Iskandar.....

White Elephant?
Why Iskandar when you have Cyberjaya?
Hello KItty???? omg....

Between love and madness, lies xenophobia

Between love and madness, lies xenophobia....

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

Well, and so I thought I'll be really creative (and not lazy!) and instead of just asking someone to be my bridesmaid, I'll make a blog for my bridesmaids. Just so they know how special they mean to me, no joke!

It will be a portal for them especially those overseas, to plan for their travel itinerary, and also for me to upload maps and info for them. And there are also some 'male' bridesmaids...well whoever said they have to be female anyways :)

Also a good portal for them to plan the 'games' for andrew...

But it's still early. But, it's always good to be prepared.

Here's a poem I extracted from some card and modified....

As friends, we have travelled many roads together

.....through difficult times, and happy times,

Laughed and cried together,

Would you take one more step with me...

Would you be my Bridesmaid?

Macau

It was a surprisingly good trip. We scaled the hills and lonely roads in Macau and had a greatttttt time. From St. Paul's ruins to Cotai Strip to St Francis Xavier church in Coloane, it was all a great experience and we had a lot of good photographs.

The only bad experience was us getting on the cab to our hotel. I told the taxi driver in Cantonese to take us to Ole London Hotel. He screwed us and said he doesnt know where that is, and I gave him the address in printed in English, and kena screw lagi. Finally, on my last bid, I pronounced London in a chinese-y way, and THEN he knew where it was! GOsh!!!!!!!!!!

The only thing that really irks me are the Chinese nationals who were on the flight back to KL with us. I had to sit next to a chinese lady, and it was ok until I saw her wearing those disposable gloves. My mind was running wild thinking what the hell is she trying to do. Then she proceeded to take a plastic bag out from her bag, and starting eating ROAST PORK.... with the hand in glove! and spitting bones out to the vomit bag in the other hand. Well prepared I must say, except that she left a big patch of oil (porky) on the tray...... Let's not even talk about her digging her nose profusely before her 'meal'.

CNY 2010

it was a quiet CNY this year... I was the only sibling back for the new year eve dinner this time round. But I really enjoyed bumming in Ipoh...there's just something about Ipoh that I can't quite pinpoint. Maybe K is right about Ipoh being the best city in the world.

I spent a few days reading Zen and Taoism comic books. It's like a weird ritual whereby I always read them before CNY.....THe same books year after year. Something calming about that (or maybe it's just cause there's no ASTRO in Ipoh..hehe). I keep discovering new things..and there's something that I took away with me this time....that we should never succumb to materialism. we should not get attached to material things. It's silly but there are many amongst us who are slaves to branded stuff.

Another thing I learnt from my mom this CNY is GREED. Greed is I think is what breaks a family. I learnt from my mom that it's ok to be generous to a greedy person. One may think that he/she has gotten the best out of you, but God knows and God sees.

happy CNY and have a prosperous year ahead.

CNY bowling

Had a good time today with the kids from Agathians.. I must say I have not done any bowling since forever! Almost forgot how good it feels. I still suck at it, but enjoy it nevertheless. It was a bit chaotic though... Had a chance to see their quarters today, it's a bit congested and messy. Feels good to do something different for this CNY. The experience only makes me appreciate my life more. Peace.

The Boat That Rocked

I'm surprised how much I've enjoyed this. Haha. I think all these movies (ever since Zombieland) have hit my funny bone. This is a movie about Pirate Radio...and if you love music, especially the 60s...you'll like this movie. It's about a pirate radio station on a boat, about recklessness, rock 'n' roll, the 60s, about deejays and love for music. I like the end when they rolled an array of album covers. Nice. Reminded me of that book on music albums Imn bought for me. Watch it for the music!

Zombieland

Seriously just for fun!!!! loads of laughter and a feel-good movie. enjoy.

More than Just A Picture Perfect Moment....

We just met our photographers for our wedding. A family friend, which is a big plus because I'll know he'll capture a lot of special moments, better than any other photographer. We had an informal meetup with him and the partner and it was comfortable. I think it's important to be comfortable with your photographer, no? He/She has to be able to put you at ease, so you'll be camera-friendly. They both had good synergy (well, they are a couple too!), and I trust that they'll bring the best out of our wedding. We saw some samples and Andrew loves it. It's important that he does since he loves photography...... We love it that it's contemporary, and NOT DULL. None of those photoshop shit, and bling blings, stars, clouds & whatnots...

He also gave us a lot of ideas..things we have not even thought about. Like color theme....they recommended some colors that would make great photography, coz hey, they want their pictures to turn out great too! Also gave us a sense of what to prepare and how to get organized. Wow, I dont think other photographers would talk in length about things other than the service fee etc etc. Thanks Petertan&Evelyn . In you, we trust.

