It's a little vain....'smirk...smirk'

It has been a while since I posted anything...I was busy and lazy all at the same time. So I decided to just write a really small post till tomorrow.
This is a post which is seriously long over-due. I have been seriously pondering whether to post or not. I wrote two articles for The Star, did not want to sound vain but what the helllll...It is quite syok to see your own name as the writer. It was not the headlines but still....I just want to SYOK Sendiri saja !!!!

The best part is probably is that they pay me to do what I really enjoy!!!



That is my second article on what would influence one's career, Money or Passion??
I also had to interview people. 23/7/08




This is my first article on myself which I did not even know was pblished until two weeks later!!
I am really blur...23/6/08

Guilt

I had a friend who always said " Your words are more powerful than your intentions ". I never truly understood what he meant until yesterday. All this happened somewhere last week. A friend and I said something to this person. When he further asked us where we got to know this, we mentioned the name of a friend(he just told about a rumour which was circulating around). This thing got blown up out of proportion and it escalated to a level where the friend is in trouble. The person we told to took it very seriously and complained to another person who has the position to make decision. My friend now has to leave because of us.

When I heard of it, I was really sad and rather depressed. We did not even mean it and we both do not want our friend to leave. The worst part was the fact that he did not even scold us. I really wish he had. Last night, when three of us were chatting about this issue, he called and told me not to worry. He said they will handle this problem. He actually told us to concentrate on our studies and not to worry about him.

I felt so guilty, I still do. He behaved so graciously that made everything worse. Loyalty has always been one of my best traits, but somehow it feel different now. I am overwhelmed with whirlwind of very depressing thoughts. I never thought something like this would ever happen.
Despite everything, deep down I know that I caused this and I do not know how to make it better. I just wish I knew.

Everyone constantly say that atleast I have learned my lesson but sadly life teaches us lessons the hard way but it never lets us go back and correct it. All this would never change the fact that I have betrayed his trust and might even lose a friend and teacher. He probably would never trust me again, I know I would not if I was in his shoes. Somehow I know that I will carry this guilt for a really long time.

It's Here Again!

I always feel "Extra Malaysian" around this time every year because of the durian season. Durians or the "king of all fruits" as it is gloriously called is absolutely one of a kind. You either like it or hate. There are no in betweens....lucky me!! I am one those who can really salivate just looking at the thorny durians (yummm.....yummmm).


I remember those days when my grandparents were living in Raub, Pahang. Along the journey, there will be many gerai's selling various local fruits. Funny how all of them are situated in the middle of nowhere. My dad would just stop the car and make the tauke or the abang open the durian there and then. The whole process of opening the thorny outer skin until the gorgeous yellow/ golden pieces appear builts up a feeling of excitement and a huge appetite. As far as I remember, we all fight to be the first one to get the taste of the durian. That is not as embarrassing as the 'hooo and the haaah' sounds we make savouring the taste; echoed by the stall owner's assurance and persuasion to try more. Somehow we succumb to it rather easily. When the moment comes when there is only one piece left....greed truly shines in all our eyes. Believe it or not...we actually fight for it.


After walloping all the pieces, there is always the one last thing to do, a tradition that grew up with us. We use the opened durian skin which has a hole in it (I can't exactly illustrate it that well) as a cup....we drink out of it. The water by the way also comes from the middle of the jungle thus the hygiene factor has to be bypassed. Since we could not 'balik kampung' nowadays...we just have to be satisfied eating the durian around KL. Buy it and eat at home....method. Seriously, it is not that fun as eating in the wild.


As much as one loves durians, these not the type that should be eaten alone. The whole process requires lots of admiring eyes and seduced minds. Try opening a whole durian on your own and eat it all alone...It feels it is rather lonely. The one man show just does not work for durians. Eating a durian truly require a celebration with complete strangers in the middle of nowhere!!! I guess that what makes durians so Malaysian.





The huge pile of spikes....!!




Can you see the sneak peek of yellow-ness....I just cannot wait to get my hands on it (yummmm...)




