Bank for all

Why is it every time when you are in urgent need of some cash, the ATM machine is either out of service or out of cash? Murphy's Law is being obeyed again like the law of gravitational force. In other words, Murphy's Law is simply saying that SHIT DOES HAPPEN in a more gentle and long-winded way.

Speaking of bank, here was a conversation between Alvin and his dad at Damai Resort:

Uncle: ...now they come up with this CIMB.

Alvin: Yalah, last time people had this mentality that Bumiputera Commerce is for bumiputeras only. Do you know what CIMB stands for?

Uncle: Commerce International Merchant Bankers (CIMB) Bhd.
Alvin: No! CIMB stands for Chinese Indian Malay Bank.
Uncle: ................*speechless*
Alvin: Chinese, Indian, Malay all can use this bank. Not only bumiputera, you know...
Uncle: Hahahahahahahahhahahahha!!!

Dedication to mum: Happy Ni Lao Bu Day!

No, no, no! Before you accuse me of displaying vulgarity, just a simple introduction here:

Happy Ni Lao Bu Day = Happy Mothers' Day!!!

At 11.40am today, an SMS from mum arrived saying:

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"...The whole world wished me Happy Mothers' Dat except my own babe..."

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Sorry, mum, I was very busy doing last minute information absorbing process before my Employee Benefit Management exam today. Exam started at 12.15 noon. You know I am a well-known procrastinator. I was thinking of calling you after the exam and wish you but your message arrived first. Hahaha!!!

Anyway, today being your special day, what are the plans dad and bro has for you? Too bad I couldn't be there all because of the stupid final exam! Well, I hope you have a wonderful day today. I miss you so much!

On this special day, I would like to extent my bottomless gratitude for everything that you have done for us from the moment we were conceived until now. Yes, now that we are both grown up, in our early 20s, we are glad that you brought us up to who we are today. Because of you and your love, we have never gone astray or beyond hope.

One thing I admire about you is your strength and faith which are inseparable. People told me that you are a strong woman. You stand firm and steadfast even when there were storm and chaos all around you. I have never seen you stumble or fall. You took everything as a trial from God. Your faith in God is so strong that I believe nothing could ever shake or take that faith away from you. I vowed to be as strong and independent as you.

You always say that I have a bad-temper. I am learning to control them. You have also said that being humble will eventually bring me to achieve dreams that I've been struggling to reach. You taught me a lot, which I will remember as significant lessons in live.

Mums love to nag. That is a well-known fact. Mums worry a lot. Another popular fact. And they worry too much over nothing at all. Yeah, for being mum and all that, mothering instinct rules all. Sometimes we find their naggings annoying and tend to shut them out. But when you are far from home, you'll miss their nagging somehow. And we wouldn't mind their nagging when we were home anyway. The naggings are always for our own good.

Last but not least, thank you mum for being there for us. I love you. May God continues to bless you with health and wisdom in your body, mind and soul. I made this prayer in Jesus's name. Amen.

Happy Mothers' Day to all mothers in the world!!!

Walking Down Memory Lane: Cheryl (Part 1)

When I was in Kuching, I met up with my best friend, Cheryl, whom I have known for 15 years.

Yours truly with childhood friend, Cheryl

We went out for a lim teh session after dinner one evening, just to catch up with each other. We last seen each other during Chinese New Year in Sibu and she's been so busy with her work ever since. As I was craving so badly for that particular drink I saw on someone's blog, we went to this place called Huising Hawker stall to talk cock.

The White Lady and the lady in white

Click over to my other blog to know more about the drink. Two thumbs up for the icy cold drink. 15 sticks of pork satay followed and some other things that ended up in my tummy to be digested, all in my other blog.

Anyway, back to Cheryl. We first known each other on the second day of school in Primary One, SRB St. Rita (all girls' school). Why second day? Well, simply because I knew no one on the first day of school and was minding my own business all day, even at the tuition in the afternoon but I noticed one girl in school uniform at the tuition class. As innocent as I could get then, I was wondering why she was in school uniform after school and why couldn't she just changed her clothes like everyone else.

I saw her again the next day at school and was surprised that we were classmates! I went, "Eii??? You were the one at the tuition yesterday afternoon right?" She smiled and said, "Ya hor, you were also at the tuition yesterday afternoon" and we became friends, best friends ever since.

We played together during recess, went to the canteen together, shared the food our moms packed for us during recess, went to the toilet together, copied each other's homework, went for our morning prayers together, etc. She was a bit plump and I was skinny like cicak back then but she sure ran faster than me! We played the usual games that kids our age played, i.e. the aeroplane, rope skipping, eagle and chicken, police and thief, dragon catch, ABC stop, etc and plump little Cheryl beat me in all the games.

Even in sports. We were both chosen to represent the whole Primary Two in long jump during Sports Day. You guessed it, she beat me in that again! LOL! She got the 7th position and I was not far behind. I was in the 8th position. I was not even a bit angry when she beat me in sports and games. I did not know the meaning of envy yet.

Food at the canteen back then were so cheap. We could get two packets Hiong Hiong Mee for 10 cents. That was when the sharing came in. As we were not given much pocket money back then because we usually brought something from home, one of us would go to the canteen and bought 2 packets of that Hiong Hiong Mee and gave one packet to the other. The following day, the other would do the same. I couldn't recall how it started but it seemed like an unwritten sharing among the two of us.

We were very good friends and the other classmates were so envious of us that some Iban girls started to call us lovers. LOL! We were so close that eventually our families got to know each other's family and became friends. Our moms shares their cooking and baking recipes and gardening skills, even until today - her mom specializes in baking biscuit and cakes while my mom specializes in making fruit jelly.

Cheryl and I practically grew up together. We were classmates since Primary One until Form Five. She's one of my friends that I've known all my life. She knows me inside out and vice versa. We know each other so well that when it comes to our personal flaws, we would just accept them as a part of ourselves which make us different from each other.

