Kukuanga's blog on books, outdated movies and music

priority resetting

2012-02-15T16:03:00.000-08:00

I've no time to read book these past few weeks. Been reading articles and some serious books for one of my biggest interview (last week), which i flunked spectacularly. anyway, in retrospective, i enjoyed the experience. it was enriching.

but, back then, when i came back from the interview, my heart was so bitter. i wanted the post so bad and i've tried very hard for that proposal. i've asked God what to write and i believe He put that issue in my heart. so, i am pretty sure, i am heading in the right direction. why should i feel devastated and bitter?

if the calling is from Him, He'll show the way in His own pace. but, i have to play my part, i have to put double effort in writing a better and more convincing proposal. and to do so, i need to read more enriching articles, more serious books for better understanding of the whole concept. jokingly, i told my colleagues that we have a year to prepare for the next round of interview. while reading New Economic Model (NEM), i stumbled upon a confusing data and i googled it up to check, and the googling led me to an article in Forbes Magazine of Jeremy Lin.

Jeremy Lin led me to Jaeson Ma, and the whole lot of Christian movement in Asia. it's good to know that you're not praying alone and it's not a futile effort. sometimes, its a very hard decision when you woke at 3 or 4 am and have this insistent tugging in your heart to pray for something/someone and your warm bed, physically calling you to just continue slumbering. (i usually just curled up in my comforter muttering anything i had in mind and drifted off, sleeping).

when i read of how Jeremy Lin spend an hour each day for devotion, despite his super busy schedule, i was more than inspired. i just need to cut some time off my other activities. and surely, i am not that busy to afford an hour of quiet time each day. i need to reset my priority.

2012-02-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

Superjunior, Jeremy Lin, Idris Jala. where's the similarities? they're:

superstar
very good at what they do
hugely successful
humble
inspiration for others to do the best

(and you may also point to their Asian root). you can be from a minority ethnic and still can come out huge. Ben Okri in his Starbook wrote something with this effect "its not you, its the power behind you that people see". Superjunior, Lin and Jala have that amazing power behind them, and they openly say so.

its a mistake not to follow their example. let's live our life according to His calling and will, and lets do it whole-heartedly.

Broken, Wings of Love

2012-02-06T17:33:00.000-08:00

yes. wings of love, the airline provider that supposed to connect Sabah and Sarawak to the world. if you're a longtime (frequent) user of the said airline, you'll get what i'm saying. unreliable schedule, nasty ground staff, and before you say that happens to any airlines too. well, not as frequent as it happened by Wings. (and if the airlines you tried to point is AirAsia, ngam sama harga lah bah..)

i travel frequently by wings and mostly get annoyed by sudden change of schedule. and they NEVER informed any of the changes via phone or e-mail. usually, they let you stranded at the airport for hours, waiting for flight. i never lodge a formal complaint of the matter. but, i will do this time.

i planned a family trip to Mulu National Park since June last year. i bought tickets and reserved our accommodation for 11 persons (yes, i have a large family) for a 3 days, 2 nights stay. most of us are working, so we asked for one day leave (friday), as our flights to Mulu was on friday. me and my sister (from KL) flew from Kuching at 1050am. nine of them from Kota Kinabalu were schedule to fly at 1235. just in time to arrive and go for Lang and Deer Cave exploration.

Wings canceled the flight after checking in my family (at the counter) and after an announcement of flight delay, reschedule to 1430. flight was canceled with not so much of apology to my family. after my sister insisted to see the person in charge, they were given a hotel stay in Tanjung Aru with dinner, breakfast and transports to airport (as if that's important, as half of them live in KK).

We had a good, limited time in Mulu. Wings ruined our family trip and we'll make sure not to plan any family trip with this airline anymore. unreliable is the key word here. (ya, just ask anyone who ever tried their service to Bario, Ba Kelalan or Marudi especially in December--see if there's a fond memories of their service, i'd like to know). maybe, before Wings eagerly spread the Wings to our neighboring countries, there should be a huge mending or makeover of broken Wings in the country. supaya tidak jadi, kera di hutan berabis disusukan, anak di rumah mati kelaparan.

Book: Leaving The World by Douglas Kennedy

2012-01-26T23:39:00.000-08:00

Do we have the privilege to escape this world for another at will? (i don't really know--i was raised in a Christian family who taught me early on that suicide is a sin--i cant make a good argument over this matter, or rather, should i say, i never have the need to think over this matter, seriously). But, then, i have a super supportive family, cool close friends, not-so-bitchy-colleagues, good boss, good job, good life. why should i think of dark thing like, suicide?

when i read "Leaving the World", i was reminded never to cast judgment or assumption to others. we never knew, what they're going through. i don't really get some of the storyline, especially their banters on literature, movies and music. now, i see the irony of my blog's headline. i know nothing of these topics.

synopsis

Jane was a professor of English literature. a daughter of an overcritical mother and a con-man father. her parents were separated since she was a kid. Jane's mom blamed her for the separation

Jane graduated from Harvard university (on scholarship) where she was involved with her doctoral adviser, a married man. she was happy for a while, until her man died of a road accident (suspected suicide). upon graduation, she joined a hedge fund company and began making a lot of money. she's okey for a while, until she was suspected of affiliating herself to her father's escape from FBI. she was sacked from her job.

then she went to New England to teach. she met Theo, a cinema freak and very smart too. Jane got pregnant and they were happy for a while. until a movie producer, Adrianne enter in their lives. Jane invested her money at Theo's insistent to movie production. she lost the money and her man. in the chaos, her daughter was hit by a cab and died.

she tried suicide by jamming her car to a snowboard. she survived. she went away to Canada. start anew and curbed her depression by working in a library, trying to stay as low profile as possible. she saved a girl from a highly media covered abduction case. Then, ran away from the media attention to Europe. after a while, she force herself for another academic post.

yes. its a lengthy read. but, one, i enjoyed very much (in a very melancholic way). if i could write a book/story, i'd like to be able to write something like this.

you should get this..

2012-01-24T16:08:00.000-08:00

For info on this iOS game, proceed to this site.
First Lady? indeed. Astaga..tinguk tu idung... muahahahha..

dreamylike

2012-01-18T17:41:00.000-08:00

en route KK-Lawas. early dawn. the view was sobbingly spectacular.

who doesnt need microwave oven?

2012-01-17T16:01:00.000-08:00

i hope, i'm not making this a habit: posting of needy things.

my microwave, a 3 yr-old Elba conked out last december (but, i was too busy holidaying to notice the difference to live without). it just refused to heat up my food! if you're one of those people who prefer large, hot breakfast, you would understand the agony i'm going through to live life without a microwave oven. i am (so very) not a morning person. so, cooking early in the morning is not an option. and besides, i'd like to bake supereasy, super fast delicious choc cake like eerr... picture #2 in this post

i am getting one this week. i need suggestion of brand i should invest in.

Dead Heat by Dick Francis

2012-01-16T16:12:00.000-08:00

ooo.. his son, Felix co-wrote this book. I've been a fan of Francis after i bought 7 used books on ebay Malaysia at a bargain, sometime ago. i have been collecting his books and have 10 of his fictions. this might take me quite long, as, Francis was a very productive writer. see here for his book list. he was very passionate about horses and incorporated it in his writing. all of his stories involved horses, but, none is identical, and that takes some talent to do.

synopsis
Celebrity chef, Max Moreton was in hot water when guests got severe food poisoning from meals he prepared at a private party. his reputation and business were at stake. scrambling to make good impression after previous evening's massive disaster, he prepared the best for exclusive luncheon at the Two Thousands Guineas only to get the place blasted by bomb.

his luck worsen, his restaurant was shuttered by the department of health and he got sued by a guest from the private party with food poisoning incident. trying to protect himself, he probed into the food poisoning matter. but, the more he knew, the more deadly threat he got.

you have to read the book to know how all of these connect to horses.

2012-01-15T20:59:00.000-08:00

I got a letter last friday, which hopefully will help me to realize my wish #4 on this wish list.
i struggled to make a decent reply and failed miserably. i've just mailed the reply with heavy heart. i know i can make a more convincing proposal than that, given more time to do referencing. ahhhh.. iyalah tu.

looking forward this week:

Tonight, TV3, the 2nd episode of Red Cliff 10.00pm
17/01- Kiris
weekend - hunting for sofa
resume reading Douglas Kennedy

weekend was dreadful. i was trying too hard to concentrate on my reading and assembling of ideas, that i failed to read and write well. lesson learned: try to prioritize and forget to panic. try listening to music.

somehow, listening to Lifehouse's Make Me Over makes everything more bearable.

Leaving The World

2012-01-12T15:52:00.000-08:00

Leaving the World by Douglas Kennedy

i started reading this after finishing Dead Heat by Francis and i stayed-up all night, hoping to gobble it in one sitting. i'm somewhere in the middle and i'm planning to make myself scarce at the office this morning. the book spirited me away. Darn! Douglas Kennedy.

by the time i finished reading this book, i'm sure to be in super-melancholic mood and that's not a bad idea. i need a good cry. Jed Edward Lim and Madam Faziah's mother died yesterday. rationally, i know, death is a part of anyone's life, and should be accepted as such. but, that doesnt make it any easier to let them go, leaving the world.

who doesnt need sofa?

2012-01-10T15:58:00.000-08:00

I need sofa for my living room, because i'm trying to make myself a proper couch potato. Now that i have TV with 2 channels (TV2 and TV3 and yeah... blurry NTV7). wish me luck to find one within the budget and ease in my heart.

Book: Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

2012-01-09T16:28:00.000-08:00

with gusto i started reading The Great Gatsby last night (because Watanabe of Norwegian wood read it again and again). a bit sad to confess, i only managed to get to page 7 (downright boring). i've been reading Murakami and Okri (the starbook) this week, maybe my mood is with the dreamy prose and get shocked with Fitzgerald's not-so-dreamy one.

Preparation to read Norwegian Wood: listen to The Beatles's Norwegian Wood. that should cover the main theme of this book.

This is a very, very sad love story. i remember reading Salina (A.Samad Said) with the same desperate longing and understanding. the willingness and blind loyalty to the person we love. commitment to love not matter what, or how. love is not something we can just shake off, discard, abandon at will. true love will stick no matter how hard we tried to scrub it off.

Synopsis:
Toru fell for his bestie's girlfriend. the bestie died (suicide). Toru went to uni in Tokyo. he befriended a very charismatic senior named Nagasawa. from him he learn to get one night stand girls. Toru accidentally met Naoko at the train station and started seeing her. they slept together on Naoko's 20th birthday (where Toru found out she never slept with Kazumi-she's a virgin). she went missing afterward. Toru met Midori, from one of his class. Midori loves Toru, and maybe Toru loves her too, if only he can let go of Naoko. he found out Naoko was in a rehab for her emotional instability. he visited Naoko and her roommate, Reiko in autumn and correspond by letters. Naoko died.

the story was narrated by mature Toru, some 20 years after.

one of the best thing i found reading a Murakami's is his ability to highlight even the slightest character in his book (and to do it so subtly), to support the mood he tried to present. example that i can think of here is the stray cat that came to Toru's shed. the cat's presence is not important, but, its important to build the main character's mood and loneliness. Murakami's a genius in connecting fine thing like that.

2012 wishlist

2012-01-08T16:11:00.000-08:00

i made the first list on 12/12/2011 and second list on 16/12/2011, this published version was written on 29/12/2011. basically, all the lists are almost the same, save for a few specific resolutions.

1. to lose weight and maintain it at my ideal of 50-52 kg.
2. drive a car (i've put this on hold for years..)
3. go holiday with my parents (Mulu and Indo)
4. register for a postgrad prog
5. monthly hiking trip
6. read 100 books
7. buy a house
8. start on my lifetime dream
9. learn to make my own garment
10. buy myself a cosy sofa and bed
11. take picture(s), daily
12. write letter/ card to close friends and family (i used to do this)

hohoho....

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-05T19:47:00.000-08:00

The hard part of having too long holidays is the fact that we have to get back to our job and resume working on pending assignments. i enjoyed the half month year end holiday i had in KK and Ranau. and i'm happy being back to Kuching, but, a bit overwhelmed by the paperwork due.

Our Christmas celebration went well. despite the non-stop rain from Christmas to New Year. we had a barbecue dinner for New Year celebration. no open house, we only invited close relatives. i cooked laksa Sarawak on Boxing day and mistakenly bought parsley instead of coriander, so, the laksa tasted a bit weird. but, its hot food, and on a chilly morning, anything hot is considered hot.

and thanks to a persistent sister who bought a 7 ft tall artificial pine for Christmas decoration. she started the tradition of setting up a Christmas tree for Christmas in our family (she asked my opinion before purchasing one and all my dumb mind said was, whats the point?) i am glad she paid no heed to my chatter, because it is a lovely tree. on my own, i will never be able to convince myself to buy an artificial pine, even for a fine reason.

over the holiday too, i met people who made me realize that old flame can be rekindled by mere acceptance, love lasts when nothing is expected from the other part. for now, my opinion of the worst and most selfish game in love is the need to be loved back, expecting to be given as much as one gave. being able to love is a blessing enough and it should suffice. ya, i knew, this sound pathetic, but, i honestly believe thus. and that makes me even more pathetic.

i am going to post my 2012 wish lists next week. and i need to poll opinions on my next travel:
a) KL-Yangon-Vientiane-Hanoi-Danang-KL
b)Kuching-Pontianak-Banjarmasin-Balikpapan-Samarinda-Tarakan-Tawau
c)KL-Jakarta-Bandung-Yogyakarta-Surabaya-Bali-KL
experience of traveling with no proper itinerary and plan proved to be thrilling and addictive. and most importantly, it makes me high (heart beats faster, light head, anxious). help me to set my direction.

