Forget Where I Parked My Car

A millennium ago when I first got my driving license, in pure youth ecstasy I drove all the way alone to 1 Utama to catch a movie with bunch of friends. All well and dandy until the time to go back. I forgot where I park my car.

Back then 1 Utama just consist of the old wing, but even then I had to spend close to two hours looking for my car. Read. TWO hours frantically searching for my Kancil! It was during the era where youths don’t carry mobiles and crimes are not being committed in parking spots yet. Communications were non existent and I was literally looking for a needle in a haystack.

By sheer luck I found my shiny red mousedeer parked nicely along one of exit point. Since then I made it a point to ALWAYS, ALWAYS remember my parking row, floor and where I exited.

Which is why it was so weird that I cant remember where I parked my car yesterday after dinner with Grace at Amcorp Mall. (grace can tell you that i never, never forgot where i parked my car)

What was ironic was that mall was like only 1/8 the size of 1 Utama, and there were only two parking floors. Still it took us close to ten minutes before finding our not so shiny red mousedeer.

I do not know whether it was divine intervention or pure bad luck, but as I returned to my car, I quickly suspected something was amiss. I locked the door, didn’t I?

True enuf, someone broke into my car and relieved me of my coin box, my Touch n Go card and two pairs of Nikes. I was literally cursing under my breath. There was a Pajero and Vios parked beside me and they picked on a poor defenseless deer.

After fetching a shaken Grace back, I was asking how can this happened to me? Dahlah this month so pokai already, sommore got people break into my car. Really sudah jatuh ditimpah tangga.

I asked God why He didn’t protect the car. And God replied He made me forgot where I parked my car. Huh? What you mean God?
And after a while the answer became clear. If I didn’t forget where I parked my car, I might bumped into the thief-at-work. And that could have been a far worst consequence than just losing a few hundred bucks. On a hindsight, forgotting where I parked my car was perhaps a blessing in disguise.

Mission Trip to Gopeng

It’s been a good two weeks since I last written (and in the process lost my blog count to Scott. This guy seems to have lots of time to write doesn’t he?) After my trip to Penang couple of weeks back, my work load has backlogged to the size of King Kong + Godzilla combined. By God’s grace and Redbull the big monsters have been defeated and shrink into the size of Stuart Little. This explains the time availed to me for this post. 

Last weekend I joined Grace’s church to a short term mission work in Gopeng (though the area is more towards Cameron). Her church (Hope of Glory Center, or HGC) is always at the forefront of mission, and every month there will be some mission trip somewhere for different levels of congregation in the church.

Initially I thought that I do not need to drive, but turn out that the amount of young people was overwhelming (close to 30 ppl!) that I need to drag my Kancil from the confines of the city to the inner sanctum of the hill. Just like what Shyong siad, yup I think God really pulled my car through. How can you explain the Iswara stalled at the slope whereas my Kancil just breezed through the slope easily?

I first went for my mission trip in Tapah (incidently that’s where i knew Malida) when I was in Form 4. I still can remember the various discomforts and complains when I complete my metamorph from a city boy to a kampung dweller. No electricity lah, toilet dirty lah, fly so big lah, eew eat with hand lah…and other complains of the youthful boy.

  

Which is why I was quite impressed that these youngsters (damn i feel so old saying that!) do not complain at all! Of course the only thing that they feel squemish about is the lack of basic toilet (not that i need any, bushes and rivers do just fine for me

After being to several mission trip, one thing that I noticed among the natives is they tend to and will prepare the best dishes for guests. This dish of chicken that they are preparing, I was told it is only reserved by really big occasion such as wedding or homecoming of faraway family members.

No qualms about the food. Though the guys have to eat a little bit more careful, since they are sleeping there! Wouldn’t want any unwanted guests crawling up parts where the sun don’t shine when you are sucking your thumbs with your eyes close! Somehow bathing is always a highlight when I go for mission trip. In Sabah I experienced bathing in deep river. In Dumai its red water in open air with the buffalos watching you. Here in Cameron its a freezing waterfall. That doesn’t seems to stop the guys from whipping their tops though:)

The girls bath at a different part of the river. Wouldn’t want them to fall into temptation. Especially facing with guys with such muscular bodies.

With such a big group, doing projects are pretty easy. I was assigned to the kids ministry along with Grace. Somehow at every mission trip sure got some cute babies around

We didn’t prepare exactly well for the kids ministry (either that or my expectations were too high) But whatever that we do, the kids lapped it up enthusiastically. Simple gifts of pencils and sweets are like gold to them. Every game is played like the Olympics. If only the kids I see in church are that easily satisfied.

It’s a wonder what little creativity can do with a toilet roll, 5 pieces of paper and some plants!

The people of old have named these indigenous aptly. Orang asli. Why asli? Not because they are native, but because they are genuine. And it shined so brightly in their faith. Thanks for teaching me that.

Hectic!

These whole week have been one of the more busiest week since I came to work more than half a year ago. Just so happened that  my department is running on a very tight deadline to publish our backlogged quarterly magazine and preparing for our upcoming biannual Company Awards Nite.