The Ideal Wedding

Someone told me yesterday that her wedding was from 10am to 3pm, no jip san leong, no wedding dinner, no alcohol, NO FRILLS. She didnt even had her bridal shoot, even though her husband was a professional photographer! Hah! I'm full of envy.

Truth is I wanted a no-hassle wedding. A simple ceremony. I'm not a flashy person nor an exhibitionist. Close friends would know that I hate attention and would rather be invisible most of the time. P use to tease me that I would walk in and out of the office as if I was invisible and kept a really low profile. No bridal shoot either because it just feels too artificial to me. Especially those that are extensively edited, with stars and dreamy sticker-like backdrop.

But I guess like all things in life, you can't have everything your way. I'm hoping to do the conventional chinese wedding dinner over and done with on the 1st day. The whole works. And then settle in for a fantabulous one on the 2nd night.

Jimui

It's the season for weddings... Every woman is either the bride or the jimui or the guest. Well you know how brides can get. They want the perfect wedding because it's a once in a lifetime kinda thing. Sweet. And so, a friend of mine appointed me and A as part of the jimuis entourage.

So she gave A the heads up about the dress- pink and satin. And it's free coz my friend is a clothing merchandiser and could get it done dirt cheap in China. Just the notion of pink and satin is enough to make A gag. Childish, it seems. And so my friend brought samples and even the colour board for us to choose. So i told her, seriously, I dont care, the bride chooses and I'll wear whatever color the bride wants! After all, isnt' that what being a jimui is all about?

I told A that we're just gonna be freaking wearing it for a couple of hours. Just do it. Do it for a friend. But still, A refused. She'll rather not be the jimui. People dont realize planning your own wedding can be really stressful, and it's disheartening to see my friend on the verge of crying, trying all her best to accomodate to ALL the jimuis.

someone ought to write the dos and donts of being a jimui.

Alienation....

You ever been caught in a situation where everyone speaks the same language except you? A room full of Mandarin-speaking people? Few years back, that was how it was day in day out at work.... almost till I've developed a selective hearing, as H puts it. Yeah, I've mastered the art of ignoring everyone and just go about my business without a care of what anyone is saying. I've learned to alienate myself because I am being alienated in the first place!

I was overjoyed when I didnt have to go through that anymore at the new workplace....that is until I was sent based at a client's place, where the people are mostly Chinese. Nothing wrong with that, except that there are also Indians in the same dept, and everyone just choose to speak Cantonese. I spoke to M yesterday about it. She and another colleague, G, both Indians are based at the client's place same as me. People around us who are Chinese like to speak Mandarin/Cantonese, I think that's fine, but you don't switch from English to Mandarin/Cantonese all of a sudden in the midst of a discussion with others, as if having another private discussion. As if you're alienating the Indians on purpose. As if they are not worthy of your respect.

Many would think that the rest of the minority group would just have to ACCEPT that these kind of situation happens because it's NORMAL as the majority group can't help it but to gradually converse in their mother tongue. I mean, what bullshit! I'm sure they know how to write RESPECT and MANNERS in Mandarin. Some senior manager actually said to me " aiya, you don't know Mandarin??? Work with me, must know Mandarin, if not very hard lah" How horrendous. I've proved otherwise that I can still do my job without conversing in Mandarin.

I thought we would have grown out of this. Years after our independence, we seemed to behave as if we are even more unrefined than before.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

A beautiful film by Clint Eastwood, with Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela (good cast!). The movie had me in tears, for some odd reason, seeing one visionary man who used sports (rugby) to unite his people and bring an end to apertheid, made me secretly wish that the same could happen in my own country. In the movie, Mandela taught us that we should not hold on to petty revenge, but to forgive... Truly inspiring. Malaysia in its own ways, has achieved some level of democracy and unity...and I hope one day I could watch a movie depicting our struggle too.

2010

2009 ended with much excitement. And there's been a lot of changes. For one, I'm now Mrs Yeong, technically; customary wise, I stilll need to go through the Ko Tai Lai, before it's official.

2. At work, I've embarked on something totally new, and I'm embracing the change. Some people are resistant to change, but I love change, at work at least. It keeps me excited at work and breaks the monotony.

3. 2009 was the year of me adapting to staying alone and with andrew thereafter. It's nice to play house with someone, that's something WY said to me.

4. No big purchases. Except for the trip to Melbourne. Was worth it, as it was a long overdue family trip. oh plus Andrew :) . And minus Imn.

Resolutions. I dont really have any. Maybe just embrace 2010 and make the best out of it. Find new places to explore and live, and let live, everyone!

Joining the Club

I've officially stepped into the 'Married' club this morning. Attendees: 17 adults and 2 kids. Venue: Putrajaya. Time: 9.30ish. It was done in almost 5 minutes I would say. And then maybe another 5 mins for a photo session. Drinks: canteen at Putrajaya JPN. Lunch: Putrajaya Seafood Restaurant. We had a private room , 2 tables and at RM750.....think it was alright.