It took him minutes to open that durian...




My brother...in a serious effort of being all stud-like




That's my sis...keeping to our tradition!!!




You would think she is in heaven...mind you she is not posing! That is exactly how she eats durians...




The Finale!!!!



P/S : I remember watching a show where the guy goes around the world eating all the freak
food like worms, toads and many more totally disgusting stuffs. When he finally came
to Malaysia, he said that the durianis the worst of the lot due to the 'terrible odour'. Can
believe it?? That poor soul thinks monkey brain is better than durians!!

I met RPK!!!

Hardcore journalism has always intrigued me. I always wondered what makes talented journalists brace dangers and explore forbidden grounds to bring the people and their stories to light. Is it the excitement or simply the courage to do the right thing? Many just walk away from forbidden turfs to avoid getting in trouble. But, there are handful of those who stop, look and make differences. These people stand for the best of journalism.

Sadly, the same thing could not be said about our mainstream media. It fails to disseminate news without biasness. It is sad that a certain level of control and restriction makes it harder for them to be neutral and uphold democracy. So, people who are like-minded as me opt for alternative media like blogs where many issues are discuss in a more liberal manner. It is a no-brainer that Raja Petra is one of the leading blogger.

I like the way his writing reflect a certain sense of honesty which changes people's outlook of life. It is also full of hope for a better Malaysia. Moreover, RPK writes about thing he believes in and does not back-off when things are difficult or almost impossible. Malaysia Today (his blog) is full of stories of that provoke thoughtful thinking and defend the innocent. RPK stands for everything that is good about journalism, report without fear or favour.

Lucky me...I finally met him in the KeADILan talk in Petaling Jaya last Sunday! It was the first time I am attending a political talk....!


Ps: I even got a pic with him..

I guess I am no different...

I read an article on the topic of homosexuality by Bernama in another blog (Niamah). The opinions from the readers were rather split (no surprise!). Personally, I've always believed that sexual preferences are personal choices as long as it is between two consensual and sound-minded adults. Thus, it is wrong for us to judge them.

As much as I advocate the believe of not being too judgemental, I too sometimes fall in the trap of casting people aside just because they are different. There is a boy in my college (he was in my class last term)...I am not sure of his name. Everyone calls him 'semi-variable' because he appears a little girly. When I first heard that name, I was pretty mad since I thought it was unfair. He probably did not choose to act differently. But, I kept my objection to myself...I did not tell my friends to stop calling him that behind his back. At that point, I ignored the right thing to do and stuck with the crowd.

I did not bother getting to know his name since he was only the "semi-variable". He must have felt hurt when people looked at him differently. Everytime they mock the way he walks or acts...it must have hurt badly. I am not that angry with others for labelling him but I am disappointed with myself for accepting it. I am no saint but I failed to be a mere mortal when I chose to call him semi-variable, when I laughed at jokes made on his expense and when I simply looked at him differently. I know that he will never read this....but yet I feel compelled to say I am sorry.

There are many times when we become too judgemental and for a split moment forget that it could hurt another person.

work....huh!!

I am blogging from workplace in front of my boss when I am suppose to be working. Cool huh... I just hope he never reads this post. My task is to make cold calls and invite people to an event this Saturday....and until now I have not even got one. How am I suppose to be high spirited when things are not going as I planned???

When reality hits hard!

Well, 3 weeks of pure pleasure ended yesterday. I agreed to work for two days in Pyro financial Designers. When Arthur called saying he needed someone to make cold calls for an upcoming event, I agreed to do it and besides I was going to get paid. Ithought it would prove to be a good experience. I was absolutely accurate. Every call I made ended in rejection. So, I learned a very valuable lesson, 'ignorance is bliss'.

Besides college is going to start tomorrow. Taxation will be the first paper. I really do not want to go back to college. When I think about crowded buses, being sardined in the LRT, hours of lectures (literally....and that is not mere exaggeration), I just want to sigh and go all demoralised. Seriously, what a way to start the new semester...

I guess nothing good ever last that long.