Strained

The past few months this year has not been smooth ride.. although time passes swiftly, when i search thru my mind of the events that have occured (and will occur), i am left feeling somewhat sad + numb. I am not sure how to say it out loud or if truly things are as bad as they seem but i know deep down, i have not been happy for a long time now. In April, the trip to Melbourne turned out to be a great outing and i had a tough time leaving Melbourne... partly because it reminded me so much of Europe and i realised i missed that life :( Living with Poo and his wonderful family was really nice and we (my sister and i) left with a heavy heart and heavier bags :D

Once back, reality hits :P Did i say i had a HUGE argument with my dad just before i left for Melbourne? I blurted it out. After almost 15 years of silence, i did it. Not the way i always pictured or scripted it out to be... in fact it came off quite unexpectedly and the moment i said it, i regretted it. But in retrorespect, it turned out to be a good thing..my outburst that is.. At least a lot of air was cleared after that.... and had i not said it, i don't know how long my mum or my sister would have waited to say it (i reckon never :P ) June came by, and i was dreading my birthday again this year :( And with that came my first ever 'arranged' blind date to consider. I knew then, i had to get out of here :P The 1st guy and the whole experience turned out to be a comedy of sorts and i think we are cool at the very least. Not friends maybe but at least we don't hate each other or block each other. 2nd guy was worst. Maybe someday when im in the mood to rant about him, i shall blog it. For now, its sufficient to say, the 2nd guy episode has turned this whole 'match-making' thing ugly and as a result, my own mum and grandmum have decided that i am Rude and a Dissapointment :( Whatever :P July... My sister gets engaged! Yay, except i'm not really looking forward to it. I think it's great she is having it and her fiancee is really nice etc. But i find that i'm finding the whole thing rather a chore than something i should be enjoying. At first it was more because i was being FORCED to PERFORM! I know! Me?? WTF. I don't even LIKE to perform (sing/dance) in crowd let alone do it on a STAGE in front of EVERYBODY! aargh... Anyhooo, thankfully, as of last Sunday, i managed to weasel my way out :) I haven't slept more than 6 hours in weeks now... and i have gotten really bad sneezing flu twice the past 2 weeks. Things at work aren't that rosy either. Just today, a super EMO and GAY manager got pissed because of an email i sent which highlighted how his staff was not using the proper process. WTF right? But the only consolation i got is that this guy is really EMO and apparently he takes his work a bit too personally. What a bad start to my morning :(

When you are absof*ckinlutely bored or stressed....

How many of you have heard of Craiglist before?

I knew this was a buzz word since last year but being the Queen of Procrastination that i am, i never looked it up until few months ago... (which btw, i've been meaning to blog about this ALSO few months ago....but the big P kicked in :D)

Craiglist in a nutshell: Classified Listings .period.
Feel free to Google if you thirst for more info

Anyway, after the hype died down (for me it lasted 3 days of surfing Craiglist) i figured Craiglist isn't all that great after all especially for countries such as Malaysia. Simply because the listing under Malaysia isn't populated enough and even if it is, the contents are of ambiguous nature. When i say ambiguous, i mean that though some entries may be genuine, it could be outdated already.

I don't think the Malaysian web community is active on Craiglist..hence the outdated nature.

Anyway, the reason of this entry is not to talk about boring Craiglist and its purpose yada yada yada.. it is actually to highlight what FUN it can be to read the ..... PERSONALS section !!

In Craiglist, for any country or town/city you choose, the sections are always uniformed throughout. Read the personal sections if you think you need a good laugh.

Here is what i found under Malaysia > Personals > Men Seeking Women and it cracked me up :D
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EXPERIENCE AN EXOTIC SENSUAL INDIAN AYURVEDIC MASSAGE - 32 (KL Outcalls, Hotels)

INTRODUCTION: Welcome to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ladies!. Experience Malaysia's most sought after ayurvedic sensual indian massage. The sensual and erotic massage session will be a full body massage with all natural ingredients like coconut and rose oils . The full body massage session will focus on areas on the neck, shoulder, upper back, lower back, buttock, thigh, calf muscle, chest, breasts, nipples, upper and lower arm, palms, abdomen, midriff, pubis, groin, thigh, knee, ankle, and soles
.
...
.....
yada yada yada and now we get to the interesting part
.......
...
.
ABOUT ME: My name is Sanjay Raj David and I am a fully trained and certified therapist with over 10+ years of serving local and international clients. I am based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and have also travelled to many countries in the world to provide my service and also train other people in this ancient art. I am 32 years old, stand 5'11" tall, 170 lbs, in good shape, dark golden brown complexion. As a bonus, I am extremely very well endowed in size below and have been told by many clients that it was the biggest that have seen directly. However, I must stress that there will be no touching of my member at any time, and the exotic erect view is for you eyes only. I am extremely clean and smell nice at all times. As per your preference, request and comfort level, I can work in my shorts, underwear or fully nude to make it an attractive, interesting and unforgettable experience for you. Please email me if you need to see pictures of myself before scheduling a massage session.