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On the side note:
OMG!!! I sounded like a lesbo in this post!

The road not taken

How often have you pondered over the decision that you made in life which brings you to where you are today? How many times you actually think "If only I've chosen the other option..."? Yes, the grass is always greener on the other side, we pressumed. But we will never know for sure because, well, we couldn't really travel both journey at once, no?

Many times, I have been thinking about the other path which I did not take and where would it bring me if I took it. It took me a long journey to end up in a local university. The journey was not a smooth one, no doubt. But I survived. I survived the weeds, thorns, leeches, rocky path, rain and shine along the journey. I stumbled, fell flat on my face, tripped, etc too but nobody was there to help me up. Well, I learnt to get myself up, brush off the dirt and continue walking. As predicted, there would be stones, spears and arrows shot at me from all directions but, ah well, life is too short to deal with each of them.

So after the SPM in Form Five, my friends and I were discussing our plans for the future. I was determined to become a doctor then so I did my best in my SPM with the will to study medicine after that. Scholarship was in mind. When the result was out, I was quite satisfied even though I did not score a straight A1s. My science subjects mattered then. I scanned down my result slip nervously. Additional Maths - A2, Chemistry - A2, Physics - A2 and Biology - A2. Thank goodness! Bahasa Melayu - A1, English - A1, Matematik - A1, Pengetahuan Moral - A1. Wooh! But the B3 I got for Sejarah made my slip looked ugly!

I thought I could enter a private college with a bit of scholarship with that result. But. There's a BUT in everything, don't ask me why. But my parents were against my decision. They wanted me to slave my ass away in Form Six. Frankly speaking, I wasn't really keen on the idea of studying Form Six. Well, I got the usual "we are your parents, we know what is good for you. Now obediently go to Form Six for your own good." And obediently I obliged.

Having to put aside my plan to get my arse into Curtin then was putting me in a down mode. The two years I spent in Form Six was for the sake of being there because my parents wanted me to. I hate studying. But who am I to argue, right? I hated my life in Form Six where there were a lot of obstacles along the way. I switched from Biology class to Physics class simply because I had to memorize the oh-so-long names of different microorganisms. I prefer playing with E=MC square. So I abandoned my plan to take up medicine and looking forward to take up engineering instead. Looking back at those days, I did not blame my parents for forcing me to study in Form Six even though I did badly in my STPM to rebel.

I am who I am today because of staying back in Form Six and witnessed the un-professional, un-realistic and ir-rational way people were doing their job. All those taught me what to and not to do when facing certain situation. The then principal Mr. Stephen Tan was a heck of a principal and I had a lot of fun during his 'ruling'. I learnt a lot from the way Mr. Tan handled students and teachers alike in a lot of situations. He gained my full respect. This is the humble man I look up to to be successful in life.

Despite my bad result in STPM, surprisingly, I was offered a place to study Risk Management and Insurance in UUM. I wanted to study Aeronautical Engineering in the first place but acknowledging the sucky result that I got, I had to put that aside and continue with what was offered. Risk management and insurance is not really that bad, I realized, after taking the course for two years now.

Looking back, what if I was to study in a private college (Curtin University, for example)? Where would I be today? What would I be doing? What if I chose to study aeronautical engineering privately after STPM? I wouldn't be ranting about risk, would I? Aircraft would be my subject, no? Where would I be now? What would I be doing? I bet blogging would not be my favourite past time because I stumbled upon the blogsphere only a semester after I entered UUM.

If I've chosen the other journey in life, I would not be able to expand my circle of friends especially those from the blogsphere that I managed to meet in person. Therefore, as much as I love to complain and rant about my life in this sucky (there I go again) place, I have no complains whatsoever about my life, friends, new friends especially bloggers, etc.

I suppose the grass is not greener on the other side if you have the chance to go to the other side. My perspectives changed it to THE GRASS YOU STEP ON IS ALWAYS THE GREENEST!

F-A-T, exhausted, 2 down 4 to go

Was having eating marathon ever since the plane touchdown at the Kuching Internatioal Airport until I left the cat city. Meow~

Had my first dinner at The Banquet. Ordered lamb chop but the portion was so little that I had my first Kolo Mee for supper a few hours later. The whole week when I was at the cat city, I had Kolo Mee for breakfast and supper EVERYDAY and I was not complaining. I was fed with pork, pork and more pork from the moment I opened my eyes till the moment I close my eyes but I was not complaining. In fact, I was thankful for that. Well, as a pork-deprived person, I'd swallow at anything containing pork, sinfully or not. And I felt a lot smarter after consuming those pork!

The very next morning after arriving, my first take on the Laksa that I've been craving for since god-knows-when was heavenly. I gorged down a bowl and a half of Laksa like no tomorrow and there were still rooms for some You Char Kuay dipped in kaya. Oh, I wish I have those pictures to post them up. I'll do it as soon as possible.

It has been 4 days since I left the land of head-hunters and I've been complaining ever since. I whined about missing Kolo Mee and Laksa less than 24 hours after I got here. Anyway, what I miss most are those homecooked dishes by Uncle Chong - Yong Taufu dipped in Auntie Chong's chilli sauce. Heaven! Also Grandma's Chicken Curry and Ginger Chicken as well as her chilli sauce. Double heaven!

Back to pork-deprived self after coming back to the jungle, I felt a lot stupider without pork. How the hell am I gonna pass the blardy exam without pork??? *wails*

Oh by the way, I survived through two papers for the past 2 consecutive days. I realized that I sent in 12 pages of bullshits for my Business Law paper which would only mean one thing: DIE! Seriously, I did not study for that paper at all and you know how law paper can be. I stared blankly at the paper for the first 10 minutes and then decided to be a law creator myself. Therefore, I created my own law, created the section under the specified act...and man, could I be a better crapper!

