IS BACK.

Elliot Minor video blog! 

Thank God for Brit boys, beers, and Ed's new cam-coder.

Ali's accent is unexplainably sexy. 

Mayyie xxx

Not quite literally. But it might just as well be. Believe me, seeing 2 buses of people in only black and white make your head spin. 

The experience was great nonetheless. Being in the Parliament proceeding itself, sitting in the Dewan Rakyat, listening to the speaker(mumbling) and receiving a Parliament style bang-on-the-table-in-approval welcome after one of the deputy minister announce our presence was surreal. 

But, the highlight of the day? This - "Oi, Alor Gajah, kalau mau cakap berdiri, tak mau duduk diam lah!"(Oi, Alor Gajah[one of the constituency], if you want to speak, stand up, if not, sit down!), coming from a fellow MP to another, in response of Alor Gajah talking to another MP when this MP is making his statement. Malaysia boleh-ness. And we thought having more than half the seats empty during Parliament proceeding, and half of those present sleeping away is bad enough. 

And I was practically refraining myself from laughing out loud in fear of being thrown out from the sitting when the oppositions kept shooting questions at our very own Deputy Finance Minister, and his reply to almost every question was, "Itu saya tak ada jawapan."(no answer), to which the others reply, "Itulah, semua tak ada jawapan, lain kali suruh Menteri datang!(everything no answer, that's why, ask the minister to be present next time)" And the answer to the next question? "Itu jawapan telah disediakan, tapi kena cari*flips through piles of documents scattered on his desk*"(that, answers have been prepared, but I have to look for it). Throw in the Deputy Minister pulling up his forever dropping pants every 10 seconds throughout the whole question time. 

Great stuff. Kids of the Parliament. Kids who are paid by the people and have the trust of the people on their shoulders.

Speaking of REAL great stuff, the 2009 Formula One season has officially started!! And I have never been so excited hearing engines roar when the cars are on track, and I totally did a "Ohhh, welcome back F1!! Been a longgg break!!" at the TV when Kimi is on track and to which my mum replies, "It's just noise and cars going round the track, what's so exciting about it?"

I rest my case. After all, she thinks free kick, corner kick and penalty kick is the same thing. Sport is not her thing, yeah.

Yes, I am having trouble coming up with a title so bear with me.

I've fallen back into the my old routine, after a rather roller coaster like of a 3 weeks. 

It came to me when I was looking at the Oxford dictionary thick Criminal Law text book, and having it staring back at me, and the words dancing around making no sense at all. Yes, I am starting to think, routine, is not good. Cause it means revision, it means tutorials, it means assignments. 

It's only life, no?

People always say 21st birthdays are special. So, what do you do when you are about to turn 21? I am trying to figure out what turning 21 means, but the long list that I wish to achieve has only this:

1. I can finally VOTE. Yeah babyyy!

And from 2-20, all I can think of is, I am sitting for my Criminal Law midterm paper the day I turn 21. No, I refused to see it as my calling or some sort. No, my friend. 

Oh well, I have about 1 more week to figure what the big two-one means, and where do I go there.

Mayyie xxx

Sorry I haven't check in for quite a while. Been busy and sick. But both in a good way. 

Have you ever had an experience in life where you know you won't forget for your whole life? And you are so sure that no matter how many years pass, you'll think back and still be able to remember clearly how you felt at the very moment? 

Nothing, do the past one week justice. Not even words. So, to hell with diary and words that describe how I feel so that 30 years from now on I can read and remember. Because, it will still be just as clear as yesterday. 

As Paul put it, these are the things that we only do once in our life times. Yes, because we are in the company of the 2 crazy Germans who came to change the world. Chakaaa!

P.S. 

David Hasselhoff Jr? 

Mayyie xxx

It was late at night. The streets are empty. You are walking, with a bunch of friends - by the river, then cutting through passage ways and crossing the intersections, aimlessly, without direction - talking and laughing at the top of your voice. You are taking in fresh air until it feels like your lungs are bursting, in a good way. Intoxication has nothing to do with your action, you are not drunk but are as sober as it can be, in fact things have never seem more clear. You are without a single care in the world - formal outfit needed on Monday yet to be ironed, bags for the weekend away yet to be packed, lecture notes yet to be revised are totally forgotten. And then you thought to yourself - "If only life's like that."

The feeling and taste of blissfulness and total liberation is still fresh in my system.  

Let's rewind.

The night started off with "Lou Sang" using our very own DIY aka pre-packeted Yee Sang with a touch of our own style - sliced fish balls to substitute for salmon, being charged RM1.50/pac for bringing in outside food, great conversations with a bunch of people who share identical ideas about traveling the world. It was a perfect setting. 

Then, the few of us found ourselves wandering aimlessly on the street post-gathering.

And it was a matter of time before we start doing goofy/crazy things from taking picture and drinking in front of a clear and unambiguous "no picture and no food & drink" sign, to lying on the pavement by the pool of black water which happen to be the Melaka river inspired by a random homeless guy which scared the hell out of us.

I cannot remember when was the last time I completely let myself go and had this amount of fun. 

Other source of happiness.

These 2 kids here, and another who is too active to sit through a photo.

And Portsmouth 2 - Liverpool 3, in the form a late winner from Fernando Torres, and also Daniel Agger playing the full 90.

Year 2009 has finally kicked start for me, albeit 2 months late. 

Mayyie xxx

So, today was the 1st day of the 3rd and final semester of my second year. And how was it? We got told we need to dress formally every Monday, as part of our training "for this profession that we chose"(regardless of whether we regret the decision now it seems). AND, our Criminal Law midterm exam will be on my 21st birthday. Nice one, really. 

Chris said that CNY for him this year was one of HBO and Aussie Open, that's because he went back for work on the 2nd day of New Year itself. But for me, it was so much more. Apart from watching all those movies on HBO and Star Movies(Cinemax tends to suck, I have no idea why), I find great pleasure in following the Australian Open for the 2 weeks! Aussie Open is the only grand slam which I get to watch because it always happen to be during my semester break. It reminds me of why and how much I loveee tennis. And apparently, my youngest cousin who is 9 year-old is a sports fan as well. Meaning, out of the 3 girls in our family, it's 2-1, sports over Barbie and dresses! Yeshhhh! 

There were incredibly insane amount of visiting happening this year. As always, our house was flooded with relatives since my dad is the oldest son and my grandpa is living next door. On the 3rd day of New Year, uncle and my dad decided to take a road trip to visit my late grandma's brother and sister. These are some people which we kids don't even know how to address them because our relation is far too distant or complicated. But I wasn't complaining, since more people means more Ang Pows! It was rather meaningful because this is the first time we kids see their families but, 8 people in a Toyota Avanza is NOT fun. It was like a horse ride for us sitting in the 3rd row. 

Anyway, had a gathering with my closest secondary school friends this CNY, and while we were talking, I had an epiphany, a mini one maybe. When someone hurt you so much, it is only natural that you hate the person, and you will do whatever it takes to erase him from your memory. I have always been told that when I totally erase him and take him out of the equation of what formally will be him related, I am there. I made it. And apparently I did, since when asked of the primary questions, I naturally exclude him. But, it was when I was lying on the bed talking to my friends that I realized, he might be erased from my conscious mind, but not my subconscious. I was making the biggest mistake of my life, because of what that thing did to me, without realizing it. And as usual, when I do, it's too late. 

So, thank you very much Mr.Beale. There was always only words between us. Take that out, and there is nothing. So, if you see me wince when I say words like "apparently", or get really pissed when I hear Darren Hayes, know that I am sorry but it is in my system. 

"You can only blame your problems on the world for so long, before it all became a same old song."

It will not make the same mistake again.

Mayyie xxx 

... according to a Chinese legend. It was said that in 1804, the Jade Emperor held a competition for the animals in the animal kingdom to determine their places in the lunar calender. It's going to be a 12 year cycle, so the first 12 who make it will get to represent one year, and the orders are to be determined by the places they finished in the race.

The results were as follow: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

So, year 2009 is the year of Ox. You are probably scratching your head over the results of the race, because seriously, some really doesn't make sense. But, apparently the rat cheated in the race by riding on the ox's back, and just before they reached the finish line, the rat jumped across the finish line from the ox's back. And isn't it a bit weird for a horse to come in 7th?!

Anyhow, Chinese New Year is tomorrow! And it's the tradition for the Chinese to have a reunion dinner for the entire family on NYE, so tonight we are going to have a crazy dinner for 23 people.

And on the 1st day of CNY until the 15th day, it's heaven for us kids. We don't get presents like during Christmas, but we get Ang Pao - something like a red rectangular envelop with money inside from the adults. In Chinese we call it "压岁钱" which upon receiving it, means that we are one year older now, and it's like a blessing from the adults to the kids to wish us a good year ahead. 

Hopefully the Ang Paos I get this year are sufficient for me to attend the FOB concert in Singapore. 

To those who celebrate it, Happy Chinese New Year and Gong Xi Fa Cai! 

I'm prepared to be inspired like it was 31st Dec 2008 again!