2011 bestest

2011-12-19T16:41:00.000-08:00

Vacation: Australia

Lodging: Jasmine Lodge, Siem Reap

Book: The Diaries of Jane Somers
Author: Doris Lessing

smiling with your eyes

2011-12-18T17:37:00.000-08:00

we roamed the city last saturday howling "Merry Christmas" and singing our heart out at this parade. it was fun, especially because it didnt rain and the road was completely closed for vehicles. thousands spectators joined along the way and it was a very lively occasion. thank you dy, for inviting me out.

and i learn to say "Merry Christmas" and really meant it to strangers. Longing for them to know the real reason for Christmas. may the Peace of Christ, touch our lives this festive season. have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year 2012.

i'm heading home. muli'd walai.

p/s; For Jane: Tis for you

Pontianak 3

2011-12-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

this would be the last installment for my Pontianak series. not that i'm out of story to tell. the short rendezvous, certainly gave more than what i bargain for. and on top of the list is the desire to face my fear, trying to live life to the fullest (if there's any such thing) where great stories usually sprawling beneath.

my bus to Kuching departed at 9.00 pm. i booked a taxi through hotel receptionist (obviously, that's the only way to book a taxi in town---taxis are rare). i leave the hotel at about 8.15 pm and arrived at Eva bus terminal a few minutes later. we only departed after 9.30 pm. some delay for the economy bus and affected us too. (i took the 'super' bus (seating 18 persons instead of the 'economy' one, seating 40?, and i bought a return tix in Kuching). i'll provide link for Eva's website and their tix pricing later.

13 passangers + 2 drivers (alternately change every 2 hours, elderly, polite gentlemen, chinese, speak indonesian fluently). of the 13 passengers, 6 are seeking medical treatment in Kuching. a young couple with a baby and a girl toddler were going to Kuching for that little girl monthly medical check-up. she have problem with her digestion tracts. i cant imagine going for the ardous journey once a month (i'm not saying anything about the cost!)

i, once was a sickly kid too. when i was 6, my dad was posted in a remote area in Ranau (he's a primary school headmaster). no road to his school, we had to leave our pick-up (Datsun!) at the neighbouring village and walked for miles to reach our quarters. most of times, i piggybacked on my dad (remember, i have a younger sister -- by 2 years, and she had to walk!).

so, i get it, i really do understand that young dad when he softly said to his young daughter "papa, ngak apa-apa kok, vera, tidur, istirehat yang tenang, esok kita ke rumah sakit". he adjusted the seat and pillow, blanket etc, attending lovingly to his sickly child. and he sat on the bus floor, holding that girl all the way. i have a dad like that. a man who put his family first above all else. i made a decision there and then, to buy him a trip he always wanted. while, i have the chance to do so.

it's a full moon night, and everything glow softly under luna's soft beam. i will always remember Pontianak as my first solitary romantic gateway. its certainly, not the most beautiful place to visit, with nothing especially special. but, it'll haunt me for life, for the simple truth that, i found a piece of me in that place. a dim enlightment.

Pontianak 2

2011-12-14T18:10:00.000-08:00

"60 lah kak, batu layang itu jauh" plead the boy
i agreed. he went for 'helm'. after waiting for about 15 mins, while watching the 'bapa ayam' expertly 'tucked in' and retrieve motorbikes at their parking area (they're paid by the motorbike's owner-about 1000 Rp/bike)

the good looking boy came "ayolah kak, disana kelihatan mau hujan". then, we went. being 'chickenest' at riding motorbike, i hold to that bony boy. everything's fine, until we cross the traffic light at the main road heading for Kapuas Bridge. A policeman flagged us down. ooooooo... i panickly thought of my passport. ngak ada spion, motornya.. adeh.. (sum of fine= 250,000 Rp)

amazingly, the boy looked calm (macam biasa jumpa polis saja ni). he promised to be back to pay the fine before 6.00 pm. (but, the police said, the fine should be paid at the kantor pengadilan?--bribe?) i didnt ask.

we crossed the kapuas bridge 1 and another bridge (over Landak River?). tightly jammed. (like crushing to lorries/ trucks on both side of the road) its amazing i didnt faint. on the roadside, the large drain (more likely a water canal-- but garbage esp, plastic bags float on it), people are taking bath (like they're in their private bathroom) in the canal. not bathing naked, of course, but, they're there for everybody on the road to see.

its drizzling again. the boy stopped near a stall selling gas (ya, they sell gas by jug, macam jual air tebu) "kak, mau hujan ni.. balik ke hotel aja ya?". i agreed. and thats the end of my failed journey to tugu khatulistiwa. i paid the boy 100,000 Rp. (he got some bribing to do, aint he?)

bersambung... the bus ride home

Pontianak

2011-12-12T20:26:00.000-08:00

10/12
i was there for my birthday. took the 11 am bus from Kuching to arrive at almost 9 pm in Ponti, Kalbar. its a pleasant journey. took a trishaw from the bus terminal to Hotel Gajahmada. he asked for Rp 30,000 (and i gave, i knew the rate is Rp 15,000- too tired to argue). went out for makan, ended up a few blocks away from hotel and settled for KFC. i ordered bergedel and Oriental Bento (nah... yang teda di Kuching ni). and went shopping for food at Mitra Ligo (adjacent) to my hotel. and oooooo.... fresh fruits banyak ni di Jalan Gajah Mada.

local time differ 1 hour from Kuching's time. and i'll quote Ponti's time throughout. 9.00 pm back in hotel. felt a bit dizzy and tired but i couldn't sleep. live performance at hotel's cosy cafe. friendly bunch of amateur performers. i had long island iced tea and mojito (disappointing!) no Pina Colada in their menu...adei..(the drinks helped me sleep and thanks for the late night sms. i. love.) cheer me up.

11/12
huge buffet breakfast. went to morning service (GPdI). i was early, and have a good chat with the bapa gembala. service started at 9.00 am and finished at about 11.30 am. (bapa gembala introduced me to the congregation--i feel like a superstar-- astaga bikin malu!). i walkaway before the closing prayer. walked aimlessly. after 30 mins, asked a youngster at the roadside for nearest mall. she points me to Matahari mall. (they have 3 major malls here, largest = Ayuni, 2nd Ramayana and Matahari is the 3rd). bought myself a T-shirt. tried to avoid lunch by eating sundae at Texas Chicken. went shopping at Carrefour, seperti biasa, yang dicari bumbu tradisional and i bought pangi here.. astaga.

heavy laden and not sure of way to my hotel. i asked the first smiling guy on motorbike for a ride (and i dont usually ride a motorbike, mind you). for 15,000 Rp (he asked for 10,000 Rp) i was saved. i ate one of the three avocados i bought last night. i was hungry, but determined to eat a posh dinner at the first posh looking resto in town. so, i soaked myself in hot bath, reading Doris Lessing and wait for evening. i went to opposite direction from the previous night. saw a huge banner of Bumbu Desa Resto (bukan yang ada di IKEA ka ni?) i tried checking up, but, it was full with people (majlis doa urapan untuk para missionaris). hotel is out of question. ada majlis pernikahan, so, its really crowded. i ended up eating at a halal outlet with no alcoholic beverages.

after dinner, i walked some more. bought dodol at gerai makanan khusus pontianak and it started to drizzle. i hurry back to hotel. had my tea at the lobby with a guy from Singkawang.

12/12
the plan is to visit The Equator monument and Istana. but, it rained heavily all morning. so, i read. Diaries of Jane Somers.

its almost lunchtime i went out, walked a few blocks from my hotel and saw their souvenir stalls street. went out to look for tortoise/turtle figurine (i collect those). no fridge magnet. i got a very karatan one for 2,000 Rp (less than RM1). the seller cant believe i wanted it!. walked some more, (i have no idea where i was) its a street like India street in Kuching. then, i got hungry, and looked for a decent place to eat. decided to go eat at the Texas Chicken (after sporting 2 kedai makan with 'Texas' on it names--they love cowboy that much?). drizzle again. asked for a motoride.. no luck. i walked to Matahari mall. rain again.

its almost 3.30 pm, the sky's still cloudy. i went out of matahari. try my luck on motoride. the sweet boy agree to give me a ride for 50,000 Rp to Equator monument and to Hotel. his 'bapa ayam' hiked it up to 60, 000 Rp. what can i do? he's a sweet boy. i wanted him!

bersambung..

fixing the temple of God

2011-12-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

because this girlfriend and this girlfriend proved shedding fats is not impossible and because from my recent walkabout i knew i'm not in my fittest form (bah..). i decided to join the girls to play badminton. and now, my sayap macam mau tercabut..

i rarely admit that, yes, i'm overweight, by 10 kg. maybe its time to acknowledge the actual weight and work hard to get rid of those extra kilos. i do my medical check-up annually, and my latest check up showed i'm healthy. but, somehow, with the extra baggage of fats, i don't feel very healthy. i've always been on a chubby side with few extra kilos from my ideal weight. but, now is the baddest (it hits 2 digits!). so, ya.. time to move my lazy bums.

December is not exactly the best time to start a campaign on losing weight. with the Christmas celebration and numerous wedding invitations (think of the food!), its an uphill battle. but, as orang Sabah says 'dari kau saja baitu'. i'm braving to declare on war to lose my stubborn 10 kg, and i'm giving myself a semester to a fitter, lighter me. (next year's travel will definitely includes hiking and visiting more temples. Borobudur in mind)

for friends and family who read this. i'm in dire need of support and help. This, temple of God needs fixing badly.

2011 book read

2011-12-04T21:38:00.000-08:00

i finished reading my #54 book on 28th, Nov in Siem Reap to reach my reading target for this year. and i still have 25 days to read before the end of 2011. i am aiming for 60 books. and, here's my 54:

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson
Land Below The Wind by Agnes Newton Keith
Survival is Not Enough, Shift Happens by Seth Godin
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
'Tis by Frank McCourt
Sky Burial by Xinran
Last Night I Dreamed of Peace by Dang Tuay Tram
The Street Philosopher by Matthew Plampin
The Shadow of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijk oleh HAMKA
Lark Rise by Flora Thompson
Teacher Man by Frank McCourt
New Life by Orhan Pamuk
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III
Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Stories We Could Tell by Tony Parsons
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Come to Grief by Dick Francis
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
True Evil by Greg Iles
Turning Angel by Greg Iles
The Teahouse on Mulberry Street by Sharon Owen
Velocity by Dean Koontz
Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell
Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell
All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell
Phantoms by Dean Koontz
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
The Killing Game by Iris Johansen
Whitehorn Woods by Maeve Binchy
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Blood Memory by Greg Iles
Kafka on The Shore by Haruki Murakami
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Shadowland by Peter Straub
Island Beneath The Sea by Isabel Allende
No One To Trust by Iris Johansen
Teacher!, Teacher! by Jack Sheffield
Against Medical Advice by James Patterson & Hal Friedman
For All The Tea in China by Sarah Rose
Dead Sleep by Greg Iles
The Natural History of Uncas Metcalfe by Betsey Osborne
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
City of Thieves by David Benioff
Earthly Joy by Phillippa Gregory
Correcting The Landscape by Marjorie Kowalski Cole
The Lady and The Poet by Maeve Haran
The Midnight Club by James Patterson
Hornet Flight by Ken Follett
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

5 books i would recommend others to read:

The Shadow of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Kafka on The Shore by Haruki Murakami
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

i dont know how i missed to include:
55. The Edible Woman by Margaret Artwood
56. True North by Kimberly Kafka

57. the Diaries of Jane Somers by Doris Lessing
58. To Room Nineteen by Doris Lessing

Learn You Inside Out

2011-12-01T19:31:00.000-08:00

After a brief holiday, i come back to office with mixed feeling. A friend asked what i concluded out of my recent walkabout, and honestly, i don't have any. without a doubt, the walkabout was one of my major achievement this year. but, i am still too dazed and stunned to talk of what i have witnessed along the holiday. its a very humbling experience, of how limited our capabilities and understanding are. and how lucky i am to be who i am, where i am.

Cambodia is a very beautiful and romantic place to visit (think of old temples, vast lakes, paddy fields as far as the eyes can see). it is also safe for woman, solo traveler.

Lifehouse's Learn You Inside Out rings true for what i feel for Cambodia.

See my feet on the ground, But it feels like the worlds gravity drowned, When I'm with you I'm high

Instead of hiding my face, My minds in your eyes, Can your love embrace, Me as I am

In the silence you stare at the world, Your eyes are screaming to be heard, I want to learn you inside out

When time isn't on our side, All we have is now, For the rest of our lives, Let's stay up all night

In the silence you stare at the world, Your eyes are screaming to be heard, I want to learn you inside out

All that changes is time, Can't keep you inside of me, You're out of my mind, I wear you on my sleeve

In the silence you stare at the world, your eyes are screaming to be heard, I want to learn you inside out

I see all that you want to be, Look into your soul, Looking right back at me, I want to learn you inside out

pic from Google Image..

breaking my heart at the killing field

2011-11-25T02:52:00.000-08:00

Golden boys

2011-11-21T23:34:00.000-08:00

we can never thanked them enough for the pride of bringing home the gold, home. thank you, guys!

AFP picture

2011-11-16T23:06:00.000-08:00

i was in KK for a few days to settle some personal matters and i finally met this guy. i used to follow his blog, but has been neglecting it for quite sometimes now that his blog is not in my blog roll anymore. its amazing how this technology bring us together and translated into real life. Welzan, all the best! (you know what I'm referring to)

i missed my friends' walkabout earlier this year. but, i'm making it up by traveling the route on my own by the end of this month. I'm traveling solo. yay!

on the reading progress, after almost 2 weeks of heavy reading: ETP, GTP, DEB and so on. i'm dividing my free time reading James Patterson's the Midnight Club and Malcolm Gladwell's Dog. its a huge relief to read for the sake of enjoying the story and not absorbing facts. i'm short of 3 more books to fulfill my 2011 book read target. and i'm planning on doubling the number for next year's target (i used to average 3 books per week). nowadays, time is the luxury i cant afford for leisure reading.

p/s i'm still giddy with excitement over Malaysia's 1-0 against Indonesia last night. those golden boys of ours. our pride and glory. Go! Harimau Muda!

*pic from google image

Happy Birthday Jane!

2011-11-13T00:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Jane. the leading role in the pics. You have been amazing to all of us. and you deserve all happiness in the world. God bless.

