Dance

I really would like to learn the traditional Indian dance, or belly dancing. How I wish I had more time between uni and uni, and more money of course. Their dance is by far the most intoxicating amongst all. Screw salsa, they only make people look too slutty for their own good. No offense.

On weddings.

You know when your best friend gets married and you've been offered the honor of being the bridesmaid? You'd gladly accept it without hesitance (obviously) and think to yourself, 'Oh how amazing it would be to be alongside your best friend during her wedding day. I mean, how tough can being a bridesmaid be anyway?'

Wrong. It is the toughest, most pressured 3 hour job/role you can possibly have in your entire life. Okay, I may be exaggerating, but seriously, you think it's all hunky dory being up there on stage, fanning the bride, and smiling every now and then, (scratch now and then, it's all the time!) but it's really a responsibility, one that might affect your friend/best friend's most special day in her life, good or bad. So let me tell you this, if you are the type, prone to knocking into things, best that you let someone else do the job. I'm speaking from experience. :p

So, I was my best friend's bridesmaid, or in Malay terms, pengapit. In traditional Malay culture, the pengapit is someone who escorts the bride to the dais, fans her, and dabs tissue on her face if she's sweating. That's just the gist of it. What people don't know is how you have to stand for about half an hour to 45 minutes on stage, in heels, and not know where to look at. As for me, I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I fanned her with one hand, and the other hand, I almost..almost mencekak pinggang. As for where to look, I tried looking down, but I didn't want to look dumb, so I looked at the other pengapit lelaki, but I didn't want people to think I'm checking him out, I tried looking at the bunga telur girls, but it got really boring, so I looked ahead and smiled, and that's when a camera clicked and tadaa I looked like some camera crazy lunatic of pengapit. In the end, I just gazed steadily at the audience. I went from right to left and then right again and then left again. I must've looked nervous because my mum said from where she was sitting (which was right in front), I looked very very uncomfortable. God knows I'm not made to be a movie star (as in being on stage for whatever purpose). Oh and to add on to the embarrassment, prior to all that, I accidentally placed the hand cushion (cushion for the bride to place her hands on) on the floor near her feet, thinking it was the feet stand. Great.

Also, prior to that, while escorting the bride and groom to the dais, I tripped on the tail of her dress three times. That happened while I was cautiously looking at where I was stepping, no kidding. I was more than embarrassed, I was mortified. To add onto that, when I went on stage to sing for her, I forgot to include "Hi, this is for my best friend, Mira'. I just went on singing like I was part of the band. Really, really awful.

Nonetheless, being her bridesmaid gave me the opportunity to be a part of her wedding. Since I've spent 6 years abroad, I hardly get the chance to have really quality time with her, like how we used to have during schooling days. Though I might have made a fool out of myself, looking at her being so happy and glowing, made it all worthwhile. It gave me that warm and fuzzy feeling, I almost got teary eyed. To think after all these years of attending weddings, there she is, my best friend of 9 years, sitting on the dais, all mature and gorgeous, on her own wedding day. We used to dream of how our weddings would turned out to be and I must say, she's gotten her wish, just right, all perfect.

I'm nowhere near getting hitched but at times, I do dream of how my wedding would turn out to be, and I'm not surprised if I turn out to be a bridezilla ;p So watch out future pengapits, I may just be your worst nightmare :p

Brrr

Adelaide is cold. It's back to being cladded in winter clothes, layers upon layers, and the very very unpredictable weather. Just today, it was actually warm, when yesterday was super cold. So I looked pretty silly in my muffler and jacket, when others did not even bother to layer up. Oh well. That's what happens when you wake up just in time for lunch, and didn't even have time to check the weather forecast.

I miss Malaysia, obviously. This is however, my last semester hopefully. So, I'm about to make it worthwhile :)

ps: I forget how expensive coffee is here. Had to think twice whether or not to have coffee. Oops, I still owe Ron one buck. Haha.

Food

After four years, I finally got to eat Berger Ramli, thanks to Nik. After fasting the whole day, I was so happy when devouring the currypuffs and cucur badak in the car, on the way to see this play, Cock (Yes, the name of the play was Cock). After the play, all four of us went to eat Nasi Pekapau, which is basically rice with egg, and beef cooked with basil and garlic and chili and eaten with sambal belacan. Awe-some. I had 2 fillings of the beef and I finished it clean. Out of the blue, I suddenly thought of berger Ramli and how I've not eaten it in years. So on the way to drop me back home, we went on a search for berger Ramli and I finally got one! Got home, and finished it. I know I shouldn't have. Awh well, too late. I forgot how gooooood it tasted. Yum. Okay, since this post is about food, I'll be listing down all foods that I've devoured for the 2+ weeks that I've been home.