Mayyie xxx

I admit that sometimes I am over critical when it comes to Malaysia, especially political related issue. I might even sound pessimistic at times. But, I am not a cynic, nor do I not love my country.

“About Malaysia. Truly Asia…A bustling, melting pot of races and religions where Malays, Indians and Chinese and many other ethnic groups live together in peace and harmony.”

That was written on Tourism Malaysia Official website. It’s true, Malaysia is made up of the 3 main races, and other ethnic groups. It is also true that we live in peace and harmony. If the question ends here, then sure, there is nothing wrong about the statement. Scratch the surface a little, what do you see? I assure you, what I am about to say, has nothing to do with me being pessimistic or over critical.

The following was written in a letter addressed to the graduates of University Malaya, the national university of Malaysia by the Head of Graduates, last year.

Translation of the excerpt of the letter reads:

“As the Head of Graduates of University Malaya, I urge all the graduates to work together and equip ourselves with what is necessary for us to survive in the real world. I especially urge the Malay graduates of this. Treasure the sacrifices of our ancestors who fought against foreign power and freed us from their colonization. We should not forget our roots in order to prevent us to be oppressed by other races. Graduates should prove that we are capable and has what it takes to be the future leaders of the nation…(some shit about how this is in line with the university’s vision)… I also urges the Malay graduates to be prepared for all unforeseeable possibilities in the future seeing that nowadays, the progression of the nation mainly stem from non-Malays. We shouldn’t let our guards down and cause us “to be stabbed by the enemies in our own blankets”( direct translation of a Malay idiom). We should not let the country fall into the hands of other races that don’t have a right to do so.”

If statements of this sort come from someone else, which we get it from time to time, I will dismiss it, because if that is their stance of mind, I can only be sorry for their ignorance. But, this comes from the Head of Graduates of our national university. We would have expect statements like this from a politician(not political leader) for their survivor in the political circus, but certainly not from a Head of Graduates, in a letter approved and circulated by the national university.

I am a Malaysian. The country is ours. It’s as simple as that. You would’ve expected me to explain to foreigners that even though the Chinese in Malaysia are Chinese, we are not from China. Not our parents, not our grandparents, not our great great grandparents. Same for the Indians. But to need to explain the same thing to a fellow Malaysian? Our ancestors fought in the same war, alongside their ancestors, against the colonization of foreign powers. Their bodies lay on the same ground, as Malaysians. And we are certainly, not “enemies in their own blankets.”

 It’s one thing to have policies to protect the interest of Malays by setting up quotas for everything. It’s one thing to raise the keris(Malay sword) in a political party assembly to demand us to go back to our own country, but it is another to proclaim us as enemies of this country.

We are Malaysians, where else can we go?

So, it is true that we live in peace and harmony, I guess, if peace and harmony is measured by the existence of gun fires or grenades, or otherwise.

The contrast seems to be bigger, in the light of Obama’s inauguration. How many of us in Malaysia dare to dream that, in 50 years time, that maybe we will have a non – Malay as our Prime Minister, I truly want to know.

Mayyie xxx

Scene at the movies.

9 out of the 10 Malaysians you ask, will tell you music scene in Malaysia sucks. So, when my friend said, "hey, I am going to introduce you to my friend's band." I wasn't expecting much. But, 2 songs later, I am sold. 

Listening to their music, is one of the very rare moments that I am ridiculously proud to say that "I am Malaysian". Well, not taking account into the many moments that I introduce the Malaysian cuisines to CS members of course.

 http://www.myspace.com/sceneatthemovies

Mayyie 

A few months back during our Criminal Law tutorial, we had a discussion about our stands on death penalty. We presented arguments, some against it, some for it. Towards the end of the discussion, many who were in support of it were swayed. When the lecturer asked, ‘who’s still for death penalty?’ at the end of the discussion, mine was one of the very few hands raised, one third of the number of hands raised compared to at the beginning of the discussion, firmly believing that death penalty is the answer.

Then, I picked up Jodi Picoult’s lastest book, Change of Heart, about a death row inmate who was convicted of killing a little girl and her stepfather who was a police officer. The inmate, Shay, was a carpenter working for the family. On the day of the murders, he was found at the crime scene with a gun and blood of the two victims on him, in addition of the little girl’s panties in his pocket.

11 years after the judgement, he is still waiting for his execution – waiting to die. The fact alone in itself, is inhumane enough. Top that with “what if the court has got it all wrong”. There is a reason why criminal cases need to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt – regardless of what was thought in text books and what was written in law reports; it’s as simple as this - because of the severity of the punishment if one is convicted. In other words, if you were to punish what someone did by killing him, you want to be dead sure that he deserves to be killed. The accused made a bad mistake, but the justice system will be damned if they make a bigger mistake with a wrongful conviction. But, can there ever be a 100% beyond reasonable doubt; and who are we or who are the justice system, to determine who deserves to die or other wise.

There can never be a fair trial - there may be in due process, but nothing more beyond that. Because, even though the judiciary is a separate branch of government, it is still made up of people. The judges, the counsels, and the jury. Who’d you believe, the prosecution channeling the voice of a police officer who was a loving family man, or the carpenter who was bounced in and out of foster care system? Wouldn't your opinion be biased?  

Many have said that death penalty is not so much as to seek justice for victims, because you can't bring back the dead. But it's more for the family which were left behind. It’s not revenge, it’s justice, or so they say. And it’s a closure, for them to let go completely. But the truth is, the slate can never be wiped clean, you don’t get over loss like that, you get through it, quoting the author. And after 11 years of wishing that Shay is nothing but dead, sitting in the front row of the witness seats, after everything, June Nealon closed her eyes, when Shay was executed. She didn’t even watch him die. And she might never know this, but Shay saved her twice, saved her then unborn daughter twice. His miracle was told to 2 people, they listened, because he started performing miracles like Jesus did. And yet that doesn’t change the outcome.

How many death row inmates like Shay do we have in the justice system with death penalty around the world? And do they need to start performing miracles like God to get us to listen to them?

Deterrence and rehabilitation, how do we balance it? Does death penalty even serve the purpose of deterrence? What about those who had their time well served before the execution date? But, that brings us back to the question, who are we to determine who to die.

So, is death penalty really the answer? I am not so sure anymore. If I am back in the tutorial discussion, this much I know – I won’t raise my hand in support of the sentence. After all, when is ‘an eye for an eye’ ever the answer?

Mayyie xxx

So, how was everyone's festive seasons? I had a great Christmas with an unexpected Christmas dinner with some family friends. It's a great get together with great food, even though there wasn't any Christmas music to go with it.But new year had been quiet and at some point, sucks. I miss a countdown at a Raggae bar and a free hug session with Couchsurfing members and was instead stuck in the room studying for my finals. This university is seriously inhumane. 

Anyway, I can either go to the FOB concert in February or the Jason Mraz one in March but not both. Because my bank account balance disapprove, and also because I can miss 3 days, but not 6 days of lectures in 2 months. 

I've been told both are really great live. And both got me going "I so need to see them liveeee" when I listen to them. It feels so wrong to have to choose between 2 concerts which are not even on the same day.

Oh well, I guess it all depends on whether I became a part time kindergarten teacher this time next week or a digital painting beginner. And my ang pau money this coming Chinese New Year. I might just get to go both.

But, let's say if I can't, how do I choose?  

Mayyie xxx

I just watched Titanic on Starmovies timeless love stories series. I have to say it’s not as corny as people perceived it to be, and there were a lot of things I see now which I didn’t see a good 10 years ago.  I only turned on the TV because I got sick of those Patent cases and was thinking about getting a half an hour breather.  Unexpectedly, I enjoyed it more than I thought and sat through the entire movie without moving an inch. May that be the last lesson for me this year, but the beginning of many to come.

So, 2009 is upon us.

I don’t know is it the same for everyone or is it only me, because a few years back, time seems to pass by more slowly and I was always thinking, “When is the year going to end? When will December come?” But in the recent 2 years, it’s more like a “whoosh” case and it’s like, “WHAT?! 2009 is here?!”

“We do not remember days, we remember moments.”

And if memories are treasure in my safe, I’ve made a fortune this year. It is only human nature that we remember the greatest moments and try to block out the negative ones, so I cannot help it if the moments I had on the road with the most special bunch of friends back in January stood out. I always believe that we have a limited quota of lucky stars in our life. Let’s say the stars are stored in a bottle, those 2 weeks in January was when I was convinced that I’ve used up at least half the bottle of my stars. What else could have brought me to these 3 wonderful people on the Liverpool forum two and a half years ago? And what else could have brought 4 people from different corner of the world together and share the bonds as strong as friends who see each other every day?

There is also the memory of my first ever concert. I know, at the age of 20. Pfft, that’s why I said we are musically deprived in this region. They say you never believe your first concert and yes, this is a memory that I believe will make my top 10 list still, when I am 80. And the Bangkok trip; the random road trips, albeit to a beach which is half an hour away or merely stalking the grey mansion(yes.); puking on the sidewalk in KL after a mixture of draught beer, fries, lights too dim and music not to my liking; and many many more.