The Lady and The Poet by Meave Haran

2011-11-10T00:28:00.000-08:00

Let me tell you what terrify me the most in my course of work. and its not even in my job descriptions (it was there, alright, subtly concealed as tugas-tugas yang berkaitan dan diarahkan). besides being a tutor, i am also a warden for the girl's hostel (a.k.a cikgu pemusnah cinta as most of nights i went out to see their curfew being observed and sacked those naughty ones, usually deep in their idle conversation with their bf and literally dragged them to their dorm and abused them with profanity) hahhaha... actually, i just shooed them away and follow the girl with ekor mata to their dorm.

while i try my best to follow rules and assert discipline, there are many times, i bend certain rules to make their campus life more bearable. that make me an easy target for luahan hati. that's what terrify me the most. when you were given the power to steer someone's else will. i found out, desperate young minds absorbed whatever thrown their way by a person they trusted. what if my advice led them astray? or, even, my silence might be interpreted wrongly?. the hugeness of responsibility terrify me, especially regarding heart's matter.

in The Lady and The Poet, i found the role of Ann's grandmother the most intriguing. She's there as a mediator to her son and her grand daughter, a stern personality that never let go of her high moral standing, while wholly supported Ann in her quest for seemingly ungodly way to love. i aspire to be just that, tolerance enough to see other ways while never compromising on my own faith. and wisdom to fairly draw the line of separation.

synopsis:
Ann More was a free-spirited girl with quick mind and well-read (thanks to her grandfather) in the era of Elizabeth reign (the virgin queen of England). She refused the privilege to be in the Queen's service, a post most sought after by any girl in the realm, because it almost guarantee an advantageous marriage. she then, served at her aunt's York House where she met John Donne. this is the assumed story of Ann and Donne love story from Ann's perspective.

pic from Google image

Correcting The Landscape by Marjorie Kowalski Cole

2011-11-08T00:31:00.000-08:00

Willie Nelson, younger self

correcting the landscape

i am a sucker for koboi music. yeah, country music. and really, i didnt mind the 'seven Spanish angels' playing over and over from my elder brother's car's stereo on our way back home to Ranau. we even discussed the lyrics and debated over it. Willie Nelson is a gem!

so, when a book mentioned of a bookish lead character resembling Willie Nelson, i have to have the book. and the book didn't disappoint me. though, at first, i fear the book will be too heady for me. its the winner for 2004 Bellwether Prize for fiction.

synopsis:
Editor/publisher of a dying weekly newspaper Fairbanks Mercury, Gus Traynor narrated the story of his personal struggle with his personal matters, career and his close ring of friends and family.

the story reminded me so much of my own people. back in the 60's-70's, when timber tycoons raided our native land, my people were poorly educated to understand and estimate the value of the produce. they were given a very, very small fraction of money as compensation and to those lucky enough to get more than other people, they were drowned in the 'luxury', alcoholism is one of the by-product (not to mention that the Dusuns are always heavy drinker). still, the majority of my people failed to climb out of poverty, while the outsiders tapped on our natural resources and prosper. more than half of the land in Ranau (of any commercial value) belong to outsider and the locals work as kuli for the new land owner. pathetic? hopeless? heart breaking truth? at least, Gus Traynor was an outsider. Try being a local and not being able to do anything to help correcting the landscape (or rather, stopping the erosion).

it still hurt when i remember a nasty comment from a friend who, half-jokingly said "Bapa kau beli 4-wheel drive? dia jual tanah kamurang?".

*pics are from google image

BOOK: City of Thieves by David Benioff

2011-10-31T17:53:00.000-07:00

i tried perming my hair once and was chided by my younger brother for looking so 'timorese'. but, i really love curly, fluffy hair. ikal-ikal gitu. however, i stick to my straight hair (after a year of failed permed hair). i dont know how others did it, but, i refuse to spend hours to tidy up my hair. so, i'll just go with my straight, no fuss hair. it's not glamorous, but, its certainly not disastrous either.

NOT Eric Bana. David Benioff

(now, you got what i mean by loving curly locks eh?--- look at his hair! YOU'd die to run your fingers to that lovely head).

synopsis:
two innocent prisoners, Lev and Kolya were thrown together in a mission to find a dozen of eggs. sound easy? this was in 1941, in the coldest winter in history, in a starving city under siege. they were given 6 days to fulfill the mission or they'll die. they scoured St Petersburg for eggs and chicken. after failing to get any (they did get a rooster), they traveled out of Piter. they got involved with the Partisan and held by German soldiers after trying to save some prostitutes. their salvation came when a senior officer agreed to play chess with Lev (he's very good with chess). thrown together in the deal is a dozen of eggs if they win. they killed that senior officer and Lev managed to runaway with the dozen of eggs and sent it to the colonel just in time. Kolya died protecting Lev. the eggs are for the colonel's daughter's wedding.

ugh!

BOOK: For All The Tea in China by Sarah Rose

2011-10-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

For All The Tea in China

Earlier this year, i made a list of 'must do' this year. #12. read more of culture and history. this is the first 'history' book i managed to read so far.

the first book from BBW book sale i finished reading. it's a petite volume, so it took just a few hours to get done. Jane took picture of this book with my other treasures from the book sale. click to her blog.

this book caught my eyes not because it's a history book. its the plant's outline that hooked me. (if you ever cross-stitched, you'll know what i mean), and i did amateurish plant sketches when i was younger and eager to study them (theses in environmental science with a chapter of plant taxonomy). and i am a tea drinker. how can i resist a book with acaption on it's cover: how England stole the world's favorite drink and changed history?

synopsis:
England accumulated it's wealth in the East by East India Company's monopoly over opium and tea trade. however, the company had no influence over tea price, as the best tea were produced far inland of China. Chinese are mischievous and intelligent businessmen, and they controlled the price of their produce. thus, began the dream of the Company to produce their own tea. but that require seedlings and technology of making tea, which was known only to the grower in the remote places of China. and the greatest quest of all, they need to do it in big scale with utmost secrecy. came Robert Fortune, a passionate horticulturist, great spy and thief, a brave adventurer. he's the man responsible for stealing seedlings and transporting them safely to Saharanpur, northern India for planting. he also stole the skill of tea-making by transporting experts from China to India.

as always, my synopsis is oversimplified. this is a great read with no footnote of references to distract from straight reading (eventhough, i have to admit, i love footnotes). and the author made this book as simple as possible by giving general basic information before probing deeper into each subjects.

BTW, i drink Lipton. Polos*

*Polos = Just tea. no sugar, cream or lime added. (indo lingo, teh polos)

BIG BAD WOLF BOOK SALE (II)

2011-10-16T01:13:00.000-07:00

updates on the killing attempt at BBW.

it was glorious and i'm not exaggerating. the turnout was unbelievable, people actually bought books by boxes, and who says Malaysian doesnt read?. oh.. ok, buying books and actually reading it is entirely different matter. but, still... my point is, if the price is okey, people might consider buying more books and eventually read it.

i almost cried looking at so many youngsters eager faces, considering and reconsidering on which book to haul, and i totally get them (i was them, once, decade ago-sigh!-tight budget) . i even overheard some of them negotiated with each other to assign who bought which books for book swap later on.

i spent a little over RM500. with more than 60 books, half of it hard covers, i'd call that a real bargain. (i usually got 4 paperbacks and maybe a couple of magazines for Rm150-my monthly allocation for books). my only regret is the Nora Roberts' purchase, i was always reluctant to get acquainted with her works. but, for RM8 per book, i thought, i have nothing to lose. after all, i have a sister who read cerita pontianak/ hantu jerangkung, i'll just dump all those books to her. so, congratulation Pong, you have your Christmas present a bit early this year.

thank you: Jen, for the ride and help hauling the books (i'll bring more homemade jeruk to you. muahahaha..). BookXcess, for the sale and BX's helpful staff, thank you guys.

to those who missed the BBW, your loss.

BIG BAD WOLF BOOK SALE

2011-10-10T17:47:00.000-07:00

I am heading to that bad wolf galore.. muahahha.. and i feel like a vampire smelling blood. and i hope i can bully somebody to drive me up to do the killing. and to pacify me when the taking get too serious.

For more info and direction to this place, click on this link

the magician. Lev Grossman

I am discovering the magic of Lev Grossman. the handsomest and smartest author i've discovered so far. well, second smartest actually, my genius author is still Stephen Jay Gould. i'll post a review on Lev's book, The Magicians sometime next week.

in no particular order

2011-10-06T18:21:00.000-07:00

we managed to handle the mid-term exam okey-ly.
18/46 of my diploma kids failed chemistry. devastating.

Steve Jobs died.

PM abolished ISA and proposed a more humane acts (?)

that loud Chinese guy keep on hitting on Lim Guan Eng (i started to feel really sorry for him-Lim)

i bought 'Ainuddin Pejuang Melayu Degil' and think its a very well written book. thoroughly researched.

Alternately reading Straub's a dark matter and Grossman's The Magicians. not really wise, as i tend to mixed them up. i'm experimenting on how my mind compartmentalizes. Next, George Eliot's Silas and Poe's collection of short stories.

The mere mention of Bosou (pekasam) mengecurkan air liur. its foolish to even think of satiation. mana mau cari owh?

Budget announcement is due this afternoon.

i read the ETP's exec summary after watching 'Eat that peanut' video. somehow it shifted my mind to believe, the transformation is actually achievable. realistically. we, shall make this work.

i should be writing a book review/ synopsis. instead this list for a blog post. pathetic. i know.

BOOK: Kafka on The Shore by Haruki Murakami

2011-09-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

i was not impressed by my first read of Murakami's (A Wild Sheep Chase). he leaned heavily on the fantasy side, which irritated me. and a sheep is just a lamb chop for me. so, i leave the Chase. maybe someday i'll read it again.

and if you ever heard/read of Haruki Murakami, maybe you'd be telling me. 'why don't you read his Norwegian Wood?'. Because: i dont want his best to be my first. i'll read that too, someday. for the time being, i'll let my mind to be occupied by the charming Alexander Rybak, each time i heard of 'Norwegian wood'. (and not some forlorn Asian lovers).

i read Kafka on The Shore, mainly because of the name "Kafka". i have yet to read any of Kafka's works, but he's a big name and the title made me curious. so, i bought the book and read on. i was blown away! it was absolutely beautiful. multi layers of stories, neatly piled up. did i mentioned crazy too? yeah.. it's crazy.

synopsis:
A 15-years old boy (Kafka) runaway from home, trying to get away from his father. he ended up in a remote town with a lovely private library, where he found sanctuary and friends, the head librarian and her assistant. A simpleton, old man, named Nakata, have the ability to talk to cats, make things fall from the sky and super sixth sense. Nakata's quest of locating one missing cat ended up in him killing Kafka's father (or whatever it was, when he spoke to Nakata). led by his sixth sense, Nakata leave town to find 'the stone'. meanwhile, police tried to locate Kafka. Kafka, by the help of his new friend hid away far in the forest. the stone apparently was the key to open another realm, in where, Kafka was tempted to stay. he chose to stay in our world and face his problem. Nakata died peacefully after fulfilling his last task.

i leave so many delightful details, to avoid confusion in the synopsis. and i'm not a spoiler, so, go on, read this book. i'm still mulling over two very prominent questions in mind after reading the book. #1: if memories and talents were taken away from us, what will left of us? #2: is it possible for a ghost (spirit) of a person to be seen by others, while that person lives and what does it mean?

did i mentioned the book is heavily peppered with notes on music, musician, history, philosophy, great books and magic? yeah.. loaded.

p/s: i am a firm believer in the existence of the spirits. be it evil or holy. and we can sense their presence if we open up our soul.

This post has nothing to do with our football team loss to Japan in Fukuoka last Wednesday. why we watch Malaysian football? yeah, pasal ada si Apek..

Christina Aguilera, You Lost Me

2011-09-11T17:42:00.000-07:00

my music pick of last week was Christina Aguilera's You Lost Me. As soulfoul as she's always (and a still a bit trashy in her outfit selection). This is a song that stayed with me throughout the week. Sorry, this is a yesteryear's song, not something new that pop out of Billboard chart. i was just so absorbed in a book i read last week that, i felt, the song appropriated the mood. and it's not about other person betraying me, or leaving me. i'm afraid of me, betraying me, losing me. if you haven't properly listen to this song, go to this link, or as always, the youtube channel.

As you probably already knew, Aguilera is one of the mentors in The Voice. (i still dont have a TV---i have TV, but no antenna, and i vow off ASTRO---so, the TV in my apartment is just a junk, useless). i was a parasite at a friend's house in Kajang for over a week during Raya holidays and she has this obsession for Flat Screen TV and i got hooked to StarWorld (The Voice)(thats what i hate of TV, i can look at the box for hours!). eventhough, i'd say, 2 hours off sunday night to watch The Voice is a good deal.

Anyway, i'm rooting for team Cee Lo! he is uncharacteristically sexy.

(pic from wiki)
NOT STARWORLD. The Voice is on AXN. my bad. (8-10, sunday night)

golombon*

2011-09-07T01:57:00.000-07:00

Jen, Dawn, Me, Juvi, Popong, Fread

[i like this picture, because somehow, i got a dimple (and i love dimple, instantly freshen up a look) which is not actually a dimple. it's a laughline (positive) or a deepen premature wrinkle (very..very negative)] on our recent visit Downunder. for more pictures of us, go to her

i tried not to compare the place with ours, because it'd be really unfair. it's an expensive place to live in, eating out everyday is out of question. even at the sloppiest fast food joint. but, how can one not fall in love with a place where even a construction workers spend sometime off their lunch time reading?, and where books are waaaaaay cheaper than a cuppa? their waiting area at airports are almost like a library, people read while waiting for their flights. its a culture, we must aspire to adopt.

Personally, i'm still short of 20 books to read to reach my annual bookreads of 54. reading will not make us any smarter then those who doesnt, or make us any better than the non-reader. but, reading certainly broaden up perspective and with that, better understanding of others and oneself. and i guess, that's how we armed our self to face the world.

my students are still away for their mid-term holiday. the office is quieter than usual, many of my muslim colleagues are still on holidays. truthfully, i miss my kids and colleagues. the holiday was great. Australia is a lovely country. i'll go again next year maybe (Perth). but, right now, nothing will settle me better than normal classes to attend and the mundane tasks of tending to my kids.

advice for Malaysian visiting Australia, please dont bother applying for a room at Malaysian Hall Melbourne (they still exist? they didnt reply to our numerous e-mails and phone calls and faxes). and i also dont recommend staying at Malaysian Hall Sydney (something should be done there, the place looks really rundown). but, at least MH Sydney replied to our enq promptly. and the students squatting there are mostly polite. with one exception for the golombon* kid. haiya... teda orang ambil gambar kah si golombon?