Supposedly I have to come back and work on Saturday to offset the overwhelming work, but again it happens that every weekend I am preoccupied. Every person in my department have to come and work, besides me. Sometimes a little persuasion and good track records go a long way

Last weekend I was at Penang to celebrate convo with some of the dearest people in my life. Even as I drive to Penang, I can’t help but thinking bout the work. But nothing gonna stop me from having a good time. Work’s work. Play’s play k.

After getting off last weekend, I have to pull extra string to get off for this coming weekend. Pretending to stay during lunch time to do work when in reality i was just reading soccernet. Suprisingly it worked. My boss thought I was working my posterior off.

And so I will be joining Grace’s church for a short mission work in Gopeng. This will be one of the most ill-planned trip that I have been on (i’ve yet to meet any team member nor received any itinery nor know how much is the cost) but hey, mission work is full of suprises.

Truth be told, i’m kinda worn off after the excursion to Penang, just like my good brother. Every night i have to stay extra late to catch up with my work load. Even right now I wish I do not need to go to Gopeng. But I have seen how God opened up my weekend (my boss just let me off without much question – second week in a row!) and provided me with finance at the month that I’m broke (mum just gave me a couple of moolah. Ashamed to take it, but ego cant feed me or the car)

Tonight will be meeting up with Grace and the rest of the team members. Of all things we are doing children ministry. This is one of my least favourite (though I love kids…a lot). Sigh. I think I still have a couple of nerve available to be burst by the kids anyway, so roll on.

Not sure how my Kancil gonna bring four people up the hills of Gopeng. Not sure what to prepare for the kids at such a short notice. Not sure how my physical body can endure such gruelling endeavor. Not sure how my mental gonna cope with the workload coming Monday. But God is big. To quote John Mayer, He’s bigger than my body. He will pull me thru. Pray for me will ya?  

Wait for Me!

Tomorrow night is my youth group anniversary dinner. Tomorrow night is the first game of EPL season 2006/07. Tomorrow night my dad suddenly decides to bring thw hole family to Kuala Selangor for seafood.

Yet I wont be around in Klang for all of that. In 7 hours I need to wake up and drive for 400km. All for one purpose. To meet the people who have been immense to me in 3 short years. To reminisce the journey. To celebrate their milestone. To enjoy in their presence for one last hurrah. (ok that’s more than one purpose then)

The trade off seems heavy. But its worth it. Can’t wait to see you guys and girls soon. And to Scott, wait for me to eat roti tiga rasa!

USM Convo 2006

Me and Grace will be coming down to Penang early Sat morn. Should be reaching by 10 or 11am. Saturday night will be my time with the housemates, while Sunday night me and grace will be having dinner with Pastor Kim.

Any other time, I would LOVE to meet up with anyone who’s free, especially my ex Moonstone CG members Oh ya, me and Scott will definately munching on roti tiga rasa at Kayu, so feel free to join us k!

Here we come Penang!

A Walk to Remember

Most weekends we try to do something different instead of the usual hang-kai-tai-hei-sek-fan combo that undoubtedly most couples do. At times we go for nature walk at FRIM, or drive ourselves crazy by walking up Batu Caves, or cool ourselves down at Genting.

However what we did on Sunday I think top it all. Guess where we went. Petaling Street! Hehe.Of course by the virtue of just going to Petaling Street is nothing to shout about. But when you happen to be around when the police enforcers come and raid, now that’s an unforgettable experience!

Initially I wanted to go there for the famous thirst quenching Air Mata Kuching (if you never tried that before you have never drink Air Mata Kuching) and to have dinner at the same time.

Not much have changed since my last visit. The last time when I passed thru this famous street was when I came back from Penang during my uni years. The 2.30pm bus that I took will reach Pudu bout 8pm. After a quick dinner I will walk a good 2 km to KL Commuter station to go back to Klang.

To reach the station I’ll take a short cut, which is thru the street. At night the street come alive with people pestering you with porn DVDs and ah bengs pulling you to see the latest design from “Nike” and “Versace”. Needless to say this place was pretty complicated and snatch theft are a norm. Heck some idiot has the nerves to snatch my guitar from me when I was walking thru the street. (just in case you’re interested, I’m fine he didn’t got anything)

Turn the clock 2 years later, DVD sellers still pester you at any and every turning, little kids still pushing their drinks carts around, cheap labors shouting out barely recognisable mixture of English and Banglas promoting their products (dis wan bagus my friend!), and “warning officers” with their walkies at entry of the street. Yup. Some things never changed.

After my harrowing experience at this street with snatch thief, I was pretty paranoid. Especially with the prettiest girl in KL, Klang and some say Penang beside me. At the back of my mind it seemed someone would just came out of nowhere and snatch my precious away.

Paranoid thinking aside, it was pretty good experience, squeezing thru multitude of people (and get squeezed in return), watching how the foreign girls bargain for cheap perfumes, pretty exhilirating stuffs.

Then out of nowhere someone shouted “SEL YEH!” (ok i know my spelling sux) Like a mad rush to buy Hello Kitty at McDonalds, the speed where the peddlers keep all the fake goods rivalled 100 metres runners.