Then yesterday was the Computer Application for Management paper which I pressumed to be a piece of cake but it turned out that it was not. My notes looked easy with a picture of a computer and the names of its different parts like monitor, mouse, keyboard, CPU, etc. I thought something as easy would come out. Instead they asked to state 2 functions of the CPU, the 2 types of images, how to create a bitmap image, etc thing like that. I just did not know! I could answer the Internet part pretty easily because I use that everyday. Eg: Function of URL, list the Internet services, etc. I admit of being a computer illiterate, so sue me!

I need more pork for the remaining 4 papers!

The Green-Eyed Monster

Being in a relationship with an easily jealous person is tough. When you talk to other guys, he'll stare at you with that sharp look that's going to slice you into pieces, literally. They say, if looks can kill. And when both of you are alone after that, all hell break lose! Everything - pillow, mugs, plates, chairs, tables, phone, TV, whatever you could think of, would be hurled at you for flirting with guys other than him. Sound familiar?

Illustration #1:
*Phone ringing*
Him: Hi, honey! What are you doing there?
You: [noisy background with guys' voices laughing] Hi! Having dinner with my friends! How are you?
Him: Who are with you? Why I heard guys' voices?
You: Oh, just some friends from college I bumped into.
Him: Stay away from them ok? Where are your girlfriends? Why don't you have dinner with them?
You: What is the matter? We are only having dinner.
Him: Just stay away from them okay. They are up to no good.
You: [thinking] What the....!!! *speechless*

Well, you know the scene that followed.

Seriously, the illustration above really did happen. Well, it happened to yours truly, that is why he remained an ex. HAHAHA~!!! I don't think it only happened to me. I am pretty sure that there are a lot of people out there who has to encounter these green-eyed monster everyday.

I personally hate extreme case of jealousy when it comes to relationship. True enough, jealousy is one of the main factors of a relationship break up. You see, jealousy could turn into possessiveness. Your partner would feel suffocated, lack self-confidence, lost trust in you, disappointed, etc when possessiveness rules the relationship. He'd eventually control your life - what you can and cannot do, limit those you befriend with, etc - and you can kiss goodbye to your privacy and freedom.

Sometimes you might wonder why he's such a jealous person. Well, truth is, you have to dig deep enough to find out from him. Usually, their feeling of insecurity turns them into a green-eyed monster unintentionally. Insecurity might arise out of his previous relationships. One of his exes might have cheated on him or two-timed him. You could be one of the reasons as well. If you told him about your previous relationships that had something to do with you being the two-timer bitch or you being the guilty party, he might be having the insecurity of you doing the same thing to him. He loves you, no doubt. But he's just scared. He fears losing you. And hence the insecurity and jealousy then possessiveness that follows.

Some guys would give up contact with all his female friends after you two are together AND expect you to do the same with your male friends. They are being selfish, you might say. No doubt, they are. And no, you don't have to tolerate that. Just tell him nicely on your views about it and if he's mature enough, he'll understand. Too bad, my ex didn't. That's why he remained as an EX-factor. LOL!!!

Good news is, not all guys are like that. Some guys actually respect your rights to befriend with whoever you want because they trusted you. They'll ask you to be wise and careful. Yes, they are worried and concerned about you. No, they are not possesive. Girls, you have to be clear in one thing: Your guy trusts you to befriend with whoever you want. He trusts you to know what you are doing. Its the people (guys especially) you befriend with that he doesn't trust. He is a guy as well and he knows all the possibilities what another guy might be thinking.

So, you might ask, how to kill the green-eyed monster? I have no idea. But IMHO, I feel that communication is a must in this department. Talk to him, properly and nicely of course. We don't want to damage any property or cause physical hurt to anybody only to regret it later, do we? But, if it still happen and you fight about it more than you breath, and you cannot take it anymore, call it a quit! End of story! Find someone else! Like my version of 'there are more fishes in the sea', DON'T GIVE UP THE WHOLE OCEAN BECAUSE OF ONE IKAN BILIS!

Smoke like chimney

Cigarette. Tobacco. Nicotine. Salem. Malboro. "I'm Popeye the sailorman..."

I do not smoke nor against those who smoke. People who smoked (like my same age cousin, uncles, maternal grandpa, friends, badminton coach, ex-colleagues, ex-supervisor, etc) always tell me not to pick up any cigarette and start puffing away because I'll end up like them. When asked why the hell they smoked in the first place, they gave all sorts of factors - song lor, pway pway only, friend-smoke-I-also-smoke, etc and BAMM~!!! It became an addiction!

Speaking of addiction, some smoker told me he is not addicted to smoking (yeah, right!) like I believe him. If you are not addicted, then why the hell you have to smoke occasionally? Why the hell you light that cigarette up and start to puff away without the care for the world? If that's not addiction, then what is? Not addicted my ass!

I cannot stand smoke nor sit comfortably in a smoky room. I'll drown. It is indeed annoying to the bones when being around someone who smoked and blow it to your face. I'll drown also. If there are any family gathering on the maternal side, all the uncles and grandpa who want to smoke are required to leave the room and smoke in the open, an unwritten rules of the house because there are small kids around the house. If they do not drown, I'll obviously drown first! LOL!!!

I have sensitive nose which cannot tolerate the smell of the cigarette. It will get irritated and my respiratory system will be effected. And eventually I'll drown!

I hate it when stupid people smoke at the places that they should not like in the lift, air-conditioned rooms, toilet, hospitals, shopping malls, hotel lobbies, etc. I do not mind if you smoke in areas assigned but it is in fact irritating to smoke in the places mentioned. I do not mind your life shortened when you smoke or that you'll eventually get lung cancer for all I care, none of my business anyway. I'm only concerned about my health and people around! I do not want to have all those diseases through second hand smoke because I'll have to pay a higher health insurance premium or worse not eligible for a health insurance at all!

