Contrarians...

Time is long overdue for me to rant about Malaysians - but this time I would like to highlight two equal and opposite incidents of Malaysians in traffic.

Firstly - its about this gentleman in Petaling Jaya. I saw his grace while being stuck on the LDP in the morning. This guy - who was driving down a side road actually stopped - got down from his car to help an old lady who was trying to cross the road carrying a very large shopping bag. He actually stopped his car in the middle of the road (of course there were no cars behind him) and help the lady by taking the bag into the lady's house. I do not know if they know one another - but this kind of behaviour is what our country needs - not the ridiculous scenario I will rant about in 2 minutes. (of course he could be robbing the old lady - but I doubt it :P)

Now, on the contrary - I present the story of Mr Chow Ah Beng and Ms Chow Ah Lian in Bukit Jalil. There was a police roadblock in front of the National Stadium. This roadblock was temporary to facilitate traffic from the stadium (due to an AFC Cup match - quarters or semis - can't remember). Now Mr Chow insists that he can go straight - even with the gesturing of the police for him to turn or u-turn. Ms Chow, with her fake blond locks and what can be best described as a 'tu-lan' face emerged from the little Punto she and her Ah Beng boyfren was holding up traffic with and started arguing with a traffic cop - which looks like he was about to pull out a gun to shoot her (too bad he did not). The cop insisted no way that they could go straight - so Ms Chow returned to her car - AND THEY DID NOT MOVE. Meanwhile, all the cars - who want to follow the policeman to turn or u-turn was honking and flashing for this small annoying little Chow Punto to move out of the way. It took around 4-5 minutes of honking, flashing and gesticulations before they deigned to move the 1 meter it needed for traffic to flow.

After I made the U-turn, I can see that traffic was backed up for almost 2 km because of our dear Mr & Ms Chow.

Amazing how much you remember about the bad - and how vague the good sounds :P

Contrarians indeed...

Think before you build...

Hmmm...

What is flesh/cream coloured...

Comes in Pairs...

Looks perky and rather sharp...

Topped with sharp brown tips?

The answer often surprise you...

Come on architects - you can do better than that! There are kids about... Taken outside Sunway Pyramid...

Of Rocks & Hard Places...

Its 2.30am and I am still unable to sleep...

Things seem to have gotten more difficult lately - and I am increasingly being caught between (a rock and a hard place) x1000 times. And this happen everyday!

Why is it so difficult you may wonder?
Why does things sound so bleak?
or rather so depressing...

All I can say is that the worst problems in this world are those that have multiple reasons requiring multiple solutions to the satisfaction of multiple parties. Most of all it means a slow and painful journey towards what potentially be a dark deep bottomless abyss...
It means that everyone will not be happy... whatever the outcome you get...

It means that you are caught between worlds... between the hammer and the anvil. Knowing that the pain and end is coming - but unable to do anything about it...

In support of an old friend...

*holding bated breath*

I did not have the time to blog since last week - mainly due to some commercial related problems and also family matters (somehow both are interlinked...)

But in this day, at this time I am waiting for news for the release of a very old school friend - Nat of which I have been monitoring his progress via the website of both his younger sis and girlfriend...

I hope everything will be fine buddy - and thanks for reminding us to hold to our principles, ideals and views! Although I have never supported Keadilan (and unlikely I ever will...), I really do hope that this unpleasant situation is cleared up and support your release!

*breaking news*
As I was typing this (yes - it took me around 4 hours to do so - being at work and having meetings) - Nat has been released from custody but will be due for a revision tomorrow! *grin*

*smile*

*Cracked*

Well - all I can say is that today is an eventful day... 1st we managed to get (or rather the registration and hosting of... not the actual contents) http://www.themakingofsherlynchua.com/ online but I also ran smack into the side of a wall, literally - almost surely concussing my head in some way or the other...

It was just a direct 'crack' and now I have a beautiful bump around an inch and a half above my forehead just above the hairline.... I just hope I have not demolished any part of my frontal lobe - but then... it would not make me any more insane rite?

Maybe I am just a wee bit paranoid - after consuming the entire Season 2 of House... *sigh* *ouch*

Coming out of mourning...

