Love, Life...or something like it

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Malaysia Week London

Last Saturday, we decided to make a pit stop at Covent Garden in between our weekly window-shopping routine (or for some people, weekly-GBP500-splurge routine...ehem...Ms. Poultry) to check out Malaysia Week London. This four-day festival, which commenced last Thursday was hosted by the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism with a very apparent objective to promote the Malaysian culture to Londoners and tourists alike.

Jalur Gemilangs were waving proud, and stalls of food, arts and crafts were set-up everywhere. There were even stalls selling Brahims - I thought that was quite funny. It was no less like a typical pasar malam - except for the mat-sallehs to malaysians ratio, over-priced satays and the voice of Mahathir Lukman in the background, treating passers-by to a little trivia on Malaysia. Despite the awful weather, it felt nice to be a part of it. That familiar sounds of gamelan and that famous fragrance of satay sure made me reminisce the good old times in RPI. But I was on the other side of the fence this time.

The highlight of the day was probably the stage shows - from Malaysian top models donning our finest batik kaftans, to the traditional dances performed by our Istana Budaya dancers. How they do it so effortlessly and flawlessly baffles me. But what won my brownie points was the performance by our adik-adik from Tunas Budaya. The little men did a Zapin number, while cheekily stirring the audience with their 'ewahs' and flirtatious gimmicks with their lady dance partner. And the crowd went absolutely wild (yours truly included) when the little ladies started to gelek. Eeeee gerrraamm!!

I have no mood to write today. So here are some pics for you to enjoy. Cheerio!



*Adorable boys and girls*


*Look at all that attitude!*


*Fan dance - that main guy did some crazy acrobatics - couldn't capture it on camera in time*



*Bharatanatyam - quite impressive*



*The pretty ladies*


*Joget as Finale - they danced to the famous Allahyarham P.Ramlee's joget song*

Sunday, May 14, 2006

wake up and smell the caffe macchiato

There comes a time when you get a fresh batch of adrenaline and you wake up feeling that there's nothing in this life you can't conquer. There also comes a time when a trivial moment translates into a life-changing experience, and all of a sudden your dreams change, your priorities change and you see the world through a different set of eyes. You take a slower pace in your steps than usual just because you choose not to give in to the haste, go an extra mile for a friend than you normally would and laugh for no reason. You learn and muster the art of finding joy in everyday things. This, may be attributable to someone special, something special or absolutely nothing special at all.

I recently had one of those moments.

You're right. The significance of this matter bears no significance to you at all. Because you were not in my shoes, and never in a million years would I wish that upon you. This could be my recovery - my conscious effort of salvaging what's left and what's survived. Or it could be pure luck - my upside of the wheel, planets aligning in my favour, or the fact that Ariens are being given a chance this month. It could be anything.

But in the echoes of recent dilemma, I can't help but look back to where I was exactly a year ago. This time last year I graduated from a university where most people would go 'what?' at the mention of its name. This time last year, I was living out of a suitcase, bunking at the girls', living for the everyday routines of a fresh alumnus. Early morning breakfast, a quick read at the bookstore, cruisin with Nina Simone. This time last year, I remember saying lots of goodbyes. A little overwhelmed from all the promises. A little 'high' on all the stupid jokes over the hill and a little 'drunk' on something Cuban.

But look at where we are now. Better or worse, it doesn't matter. Just look at where we are now.

My fear is when this boost runs out. Or when this special thing loses its magic. Or when the goats or the lions decide to steal all the luck from the rams. Will I still be able to see the world the way I do now? Being content with my daily strolls along the street while munching on macaroons. Or eavesdropping on conversations of old loved-up couples on the tube (hehe) . Or brightening up the days of friends far and near. Or will I forget what matters and covet for things I don't need?

Ooh by the way, congratulations to RPI Class of 2006!

________________________________________________________

Dearest Momster,

I love you. You rock my world.
(Mama, our favourite song!)

Love,
Fur coat.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Rain, ring and Maddox.

(Warning: This entry might make you kill yoursef, or worse, throw up yet still be alive. So read at your own risk)

I was walking home from a friend's place tonight and the rain could not have poured at a better time. I was soaked and cold, of course. But oddly enough, it felt right. Giggling at every instance I stepped foot into a puddle. And not getting in the least bit annoyed at the fact that I got my new shoes wet. Hmm, could this be what they mean by.....nevermind. Let's not jinx it. Now I'm clean and warm within the four walls of my apartment. And in a moment of solitude such as this, nothing makes it more worthwhile than a hot cuppa and Keyshia Cole's Love on repeat.