*fat/overweight

p/s: astaga.. makin golombon plak sy lepas cuti-cuti ni

after august

2011-09-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

a few updates:
1. i have made up my mind. i'll go study again. where? first choice would be Melbourne (for the fresh fruits in Victoria Market). what to study? hahahha...
2. i am suspiciously 3 months pregnant and showing. i'll put up pic to support the allegation. later.
3. i am looking for Mr. Yuta Tanaka. the last time i saw him was at Paddy's Market in Sydney. he played wicked guitar. i bought his CD only to be left in the CD player in that AVIS car. so, if anybody have any info of this guy, i appreciate the help.

chilling out

2011-08-13T01:09:00.000-07:00

So, finally a motion to standardized air-cond temperature in gov offices eh?
its lawak, i knew. but st**id workers in public sector need SOP of air-con temperature in their offices (before you growl in anger, i too, work in public sector, so, chill out). seriously, i never have problem with air-cond (as i have my own office and i set my own room temperature at 23C, apparently, i have to hike it to 24C after the standardization). but, i knew a colleague who set her aircond at 16C and put a shawl and heavy sweater on! i wont really mind if she ever been overseas to study. mungkin terbiasa kan?

i was once in KLIA and overheard a group of tourists commenting on our super cold airport. i used to sleep in KLIA when i was a graduate student, lining up for half price ticket at stand by counter. i was always tempted to bring my sleeping bag, i usually had a double socks on, on such occasion. its freezing cold in there. i wonder what's their standard in-building temperature.

i was raised in Ranau, a hilly district with cool temperature at night and early morning. i was tormented when i went for my study in Kota Kinabalu. i still feel, KK is a hot hot place to live (and that cover the hot bars and pubs too ya). so, its kinda relief to work in suburb Kuching. i live in Kota Sentosa, 7 miles from the city centre. we had our hot days in Kuching too, but not as fierce as in KK.

So, as i observed, the issue of temperature is of personal preference. i sincerely hope, scientific evidences were put together in the standardization decision. and not because the said minister cant tahan suhu sejuk ?

Sorry, i'm not making any point here. it's just, the issue of temperature has been in our 'hot' discussions (among my kaibigans) lately. and because hati rasa sejuk today, because of the bonus from government. thank you. but, at the back of my mind, questions keep on nagging, can the gov afford the bonus ? bikin panas kan ?

Boyce Avenue

2011-08-09T17:01:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard of them. they're VERY GOOD (like, really, really good). please go to Youtube and listen for yourself: BOYCE AVENUE. i have yet to decide which of the cover i love the best. so far, i've seen about 5 (and i love their version of Katy Perry's Firework)

i'll miss their Australia tour this august by a few days. darn!
here's their tour schedule in Australia

23/08 Perth
25/08 Melbourne
26/08 Sydney
28/08 Brisbane

and no, they're not heading for a tour in Asia (at least not in 2011).

edit:
my current favourite of covers they did is "How far we've come" by Matchbox 20. theirs mellower version from the original one. i guess, the riots in London influence my mood. God forbid, the riot to spread.

edit 2:
their good taste starting to turn stale to me. the voice is (to say the least)-mediocre. have to tinguk muka dia baru macam siok.. Cait!

The Holy Month of Ramadhan

2011-08-04T17:13:00.000-07:00

its Ramadhan again! if you live in Kuching, there's Kuching Fest for 3 weeks at MBKS from 5 pm onwards. its food heaven. i have yet to go to this food fair. will go there this weekend.

first week into the holy month of Ramadhan and have you heard of the (in)sensitive ads by 8TV? (just google 8TV ramadhan ads you'll have lots of links, however, its no longer available on youtube) and please read the comments by our muslim friends, those who truly know the meaning of fasting and observing it, not because they have to, but because they wanted to.

Each year, the church where i belong, held a fasting month in the month of august (coincidentally during the Ramadhan this year). we fast and pray, mostly for our family, friends, local authorities, the government, YDPA etc. usually, its a 40 days fast and prayers marked to end by 16 September (Malaysia Day). i started participating in this church activity in my univ days (when i had to save lunch money for books and also because i desperately need guidance in what to believe in). now, i believe, you cant imposed faith to a person. one only can lead a donkey to where the water is, but to make it to drink is a whole lot another matter.

i am aghast reading of church raid in Damansara Utama. Datuk Dr Hasan Ali, please dont undermine the faith of your fellow believers.

listen, listen harder

2011-08-01T00:15:00.000-07:00

i have a brother who love reading. not as much as i do, i guess. because he put it second after computer games. but he does read and buy books. his favourite author is Mitch Albom. i spent half of today, watching Mitch Albom live (just type mitch albom on Youtube), and i found him endearing. the reason why people talk to him was because he listened.

and as i went reading the star online, i read older post of Wong Chun Wai in his column "talk less, listen harder". Dy, you'll absolutely agree with his latest post "Cut the frills, make it simple". (astaga.. punyala sy sokong!). its exactly what i want to say, only he wrote it better and more articulate.

i am currently hooked to Hugh Laurie's Let Them Talk. he's no singer. but, his music.... fine grade. and i totally got Greg Iles's saying his paragraphs got rhythm. when you read a book and you listen hard enough, it does have rhythm. bad books contain haphazard rhythm. bikin pening

students sometimes asked me how i managed to memorize their names. i always replied by saying, all of them are too naughty/ too kind to forget. the truth is, each of their name have taste in my tongue/ scent i can sense. but, by confessing that, i might scared them off. sound like a perv, or something, dont you think?

pause awhile. listen. listen kindly.

You Know I'm No Good

2011-07-27T01:56:00.000-07:00

Tis' my favourite song of Amy Winehouse. You Know I'm No Good. she's quirky, super talented singer.

Amy Winehouse. RIP.

Who in the end, ended it all in a pathetic closure. But, lets not dwell on that. Her short life was a gift to us, who enjoy good music. her voice on loan to us, lets appreciate that. she had her shot in life. maybe, in her own way, she had it well. maybe.

life is short.

Funny Foochow guy

2011-07-06T00:39:00.000-07:00

we received our new intakes on july, 1st. then, straight to Matang Wildlife for 5 days of orientation. that's the reason for my recent 'no update'. i was away, facilitating the program.

One of our college tradition is to learn a 'chant' Guri-Guri Cha' Cha' (its a dance-chanting coordination challange). and the wording is gibberish.

Guri-Guri Cha Cha

Yam Yam Cha Cha

Teleng Teleng Cha Cha

Guri Cha, Yam Cha, Teleng Cha

a chinese guy from Bintangor failed his chanting test. he chanted:

Guli Guli Cha Chat

Yang Yang Cha Chat

Peleng peleng Cha Chat

Guli chat, Yang Chat, Peleng Chat.

and how can i get mad when in all honesty, he believed he did it right?

he said "ampung tuangku belibu-libu ampung, kami menghadap tuang putli bawang melah, bawang putih, bawang besi, bawang bakung, bawang goling kliuk kliuk galing".

and i have no idea if the other student purposely said "Ampun tuanku beribu-ribu ampun, kami menghadap tuan puteri bawang merah, bawang putih, bawang besar, bawang bakung, bawang goreng, kromp pram pre" (in a very convincing thai)

a guy was in a seminary school and asked for the Bishop to relieve him for two years to complete his certificate program. a girl was in a trial to become a nun and leave for her diploma. let's see what'll become of them. i have yet to find my favourite. none so far.

SX

2011-06-29T01:40:00.000-07:00

A boy was performing his freedom of expression at the bank of Melinau River, Mulu.

story:

he was in the river, but, seeing us approaching, he climbed on the boat, perched, put on a smile and flaunted his agile small body. i was giggling like maniac (i was at the front of the boat, so i noticed everything in front, first and it was an honour to get a free show such as this) and hurriedly took my camera from a strapped bag, just in time to captured this blurry image. good for him (and me).

by the way, along the river, in the afternoon, the Punan community have their cool bath. so, really, there're more scenic views than this flamboyant little boy, but, i, of course was polite enough to respect their privacy.

in the Dusun culture, taking picture of woman bathing in the river (without permission) is a serious offense and punishable under the sogit* law

sogit* = local law

BOOK: House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III

2011-06-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

i took a course in my sophomore year in Fakulti Pengajian Islam, (the only girl with gleaming black, long straight hair in the only lecture hall in the whole uni practicing gender separation) and get to know a very beautiful Iranian lady, Azadeh. my parents, just went for their overseas trip to Holy Land and took a lot of pictures from Jordan. so, i talked to her of Jordan and what little i knew of Iran. from her, i knew that Iranian speak Persian, not Arabic. she speaks Arabic because she studies at Jordan uni.
and how can you miss "Children of Heaven"?. click on to see the trailer

------------------------------------------------------------------------

edit: the trailer was cr*ppy. sorry, i've just checked it. the trailer failed to trailed the film. its a brilliant film. and i mean, really, brilliant in a very humble way.

if i have a chance to travel in the Middle East, i'll certainly put Iran in my itinerary. that, after i manage to pull all my courage to even think of going there. wars devastated the land and made it almost unsafe for women travelers to enjoy traveling in these part of the world.

the House of Sand and Fog was a story of Iranian family seeking asylum in the States, fleeing a new reign of power in their homeland. Behrani, a former military intel specializing in purchasing military weaponry (high salary) found himself with lowly jobs of picking trash along the highway and tending a small convenience store at night. he lived a double life, as he ought to keep appearance in order to get his daughter a suitable suitor. after his daughter married to a successful doctor, Behrani and his family moved to a smaller bungalow he got at a bargain price.

the bungalow was belong to a recovering alcoholic lady who was forced to leave her house because she failed to pay her tax. she befriended the policeman who evicted her and got in an affair with him. while struggling with his domestic chaos (divorcing his wife and leaving his kids), the policeman tried to help her to get her house back, up to a point he threatened the Behrani family to leave the premise.

the story ended tragically, with the lady hospitalized, the policeman jailed, Behrani and his wife went back to Iran to face a firing squad and his only son died, shot by the policeman.

this is a story, where you dont know who to pity. because, it seems, everyone was a victim.

and if you think the storyline's horrible enough to make a good movie, yes, there's a movie version of this book. Ben Kingsley played Behrani. and if you wonder how the author can even think of writing such heartbreaking story, do click Andre Dubus III. i read the book 3 times, each read tempted me to change the plot. its too helpless.

i'll give 3.5/5. because, i dont see a point of clearly defining the numerous sex act(s).

long overdue doc, but, ya, finally a review.

#1 honeymoon spot: Mulu National Park

2011-06-27T00:05:00.000-07:00

ya, i was there last weekend

to see him

and his family

with my colleagues (me, apai jang, nyonya, is)

not on a honeymoon of course, but, this would be my first pick for honeymoon venue (no doubt).

i'm packing my whole family (9 adults) to this place. robbing the bank to fund the flight tix and thinking of going to the along for other expenses. i know, the place wont dissapoint.

for those with doubt (of thinking of going but not really sure what to expect), log onto their website
send e-mail to them. they patiently answered all my e-mails (about 9 in all, i kept e-mailing them since january until june with macam-macam soalan) and secured the booking of our accomodation. i think, this is the best kept national park in the country. neat without being too showy.

Addicted

2011-06-23T01:13:00.000-07:00

my music pick of the week. partly, because this is a highly toasted video clip in the music community in malaysia at the moment. but, mostly because, i enjoy good music and this is quite good. Prema yin can sing and dance (she's hot!). and the guy, can act (if its even required, given the situation)

aaaa.. check his fluttered eyelashes at 4:06. super sexy.

pictures from the wedding

2011-06-21T17:30:00.000-07:00

my fave pic from the wedding

ooo! never mind the P sticker on the car

ooo! look at the ruffles and the feather fan

ooo! not the most synchronize dance, but it was fun. purposely donned the selipar jepun to show uniformity?

good looking couple

as promised, pictures from the wedding we attended. the bride is a cousin from our mom's side. (we're closer to the cousins on our dad's side). i should watermark my pictures, i know.

connection

2011-06-20T23:27:00.000-07:00

i love the idea of minimal usage of words to transpire something. or better still, with no words at all. But, only few people can do that with satisfactory result. the millions of us, have to rely on words. that's why FB is such a hit. and blogger like us, write and feed our own soul with words (most of the time, with no substance at all)

lovers should understand this most intimately. a little nod, sly smile and bamm! a go.

parents to their children. my parents never cease to amaze me with their extrasensory perception, my Gapa, for example, once, called me and asked if i was okey, and it was the third day in a row, my heart's in my throat, choked of depressions. but, how would he knew that? i said, i was okey and asked why he asked. and he said, o, having a bad dreams this past few days. bugger!, i suspected in depressed state, i released more radical ions and they went up to their original orbit in my dad's subconcious system and spread the news. how else?

we abuse words on the not so important things in life. but, when it comes to what matter the most, words fail. the heavier things in life, require more weight than mere words. action speaks louder. sometimes, (as of late, i learnt) a text sent was not as important as the act of actually sending it off. the idle talks and laughs between meal was just a poser for the act of actually being there on a date. the enjoyment came not from the conversation itself. but, from the connection. that deep down, you know, the other got you.

that's the level of knowing, i acknowledge as the climax in human relationship. the sense of belonging. and sorry, you cant bribe into one with words alone. unless of course, if you could write as good as this dude. he's unbelievably thrifty with words and yet manage to sully my heart to tears. thats what i hate of poetry. they pretend to belong, without me understanding a line.

sorry for this lenghty post. Pamuk poisoned my mind with his "New Life". and the picture, a teaser, i know.

Rolling in The Deep

2011-06-16T00:23:00.000-07:00

Have you listen to Adele's Rolling in The Deep? gorgeous!. this one is waaaaaay lively than my last favourite from her. Click on the first link to download the song. and to h**l with MCMC intention to shut us from the generous websites linking to freebies. this is an example of the amazing talent we'll be missing with no Youtube around. yup, Mike Tompkins beatboxing Adele's Rolling in the Deep. Amazing.. amazing.

Mike Tompkins, heavy boxbeater

and to MCMC, you know, you're rolling in deeps**t, if the hackers pay homage to our domain.
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my bad, Youtube was not listed in the blocked (banned?) sites. click to this link to get the story straight, Keong. be warned, he writes in haste and in anger. get the cream, leave the rants.

BOOK: The Edible Woman by Margaret Artwood

2011-06-14T23:43:00.000-07:00

For background information and summary of the book, click onto this wiki link

This book was written when she was 24 (1965), so there's a lot of nervous energy, doubts and idealism presented in the story, as expected from a young writer. but the effortless way she wrote about matters undoubtedly deep and witty. the book pushed Artwood's career to the sky, when due to negligence the publisher only published her book in 1969, coinciding the heat of Feminism movement in North America.

