La-La Land of 13th Stitch

Current Music: Simply Beautiful (Al Green)

Well well, not much to tell…just updating stuff worth mentioning.

Frustrations from Last Night

My Almost Tasteless Maggi Noodles - I do remember that the instructions on the older packs always mentioned to use 2.25 cups of water as the soup base…so of course that’s what I did last night. Till I realised a tad too late (after I just poured the seasoning into 2.25 cups of simmering water) that the new recipe only requires TWO cups. Grrr…thus resulting in my crappy noodles with diluted soup.

Room Telly Went Off On Timer - Of all times, it just had to switch off at the climax of Bone Collector! I ended up not being able to watch how the serial killer got around to the last victims. Well I’ve watched it before, but doesn’t hurt to be reminded of one of the greatest suspense movies I’ve ever watched. Have to find out how to switch off the goddamn timer once the telly comes alive again… *roaaarrrr*

Good Feels So Far

Precious Sahur Moments - It’s about the only time I get to catch up with Mama Jams over that mere 40 minutes of breakfast at 4.00ish in the morning (just a slightly bigger breakkie as a start to fasting for the day). "Catching up" usually refers to me updating her with my latest trials and tribulations…and funnily happy moments, too (if any). Always ends up with her inching to her bedroom door, asking me, "Are you almost done…I gotta get ready for work"…sheesh!

Spring Cleaning Of My Hard-Drive - Realising I’ve got only about 5GB worth of space on my Machine, I’ve decided to do a bit of spring clean up. God knows why on Earth I’ve got 11MB of CD-label printer programme…so of course that ended up in the trash. Now, I’m battling with myself whether to trash Diablo II, which takes up a whopping 1144MB of my space! (Used: RARELY, Last Used On: 1 Oct 2005) Hmmm…whaddya think? Geez…my Assassin is already all the way in Lut Gholein, in search of the Tal Rasha rune (or some thingamajig like that…can’t exactly recall the storyline anymore). I’ve always hated Lut Gholein, for some reason…even when I completed the game the first time around (yes yes, I did kill Diablo AND Baal!). Especially when I used to play the Sorceress, and used up a hell lot of mana…that was frustrating to the max! SO…to trash???

Funny People Moments

Natt’s Dad -

(On the phone)

The Dad: Natt, have you buka?

Natt: Not yet, is it time already?

The Dad: Oh yea, two more minutes..

Hmm…?

Mama Jams -

(At Garuda restaurant, cashier counter)

Me: Ma, they don’t accept NETS…only credit cards. Have you got your Master?

(Mams gave me the card , walked off…and I continued to daydream…until…)

Me: Ma! Come back…you need to sign the receipt!!

(She came back, laughing all the way…then I realised she was just after that Pinle pancake thingie…sheesh!)

Some Director -

(During Natt’s WIP, and the said person was triumphantly squishing trespassing ants with her fingers)

Natt: Boss, you are working in a ZOO!

Latest Retail Therapy

Glide Laptop Case - Finally, the perfect one…well, albeit for the starkly huge logo at the front magazine pocket (I’m not very big on huge logos). Other than that, it’s completely perfect. And it’s also great that I can use it as workstation at home! So goodbye to the friggin’ huge Acer carrier with that ridiculous long shoulder strap (good thing my height makes up for it!)…but then again, it has served me well all these years. Just that it needs to make way for something nouveau.

(ps: the retail assistant said that my Osprey comes with a lifetime warranty…the BAG’s lifetime or MY lifetime…hee!)

One thing I love about a new travel pack is the mini catalogue that comes with it! Not so much for the wheelies, but I love the design of the Waypoint series…they sure make my Quantum 55+10 seem…well, small.

One pro for Deuter, though…the discreet logo (as compared to Osprey!) I also kinda like the neat top-loading designs. Besides, my Deuters (Quantum, Nexus and Hip Pack) sure have been through a hell lot with my travels. Quantum has even been to places I’ve never been to before (Az borrowed it for her Europe study tour and Li borrowed it to Spain and Germany)! The Hip Pack has evidences of the time I invested painting in Takeo and Hambantota, and the time when I fell on the muddy slope in Kinabatangan.

I’ve also been on a hunt for a perfect pack for short trips for the longest time, and almost splurged on that Columbia pack from Harbourfront. Suddenly I found my MIA North Face (knock off from Russian Market in Penh…hehe) in some nook in bro’s room. He chucked it to the side ‘cos he tore the front compartment…that a**e! Anyways, all it needed was a little mending with ultimate TLC and it’s good as new! So it accompanied me to Ubin…I especially love the detachable section. Saves the hassle of bringing along the Hip Pack.