1. KFC ( a must. except that the dude spoiled my order and gave me drumstick and breast. I hate chicken breast)
2. Pizza (I have pizza almost every week in adelaide so this is pretty much bleh)
3. TGIF (Had the chicken cheese something something)
4. Chilis (had the ranch berger)
5. Tony Romas (Had the ribssssss yooooo)
6. Nasi Pekapau
7. Berger Ramli
8. NZ garden (mashed potatoes and kueyteow goreng)
9. NZ (maggi goreng)
10. La bodega (Pancakes)
11. Penang Village (Wantan Noodles)
12. Alexis (Pavlova and Choc cake)
13. Al Rawsha (Some rice with lamb thing)
14. Pink Sage Solaris (Chilli fries)
15. Sri Intan Tomyam (Nasi Campur)
16. Some kedai in Shah Alam Lupa nama seksyen 8 (Nasi Campur)
17. Sushi Zanmai (Chicken katsu don)
18. Kedai mamak somewhere in bukit bintang (Nasi goreng daging merah)
19. Nasi Lemak Wanjor in Kg Baru (Nasi lemak duh)
20. Donuts+desserts+I'm about to barf now thinking about all the foods I've consumed and trust me it's more.

Ohmygod. I really did come back to eat, I was so not kidding :S

Here's a fucking mirror.

It's so hard to be there for someone who's never really been there for you.

It's not just a 'you, you, you' world out there. Sometimes, it's a 'me' world too. Get that.

If you don't, this is no longer working. I no longer find detaching as a problem anymore.

Highschool much? Here's a mirror, you be the judge.

Bunnies.

My cousin lost a baby earlier this year. It was going to be her first. She's 27 and her husband is 35. I can't even begin to describe how really sad the situation was for them. Matters worse, it was going to be my aunt's first grandchild. My cousin not only lost her baby in her 7 month pregnancy, but had to go through normal labour, pantang and all, only without a child.

So I visited her today and she was smiling. She came bearing very good news. She is pregnant again...with twins! Even better, they're not identical twins. It was as if God took away their first child and gave it back together with the next one. I do believe that God works in mysterious ways. What are the odds of having non-identical twins? Very rare if you ask me. I only know two (four if you want to count numbers) non-identical twins in my life. Alhamdulillah.

Sometimes I think of the ridiculous situation I was being put through for the past 5 years, and not being strong enough to pull myself out of it. Now, I begin to see the whole point of it. It hurt like hell, it made me stupidly change my course of study like I'm some fucking retard, it made me close to a potential crazy person and many more. What I realise now is that it made me see how I was able to enjoy life without the crazies, how I'm able to quickly recover from a bruise and how I've gained friends that I don't think I would have had the energy to form a relationship with, had I not phase and pull myself out of the predicament.

You just need to have faith, and really believe. Having said that, what I do believe in is 90 percent effort and then you leave it up to fate ;)

Talk

This has nothing to do with anything but I don't like guys with shrilly voice (and talk a lot with that too). They remind me of something unpleasant, like a smelly mustache dipped in cranberry sauce, giving you that- eh is this nice, is this not? I know it's not nice but maybe I could give it a chance? I mean it is cranberry sauce. No, it's smelly. Let's just stick to that. Though, who am I to judge? I'm no Macy Gray myself. Yes, that was not a mistake. Macy Gray, don't you just love her?

Macy Gray. Her voice exudes this mixed emotions. Is she sad? Is she happy? Is the song supposed to be sad? Is it supposed to be happy? Angry even? You'd never know. It's like just when you think she's singing about happy, then you think, mmmmaybe it's just her trying to cover up her sadness within? You'd never know. All that from just her voice. Miraculous. It's like you turn on your ipod at 2 am, whilst having yourself covered in the thickest of duvet, with the AC on, and the first song that plays on random was "I try". See, I'd be kidding and sort of pretentious if I were to mention a totally different and unknown song, where you readers, would have to google it, and not instantly know what I'm talking about. Cos let's face it, the only people I know who own a Macy Gray cd are the Gilmore Girls and they're not even real. Then again, I don't know that many people all around. Maybe they download out of curiosity. Back to the back to, so you listen to "I try" in all the condition I was telling you about and then you close your eyes for a minute, while trying to engage to the song. When you come to the part where she sings "I believe that fate has brought us here.." you frown. You realise that hey, this is supposed to be sort of a sad song, but why, why do you feel light? Do you believe that her tone could have been more hopeful rather than too confident? It was like she truly believed fate brought them there, how could you feel sad for people like that? I'm so not saying that her voice is funny. In fact, I find it beautiful. It's a myriad of different colorful expressions, all by just listening to one song. And the chorus...it sort of becomes this whole joke. Why would you joke about something sad, like a break up? I love the enunciation though. It's as if we really can't hear her well enough if the 'try' was narrowed down a notch.