Those are the moments which I look back and smile. There are also some which doesn’t have the same effect. I don’t do resolution, because I never follow them. But if there is one thing that I vow to do in 2009, it would be to make things right with a dear friend. In January, I wouldn’t have thought this is where we both will be at in December. Somehow after too many words, or lack of the necessary ones, this is where we are. But, I am ready to change that.

So, bring on 2009. 

And hopefully next December, I will be sitting here telling you that I am one step closer to my dream. It has finally taken shape in 2008, and for that alone, I've decided that this year will be ended with a bang, and with hope too, because I believe in the ultimate lesson of The Alchemist.

If I doesn't get the time to blog before the new year, here's an early "Happy New Year The One Love!"

Mayyie xxx 

I'm on my way home for Christmas. Well, not really in that context since we don't really celebrate Christmas at home, but still, I'm going home, albeit for study week.

Before that, dad and I took a detour to this small town called Pontian, in the southwest of Johor for his work. He's now in the conference room while I'm stuck in the lobby of probably one of the few hotels in the area. Thank God for wireless connection!

Apparently, Pontian is divided into 2 parts, Pontian Kechil(Small Pontian, literally) and Pontian Besar(Big Pontian), so one of the many interesting things about this town I've noticed beside the pit soil which the roads are built on which makes it almost impossible to be flat, the surprisingly high number of schools along the way, and also the fact that, Pontian Kechil is BIGGER and more developed than Pontian Besar. No, I don't see the logic in that.

This town reminds me a lot of home, except that this town is built along the coastline, while the only water I can see back home is probably the drain and the river brown in colour. Took a walk around the area in the drizzling rain and got myself back into the lobby before I got all soaked up.

Now, if you may let me continue rot myself out of boredom while waiting for my dad's meeting to be over. 

And Merry Christmas The One Love! Hope that some Christmas miracles come your way this Christmas. As for me, and a lot of other Liverpool fans, I guess we already experience ours over the weekend. 3 times lucky, and we are still top of the league! I mean, what are the odds!

Merry Christmas from our inanimated extended family! :)

Mayyie xxx

You have no idea how a blueberry ice-cream cone and Fall Out Boy's I Don't Care can change my world. I mean, day.

I will refrain from ranting. Because my life is...well, basically, I have no life now, so I have nothing to blog about. Oh, I won't even have a Christmas this year, because I have an assignment due Christmas Eve and I have to miss a Christmas party this Saturday. I've been doing nothing but assignments, tutorials, midterms, finals. I hate short semester. And even if I come across something worth blogging about, I will be too consumed to actually recognize it. Welcome to my (no)life, and let me take you through my rather uneventful day.

That is the worst sweets I've ever tasted. 

That is the price Sara and I have to pay for being adventurous. You know, it's a new product and all. It tastes like toilet, mouth wash, and detergent at the same time. But it turned out to be a good joke - the faces of our friends when they popped it in their mouth, and spit it out after 3 seconds.

And then it was the most stressful 3 hours of my entire life. Long story, but we almost failed our Cyberpreneurship assignment and had to re-do the whole thing in less than 2 hours. I seriously thought I was going to break down and cry, and then I remembered Switchfoot and hold it together. Towards the end, the group leader goes, "Hey guys, good team work!", and he said it all. Half the number, double the work, but we pulled through. I have no idea what the outcome will be, but when we find out tomorrow, I will have the thoughts that "We tried our best" with me. 

So, maybe I failed at the whole "I'm not going to rant" front.

Mayyie

For what I've done to her when I was young.

For as long as I can remember, all my friends love Barbie when we were younger. But, she freaks me out. I don't know why is that, but there is something about the doll and the way she looks at me that makes me freak. 

When my mum got me my 1st Barbie all those years ago, like every mum in the world, she must be expecting me to dance around in happiness or something, but I remember looking down at the doll in my hand and thinks, "what the hell is this thing?"

I think it was after a few days, I was thinking I cannot live with "this thing" anymore, and so I dismembered the doll, and hide it inside this shoe rack outside the house. And then I remember being scolded by my mum when she found the dismembered doll in the shoe rack and brother laughing his head off.

That was my 1st and last Barbie doll. Even when I am playing at my cousin's house which is filled with Barbies cause of her obsessions with dressing them and all, I never see the point and look at those dolls with such hatred in my eyes she knows better and never let me near those dolls again. 

I guess when I was young, I was all Lego over Barbie. 

And then a few days ago, I had this dream. It was Christmas and I was unwrapping my Christmas gift from my brother(like he'll really get me one), and it was the same Barbie doll that I dismembered. And then that thing started saying, "You killed me. You killed me." non stop. 

Seriously. I still am afraid of Barbie. People think I steer clear of the Barbies section in toy section because I hate them, but it is actually more fear than hatred. Or fear that has turned into defensive hatred. If it's possible.

Mayyie

Ace Enders that is. 

I've never heard of him until this morning, and after a quick youtube search, I've been listening to this song and "Why Do You Run" on loop.

It's a simple song really, but there's something about how the words are wrapped in the melody and the guitar that makes it so addictive. 

Mayyie

Ok, I am going to try to not start talking about the 2 times I watched Twilight in the space of 4 days, and how perfect Edward is, fearing that certain someone *ahem* my ex-roomie *ahem* will charge at me, because you see, Edward is hers. 

I'm thinking to blog about last Friday after I get the picture from Chris. But I can't get him and I realized this is the only time I can sit down and blog. Because this is THE two weeks we get in every semester. Assignments, mid term tests, assignments, mid term tests, etc etc. I feel so suffocated that throwing myself off the building seem like a good option at times and only Switchfoot makes me sane. So, what the heck.

But I was at my happy place last Friday thanks to CouchSurfing. For those who don't know CouchSurfing - well, basically it is a non-profit organisation that is built on and grow on the basis of changing the world, one couch at a time. You join the project, you offer your couch(accomodation) to traveler/offer to meet up for coffee, and then you start surfing. You know the place through the people, even before you reach the destination. The join the groups which have sub-forums and you have people answering all your travel enquiries and gives you honest suggestions for your itinerary.  

Whenever I mentioned this project to people, the reaction I get will be along the line of "is it safe?", "how do you know you are not letting some serial killer into your house?" , "what if the person you are meeting is a serial raper?" I don't know how to answer those questions because there is no way to be sure, but they do have their safety and security system and all I can say is check the project out and they have one of the best online communities I have ever come across.

Out of my CS experiences, last Friday was the day which I really taught, shared and learnt. I've walked the ruins of the A'Famosa Fort built by the Portuguese and ruined by the Dutch endless times, scrutinized the ancient headstones in the Church of Our Lady up on the hill, I've stand on the spot overlooking the ocean even before the tower and ferris wheel was built. I know the stories and histories of the country which basically started at that spot. Yet, there were still a lot of things and places which I take for granted, simply because they are at my back yard. Rediscovering all those things were fun! Being shot with questions like "what is the green thing in Cendol? Is it a plant? Animal?" was refreshing. 

But not as refreshing and fun as learning the insights of the Portuguese attack and colonization 1st hand from a native Portuguese. Like the idea of their colonization was not war, but to mix the blood(race). His words, not mine. And that the captain who conquered Melaka had his name spelt wrongly in probably ALL history texts that we have been reading in school and on brochures all this while - for Malaysians, it is Afonso de Albuquerque, without an "L". It's impossible for a Portuguese captain to have an Arab name apparently. And BOMBA which means Fire Brigade, is a Portuguese borrowed word and it means "bomb".  

The sun was burningly hot that day, and I got a tan, very much to my mum's dismay. And the transitions period between being under the hot sun and air-cond of the car, starbucks and optical shops are not easy to deal with, but I am content - by doing something as easy as that, we gave a backpacker his perfect trip in Melaka and in return we learnt so much as well. I got my sweet escapade out of my insanely busy weeks. And that is like more important than water in my life now. 

Back to studies. The mid-term this Thursday is absolutely dreaded. And the reading materials for the assignments waiting to be read are grinning at me devilishly. GAH.

Mayyie

My timetable this semester is nuts. We start classes early but end like really late in the evening, with too much breaks in between. So, on Monday, instead of rotting ourselves at the same old cafe for 4 hours to wait for the next class, we decided to do a mini road trip. Ok, more like a drive about since we didn't get out of Melaka. But the talking, gossiping, singing along to the radio in the car, it almost felt like a road trip.

We drove into the city and had lunch at this fantastic Japanese restaurant called Wa Zen. Food was great, and everything feels so Japanese.

When we are all stuffed, we got into the car and drove to the beach which is at the other side of the city. 

Once my bare feet touched the sand, I was reminded again of why I love the beach. It has been too long since I was at a nice quiet beach. Pattaya in Thailand was too touristy for my liking. To stand on the beach and let the waves crashed into my feet, is heaven. We saw kids swimming in the ocean, and IF we brought extra clothes to change, all of us would have jumped in without a second a thought. It is THAT inviting, on a hot Monday afternoon. And the smell of the sea breeze, is the sort that makes you want to take a deep breath from time to time to savour it.

We didn't bathe ourselves in the ocean, but we totally let ourselves go at the playground on the beach - having 3 little girls looking at these 4 grown-ups sitting on the see-saw and swings, and went all hyper and excited. It's great to be a kid again. 