She surely have secured her place in my must read list. i love the way she wrote, the raw passion and honesty. the dialogues were totally believable, the storyline fantastic. she wrote lots of quirky nonsense that actually make sense, once you try to think it over. and she's funny.

OOOO... forget all those qualities, she won my heart over when she correctly mentioned pitcher plants as bulbous leaves. Kukuanga* loves you girl.

so, i must thank siti, for lending me this wonderful book. because on my own, i wont go near this type of book (feminism and all). its too intimidating. i dont see the point of fighting for something as elusive as gender equalisation. where in the end, the fighter dont even know how to handle victory. that's the problem with us girls, we dont actually know what we really want.

i was dumbfounded when a certain lady in position within the Ministry i serve made a comment on the paint colours of our building when the main discussion was on the future intakes of students and development planning for the college.

* Pitcher plant (in Dusun language)

the southern men

2011-06-10T01:36:00.000-07:00

i once made a mistake of showing my admiration over Dr. Chua Soi Lek manly attitude over his sex scandal issue. i thought, its pretty brilliant that he confessed and admited the scandal publicly. my colleagues hooted over my opinion and regarded it as admission to a lower moral standard in our political leader. i dont agree on his 'sin'. i just admire the guts and determination in his action.

and just as i thought i'll never be wowed by a malay political figure. Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad did just that in 2006 by going against the party policy by agreeing to the motion by opposition leader in Parliament. he stood his ground. which was rare occurance in Malaysian politic. and for that, should he write an autobiography, i'll be among the first to queue for it.

The reason why i write the 2 paragraphs above is this man: Said Zahari for his triology. i'll dig my piggy bank to get those books. his life is worth reading.

skeins that skinned me

2011-06-09T17:42:00.000-07:00

i really should post this in my other blog, since this relates to my cross-stitch project. i have this beautiful peacock picture for cross stitch and a senior colleague will retire in october. he once commented on how beautiful cross-stitch hangings are. so, i'm making this for his retirement gift. (i certainly wont hang a peacock on my wall!)

i dont know about your place, but it's a bit hard to get DMC floss here in Kota Sentosa, Kuching. i have to hop from one store to another to get all the colours, and the quantity of skein per colour is also limited. and it's RM1.60 per skein!, last year, its only RM1.40. and for this particular project, i need about 23 colours, 92 skeins.

so i thought it's a clever of me to get a deal from e-bay, USD100, 275 skeins + 5 arranging boxes and 100++ ziplock plastic baggies for the thread. the shipping cost is USD62. pandai. so, per skein i'm paying RM2.00. i just failed my domestic economy 101. i'm paying extra for the boxes and the baggies, yes? as if i need those that much. but, hey, they're pretty neat. and the lady in Iowa is so charming! and finally, i got the chance to activate my PayPal account.

Oh, yes, lets just say, the skeins really just skinned me off my tight budget. we're planning a trip to negara orang yang lebih maju and i refuse to sleep in their lovely park. hence the arahan menghimpit belanjawan bulanan.

Kaamatan

2011-06-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

i'm away for long holiday break in my home state. our family Kaamatan* celebration went well. we went picnic in the morning and dinner in the evening. we really should do that more often. it was quite fun. i'll put on pics soon.

i brought home, Dr. Hidayah's books, with intention to read and write reviews. but, so far, i havent finished reading any. i bought two books in KL a day before i flew home. that too lay dormant in my backpack. the holiday mood seep through me thoroughly, making it hard to concentrate on reading, however light. i spent too much time watching movies on DVD. my sis have quite a collection.

Two days of movie marathon, about 8 movies down, only two worth mentioning: Black Swan and The Blind Side. Black Swan for, Oh! so there seductions (it's a very sexy film) without being too pornographic. The Blind Side for, Oh! glorious tresses and fine outfits. and finally i watched Hikayat Merong Maha Wangsa, which requires a post on its own. the movie was impressive, minus the Chinese princess and her handmaiden and the mirror laser, the fake tiger's skin, and the tattoos and way too white....ya, better create a separate post eh?

A bit late, but better late than never, here's my wish to all Dusuns: Kopiinsanagan do Tadau Kaamatan and to the Dayaks: Selamat Gawai. May we truly understand the spirit of the celebrations.

* Harvest (festival)

Incubus Concert in KL

2011-05-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

So, Incubus will perform again in KL. i saw the advert in (where else?) AirAsia in flight magazine. ya, they'll be in KL, 23rd july. yes, they're the demon band, haunting and arousing women with their music. they're that wicked!

get more info on Icubus concert in KL from this guy.

despite the busy week with piled up works, a blogger made me smile at the silly blog entries. sot! my incubus.

Concise

2011-05-19T22:31:00.000-07:00

A recent conversation between me and Ira (5 years old daughter of a colleague) over her art job.

Me: what colour is this? brown? yellow?
Ira: it's beige aunty.

precisely. she blew my dream bubble of becoming art critic.

get to know the man behind the mess

2011-05-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

I'd like to introduce to you: Datuk IBRAHIM ALI, MP of Pasir Mas, Kelantan. without a doubt, one of the most influential Malaysian in our country. Persuasive, charismatic and outspoken. Google him up.

TOTAL JERK.

over the current issue of serious (baseless) allegation by UTUSAN MALAYSIA. Let's just hope, Malaysians at large are more sensible than the man above and the Editor of this newspaper.

btw, i dont read this malay paper, only aware of this issue after reading the sunday post of BORNEO POST: this and this

2011-05-13T23:19:00.000-07:00

vegetable stall near Bundu Tuhan junction, Ranau

i heard rumor of jalan KK-Ranau notuhan* again. a friend who did her masters on types of soils surrounding Ranau-Kundasang highlands aptly named the loose soil as tanah sumurong, literally means soil that move. and yet, the Environmental department approved on building up a posh hotel nearby Kinabalu National Park (but of course they can afford all those expensive safety measures, right?). they're messing the landscape of Kundasang town (much to my dismay)

i just hope, our favourite vegetables stall (near Bundu Tuhan junction) will still be there for many years to come, to remind me of my root, the hardship we endure and the comfort of knowing where i belong.

i miss home badly.

*notuhan = landslide

BOOK: The Shadow of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

2011-05-10T20:28:00.000-07:00

481 pages and you have to read each page to get the storyline correctly, because this is a book with main plot, sub plots, sub-sub plots, where each character played important role in building up an intricate, very mazelike content.

i was hooked from the first paragraph as the author described the dawn of early summer in Barcelona in 1945 as "dawn poured over Rambla de Santa Monica in wreath of liquid copper". Oh! i wished, i had his clarity in giving description. Reading those line made me SEE those street as if i was there. No matter how bizzare this might sound to you, he transported me to places, introduced me to people with different characters. This book is, magic.

The summary of the book is simple. a boy read a book and wanted to read another book by that author. His dad was a second hand book dealer and through acquaintances, found out the author had written several books but, mysteriously dissapeared. The boy's copy might be the last in existance. His quest to unravel the mysteries trapped him in a very complex situation, where his own life might be condemn to despair. The boy who started off to seek the truth, returned a man with changed perspective of truth.

Dont be decieved by my super simplified summary. The book is a must read. If i could read in Spanish, i'd read the original. Lucia Graves made an excellent English translation (she even gave different english accent to the man who spoke different Spanish accent)--which is for me neat and seriously funny. Ruiz Zafon was lucky to have her.

i'd give the book 4.75/5

i dont usually go and check author's fan website. but, this is the link for Carlos Ruiz Zafon's. this is the second book i borrow from this lady

here's Aere

2011-05-09T23:46:00.000-07:00

i should be posting a book review yesterday, but i have no idea how to write it. and besides, we are busy with our final exam (the idea of ME taking the job over as a setiausaha peperiksaan next semester) really scare the wit out of me.

anyway, i am going to post the review of "Shadow of The Wind" sometime this week. this is one of those rare long novel that hooked me perfectly in sync with its story, i even dreamt of it. i ended up reading the book in super slow mode---tasting the words in my tongue. yaa..(rolled your eyes), that's me, indulged in a very sexy book written by a Spanish author. one of my most satisfying weekend, reading the said book. never mind the heatwave that seems to surround our country these days.

thanks to Aere, we'll experience stuffy, hot days for yet another week.

seitan dishes

2011-05-04T20:35:00.000-07:00

stir fried seitan with chinese cabbage and black beans in oyster sauce

stir fried seitan with fermented chilies and greens

for introduction to Seitan and how to make it from plain flour (wheat) click the link.

MOVIE: Thor

2011-05-03T17:02:00.000-07:00

I was on a date with a gf last night and we decided to watch Thor at The Spring MBO. we got a 'super comfy' auto reclined seats and with the air cond at low temp, its almost a miracle we didnt grope at each other. it was cold!, even with a sweater on. (how can we blame the kids at the back in doing what they're doing?) i'd say, super supportive environment.

Well, i usually talked of outdated movies in this blog. but, i couldnt help myself commenting on the movie i watched last night. the long anticipated Marvel comics adaptation, Thor. it was a major dissapointment. and he's scheduled to make another appearance in Captain America? Oh! Marvellous. No?

Seriously now, casting Anthony Hopkins for Odin?. its like casting saiful apek for Sultan Mahmud in Puteri Gunung Ledang. as for Natalie Portman, she's fabulous. it's just, with her all over the news for doing it great in Black Swan. somehow, it reminded me of Agnes Monica popularity in Indonesia (she's almost on every advertisment, ranging from ubat tolak angin to high-tech gadget, billboards, TV, even on the side of buses----at least this hold true the last time we were in Jakarta) edei.. teda orang lain lagi kah?

i was expecting something heart stopping moment like i felt watching Transformers or Iron man. none. Oh! wait, there's one scene with the expelled Thor in tight jeans, topless, that was breathtaking. But on entirely different pulse. hmph..

so, yeah, to be in the rank of gods (etched to memory and worshipped at heart), Thor certainly still have a lot to learn.

BOOK: True North by Kimberly Kafka

2011-05-02T17:26:00.000-07:00

To what extent do you think you would go to start anew in life? would you abandon everything and go to the end of the world for a second chance in life?. most of us, me included, are too bagged down, deeply rooted that moving away from our small niche, familiar habitat is simply a risk not worth taking.

But, what if you could afford to get away?

Bailey did that. After the death of her only sibling, she moved away from her hometown to the unknown territory of Alaska. She bought a piece of land, without really knowing she’s tempering with the native’s politic ie: The native’s cooperation. Kash, who would do anything for his people including seducing Bailey to get her land in their campaign to unite the whole native land under the cooperation, was the leader for that Coop.

Living in Alaska as an alien fighting torrent weather, with short summer and long, dreadful winter, Bailey adjusted her life by trying to live adjacent but not involved with the native. She even tried to be indifferent to Kash, with little success. But, all was good and in peace until a young couple lured by the gold prospect in Alaska decided to come under the guise of camping and hiking in the wilderness.

By some twist of fates, in the goodness of her heart to help Kash, Bailey ended up being responsible to send off the young couple to their basecamp. the sensitive natives went aggresive towards the whites when they suspected the true intention of their guests. Bailey stucked in the middle of the aggresion when she found out that, the young girl might be linked to her past private life and tried to save them from the natives aggresion.

Kash, torn between protecting his natives rights and his true affection to Bailey must act fast and precise, to save not only his people's honour but his heart's angel.

your love is my shelter
my compass, my true north
wherever i go, your love is guiding me forth.
(Eternity of our love- Millette Addison)

come on, Maia

2011-04-28T16:56:00.000-07:00

its almost the end of April. the craziest month i've been through so far. with so many downs than the ups. new experiences, good and bad. new aquaintances, all interesting. if i can summarize it in a word, the month has been: HORMONAL.

i'm looking forward for May. its our end of semester, so, actually i'm looking forward for the break. the obvious happening in May are Mom's day (8th) and all throughout May, thanksgiving in my homestate. i want to be home this thanksgiving (Kaamatan), maybe we could do a double celebrations (mom's day and kaamatan), been a while not treating my mom to a nice place. 12-15th, Borneo Jazz feast in Miri, high probability not attending.

from the month of May onwards, i'm pledging myself to treat mother earth better.
1. go shopping with my own shopping bag to reduce the usage of plastic bags
2. separating rubbish. organic/non. recycleable/non
3. go easy on my diet. buy only food to consume. preferably the freshest possible.
4. save electricity

i've been doing these (the list) all the while. but, never systematically done it. i'll make a comparison in monetary value for spending on food and house bills. will post about it in a month time. until then, come on, Maia (May), get me.

btw, i'm hooked to Lifehouse. check their "something in between" and "i cant take my eyes off of you" both are soundtracks for Smallville.

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for the record: today = nuptial of England's prince. long live the monarchy.

seitan

2011-04-27T21:59:00.000-07:00

i made my first batch of seitan last night. i tried using 1/2 kg high protein flour. its super easy, but a bit tedious. i havent tried cooking the yields. i just boiled it with some salt, pepper, onions and anchovies for flavour. i'll stir-fry some of it this evening. i tried eating one last night, too chewy for my taste.

whats seitan?
flavoured gluten product from flour. good source of protein for vegetarian. also known as mock meat, for its texture.

how to produce?
1. get a plain flour
2. mix the flour with water to form a firm dough
3. knead for about 20-30 mins
4.wash away the starch, by squeezing the dough in a basin full of water
5. washing away the starch will takes time. dont worry, the gluten will not dissolve into the water. change the water in the basin when its get too murky. the water will remain clear once the starch washed away.
6. the quantity of yield will depend on the type of flour you use.
7. high protein flour will yield more than plain one.
8. boil the gluten over medium heat for 1 hour with your flavouring. it'll expand slightly and firm in texture.
9. your seitan ready.

i am irresponsible being meat-eater. i behave better in vegetarian mode. somehow, being a kambing suits me better.

i should be writing of Tolkien's Sigurd and Gudrun, in conjunction of the movie Thor release in cinemas in Malaysia, today, thursday. one of those movies i'm eager to go and watch. no, i'm not a Marvel comics fan. i read Viking's legends.

btw, you pronounce seitan as 'setan' like, syaitan as in satan. devil.

