To fly a kite

In all my childhood, I've had only a few recollection of flying a kite. I've owned a really beautiful cotton kite, but never had a chance to fly it. I don't know where it is now.

My most vivid kite flying experience was with a 50 sen kite that I bought, made of plastic bag. Running the whole length of beach to set the kite on it's take-off only left me stuck half-body in the quicksand, and a missing sandal. Plus, the plastic tore off the kite. So there goes my kite flying experience.

This Chinese New Year, I noticed the kite man with his stall full of lovely kites. From eeny weeny ones to ginormous, 2-handed control kites. I already had a small kite from him. I decided I wanted a bigger one.

The smaller kite

The bigger kite

My sisters and I quickly set off to fly the 2 kites. It took a while, before the kite flew. Getting the kite off the ground was the tricky part, especially when the wind is minimal. Once it gets higher, it's a piss, I mean, a piece of cake.



Within minutes, both kites were high in the air. There's this beauty in flying a kite; the tension between the strings, the right amount of pull and release, the height the kite can achieve. It's all beautiful.

I learned that in order for the kite to achieve greater heights, it needs to resist the wind, tilt enough to get the leverage, and boost its way up. And the kite can only soar as high as the string allows it to.

Sometimes, we as humans, wish for freedom, like a flying kite. But rules and restrictions are in place, similar to the string attached to the kite. But without that string, the kite would probably get detached and blown away, and crash. It got me thinking that rules and restrictions in our lives are there to give us enough healthy tension for us to soar. Without it, we might lose ourselves, and crash. But if we know how to make full use of it, we are able to soar higher and higher.

Out of the philosophical mode, I lost the bigger kite that day:( The wind was too strong and it swept it away from our hands. I could only watch helplessly as the wind took the kite, together with the string out of my hands and over the sea. It was a heavy feeling of losing a beutiful kite. I was really sad. But that's life. We get something, we try our best to fly it, and sometimes, we lose it:(

Good news is, in life, sometimes we get second chances. I know the kite man will always be there with his stall full of colorful kites:) And for a small fee, I can purchase a small piece of happiness:)

2008 at a glance

2008 has been a go-do-it year, without much space to stop and think. But before the final hours of the year passed, I managed to scribble some stuff down, and in no particular order, these are some of the events that has transpired in the last 365 days.

SWITCHFOOT LIVE IN KUALA LUMPUR

The first song I heard from them was 'Dare You To Move', and I was an immediate fan. They were barely big back then, but deep down, I knew they would make it big someday. Never in my life did I expect this band to visit Malaysia. When I heard they'll be docking on our shores, I nearly ran naked round the town in euphoria. Ok, I was kidding with the naked part. They did an awesome show. This is on of my life dream coming to past.

UNDER HEADLIGHTS

Earlier in 2008, my previous band, Oneted, disbanded. 2 months after the 'breakup', Under Headlights was born. Joni is the missing link we needed all these while. We've recorded 2 singles so far. Stay tuned for more:) I'm excited each time I think of it, and it's another life dream waiting to happen.

MEAD JOHNSON

I switched jobs middle of the year from a small china man company to a multinational company. And I can see the vast difference. It was a major decision to change, but it was worth the shot. I was getting restless from the routing, and change was calling out. This is part of my crazy team, doing some 70's dance, together with my boss, and his boss. I find that there's some use for my singing and dancing talents here:p (I don't sing well, and can't dance for nuts)

STORY OF THE YEAR

This is another of my favorite band. They're fun to watch. If you want to see a power-packed, energetic and crazy show, it's gotta be them. And they came to Singapore. Close enough for me. I paid RM200 for a ticket, drove down 4 hours into Singapore in the middle of the night, sleeping in the car waiting for the hostel to open. All of that was worth every sen. I couldn't get a band picture of them, but at least I got a personal photo with their rocking guitarist, Ryan. They redefine a rock concert with their backflips, guitar flinging and throwing. Check them out.