Today is a similar day to when I heard the news of your passing, grandma... it was overcast and once again small droplets of rain fell from the sky.

Grandma, I will miss you and I will remember you in my heart always... You have indeed led a full and wonderful life and I am so blessed to have been under your guidance and your love.

Thank you - and I will try my best to live up to your expectations... and your legacy.

Baby on Board...

I am back... well - almost back (once again on a long blogging hiatus).

And rant I shall *grin*

It was in the traffic chaos in Seri Petaling a few days back when I noticed an amazing sight - of what is best described as an ironic parent - in a *drumroll* Kancil! (the quintessential malaysian crazy driver containing small excuse of a car)

This Kancil - proudly displaying the sign Baby on Board, with another bigger kid visible on the back seat (sandwiched between what appears to be his grandparents) and what appears to be a pregnant (or very fat, take your pick) wife, holding a baby in her arms - darted out illegally from a side road, travelled a short distance on the oncoming traffic lane and right into the small space in front of my car.

I think he should move the sign, right smack in front of his nose, to remind him that he has women and children on board - then maybe he would not be so gung-ho and trying to kill his entire family in one proud self destructive utterly Malaysian driver moment. Maybe then he can improve his sorry excuse of driving. But I digress.

I do not say that I am a saint on the road, or a really careful and law abiding driver - but the least they can do is to have some consideration to the safety of their own young families. Horror stories of an entire family of 8 or 11 in a terrible accident in a Kancil may be long and far in between but they do happen - and now I have a personal experience on how they could happen and why they happen... Irresposible parents and utter gross stupidity.

Really...

Of Old Friends... Part II

The blokes at the pharmacy @ Western. Basically the entire crew of the 2003/2004 batch with our preceptors.

Hmmm... What can I say - a bunch of inane huns at a barbie in Melbourne. Please note that Joshua is not really retarded - he is just really bored.

Me at the YAA Exhibition - no - I did not have a beer gut then... now it is different. Besides, we swept the YAA awards that year *grin* all the way to the national level. Really wonder how is everyone doing...

OMG - it is Brochure Boy and GrowthChart Man - somebody get the broomstick!

Vernon overseeing the bread haul at Pita Bread Bunch - we were about to distribute bread door-to-door at the Flemington Council Flats. I really miss those days *grin*

Sue Lee, Drey and Kai Kai at breakfast - somewhere on Smith street (I think) or maybe Nicholson. Man, Melbourne breakfasts are still the best!

Of Old Friends... Part I

26 and singing the blues... *grin*

As promised, I am putting up pictures of old friends and old memories... however, today I am rather not expressive - it just seems that I am having writing constipation... so I will just hurry right into the pictures and their captions...

Fireworks on the Southgate Bridge in Melbourne - this would be from New Year's - I think for 2005...

Joshua, Sean & Myself at the Mrs Macquarie's Chair - overlooking Darling Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Sean should be in Melbourne still - hope all is swell and Josh - hope you are enjoying your exile in Adelaide - *smile* Spend more time with patients - not in Coonawarra.

The Cempakan Crew somewhere in a dodgy side street in Melbourne (circa 2005) Khoo (who was visiting at this time), Myself (no I am not trying to slap myself), Mindy, Yen, Jan, Sui San & Shins! Hope to see you guys (Khoo, Mindy, Yen) the next time I am in Melb!

Me and my housemates attempting to make the world's ugliest totem pole. From Top to Bottom is Jeremy, Carol and myself - attempting to look like an owl and just ending up looking like an absolute nutcase... Hey - Jeremy - we definately need to meet up!

Friends and former friends from the student council - this one taken in Brisbane for the conference there - should be in 2004. Left to Right - Ms Sheau, Leanne, Su-Li, FF#1, The former MSD Director for Australia, myself, Chris & Bel.

Me - in the faculty courtyard with Ryan and Wei Leong and in a horrible fake glasses. Someone stole my nose and beard... this was on 'muck-up' day - last day of our uni life - EVER!!!