Hot blondie; you belong to me

2011-04-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

Jason Wade of Lifehouse

i dont write lyrics. But, if i could, this is what i'd like to write and serenade to Mimi's Little boy (on behalf of his mommy). click here to download the song. its one of the soundtracks in the movie Shrek

You Belong To Me
Jason Wade of Lifehouse

see the pyramids along the Nile
watch the sun rise
from the tropic isle
just remember darling
all the while
you belong to me

see the market place
in old Algiers
send me photographs and souvenirs
just remember
when a dream appears
you belong to me

and i'll be so alone without you
maybe you'll be lonesome too

fly the ocean
in a silver plane
see the jungle
when its wet with rain
just remember till
you're home again
you belong to me

This one is for him,

2011-04-25T17:20:00.000-07:00

if i can choose my 5 persons to meet in heaven, i want him to be my first. i want to tell him that, he's the loveliest, bravest person, ever. because, i didnt have the chance to tell him that, in person, in this world.

pok sahari called me thursday evening informing that Mimi has been transfered to Hospital Sg. Buloh. she's getting worse. private hospitals did that to avoid bad stats. i wanted to call, but dont know what to say. about 11 am the next day, she texted me:'Blom ada rezeki utk kami lg..1030 pg td baby kluar, sy brsalin mcm biasa.. baby boy..sy redha'

i didnt know, if i was paining for her or the boy who didnt make it. i just wanted to cry. its Good Friday and i have plenty of reasons to cry. i was crying for Mimi, and fates cruel play upon her. my heart crushed for the boy.

saturday afternoon, went to see her, as always, she amazed me.she looked okay. better than i expected. then, i saw her hubby's eyes. that's the saddest eyes i've ever seen. its apparent, he's paining for his wife. silently weeping for his boy. he, sadden me the most.

this year's Easter, was the first 'real' Easter for me. the hope of resurrection and salvation. because, without such hope, what's my chance to see that little boy who was loved long before he was conceived.

i wept reading Parson's The Family Way. but, nothing could ever prepare me, going through one.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a friend who jokingly offered his shoulder to cry on found himself in sticky situation when i replied, i could use his offer, as i need a good cry.

out of our hand

2011-04-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

i watched a movie last night on TV (remember, i dont own a TV?). well, i'm in Port Dickson for work related matter. obviously, the hotel have TV. "Lucky 7" on 8TV. its about a girl's obsession over her dead mom final advice of getting married only to the lucky 7th bf. she fall for the number 6th guy. many things in life are just out of our hand.

tonight, i planned to crash at a good friend's house. weekend, i have a seminar to attend in Sg. Buloh. earlier this morning she smsed me, her grandma passed away and she's going back to her hometown. she even said sorry for messing up my plan. Oh God!my problem is the least in the equation, aint it? she lost her grandma. the GRANDMA. my condolence jen.

my gf, mimi, all these years longs for a baby. she finally get pregnant, and in her 4th month of pregnancy. many complications, i even asked God, what dugaan He bestow to that fine lady? she wanted a baby so much, she's willing to go through anything. she's in the hospital ward, the bleeding get worse. i knew, thing like that is just out of our hand to control.

i read a great book, years ago (sorry i cant recall the title, i got the book from our local libray). the wise man in that book, an old chinese said "do your best and leave the rest to heaven". many things are out of our hand. for those things, we cant do much, but just to leave its to heaven to decide. but for all other things, which effort on our part, plays, no matter how insignificant in the result. its a sin not to go, all out.

"showdown" makes me really think to consider having the Astro dish! the show is wicked to boot! not to say it's also wickedly inspiring to go all out for your passion. maybe one chance is all we got. we better move it right. ait?

BOOK: The Street Philosopher by Matthew Plampin

2011-04-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

not the kind of book i usually find myself reading. i read the book in a hurry. so, the slow pace of the plot irked me a lot. maybe in another leisurely setting to read, i'd appreciate the book better.

i chose the book based on the title without reading the review given by the lender. i should have read those review. but, at least my curiosity over the title paid off: street philosopher = society column writer = gossip writer. therefore, majalah URTV, Mangga and the kinds should be called "street philosopher's philosophical magazine". certainly that sounds better than 'entertainment magazine'.. ooooo. crap!

The story sets during and after the Crimean war. Thomas Kitson, an ambitious young journalist was sent to Crimea as a junior correspondent for London Courier, working with a daredevil senior, Richard Cracknell and a young illustrator, Robert Styles. their team worked in the frontline, reporting on the progress of the war to people back home.

the Crimean war, which the author aptly simplified as 'the Lion fought the Bear to save turkey' was a perfect setting for story of incompetent, crooked army general. the narration shifted several times from Crimea to Manchester 2 years later, unfolding untold heinous crimes and injustice done during the war. adulterous affair, gruesome battlefield, insanity under duress and stringful of revenge made this book entertaining enough to read to the end, if only to get hold of a good closure.

oooo my, i'd give 2.5/5 point for this book.

monday, after a seminar and the state election weekend

2011-04-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

the state election's over. i lost a bet over Dr. Sim's Pending (ya, it's like a sport when you put a bet on something, not to say, much more merrier) so i owe half a crate of Heineken to that jolly good fellow. and somebody owe me lunch, for our bet on Ba'kelalan's Bian. the 'blue ocean' strategy proved to be okay, BN remains in reign. and who am i to say if its for the better or worse of Sarawak?

i should be posting a review of a book i recently got from our local FREE internet bookloan/swap, hosted by several blog owners: mine (kukuanga), Dr. Hidayah and Siti, but, i haven't had the time to compose a decent review (as if i'd be able to do so).

the book from Dr Hidayah's collection arrived thursday afternoon via Poslaju (darn expensive at that too! RM8.35). so, i resolutely aimed for a quite evening, reading. i spent the whole night reading and jotting down some notes (pointing points worth checking for the review).

this is one of those books i wont consider checking out in a bookstore. reasons?

#1 unappealing cover

#2 the author's biodata. he's a full time lecturer = boring?

#3 the first 5 pages of the book is not engaging enough to read.

more of that book later in the review. i was in Melaka during the weekend for a seminar. i think, i enjoyed most parts of Dr Azahari (UPM) lectures. the Dr from INTAN totally flunked his lectures by mumbling over the microphone and failed to transpire the simple idea of the Blue Ocean Strategy. mokcik-mokcik pengajar jururawat misinterpreted the whole concept by giving irrelevant example during the workshop. but then again, maybe that Dr's just frustrated over our ignorance of simple kelok ekonomi.

again, i was reminded of being ancient and not knowing our own worth. old and useless = junk. old and valuable = antic. the only difference between the two is in external appreciation/ valuation which highly depends on the substance and quality. if you're wondering why most of the nurses in public hospitals lack good manner, you should meet the typical of their tutors.

MOVIE: Bunohan

2011-04-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

when i checked my viewers stats, i found out that "hantu kak limah balik rumah" garnered top viewed post. that actually amused me a lot. so now, i have to write review on malay film to gain more attention?

so, here, i'm experimenting by reviewing movie i havent see, not sure already hit the cinema or not, but honestly wanted to watch the film. you can check the movie trailer here. a lady friend commented after watching the trailer that Faizal Hussein looked great in the movie and the human slaughtering looked gruesome, therefore looked real. i dont really care of Faizal's good look or the gruesomeness of the assasination. what captured my heart the most is the authenticity of the story. wait, i should write, originality of the story. its fiction based on real thing. there's a real kampung Bunohan in Kelantan, bordering Thailand. where, things like in the film have high possibility of happening.

by the way, Bunohan's director, Dain Iskandar Said also made the film "Dukun" in 2007, based on the legendary notoriarity of Mona Fandey.

now, i feel like a duck for posting a review of nothing. sorry guys, i know, i'm being bad.

Passion Sharing 2

2011-04-07T17:45:00.001-07:00

After some contemplation, here's 15 titles i'll be offering for bookswap/bookloan. i'll be adding more titles soon. but, wait, i have to set a separate blog for this thing, as not to disrupts my regular blog. and also i am really bad at writing book review. so, most probably, the books offered will only contain basic descriptions and maybe a link to a better review online. ya, that's a cheat, i know.

1. MISTER PIP by Lloyd Jones [2006, BantamDell]
2. MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN by Salman Rushdie [2008, Vintage (reprint of 1981, Random House]
3. BY THE RIVER PIEDRA I SAT DOWN AND WEPT by Paulo Coelho [1996, Harper Collins]
4. TAPAI by Hishamuddin Rais [2010, ZI Publications]
5. FOOTPRINTS IN THE PADDY FIELDS by Tina Kisil [2010, MPH Publishing]
6. STONES INTO SCHOOLS by Greg Mortenson and Mike Bryan [2009, Penguin Books]
7. FRED AND EDIE by Jill Dawson [2007, Hodder and Stoughton (reprint of 2000 work)]
8. SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE by Lisa Kleypas [2008, Piatkus Books]
9. TRUE NORTH by Kimberly Kafka [2001, Pan Books]
10. A PRISONER OF BIRTH by Jeffrey Archer [2008, Pan Books]
11. OTHELLO by William Shakespeare edited by Gerald Eades Bentley [1965, Penguin Books]
12. THE SCARPETTA FACTOR by Patricia Cornwell [2009, Putnam's Sons]
13. TURNING THIRTY by Mike Gayle [2000, Hodder and Stoughton]
14. THE FAMILY WAY by Tony Parsons [2005, HarperCollins]
15. SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL by Sarah Webb [2003, Pan Books]

these books are available for swap/ loan. just drop a comment.

terms and conditions:
1. Malaysian residing in Malaysia (elsewhere, the postage fees will choked me to death)
2. bookswap* will have the priority over bookloan** (as i love to read too)
3. follower of this blog will have priority over the noner
4. max of two books per person at a time. no time limit of holding, unless specified so.
5. borrower are obliged to post (mail) the book to the next borrower

*bookswap= i lend you my book, you lend me yours.
**bookloan= i lend you my book.

BORNEO JAZZ 2011

2011-04-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

too happy to put it in words. i'm going to catalogue my books for bookswap. Dr. Hidayah is an inspiration. i heard the line "toko buku kalau nggak dikunci juga ngak apa-apa kok. maling sih ngak mau curiin buku" in KALA (Indonesia's very disturbing fantasy film). so, what if ppl didnt return the books? so, what?

today's post, not about book. i'm promoting the BORNEO JAZZ 2011 in Miri this coming 12-15th may. formerly known as MIRI JAZZ FESTIVAL, this year the tourism board change it to a more appropriate and more commercial name (not to say that MIRI is not commercial enough). but, hard to miss the exocticness of the name BORNEO eh?

for more info on the performers, venue, etc. log on to: http://jazzborneo.com/

i'm hoping i'll be able to attend this. despite the fact that, its our final exam week. macam ada harapan mengular jak niii

Passion Sharing

2011-04-05T22:56:00.000-07:00

while bloghoping for a friend's request to find active Malaysian bloggers selling diapers (ooooo.. ya, we're that bored). he's doing a market research for baby products, and he knew, i'm keen to help. i chanced upon this wonderful doctor's blog.

no.. she's not selling diaper. she contributed article to momsbloggerplanet. so, i followed the link to her blog and found her marvelous and beautiful idea of book loan. i'm flabbergasted, almost speechless over the idea. its so beautiful, i can cry, right this moment. she actually set a library of books she reviewed and give it away on loan for FREE!

I always consider myself to be generous on lending my books to others (few trusted friends). but, never cross my mind to actually lend it to somebody over the net (and hoping) the book will come back to me. she is doing that, and currently have 51 books in her library, ready to circulate.

visit Dr. Hidayah Ismail's book blog. lets test out if her idea of passion shared works. i'm posting my name for book #51 the shadow of the wind.

Correction: the right name is Dr. Hidayah Ismawi. sorry Doc, my bad.

tanakwagu ya*

2011-04-04T17:14:00.001-07:00

i sent sms for a brother who turned 21 on 04/04/2011

kukuanga: ui. buli mengundi sdh o kau sail!. haha. H bday!
sail: ya, harap blh dt tangki

i bought him the Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun by Tolkien (buku murahan di Popular).

*our young man

BOOK: Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

2011-03-25T00:25:00.000-07:00

so, i was a bit down at the beginning of this week. a good read should do me good. i went to popular bookstore, Boulevard, Kuching, yesterday to collect my membership card and also to window shop for books. (i'm dead broke, buying a book was out of question).

but, i did. i bought Jeannette Walls's Half Broke Horses. for the cover and for the author's note, by calling the book a novel, wheres others will categorize it memoir/biography. the story is about her grandma, Lily. a thin volume, it took only over couple hours to read. then, i re-read.

i'm not overly crazy of her writing style, nor the grandma she potrayed. i have no intention in my life to ever be in her shoes. no matter how adventurous her life sounded.

the story began with Lily, together with her younger siblings, Buster and Helen survived a Texas' plain flash flood when she was 10, then trot on her childhood living in a dugout, breaking horses for wagon horses, ranch chores and occassional flashback on her parents' families history. surviving a tornado and moved to a ranch in Arizona.

then, come the heartbreaking part of where she went to school and had to go back to the ranch because her gimp father bought dogs instead of paying for her tuition. throughout the book, Lily was potrayed as a sensible, practical and very resourceful woman. being so, at 15 she went to northern Arizona, 500 miles ride on a horse she broke herself. she took 4 weeks travelling the distance, alone on her own expenses to be a teacher. she got the position because there's shortage on teachers during the war and because of the remoteness of the place. when she's 18, the WW1 over, so was her temporary teaching position.

so, she went to Chicago. having no diploma or any academic certificate, she only can chose to become a factory worker or maid. she chose the later. it was in this city she met and married a salesman, Ted at 21. after 6 years of marriage, she discovered that Ted, actually has another family. brokenhearted, she annuled the wedding and went back to his father's ranch. finding no purpose in the ranch, as it now belong to her brother, Buster. She enrolled in the university to get her degree, she got her high school diploma in Chicago, attending night classes. on her second year, she got a position to teach at Red Lake, Arizona.

it was here she met her second husband, Jim, 20 years her senior who taught her to drive. when Lily went to Chicago, her pretty sister, Helen went to Los Angeles to try acting. She ended up pregnant and came up to Lily at Red Lake. she later commited suicide. her death sobered up Lily on her purpose in life. she decided to marry Jim and started a family. the family survived the Great Depression, thanks to Lily's resourcefullness. she even managed to learn flying small plane during the depression. the book ended with the birth of Jeannette Walls, the author of this book by Rosemary Smith, Lily's daughter.