Full link at: http://malaysia.craigslist.org/m4w/1028517927.html
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Hmm i just wonder why is this not listed under "Services" instead of "Men seeking Women" :P

Cheerios!

small talk: in any newspaper, the personals section is always funny to me... And no offence to those who post it and no, i don't deem you as desperate but it's just hillarious to me how sometimes an ad is written

Flying Blue..(& Black!)

I became a member of the Flying Blue (a KLM/Air France loyalty miles programme) 2 years ago.

At that time, i was sent to Europe for work assignment and the only reason i enrolled was because our travel desk advised us too.

Anyway, i haven't once checked the points i earned (knowing there are measly anyways) since i registered. Although i do know i have used the membership number twice during the trips and once i tried using it for a flight booking via Kingfisher (because it is listed as partners) in India as well but the system was F*cked up that day.. (that's another complaint i have on the stupid budget airline of India. What kind of @*#&* doesn't accept international credit cards but only Indian credit cards??!! Explain that to me!)

So anyway, out of the blue today, i decided to check Flying Blue points; which brings me to the point of this whole entry today.

Firstly, the login username isn't as memory user-friendly at all as it is a series of 10 random numbers. Thankfully, i managed to track down the 2 year old email from my PST and found my username.

Second step was the all important password. Knowing i have forgotten this for sure, i decided to click on the option "Request for new pin code".
As expected, the secret question and answer popped out. Mine was about a certain anniversary date which i still remember. Sounds easy enough no? Well guess what, it wasn't.
Because apparently, the password has to be all WORDS and not numbers! (Tell me which stupid convention standards do KLM follow? the Prehistoric Password Naming Convention where it can be easily hacked as its non symbols and non numbers?? Seriously!)

So okay, i type in the month and date in 2 different languages and few different combinations before its locked after 3 tries. Great!

Giving up, i decide to call Flying Blue desk (call centre). The number is a local (Kuala Lumpur) number mind you, but the lady that answers has a very nice European accent. I am wondering if this is part of the 'training' or if she is genuinely an expat.

I then proceed to tell her my dillemma and she asks the standard questions like first name and last name etc. Next she asks my post address. I had to ask her to repeat that again as i thought it was an odd question. Finally after giving her my full postal address (and hoping it was the same one i registered with), she clears me off as a genuine user.

So then she says this, "Okay, i have submitted your request for new pin code to our office in Paris. It will be sent to you via post".

I went "WHAT??? u mean email right?", to which she replies cooly (i had the feeling she was enjoying this) and said "No. Post".

Being stubborn, i asked again "you mean snail mail??" and she said "yes". I almost snorted but decided to be polite and said, "you have a website and all, and yet you guys send password via post??" And then i added "so how long will this take"?

She said "8 weeks."

My reply? I laughed and said "why not send it via EMAIL if i may ask?"

She said, "well, we have a website and you can change your pin code from there if you want faster"

Me: "But i told you i can't remember the STUPID secret answer thingy!"

She: "Well, then i guess you will have to accept the 8 weeks then" (at this point, i swear i can picture her so smug and truly enjoying this!).

I said okay and hung up. I wished i could give her a piece of my mind. Had it not been for their stupid password naming convention, i wouldn't even need to call you! But alas, better sense prevailed.

Man, i so wish they let me travel with MAS last time. Not only KLM totally SUCK, their planes are ancient, the steward/dess equally ANCIENT and HAGGARD looking, on-flight entertainment SUCKIEST i've ever come across, service HORRIBLE and the best part... the baggage handling from KLM is LEGENDARY for A) Missing it , B) Sending it halfway across the world on the opposite direction, C) baggage coming back looking like it has been thru the war zone.

Need i say more?

Small talk: Having travelled on long-haul on both Economy and Business class. The latter, didn't impress me much because i know MAS, SQ and Cathay fare FAR MORE better in terms of the Lux factor.

joy shortlived

3 days ago, i was absolutely ecstatic as i have just booked myself a holiday to Melbourne for a week... all by myself. I was scheduled to go there with my BFF, but she couldn't get the leaves from her SUCKY company.. :( As i have been feeling restless and depressed lately, i thought i'll do myself a favour by giving myself a holiday break. I am not too keen to travel alone but am not against the idea either. Anyway, people around me reacted differently to my news. My colleagues and friends were happy for me.. whilst my parents especially my dad was not happy at all. Reason he gave: not fun/silly going alone, dangerous, what's the rush?, and another one was "so much money ah?". Sigh.. I did put a good defense by saying: freedom, the good deal i got from the tickets etc. Anyway, on Sunday, my sister suddenly says, "what the heck, i join you lah". So yay, i was happy i have a travelling partner at last. So we booked her flight on Sunday. Come night time, my dad suddenly brings this topic up again and then suddenly it turns to "why never ask my permission" issue. Worst part, my mum joins the bandwagon. My: 1. i am an adult. i don't need to ask permission 2. it is not a big deal!jeez 3. my sister is coming along for heaven's sake. whats the issue now?? 4. its an online offer thingy. time is limited. i got no time to 'wait' for your official approval :P 5. i have to clear my effing 27 days of leave by this year! the timing is just right. Not much work projects/burden at this moment. 6. its my moola $$$!! .... all fell to deaf choosing-to-be-deaf ears. And now thanks to them, i lost my mood to travel. Dont get me wrong. I am not an ungrateful child or i hate my parents or anything of that sort. If anything, i love them to death. I have sacrificed my fair share to for them too. I have always lived by their rules. I have always TRIED to be as honest as i can to them. I have even sacrificed my feelings to someone for their sake (and let me tell u it has NOT been easy for me to do that!).In short, i have never done/decided anything (even when i wanted to!) because i know it will break their hearts. A quick check with my BFF on how she handles her 'parents' (exact carbon copies of my parents), and she said, "i dont even bother telling them the truth anymore." So when she goes to Yogyakarta next month with her boyfriend, her parents are happily thinking its a work assignment. Maybe i should start the same tactic as well. I dont have any judgement for her because i know how tough her life is. Too bad my parents dont read this piece of crap blog.