Dear good good people. This post is going absolutely nowhere. It had nothing to do with the voice of the guy I encountered today because that would be mean. It did not lead to me thinking about Macy Gray, because I simply adore her, and her one song. It did not make me think with that written, it was going nowhere, because that would be too ostentatious, no?

Gin Rummy

Dad taught how to play Jinrami (Gin rummy? Jin Rummy? Jingramy?) earlier tonight. It's this card game, which mocks the excellence of poker in a way, but perhaps made for those who wanted a game with a bit of strategy and not just pure luck. I have no idea how strategy works with poker, and whether you have a good hand or not, baffles me. Anyway, here's how the game goes:

Preferably, there's four players. You play with 4 decks of cards (no idea why). Each gets 15 cards. And so the game begins. To decide who plays first, each take one card from the deck and whoever gets the smallest number starts first.

When it's your turn, you dispose a card and then draw another one. The aim of the game is to basically finish all your cards. How do you that?

To do that, you'd have to have your cards placed on the table, facing upwards, and to be able to perform that, you'd need a passport. A passport consists of numbers in order of the same suit, and they'd have to be four or more cards. Example: 2,3,4,5 of spades. Or 10,J,Q,K of hearts. If you have than four numbers in order, you're more than welcomed to put em down. It's for your own benefit anyway (The less cards the better, remember?). So once you have a passport, you're able to pair up any threes or more (three being the minimum) of either the same numbers from different or the same suite (doesn't matter) or numbers in order again but from the same suit (like for the passport, but you can have only 3 cards for this one, or more, your choice). You can only do this during your turn. Another way of disposing your cards is by pairing them with your opponents'. Say after laying down your passports and your other pairs, you're left with a 5 of spade and a Jack of diamonds, if one of your opponents have a group of 5'ves that he's put on the table, you can simply chuck your 5 there (it doesn't matter the if it's the same suits or not), and if he also has 8,9,10 of diamonds, you can chuck the Jack there too (must be of the same suit).

So now we know that the aim is to lose all cards and the way of doing them. However there are two ways to win. It's either you game, or you Jin (Gin?). Game is when you have all cards on the table with your passport and disposing your cards one by one. Gin is when you have in hand, your passport, and all other cards are either in pairs or orders of number. For example, you can't have the missing link. Meaning, you can't have one or two cards that doesn't belong in any group. So once you've established that, you can straight away put them on the table and say Gin (Jin?). Usually people will be more eager to put their passport down first rather than accumulating all cards to be able to Gin it. Why? Because, when someone has 'game', the cards left on your hands will be counted and that's your score (the higher your score by the end of the night, you'll become the biggest loser). So you'd want to have less cards on your hands. On top of that, you'd have to add an additional 20 marks (Don't ask me why, game rules). However, if a person Gins, you'd have to double whatever mark there is in your hands. Say if you're left with a 10 and a jack (10+10=20), it'll become, 40. So that's why you won't want to take the chance to Gin by accumulating a lot of cards, unless chances are really good and you can see or predict that others won't be able to Gin before you.

So there you go, a really messed explanation on Gin Rummy. You should ask me in person though. With my hand gestures, you'd understand everything within the first 5 minutes.

ps: It has been my dad's dream to finally be able to teach his daughter how to play Gin Rummy, so that he could have game night on weekends. He tried so many times but I was too densed. And so he succeeded.

Shapoopy

I hate it when there's a gadget malfunction, like the inability to text from your phone. I know some prefer to call, but texting serves its own purpose.

1) You're in a cinema and you really need to tell someone you're gonna be late.

2) You're not really in the mood to talk to people.

3) You're not really in the mood to talk at length.

4) You just like hearing your sms tone.

5) You'd like to anticipate what the message contains.

6) You'd like the chance of reading "hey beautiful, look behind you".

7) You just can't stand some people's voices.

8) Some people sound a lot nicer when they text.