Now, i really need to read The Glass Castle, Walls book on her mom, Rosemary.

this passage on page 207 , mugged my heart. (conversation between Lily and her small daughter, Rosemary over the Mormon's belief in temple garment)

"America is a free country," i said. "and that means people are free to believe whatever cockamamie thing they want to believe"

"so, they dont have to believe it if they dont want to?" Rosemary asked.

"no, they dont"

"but, do they know that?"

Malaysia is a free country too. do we know that? really?

this too, will ebb away

2011-03-22T17:06:00.000-07:00

life is full of temporary failures, di ba?

and this too, will pass.

something happened and i felt like a fool. and when stupid things like this happened, it'll only go downhill. and i dont really feel like i wanna be dragged down the hill, yet. especially when, i love the view up here, where it's cosy, breezy and familiar.

Hantu Kak Limah Balik Rumah

2011-03-21T00:59:00.000-07:00

finally, Sarawak State Assembly dissolved today. this next few weeks will be interesting in Sarawak. being an outsider, i have the privilege of being nonpolar in their political affinity, and being a localised stranger, people are more open in voicing out their opinion. ya, the kadai kopi talk..what not to say?

that first para is not intended to be written in this post. just, i think its important to notice. i actually want to jot on a hillarious malay film (which, i reluctantly watched--glad i did). Hantu Kak Limah Balik Rumah.

so, what if the leading actor is Awie?. ya, that Awie. and only in this film did i realize, he really can act! like really selamba bodo...the credit should go to the script man: Hassan Mutalib (you, wrote a wonderful, hillarious, very relevant, openly honest script sir, thank you!)

if you want a malay movie; politically inclined, quietly challenging the system, openly menyindir everything and everyone that should be disindir. try this movie. pause to listen to 'sorry seems to be the hardest word', keroncong version. i almost terkencing, for laughing out loud. man! thats better than Elton John's version.

i really, really should watch this film earlier. this is one good comedy film.

The Joke is on The Joker

2011-03-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

No reading done since Heartsblood. i tried going back to Moby Dick with little success. i ended up watching movies from a friend's DVD collections. so, from sunday to last night, i've watched (in order): Push, Terminator Salvation, The Terminal, X-Men Origins;Wolverine, Merlin and The Book of Beasts, Legion, In The Name of The King, Night at The Museum, G.I. Joe; the rise of cobra, Fast and Furious4, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, Sundel Bolong 2, Hantu Kak Limah Balik Rumah.

The only movie i'll recommend to watch from the lots is, The Terminal

Tom Hanks played Viktor Navorski, a visitor to New York from eastern Europe, whose homeland erupts in a fiery coup while he is in the air en route to America. upon arrival, he's denied entrance to the States because, technically, his passport is no longer valid and he cannot be deployed home for security reason. so, he stayed at the airport's terminal international transit lounge until the war at home is over. His genuine helplessness in dealing with the system he's not accustomed to and his limited ability to converse in English well, is hugely funny and entertaining. This movie has it all; the funny part, painful side, romance, friendship, family and how good, will eventually triumph in the end.

While i lmao at Viktor's painfully sticky situations, i asked myself, how easy is it for us to laugh and make fun of other's weakness and helplessness.

Consider the blunder made by BH in publishing this:

i bet, if CNN didn't push it over. they'll never realize how insensitive they were by trying to be funny.

p/s: its considered decent to make fun of our own boisterous politicans, its another to poke fun at other's misfortune. along that line, go watch the terminal. its ok to laugh at Viktor. He's Tom Hanks after all.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

added on 21/03/2011

so, our 'first lady' also threw herself in the band wagon of serious blunders. she's a cool parampuan rambut kambang.

the dress looks nice on you and other fooly

2011-03-14T00:41:00.000-07:00

i was on the phone with my sister last night, lementing on our pertambahan berat badan mendadak, (huh?! mendadak kepala kau!). the trigger of the 'sudden' realization is our close friend, charles' wedding this weekend. no dress to wear.. (Shut up Sufjan Stevens, your quirky music:(the dress looks nice on you), doesnt really help)

so, as you can imagine, i feel a bit like these today:

puckered up, well dried taik

i hope the image of (above) will remain intact in my mind, everytime i have the urge to use my magic spoon to produce 2 mins choc cake - no kidding. (now, the regret to learn such trick)

aw!

it seems, we suffer 'unsustainable development' in our environment. read: the root cause of many environmental disasters is in the production and consumption. go figure!

friday's breakfast special

2011-03-10T15:55:00.000-08:00

i should be eating Pho for breakfast in Saigon today. i decided to stay and do my job instead. i have to catch on my classes and finish the syllabus before their mid term, by the end of this month. its a fine friday morning here in Kuching. a bit cloudy, just the way i like it best. But, wouldnt it be grand if i were sitting in a stall in saigon slurping away my second helping of pho bo?

notes: i blame the system in Bahagian pengurusan Latihan for my failure to comply to my schedule. they always sent letter for meetings a few days before the events, like they never plan anything. just because we're under the ministry of health, doesnt mean everything should be done 'emergency' way.

i read in the Star (Sarawak version) about Mahathir's memoirs. let it stew (say, a year?, or maybe when he's gone?). i'll read it someday, but, i'm not dying to know what he has to say about himself. or any justification for whatever done, whatsoever. I am a Sabahan, and i'm not over yet of what he've done to us.

Thinking of Saigon (and longing to be there) makes me think of that book. Saigon: being re-named Ho Chi Minh City, when it's the last and least to abide to communism. i'm mulling over the idea on correlation of important figures, ego and ego-feeds (just finished reading Heartsblood by Paul Martin- a book so medically entertaining (relatively to the books i skimmed through, writing the proposal) and concerning the ego things). Mahathir's book and HCMC are ego-feeds.

p/s: feeding myself tomato for dinner. the first tomato from my window's balcony garden.

wishes do come true, unexpectedly

2011-03-07T15:43:00.000-08:00

be really carefull when you make a wish. they may just come true, unexpectedly, without a warning, at a time you'd say, not really a good time.

last week, i gleefully wrote about me 'going to heaven' in reading frenzy. i thought, i have at least more than a week to read, analyse and write the proposal. i didnt count on the 4 days of examination paper editing (i have to be the urusetia, since our setiausaha peperiksaan, En. Saza had to take emergency leave because his FIL nazak) the job required me to be the serf to prepare for PPoint presentation, editing other's questions, questioning other's questions. my own subjects, i had to prepare the questions at night, leaving no time for me to read.

my precious weekend was cut short by period pain (in i refuse to talk about what a hormon imbalance can do to a woman). merely finish reading and making short note on Godin's survival is not enough, carbon metric measurement and national green policy. and made an outline for my proposal.

i should be reading Design For Environment by Fiskel yesterday. but, instead, i spent the day preparing for my naziran today. they're coming for pengenalan kimia's outlier. i am the pengajar for that subject and the coordinator for the class. i feel pathetic. i need more than a potter's hand to mould 'rejected' clay. really.. have you ever tried teaching chemistry to kids with 8E in SPM science? (and now, i'm bitching) sorry. i cant afford the energy to be negative. tomorrow, is the last day to submit the application.

but, let me survive today first. i'm writing this while waiting for my 'algojo'

i'm listening to the morning benders--- they're awfully zen'ing.

_________________________________________________________________________
update: i got myself a merciful algojo. they're totally not what i've expected. my head's still intact and still where it suppose to be. and now, i'm humming "God be merciful to me.. on Thy grace i place my plea, planteous in compassion Thou..", you know, the Jars of Clay version.

Green Technology?

2011-02-28T20:32:00.000-08:00

i read Borneo Post online daily (or when i can) to get the local news and DE for my homestate news. from BP online today, SMK Lutong in Miri, Sarawak joined the Green School Campaign by KeTTHA (kementerian Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air). currently, only 5 schools enrolled in the campaign. none in Sabah.

green technology interest me. and i hope its not a quick fading fads. i'm writing a proposal to do research on "penglibatan komuniti dalam meningkatkan kualiti alam sekitar". i miss chasing adrenaline rush, and living high on steroids. poring over heaps of intricate facts and trying to fashion its up to a meaningful output sound like high dosage of steroids, i'm keen on trying. i'm on my way to heaven (reading frenzy).

Malaysia is on the right track of starting to go for green technology. as long as its not a quick fading fads, we'll eventually arrive somewhere. i've read the National GT policy and its quite impressive. but, as the saying goes, easier said than done, i wish those people knew what they're handling and where they're going to steer our country to. (hint: just press on the economic and social benefits. the donkeys will follow the carrot sticks). yes, we the donkeys.

i have more faith in the realization of building a greener Malaysia than in experimenting to make genius Malaysian as in permatapintar, run by genius people?. so said, the donkey's opinion.

train-ing

2011-02-21T18:24:00.000-08:00

things i sorely miss in the big city: easier and cheaper access to books. theatre. vast choices of good food. and trains. yes, i love commuting. i used to go de-stress myself riding a deserted train during mid-day. i'd bought a ticket from UKM to Kajang, but, instead, i'd went the other way to Seremban (where there's practically nobody boarding the train). i'd read and try to think (daydream, actually*). then, i'd changed train at Tiroi to Kajang and went home to my first rented apartment in Jalan Reko. i enjoyed those rides very much.

i am in the city for a week and have to commute daily from UKM to Sg. Buloh. the journey took 11/2 hours and very tiring. how people cope with such arduous journey each day to work, completely awe me. i still enjoy commuting. but, i'd say, its heyday's over. not even ladies coach can revive the joy i felt years ago, riding a train. maybe i should go for cuti-cuti on a train and hope hard the driver will be someone famous like the train from JB to KL sentral yesterday.

i'll miss the commuter train all the same. because, in Borneo, our trains are a laughing matter (in a very embarrassing way). you can try to romanticize the old trains operating in Sabah, but, seriously, it's filthy and very unsafe for use, plus, its very uncomfortable. (why should i compare MALAYSIA to sabah and sarawak? (the terms a bit confusing eh?: Malaysia, termasuk Sabah dan Sarawak-as if there's any Malaysia without sabah and sarawak))

i truly appreciate the connection from LCCT to KLIA express train and for the ladies coach. fabulous!

i watched a russian movie on siberia prison camp a few weeks back. i cant recall the film's title. its cyrillic with no subtitle. it gave a new perspective to the terms prison and train. and white is no longer the sign of purity. its the new colour of loneliness. (ooo.. my train of thoughts)

not a pretty parrot

2011-02-16T19:33:00.000-08:00

he is current and devilishly blunt. and he can afford to be so. he's not in the mainstream. he can be philosophical about his music or change his music affinity and live with it. because, simply put, he makes music for his own and not to please people. so, even when he made a statement like these: (check his last statement) -less interested in songwriting and more into just making noise. i'll stick to his works. (at least, his works before The Age of Adz).

nothing pleased me more than a fresh interpretation of anything. in the limited world of mine, he is a gush of fresh love of sound. i hate his vocal. its too thin and crisp. but, the music arrangement and the songwriting. i can go on listening to him for hours. (ya, i'm into corny lyrics!, shallow me)

rarely, especially in our country, do musicians/singers think and believe in something and transcend it to their works. but, yeah, pretty parrots will do. as long as we dont mind.

havent got the chance to really listen to The Age of Adz. go, listen to Sufjan Stevens. he is poison.

Land Below the Wind

2011-02-10T18:18:00.000-08:00

"oh? what do you want?" came Harry's question.
"i dont know, but i guess that spirits arent as reliable as guts, Harry, and you've got guts"

Agnes Keith, Land Below the Wind (1939),

Pg294, Opus Publications (2010)

Times: RM44.00

i cried over (the above quoted). Obvious reason, aint me?

go on, read the book. its good. forgive the super-indon batik motif cover. i wonder who's responsible. this requires explanation.

i'd seen the book, sometimes, long ago and ignored it (mainly because it doesnt include any reference to plants biodiversity nor soil classification) which used to be my staple diet of reading. how on earth i managed to read St. John's Life in the forest of the Far East? if not for the regimented reading?

Tip of Borneo Music Fest

2011-02-08T00:46:00.000-08:00

From Borneo Post online, today. from this year onwards, the Tip of Borneo Music Fest will be featured in Sabah Tourism calendar as a major tourism event. Yay!

this year, it'll be on 16-17/ july.

Outdoor music performances, beautiful sunset on a beautiful beach. i have no idea who'll be performing. last year, Jesselton philharmonic orchestra was there. this year, i hope, i'll be there to join the crowd, cheering and listening to good stuffs. what's more? it's FREE ADMISSION. just bring your own mats.

ya, check with these people regarding the music fest. there might be slight changes from what they offered last year.

A reminder: Miri Jazz Festival is sometime in October. never been. maybe this year should. i should.

make you feel my love

2011-02-06T22:05:00.000-08:00

en route Ranau-KK, feb 05th 2011

i was home last week, holidaying. ate too much. watched more K-dramas with my younger sister than i can ever do in a year, alone. (and i said i'm cured from K-fever?). fat hopes. 16 episodes of MY GF GUMIHO.

My siblings did the Pirate of the Caribbean movie marathon using LCD projector, which worked awesome. We passed playing cards, not enough coins to bet on. Besides, Zombie vs Plants hooked two of our MVP of laplappu @ Chinese poker. quality time, eh?

I got Agnes Keith's Land below the wind from Popong. Asael taught me how to download free MP3 music. We talked books (toy soldier, time traveller's wife, the bad place) ended up telling him Indonesian tangon*. its good to have a brother who read. he's geeker than me.

And they laughed at my favourite: Adele's make you feel my love. rainy, cloudy, lonely. perfect song. aint it? i love..i love.. i love..

*tangon = Dusun for folklore

MOVIE: The Lake House (remake of Il Mare)

2011-01-31T18:51:00.000-08:00

Original theatrical poster of Il Mare (2000)

I attended a Korean language introductory class in my long extended stay in the univ, years ago. As a prerequisite for the lesson, i watched a lot of K-dramas and movies. (apparently, i never really got a good footing at the language and i'm a cured person of K-fever!). One thing i learnt though, Korean really have a knack of filming good cinematographic movies with beautiful music to accompany.

Il Mare was a good example. a movie so complicated, i tried watching it 3 times, only to get more confused. i braved 3 times for that boring ordeal for the breath-taking views and the actor's facial expressions. Korean boys knew how to melt a girl's heart, i knew. (sigh!)