I guess if I had to write a review on our lives together to date it would look like this:

• that fateful day at the mamak till 2am
• the Great Fall...and everything else that came with that....
• our days apart when I was in Indonesia
• the journey working towards and during the Europe trip
• living together and playing house...
• in preparation towards our marriage...

Status check: Still feels the same, we have been living together for a while now, so have no clue what's in store next, but we've always been the 'take it as it comes' couple so everything will be just fine....

DIY Bouquet

I decided a while back that I was going to DIY the bouquet, since for the ROM, I'm probably using it for less than 30mins....so, no reason to spend a bomb on it. I surveyed the florist etc and the minimum I had to spend would be RM120....for a almost decent one. So.....I was on a mission, make my OWN BOUQUET!

And so, I was contemplating on whether to get real or artificial flowers. The advantage of fakes would be that it's REUSABLE. boleh recycle, or pass on to my niece when she's the flower girl. Oklah, i thought, let it be FAKES.

I was at British Homes while waiting for Azlan to meet me for tanni, so I chanced upon some pretty good fakes, better than those in Ikea, and Floristika, so heck I bought 3 bunch for RM15.

Below is the first attempt....


At first glance when I was done with the ribbons last nite, I thought, oklah, boleh pass. but those red pins were really bothering me coz it looked like the bouquet was diseased, or full of acne. I knew those pins had to be replaced. So we went pin hunting today. Finally found some at a cheesy bookstore in Kota Damansara.....and...voila! All done under RM40. :)

Now I'm officially DONE.

credit: endroog for taking part in choosing the ribbons... (paying for it as well, hehe,) and for his brilliant idea to try pin-hunting at the cheesy bookstore. Could not have done it without u, haha.

The Prisoner

6 episods. 2 days. Endless unanswered questions. Half the time I'm asking myself , wtf is going on? Someone please enlighten me. Please go watch The Prisoner starring Jim Caviezel (from Passion of Christ) and Ian McKellan (LOTR). I can't decide if the plot was bad, or the editing was bad, or is it just trying too hard to be different?

With A Girl Like You

I want to spend my life with a girl like you, ba ba ba ba bam,

And do all the things that you want me to, ba ba ba bam,

Till that time has come, that we might live as one,

Can I dance with you, ba ba ba bam.- The Troggs

How's this for a walk-in song?

The One

My ROM date is fast approaching, this month to be exact. I had a question asked by a friend over a couple of beers the other day. She was really serious, and (in fact she asked me twice) she asked me if I was ABSOLUTELY SURE that I am READY and if I truly believe that he's the ONE for me.

I really don't think there's an answer for this. How can anyone know for sure. "You just know it when you're ready-lah." was my answer. "Are you ready to take on the next phase in your life?"... "I'll take it as it comes. As long as I know we're gonna take it on side by side." was my answer...

"So is he THE ONE?" ...... I guess I'll never know, but I know this, there's no one else I'll rather grow old with.

Principle Dilemma

I do believe it really takes a lot to change me. Well, duh, it took years to 'form' me! I am what I am and there are just some things that I just won't and can't change. Like my habits, my preference and my stand on certain things. Change in my job, or change in my marital status, or my age will not change this.

Have you ever been caught in a situation when some people want you to conform to what they think is the perfect or rightful daughter, son, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, employee, employer, mother, father etc. Have you ever had to speak or behave differently because others do not approve?

But it's true, over time, we need to 'change'. We cannot be self-centered and only do what we want. We'll have to compromise. But never compromise your principles. So hard to decide whether your principles are right or wrong though.

Like for instance, going home for the CNY eve. Say you're married, and traditionally, the wife should spend CNY eve at the husband's side. Over the years, people have compromised and now the husbands are ok to go back during alternate years. Is this wrong? My dad has no sons....and if all of us are not allowed to come back during CNY eve, who's gonna spend CNY eve with my parents? Although they are fine with it....reason being that we could always come back on the 1st day or 2nd day, but i guess it's not fine with me. I cannot imagine them being alone during CNY eve, and I guess I would not be enjoying CNY eve either.

My working environment is as such that everything is client-orientated. We need to do our best to make the client look good. My livelihood and sustainability relies on how they rate us. They are crude and chinaman-like and do not hesitate to tell you what they feel about the Indian subordinates and colleagues. Few times I had to bite my tongue, but my conscience tells me I should say something. And I did, but indirectly. It eats on me as I know they deserve better credit. At least they were more tactful and articulate when dealing with a problem, and not jump into unjust complaints laced with racism. When I share this, everyone says "learn to ignore". And I guess that helps.

Over the years, yes, I've had to deal with my own principles, modifying it and adjusting it when necessary. It's so hard to hold on to your cards sometimes. Sometimes we just need to let it go.