I'm baaaaaaaaaaack

I have not written anything for … *checks blog* …. *gasp* I forgot what the URL is until after I logged in to Blogger.

A year and a half has passed and let’s see what has happened. Since Feb last year, I went on many2 trips in and out of the country, met a great guy and married him, started working in Singapore in September until now. Well, not anymore longer, I’ve got 4 days to go. You can’t imagine how ecstatic I am about going home. If there was a heart-o-meter probably it will burst with my excitement.

Honestly, I did not feel like writing anything and it felt like torture to write stuff when I had to for the past year. But I’m glad the dead-wit feel is gone.

I’m staying at this 12x12 feet room in a Hotel called Ibis. This is part of the project cutting-cost. And Nice me don’t want to make a fuss out of it. Although it’s a bit bigger than a fridge, I can’t complain much about it except that there’s no Valet to bring my luggage up and down. The Ibis chain runs approximately 800 hotels around the world mainly in Europe. Either it’s running on franchise or/and the sole owner is extremely rich.

So, what’s left to do in Singapore for 4 more days? With no friends (that I feel like hanging out with). The only past time that I can do on my own without feeling like a social-outcast is shopping. Add reading but I just finished a whole book yesterday. First half in Batam and the other half in the hotel room.

I took the afternoon ferry to Batam to get myself rolled like dough. It is not by any chance that I am called Donut. After much fickleness of cousins-in-law of going or not, I decided to screw them and go for a little adventure of my own. I had fun. Fun is getting on a boat or anything that floats in the sea. I am seriously addicted to the sea. Non-residence go to Batam for mainly these reasons – Golf, spa or golf+spa=’don’t let your man go play golf there, if you know what I mean. They get a lot of Singaporeans coming down since that’s the nearest land – 45mins away. But Batam is very much Indonesia in terms of culture, language and economy.

Time to roll-off the office and try not to spend any money buying crappy clothes. Did I say I am so excited to go back to KL?

I love Lake Kenyir

The trip to Lake Kenyir was awesome. Firstly it helped that I had low expectations and given that if I had great ones, the trip, the boathouse and the lake itself is so fun.

The story is I had to write a feature article on Lake Kenyir for the VTY08 mag. Before that, I had remotely no idea of where it is and non a clue of what it has to offer. Somehow I managed to write an article on visiting the lake till I convinced myself and a bunch of friends that the place is as great as what I wrote.

Off we went during the long weekend for the roadtrip. My friends and I were psyched of the fact to get out of KL and do absolutely nothing at the lake. The objective was to feel bored. I packed a few anti-boredom devices just incase it gets unbearable like Taboo the game, massage oils and books.

The plan was to stay in Lake Kenyir for 2 nights but our first night accommodation got hijacked by some Royal Family. Typical. They put in a last minute booking and we got booted out. So we opted to stay in Kuantan at a surprisingly very nice guesthouse costing us RM20 each for the VIP room and I must also mention they make very good Nasi Goreng for breakfast.

In Kuantan, we visited the beach, Teluk Chempedak or locally called TC. There is a beachfront McDonalds and KFC which made me so unbelievably happy. Though TC is thronged with locals and visitors, the beach is very clean. Kudos to Kuantan's Town Council. You get a perfect setting for a day out by the beach. I envy people who live in Kuantan for having such a nice beach. If Kuching had beaches like this, I would have packed my bags and live there.

The next day at a very early time and after an orchestra of snores, we pushed for Lake Kenyir. It is a long drive to Kuala Berang in Terengganu to get to Lake Kenyir. There is more than one jetty at Lake Kenyir, so make sure that you get the right one. We did not and had to make a mega huge U-turn to get to the other jetty where our boat was waiting. I could hardly contain my excitement on what the boathouse is like. I was hoping it is comfortable and the toilet works for everyone’s sake. I was hoping that the boathouse doesn’t bomb.

Turns out, our boathouse is a wooden double-decked ex-fishing trailer which is really comfortable and clean enough. It comes with a boat driver/guide and cook. The top floor is where we sleep and we had real beds! Eat your heart out to those that did not go, imagine sleeping in the open air with the caressing breeze. Heaven ok.