Original theatrical poster of the Lake House (2006)

So, i half expected the confusion when i watched the Lake House, a Hollywood film remake of the Korean Il Mare, starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. Read the plot here, and see the movie trailer here. i was mildly surprise at my own ability to accept the movie as it was. i thoroughly enjoyed the very romantic movie.

Maybe it was the cinematography and music in the film that nailed me down just right (even batter than Il Mare!). i am not a big fan of big city surrounding (not in real life, nor movie). But, its impossible not to love Chicago in this film, unbelievably beautiful buildings structure. Rachel Portman composed most of the songs featured in this movie, and she's brilliant!. The original soundtrack may available here. however, my favourite song was: i seem can't make you mine by the Clientele.

The time paradox proved to be really trying to my logical mind. But, never mind the logic. The gush of heart wrenching romantic longings the movie produced, was enough to banish logical thoughts. Try to get this for your Valentine's. It brings relief and gratitude to those who have somebody to snuggle with, watching. And it brings hope, to everbody else.

Happy holidays. Be safe. Love.

? MOYMOY PALABOY ?

2011-01-27T20:02:00.000-08:00

So, i changed the layout, and the title with a description. (its really not fair, to give title 'just musing' for a blog-----> when the owner, herself rarely muse over things she wrote). in accordance with this year's resolution to keep things as simple as possible and to be concise as possible (mmph... no, it'll always be a murky posts). i try to narrow down the content of my entry to 3 topics; book, outdated movie and music. but, sometime, you know, i'll go rambling off topics. hey.. i'm trying.

some changes are good. hopefully, this is one of those, despite the geeker sound title.

and to qualify this post to the title, i'll give a link for my best discovery this week (its a cross of short movie + music). i'm intending to share these funny guys antics, monday. but, i'll be away monday. so here goes a link to their youtube crazies. dip in the treasures (it gets more than 16 mil view hits) and tell me what you think of them. (personally, i love their Bohemian Rhapsody piece the most)

O happy weekend guys. to those heading home for CNY/ holidays, safe journey.

MOVIE: Rabbit Hole

2011-01-26T00:46:00.000-08:00

no? i want to talk book first, then movie.

in this post, i mentioned that i have problem reading autobiography. (please take note of the prefix used). i have more to confess: i dont read horror story nor voluntarily watch any horror movie. and that, not because i'm penakut. i just dont like it. (like prefering vanilla over chocolate icecream)

but, like, in every rules i made up for myself, i make exceptions. i did read Stoker's Dracula (mostly because i thought, its pretty important to know the history of that famous Count, and it's a good read). and ya, i make exceptions for all King's works (i ended up giving away most of my copies to people who enjoy the books much more than i did) i keep some; books by him but totally not him, like, the girl who loved Tom Gordon and Rose Madder (o..ok..the last one look likes his work),and my all time favourite, The Talisman.

in The Talisman, King and Straub coined the idea of parallel worlds, a possibility so alluring and plausible to me. i cried hard over Nicole Kidman's performance in Rabbit Hole, a movie so disturbing i choked on my roselle drink (ya, i concoted my own drink from that lovely calyx and its good) then spilled it over my lovely ironwood table, dribbled on my shirt and leave an ugly stain. O Hole! and the idea of parallel world? ooooo.. so comforting.

no musing last monday, the lord of internet (or rather, his humble modem and the serf at STREAMYX) didnt allow me to make any...ya, some broadband kelajuan tinggi.... I got that.

Youtube rules!

2011-01-21T17:36:00.000-08:00

Caution! please dont click on the links provided if you are in a melancholic mood. These links are super-inducer to melancholism.

Jason Mraz: You and I Both

Mercy Me: Homesick

and Eva Cassidy, O! she's amazing! Song bird, Fields of Gold

and this. (i dont have TV, so i dont really follow Glee. but, i do know about their existence).

and to provide some balance in this somehow sappy post. go to this blog.

and this: keep on appearing in my mind

kaibigan @ kambingan

2011-01-21T00:01:00.001-08:00

sometimes ago,

Popong, me and Dawn were seated at the back of a car. Jane was driving and Fread seated beside her. Popong were lolling beside me, and me and Dawn were talking about something totally forgetable matter (i cant recall it now). btw, she was sleepy too. its a very hot afternoon, and we've had a huge lunch a few minutes before. Jane and Fread were babbling about something like "....Melbourne to Sydney, kita naik flight la... dari Sydney... jetstar..... Virgin..." "....erry"

Me (the superstar of popping interrupting questions): Jen, mana kita mau naik ferry?

J: huh? kau cakap tidak jadi pigi Bako

D: kita pigi Bako?

F: ihhhh.. tiak maulah. panat pigi Bako

me: huh? tidaaaak... yang di Australia. mana kita mau naik ferry?

J: Australia? Ferry?

(here, we were almost talking simultaneously)

F: mana ada naik ferry? kita pakai flight la.

P: (with eyes shutted) huh? kenapa mau naik ferry?

me: (now, very confused) bukan ko sama Fread cakap tadi naik ferry ka?

J: kita ada cakap pasal naik ferry?

F: (grinning) kita cakap pasal Blackberry bah tadi. Astaga! Togou!

me: huh? Blackberry? ko dengar dorang cakap apa tadi? (looking hopelessly at Popong and Dawn)

P: saya dengar McFlurry

D: saya dengar Blackberry, tapi McFlurry pun ada juga

will i eventually go insane playing along with these idiots?

(i miss you guys so much. i keep on rewinding my mind on the above situation (the version i keep replaying in mind). each of you have the rights to deny/retell your own version) haha.. happy weekend kaibigan. God is awesome good!

BOOK: Stones into Schools

2011-01-18T18:24:00.000-08:00

If you're a longtime reader of this blog, you might realize, most of the books mentioned here in this blog are fictions. and i have to confess, yes i mostly read fictions. because its much easier to read and entertaining (ooo.. dont we all love the idea of lite& easy?). and i dont need to keep on checking details and facts, absorbing the ideas and thinking about the contents (as i tend to do, reading non-fictions).

By reading fictions, we let our emotion rules. we dont really care about the facts, as long as its marginally believable, the plots gripping and the characters have character. we're hooked.

i have another thing to confess, i have problem reading autobiography. i just cant decide how to categorize them. but, i do read them and loathed most of them. some of the autobiographies i truly enjoyed were: A Malaysian Diplomat's Diary and Out of Africa. enough to say, i dont buy much autobiography. so, its not a surprise i missed Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea. i bought his second book (mostly because somebody else co-wrote it) 'Stones into Schools' and deeply inspired by the efforts of this guy.

what he did was amazing. an ordinary guy, trying (at first, just to return kind favour) to do something small, contributing with what he have with passion and ended up doing extraordinary humanitarian efforts in the tumultuous regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. His mantra " if you educate a boy, you educate an individual, but if you educate a girl, you educate a community". He completely won my heart over.

note to self: keep on doing those baby steps...

what's that? Elephant?

2011-01-16T17:06:00.000-08:00

Edmund's Elephant

During the weekend, i read (finally finished) Othello and re-read Rob Yeung's The Rules Of Entrepreneurship. on it's slip cover, i jotted 'November 2008, KK'. old eh?

in the wake of my attention to entrepreneurship, i tried writing up a business plan. but, ended up, not convincing myself. the numbers are just too much too handle and the whole ideas are mind boggling. or to put it in a milder words: difficult to attain. argh! passion can wither when the going gets tough.

but then i remember a childish question of 'how to put an elephant into a refrigerator?'. answer: open the fridge, shove the elephant in, then shut the fridge. obvious answer? No. we, adult, have trained our mind to think in more complicated manner: how to chopped up the elephant? how to get an elephant in the first place? how to get a larger fridge to accomodate the bulk of an elephant? etc. now, think, is the question of how to put an elephant into a refrigerator even relevant?

in 'Othello', Othello suffered and died because he made the mistakes of making too much assumptions rather than, going to the source of his problem and he trusted the wrong person. Lesson? dont assume. get clear facts, reasoned and respond. we go back to that issue of an elephant and the refrigerator. we 'assumed' 'elephant' is an elephant, or/and the 'refrigerator' our normal refrigerator. assumption almost always leads to murky situation, which always ended not the way we intended.

Seriously, i'm trying to be practical here. i'm trying to get all the facts and build a solid plan for my venture. i am dead passionate about this and the mere thought of it make me more alive than ever. all i need now, is that tiny mustard seed size of faith to move some mountains. so, i'm shoving away all of my first assumption/plan and concentrate on a more factual, attainable, immediate goal.

All izz well.. all izz well... all izz well..idiots!

MOVIE: 3 idiots

2011-01-12T17:21:00.000-08:00

i rarely watch Hindi movie. for the sheer detest of its unrealistic plots and over-dramatized drama. but, i do make exceptions. i watched "Maan" including the dancing and merrymaking songs, i watched quite a numbers of Shah Rukh Khan's Movies (thanks to my Hindi movie craze housemate during my univ days). so, i'm not that illiterate of Bollywood's goods.

in 2009, i read a film review in the Star newspaper of a Hindi movie "3 idiots". the guy who wrote the review compared the movie to "Dead Poets Society" and "Good Will Hunting" in terms of film's content--- ie: passion for education/ learning. who can resist to watch a movie as such?

recently, a good friend's wife told me in passing that she's downloading "3 idiots" because she needs her Hindi movies fix, and the latest movies from Bollywood failed to fill her. (she's in the last stage of her trimester and need all the comforts she can get). ecastically i asked for a copy!! lucky me!

her husband handed it to me last monday and i've watched the movie twice. it was good. i simply fall for Sharman Joshi, the guy who played Raju Rastogi.

the movie is basically about friendship. how good friends should bring the best and the worst in us, and in the end, accepted us just the way we are. the passion for education/ learning came as a by product of the main theme. Raju, Farhan and Rancho were roomates in the best engineering college in India. while Raju and Farhan struggled with their studies, Rancho aced all exams (not only because he's a genius but, because he's really interested in learning engineering). the movie went on about their personal struggles and how in the end they overcome. the whole movie was entertaining. and if we dig a little deeper, quite troubling.

eventhough the film did raised a lot of doubts in the quality of existing education system. in my opinion, it did not offer a better alternative in a concrete way for mass schooling system. thus proved, the ideal way is not always the best solution. but, being an idealist at heart, i firmly believe in what the film's selling, school should focus on teaching the kids to think (a la de Bono) and care less of grades. especially in primary school.

in the ideal world of mine, i'd home-school my kids.

Monday Musings

2011-01-09T16:57:00.000-08:00

i want to make this kind of post a regular feature in this blog throughout the year

During the weekend, i read 3 crappy detective stories (i'll post the picture of the books in my January read). But the last one, ignites the imagination of my imaginative mind to really consider, opening up a retreat centre in Ranau. i called my sister (because i need to talk to somebody, who already knew, i'm a half-sane person and still love me). and because, i need some practical, down to earth opinion. i need an engineer's point of view.

She said it's a viable venture. but i have to do it on a part-time basis and i have to relocate to KK to be able to do so. and i really should prepare a neat projection, project paper. that, i think i can do. O gosh! am i really out of my mind? who am i kidding?

Long time ago (days, when i used to write long letters home). i wrote to my dad about, a little bird leaving the nest. He sent me a card: fly, as high as you can (i always believe, its a words of motivation, encouragement). But, nowadays i see the words as a challange. really? how high dare i to fly?

Maybe its about time to test my aptitude for higher altitude free falling? i mean, higher risk-venture. and i guess its a high time for me to flock with the same kin. Spending more time with the parents while time allows? thus, 2 things to muse this week: if i have to open the Retreat center in Ranau, i need to relocate, if i got a new job in KK. fat IFS.

Calling for P&F week. God, Thy will be done

2011

2011-01-04T17:45:00.000-08:00

i learnt a lots during the holidays. of putting family first, of spending more time with friends, of how small gesture transformed the whole situations, of trusting ones instinct. i did a lots of thing i never thought i could ever done, like, enjoying 5 hours trekking on a knee deep muds, cold showers at night, enjoying the company of strangers of whom i tried my best guessing what they were talking about.

i went up the hill in Bario and loved what i saw up there. i will sorely miss the evening teas, rice cake and the company of concerned aunties.

thank you, Jane, for making the trip possible.

so, for 2011,

spend quality time with loved ones

make plan and lists

but dont overdo

learn crafting

drive

swim

dive

dance

listen more attentively

pause to smell the flower

last saturday,

2010-12-12T22:44:00.000-08:00

i turned 30. i stayed home and did what i always did on my birthday, i fasted. nothing religious in the act. it was just something i always did. (some of my friends knew i have a cry-day in a week --usually friday-- when i cry my heart out and the act makes me better. down there in my core. my soul?).

something happened a day before my birthday. it's like a heavy lesson for life from my 20's. DONT TAKE CRITICISM PERSONALLY. and when you're dealing with a woman, (especially menopausal) always coat your words with honey, and bear in mind, women are prone on taking everything personally and they're more judgemental.

where can i have Ruiz's The Four Agreements and Dasgupta's Solo?

somehow, i felt old. this, being thirty is depressing. maybe, if we let go of those usual expectations, it'll be easier. i dont know. or, should i rather, strive for that usual expectations and be what? normal? as expected?

2010-12-07T17:49:00.000-08:00

i love pickles! or anything fermented. bosou sada, bosou gipan, binagongan, belacan, tuhau, cencaluk, kim chee, fermented soy beans, soy sauce, jeruk mangga, bambangan.. i can go on with the list. and that, i'm listing only fermented products i'm familiar with.

if you live in Kuching, the best place to scout for alien pickles is at COLD STORAGE Green Heights. they have a huge selections of chutneys, pickles and fermented products. i got myself Italian green olive stuffed with anchovy in light vinegar last monday.

and i dont have to search for place to get my favourite soda anymore. they have it there abundantly, albeit slightly pricey. i used to hoard it from Boulevard, as sometime they have it, but, most of the time, they dont (usually they only stock-up on that black can Schweppes). and really, who can blame the pekerja to give me a blank look when asked about Schweppes bitter lemon? (my sister, whose addicted to Coca-Cola also gave me the look - and we were together in our campus day when i first encountered and fall in love with this blue can). how can she not know?

. Schweppes! bitter lemon

if you have read up to this paragraph, you might probably wonder whats my point. i have none. i just miss home so much. its crushing my spirit. so, i have to write something uplifting. and what better to muse but food? and a cool place to get some cool food!