More on the way *grin*

Old Song, Old Friends & Old Memories

It was a moment of the inane... or rather a moment of inactivity that triggered off a morning song trivia in the conference room... and it was an old old song from the past - I think almost 10 years ago that I can't seem to get out of my head. I brought back old memories & old friends - while I was revelling in the company of my new friend and colleague :)

Here it is... 朋友 (Friends)
For the benefit of my banana friends (you know who you are... and there is a lot of you guys :P) I will put the English translation on the side...

这些年 一个人 (All these years... alone)
风也过 雨也走 (the wind has passed, the rain is gone - basically there were storms)
有过泪 有过错 (there were tears, there were wrongs)
还记得坚持甚麽? (Can you remember what I am fighting for?)

真爱过 才会懂 (With True Love, then you will know...)
会寂寞 会回首 (..the meaning of loneliness, and you will reflect that in the end...)
终有梦 终有你 (there is your dreams, there is you...)
在心中... (in the heart)

朋友一生一起走 (Friends will walk together for a lifetime)
那些日子不再有 (The days of old is no longer here)
一句话 一辈子 (One Word... One Lifetime)
一生情 一杯酒 (Eternal Love... and a cup of wine)

朋友不曾孤单过 (Friends will never be lonely)
一声朋友你会懂 (Once you call out to them you will know)
还有伤 还有痛 (There were injuries... there was pain)
还要走 还有我... (But we will still have to walk... and I am always here)

My translation is rather liberal - but I do think it is more in the spirit of the song... I wonder where have all my old friends gone... friends from ACCF, from Uni, from Student Council, from Taylors, from Cempaka... from Penang, from KL, from Melbourne, from London... where are all of you...

I remember all the good times, and the bad... I remember all the things we did and I will always remember all of you...

*runs off to search hard disk for old pictures - will post them up over the week - so prepare to be embarassed!!!*

Upset?

Woke up this morning feeling upset... just don't know why?

Is it an after effect of the recent events? Today is after all Saturday - the 1st set of free time ever since the crazy events of the past two weeks...

Or is it my lack of enthusiasm at work? or my lack of ability to sleep well in the past couple of days? or that I just seem to make people upset - from family to friends to colleagues @ work?

I have a feeling that this may be the onset of depression... *sigh* nevertheless I know that He will comfort me in my time of need...

The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 23 (KJV)

One night in a lift...

It was late last night when we came back to our hotel (@ Gurney) from grandma's house. It was booming with music from the Chillout club next door and a wedding being conducted at the hotel ballroom...

We went to the lift, my brother and I, and after a significant wait - we boarded with a few others... but it was an interesting crew that got in - on the corner was a couple, dressed immaculately, the lady was dressed in white with lace and makeup while the guy was in a tuxedo with a red bow. Quite obviously from the wedding.

On the other corner was these two rather young beautiful girls - dressed to party - must be returning to the hotel from the club next door.

Then there was this old white couple, seriously tanned but dressed in a relaxing beachwear - looks like retirees on a holiday.

And us, my brother and I, dressed in white with black slacks - coming back from honouring our grandma at her funeral.

Two distinct occasions... a wedding and a funeral. Distinct age groups... different stories... all in one lift...

My RSD trained movie sense lit up!

...When it leaks, it pours...

Enough of ranting about the going ons back in Penang... however sad I may be or however angry I am - this mad cow still comments on politics - in particular when it shows that my fellow Malaysians are both racist and sexist!

You have gotta be kidding - that during VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2007 our HEADLINES say... Bank Withdraws 50% Bumiputera requirement for accounts & Let off despite ‘sexist’ remarks. I am a Malaysian Patriot to the boot and have always supported the government but sometimes - I just wonder... I really do...

To our beloved YBs from Jasin & Kinabatangan, just apologise for making such a sexist comment. How would you feel if Batu Gajah has replied glibly - like I would - watch my words "Maybe you are used to the leaks coz your mothers, wives and daughters leak every month as well!"

Such comments are not becoming of the people's representatives - whether in jest... and should never be uttered in the hallowed halls of this nation's centre of governance. Would any BN MP stand quiet if an opposition said that Dtk Rafidah or Dtk Ng Yen Yen? In this day and age - it is unbecoming...

"orang liar"????

