New Year Blues.

Most Chinese New Year celebrations would go something along the lines of ang paus, new clothes, happiness, feel-good times, gorging oneself with copious amounts of alcohol and great food and then post-CNY bitching about weight gain. But I don't feel like going over every single detail of my Chinese New Year celebration. Yes, there's the great food and ang paus (although steadily declining) and all the other things which make the new year such a cliche.

But I think as I get older, Chinese New Year is just not as fun any more. A recent conversation with Damien made me realize that I'm not the only one feeling bored during the festivities. Don't get me wrong, I love Chinese New Year, at least the concept and tradition of it. But when the day finally arrives, I find myself hating everything from the weather, the damn traffic, the hiked up prices of goods and the all-round chaotic atmosphere.

I think what I really like most about Chinese New Year ironically, is the time before Chinese New Year. That time when I start to get into the CNY mood, when I start to go shopping, when I start the preparations and cleaning and planning for the big day.

This is not a typical Chinese New Year post, and if you think I'm getting you down by being a little blase, please go on and surf over to a few other blogs which elaborate to you how great their celebrations were and how they all say "OMG, I'm going to gain weight from all the food!"

I hate to be a kill joy.


Stay tuned for better times.

Snapshot: Penang

- Hean Chooi Temple
off Jelutong Expressway, Penang Island.

I love how the sunlight enters through openings near the roof to cast a stream of light and how it catches the smoke rising from the joss-sticks.


Stay tuned for more.

I Woke Up in the Wrong House

I woke up in the wrong house. That was the first thing that came into my mind as I opened my eyes. My room was usually dark even during daylight but this one was much brighter. The colour was wrong, smell was new and everything seemed different.

As I sat right up on a queen-sized mattress, I was immediately confronted by a swash of the colour green. Even without my glasses on I could see sunlight piercing through the ruffles of an olive green curtain.

I looked left, right and all around and then...it all came back to me.

I was in a little place called home.




Happy Chinese New Year to everybody. I hope this is the time for you to chill, enjoy and just be yourself.

Stay tuned for more.

Returning

Tomorrow will be the day where I make my pilgrimage back to Penang where I will spend a week there for Chinese New Year. I will be leaving early in the morning to hopefully avoid all traffic jams as I am getting a day's head start. I'll update once I get back home.

And for now, I gotta get some shut eye.


Stay tuned for more.

I say, No, No, No

Songs are a part of my everyday life. They can influence my lifestyle and have a significant impact on my mood and behavior. It's definitely an auditory stimulus to be reckoned with. But the thing is, do the types of songs I listen to tell a lot about me? Do they describe my personality? Do they reveal my emotions?

I think so...

Here are My Top Ten Most Played Songs for the year ending 2008:

10.
Song: Do It
Artist: Nelly Furtado featuring Missy Elliot
Play Count: 138 times

9.
Song: Boston
Artist: Augustana
Play Count: 139 times

8.
Song: The Story
Artist: Norah Jones
Play Count: 141 times

7.
Song: Hot N' Cold
Artist: Katy Perry
Play Count: 143 times

6.
Song: 4 in the Morning
Artist: Gwen Stefani
Play Count: 144 times

5.
Song: Clumsy
Artist: Fergie
Play Count: 152 times

4.
Song: Don't Know Why
Artist: Norah Jones
Play Count: 156 times

3.
Song: Read My Mind
Artist: The Killers
Play Count: 163 times

2.
Song: Here I Am
Artist: David Morales with Tamra Keenan
Play Count: 174 times

1.
Song: Rehab
Artist: Amy Winehouse
Play Count: 224 times


Okay...I seriously hope my choice of songs DOES NOT depict my future.


Stay tuned for more.

Flashy or Fugly: Drop Crotch Pants

It's just one of those days where I'm feeling slightly detached from my normal self. Having just been to the mall earlier in the afternoon, I've encountered many many people wearing anything from mundane to outrageous (It's KL after all).

So as I sit here in front of my computer, staring at drop crotch pants, all I can think of is "Is it just me or are these starting to look kinda good?"

I just can't quite put my finger on it. I haven't exactly seen anyone wearing drop crotch pants in person. These are pants with a lengthy rise, thus dropping the 'crotch' and hence the name. And believe you me, I'll actually remember when I see someone wearing one of these.