If my boyfriend/lover/husband/spouse smoke in front of me, I don't know what I'll do. Shove the lit cigarette up his asshole I supposed. *wink* Call me wicked if you like. I do not want to kiss stale smoky cigarette, thank you very much. Unless he quits smoking altogether, I'll make sure he doesn't come anywhere near me.

If you don't care about yourself, fine by me...care about the innocent lives around you!

*I know the right word should be 'suffocate' instead of 'drown' but don't try to be smart alec to correct them. Don't like the word 'drown'? Sue me!

Right Here Waiting

I had loved you for years. The first time that I saw you, you were walking down the beach with the waves rolling gracefully, bowing down to you under the magical glare of the beautiful setting sun. I knew it deep in my heart that it was love. I knew I would love you forever. Ours was the kind of love that went beyond this world. Very few people understand true love. The need to be with someone. A need stronger than hunger or thirst.

Seated in my black Saab across the street, which I had purposely parked, I waited for you.

Squinting in the early morning light, I looked up, trying to pick out which of the windows belonged to you.

I remembered the party last night. The moon was shining brightly in the beauteous sky littered with billions of tiny little stars sparkling in the galaxy. Perfectly clad in a maroon evening gown, you looked stunningly gorgeous in the moonlight. The twinkling stars in the sky were like fireflies compared to the sparks that flew from your lovely eyes.

Where are you, my dear? Your plane will be leaving in two hours.

Finally there she was. What took you so long, my dear? I thought as I watched her carrying her luggage out the door and piling them into her car.

Your car was a beauty, just like you. I loved you so much that just the sight of you with your new haircut behind the wheel of your white MG sent my pulse racing. I loved the way you started your engine and pulled away from the driveway with a stylish roar.

I waited a few minutes before racing after you.

It was a torment for me for not telling you how much I love you. You will never understand. I cannot wait any longer to say what I feel. I must tell you today or never. I knew deep within my being that this would be a Herculean and titanic mission.

I scanned the crowd, trying to spot you.

There you are - as beautiful as ever. You reminded me of an angel. I can imagine an aura of gold encircling your head, infusing the red of your hair with a fiery brightnesss.

The way you smiled at me - the warmth of your smile melts my heart. I tried to smile back but my lip muscles did not want to co-operate.

I was searching for words. What can I describe to say how much I feel for you?

"Take care and good luck! Do write to me when you get there, ya!" was all that I managed to blurt out as my heart dropped to my foot and shattered into a thousand pieces. I struggled silently to overcome the pain inflicted so mercilessly upon the raw wounds of my broken heart.

It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is more painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let that person know how you feel. How true indeed these words are.

Please stay. Please do not leave me, I begged silently. Will you come back, my love? I am going to miss you so much that I know it is going to hurt.

But all I could do is to watch you leave and at the same time experiencing a sharp pain like that of an arrow piercing through the deep wounds of my anguished heart.

You deserved the best, my dear and I want you to go anywhere your heart desire. When you come back in the future, I will have everything ready and perfect for you. But when? You never told me, my dear.

No matter what happens, I will be right here waiting and never give up my faith in you. It's only a matter of time.

**The story was originally written by yours truly 5 years ago (when I was 17) out of sudden inspiration. No, I am no lesbo if that's what you think. I wrote that supposedly from a guy's perspective. Just in case the paper this story I wrote on perished or dissolved as time goes by, I better put it here for my future read. Heheh~!!!

Sibu: A gangland heaven

Sibu: A hotbed of gangsterism

Well, I blogged about this in my first few posts but when I flipped the New Straits Times just now, I saw a familiar face talking about something the I've blogged about a century ago. This fella:

Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing

This MP of Bintulu chose to speak out in the Parliament about how notorious the gangsters are in Sibu. The interview, conducted by NST's V. Vasudevan, exposed the reasons behind his decision to bring up the matter in the Parliament. Summore hor, this fella is not scared of being hunted by the gangster and also got balls to call for the chief police officer to be removed from Sarawak.

*standing ovation*

Q: You said gangsterism is flourishing in Sarawak. Why do you think this is happening?
A: I feel the police have failed to perform. If the police are performing, I don't think the gangsters can have a field day. Sibu is a small town, so don't tell me Special Branch is not picking up anything from the coffeeshops.
For example, when people go to report a crime involving gangsters to the police... before they have walked out of the station, the gangsters are calling to intimidate them and asking why they went to the police.
In some cases, when a vehicle gets stolen, the owner goes to the police station. While waiting to make his report, he gets a call from the gangster saying: "Anytime you can get your car back, but you have to pay."
Who is running the police station? Who controls the station? I can tell you that in Sarawak, this is happening in every police station.

[*clap clap clap* Yupe, it is true. just that nobody dares to bring this up fearing that the gangsters will hunt them down and burn their cars and houses. Police at my hometown are really useless wan lah, pakat with gangsters summore. And the gangsters always get away scott free. Sigh!]

Q: What must be done now to solve the problem of gangsterism?
A: I think drastic action must be taken.....bla bla bla...

[Again with the drastic action! What drastic action wor? We are never told what 'drastic action' that must be taken. Only the word 'drastic action' said. And I noticed that all those people also always use the word 'drastic action' and zon-zon yang sewaktu dengannya in almost every situation.]

Q: You have been outspoken. Are you not afraid that the gangsters will attack you? After all, your complaints in the parliament have got the Inspector-General of Police going to the state to investigate.
A: Put it this way. My father told me: "Since you have made up your mind to become a politician, you better think of what you need to do in the interest of the rakyat." I am prepared for the worst. A person only dies once.

[Wah! Now that's a good answer. If being asked similar question, a lot of other 'people' will try to change topic. Hmm...no, they don't even have the balls to bring this up in the parliament in the first place. Period! And that brought in the next question.]