Quite...

Madness? Craziness???

THIS IS MALAYSSIIIIAAAAAAAA!!!

Princes of Darkness... BEGONE!

Never was I this angry in a long while already... After all the years my family has contributed to temples - temple politics come to play @ grandma's funeral...

No idea what to make of it... it started like this - an 'abbot' of a temple in Penang of which my mum is a major contributor was supposed to come to 'pray' @ grandma's funeral but he is not totally free - he can't make it on Sat & Sunday... so another 'abbot' - this time from another temple of which my family is closely associated with offered to come on both days...

I can see that the family would be overjoyed - but when the 1st 'abbot' heard that the 2nd 'abbot' is coming - he said that now he is busy and is not coming. It appears that both temples have a vendetta or some crap like that... then the 2nd 'abbot' said that he better not come as it may cause another rift or some crap like that... So in the end - no 'abbot's are coming and the 2nd temple sent some others here to 'pray'... so in essence, both temples have left my grieving family to hang out dry over 'prayers'.

I am very angry - that these idiots dare use my grandma's funeral as a chip in their political game... these monks are truly 'princes of darkness'. Although I have came to the lord - I have nontheless maintained a healthy respect for temples and I have honoured my family's beliefs. From this day onwards - any temple are merely a tourist attraction in my book and I shall no longer abide by my family's donations to them...

In mourning...

Why is it seems like just yesterday that you held me on ur lap?
Why is it seems like just this morning you woke me up to watch you do taichi?

How is it that the years passed so fast - and that I grew out into the world and saw you less and less with each passing year...

What happened to watching 'Justice Bao' rented from an old video store down the road that has long been demolished?
What happened to walking with you to buy hawker food from the corner shop... that has also been cleared to build a new series of shop houses?
Or the times I waited with 2nd Aunt for you to finish your MCA meetings, usually eating Ice Cream Potong...

Why does it seem so empty this morning after I heard that you have passed on... Grandma, it was raining today - and it rained since yesterday night. I don't know if it was raining back in Penang or if you would have realised that it was raining even if it did... but it was raining... it was as if the sky was doing my crying for me...

I am so glad that I took the morning to visit you and talked to you this time when I went back to Penang - it has been so long since the last time I talked to you... and I will always feel sad that you were struck down with stroke 20 years ago... I only wish you could be with me when I travelled around the world, the places I have seen and the places I know you would have loved to see - for without you all this would not have been possible and I would not be the person I am today...

Grandma - farewell and goodbye... I love you...

New Life Memory Verse I...

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, New International Version -

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things has passed away; behold, all things has become new"
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, New King James Version -

"若 有 人 在 基 督 里 ， 他 就 是 新 造 的 人 ， 旧 事 已 过 ， 都 变 成 新 的 了 "
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, Chinese Union Version (Simplified) -

Lord, I come to You in the name of Christ Jesus - our Lord and Saviour whom I adore... Lord, I thank You for this verse that reminds us of our new life - for it sets the tone for our life today. Lord, I thank You that in You, I am a new creation - an empty slate for You to work on, a canvas for You to paint in your image. I thank You for telling me the old me is gone - that You have taken my sins away at the cross. I thank You for giving me a new life...

Lord, I confess that I have been less than pristine in my new life - and that I have fallen well short of the mark You set before me. I confess that I have put good works before the understanding that Your grace is all I need - that my salvation is assured. I confess that I have put ministry above foundation and servanthood before sonship...

Lord, I thank you for this day - of all the wonderful things I have in life. I thank you for last wednesday - that I may once again sit beneath Your feet. I thank you for SIB, and for cell... for Fergus, for Hoong Fai - my fellow brothers walking with me in this path...

Lord, I pray that You will continue to shower Your blessings upon us - and that You will give me the strength and wisdom to continue to walk along this narrow path. I pray that you will constantly remind me that the life I have today is NEW and it belongs to YOU! That I am a new creation - that the OLD has GONE and the NEW has COME...

I am yours in Christ Jesus. Amen!

In the memory of Bacon...

And I am not referring to Francis Bacon... but rather - real bacon, succulent when fried, covered by a wonderful sheen of bacon oil... golden brown edges curled softly in the caressing heat of a not so non-stick pan.