KOTA KINABALU

One of my 2008 destination list was KK. I never had the chance to visit since I was in uni. But since I joined MJ, they organized a symposium in KK. Even though I didn't get to go around much, or climb Mount K, at least I got to stay in the 5-star Shangrila Hotel, you know what I'm saying? That's another destination ticked off in my 'places to visit' list:) I still hope to climb Mount K and laze at their lovely beaches.

ISLAND HOLIDAY (LANG TENGAH)

I've never had an island get-away, or snorkeling for that matter. So, in desperation for an escape from work life, a few of us made a get-away to Lang Tengah. We literally had the whole island to ourselves. It was lovely. I enjoyed every bit of it. The best part, this was right after my trip to KK. I took a flight back to KLIA from KK, and hopped into a cab to LCCT, and then off to the island. Talk about a jet-set life. I miss chilling on the beach, catching the night breeze, watching the stars fill the sky, and knowing who made them. It was awesome! I love snorkeling.

LANGKAWI

Langkawi is another of my island destinations. I've never in my 25 years of existence been to Langkawi. It's not a 'must go' place,but it would look good on my 'been there, done that' list. This trip was another of my company's get-away programs for the staff. Didn't get to walk the sky bridge, but I managed to see eagles, and lots of huge fish. Not forgetting duty-free alcohol, which rendered me disgusted with that substance.

VOTING (MARCH 8)

I'm now eligible to vote. I did my duty as a citizen. There's no such thing as clean politics, but whichever offers the lesser of 2 evils. I think this was the day that Malaysia really woke up. And I'm happy to a part of a historic moment. Funny thing, I always had this impression that voting was such a grand event. But honestly, it was such a quick process, that it was over before I could say 'superduperfrangelisticespialidocious'.

BEST OF 80'S CONCERT

A friend won some tickets to an 80's concert in the Arena of Stars. They brought in acts such as Johny Hates Jazz, Bananarama, Howard Jones, Paul Young,and Limahl. not really my cup of tea, but it was alright. It was a day where I experienced the songs of our fathers. And it was something crazy that I would never have done. Well, love (or what you think it is) makes you do crazy thing. Did I mention I had to drive down Gentings at 2am?

SINGAPORE

I love this city. It's what Malaysia could have been, in terms of infrastructure and development. Since Story of the Year was coming down to Singapore, I decided to drive down and visit around. Stayed in some backpackers place on the borders of Geylang. No hanky panky going on. It was cheap lodging. When in Singapore, always visit the music shops:)

KITE FLYING

I've never flown a kite before. I had a nice kite given to me when I was 8. It was a typical diamond shaped kite, made of cotton with a nice tail to it. Never used it, and I don't know where is it now. When I was 10, I tried to fly a kite, running down the beach front like a mad man, only to find myself submerged to my waist in quicksand, and loosing one slipper in the process. This time round, my kite took off within seconds of purchase. It must be the wind:)

ELECTRIC GUITAR (JULIET)

This is the first guitar I purchased with my own cash. It's a beauty to look at. Got some glitch with the frets, but based on reviews, people would actually pay that kinda money just to hang it as a display coz she's so pretty! It's a hollow body, Korean made Cort.

25
I turned 25. Quarter-life crisis.

There's such a thing as free movie tix

I won 4 tickets to Bedtime Stories, a movie featuring Adam Sandler. This is the first time I won something off air, being the 2nd attempt to win anything from the radio stations. So happened the radio dj gave the instructions, while I was paying attention, and with 'what the heck' attitude, I sent a 50 cents sms. And I won me 4 tickets. Woohoo! Alrite, I'm not that enthusiastic about the movie. I'm just amused that I won something. Beginner's luck as they call it. I bet the veteran radio callers are just shrugging this whole thing off.

New

It's a WRY 8324. In Cantonese, it don't sound so good, easy die. But I guess I got to prove it wrong:) If it's time to go, it's time to go. Someone pointed out, 8 x 3 = 24. Wow!

I received it 6 days after booking it. The experience felt like I was buying insurance. I went to see the sales person, and after a brief negotiation, she asked me to sign on the dotted line. That quick, and that was the beginning of this journey.