We even wrote our names on the sand. 

An afternoon with great friends on the beach, is as good as a hectic Monday can get. 

Mayyie

It has been raining since afternoon. I love rainy days if I don't need to be outdoor walking around in flip flops getting all annoyed because it's impossible to keep my feet dry. So, today has been a perfect rainy day thus far because without any lectures or tutorials, I get to lie on my bed, curl under the blanket with a book in my hand. 

Speaking of book, I finally read Twilight last week. Probably a 1000th years later than everyone on here. I started reading the book on a Sunday before bed, with classes awaiting me on Monday, thinking it will be a habitual 'a few pages read before bed' thingy. Afterall, it's only the prologue, how can I possibly be hooked. It turned out I couldn't be more wrong. Because the next thing I know, it's 9 in the morning and I ended up walking around campus like a zombie. It is IMPOSSIBLE to put down the damn book! Well, Edward is perfect. Perfect. Not a big fan of Bella though. No, not because she's like the luckiest girl alive. No.

Back to the book I'm reading in the comfort of my room today. It is a sporting autobiography of our vice captain Jamie Carragher. I am not a big fan of autobiographies and I don't like the idea of active players jumping on the bandwagon of coming out with autobiographies because as an active player, there are limitations as to the things or the extent of what you can voice out. As a result, you get a format for all the autobiographies out there, be it David Beckham: My Autobiography, Steven Gerrard: My Autobiography and etc. It's more or less about the story of how they make it from streets of the estate to playing the best football league today. Plus a couple of chapters on the best and worst time of their (ongoing)careers. And maybe a chapter on the family. 

But, Jamie Carragher's is so different, so full of character, just like the man himself on the pitch. There is no format, just a compilations of rants from a man who 'has grumpy old man syndrome 40 years too early', quoting his wife. Constructive rants that is, and completely honest, dealing with the issues concerning football, and not only Liverpool. When he is not afraid to openly disagree in the book with the current manager in certain aspects to get his message across, you know that man's got character. 

For the 100% commitment he shows in every single match, I respect him. When he turned his back on the screwed up England national team last year, giving up forever the chance(however slim it might be) of winning the World Cup or European Championships, I applauded him and desperately hope that our captain and the other English lads in the team will have enough guts like him, walking away from something that's not right. And when he was being slated on radio for his decision, and called degrading nicknames by one of the guests on the radio show, he called the studio and had a go at that clueless so called guest expert and totally shut him up; he is my hero. And 3 chapters into the book, that man is growing bigger in my eyes. I'm bursting with respect and pride.

If I keep going, this blog is going to turn into a tribute for Carra. I'm heading back under my blanket with the book. This is by far, the best sporting autobiography I have read in a while. A friend asked me yesterday that whether this book is my new Bible, and I told her no, don't be silly. I think I change my mind now. It is. And it should be for every football fan out there. And a must have for Liverpool supporters. But I'm guessing most of us probably know that already, and that is probably the reason that it is selling like hot cakes and I have to walk 4 bookstores before I finally get my hands on a copy! 

GREAT BOOKS ARE <3!

Mayyie

I love watching movie musical because it’s 2 of my favorite things combined.

I watched Across the Universe for the first time last Sunday and I totally love it! I won’t say I am a huge Beatles fan. I know Hey Jude and Let It Be from my dad’s music collection, Across the Universe from Rufus Wainwright and Yellow Submarine from a Liverpool song for our vice-captain, that’s about it. But, after watching this movie, I realized how great their music is. And I fall in love with it, 40++ years later. The simple lyrics tell great stories. This is probably what makes the movie great. They can take out all the lines in the movie, the songs will still be able to give enough impact to the story.

This is the perfect movie for me. Not only because of its epic-ness, but also because of its connection with Liverpool. Not only in The Beatles but also in Jim Sturgess’ character Jude. He might very well be my dream guy on screen! A Liverpool FC supporter, who speaks with beautiful Scouse accent, gets his newspaper from the Albert Dock, and sings. Not to mention how he totally brings out the character of Liverpudlians – quoting Jamie Carragher in his autobiography, which is a “mad mix of cynical and kind hearted, funny yet tough personalities.”

Anyhow, the weekend has been great! I decided to traveled up to KL since my housemates were all away and I refused to be in the house alone. The trip was kind of last minute and I didn’t have anything planned. But maybe that was the fun of it, because I turned out spending a weekend of music and football with my brother and some friends. On Friday, we went to a jazz show by Francessa Peter and 2 hours later my perception of jazz was forever changed. That set was great! She and her band did some very classic jazz songs which I always heard through my dad’s choice of radio station and some new hits such as Apologize, Love Song, and her very old song Lost Without You which was made a hit by Robin Thicke not long ago – all in a jazzy way. I love love love it!

The match viewing party on Saturday with Pei Ru and my brother was fun! The atmosphere was great even though the number of people weren’t. The victory is sweet, despite the fact that my favorite player knocked his own tooth off. It looks painful but I swear he was smiling when he passed his tooth the physio. Poor kid though, it was a metatarsal at last season, then sprinted fingers, and now tooth. And I bought a Fernando Torres piece from Ru! It is beautiful. How she captured his emotion in the drawing. It was supposed to be a birthday gift for my friend, but once I look at the drawing, a part of me knows that it wasn’t going anywhere except up my wall. 

 Mayyie xxx

The 1^st week of this new semester has been crazy, partly because we have only half the time but double the workload and also partly because we know the midterm will be 3 weeks away and finals another 4, so we tried to cramp all the fun like watching movies, going on food excursions, and doing random crazy stuff into this 1^st week to make up for the next 7 fun deprived week. I have no idea whether I am more exhausted from trying to get used to the new time table and new routine, or am I more exhausted from throwing myself head first into anything that sounds fun that comes my way.

quot;MsoNormal">In our Cyberpreneurship class, in her effort to ‘teach’ us about creativity, the lecturer talked about the fact that how kids tend to be more creative than the adults. How they can see things that we adults can no longer see. She was saying that the arts created by kids often surprise the adults and have them go, “wow, how did I manage to miss that!”, I immediately thought of this project created by Mary – a mother of 2 beautiful little girls. The project is called Kidmade and basically, it’s a place for the kids to showcase their creativity. Every month, Mary will set an artistic challenge and have the readers of the blog which are mainly parents, to submit the work of their kids.

That is a picture collage of the entries submitted for one of the challenge. By kids from 3 to 12.

And this one by the 4 year old Livie, impresses me the most. 

I can never come up with anything that creative. Not even close. And I don’t think creativity can be thought in class contrary to what my lecturer believes. It’s either you are creative or you are not. Because, well, god knows I have not a single business plan to contribute to my group and that I have been trying to come up with a poster for a competition regarding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for the past week and my efforts are to no avail. 3 weeks away from the deadline. I’ve lost all hope. 

Mayyie xxx

Pictures credit: Kidmade and to find out more about this amazing project, go to http://kidmade.typepad.com/kidmade

…that I saw The Click Five for the first time. But I guess this blog is more about what that experience means to me than me going on and on about how great their music and that particular gig at Hard Rock is because that pretty much goes without saying, and also believe me, I can go on forever.

It was their promo tour in KL. A few friends and I made plans to head up there but they can’t make it last minute. Being all hyped up about it already, I wasn’t about to let the plans fall apart and decided to go on my own. And I am so glad I did.

The long wait in line during the meet and greet session were spent talking with new friends met minutes ago but the fact that the band connects us makes the conversation feels like one between old friends. We bonded straight away and made plans to go to the gig at Hard Rock together the next day.

And that remains one of the most memorable days of my life so far. Even though we didn’t quite achieve what we set out to do since the morning itself, but the whole experience was enough to more than make up for what we missed. Taking the LRT and making a totally unplanned banner, getting shooed by the hotel manager, eating breads and drinking mineral water from the gas station across the road. And then the gig itself that night. It was almost magical. Even though we almost got crushed to death, and Kyle was enjoying himself too much to even bother to ask the crowd to stop pushing. But still, it was the size of the venue that make the show intimate.

And then it was the concert earlier in June. More bonding with new friends at the airport! I wouldn’t for a second imagine that I would be waiting at the airport for celebrity, but the fact that Shanie came all the way from Hong Kong to KL for the concert, we decided to make the most out of the whole experience. The wait was agonizing, but I think all of us can agree that the end results made every second of the wait worth it.

I seriously don’t remember much from the day of the concert itself, except too much excitement, too high and too little sleep. The concert itself is ____. Because until now I still can’t find a word that is adequate to describe it. Not even the stupid venue securities who constantly asked us to stick our butts to the chairs can take how great the whole concert is from me. And then there was the wandering around after the concert to hunt for food and ended up with eating nothing in the end, and lingering outside this certain disco, and then watching Euro 08 in the room. Oh, and the cable car ride that I thought I was going to die there and then. I hate cable cars. That was what kept me away from Genting Highlands. Until that concert.