Q: It appears that you are the only Sarawak MP who is concerned about this gangsterism problem. The others are either not bothered or don't share your view.
A: I can't answer on behalf of other Sarawak MPs. Maybe they have other priorities and want to raise those concerns in the Dewan Rakyat.

[Hmm...good question, good answer. True, they have other priorities and we are well aware of what they are. But in actuality, the right answer would be: They don't have the balls to do so and also scared shitless that they'll be burnt alive by the gangsters (kiasi mah!) Enough said. ]

The rest of the quite-long but interesting interview could be read HERE and another news on the issue HERE.

I really salute Datuk Seri for this. Not every politician is brave enough to speak out like he did. Sibu (the whole of Sarawak, for that matter) will be a better place to live in if politicians have the guts to speak up in Parliament regarding a lot of vital issues involving the rakyat instead of bickering at each other or making baseless commentaries (like: All bloggers are liars, unemployed housewives, etc) As a friend who always says: No guts, no glory!

We just want a safe and peaceful place to live in and the existence of the gangsters is not helping at all. We live in fear as to not offending them by all means. We vote for you to give us a safe neighbourhood to live in, not that we are asking for a paradise. Is it impossible? Hmm...I'm way over 21 and eligible to vote in the next general or any other election. Now I know which name to be kept in my To-vote-for list already. Heheh~!

Truth is, NOT BRINGING UP THE ISSUE DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT THERE!

Double Cow

Have you bumped into someone whose birthday happened to be the same as your own? The world seems to be so small when you actually bumped into someone, regardless male or female, who has the same birthday as you.

I remember when I was in Form Five (SMK St. Elizabeth) there were three classmates (Anne, Gladys and Wei Ting)having the same birthday -14 Aug. Freaky huh? Well, come to think of it, we actually saved a lot for having to celebrate their birthday together instead of three separate celebration.

Anyway, on the 27 August 1985, two babies - a girl and a boy, who never have known that they would eventually meet up some 21 years later, were born to different families in different places at slightly different time.

The girl was born to the Ng family and given the name Clare while the boy to the Tan (or Tang) family and being called Kenny. They are only a few hours apart. The girl was born and raised in Sibu, Sarawak while the boy in Penang. People say that you will have similar trait of characteristics and personality if you happen to be born on the same day. True? Maybe. Maybe not.

Both Kenny and Clare met in UUM, where they pursue their tertiary education, a day after their 21st birthday last year. Kenny is taking up International Business Management while Clare is taking Risk Management and Insurance. Well, we seem to have some similar trait of personality and characteristics.

First of all, we have the same height. And we dressed up accordingly, meaning dress for occasions. We'd rather skip our classes to get our other things done first even if it meant that we'd lose marks for our quiz which so happened to be falling on that particular day. We make great teammates as we like to get things done fast and efficiently. We seem to know what each other is thinking at times. And we ordered the same food and drinks during our meals.

I only knew that I love to camwhore. But after meeting Kenny, I realized that he loves to camwhore too. Yes, guys love to camwhore as well! Kenny even went to the extent of borrowing my digital camera on a few occasions to take pictures, mostly on himself. Hahaha! No offence, Kenny, if you are reading this! Oh, and look at the way he posed for photographs! I'm fainting. Haha!

Anyway, it is fun to meet someone who is kind of similar to you in a way or another and I am glad that I met Kenny. We've been good friends ever since the Spring Fest Exhibition. I don't see him much these days. Ah, well, mainly because I hide in my room to watch sitcoms most of the time apart from attending classes. LOL!

He told me the other day that we'll be celebrating our 22nd birthday together this year! Looking forward to it.

You Cramp My Style!

Yes, YOU!!!

A few of my readers are actually complaining. Thank God someone is complaining about the way I blog! But a lot of readers are giving me thumbs up. God bless them!

I have said this many times and I am going to say it again. Please leave immediately if you do not like what I am bitching, ranting, writing, blogging, complaining, whatever-you-call-it about. The close button is at the top right corner in red with an X if you don't know. The rest, can proceed at your own risk.

Okay, now that you have proceed, I assumed that you are matured enough to understand what I am blogging. I will not be responsible of any physical, mental, emotional and spiritual damage caused, if any. If you encounter any of the above, seek professional help.

Well, this is my blog. I can write anything under the sun that I feel like bitching about. Now don't be some smart alecs and try to give 'smart' comment asking me to write something 'discreet', whatever that means. I have my style of blogging and I like it very much, thank you. Don't ask me to change it because you find it disturbing to your soul! I've said earlier, go seek professional help if you are disturbed. If not, approach an exorcist if any of my post come and haunt you every now and then!

Hmm, I can see the expression on your face changes already. Just kidding! Don't tell me that you cannot take jokes. If you want to read serious, no-nonsense blog, go play far far, this is not the playground for you. I can be straight-to-the-point and sarcastic at times. You don't like that, do you? Then SHOO, FLY, DON'T BOTHER ME!

Ya, ya, I know, some of the things that I said might land me in deep shit if I am not careful. Go nag your dog, don't come to me and tell me all the legal issues and the freedom of speech run in this country. I am as aware of that as I am aware that pigs don't lay eggs on trees, thank you very much!

Why are you feeling offended when I did not even pin-point anyone or name names in my posts? Why take it so personally when I was covering a wide scope? Do I sound as if I'm trying to cause havoc? This is something subjective. Some might find it 'dirty' (no, dirty is not the word. It should be 'sensitive'. But some people just could not take it). It is 'DIRTY', alright~!?! But somebody has got to do it!

I believe we are all aware that not bringing up certain issues does not mean that the problem is not there. *rolls eyes*

*I can see a handful of you are annoyed and irritated already. BLAH lah! Go play far far!

James: The Brave Heart Award

Jun reminded me of this. I have totally forgotten about it until he mentioned it in my comment box. Thanks Jun!

I went to the same school as my brother when I was in Form Six because my former school, SMK St. Elizabeth (all girls' school) does not offer Form Six classes and hence I was kicked over to SMK Sacred Heart (all boys' school) next door.