Hmmm, I think food is featuring a bit too much in my life rite now - even under the close monitoring of various parties. *grin* The bacon I am referring to is the one so rapidly consumed @ vern's a few weeks back - ah, sweet sweet memories!

Anyway - for those with gastronomic inclinations (bordering on the oil soaked carnivorous nature) - the bacon was dearly bought from Uncle Ho's @ BSC having first being air flowned in across the Arafura Sea (from Australia!). So it was no mere pork - but rather a well travelled Aussie Pork! The cost of these 14 pieces? A mere RM74 *chokes*

Nevertheless it was well worth the price. Also as promised here are some pictures from the day...

A dramatic assembly of pork, eggs, more pork, mushrooms, pork again and veal...

(Clockwise) Vernon, Gordon, Fergus & Carol hard at work in the kitchen. This author/photographer slaved earlier over the bacon... and sausages (I have a nice little red mark on my throat that day to prove it - due to a flying vesicle of oil!)

One last longing look at the bacon - just prior to its initiation in the raging inferno... Fergus claims that this is one artistic piece of pork :)

Hitting the Dailies...

Today, the 1st (of a whole series of articles we hope) interview of RSD has been published on the New Straits Times (NST) *grin*

Read all about it HERE!!!
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/MoviesTheatre/20070502154244/Article/indexpull_html

Or alternatively - *grin* also get to know more about the movie at
http://redstreetdiner.blogspot.com

THIS IS ANFIIEEEEEELLLDDDDD!!!!

Liverpool 1 (4) - 0 (1) Chelsea (1-1 on aggregate)

Need I say more? Of course!

It was a messy and gritty game - as expected for a Chelsea - Liverpool encounter. We just lost 1-0 at Stamford Bridge last week but there is a difference...

Today we play in Anfield - with the Kop behind us. In the 22nd Minute, Agger scored a set piece by Gerrard from about 32 meters from the Chelsea goal (from the left hand corner). The rest of the game is a serious of high flying kicks and flailing arms... but in the end - Liverpool held to the very end.

So it went down the wire... 1-1 on aggregate at the end of extra time, Right to the Penalties and like in Istanbul, Liverpool pulled through...

Once again... we erupted in cheers as Liverpool now flies to Athens for Champions League GLORY. We have knocked Chelsea out of the competition THREE TIMES!!! So I write this entry at 6am... Madness?

NOOOOOO!

THIS IS ANNNNNNFIIIIIIEEEELLLLLLLLDDDDDD!!!

Hmmm - I think I need counselling :P

Breakfast @ Vernony's

After the lameness of the above title - I have no choice but to further this totally pointless activity...

I love V for Vendetta... It was one of the most interesting movie I have watched recently - and of all things this line - of which V spewed out during his 1st contact with Evey...

"But on this most auspicious of nights, permit me then... to suggest the character of this dramatis persona.

Viola! In view a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished.

However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.

The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.

Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honour to meet you and you may call me V."

This is probably one of my favourite move line sequences of all time… and one that some emulation would be really fun…

YES - I TOOK the TIME to write THIS... :P

So I verily say to you that on this most rainless of days, permit me then – your most rabid of cows – to suggest the events of this morning’s rampant rampage of ravenous humans upon poor bacon rashers rinds and all…

This rambunctious demolition of rations, however, is not a mere random event of rapid consumption without thought of its ramifications; it is rather a rigorous practice of a rare and relaxing act – a release shall we say, a refreshment from the regulated rituals of our daily grind – that from hence forth need to be religiously celebrated with regularity.

The only reason for caution therefore is to remember the need for rest and reclination after today’s ravishment - a moment of retreat shall we say of our raging cholesterol levels – a month at least of rehabilitation to allow the regeneration of our reliable and required organs.

Readily shall I now remove my ridiculous and reprehensible fixation with the letter R and let me simply add that this morning’s breakfast is simply delightful – better than any reputable restaurant – and I relish every moment of it!

PS: Pictures of the breakfast will be up soon - just as soon as I figure out what is wrong with my server... cheers!