Having that said, following this band hasn’t always been a sweet ride. There is that particular cable ride, and the MTV Asia Awards that I have no choice but to be home last minute instead of attending and for weeks I couldn’t remember ever feeling that disappointed, and some occasional what have you for worshiping a band. But when I put that album on, and think of all these experiences, I know it’s all worth it and I don’t regret a single moment of it.

Mayyie xxx

My friend forwarded me a text message earlier today and it pretty much says – to be careful when you are driving. If someone knock on your window with bleeding hands/face and ask for tissue, do not wind down the window because very often than not, they are trying to rob you. And it goes on to say that in KL, Seremban, Klang and Johor area had reported more than 40 similar cases.

I recall a few emails along the line – to not offer help when a lost kid approach you and ask you to bring him home, to not offer help when you see a car broke down by the roadside, even if the owner tries to flag you down, and to not offer help when you see someone injured – because it might all be part of someone’s plan to harm you. Be it robbery, rape, or so on.

When faced with the situations above, it is human nature that we feel compassionate, and the normal thing to do and most will do, is to offer some help, however little it may be. Recognizing this element, people start to take advantage, if not exploit it. Sooner or later, we learn to not take any action which stem from the feeling anymore. And then, we learn to suppress it to make us feel better. And finally, we stop feeling altogether.

I remember a few incidents when I was younger where my dad had help people in need on the road, especially if he sees a car broke down. As I grow older, I realized now that it’s not that we don’t see people in need on the road anymore. It’s just that my dad is trying to be on the safe side and frankly, chances like that are not worth taking.

The way that society is going today, and if life and experiences is the greatest teacher, then part of it is no doubt teaching us to not feel, and to not act. Remember The Invasion. Is that an ideal world? Where everyone does not feel, so no one will take advantage of another.

But since we don’t have the virus in us and people are taking advantage of another, so some, in the effort of protecting themselves tend to say “Can you blame me if I’m cold?” In a way, it makes sense. After all, one has no legal duty to help another and omission is not a crime. But, let’s face it, it is human nature. While some do bad things, there are some who do good, or at least want to do good. So do we let these crimes stop us from doing good and end up not feeling anything in the long run, or do we find another way to help others and nurture the virtue of doing good in us.

I have no idea what is the point of this blog anymore because after typing it out, it just seems nothing more than me thinking out loud. But I guess, the message is – please still feel, and act in this crazy world. Or maybe one day we might not need the virus in The Invasion to live in the world like theirs.

Mayyie xxx

Sitting in the taxi itself is such a change because for the past 2 days we have only been traveling as a group in the tour bus. Once we got into the taxi, the suffocation that I feel since the morning has disappeared, even though we were stuck in heavy traffic. Seriously, the traffic lights in Bangkok are insane. It’s like you have to wait forever for the light to turn green. The assistant tour guide told us if the traffic is not heavy, it will only take us 20 minutes to get to Khao San from the shopping complex. But instead it took us around 1 hour. Despite that, I feel great because for once no one is telling us what to do and where to go and and etc.

Got off the taxi, and this is what greeted us at the entrance of Khao San Road. 

Khao San Road is in many ways like Jonker Street in Melaka  – a street full of bars and restaurants and vendors selling food and souvenirs and etc on both sides of the streets. And from what I heard, things are really cheap there because it’s a backpackers’ hub. We met Mat and his girlfriend Ning at this restaurant called Khao San Center and when we got there, they were already drinking a jug of beer. And that jug of beer costs only 69 bhat, which is around RM6.90/2USD. I have no idea it’s THAT cheap. And according to Mat, that is already considered quite pricey.

After some short conversation about our trip and Bangkok in general and the upcoming US election (Mat is a UC Berklee student currently studying in University of Thammasat), we were told that we might not get the chance to try deep fried bugs because it is a Monday. Since the King is born on Monday so every Monday is his day and a lot of people choose not to work that day, and so, they weren’t a lot of vendors that night. No wonder the Khao San Road that night is rather quiet and it was nothing like what I heard.

Khao San on a Monday night.

Anyway, we decided to hit the street and hunt for some Thai street food because frankly, anything will be better than what we have had for the past 2 days. We came to this vendor selling spicy salad (sort of) called Som Tam. And boy, it is SPICY. 

After that, we walk to a road parallel to Khao San to have dinner at this stall. I read somewhere that in Bangkok, everything is about fun. Be it partying or working. To them, there is no point working if the work is no fun at all. There was some construction work going on in a shop opposite the one we were having dinner. The first thought that crossed my mind is that, “wow, they are still working this late at night.” And then we heard some shouting and cheering – much to our annoyance in the beginning because we would be talking and then interrupted by some sudden loud cheering. Turned out they were having a competition among 2 teams of workers to transfer buckets of “we have no idea what” from a truck into the shop. The shop was dimly lit so I can’t see the face of the workers but yes, they were having fun working late at night. So, this is the Bangkok I was reading about!

Anyway, the food(which names I can no longer remember) was marvelous...

 …and not to mention cheap. All those with a large bottle of Singha beer cost only 200 bhat.

After that, we make our way back to Khao San and by then, they are more vendors and there it was, the one selling deep fried bugs. It seems we are in luck! 

I got totally freaked out by the grasshopper and so when Ning told me that she dare not eat them as well, I am more than relieved because I wouldn’t have to worry about trying them. She bought a packet fried cricket and a packet of pre-caterpillar(pupa?). It was ok for me to eat the latter but not the crickets. I look at the eyes and legs and I feel like throwing up. So, when Mat and Ning put a spoonful of it into their mouth and started chewing and Chris did the same after them, I picked out 1 cricket and totally freaked out. After much of “just eat it, you’ll be fine” and “don’t think about it” from them, I finally pop it into my mouth. It tastes great actually! IF I don’t think about which body part of the cricket I am chewing. 

The 3 hours or so at Khao San, I experience Bangkok way more than I did in the past few days. I was finally able to experience the city the way I wanted to. The happiness in traveling to me is to be able to immerse myself in the local culture – speaking their language and seeing the surprise and appreciation in their eyes, eating like them, and be able to experience what I’ve read or saw from the TV and go – “this is how it feels”. These are true happiness, not clichéd happiness.

Before we left Khao San, Mat said, “this is not the real Bangkok yet!” And that alone, is enough reason for me to plan another trip back to the city! 

…However, the nature of a group tour organized by travel agency means that I doesn’t get to be that much of the latter. But for all the secondary school principals in the district to on a trip together, this is basically the only way to do it. And since Chris and I decided to tag along, so what the heck, we decided to make the most out of it and enjoy ourselves with our parents.

After we arrived at the airport, we hopped straight on to the bus provided by the local tour agency which came along with a local tour guide, who turned out to be very very shitty; and an assistant tour guide, which is a very very nice person. 

As we were traveling along the outskirts of Bangkok through the motorway to Pattaya, the first impression that this country gives me is that it is a very religious country and their respect to the royal and their patriotism is of the level that I never thought existed. Along the way I’ve lost count of how many flags I’ve seen displayed – from nicely built shoplots to stalls by the street, and to private residents. I’m sure if they can find a way attach all three flags to their vehicles, they would have been driving those around proudly. Before I stepped foot on Thailand, I have no idea how their King looked like, and now, his face in my head and I can easily recall it whenever I want. Because everywhere I turn, I see a picture of the King. From the airport terminal to the small shops in the narrow alley of Pratunam market. You can tell that they display it not because the law requires them to, or because that if they don’t do so, they will get into troubles with the authority, but simply because they love their King – a small shop in Pratunam market having 5 or 6 pictures of various sizes of the King from calendar, newspaper cuttings and some posters up the wall. And every direction I turn, I’ll see an altar of some sort. Amidst all the development that this country is going through, particularly Pattaya into a total tourism city and Bangkok into a modern city, they have not lost touch with their religion. Buddhism is practiced in literally every corner of the street. Monks collecting alms early in the morning in their orange robes and the happiness and shine in the eyes of the people who offer them food creates such a harmonious picture – they consider it a blessing to have been given a chance to offer the monks something, this particular mental picture which I took outside a shop near Pratunam market, is something that I will never forget. And where else in the world will you see a big altar in front of a commercial building or a shopping complex or inside a tattoo parlor? And people who pass by these altars outside the commercial buildings, no matter how fast they are walking, they will stop, and put their hands together and say some short prayers, and then continue walking, in their uniforms or working suits. That amazes me. I always know Thailand is a religious country, but those few days in Pattaya and Bangkok gave me a picture of how genuine it is and recognizing and then acknowledging this aspect in crazy traffic and hustle bustle of the city especially in Bangkok, and just to see how these 2 aspects which doesn’t seem parallel at all come together perfectly and coexist harmoniously, is enough to make me fall in love with Bangkok.

But my love literally came to a halt when I’m thrown right smack into the flow of being a tourist. One of the biggest cons about traveling in this kind of tour group is that the tour guide will bring us to all these supposedly cheap factories for us to shop and he will get commissions from all the purchases we made. Our 2 days in Pattaya, we have been brought to 2, a gem factory the first thing after we left the airport on the way to Pattaya and another shop which sells local junk food when we are heading out from Pattaya to Bangkok. What’s the point exactly? The stuffs are so expensive and most of the time nobody buys it anyway. But, it comes with the package, so yeah. But since there is nothing much to do in Pattaya besides being a tourist, so I’m ok with it as long as we were also brought to do all the touristy thing like watching the world famous Alcazar show and playing water sports in Coral Island. Chris and I did this apparently new sport called seawalker, and it is one of the most amazing things I’ve done. And since Chris will probably blog about it, I shall let him tell the story.