9) Gives you the benefit of the doubt.

10) Let's you convey your message without sounding truly transparent.

And honestly, there's a whole lot more. I personally like both, text and call. I text more because it's cheaper but now with Hotlink's Youthplan, calling has been made cheaper too so I don't really care. Though, it's still a little annoying when you try sending a text and it goes straight to your outbox. Where the fuck is the missing link?

I'm halfway through reading catcher in the rye by j.d salinger. I'd have to say, I've heard about the book since I was 18 because I read in someone's Friendster page that his favorite book was catcher in the rye. I made a mental note to check it out but year after year, my habit of reading turned to the habit of watching dvds. So, yes, I was one of those idiots who started to line up buying his books just after he was gone.

Anyway, I get this weird feeling while reading his book. I felt like I was in character of something. I'm not really sure. It's quite an easy book to read, and I'm really hooked to it. It's one of those books where you'd want to read em bit by bit, cause once it's finished, there's no more. Hmm.

I got to know a very ridiculous story today. Funny and ridiculous. Though, it's not really worth this blog space, honestly. I'd be better off writing about ducks. Ducks can swim. On that note, have you ever wondered why toilet cleaners always associate themselves with ducks? So ducks=jamban? Is it because they are creatures of water and toilet comes hand in hand with water or, the toilet seat represents the duck's beak? Curiouser and curiouser.

I have made a thousand scenes in my head, all of which I fantasize to use one day. Though, the simplest one I deem the toughest. It involves a mobile phone, a book and a toilet. See how all three paragraphs correlate?

Anna was reading a book when she was distracted by a 'hello' from someone, someone she can't seem to recall but in return seems to recall her. She fished out her mobile phone from her pocket and started dialing random numbers, and started the conversation with "Hi, yea. Are you here yet? If you are I'll come straight to you right now. Now." She emphasizes on the 'now' part, with the someone, the dude still standing in front of her. At this point, he seemed pretty translucent to her eyes, not transparent because she did try to move aside from where he was standing, and he made way. Anna smiled politely but said "Hi, but I really don't know who you are and I'm scared. This is a big city and my friend is here, waiting for me. He has the arms as strong as the bulldozer and would cut you in half with just his nails. They're long and dirty." Anna then walked away, and into the toilet, where she stayed and finished her book without any further disturbance.

Hmm

I have a flaw of not being able to express the right emotions/expression especially at the time most needed. I never realised that before, till some time tonight. It was an eye opener to say the least. It's sort of funny, considering I'm not the type to be reserved in my thoughts and opinions (very bad). You could say, I was in a very weird situation I'd never thought I'd be in, tonight. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't weird to the naked eye. It was a really normal everyday thing being discussed. It was weird because I did not have an answer prepared. I always do.

Baboon has no extra b

At times like these, I really feel like listening to Pink Floyd's 'Wish you were here'. Awesome piece.

Exam ended with a bang. Forget how cold that Friday morning was, I was sneezing throughout my paper, and by the time it finished, I was coughing too. Yay. Though, it was the most amazing feeling in the world. I felt like I haven't properly showered + dressed up + eaten in days. So, to get that bloody paper done with felt like a hot molten sundae on a very sunny day. It means fullamak! The finishing of exams bore me with another gift: Sab arrived! To cut a long story short, we managed to talk, eat, shop, walk, played games, and all the other verbs you could think of, in a span of 4 days. It felt too soon, though. We didn't get to go to the beach (yes. hell no in winter), the park (hell no in winter), the ice skating rink (okay, now I'm just trying to find random places which you'd hate to be around during winter). All in all, it was good fun and we're hoping for a second visit. Soon after, I boarded the plane for Malaysia. Too awesome for words.

Now, as awesome as it was, it was randomly weird. First of all, it was the first time I was held up at the counter for 20 mins for nothing. Subsequently, they upgraded me to business class (but with standard coach food). Later, the supervisor came to tell me they wanted to block my seating area so they upgraded me to better seats which served better food. Also, they were too polite by asking me whether that will be okay. It was so weird. Like, would I really object to a free upgrade with better food?

After 6 hrs of half sleeping/half sneezing/half coughing, I was given a surprise. A plastic bag full of kacang. The stewardess said "Nah, kasi kat org kampung". I was so overwhelmed, I thanked her and said my mom is a really big fan of those salted peanuts. My cousin who used to work with the airline used to bring back bags and bags of those nuts for her. Anyway, soon after she knew that, she gave me another plastic bag full of nuts, together with mouthwash (?), mugs (like those ceramic ones), wineglass (?), glasses (??), socks and some other stuff I can't remember. It was so so random! Though, Alhamdulillah. Sangat bersyukur.