The 6 days after the booking flew by quickly. I was excited, yet, trying to be reserved. When I collected it, I was still in a blur. It felt surreal, yet expressionless at the same time. A weird feeling. My colleague who was with me wondered why I was nonchalant about the whole thing. It's called, keeping cool:)

I stepped into it, and I felt I now own it. I've been having 2nd hands all these while. I'm not complaining. I think I've been blessed beyond measure with having 'owned' so many in such a short time. But this time, it's different. It's the 1st brand-new that I've owned, and I bought it. Suddenly, every thing needs to be in place. Suddenly, I'm cleaning off even the slightest smudge. Suddenly, I'm wiping of the rain stains. It's just a noob feeling.

In the service manual, it's stated that it needs the first service after the 1st 1,000km mark, or after 1 month, whichever comes first. In just 5 days of getting it, I've touched 1,000km already. Today, the 8th day, it's over the 1,200km mark. Do I drive a lot.

I think this is a blessing:)

Alphanumeric

MX 986
MAP 3803
MAN 3063
WJW 6292

These were the numbers that have been faithful companions ever since the rubber met the road. I have had the privilege to handle so many numbers in just 8 years, but they were 'borrowed' or given to me. I count it a blessing. But the feeling is just different, when you actually can say that you own it. Today, is the first step of owning bigger toys to play with.

Maybe, it would be a WRY or maybe a WSA. Tune in next week.

What if?

What if you were told you had only 3 months to live?
What would you do? What would you say?
What can you leave behind that will last for a long, long time?

I wish I had written this

Reason or Rhyme
by Crimson Epiphany

So grant me the grace, to keep from screaming
Give me a sign, let me know what you’re thinking
I guess that I, should’ve seen this all coming
I guess it’s time, for you to see that my heart’s breaking

There’s no reason or rhyme, to keep me from trying
To look at you out, of the corner of my eye
And I know it’s so wrong, these feelings belong
Somewhere else, But I can’t make them go away

So just let me know, that I’m not alone in this
Or give me a sign, that it’s just a crazy wish
Afraid to offer words, afraid to tell you my mind
Afraid you’d leave, or embrace the me I’m trying to hide

There’s no reason or rhyme, to keep me from trying
To make this happen, though it’s such a crime
I wish I could be so brave, to just walk away
O save me from myself, or let this all be real

Let this all be real
Let this all be real
Let this all be real
I know this all could be real

And so we’re here, how did it come to this?
I wish I knew, the power to resist
To hold you close, to see what might come of this
To save you from the heartbreak, the pain, the bliss

There’s no reason or rhyme to keep me from trying
There’s no reason or rhyme, to keep me from trying
To keep you from me, if I did, I’d be lying
And if you’d choose to stay, if you feel the same way
That I barely dare to feel, then let this all be real

There’s no reason or rhyme, to stop me from trying
To gaze into the world hidden in your eyes
And if you’d be so kind, to give me this time
And if I’m dreaming, just let me believe this is real

Let this all be real
Let this all be real
I know this could all be real

So if I told you, all the things on my mind
Do you think, I’d be surprised by what I find?

living the moment

The feeling is surreal. It is indeed somewhere over the rainbow.
But you won't find a pot of gold on the other side, not usually.

wake up kicking and screaming

The song currently playing in my head is Switchfoot's Awakening, where the bridge resounds :
I want to wake up kicking and screaming
I want to know that my heart's still beating
It's beating,I'm bleeding
I want to wake up kicking and screaming
I want to live like I know what I'm leaving
I want to know that my heart's still beating
It's beating... it's beating...
I'm bleeding

Yup, it's 6.00am in Malaysia, 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and Coordinated Universal Time. Thus, the term 'UTC+8'. I thought for a bit, of how to put that phrase into existence, and thanks to Wikipedia, I've got it. All these stuff I learned in elementary geography has long eroded since I took up engineering.
I've decided, I don't just want to blog, I want to write. Ok, that didn't sound too differentiated. Anyways, I'm giving a shot at what people call 'creative writing'. (note to self: an English teacher's definition of 'creative writing' might differ from my definition)

I can't believe I spent the last 24 minutes going on about the last paragraph. Where was I? Yes, 6.00am in Malaysia, and ...Switchfoot. I should still be in bed, but someone must have turned on 'waking life' a wee bit early today. Sucks for me.