*

This quizzical mind is at it again. Tonight of all times, it goes wandering - as it tries to unravel the most complicated and intricate of all mysteries. So, what do people really look for in a relationship? Some say, companionship. Some say, security. Some say, sex. Some say, respect. And some naively and unknowingly say, love. As for me, I don't know what I want. Or to be exact, it doesn't matter what I want. But if we're still allowed to wish once in a while and if truth be told, what I want is simple. Every morning I see lots of old couples on the tube. Sharing a bagel, sharing a cup of coffee, sharing a laugh. Even at an old age, there's still so much love in their eyes. Laughing at the simplest facts. Talking about the most trivial of things. Like the candy wrapper on the floor. Or the funny voice of the tube driver over the speaker. Even the weather. Anything. And it's that look and smile they exchange from time to time. A look which says that everything will be okay. Don't care if the tube is delayed, don't care if we're late, don't care if these bags are heavy. Don't care if we get lost. We'll manage. I've got you. The look of reassurance. That could probably be it.

*

I have a friend. Let's call him Mr. S. Mr. S and I go way back. He claims that he first saw me at my school carnival. I didn't remember seeing him there.

My school carnival? Which one were you?
I was the one in the black Garfield cap.

Haha, so can you really blame me? After that school carnival, Mr. S asked for my phone number and started calling the house. He also kept hanging up whenever my dad answered, which drove my dad up the wall! Once, Mr. S asked me to be his date for his friend's birthday party. He got a new shirt and declared his singlehood. I was going to agree, when I found out that he's got his strings very much taut and attached to his girlfriend of 4 years, as at that time. I thought, "Woah, messy." So I stood him up, he got upset and that was the beginning to our strong and beautiful friendship, which up to today makes it 10 years and a bit.

Mr. S and I have a rather 'weird' friendship. We're hopeless at keeping in touch. We never call, never email. Most of the time, we just assume that the other person is healthy and well. The only time we bother to pick up the phone and make that long-distance call is when there's an 'emergency'. For instance, when he called me and said, "Hey, in about an hour, can you send me a fake text saying that you need to meet me and it's urgent. I can't stand this woman." Or, when one of us has landed into a catastrophical love debacle that calls for the attention and advise of the other. It could have been 6 months since the last phonecall, or 3 am in the morning or we could be separated by oceans, but when it comes to our 2-hour long therapeutic sessions, we make time. A friend in need, is a friend indeed, no?

Occassional phone calls and stories exchanged and favours granted. What I also remember is our brief and rather one-sided conversations. It was 6 o'clock one morning in New York , and he rang me up only to say, "I'm done. I'm over her. I am officially over her. Bye." *click* And I went back to sleep.

But what I found in him, was not a preacher of the right from wrong, because when it comes to love, what is right and what is wrong? It's the matters of the heart. And it's these matters of the heart that we see eye to eye on. Like its incompatibility with logic. Its desires. How it knows pain, but it yearns again. The sacrifices and the stupid things we do in the name of love, yet nobody is good or bad when it comes to love. We're all just fools.

Mr. S is getting married soon, with a lovely girl who will make him the happiest man for the rest of their lives. When he broke the news, the first thing I said was, "Good job. You broke the pact. There goes my one guarantee of being married by 30, if all else fails." Haha. Jokes aside and if truth be told, I'm on top of the world for him! He's found his lobster! I was curious about the hantarans so I asked him which gift was he most excited about getting. He said, "A Bvlgari watch and a partner for life." Aww.

I also remember the time when he ran his proposal plans by me. By the end of it, my only response was, "Shit. Argh. Damn. Fishcakes." Oh no no, I wasn't mad at him. It was so frikin' sweet that it gave me a tooth-ache.

And to the happy couple! *clink*

*

My friend's sister just had a new-born baby girl. So before making my way to North London to pay them a visit, I made a pit stop at Baby GAP to get them a gift or two. So while I was going frantic at the sight of the pink tiny-teeny-weeny babysuits, a little girl, looked about 8 came up to me and said, "I think you should get this for your baby. I think she will like it." Hmm. I was a little puzzled. But instead of getting into the details of whose baby it REALLY was for, I asked her why. "Coz it's beautiful." And indeed it was. It was a pink caterpillar pillow hug. And there's no more to this story. Just this. And I'm out.