When I was in Upper Six, there were a mini graduation held at the school hall and my brother told me that he was going to receive an award. I did not give much attention to him at that time.

Came the day for the prize-giving day cum mini graduation where everyone involved was required to assemble in the air-conditioned school hall. My parents were invited but they couldn't come. Ah, never mind. I was there to support my bro then ok liao, I thought.

After the boring speech after speech by the principal, VIP (Datuk Clement Hii-main sponsor), etc...came the award and prize giving ceremony. Yadda yadda yadda...best student, best sportsman, best whatever-you-can-think-of...the usual...

Then I heard Mdm Ngae (or was it Mr Tan?) announced: Next comes the special award for our special student. The Brave Heart Award for our special student, James Ng Seng Hong. He...bla bla bla...describing how my bro brave criticisms going to classes everyday without fail like any other kids, etc etc etc...

From afar, I saw my bro walking up the stage aided by three of his best friends - Ignatius Lau (my best friend, Belinda Lau's brother), Chua Min Zee (my fellow prefect) and Chieng Pin Liang (my old friend, Chieng Su Yiu's brother). The hall exploded into loud applause. He was without his crutches as two of his friends held each of his arms for support. Datuk (or is it Mr only?) Clement Hii was there to present the award. Halfway up the stage, Datuk Clement Hii went over and held one of my brother's arm and guided him to the centre of the stage as the hall continue their standing ovation.

It was a very heart-warming and touching scene where a lot of the audience were touched to tears. I was so happy for him and as I looked around, a lot of students as well as teachers and parents were wiping away tears. How I wished my parents were there to witness the moment. After Datuk Clement Hii handed the award to James, they stood on the stage waving at the audience as they clapped louder. Wow! My brother was the star of the day!

I would like to extend my heartiest gratitude to the then principal, Mr Stephen Tan Ming Kiong for helping make things convenient for my brother all the time you were the principal of SMK Sacred Heart. You are the best principal, Uncle! May God bless you and your family well in body, mind and spirit all the time.

Aduh, sound so much like giving speech after receiving the Oscar like that! Oklah, enough liao...I saw some of you yawning already.

My brother - James (Part 2)

My bro is currently studying in United College Sarawak (UCS) in Sibu taking up Business Management majoring in Business Accounting. Thanks to Datin Janet Lau, he studies there F.O.C. because of his physical 'advantage'.

Well, James proved everybody who mocked him, bullied him, spat on him, teased him, looked down on him, calling him all sorts of names, etc that they are SINFULLY WRONG!!! How can you judge a person from his physical disability? Now he got excellent result, and is going to the university, what else can you losers out there say??? Hmm!! Mock him summore la! See how far youself can go.

His steadfastness and determination had taught me important lessons in life. You see, I've been living with a physical challenged person my whole life. I know how they feel and what they go through. The lessons are priceless. I learnt to respect them and accept them as a gift and not a burden. (Hah! I can see some of you smirking liao...Hehehe!)

Especially his former teachers: I got a lot of things to tell you. It never occurs to me that some adults as mature as you all will say such irresponsible things! What are you teachers there for? To teach, right? To bring light to those who are in darkness, right? WRONG!!! You people just proved that the whole policy and the system a HOAX! You looked down on a certain individual because he's a disabled and started to label him as stupid. His head isn't retarded ok. He thought he was stupid all these while. And guess what? He proved you wrong altogether! He got excellent result for his STPM! Now, have you got anything else to say? Well, I have. You assholes can go straight to HELL!!!

Oh, by the way, when my brother went to school to get his result yesterday, he was interviewed by some reporters and also officers from the Education Department in the principal's office. He received VIP treatment there.

Interviewer: Selamat pagi saya ucapkan kepada calon STPM yang istimewa dan beliau bersama dengan saya pagi ini. Siapa nama adik?
James: I am James Ng Seng Hong from Sibu.
Interviewer: Apakah yang adik dapat untuk STPM?
James: I obtained 1A, 2Bs and 1B-
Interviewer: Bagaimana dengan perasaan anda?
James: I feel surprised when I got the result. It was beyond my expectation.
Interviewer: Bagaimana adik belajar untuk menghadapi peperiksaan STPM?
James: Seek advice, doing own notes, be simple...
Interviewer: Apa cita-cita adik selepas ini?
James: Belajar sampai university and get a good job.
Interviewer: Apakah kursus yang adik mahu?
James: [simply hantam] Accounting
Interviewer: Di sini saya beri peluang kepada adik untuk berterima kasih kepada mana-mana pihak.
James: I would like to thank my parents, family members...not forgetting my friends who helped me... and those external parties who helped me.
Interviewer: Apakah nasihat anda untuk mereka yang bakal menduduki STPM dan calon istimewa seperti anda?
James: Important thing is to never give up and do not let your 'special gift' be your boundary to achieve what you want.

That's about it, I think. My bro said that my dad was interviewed as well and his lobang hidung damn kembang liao.

The only thing that is bugging my bro now is the local university application. You see, our family is not well-to-do and we can only opt for local university, my brother and I.

I told him over MSN that since his result is so good, he can get any course that he wanted. Of course not those medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering courses lah. Must be realistic also mah. Add in his physical disability, he could get it pretty easily. He can even choose the university that he wanted. But MOM is the main problem now. She's so worried about this and that - whether my bro will survive out there, how is he gonna move about, whether the university is disabled-friendly or not, got people bully him or not, etc the typical worried mother. Mom has been advising my brother to choose the local university that's close to home like UNIMAS in Kuching but he complained that UNIMAS doesn't offer much choice. Dang, tonight I gotta talk to my mum already.

I love my brother very much because he's my one and only brother in the whole world that contains the same Ng blood. I mean immediate family member la. Even though we fought like cat and dog when we were young, that did not stop me from protecting him from any possible physical hurt. So, if anyone attempts to take advantage on him and hurt him, I will not hesitate to protect him even if it means I gotta say goodbye to my life.

