Unproductive Day

Today is another unproductive day by my standards. I could have done at least something, anything that has a significant amount of benefits, but NO - I did not do anything at all. Hence, the term UNPRODUCTIVE. So, as I sit UNPRODUCTIVELY at my table, I started to day-dream (which I do so often now and then) about a lot of stuff. First thing that comes to mind is about the upcoming practical exams - how I wished that the hospital was blown away by the chilly autumn wind so that I do not have to take that exam. Or I could polymorph the examiner into a monkey.

 Then suddenly I thought of the nice lavender pashmina scarf I saw last Sunday in Terranova. Oh and also the other black arab scarf. Only 399 roubles each item! Should I buy it or not? I need to spice up my wardrobe for this season - are scarves the right choice? Or perhaps I should find a new trench coat? Hmm. Yet to find the latter. Sigh~

[Oh purple pashmina scarf, how I adore you...how I long for you to be wrapped around my neck and draped across my chest...]

[Oh black Arab scarf, how I adore thee as well! The rough but warm feeling of you around me is so inviting, how I want you to be among my most adored items!]

Enough shopping for me if I wanted to enjoy myself in Central Europe in the winter. I hope I can contain my shopping urges until then. But, its HARD - argh, NOOOOOO!

Then as I stared at my wall, I realized how cluttered it was with ALL KINDS OF STUFF I collected from all around the world; postcards, shopping tags, pictures, a bronze athletics medal - all arranged around my prized lucky Adidas poster. In a way it looked somehow creative, colorful and messy - which practically screams ME. No wonder my friends said that just by looking at my wall and my table, people can really REALLY judge who am I. Hey- I thought judging others was a sin?

[Just a small portion of my personal paraphernalia on the table. Spray, mousse, cream, gel, gum, wax, clay...you name it I've got them all! Just look at the amount of chemicals that I load upon my hair. If they had voices, they'd probably be screaming their roots off by now.]

Oh crap. When will I be freed from non-productivity?

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Wishing all Muslims in the whole world a happy Eid al-Fit'r especially to all Malaysians. 

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir Batin.

Being far away from Malaysia for Raya or any other big festive occasion really strikes me with self pity. How is it that I am attending classes on a National Holiday??? While everyone else is enjoying the holidays back at home, I am here doing what everyone else are NOT SUPPOSED TO DO. Sigh.

This however, taught me a valuable lesson - which I have, for countless times already, learnt through I wade across the waters of life.

NEVER TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED.

Yes, never take things for granted - no matter how big, nor how small the thing maybe. Once you are not able to experience it any more, you will start to think about how good it felt when it was still there. Same thing goes for Hari Raya. It used to be just "another holiday" back in Malaysia, but since living here in Europe, I kind of miss all the good times.

Top 5 things I like about Hari Raya:

1. You get at least 2 days of holidays.

A good time to get the family to gather together. I don't get much time with my family because everyone is busy with their work and studies. Now, come to think of it - I kind of regret the fact that I didn't make much effort to spend time with my family whenever opportunity arises. 

2. You can go and eat free food at people's open houses.

Whenever I go out beraya, I will usually target the houses which serve lemang and beef rendang with lots and lots of kuih raya. How do I do that? I'd call in earlier and asked about the menu offered! LOL.

3. I get to see people get dressed up (finally) in fashion-disaster-stricken Malaysia.

Malaysia, in my opinion is one of a country stricken with the fashion disaster syndrome. I don't think the population in making a commendable effort in trying to look good and appealing. So during festivities, this condition usually self-alleviates as a small percentage of the nation dresses up to celebrate the big day.

4. I get to wear my baju melayu without looking ridiculous - it's my favourite national costume!

I have a myriad of national costumes in my wardrobe - but my definite favourite is the baju melayu cekak musang. It is very light and comfortable, elegant if worn with a matching samping songket, and no matter how fugly a guy is - he will get extra points for wearing it!

5. I get duit raya!

Besides getting free food from the open houses which I went to - I also got some pocket money! Like the hong bao, it is also presented in small paper packs, but it is green in color. Who cares about the packaging anyway - I'm more concerned with the contents of it!

10 Reasons To Have Sex (With My Boyfriend) - No pun intended.

Today while eating I found out that I ran out of mineral water. Drats. So I grabbed my cellphone and wallet, and gingerly got up from my seat which I have been warming for the past hour. I have to go to the kiosk downstairs to buy one. As I got down the stairs, I saw there were a few peculiar paper pamphlets lying curiously on the windowsill. A closer look got me shocked:

10 Reasons To Have Sex (With My Boyfriend)

I'm Afraid I'll Lose Him...I Can't Bear That

Whoa. SHOCKING. Now sex is so openly publicized? Why I did not know about it?

Then I quickly grabbed both of the pamphlets and immediately ran to the lift. I'll read them on the way.

Written inside were the ultimate 10 reasons to have sex (with my boyfriend) - no pun intended LOL. 

1. Besides, everyone's doing it.

2. I enjoy sex.

3. I like that it gives me control.

4. Sex makes me feel loved and attractive.

5. I'm in love. He's the only one for me.

6. It brings us close together.

7. We've dated a long time. It's the next step.

8a. He will break up with me if I don't - he says if "I Love Him" I'll do it.

8b. He cannot control himself, he was made that way and must have sex - it's either me or someone else.

9. I owe it to him.

10. It's not that big a deal.

O-okay. Right. Whoever wrote this must be freaking disturbed. Hey - there were 11 reasons altogether! Number 8 is a repeat! 
Main tipu. Cakap tadi ada 10. But seriously - are these real reasons?


