Bonnie & Clyde

Clyde and I went for our neighbour’s daughter’s wedding. It was my first Malay wedding and I didn’t know what to expect. My knowledge was limited to Lat’s illustrations and some scattered memories in my Buku Sejarah, but surely things are different now?

So off we went on a Saturday night to the Felda hall in KL. I sensed something was amiss when we turned into the car park. We saw bodies covered conservatively from head to toe. You can’t miss the intricate and elegant textures of the Baju Melayu, Baju Kurung, Kebaya, Selendang, etc. What to expect from a Dato Seri Paduka neighbour? Kelasnya. Me, on the other hand, was wearing a tight black pencil skirt and spaghetti strap layered top. No one exposed as much as an elbow, but I have my back and tattooed shoulder facing the world. Usually I would grab a shawl in case it gets cold, but of all days I have to forget lah.

Anyway. Aside from my faux pas, the ceremony was short and sweet. My Malay vocab expanded a little as I know now what is upacara merenjis and understand poetic phrases the emcee spoke of he whole night. There is something very humble and mystical about the way the Muslims cup their palms in prayer and the sprinkling of water during the merenjis actions. The food was superb too! Love the giant prawns, beef and chicken dish but can’t stand tapai. :P

Buah Cempedak di luar pagar,
Ambil galah tolong jolokkan.
Saya budak baru belajar,
Kalau salah tolong tunjukkan.

Satu, dua, tiga,
Bunga kembang waktu senja.
Senyuman pasangan pengantin semanis gula,
Dari pelamin hingga ke akhir masa.

Vogue gitu.

What a crazy, crazy weekend. Had another one of those 20 hours x 2 days shoot. I’m too tired even to complain.

How I miss lazy Saturday lunches just right after I rolled out of bed.

Where is your cell phone? Table
Relationship? Yes
Your hair? Long
Work? Demanding
Your sister? 1
Your favorite thing? My iBook
Your dream last night? Scary
Your favorite drink? Umbra asamboi
Your dream car? Mercedes Benz M-class luxury 4WD
The room you’re in? Office
Your shoes? Mary Janes dangling off my feet
Your fears? Aging
What do you want to be in 10 years? Happy
Who did you hang out with this weekend? Friends
What are you not good at? Public speaking
One of your wish list items? Awards with points
Where you grew up? Malaysia
Last thing you did?  Chatting online
What are you wearing? T-shirt & long skirt
What aren’t you wearing? A smile
Your pet? Mom’s dog
Your computer? Mac
Your life? Happy
Your mood? Tired
What are you thinking about right now? Massage
Your car? Peugeot
Your kitchen? Don’t own one
Your summer? Hot
Your favorite color? Black
Last time you laughed? 2 mins ago
Last time you cried? Forgot
School? Sucks
Love? Shopping, eating, blogging, travelling, reading
Now I would like to tag:
Clyde, Verne, James, Spiderbear, Copywriting student

What's these gotta do with each others?

I heard this story once, forgotten who told me though, which I think is kinda funny and sad:

This group of Malaysians, all chinese, went for a Europe tour. They visited a few countries, and for each, the travel agency arranged a local tour guide for them.

That stop was France. When they got in the bus that morning, a young "Ang Moh, came into the bus after everyone has seated and the bus had started moving to their first destination of sight seeing.

"Heeeelllo and Good Morning ladies and gentlemen," the young handsome Frenchman greeted everybody enthusiatically.

"Good morning," everyone replied in a cheerful mode.

The problem started. The frenchman start to continue in clear, properly pronounced, maybe a little Beijing accent, Mandarin. He started speaking fluently, explaining the scenery and cracking some jokes.

Everyone was quiet, as if they're listening. Nobody laughed to his jokes nor looked interested with his explanation.

Until somebody raise his hand. "Can speak in English? We dont understand Chinese."