The bottom part of the boat house is where we eat, lounge, fish and do anything you can think of. The lake is beautiful beyond words. It goes on forever because it is a damn huge lake, claimed to be as big as Singapore. The backdrop of dense jungle (Taman Negara) is lovely too. The air is so fresh and the water is clean. The waterfall is magnificent. I have run out of adjectives here. Bottomline is, Lake Kenyir is totally awesome and I will go again and stay on the boathouse!

Pictures coming… Since I don’t have a camera, I have but to wait patiently for pictures from the others.

Gong Xi Fa Cai to Momy, Momy’s family and all my Chinese friends.

We serve Mint, Apple, Melon, Coffee, Strawberry, Mix Fruit flavors..

The weekend passed so fast that I forgot to breath.

On Saturday was the launching of my Shisha business at Taj Mahal at Seri Petaling. I am collaborating with BusinessPartner2 (BP2). I see the idea as a great opportunity given the location. What is more important that BP2 is very enthusiastic of running the show. I am very glad that she is because, honestly I know nuts about shisha. Barely could have a decent drag without choking. But as I said again, the meager Excel spreadsheet I use for the PnL shows potential.

Close friends came to show their support and that was really thoughtful of them, brick and bats are highly appreciated and we took note that the charcoals used last night are useless.

The team that set up the joint:

Me – Co-owner, the active sleeping partner that counts the dosh
BP2 – Co-owner, Operations Manager – skilled in smoking the hookah and PR skills that charmed the Mamak owner
Abe – Shisha Consultant – highly skilled in hookah retail and every detail of the art of smoking it (hired 4 hours before stall opened)
Adek – Operations Assistant – very fit and surpass expectations.
Friends, and friends of friends – supporters.

Tonight is Day 2, for Shisha. Spirits are still running high. I just got a text that orders are picking up and that is a very good sign. I am very happy that BP2 shows a change person now, not that I should judge her then. But all in all, I have faith in her and given her personal liking for Shisha, I think this is a good business for her too.

I pray that this goes well. I must have been really knackered last night from running around (even though I wasn’t the one hammering charcoals). I dreamt that the Shisha business went really well and I was about to announce an all paid company trip to the team. HAHA! Well, you never know rite? And it always starts as a dream.

Ending this, I invite you to come smoke some hot-ass flavored Shisha at Taj Mahal, Seri Petaling. The food is great too, like you can sing...

"Baby, where did u get your curry from - I got it from my MaMak,
Where did u get your kopi from - I got it from my MaMak.."

Seri Petaling is surprisingly near to PJ, Bukit Jalil, Kompleks Sukan Negara, Puchong, Old Klang Road, Mid Valley, Bangsar and Cheras.

Blast from the past

I started blogging a long time ago. With many dramas that unfolded with due respect to the entries from my blog and some not, my rantings went from one home to another. I don't see myself as a fantastic writer, in fact mediocre that I am actually surprise that people do pay for the things I write. The moolah goes a long way... all the way to the banks, the credit card bills to be exact.

I am surprised that I could track back where I moved my old blog. It is nice to read and recall what happened then. It is my not so secret diary. Oh, I remember my mom once found my diary, that I thought I hid so well which was under the mattress, it must have been the default diary hiding place. And boy, she wasn't a happy mother that week.

There is this Entrepreneur side of me, where I was so excited to put up the post on an Educational Portal thing. I think that got the ball rolling. And now, I have my CrazyForHandbag baby project. It is going for the second run, and I can't wait to go get the handbags. It is this crazy feeling when I have really really nice and affordable handbags to show. Certain things make me feel this good like... nice handbags, salmon and massages.

The link to the younger d0nut notsosecretstash.blogspot.com

Stoned

Man, have I been angry over the past few months. It is physically showing, because I have an unexplained rash now.

So, I am releasing all anger and unwanted emotional toxins from the system. Shoo.. shoo.. release… *throw stones marked with the things I want to let go down the cliff*

I have been watching a lot of Men In Trees. The second season is not as good as the first one, but my fascination of Alaska keeps me glued. Is there anybody from this side of the world that wants to visit Alaska? Apart of the extreme coldness, I would love to see the Northern Light, humpback whale tour and the beautiful scenery.

A good new year to you all!!

I am going to like 2008, because I am going to make it GOOD.

For once

For once, something that this girl wrote makes sense and got me thinking.

