taller though.

15) What is the most romantic thing someone of the opposite sex has said to you?
I don't care much for words these days. Talk is cheap. I'll know it when he shows it.

16) When do you know it's love?
I don't know anymore. I'm just gonna marry for money, haha.

17) Do you speak any other languages?
Malay. Sexual references in Cantonese (haha). A bit of Tagalog. And I'm trying to pick up Mandarin - failing miserably (who needs four tones in one language?)

18) Have you ever been to a tanning salon?
No.

19) What magazines do you read?
Women's magazines, the usual: Cleo, Cosmo,Marie Claire etc. Travel & Leisure. Time. Personal Money (don't laugh, I actually have a subscription).

20) Have you ridden in a limo?
no.

21) Has anyone you were really close with passed away?
Yes.

22) Do you watch mtv?
How else would I be able to imitate Britney/Mariah/Shakira?

23) What's something that really annoys you?
Negative people in the workplace. It's so demoralizing. My personal life is shitty as it is, can we keep the office a happy place please?

24) What's something you really like?
When everything is bringing you down and life is one big 'ugh', I like that certain something that can still make me smile. It can be my cat climbing up my lap, my niece saying "Hi Tita!" or my friends telling a stupid joke that only we understand :)

25) Do you like michael jackson?
He's got good stuff, weird habits. I'm indifferent.

26) Can you dance?
Hell yeah, haha!

27) What's the latest you have ever stayed up?
I came home from clubbing at 6am once in KL. That would be it.

28) Have you ever thought that you were honestly going to die?
Yes.

29) Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room?
No.

30) What do you wish for?
World peace (really ba). More money so i can travel. And all the happiness in the world for the people I care about. Oh, and to live happily ever after.

Children=Scary

Last night, I confirmed that children are on the top of my 'Scary' list together with roaches, serial killers and the sight of Rob Thomas trying to dance. (warning: Spoilers ahead.)

I watched 'The Omen' on the day it opened (June 6 of course). I wanted to post a few photos of the the kid who plays Damien (Seamus something-something) but blogger is still being an ass about it so let me just explain by saying the kid is C.R.E.E.P.Y.

But seriously, you didn't expect the Antichrist to have curly blond hair and bounce to Barney songs, did you? If you watched the original, you'll know the details. The remake didn't run away much from the original plot, except that it's set in 2006 (06.06.06. Duh). Mommy is Julia Stiles (in her first mummy role, if I'm not mistaken) and she's not half bad. When she starts fearing her son, you actually feel like reaching into the screen and shaking her husband to his senses, "LISTEN TO HER YOU DUMBASS!" Few gory scenes - my favourite being the one where the priest dies with a spear right through his heart and shards of glass decorating him like candles on a cake. Creative.

Should I give the plot away? Ok, like this lah: I won't give it COMPLETELY away but I will advise you to remember that the original Omen movie was followed by Omen Part 2,3 and 4. When people left the cinema last night whining about a bad ending, I wanted to yell, "But there's MORE! Just you wait!"

Of course, I didn't for fear of looking deranged.

Not as scary as I would've liked it to be (coming from me, that's ironic) and there were few jump-out-of-your-seat scenes. I must give an honourable mention to Mia Farrow for playing the creepiest nanny in the history of film. No wait...In the history of time would be more befitting. (She looks young for her age though...Does anyone know if she's done surgery?). If anything, the movie has a few lessons:

1. If a suspicious looking priest keeps showing up reciting biblical poems and saying, "You and I will die!", please take him seriously.

2. Rottweilers are synonymous with the devil. But i still think they're cute.

3. If you have travelled from London to the Vatican to the farthest regions of Jerusalem and back to London, lost a traveling companion, stared death in its eyes and have TWO Rottweilers (yes they keep showing up) try to chew your arm off...PLEASE believe that all this hard work and bad luck must mean your son is indeed the Antichrist.

4. Learn Italian (it sounds sexy)

5. Marry a diplomat - you get to travel.

6.Don't ever switch babies in the hospital.

7. Don't ever switch babies in the hospital and lie to your wife about it. You're talking about a species that can differentiate low-fat milk from superfat milk just by scent.

8. If you live in a house nearly four storeys high, you might wanna think twice before climbing on the highest railing to water your plants.

9. Nannies without proper portfolios work for the devil.

10. 666 is the sign of the devil. Not 999 - that's the ambulance emergency line.

Which reminds me, another thing that annoyed me during the movie was a bunch of girls sitting behind my seat:

(scene shows father trying to search for the 666 sign on Damien's scalp)
Girl 1: Nah...see...got number on his kepala!
Girl 2: 69! It's a 69! He's the Antichrist!
Girl 3: eh...not 69 la. 66.
Girl 1: 69 bah...See properly.
Girl 3: No! 66!
Girl 2: Wrong la. It's 999.

Apparently, Damien is either the God Of Porn or Ambulance Line Spawn.

The verdict: Watch it because it's a classic but it's not exactly going to win any Oscars.

Today's mantra.

Currently on my desktop:

No place like home.

So I spent one week out of the office (yay) and five of those days in Sandakan and Tawau. A scenic shot of Tawau below:

Ok maybe not. But it felt like it. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind trips to Sandakan and Tawau. Sandakan has great wildlife and historical sites and Tawau is the gateway to my island haven. But to be brutally honest...There really ain't much to shout about when it comes to the town itself. No offense to fellow Sandakanians and Tawaulites (ok I made those up but it seems to sound fine), but I really was bored out of my mind.

My colleagues and I were there with the Dama Orchestra, who were performing in the abovementioned towns. My company is the official organiser of the event so naturally, we had to go on the road with them during their time in Sabah. On the upside, the Dama people are wonderful to work with. Despite their award-winning status and having performed around the world, they are the most down-to-earth performers I have ever met. No attitude, no airs, no diva demands. They are professional, talented and above all, just really nice people. Will blog photos later.

Anyway, back to my trip. It was five days and four nights of socialising, eating, sleeping and -when we weren't working at the event - wondering how to kill time. Oh and we gambled a bit. And for the first time, I actually won! Not much but enough to buy lunch. And at a card game too (cho tai ti to be exact). I suck at card games. On another note, the hotel in tawau which was our humble abode for two nights...was haunted. Maybe i should say IS haunted. I didn't SEE anything (thank god or i'd be in therapy right now). For those who don't know me yet, I am the Queen of Chicken Shit. Anyway, we had just checked in and i wanted to squeeze in a nap. Half an hour into deep slumber, someone starts whispering in my ear.

I kid you not.

Strangely, I didn't freak out immediately because I thought it was my roomie talking to me. But she was sound asleep too. Okaaay. panicpanicpanicpanicpanic. Close eyes. Think happy thoughts. I went back to sleep, thank goodness, but had nightmares over and over. The next morning, after a total of three hours of sleep, i tried to forget about it. Even when the curtains moved by themselves (and coveniently my roomie was showering), I simply turned the TV volume up. You cannot imagine how freaked out I was. Needless to say, the whole hotel gave me the spooks and I did not have much sleep during my stay there. Overactive imagination? Perhaps. But I've stayed in countless hotels (alone at some) and without a paranormal problem. But the minute I stepped into the room...I just knew. I know that sounds vague but sometimes, when you get goosebumps for no reason, it's usually for a reason.

When the plane landed in KK, I nearly broke into applause. After I hugged my cats, I went straight to bed, sniffed my lovely sheets and went to sleep. The only thing haunting me was the thought of dragging myself back to the office in the morning.

And i missed YOU. Did you miss me? :)