Things took a bad turn on our second day in Bangkok. That was going to be our only full day in Bangkok so I initially expect us to be covering a lot of the mist-go spots in Bangkok like Wat Pho, Wat Arun, the Royal Palace and etc. We left the hotel early in the morning, and did this river cruise along the Chao Phraya River which is a bit too commercialized for my liking. We made a stop at Wat Arun, and which under normal circumstances, the tour guide should bring us to the place and explain to the group about the history and architecture and etc of the Wat – our tour guide did not even do that. As if that is not bad enough, he said there is no point purchasing the tickets to climb the Pagoda and suggested that we only take pictures from afar. Chris and I decided to screw what he said and bought the tickets anyway. The view from the tower, is mesmerizing, even though I did not make it to the top because I’m afraid of height you see. Anyway, we were only given half an hour at Wat Arun before we had to meet up with the group to make our way to the Royal Palace. Our beloved tour guide, did not do any explanation just as usual. Wandering around on our own and trying to understand the place from the very little information that I read from the net and Lonely Planet, and looking at how the other tour guides are telling their respective groups interesting stories and all, pissed me up to the max. That was the moment I decided for sure that, our guide is useless, or which his assistant would love to call him – stupid. Believe me, he is no less than that, not only because of his omissions, but the things he do as well. Oh such luck.

We came out from the Royal Palace around 11am and we had to travel a full 45 minutes to the suburb to eat at a Halal restaurant. We have been doing this for full 3 days now and to find a Halal restaurant in Bangkok is not easy. But we have no choice since most of my dad’s colleagues are Malays and we have to respect their religion. I was trying to come to terms with the fact that we have been eating only Tom Yam, omelets, mixed vege, chicken/fish for every meal in different Halal restaurants, and the fact that because of this, I haven’t got a chance to try any genuine Thai food after being in Thailand for 3 days, but I gave up that afternoon itself. This frustration is something that only the Malaysian One Lovers will understand I’m afraid. Ok, fine, we have to respect your religion, but don’t you think it’s a bit too much that we sacrifice our time and travel this far just so you can eat and yet when you are served with the food, you are still afraid to eat them because you think they are not really Halal even though the restaurant is certified by the World Halal Council to be so? Then what’s the point of we wasting all our time where we can just eat in city center and continue with our journey instead on spending 2 freaking hours in the traffic for lunch – you are not going to eat either way. I am not saying that the Malays or Muslims in this context of Malaysia are bad people. And truth is, their religion itself is a great religion, but when the government starts to use religion as a tool to control the Malay population, when religion and politics are not separated, problems like this occurs. And I can’t say it’s all their fault, because ever since they day they were born, they always get their way in this country. But this is a story for another day.

The last straw came after lunch where we were not brought to any historical site, but to a honey factory, and then a leather factory. Comes with presentation and all in a conference room where those people from the factory try to con us into buying their stuff. And after the leather factory, we were brought to a shopping complex. That was when Chris and I decided to ditch the group and ditch another dinner at a Halal restaurant and more shopping at a more commercialized night market after.

We found a phone booth and I called Mathew – a fellow Couchsurfing member which we had planned to meet up later that night and told him we decided to head over to Khao San Road earlier than planned.

That 3 hours or so at Khao San makes me fall in love with the city all over again, and deeper than before. And so, that experience deserves another post. 

Mayyie xxx

I've been pretty stoked about our family trip to Thailand tomorrow since I found out about it a month ago, because my last proper vacation abroad was 6 years ago! So, I am going to make the most out of this trip bearing in mind that our next family vacation abroad might be another 6 years down the road.

Lonely Planet read and highlighted. Bags are packed. Shades and sun block checked. Vacation tunes compiled on my iPod. Good to go.

Then, I was watching Discovery Travel and Living yesterday evening and this program called 5 Takes was on. It's about these 5 young journalists who are discovering Asia the Asia way with limited resources. And one of the guy, Gabe, said something when they were in Taiwan, and I was inspired.

So, I'm going to eat some of those creepy crawly creatures on the trip.

Oh yes, I am totally freaked out. Now itself. It might be perfectly normal for us Malaysians to eat stingray, wild boar and all. But, deep fried insects are nowhere near the menu. Whereas in Thailand, they have vendors selling it on the streets like its corn in cup or kacang putih.

But, I shall eat it. As Gabe said, with a snake combo meal in front of him, and I quote, "this is their culture. If I can get out of my comfort zone, and try something that I'm not used to and it's not my culture, then I can have this amazing experience and learn something new."

I shall repeat that to myself when I'm about to pop a fried silk worm into my mouth.

Here's to hoping I don't chicken out.

Mayyie xxx

picture credit: travelpod.com

I was just talking to an old friend through the net, after forever.

And halfway through the conversation, we were trying to figure out when was the last time we met each other. I remembered what we did and where we met up but I can't really put a time line to it. He said around 5 years ago and I said no way. And in the end, it turned out it was indeed around 5 years ago, when I was 15 and he was 18. And we are so sure about the timeline because the phone numbers we have of each others in our phones were those we were using 5 years ago.

Yet, when we talked tonight, it was like things were still the same. We picked up right where we left off.

And lots of memories were brought back. Gosh, those were the days. Where I'll listen to him talk endlessly about the girl he liked and he'll do the same for me. And we'll try to give each other advice thinking we are oh so wise at that age. Trying to figure out the mysterious way things work. Our passion for football, albeit supporting different teams. Our passion for music, and how he drove to my place just to pass me The Calling cds to get me listen to them. 

I guess there are just some friends that you don't need to talk to all the time to keep the friendship alive. 

Thanks for the memories.

Mayyie xxx

I love watching Miami Ink and LA Ink, much to the disapproval of my parents because although they know that I'm going to get a tattoo somewhere down the road and as much as they are going to let me do it(because they know they can't stop me :P), to them still, like most of the Chinese parents, having a tattoo is very much frown upon.

The part which I love most about the show, apart from giving me a general idea of what to expect when I finally get mine, is listening to the stories behind each tattoo. 

In yesterday episode, there was a girl who got a sleeve in memory of her best friend who died from breast cancer. After she died, this girl did a necklace with a pink ribbon as the pendant. And she said, "I did this because people ask about it all the time, and then I will tell the story and say 'yes, you have to check yourself!'"

That is the point where I realized every little thing helps. There are a lot of things that are out of power, even though I wish to do to help. But, wearing a pink ribbon to simply raise awareness, is definitely something I can do.

So, a pink ribbon is going on my backpack. 

Mayyie xxx

My ex-housemate just told me this.

When my roomie and I were living in our old apartment, we decided to get a pair of hamsters when we were out one day. You see, I have never have any pets before and so when my ex-housemate who had has countless hamsters before this suggested that we get 2 hamsters, I was all for it. That was April 2007.

I remembered the day we brought them back to the apartment. Being confused over their gender caused we forgot to asked the shop assistant about it. Having a hard time coming up with names and finally settled for Little Mermaid and Luan MianMian(translation:squishy). 

A few months later, Luan Mian Mian were caught having the head of the dead Little Mermaid in his mouth. Don't really know how it happened but yeah, those were the unpleasant memories alongside the hard times of cleaning and bathing them.

Other than that, he was a good and cute hamster. 

You'll be missed, MianMian.

2 days, 2 days till my semester break. I can't freaking wait.

One of my plans for the holiday is to catch up with my reading. I swear those books I bought and left on the shelf without having the time to read them yet are staring at me sadly waiting to be picked up. But, with all the hyped about Twilight going on here and everyone going all "you should totally read it!" on me, I decided to go get the book 2 days ago. But, it was out of stock. And it'll take at least 3 weeks before the new stock arrives. There goes my holiday read.

So, instead of Twilight, I found this, outside the book store.

It is called Kolam. For the past 20 years, I've seen it so many times near Deepavali - "Festival of Lights" which is about to be celebrated by the Hindus in Malaysia next week. I associate the art with the festivals but it was only yesterday that I realized that I know nothing about it, not even its name.

A quick message to my Indian friend, and this is what I found out. Well, that drawing is called Kolam. It is a form of decoration but also a sign of thanskgiving because the pattern is made out of colored rice flour and it is offered as food to the insects and birds, so that they don't have to look so hard for food. A sign of harmonious co-existence. 

Learning about new culture like this(and fooddd!), is why I hang on to this country when the politics and government and everything else sucks. 

Oh, and here's a question relating my previous blog. Those who watched the movie already, does anyone know what Marketa said to Glen in Czech when he asked her whether she loves the husband still in the scene overlooking the ocean? 

Mayyie xxx

...is my favorite movie everrr. 

It's an Irish movie from a few years back I think but it only made it to our shore around May this year through an International Screening of a certain Cineplex. That means there is only one place to catch that movie in the entire country.