I can imagine how shock the french tour guide was. Not only he found that all the Chinese in the bus didnt speak, hear, or understand chinese; he can't really speak English. French is his first language and Chinese's his second.

Like what in cantonese: The Chicken talks to the Duck.

Last weekend we had to shoot in a jungle, or what looks like it. Located in Ulu Yam is this forest reserve, where students are pay to ‘camp’, ‘train’ and stuff. Silly cuns. If you don’t already know, Bonnie is no lover of nature.

So off I went into the van at 7am and we reached the location 745am. I was croaking at my producer for coffee and eggs by then.

We were seated at a table with the photographer’s laptop in front and the production house’s monitor beside me. I was supposed to be checking the shots when I noticed a small, thin blade of dried lalang on my knee.

It appeared to be.... moving.

All hell broke lose when I realised it was a leech. I bounced backwards on my chair, yelled and brushed my knee violently. Everyone turned to stare at me grabbing the aerosol spray and going environmentally unfriendly like an overzealous hair stylist. Mother Nature would have a fit if she saw.

Yeeeeech... I hatehatehatehate HATE leeches, and all things that crawl, sticks to you and feed on you and that justifies everything. ‘Nuff said.


Serene lake


Shore


Green belt


Nobody would know we ‘planted’ this pretty lily here


The reassuring smell of mosquito coil to keep creepy crawlies at bay

There’s something magical about the giant world map that I stuck to my cubicle wall. Everybody came to have a look. This is a good way to reflect how small we are in a world that’s so much bigger than us and our little problems.

Something disgusting and puke inducing happened at one of my favourite haunts, Esquire Kitchen Atria.

Da family was seated right outside the kitchen during peak dinnertime hour. We observed staffs rushed in and out in lightning speed serving popular dishes while yelling orders. One dish never fail to make my mouth water - Flower Buns.

Esquire Kitchen Flower Buns are legendary and my first encounter with them goes way back in the 80’s. Dough are kneaded, twisted and then steamed to perfection. Without any filling on its own, it tastes oh-so-heavenly with their Fried Wantan Tomato-Based Dip or Kung Pao Chicken sauce.

I like it best plain.

There’s something about the off-white confection piled high on top of one another stacked up on a metal plates that makes it so delectable. So pure. So clean. So perfect.

Until last night.

2 pairs of eyes from our table actually spotted a waiter dropped a flower bun onto the floor. He quickly put it back on top of the pile and served it. We couldn’t see where the dish went so we alerted a passing waitress (foreigner) and she just stared at us blankly. She asked if our buns (which arrived seconds before) were dirty. When we explained the whole situation, she again stared blankly. I think she couldn’t comprehend why would we make a fuss if the food weren’t ours. She just frowned and walked away, pretending not to understand the language. If you do not understand simple basic BM/Eng, you don’t have any business being here at all. For once, I’m tired of foreigners working in KL but pretending to be ignorant of basic local languages just because they are lazy (read: MAID/JOGOYA). But anyhoo, we alerted another Chinese waitress and waiter who, surprise surprise, pretended to be concerned but didn’t do jack. No explanation, no apology, no shit.

We paid our money and left. No way I’m patronising them again. But of course Esquire Kitchen wouldn’t mind. One patron, no more, no less. How Chinese.

I love jelly, gummy, chewy transparent stuff to eat and to have (but not to wear la). So when I went with Clyde last weekend to a kedai runcit to buy groceries, I picked up this packet of Konyaku jelly powder and it hit me like a 10 tonne truck - I must learn how to make my favourite dessert TODAY! I want to eat jello NOW!

So I bought the mixture, which cost RM4.20 and went home determined and fully charged like a Duracell bunny.

I followed the instructions to a tee:
1) Mix contents evenly with 1200ml water
2) Stir over fire till boil
3) Pour mixture into jelly mould
4) Throw in peeled fruits for taste

I made 2 flavours - longan & orange. Clyde advised me to add the fruits after pouring into the moulds for that ‘floating’ effect. Wah... damn inventive I tell ya. It was a success! From now on, I will cook and bring this to any potluck getogether. Garanti sell.