Back to the part about waking up kicking and screaming and bleeding. I don't mean the kind when you jolt awake from a nightmare. This is more, remembering that I'm alive. And you wake up to the fact,'I'M ALIVE!'. I like the verse of John Rzeznik's Iris, where you bleed just to know you're alive.

Sometimes, Life gets too 'routined' and 'schedueled', like a bus-route plan of Melaka. (alright, Melaka has probably evolved since I left it 7 years ago, but back then, the buses were always late, and you know it would be late)
Everyday, I hit the snooze button, for the longest 5 times, before I drag myself out of bed and into the washroom. This is followed by a series of self-care and basic-maintenance and then, to the shirt and tie and looking sharp bit. Yeah, and also the hair-do. Finally, with a dash of 'toilet water', I'm out the door to join the multitudes of 'bread winners', to go get me my dough, if you get what I mean. And almost as surely, the phenomenon called the 'jam' occurs, leaving me stuck in traffic for 30 minutes, just to get out of my housing area. Ridiculous!

That's roughly the idea. It happens everyday. And before long, you become part of a system. Anything new that takes place, sooner or later, becomes a system. You don't realize it, you just get sucked into it.

I've been thinking about Life a whole lot more these days. I know this human shell is fast decaying and the average life-span is 70 years, to be optimistic. But that's average. What's the big deal about living an average life? 70 years is, but a blink, compared to the millenniums that have been.

I'd rather live a short, impactful and fulfilling life, than a boring, monotonous, routine, long, over-dued life. That said, I hope He didn't put a check-mark on my name in His books for 'coming home soon'. What is 'soon' to Him anyway? Time, to Him is irrelevant. That will be another topic of discussion. If I could have it my way, I would want a LONG, and fulfilling life. I don't want to die young. I want to die finished, knowing I did everything I could possibly have done. Knowing I did everything I was meant to do.

Life is indeed fragile. One accident, and 'poof', there goes your 'fire' in the 'tribal council'. I shall leave that for another day. The sun is up, and I have to make my way home to Beloved Melaka.

To my Muslim friends out there, 'Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri'. Save me some rendang, I'm coming over!

I still want to wake up, kicking and screaming. As if, living for the first time!

helpless

The part that hurts the most, is when you know about it, but are powerless to do anything about it:(

I hope you make the right choices. I hope you put your future ahead, take a long good look at it and see if what you're doing makes any sense. Try to imagine what you do today, having the power to destroy the future that you have. For just one moment of reckless pleasure.

Please, do this for yourself.

crazy

I guess, you've not known love, until it makes you do something...
crazy!

14 days

The seconds turn to minutes,
The minutes turn to hours,
The hours turn to days,
The days turn to weeks,

And life begins...

Morse Code

*blink blink*
*bliiink bliiink,blink blink,blink blink blink, blink blink blink*
*bliiink blink bliiink bliiink,bliiink bliiink bliiink,blink blink bliiink*

*doa*

To the God who makes the cogs in the fabric of humanity turn its course, and the wheels of time, rotate around the puny humans that walk the earth...

I need a firmer ground than this. I need a faith that knows no defeat. I need to know, if chance and time collide.....

So different, yet similar. We are, after all, humans.

*crushed*

To see your dreams,
The ones you've spent so much time building,
All crumbling to the ground....

my last 24

I just turned 25, about 2 hours ago. I don't feel any different. It's the same feeling you get when you're aboard an airplane crossing different world time zones. You pass from one time zone to another, you don't feel any different. But all of a sudden, the country you're over is maybe 2 hours behind time from the country you were previously from. You don't feel the change, but it is there.

25 years, or to be more dramatic, a quarter of a century. It's a milestone. I made it this far. And somehow, I am in no celebration mood, just yet. 2 hours prior to my birthday, I was in reminiscing/reflective mode. The question that kept lingering in my thoughts : What have I done with my life?

I've always viewed 25 as a far-off age, something that will not happen to me so soon. But time flies faster than a bullet. At least, you can stop a bullet. But who can stop time? Other than Hiro Nakamura. Now, I find 25 staring me in the face, and asking, what have I to offer?