That is why when my brother Chris can't stop babbling about the movie after he watched it and even went to the extent of playing the songs from the movie to me through MSN Messenger and phone, I wasn't that keen on traveling all the way to KL to watch the movie.

But, in the end, I dragged my ass into the cinema with some cousins. And I fell in love with the movie. I love how the simple story line is told through a string of songs. A street musician meet a lonely Czech girl in Ireland who shares the same passion about music. There is this certain sincerity on how the guy and the girl carry their characters that makes people feel so genuinely touched with what they are feeling. No big budget, no special effect, just a camera following a guy with guitar and a girl with hoover around.

The amount of tears that I've shed watching and re-watching this movie and listening to the soundtrack is ridiculous!

If you haven't watch it, please do. Watch the clip below and see for yourself. Words don't do this movie justice seriously lol.

And I say Amen to the big shot producer and actor who pulled out in the middle of production. There is nothing better than to let Glen Hansard who wrote the soundtrack to the film take over the lead alongside Marketa. Beautifulllll!! 

Mayyie xxx

I met up with a friend from secondary school a few days back. We spent the 5 years in school running about doing things together. So, he knows me pretty well. He seems quite surprised at how much I've changed in the past 3 years.

It got me thinking. And yeah, I guess I would've been surprised at myself too. Considering.

I remembered how when I was in school, everyone was trying to get me to concentrate on my studies because I spent way too much time in co-curricular activities. With the Prefectorial Board, and all the clubs and societies.

I guess that's what happen when you are doing something you like. You lost track of time and forgot all about the other stuff. No matter how important the other stuff may be.

I think I can quite safely say that I'm not enjoying what I'm doing now 2 and a half years into it. I beginning to wonder that did I choose this because I was blinded by the faculty building of Melbourne U which I saw when I was 14, or was it because my choice would please my parents.

So, I can see why when I tell my friends what I want to do after I graduate, they will look at me with this big, round, "you are kidding me I cannot believe you are you nuts" eyes. I know I am right, in choosing that path. But having so many people telling you it's not, or even worse, have them look at you in a disappointed way can really be something. Especially the people that matter most.

I hope in 2 years time, I still have enough left in me to convince myself and everyone else who thinks that I am making the wrong decision that it is perfectly ok to not do anything with my degree while everyone else is either using it to find a course related job or doing their master degrees.

The fine line between doing what I want, and being irresponsible.

A good friend who has been traveling for 2 years once told me, in his heavy Spanish accented English, "I am trying to find what I like to do. I've tried a lot and I'm still trying. I've spent 2 years doing nothing but pretty much everything. And frankly, I don't care where I end up."

"And frankly, I don't care where I end up." When he said that, the living room of my house transformed.

I am learning to say that, I want to sound as cool and as powerful as him when I finally get to say it.

Mayyie xxx

So, I think it's time to acknowledge that.

Because,

1) There's only 2 ways to make me give up my Mars Bars, and one of them involves talking in British accent. Be it the Jude Law accent, the Gerrard Butler accent, the Jonathan Rhys Meyers accent. Even the Steven Gerrard's Scouse accent will do.

2) I think the Queen's Guard are one of the sexiest thing on earth ever. 

3) Caroline is going to see Scouting For Girls live and I hate her. Nahhh.

Ok, mostly it's because every British band or artist seems to be going everywhere in the world and totally bypasses Malaysia. So, I'm going to use the power of positive thinking to bring them here. 

Here's the list, so please help me out.

Elliot Minor - I have no life without these guys. I live on their webisodes. And Dan's blonde hair and charming smile.

Scouting For Girls - Their music is FUN. So much FUN. 

Glen Hansard/The Frames - He made me cried my eyes out in the cinema. Those songs are the most beautiful things I've ever heard in my life. Yes, including the hoover song.

McFly - Never heard of any of their songs until early this year. And after listening to The Ballad of Paul K on a trip where 2 of my friends are huge fans of theirs, their songs were pretty much the only thing that were playing on my iPod for the following one month or so. 

The Feeling - I feel like I'm on a beach whenever I listen to them.

So, I think I'm going to be telling myself "THEY WILL COME" everyday. Before bed and 1st thing in the morning. And maybe every hour of the day.

"they will come."

"they will come."

"they will come."

Mayyie xxx

*Had the title changed after some much needed sleep. It was too misleading I figured.

First of all, Happy Birthday The One Love! It feels like just yesterday that Ben was promoting this amazing project on Facebook a year ago.

Speaking of Ben, he was in my Law of Torts paper today. Question 1 reads - Ben suffered from schizophrenia and has a history of threatening persons in the past. It goes on and says that he stopped taking his medication and started threatening and assaulting his neighbour, Clive. Although Ben is a common name, the vivid description of the events(or was it the imagination of a Pisces?) of that Ben in that question reminded me very much of and this Ben - and I practically laughed during the entire course of going through the question. As Ruth puts it in the song, "Ben is a maniac." 

On a different note, I heard this particular song after an eternity which was practically like an anthem for us 10 years old kids 10 years ago in a friend's car recently. For my school at least. That is because this song which is simply called "Sitting Beside You", was the only pop love song that our music teacher allowed us to sing along to in class. The rest of the time, we were bored off our skull singing children folk songs! Yes, at we are 10 years of age! For some reason, the mentality of the Chinese society is that 10 year olds are not supposed to listen to "love songs". Oh well. The reason why we were allowed to do so is probably because of the pure sweetness or other wise silliness of the lyrics, which for some reason made every single sense to us back then. 

It is about how a boy falls in love with a girl and he is coming up with ways to win her love. And the chorus is loosely translated into -

"I will clean your room for you, work hard in the gym to be fit, so you'll feel safe with me. I will clean your room for you, buckle up my mahjong skill, so that I can have a game with your mum whenever she wants it. I will clean your room for you, help your dad quit smoking, buy your siblings breakfast, to make you feel that being with me is the coolest thing on earth and miss me every second of the day."

Yes, you know it makes sense to us back then when we have boy confessing to a girl by asking "Do you want me to clean your room?", and us girls would go "he's so sweet!" over it.

Here's the music video. Watching it after a good old 10 years sure does bring tears to my eyes. Those were the days. It reminds me of James Morrison's Once When I Was Young.

And apparently, this friend of mine - Siew Mee, whom we only met in the campus 2 years ago, was a huge fan of the duo(they've now gone their separate ways) back then as well. We can sing along to every song of theirs and it's great to know that we can still bond over music that we love ages ago and still love to certain extent today.

Music - it never cease to amaze.

Mayyie xxx

Melaka, the historical city of Malaysia, has not only its fair share of historical heritage, but a variety of food as well. All kind of delicious food at a really really cheap price. It is probably due to the amount of tourists, backpackers especially visiting this city, hence all the competition between business makers brings the price down. All we students studying here definitely got on the ride as well!

For dinner yesterday night, my friend and I decided to dodge the hustle bustle of the city on a Saturday night and head to the outskirts for some seafood dinner. 30 minutes of drive and the setting was changed totally. We were greeted by cows grazing without a care in the world and village kids waving at us from the vehicle in front.

Here's some pictures from the night.

The view.

the sauce in black over there, is marvelous. 

clams cooked in chilli.

veggie. 

grilled stingray with chilli sauce. 

crabs cooked in spices.

The table full of food which only came to about RM48, which is approx. 14 USD.

This is like the legend of Li Bai revisited.

"Constant grinding can turn an iron rod into a needle."

When we were young, this is one of the very first stories that our Mandarin teacher tell us in class, to teach us life lessons, to instill important values into our little heads. And as we grow older, it works 'wonder' indeed.

The story goes - When the Tang Dynasty famous poet Li Bai(Chinese equivalent of Shakespeare) was young, he was very lazy and hated school. So, one day he skipped school and while wondering about the village, he saw this old woman grinding an iron rod. Feeling curious, he asked the old woman what she was doing. The old woman said she is grinding the rod into a needle for her daughter. Upon hearing that Li Bai replied, "Are kidding me? Can't you see how big the iron rod is? There is no way it can be turned into a needle!" And to that the old woman replied, "Yes, constant grinding can do that. As long as I keep on grinding, it will become a needle."

Hence the famous proverb used among Chinese nowadays. Which carries the meaning of as long as you do something with perseverance, nothing is impossible. For example - "As the saying goes, 'constant grinding can turn an iron rod into a needle', he finally made it to the Olympics."

And apparently, after the incident, Li Bai turned a new leaf. He worked so hard in school and in writing until he went on and became the most famous Chinese poet. 

I think the children in school are being told the very same story today still. It might have changed a few kids, but I'm pretty sure the rest of them are just like us. We put the story in the back of my mind after hearing it, and one day when we were older, we discovered a very different version of the story. Something to the effect of the fortune cookies. Heheh.

Maybe the teachers should stop telling the stories altogether. Kids nowadays are not as ignorant as we used to be. It will crazy to see the teacher telling the story in front of the class in all seriousness, and to have a classroom full of 8 year-olds giggling among themselves. 