^_^


The product



The glorious result!

I hate being disrupted during makan and tidur time. Be it meetings, phone calls, social workers asking for donations, direct sales people, etc. Seldom deterred by interruptions, I am very focused on food and sleep. And if I am unreasonably bad tempered, it is because of food and sleep. Other times, I am just bad tempered. :P

But not today.



She was relentless and persuasive. Like a sniper, she just locked on, targeted from afar and zoomed in on me among the 30-odd people dining there. Everytime she mewed it sounded like,"ffiona... fffiona... FFIONNNNNAAAAAA!!!" Cam hantu kum kum.

I didn’t stand a chance. So I ended up giving part of my clay pot chicken curry to her. :P

This is really funny.

A spanking new A140 Benz was spotted in Bukit Damansara today, trying to reverse out of a parking space. There were 2 girls inside. 1 girl got out and guided as the other reversed, braked, reverse again to get out of the spot, all in vain. They switched tactics and drivers and the drama lasted like 20 mins before 1 of them came to the restaurant, where we were sitting and alerted the waiter,”Can you please inform this car owner that he/she is blocking the way?”

From where I was sitting, there was ample space for a bike to park horizontally and yet she blames the car in front for her parking skills, or lack of. Everybody came to check out the inspection until a waiter patiently guided her how to reverse her car properly.

I think it’s her hubby’s car so must be extra careful lor. :P

I chat and talk to a few people about the Suzy Wong hair style. Why caucasian men love that?

The feedback from some dude from the states: They dont particulary love it. They love it not because of the look of it, but the meaning carried behind it.

It's stereotype. A stereotype of all caucasian men love it. A stereotype of all Asian women who love caucasian love it.

It is, like a sign language, an mutual understanding, a game of to hook and to be hooked.

I am not saying all with that kinda hair style are like that; some girls I know do love it. I am talking about girls who purposely cut their hair such way before they go overseas or hang out in places with a lot of caucasians.

That's the reason why porn with title such as "Asia Delight" will always feature some, if not all, girls with such hair style.

Just like many men is Malaysia, especially older in age, thinks girls with cigerette equals "Got Chance".

Sigh. We are such simple animals.

"WOW!" That's the first response from my friend after I showed him the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twxf2LraoEE&mode=related&search=

It's Sun Ho's "China Wine" MV.

She is not doing anything extraordinary, we got all this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in MTV and Channel V. For all the criticism and controversy created, I think the main reason people are pointing fingers on heris because of the title she is carrying. A pastor wife, youth counsellor, church leader.

She is a free person; and why she can't do things that other artist are doing? I think she could, as long as she quit all her other job. Because certain jobs and certain images are just not suitable to put together. This is a question of being professional. You could do it, but at least be professional enough not to show it. For example, all dentist, like normal human being, do pass motion. Everyone knows that. The point is, if you are in a clinic working on your patient's teeth, suddenly you feel like going to the toilet, at least do it discreetly by just saying "excuse me, I will be back 3 minutes," than telling your patient "excuse me, I go 'bang-sai' now....."

With the MV, with the image she's projecting thru it, I think it's just not professional if she continue to be a youth leader or even counsellor. I, wouldnt want my children to seek her counseling especially if they have problems about partying and boozing too much. Imagine, "..... now you know it's not good to frequent disco too much and drink too much, understand? Before you go, let's watch my MV to relax a bit...."

It's her position/title that created such controversy and gain her such fame to be able to get to do this song for the movie (Memoir of a Geisha), but I think it's time for her to dicide which way she wanna go. Personally, I think she is pretty well as an artist. If she could just draw the line clear enough, I think it's ok.

Then, of course, she gotta work extra hard then cause when the controvesy isnt there anymore, she need more things to make it to the top.

"Wow, this is better than nuns!" This is my friend's fantasy.