A bit on this girl…

This guy that I know was friends with this girl. They could always have stayed friends and I would have thought it was perfectly normal for a girl and a boy to have a platonic friendship. Instead the guy chose to not be friends with her. Anyways, this guy can keep on praising her like she is the Mother Teresa for all her sacrifices and noble heart. I am sure she’s great but on the other side, he did not have to rub it in.

Jealous? no. I feel secure about myself.

I digress.

What she wrote is on the things that you want in a life partner. Very dull topic, I know, since every chic magazine has come up with it from every different angle. But stifle that yawn because the key question here is ‘what are you willing to put up with and what you are not willing to put up with?’ This is what got me, the rest of what she wrote was trash.

By asking this question to yourself, you are acknowledging that there is no Mr. Perfect and is willing to work with the imperfections that he comes with. Vice versa.

Since I have a record of horrendous relationships, I want to list down what I am and not willing to put up with for my now and future reference.


I am willing to put up with….

A simple, comfortable lifestyle – I don’t expect a rich partner. I am happy as long as he can feed himself at least and his own family (mom, pops). When the time arises for him to pay for what he is required to, he is able to do it. Comfortable is a very subjective word. My idea of being comfortable is not keeping up with the Jones but having a game plan of our life.

Lack of knowledge – no one knows everything but we must always keep on learning.

Working together towards a certain goal – some like to marry into the rich. I don’t mind striving together.

Past history - it is important that my partner have had his share of triumph and sad stories because it will build him to be a stronger man. Life throws you a curve ball and sometimes knocks you down in so many different ways, therefore with the experience he has he is able to think rationally. Going out with a man with no relationship past can be a pain because they come with many idealistic expectations. But no ex-wives please.

Not having a single romantic bone – this is something that I don’t require in a man. I don’t mind doing the work here.

Bad English – Acceptable even though I might be bothered from time to time. (refer to point 2). Unless he says ThatS mean. erk.

Growing old and ugly together – when I meet someone that I am willing to put up with, I can accept him to be balder with an expanding waistline and love him endlessly.



I am not willing to put up with…

Infidelity – NO. Enough said. Infidelity is for kids who can’t decide on where to stick their thing at.

Roving eyes – I know it is not as bad as the full blown infidelity but I find it super offensive when you do it in front of me.

Mistrust – trust is a big thing so the need to have it from both parties is inevitable. We cannot be together 24-7 and even if we could it will be unhealthy. So a degree of earned trust is very important to make sure there are no unnecessary fights. Of course there will be times that things come up and one of us becomes uncertain of a situation. The key here is to ask and not accuse.

Party pooper – be it a real party or in what happens everyday, being a good sport that is not hyper-sensitive is important. There are times that we have to laugh at ourselves and let go. Keeping up a good face but in return sacrificing others is not my idea of fun. That shows how insecure you are of yourself. When one of us are in high-gear mode trying to achieve something, do not just shoot down the other tactlessly.

Inability to arrange a coherent sentence (Communication) – need I say more? Love is not always beautiful words with hugs and kisses. We don’t read each other’s minds and some things have to be said so to get things done. I would want to be able to say, “I catch your drift honey”.

A faithless Muslim – I want guidance to build myself and the family.

May the Rendang and Ketupat shine more light on me..

bad October

Coming from the girlfriend:

Everybody goes through one of this really lousy days when everything you do is wrong to the people you care most. You get into a fight with your boyfriend in the afternoon and you go home. At home, all your mom does is nag about someone else and repeat the same things she’s been saying for the past weeks.

Come the next day, your boylfriend and your mom are still not talking to you. This is what you pay for confronting them. You had a long day at work and forget the time to have dinner. You end up going to Subway alone and was sad thinking of how did the fight with the boyfriend started. At the very moment you were at Subway, you could have been at the very nice restaurant with him. Your boyfriend did not know the plan which was to bring him out for a surprise dinner. It has been so long since you've been out one-on-one.

Instead you and your boyfriend starts fighting about trivial things and continue to blame each other. You never felt so miserable on how such a beautiful relationship turns uglier by the week if not day. Unspoken words were better than any words that could be said at this stage.

It felt like you had no where to go. It’s been a long day and what you would love to do is go home to somewhere which is warm and welcomed.

Nearing the end of the night, you make your way home and is anxious on how will your mom react. You say hello mom, and in return you get a hello and that’s it.

You go to bed with a heavy heart and prays tomorrow will be better.