Not only me. I think my whole family will do the same thing. And that's what make us stay together as ONE family.

Taken during Chinese New Year 2007
(Eh, dad, why you not smiling wan?)

Cheers and peace out!

My Brother - James (Part 1)

This is my dearest one and only brother - James Ng Seng Hong

I do not really talk about my family that much here. But I think I should give my little brother some credits after all that we've been through. I am what I am today because of him, partially.

Reminder: If you feel uncomfortable of what you are about to read, you are always welcome to leave at your own convenience. The rest, proceed at your own risk. The author is not to be held liable for any physical, mental, emotional and spiritual damage of any kind, if any.

My brother was borned pre-mature on 14 July 1987 (two years younger than me) with a physical disability called Cerebral Palsy. Since he was borned premature, he was to stay in the incubator at the hospital for observations. Fortunately, it is a minor cerebral palsy.

Cerebral Palsy(CP) is a neurological disorder that causes physical disability in human development especially the movement and posture. Cerebral Palsy can occur during pregnancy, during birth and after birth. CP is a non-progressive disorder, but secondary orthopedic deformities, such as hip dislocation and scoliosis of spine, are common. Luckily my brother has none of that. We are aware that there is no known cure for CP.

Only his limbs are affected which forces him to use the crutches to aid him when he moves around. My parents sent him to attend normal school like any other normal kids. They thought that's the best for him, it is, but imagine all the hardship he had to go through all his schooling years - other kids mocked him, teased him, bullied him, spat on him, hit him, teachers looked down on him, saying he's stupid, etc. And hence, he thought he was stupid and his results has been suffering since.

He attended SRK (then SRB) Sacred Heart and SMK Sacred Heart, Sibu. Of course, there are friends that helped him throughout his schooling days - escorted him to the toilet, buying food for him from the canteen, helped him up and down the stairs as he's not very stable even using the crutches, brought him shopping, etc. Thank you all - Alex Leong, Chieng Pin Liang, Chua Min Zee, Elvin Wong, Hii Hong Wee, Ignatius Lau, Liu Kian Chong, Sia Kee Kiin and Wong Ing Hui are those few who always help my bro even until now.

James (in pink), together with Datin Janet Lau and Dr. Soon and other VIPs with the mock cheque

My brother is a popular figure back home. Datin Janet Lau (wifey of Deputy Minister of Housing and Development, Datuk Robert Lau) acknowleged him emotionally in her speech at the ASTRO Charity Concert. He appeared in almost all the local newspapers with the picture above after that.

My brother making a grand entrance at the Dewan Suarah as Datin Janet acknowledged him, accompanied by my mum (in black) and Matron Margaret (in red)

James, waving at the crowd, accompanied by my parents.

*to be continued*

Congratulations, BRO!!!

My dear brother - James

While I was snoring, drooling and butt-scratching on the bed just now, I seemed to hear my phone ringing from afar. Dang, who could be calling when I was busy chasing my knight in the shiny armour!! Kacau!

Half awake, my hand automatically reached the phone.

Me: Hello?
Caller: WOI, JEH AH!!!
Me: Huh?
Bro: WAKE UP LIAO LAH, JEH!!!
Me: What?
Bro: [excitedly] JEH AH, SCHOOL CALLED ME JUST NOW!!!
Me: [fully awake now] WHAT'S YOUR RESULT???
Bro: I HAVEN'T GO TO SCHOOL YET BUT THEY CALLED ME LIAO!
Me: [getting impatient] HOW'S YOUR RESULT???
Bro: THEY TOLD ME I GOT 1A, 2Bs and 1B-! HAHA!!!
Me: WHOA!!! SO BLARDY GOOD LAH YOUR RESULT! BETTER THAN MINE WEI!
Bro: HAHAHA!!!
Me: CONGRATULATIONS, BRO! YOU DID IT!!!
Bro: HEHE!!! Mum still dunno yet, she's not answering her phone. You call her and tell her lah, I wanna go to school to get my result liao.
Me: Maybe she's blasting Tokyo in the toilet lor. Ok, I call her. Bye bye!

Personal message for bro:
CONGRATULATIONS!!! You did it! Your result is A LOT better than mine. Now, mum and dad would be very proud liao. Help me check if their lobang hidung got kembang or not. But I'm sure you are floating already. Your hard work finally paid off. You deserve the good result, bro! You see, all the phone calls I made because you felt so stressed over your studies, the time spend revising late into the night, the food wasted because you got no mood to eat while revising, the weight you lost from that, etc...those were the price you paid for the result. Now, fatten up! When I get back I'll treat you to a big meal and I'll make sure you finish everything! Alright, bro? Now, go celebrate!

I'll be there for you

The popular TV series, FRIENDS, has never failed to crack me up and made my day. But I have yet to watch them all. I have finished watching the 10th season twice. It was sweet but with a typically lame ending. LOL!

But what I love most about FRIENDS is the theme song. "I'll Be There For You" has always been my all time favourite. Just in case I forgot the song, I better put it here:

Video clip courtesy of YouTube

So no one told you life was gonna be this way
(clap clap clap clap)
Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year
But
I'll be there for you (when the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you (like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you (because you're there for me too

You're still in bed at ten, but work began at eight
You burned your breakfast, so far things are going great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
But she didn't tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees
That
I'll be there for you (when the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you (like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you (because you're there for me too)

No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows what it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even in my worst, I'm best with you, yeah
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year
But
I'll be there for you (when the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you (like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you (because you're there for me too)

Would you hire them?

We talk to birds and have great time teaching them to imitate our words!We work as a team and will help to push you up a horse if you could not get onto one! My name is Chong Poh Huat. You can call me Ah Fat. As you can see, I am not fat at all. I am from Kuching, Sarawak. I am always the gentleman everywhere I go.