I once read in a bulletin board on Contiki about a fair bunch of travellers (read: backpackers) who discriminate against the psychocentrics who use cabin trolleys and duffels on their travels. I’m not discriminating, but really, where’s the fun when you can’t keep your hands free when travelling ‘cos you have to lug your stuff around? If it helps, my Grandma uses cabin trolleys…hehe. Reminds me of the show Zoom Thailand on Suria… Darlina teased Nurul for having her cabin trolley when they were going on that expedition to Thailand, "Kau nak pergi umrah ke?" [Are you going for an umrah pilgrimage (in Macca)?] …LOL!

Speaking of Contiki, I’ve always been a Contiki-er wannabe. However at this point of time, I should say that it’s beyond my financial means as a minimum wage earner…so I’m picking up tips from experienced travellers to bundle up the travel components as drawn out on Contiki’s colourful itineraries (I hope no one from Contiki’s management is reading this! Hah). But I’d surely love to join one of their trips sometime in the future. Those who are 18 to 35 years old…you guys should check Contiki out! (Hopefully this makes up for that suggestion which is not exactly the company’s best interest…heheh)

Current Realisations

It’s Raining! - I hope it’ll subside when the sun makes its grand entrance later…need to do laundry big time!

External Hard-Drive Is Running Out Of Space! - Should’ve gotten that 100GB, knowing the amount of junk I tend to keep…arghh!

I’m Rich! - Pay is in…need I say more? Muahahaha..

Past TWO Hours! - That’s how long I’ve been spending on this post! Well, it includes digressing to…

• remove programmes on the PC,
• toilet breaks (two or three),
• check out Osprey’s webbie…and Deuter…and Eagle Creek…and Contiki…and kate spade (don’t ask me why),
• synchronise my external hard-drive
• update iTunes
• check out photos on Cyber-shot Viewer

D’accord…I’ve got to restart the PC or else I won’t be able to play music on iTunes. Really can’t wait for the store to be available here (tentatively by year’s end) so I can start downloading hassle-free…woohoo!

Ciao for now…

Current Music: So Lady (Mary J Blige)

Peut-être je devrais retour au zoo…

Peut-être je devrais prendre des vacances…explorer de monde…

I just don’t feel like conforming anymore…was I even doing that in the first place?

I think I’m just getting pissed for the wrong reasons…directed at the wrong people.

Hmmph!

Current Music: She (Elvis Costello)

Last night was somewhat…REJUVENATING. We were talking about usage of English. Gosh, haven’t I forgotten that anal retentive bit about atrocious grammar…felt real good that there are some people out there who share this odd passion as me. It’s scary that I’m beginning to let bad grammar pass by without me making mental notes anymore. Sheesh!

And another thing I miss…those moments of utter silliness when we effortlessly made up non-existing issues and cooked up our own theories about certain topics. An attempt at intellect, they call it.

Reminiscing how we could spend hours talking about vertebral evolution and the likes (though I’m not usually a major contributor…more of observer and enquirer). Tres ennuyeux…? I don’t think so..

I really miss those times…and somewhat it didn’t feel all that bad getting tickled by the idea of mocking at the mediocre ecoles (I swear Izah suggested that!).

So stop living in your pathetic pustular fantasy…get out and live the real life!

Current Music: Amor De Madre (Aventura)

You know how frustrating it is to not have things go your way, especially when that’s always been the case? For some odd reason, I’ve always managed to get whatever I want…well, except for that million dollars jackpot and a royalty proposing to me. Hmm…but come to think of it again, don’t think I’m willing to commit my life to confinement within the palace grounds…eughh!

Reminds me of Skyve…he once told me about engaging the Danish coach who taught Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, well, Danish. She’s an Aussie, by the way. Those were the days…

I wonder if they are simply blessings in disguise…both issues above.

On a totally unrelated note, I can’t wait for iTunes to reach our shores…

Current Music: American Life (Madonna)

7 July 2007, Saturday @ 5.00ish pm

Onboard AK5163 bound for KUL

Coolios Stuffs I Did Today!:

1) Woke up before 6am this morning for a boat ride to spot wildlife

2) Went pee in the jungle…hee!

3) Saw a dominant male orang utan (our post-Orang experience)

4) Spotted a crocodile

5) Colony of proboscis monkeys doing great leaps from trees to trees…just too bad we didn’t get to capture the leaps on camera (when Mag’s not tres happy)

6) Bought my first sarong!