Obviously he's fantasizing.

P/S: The only thing I must comment about he MV is: Why the Suzy Wong hairdo? Anyone out there, like me, think Asians/the yellow skin people are already being stereotyped too badly? Personal preference: I hate it, and I know some caucasian men do think the same. Maybe I will blog about this later.

Life imitating art by a couple of shameless simians at a classy eatery-turned-zoo while the parents ate and chatted obliviously. What is the world coming to?

The infamous Claypot Loh Shi Fun. Yummm!


The must-have belaccan chilli


Stir-fried pig intestines with dried prawns


Even the kailan tastes great!

Welcome home, Clyde! And guess what he got me... :P


My very first Baby G! Despite what Clyde (and his colleagues) thinks, I like it! Very stylish and sharp looking


Ipod Nano! It goes very well with my iBook. I am now officially a Mac geek!


Funky silicon cover


What else can you expect from Hong Kong? A box of spare part snacks!


Packets of duck tongue and tongue kidneys! Not for the faint-hearted!


Fragrant-smelling duck kidney. Just like the real thang!


Wah... got juice sumore!


Duck tongue


I didn’t expect it to be so boney! But yummy anyway!

Erm, I missed out the baby tees (which had the office girls squealing in delight), FF8 soundtrack (which I always wanted but was too cheapskate to buy), teeny-weeny 2GB thumbdrive (which fascinated techy computer lovers) and stuff for the kids. Clyde, your wife loved your gifts. The reason why She ain’t looking very boisterous is bcoz she is a walking zombie, the result of late nights, and many more to come. :(

I think, if I were right, I did wrote about Bonnie's way of showing appreciation when I give her gifts.

I m brought up by a very Cina kinda family. As most Chinese, I dont really know how to show my gratitude when someone did something good to me. Even worse, sometimes I would say something bad.

For example, when you bought me some nice durian, instead of a sincere "Thank You", I might even comment on the taste, like, I had tasted durians even better when and when; or I used to buy the same grade some where with half the price etc etc.

I know, I gotta change, and I m learning to.

And Bonnie is the one who has this quality I always admire. She will just react in such a way that she appreciate and like it so much that you will believe her and share her happiness. Even sometimes deep down inside I wasnt sure whether I really bought the right thing.

She will just transmit the happiness to you.

The only drawback about this is, sometimes it will just make you being not sharp in choosing gifts for her. Am I really that sharp? Havent I miss? I do think so. Out of so many gifts I gave, there must be some, hopefully not too many, that I've missed. She just always make me feel so happy for things I choose for her,

Maybe should talk to her that, if for things I bought her which doesnt suit her taste so much, she could tell me. I will improve.

Anyway, just wanna say that you really make my day!

Earlier this year, promise Bonnie will get her a Tag as her birthday present.

Somehow it didnt happen. The decision had been dragged again and again; cause Bonnie care too much about my wallet. Such a lovely wife.

Finally, yesterday I bought her a watch from HongKong, and one for myself too. Like a "couple" thing. Bought it cause it's something very different from all watches Bonnie has. It's white, and plastic.

When I told my colleague about this, was being teased "Cheapo".

Yes, it's Baby-G.

And yes, it's a down-grade from RM5,200 watch to a RM126.50 watch.

I must say the price is one of the factor that helped me decide to buy. But it's not a factor as in comparison to Tag watch. I sincerely think the watch looks good on her.

I swear.

Youngest SIL got hitched last Friday. I was at the wedding registration at Tian Hoe Temple and it only took half an hour to sign your life away! Kongsi, kongsi! :)

Last Sunday Clyde flew to la la land aka Hong Kong and left me to the wolves. I couldn’t have gone even if I wanted to bcoz there’s a tender for new business (read: late nights and working weekend). But things are looking up.

Someone wise once said to me, “Don’t act like you need the job.” Very profound words and very true. When you throw away your anxieties and insecurities, miracles do happen. ^_^