My name is Clare Ng. I am from Sibu, Sarawak. As you can see, I am always the rebellious one. I touched the grandfather clock when it is clearly stated that "Please Don't Touch". My principle is "Rules are meant to be broken"

My name is Chong Foo Kiat. I am from Ipoh, Perak. I am contestant no.15 for UUM beauty peagent contest. Before you SMS your vote on me, there are things about me you just have to know:

This is my best friend, Uncle Teracotta!Don't you just adore the way I eat my coconut???

"Now what the hell are you looking at? Never seen someone as adorable as me eating the coconut my way? Now VOTE!!!"

My name is Kuan Suet Wei. You can call me Karen. I am from Ipoh, Perak. I have a lot to say about myself but I just couldn't help myself laughing at the adorable way Foo Kiat eats his coconut. HAHAHAHA!!!
From left to right: Delicia, Pong Lee and Lee Shyan.
We have a good time molesting the half naked sculpture and couldn't be bothered to intoduce ourselves in details, sorry!

LO AND BEHOLD!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me present to you:

Your future RISK MANAGERS!!!!

So say we all!!!

CNY Cam-whoring session I

At the stroke of midnight, this long firecrackers is a MUST for Chinese New Year every year. So I stood watching the whole thing burnt in BANG and BOOM with a few flying debris hitting me for a few minutes and that was it. Not satisfied, I went hunting for something else and this is what I found:

Now this is what I call welcoming a new year with a celebration. Found a few pieces of this in the house and had a helluva time watching them burnt
My uncle never failed to amaze me and my cousins with his huge stomach whenever he walked around the house shirtless showing off his tummy.Oh, by the way, I won't let anyone go without cam-whoring with them. The kids were not spared either.
Now this is an underage thingy:
Baby Cam-whore

A Picture Post on CNY Celebration

Even before Chinese New Year, houses in Sibu is brightly, I mean, RED-ly decorated with all sorts of tanglung you can see at pasar malams and RM2.00 shops. My house is a good example of that kind. They say will kena saman RM100 on the spot if caught playing with firecrackers wor...At the stroke of midnight, everybody was competing who decorated the night sky with the most fireworks ler. And they said this year's economy is bad???

I ushered in the new year having a few glasses of red wine while watching the colourful display of fireworks in the sky. As you can see, it seemed like the whole town was polluted by smoke from the fireworks.

My first day of Chinese New Year. Dragged my sleepy cousin only for this shot.
SLUUUURRRPSS!!!
Now that's what I call a meal!

Up all night

A reunion dinner is the binding force of all Chinese families. In Chinese, it is called "Eve Of Dawn" which means the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year. At the place where I came from, we called it "Sa Chap Meh" (in Hokkien, means 30th night). The last day of the Chinese lunar calendar is marked by this important meal so it is crucial that every family member return home for this occasion. It was a taboo to have one or more family members absent at the dinner table.

But having brought up in a fully Catholic family, we don't believe in such thing as taboo, but for the sake of tradition i.e. Chinese tradition, it became an unwritten official rules that everybody in the family must be present on Sa Chap Meh. We always say the 'grace before meals' anyway.

While having the reunion dinner, do not eat hastily - the longer the time spent at the table, the better. It signifies unity and the long-lasting relationship of the family. A good news for all the aunties and ah sohs for they can sampat and kay poh longer and torture the younger generations with questions like "Got boyfriend/girlfriend or not?", "When want to get married?" or comparing the price of fish in the market (Don't ask me why fish).

Moreover, the dishes must convey auspicious meanings. Dishes that bear good tidings are radish (pronunciation similar to 'a good start' in Cantonese), a type of edible weed that looks like a tuft of hair called fatt choy (pronounced as 'wealth and properity' in Cantonese) and fish (sounds the same as 'having excess' in Mandarin). Thus the saying "Nien nien you yu" was being directly translated into "Every year got fish" or "Tahun-tahun ada ikan" when we were kids.

But the ancient Chinese went to great extents to make sure that their aspirations came true. I bet if they heard how we distorted the translation, we'd be dragged to the altar of execution without mercy! LOL!!! That was why they would buy a live fish and leave it swimming happily in a basin of water before dinner because 'swimming fish' sounds the same as 'having excess wealth' in Chinese. It would then be cruelly mutilated while it is still alive. Yummy!

During this transition from the old year to the new, it would be a taboo to have an empty or half-filled rice urn. The rice urn must be filled to the brim and stuck with a piece of red paper that has the Chinese characters 'always full' written on it. They believe that this ritual will transfer the rice from the previous year to the next, which also means that the family will have excess wealth and their rice urn will be perpetually full. After the elaborated reunion dinner, comes the moment that everybody is waiting for.

The elders must present the greedy kids with money-filled red packets or ang pows. But the money cannot be used for a new Gameboy or Pokemon cards; it must be deposited into the piggy bank because to have it empty on the eve of Chinese New Year is a taboo. After depositing the money, you should also stick a piece of red paper with the Chinese characters 'always full' on it. You will then be blessed with a constant supply of pocket money throughout the year. I wonder why I am broke throughout the year...?

As Chinese New Year springs around, homes are normally decorated with scrolls of auspicious greetings to usher in good tidings. There is also the tradition of staying up late on the eve of Chinese New Year. Why torture yourself? Because to stay up late on this special night is believed to enhance your parents' longevity and health. If the previous year had been an especially horrendous one, it would be a good idea to stay up until dawn. This is believed to be an effective method for improving one's luck. So, kids...you are allowed to stay past your bed time! This time your parents won't chase you up the room with rotan.

Seriouly ar? Watch lots of DVD movies on the night before Chinese New Year. No Glitter or Gigli please - you want to stay awake, remember?

**This post is supposed to be posted tomorrow but I've got the inspiration, so what the heck!**