I'm very indecisive on the look. On one hand, "OMFG, what the hell is this? Diapers for adults?"
On the other, "Hey, that actually kinda works!"
But I feel mostly "Wow....just....erm....yeah, wow. It's kinda intriguing."








So yeah, you gotta help me out here...

poll by twiigs.com

Stay tuned for more.

Type 2

There are only TWO types of people in this world. Ones who are nice. And ones who are plain DEVILiciously evil, nastily-obnoxious, domineering types who constantly spew sarcastic and outrageously insulting remarks at innocent victims AND have either frowns or cynical smirks plastered on their faces.

Good lord, why did I get the latter?



Stay tuned for more rants.

Snapshot: Penang

- Shih Chung Branch School,
Northam road,
Georgetown, Penang.


- vegetation taking over the building.


- the dilapidated interior.


- the upper floor.


- window.

“It is again no question of expediency or feeling whether we shall preserve the buildings of past times or not. We have no right whatever to touch them. They are not ours. They belong partly to those who built them and partly to all the generations of mankind who are to follow us.”

Ruskin, John “The Lamp of Memory” from “The Seven Lamps of Architecture” (London, 1849) ch.6 section 20.


Stay tuned for more.

PJ again.

Yes, Chinese New Year is coming a little early this year. A little Too early. One part of me is excited about the upcoming holidays and the good food, but I'm also bothered by the fact that traveling is going to be a b*tch. You see, I'm heading back to PJ tomorrow and just two weeks in, I'm gonna have to come back out to Penang for the celebrations. Plus, it means that holidays will be significantly lacking in the month of February.

But, whatever. Everything comes and goes. Before I know it, it'll be April and I'll be looking forward to the semester holidays. Instead, I should be worrying about other things that matter more. More important worldly news like, the chaos in Gaza, the crashing global economy or when the hell is the opening of Times Square Penang going to be!?

Anyways, I'll be on my way back to PJ tomorrow as the new semester commences on Monday and I am going to get myself prepped for a whole new set of workload and subjects. Then again, since Chinese New Year is only two weeks away and I'm still not bidding farewell to the Christmas and holiday cheer, I think it's apt that I should only get fully revved up AFTER the CNY celebrations. Now, could you please pass me that sleep mask?


Stay tuned for more.

The Other Side of the Island.

Instead of your usual outing to Gurney or Queensbay mall which I have somewhat grown bored of, this time around Mei Zhi, Karen and I set out to discover the other side of the Island. It was the perfect opportunity since I had to drive all the way to Batu Feringghi to pick Karen up.

- On a strip of beach at Batu Feringghi.


- Mei Zhi & Karen.


- On the road, somewhere in the hills.


- Teluk Bahang dam.


- At the heart of Balik Pulau.


- A century old shophouse,
Balik Pulau.


- Us, with Balik Pulau in the background.


- Cheah kongsi...I think.


- Strolling along Armenian Street.


- We finished our tour with dinner at Edelweiss cafe.

After this trip, I know that there is more that is yet to be discovered on the other side of the Penang Island. One day is insufficient to explore the little nooks and crannies which await us. I hoping for a second trip there! Are you with me?


Stay tuned for more.

First Post of the Year

While others were making resolutions and kicking back plenty of alcohol to start the new year with a bang, I spent that moment at home outside on the balcony straining my neck just to catch a glimpse of the fireworks display which splashed the sky in beautiful bursts of light and colour. Okay, I'll admit it was only for a good 2 minutes.

I'm not exactly one who goes out at night to dance and drink the night away in some random club because:
a) I haven't got the moves to dance
b) I'm not certain about my alcohol tolerance level and
c) I hate clubs which are smoky and/or too crowded.

But I will attempt to hit the clubs or bars when the time and conditions are right. Right now, you must be going "Is he seriously ranting about clubbing? I mean clubbing?! How complicated is that? Like you go in drink, laugh, dance and you get out! Like SERIOUSLY!"

YES, I can read minds.

Anyways, I'm not going to bore you with the details of how I approached the balcony to welcome in 2009 with a bang, or should I say, lack thereof...wayyyyy lack thereof. The few days after New Years have been pretty awesome. I hung out with friends and family which completely reassured me that my life is not all that depressing.

Here are just some of the pictures from our sorta high school group reunion. We had a good time bowling and then proceeded to our high school to reminisce. Oh, the good old days.

- Reubs, Damien, me, ZX and KW.

Stay tuned for more.