On overall, the trip has been rather fantastic. Beats going to a zoo if one wants to have a great wildlife experience. Sure, you don’t get to spot over 200 species of animals from around the world. But waking up real early in the morning for a chance to spot a dominant male orang utan, hoping that he’ll make some movement is quite an experience on its own. Spending an hour in the midst of Bornean jungle, braving through the army of ferocious blood-thirsty mosquitoes and neck aches just for the opportunity to spot a mother and child orang utans…there’s no word for the adrenaline rush with each slight movement.

Second day @ camp was a full-day wildlife experience. We started off with a morning safari on the boat. Nothing much…long-tailed macaques and proboscis monkeys foraging. That went for about an hour or two. Breakkie time after that, and we went for our morning trekking led by Leo. That was when we saw the mother and child orangs. Child was estimated to be about three or four years old…very mischievous. He kept throwing things down at us…twigs and stuff, and he kept making kissing sounds. Tres adorable…

We also saw pretty wood nymphs along the way…tractor millipedes, which smell like almonds.

Lunch was at noon…slothing time after that, and we went for afternoon boat ride. More hornbills-spotting, proboscis and macaques…

Dinner time, and we got ready for the last programme of the day: night trekking. So there we were, donned in our rubber boots and braved through the muddy swamps in search of nocturnal wildlife. Beautiful frogs, centipedes and other invertebrates. My fave moment: butterflies perched on me while I took pics of them!

Third day @ camp was an uber slothy day for us. Mag was the only one who had the energy to get up real early to join the morning safari. Rest of us? Slept in till it’s time for breakfast. We had a hell lot of rest…siesta-ing. Only wildlife activity we did was the late afternoon safari, and that was when we spotted the dominant male orang just about to take a rest in his nest.

Before that, Natt had a sharing session with some local students on the importance of eco-tourism.

Night time came, Mag and I decided to go for the night safari…and we teased each other on the real reason as to why WE wanted to go on the programme…hee

Night safari was pretty good since we spotted crocodiles THREE times, though they’re rather small. Not much excitement going on last night.

Incredible adventure was this morning on the fourth day @ camp! Went through the muddy grounds just to track down the orang! Well worth it ‘cos he’s absolutely gorgeous! Can’t wait to see Mag’s close-up shots of him. She actually went up really close to him, risking the fact that he’s fully capable of charging at them if he wanted to!

On the way back to camp, and we ended up with a boat just for the four of us (we were in separate boats on the way to the site). So we spent a tad more time watching the proboscis monkeys at their most active moment. We were there waiting patiently for that golden shot of a great leap, and either they made really small ones, or the view was blocked by trees. Only when we were leaving, Natt turned and said to look out for a solo male, and there he made THREE major leaps! Ah…the frustration!

Ok, landing @ KUL in a bit. I shall update more soon…

9 July 2007, Monday @ 5.11pm

Lavendar Bus Station, waiting for Anissa

Shopping in KL was madness! Spent over my projected budget for this trip…scary to even think of my ailing bank balance!

Let’s see…plane touched down at LCCT-KLIA at around 8.00ish. We checked in at Green Hut and got our long-awaited Ramly burgers, and our bus tickets for this morning. The whole afternoon had been about fantasizing the burgers for dinner, and followed by 1st and 2nd suppers. Needless to say, the suppers didn’t even happen since both of us zonked out at about 12.00ish. Deuxieme jour at KL, we planned to catch a movie. However, there wasn’t anything worth watching since we’ve caught the latest hits: Fantastic Four and Transformers. So yea, the movies didn’t happen…

And Anissa came…so the journal came to an end.

Current Music: The Mystic’s Dream (Loreena McKennitt)

5 July 07, Thursday @ 9.54am

Dining Area @ Uncle Tan’s Camp

The other girls are just lazing around in the room. Me, just pre-occupied with something.

Anyways, yesterday was kinda enriching. Went to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre in the morning. Saw the whole feeding session. Nice knowing that there’s quite a number of orang orphans that the centre is rescuing. Basically, their objective is to raise them as naturally as possible, and to release them into the wild after a couple of years to facilitate natural breeding.

Back to the guest house after that, lunch…and we’re off to the jetty at about 2.30pm to leave for the camp by boat. Kinda reminds me of Bako National Park.

6 July 07, Friday @ 11.34am

Lepak at Common Rest Area avec Mag & Jules

Sigh…oh well, Mag and I have decided to hit the jetty later at about 2.00ish and try getting some signals to text to loved ones back at home.