Now, I'm back for 3 weeks in KL. It amazes me how my mum keeps my room so clean and tidy for months, and it only takes me one day to destroy that happy picture. Haha. Now, to find that cheap, colorful carpet from Ikea. Everytime I come back, I always find it hidden somewhere, and I'd have to drag it out from Godknowswhere to put it back where it belongs, in front of my bed, next to my cupboard. I don't know what my mom or my maid have against my carpet. It's blue+orange+green+white, and so pretty. Okay, so it doesn't exactly match anything in my room. Big deal. There's still that piece of hawaiian lei hung by the curtains and I don't see it being taken out. Okay, now I'm just observing what's wrong with my room and it's gonna get pretty boring and anal. So, imma leave that just between me and my personal thoughts.

ps: I have lost the ability to write like a person in a span of one week. Only a baboon would appreciate whatever I write now. Shit. This is so bad. xx

So it's more paper and then I'm done for the semester! Woooooooot!

And such a great way of ending it too. Sabrina is coming from Sydney and we're gonna have some fun girly time together yay!

At this moment, I can't seem to find it in myself to study anymore, so I'm just staring at my notes. Notes which I've made a week ago, hoping that by just staring, my mind is able to absorb the essence of it.

I hate Marketing. There I've said it.

But I'm so looking forward to my trip back to KL. I've missed my bathroom SO MUCH. They're due for some lovin'. haha. xxx

Snow.

Winter is starting to get colder and colder everytime in Adelaide. Someone please do something about global warming!

While others love to dress up in winter clothing, all posh and and comfy, I would certainly opt to dress in lesser layers. First of all, those jackets are bulky and second, there are so many things to don on before you get really really comfortable (scarves, beanies, more scarves?). During these times, I adore the Malaysia weather. Though it is getting hotter as we speak, but its thoroughly awesome. You can get by with a shirt and jeans anytime, anyday.

Some people love the snow but me? NO. When in Phoenix, on the way to the Grand Canyon, there was snow along the way and we all went ooohhh and ahhhh (well me especially because my brother, mom and dad aside, I was the only one who hadn't seen snow before). As soon as we stepped out of the vehicle, oh lord! I was only able to pose for a few pictures and then it was back to the car. Yes, I'm uncool like that. And to spend the time making a snow man? No thank you!

I used to remember when we were young, my dad would bring us to Mines Wonderland, just to get the feel of how playing with snow would feel like (and of course it would cost cheaper than to bring us overseas haha). But dude, it is nothing compared to the real deal. I would say, Mines Wonderland was a whole lot better! I mean, you were given jackets and those warm bottles to keep your hands warm. So, we were playing with 'snow' in all its warmth! Haha, what an oxymoron.

Although I would have to say, snow makes everything look nicer, especially when it's nearing Christmas time. It gives that extra vibe to the already fun loving holiday and I love the decorations. When we took pictures at the Canyon, everything looked fake! It was as if some weird dimension decided to swallow the lot of us and bring us to Narnia! Haha. It was then that I truly believe my dad whenever he said "You's love to play with snow now, wait till you actually play with it, or wait till you actually have to live amongst snow". How very true. Not only were we cold enough as it is, there has to be trickles of snow in our boots and gloves (which obviously turned to icy cold water by the time we got into the vehicle). We were shivering like our lives depended on the heater, and the heater alone. Oh and like all other Malaysians, (or at least the very traditional one like me) I enjoyed the Nasi Lemak Auntie Shirin packed for us for the journey. She has been living in the states for about 15 years now and everytime a family member comes, it has become part of her touristy thing to bring them to the Canyon, and she knows just exactly what to pack, to make us feel like home. And boy was she right on target. We devoured the packet in just ten minutes (five minutes maybe for my brother), and it gave us that nice, warm feeling inside. Nasi Lemak in the Grand Canyon, EPIC.

So to those of you who would love to live amongst snow (snow I regard as a different being al together. I swear they have lives) just be thankful that you're in a place where even if it's hot, there's always the air conditioner to make your life a lot easier. I'm not being poyo. I'm being honest. Heck, why the hell did I not think of Hawaii when applying for a uni/college? Oh, that's right. The moolah. But awh, I could've hula-ed my way straight to a degree in all its awesomeness and people loving weather, and not to mention, the mouth-watering dudes. Drooooooooooool.