Incubus Concert in KL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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.

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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.