So since I didn’t quite complete my entry yesterday morning, let me backtrack. So we took that boat ride to the camp site. The trip to the camp site was quite an adventure itself! We spotted a small colony of proboscis monkeys. Got a video and some nice shots there.

Reached the camp jetty, and we’re off to get to the camp site, which is buried somewhere along the swampy side of Kinabatangan River. Tres tres basic. Accommodation is in the form of chalet-style rooms. Kinda look like cages with wire mesh on the windows, but that’s only to keep the pesky monkeys and other cheeky critters out. Showering is by the bucket system…colour of the water is far from the regular H2O! Heh…that’s because water source is from the river. Electricity? That’s only from 6.00ish in the evening till 12.00am! I’ve never treasured electricity so much. With the camera that’s totally low batt, to the phone that’s SO close to low batt ‘cos I kept checking it. Don’t ask me why…

Current Music: Saturday Night (The London Suede)

Let’s see…the heavy rain this afternoon was rather…hmm, refreshing? Quite unlike the usual days, I got off the cab at Merlion bus-stop to take a nice walk all the way to Bunkers. Some good time out for a moment of self-thinking.

Guess lady luck was indeed on my side since the skies started pouring torrentially (not like the word’s in a proper form, but I just love "torrent") the minute I stepped into Imbiah Bunkers. So I managed to get away with the mere droplets of rain on my Gap. Got ‘em keys, zapped a couple of stuffs, dropped things off for Mrs Tan, and I was on my way. Clad in the offensive yellow raincoat, I was happily walking through the torrents…all the way to Songs of the Sea.

A sudden surge of satisfaction just rose out of me when I saw the mini tidal waves caused by the overflowing water at Merlion Walk…as it streamed downwards to the zig-zag ramp. And the feeling of walking through the "flood" in my rubber sandals…it’s simply indescribable. Might sound ludicrous, but it made me feel like I can do whatever I want and nothing in the world is gonna stop me. I guess sometimes frustrations to the levels of absurdity can drive one to the unimaginables!

To think that I had a rather odd dream last night…though there might be a silver lining somewhere. It was raining cats and dogs when guests were already settled down in the Gallery before the SOS show started. All of a sudden, the rain just stopped right before the show started and the SUN started to come out beautifully… SUN at 7.40pm (GMT +8hrs)!! Might mean that things are looking up for me…*crossing fingers* I certainly hope so…

I just realised that there wasn’t any update on the Sabah trip in July in this blog…so I shall dedicate the next entry to some of the excerpts from my Brady Barr.

Ciao!

Current Music: The First Night (Monica)

Je regarde la télé la soirée d’hier et America’s Next Top Model was on. Well, it’s not quelque chose usual pour moi, but the theme that was featured in that episode really intrigued me: Political Issues.

Les femmes were dolled up in haute couture to represent their respective issues, eg. Anti-Gun, Pro-Death Penalty, Vegan, etc. Then there was one who was representing "Anti-Fur". When asked for her own personal view on fur, she commented something about being alright with fur IF the animal which the fur came from died of natural death…honey, the industry out there is way more cruel than you think!

Check out the anti-fur girl…who’s quite ok with fur!

"I believe that if the animal’s alive, you shouldn’t kill it to make a fur coat or anything…but if it’s already dead, then you can save the skin…and just make a coat!"

That brought me to think if SOME people actually wear fur, innocently thinking that them animals died of natural causes that allowed fur traders to skin them. But of course there’s a whole bunch of them who are downright ignorant.

The worst I’ve ever seen was a video sent to the Zoo by a guest on the cruel fur trade in China. They were slaying some sort of civet, and mind you, these animals were still ALIVE…down to the moment they were stripped off their fur and hurled to the pile of other skinned civets, just waiting for their time to come.

So much damage done to the world…

"Cos animals fight each other in the jungle, right…in the woods"

Current Music: Ordinary People (John Legend)

Such a dreary day yesterday…well, the weather was, at least. But looking on the brighter side, Lisa and I agreed that it was fun walkin’ under the rain. The luxury we couldn’t exactly afford, even during the good ‘ol Zoo days when we did wet weather protocol.

Highlight of the Day: The lil gifts from Maggoty Doo Da Dey

Even Bigger Highlight of the Day: Mini retail therapy…jeans from Topshop rock big time! I think I will die the day they stop selling jeans..

Celebrities Spottin’: Aishwarya, Mariah and Goldie/Kate

Crybaby Moment: My super-duper spicy noodles in beef broth…’cos the waitress misinterpreted my question as a request for "extra spicy". Boo!