Mayyie xxx

Just heard that Elliot Minor will be releasing their latest single called Discover(Why The Love Hurts) soon, and the excitement I feel is almost as much as Liverpool beating Everton in the Derby on Saturday(refer to Chris' blog)!

So, Elliot Minor, not sure whether if you guys have heard of them, but they are a UK band from York which made up my bands obsession list. HIGH on top, alongside The Click Five.

Check them out - http://www.myspace.com/elliotminor. And apparently they will be touring with Anberlin in Europe.

I love the process of discovering new music. 

It's like unwrapping gifts. You don't know what's waiting for you. From stumbling upon the band until reacting to their music. It's one of the best thing in the world!

I don't listen much to radio because I can't stand some of those annoying radio announcers and how the stations nowadays tend to select 10 hits for the month and then ends up overplaying it. And over here in Malaysia, discovering a band you like at a small show you went to, is out of the question. Because bands only come over here if they have a solid fan base for them to build upon. So, that pretty much leaves me with the Internet.

So, one day on the net, I saw someone recommending a band called Elliot Minor. I first decided to give them a listen because I thought they were Kyle's old band - Hillside Manor. God knows how I managed to mix those 2 names up. But, I was hooked since the first time I listen to the song Parallel Worlds. 

A beautiful mistake and the best music gift I've ever had. 

I don't think they will ever come to Malaysia, at least not anytime soon. But as Caroline blogged about earlier, hopefully my wait will be all worth it like hers.

Mayyie xxx

It's great to be home.

Even though I'm studying in a state which is only one and half hour away from my hometown - which means I will be home at least once a month, still, nothing feels better to be in the room which I grew up in, to be in the familiar red colour walls, surrounded by the posters of my favourite bands and football players. And if I want to, pick up a record which I always listen to back in the secondary school days from the CD rack. It feels so good to know that I'm always one record away from feeling nostalgic, because I associate nostalgia with familiarity. And also from mum's food to helping her with the dishes afterwards. Everything feels so right. So at home.

But the highlight of being home today probably comes in the form of a piece of news dad brought back from work.

There I was, sitting on the floor, sorting out this pile of notes.

A family friend, who is a kickass lawyer now, passed her Bar exam with flying color. As the next in line to take the exam, I naturally inherited her notes. And half way through it, I started panicking and stressing over a sudden realization - that's her notes in ONE year of studies. So, if I want to pass the exam with results like hers, I need to be as hardworking as that PILE of notes. And I can NEVER be that PILE of notes. Not even close. Hell no.

And then dad announces that we are going to Thailand - precisely Bangkok and Pattaya - next month right after my exams. Just what I needed to throw the "I'm doomed" realization out the window!

Like I said, it's great to be home.

Have a nice weekend and till the next time!

Mayyie xxx

I remember this particular episode of House from Season 2, there was a professional cyclist who takes drug to boost his performance. When he was questioned by Cameron, he said something like, "They(the supporters) worship me. Worship means to love - unquestioningly, uncritically. They don't know me, but they love me."

I worship a few bands, a football(soccer) club, a few football players, two tennis players and a Formula 1 driver. I find it easy to love them unquestioningly, uncritically, regardless of the fact that I don't know them personally.

But things have been quite confusing lately. Learning and hearing about things that makes me think very hard about my mental state towards these things that I worship.

And then I realize, at the end of the day, what matters is what's important. I just need to focus hold on to those things that can't be altered by anyone, by any means. The REAL things.

MUSIC, making the world a better place, results and performances. That's it.

Mayyie xxx

Over lunch today, a friend got me thinking about "first impression". According to William Hazlitt, "first impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible professions or studied actions. A man's look is the work of years; and it is stamped on his countenance by events of his life, nay, more, by the hand of nature, and it is not to be got rid off easily." First impression stays.

The first time you saw your best friend 3 years ago first day of university, the first time you hear to a song, or saw a painting. And it is only human nature that as we are drawn to objects of our liking, we reject or stay away from the things that we don't like. So, at times, does first impression equals judging? Because how often does a person goes, "Hey, I don't like that person, I must get to know her more."

__________

Anyway, here's a bizarre conversation we had with the owner of the cafe.

Owner: So, what course are you guys doing?

Friends and I: Law.

O: Wow, it must be really hard for you guys to get a job upon graduation with the amount of law graduates nowadays. (Look at us, the 3 girls) Especially for you girls.

F & I: HUH?

O: Well, if I'm hiring a lawyer to represent me in court, I would only want a male one you know? Cause uhm, they are smarter, their brains are sharper.

We - rendered speechless.

O: Oh well, you girls can stay in the office and take care of the paper works I guess. You know, drafting the contracts and all.

_________

Yes, that is discrimination and it is shocking that there are still people with such mind set today. Hello lady, it is not 1930s anymore, in case you haven't notice.

Mayyie xxx

So, the Karaoke session cum birthday party was a blast. If the Karaoke sessions which I saw from shows like Bones(the episode with Ace Young in it) and the movie P.S. I Love You is what it is like in the States, then the Karaoke session over here in Malaysia is VERY different. Over here, a Karaoke place consists of a lot of rooms, and we will be given one room to ourselves with a TV inside and we sing/dance/drink/snack/etc in that room. So, it's only us and the room. We don't sing on the stage. And the nature of it means that we won't embarrass ourselves and we can do all sort of idiotic things and sing off keys without having to worry about a single thing. And trust me, the stuff we did and the stunt we pulled. I actually took a video but the girls swore that they'll kill me(sort of) if I share it here.

And here, a decent picture from the night which doesn't bring our idiotic selves out. Happy Birthday PinkPink(far left)! And yes, that's her English name(translated from Chinese), cute isn't? Happy 20th Birthday girl! This girl is bubbly, crazy, kind hearted and pretty damn amazing. Haven't known her for long but we've gotten quite close and for that I'm really glad! 

Anyway, usually the more amount of studying I do means the more amount of youtube-ing I'll be doing. There is a mathematical term for this, but I forgot what it is called, so yeah. Quite a lot of studying was done today(no choice, final exams are in 2 weeks) and saw this amazing video on youtube. I've been listening to Celtic Thunder a lot since a friend recommended it. And here's a performance done by two of the guys from the group. The exchange between them is simply amazing.

Enjoy.

Mayyie xxx

Upon hearing that I'm blogging here and chose to support International Justice Mission in my restless(!) effort to promote TOL among my friends, the response I get is along the line of, "ahh of course, you are doing law." But, it was never my calling for fighting for justice that prompted me take this course which requires A LOT of reading and ZERO calculation. It is the requirements itself because I totally suck when it comes to anything numbers and Science related.

However, reading the text books and cases with the occasional "what is the freaking point?!" outbursts of yelling, swearing, throwing books, highlight pens etc etc you get the picture, I do get expose more to what is justice and injustice. To put simply, it is just what is fair and what is not.

It is amazing that how something as simple and which everyone is capable to determine doesn't change the fact that how many people are suffering from injustice every day. Injustice doesn't necessary needs to come in forms of slavery, sex trafficking and so on. Look a little closer around us, it comes in many forms.

Let's say,

1. A person reports about a robbery. And ridiculously, the police arrested the person who made the report instead of the robber. Yes, it did happen in Malaysia not too long ago. Well, figuratively speaking at least. Political drama you see.

2. You are buried with the tasks on your hand as it is, you boss stick his head into your cubicle and ask(not even nicely) you to pick up his kids from school.

3. You studied so hard for an exam and you thought you did well only to find out that you failed the paper because the lecturer bears a grudge against you.

Therefore, injustice are those little things as well. When the power use their power against the powerless, it creates injustice.

I support IJM because all of us are victims of injustice treatments from time to time. So, those people who suffer from injustice constantly which IJM are helping, deserves something.

On a totally different note, I am going out later tonight to celebrate a friend's birthday. I am not too sure about the plans but there is a Karaoke session involved, and I want some action! Now, I am excited! x) Although I look forward to making some new friends, but there is also the usual worries of what if we don't click and the awkwardness that follows.

Till the next time, keep rocking people!

Mayyie xxx

I've been sitting in front of my computer trying to come up with a decent 1st post. I think my 'backspace' key hates me now. So, in order to save him from the torturing, I'm just going to go with whatever that's on my mind.

*I might babble because I'm excited beyond words!!*

I got home from campus and read Cassie's email and practically went, "OMFG!"

So, here I am. Heart still racing. Mind spacing out.

I remember when I first heard about The One Love from Ben and thinking how great the project is, and have been a reader ever since. And now, I can't believe I am part of this, albeit a "trial blogger". 

There are just so many great writers here which I've learnt so much from their blogs. Theirs are my aspirations and I promise I will try my best to do my part for TOL.

So, I guess a little introduction is required. My name is May and I'm from Malaysia. I'm a struggling, yes, struggling law student. I've always wanted to do law since young but 2 years into it, I have my post-graduate life planned out and it has nothing to do with law. So, I guess that's why I'm struggling. But if how things have been going lately is any indicator, my plans don't always work out anyway.

And now, if you'll allow me to go lie on my bed and let this whole thing sink in. 

Oh, THANK YOU SO MUCH Cassie and Jade!