We kept our distance all the time, standing on the pavement of shops as to be on the street is akin to be standing in the middle of a stampede.

From the time they started packing the items and run thru the crowds and keep the standees and goods at some unnamed shop, it was barely over a minute. Wow.

As the dust settled down, we were wondering where’s the raid officers. The scene next left a sickening thud in my heart. 5 officers. Nicely sitting at some benches. Smoking cigarettes. One guy was looking a a designer watch, and another having a smile with a chinese guy with walkie and, yet one other guy counting some moolah. Corruption is well and alive.

Happy 20th Month Darling!

10th December 2004. Tesco Penang. 3.32pm. My life has never been the same since then. Thanks for being the girl in my life.

I love you.

Please Take Care of Yourself

Initially I was planning to write yet another chapter of my university life here, but somehow as I write and rewrite my lines out, my mind keep on flashing images of the heinous crimes committed in just these couple of weeks.  

The UTAR student who was slashed to death as he was walking back to his house left me shaking with fear and anger. He did not brandish a flashy handphone around his neck, he did not carry a thick fat wallet, and he didn’t even wear expensive branded apparels. All he was doing was just carrying his laptop, his bag and walking back to his apartment.  

And on the blady same day another student was slashed on his head and hand. And our police response is equally as atrocious. Not only were they not doing anything concrete to resolve this matter, they have the balls to ask the students to TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEMS THEMSELVES! Wtf!  

Gone are the days where we could walk without fearing for our safety. I shudder to think of the times that I walked back alone from N Park or Gelugor in the middle of the night to Saujana. Or even the times when the girls walked back from church after practice. Or Christine as she passed by the rumah setinggan area to reach Hamna. God thank you for Your protection all these times on all of us. 

To all my fellow friends who are still in uni, PLEASE, PLEASE take extra precaution.  This is a f****d up world that we are living in. Scott has written several good precautions on his blog. Read it. DO IT. Please. I don’t want to read about you in the newspaper.

Company Awards Nite

We just had our event at Sunway Convention last Sat. Pretty exciting stuffs, the thrill of standing behind the console reminded me of the time when I’m working at Hotshoes. Though now I’m on the other side.

Assigned as the photographer of the nite, so not much pics of myself.

 

The guy on my right is my ex HOD. Pretty visionary and impressive credentials, which made my CEO transfer him to marketing dept and replaced by the guy on my left. Both of them are the influential personel in my company. Believe or not he was a fashion and image consultant prior to joining our company. Which is why my hair style also looked like theirs!

Well what can i say…being photographer sometimes has its perks These usherettes are all colleagues from different depts. They all insisted to take pictures with me since I’m always behind the camera. Well as a gentleman what else can I do besides obliged…..

Will write a complete description of my working place and my current job when i recover from the exhausting event organising…

You Wanna Move In With Us?

Ever since our last makan together, I have always wanted to write about how I’ve met these wonderful people that have left indelible impressions in my life. Somehow due to certain distractions I didn’t. So before my memory fail me, better etched it out in cyberspace before my brain combust.

Even before I met my soon-to-be roommate, my Klang friends were busy sharing me tales of an arrogant guy that went out for a Q&A session during orientation week.

Apparently he started introducing himself by saying he’s not a normal band 5 MUET student but a-few-points-away-from- band-6-student (or something to that effect lah)

And seemed like during the same session he asked some pretty smart ass make people lose face kind of questions that the Chairman ejected him out from the hall.

Hearing the tales of this parti pembangkang candidate I was pretty interested to find out who he was. Lo and behold he turned up at our CF meeting not long after that.

If you think that my brother is good looking now, you should have see him in first year. With his carefully combeb back and gelled hair with the thick black-rimmed-owl-shaped glasses and perpetually in white shirt and black pants, he is more dashing than Brad Pitt (ok I’m just being sarcastic )

Not much contact with him after the initial meeting, kinda forgotten bout him since he never came for our Cameron camp (which btw, is STILL the best camp i’ve attended in uni time) and never join our batch people for the various birthday celebrations, christmas at Feringghi, the morning dim sum and other activities.

In fact almost the next time I talked to him was a life altering moment. As with any other first year graduating to second year juniors, we (me, gw, my, & ma) were looking for an apartment to stay.

We were on our way to have a look at Desa U (which up till today still make my blood boils! Sorry housemates talk) when we saw dearly beloved sitting by himself at the pondok at Sungai Dua gate. Trying to strike up some light conversations with him, I asked him if he has found a place to stay for next sem. He told me he might just need to stay in hostel.

Half jokingly, I asked him if he wants to move in with us. Mei Yee gave me a pinch instantly(which is very painful though still mild compared to pinching queen Tan Siao Ping) and MA gave me oh-no-what-have-you-done-Ken look the instant I opened my mouth. To our horror, this guy that we barely knew (and a weird guy on top of that according to MA) said yes!

That night I spend my time listening to two girls lecturing on my big mouth. Me too wondering what made me asked that fateful question. But 3 years after I popped that question to him, the very same two girls now has reasons to thank me And me too have reasons to be thankful. Because of you brother. Thank you Scott.