I know what people say: 25 is only a number. It's just a phase, so what. You'll get over it.
It will definitely pass. No biggie about it. But it's just a personal thing, my personal thing. I viewed 25 as the age, I would be ready. The age where I would be prepared in all facets of life. I am now aware how naive I was. Change doesn't happen in a blink. I can't be perfect just cause the last digit on my age went up by 1. I realize, I am slightly better than I was a year ago, but nevertheless, still unprepared in many ways.

This is a wee bit emo, but before I can find a reason to celebrate, I need to know where I am now, compared to where I was a year ago. I need to find my bearings and see if it matches who I want to be. I need to realign myself to the goals I have. I need, to know that I've grown.

So, what have I done with my life? I'll tell you in the next post:)

An Island Affair

I think I should make this Island Get-away a yearly affair. This was so good! I couldn't ask for more, except maybe to see huge-ass turtles. But on the brighter side, I managed to see black-tip sharks and leopard sharks.

I so needed this, to get away from work and civilization and plug myself back to nature. It's really beautiful. After looking at the vastness of the oceans and the magnitude of the heavens, how can I not acknowledge that a greater Being has carefully crafted the universe's contents.

The moment I stepped foot on the Island, I dumped my bags and took a dip right after. This is my first Island trip, and snorkeling was just awesome. I couldn't get enough of it. If only I had a digital under-water camera.

After hours of snorkeling, I found gazing at the stars by the sea, the best way to conclude the day. The heavens are just so huge. I couldn't count all the visible stars.

It's so good to just get away from work, the computer, routine, even my handphone. I just chucked it in the room the whole day.

The most amusing thing on this trip was that the Air Asia stewardess gave me her number:p


This was something we came across while walking to the jetty. God is watching, so behave!






One glance, and I knew this is a tiny piece of paradise on earth.


Whoever invented these chairs is a genius! If u lean forward, it becomes a beach chair. If you lean backwards, it becomes something like a hammock, in suspended animation. These were my companion on the long star-gazing nights.


Wanted to see huge turtles, but this was all that I got to see of turtles. In a matter of time, the owner is gonna release them into the sea.


This is the Finnish girl who is currently touring Malaysia. She was on the same boat as us. She taught me the Finnish word for Jackass: "Kusibah" (or something that sounds like that. emphsasis on the -BAH)


Kusibahs! 2 of them! Enough said.


The nice people who happened to be on the same boat with me.
From Left to Right: Jandy, Beng, The Tutor, Ah Moi, Kusibah, Dr. Siau, Ah Mei, and Ms Cute.


I'm thinking of another Island Get-away next year. Who's interested?

More pics coming up, once I get the compiled photos.

Sun Catcher

And till the Day comes, I'll still catch you your daily dose of sunrise and sunsets.

It's all worth it!

I still thank God, I'm Malaysian!

Please make an appointment

In 11 hours from now, I'll be boarding an east-bound flight to the 'Land Below the Wind'. I've never been there before, and the excitement is keeping me up! I've been wanting to make a trip there, but fate has eluded me. But somehow,(in the words of the Alchemist)the universe has conspired together to help me achieve my dream. And in a few hours time, I will have visited all the states in Malaysia, except Perlis. One more stop to go. Then to Asia! The reason for this trip to Kota Kinabalu is to attend the Mead Johnson Symposium. Looks like this new job is going to take me places, literally.

On Sunday, I will touch down in KLIA at 6pm, and I have an hour to get over to LCCT, where another east-coast-bound flight will bring me to my much-awaited vacation. Redang, here I come! Well, not actually Redang. More of Lang Tengah. Ever since I started my working life 2 years ago, I've not had the chance to go for a proper get-away. I'm so looking forward to just lazing on the beach, chilling in the sea, playing with the fishes, and checking the chicks:p

Will be back Wednesday night, and back to work on Thursday. This is, so IT!

Funny thing though, I'm going for a vacation during a weekday, while the rest of the world goes for vacation over a weekend. Hmmmmmm.....