Well, if I were to rephrase these "reasons" to a personal perspective:

1. Doesn't mean I am doing it because Besides, everyone's doing it.

2. I enjoy sex better if I get an orgasm.

3. I like that it gives makes me lose control.

4. Sex makes me feel loved and attractive. tired and a dirttttttty.

5. I'm in love. He's the only one for me - for now. Dunno bout later though.

6. It brings us lose together into one another.

7. No matter whether if We've dated a long time or not. It's almost always the first, if not the next step. 

8a. He will not break up with me if I don't - he says if "I Love Him" I'll do it eventually.

8b. He cannot control himself, he was made that way and must have sex - it's either has to be me or and  someone nobody else.

9. I want to do owe to him .

10. It's not that big a deal - hello, you are stark naked for God's sake!


Ooh - I'M BAD. no, WICKED!


But as I read further, the pamphlet is all about NOT DOING sex (with your boyfriend - p/s: i like the bracket concept, it is like somehow pointing towards something *wink* LOL.) before marriage.


Ohh...that is why. Only now I know better loh. Takpelah....

1Malaysia: Good Slogan + Lame Execution = Bad Impression?

I guess everyone who considers him/herself a Malaysian should now be more than familiar with this revolutionary phrase:

1Malaysia

Pencapaian Diutamakan, Rakyat Didahulukan.

Which translates into "One Malaysia. People first. Performance now."

Well, and I am sure that everyone who considers him/herself a Malaysian should ALSO know that it brings up mixed reactions: 

Mr. A: I sapot lah the government if like this. Hidup 1Malaysia.

Mrs. B: Very pretentiouslah this slogan. I tak nak lah.

Miss C: Wei, like this kenot wor...must support government de.

Mr.D : Ei kawan, what is this lah? Aiyoo...where got 1Malaysia? Always will berat sebelah one...

Mr. E: No bah. The kerajaan will tolong all the rakyat bah kan? Then we all aramai iti lah!

Miss F: Nadailah...bulak nyak government!

But I am not surprised that something that was meant purely for good intentions could escalate to something extreme such as:

Okay...this is a bit over lah. Scary. Some are a little bit funny:

Alamak...tiba-tiba Mongolia pulak. Now we are promoting Mongolia as well? 

Speaking of Mongolia...

Who could now forget the beautiful Altantuya Shaariibu? (And for those Russian-educated this is her name in Mongolian: Шаарийбуугийн Алтантуяа) Kesian her kena bom to pieces. She could have been a strong candidate to represent Mongolia to Miss Universe. Sad, so sad.

Thanks to the media, not only we got to know about the the girl who was literally non-existent before (I mean, no one knew about her at all before her death. Then suddenly she was all over the place, sometimes found even in the inside part of a nasi lemak newspaper packaging.) - but also about some other people , i.e.  a missing Indian man? an allegedly murdered chinese man? It's surprising that I know these people much more than I know my neighbour! I didn't even know my neighbour bought a new car! I'd have to agree one thing though - news travels fast.

Those were what the adults are saying. One question - have you ever thought of what the children has to say about 1Malaysia? A young artist has his/her own point of view.

And this is what the artist commented on his/her own picture: 

"This is a pic which I draw to enter my school's 'Hari Kebangsaan' competition. For your information, 'Hari Kebangsaan' is Malaysia's national day. Furthermore, the word '1 Malaysia' in the pic is my country's latest slogan. This competition is compulsary for all the students in my school."

Aww. So innocent. So cute. Poor thing the artist doesn't know anything that is happening in the country nowadays as it is not exactly as peaceful as depicted in the picture. Ignorance is bliss. Sigh.


So - what now? 1Malaysia? Personally I like the concept. It's catchy. It's urm, practical. And it's marketable! Don't believe me? Take a look at this Frenchman's own rendition of his understanding of 1Malaysia:

This is what I call rakyat didahulukan, pencapaian diutamakan. 
Why? This Frenchman opened the eatery to dahulukan food service to the rakyat, and at the same time he utamakan his financial pencapaian. 
Agree?


Whatever it is, it is up to everyone actually to decide what does 1Malaysia means. 
But I am sure that EVERYONE will surely agree if I tagged 1Malaysia as a GOOD SLOGAN but POORLY EXECUTED.


And for the record, I would like to say that the 1Malaysia concept are actually perfectly grasped by our sesame-street watching generation. Maybe we could learn a thing or two from them :)

Crossing my fingers to a better future for Malaysia.

Eating Me Alive

Recently I did something wrong.

Terribly wrong.

I knew it was wrong from the start.

But I couldn't help but to ignore my moral conscience and to just go forward.

Now the guilt settles in.

And it is eating me alive...

Eating Me Alive

Words and Music by Maksim Markusevich

My conscience tells me so,

But I refused to admit,

I didn't want to let go,

But it's eating away at me, bit by bit...

I thought I've made a promise,

But how could my heart chose to refuse,

Now I'm in such a big crisis,

I know I have to pay my dues...

Digging deep,

Deep down inside,

Whether I'm awake or asleep,

It's eating me up alive...

Deep, going deep,

The more I lied, the more I cried,

To myself I can no longer keep,

It hurts, it eats me alive...

They thought I had it easy,

But I was putting up a front,

And there's no one else to blame but me,

So it is me I need to confront...

It hurts...it hurts...it hurts...

It hurts as I could only whisper voiceless words,

And my cries go unheard...

I wish to You I surrendered,

Long ago before I was captured,

I hope it's not too late as I struggled then stumbled and stood but staggered,

In You I try to find peace and comfort...

Digging deep,

Deep down inside,

Whether I'm awake or asleep,

It's eating me up alive,

So so deep,

I tried, I cried, but I still lied,

To myself I can no longer keep,

It hurts, I'm living a lie,

It hurts, it's eating me up alive...