Being an A.D.U.L.T is...

From as long as i could remember, i have always dreaded, resented even of growing up...

I know many people only realize once they are adults that they hate being one.. but i used to dread it even when i was in high school. Back then and even now as i observe my young cousins, all seem very eager to 'grow' up. They start dressing like adults sooner than they should, have gadgets and other 'wants' that its not really necessary for them and etc :P

Anyway, here's my take on what being an A.D.U.L.T means to me:

1. ...when you learn how to wake up every morning (no matter how tired/sick you are) to go to work everyday and endure the horrible traffic snarl for ONE hour.
2. ...when you feel obliged to accept a friend's invitation to go dinners or hang out even when you don't really feel like it because you don't feel well(and much rather rest at home).
3. ...when in keeping with the above mentioned 'obligation', you drive for one hour all the way to a friend's while nursing a massive migraine.
4. ...when you learn how to shut your mouth and not fight back because the 'past' HAVE taught you a thing or two about someone or some people.
5. ...when you learn that sometimes letting go is easier and keeping quiet is better than blurting out your honest comment (naively).
6. ...when you have to deal with un-wanted male attention and kinda know the gracious ways of handling the delicate matter.
7. ...when you can't be upset (even though the 'younger version' of you would have) with your BFF for a cancellation of a much-awaited trip because your mind knows better that it is not her fault so you learn to deal with it even though you are bummed out.
8. ...when you start understanding why people marry and learn to compromise each other.
9. ...when you start respecting your parents for whatever they did for you and your family sake.
10. ...when you finally get it that some people just don't like to open up and are testy when it comes to talking about themselves or about their lives.
11. ...when you learn not to be upset by snide remarks your siblings/people make about you (even though after hearing them your tear ducts start working actively). And so, by next morning, you learn to let it pass.
12. ...when you no longer fight with siblings/parents as much as you used to when in your teens.
13. ...when you learn how to stand up for yourself and be confident about who you are instead of always hiding in the shadows of other popular sibling/friends.
14. ...when you know holy matrimony is looming ahead and knowing you can't run away from it forever despite being scared shit out of it ! :P
15. ...when you know you should move on and be happy even though you feel sad that a good friend is getting married soon and there's nothing you can do about it for the very sake of being practical and realistic. reality DOES bite
16. ...when you no longer do the things you used to a year ago in regards to keeping a hatred for your Ex.
17. ...when you attempt at being healthy for your mind, soul and body sake because you fear of cellulites/osteoporosis/diabetes/wrinkles etc.
18. ...when it finally sinks in that your 'so called' best buddy isn't really your best buddy and instead of sulking or running away from that person, you just continue for the sake of not looking stupid or childish even though it hurts. But since you're an 'adult', you learn to accept it as part of life's parcel.
19. ...when you do not get involved in petty fights amongst your colleagues because you choose to be friends to all sides and remain neutral. (Choosing sides in school life was bad enough to have it repeated again :P)
20. ...when you have the freedom to start buying the things you like as you wish and not worry about the consequences.
21. ...when you know that shit happens again and again... :P
22. ...when you start using swear words (which precisely 4 years ago, you never would have dreamt that you would be saying them as casually as you do know) every now and then especially the F word.

What i wouldn't do just to go back to being in high school again... To be back in class 1 Cempaka doing artwork every Friday or having PJ (P.E class) every Monday morning, with nothing to worry except HOMEWORSKS and FRIENDS. Alas, not everyone is born a Benjamin Button now is there? :P

Summary: i hate being an adult. period.

Small talk: Watched 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' on DVD last week. Unique. tad draggy (took me and my sis 3 nights after work to finish it) but its a nice love/family story. The same genre as Forrest Gump was.

Red Packets

Yay, i got my first few angpows (Chinese traditional red packets containing money) today @work! :D I hope there will be more to come........[greedy, greedy hehe]

This CNY alone, I've actually did the Loh-Sang or Yee-Sang twice :) Once with colleagues at Zen Restaurant, Bandar Puteri Puchong followed by 9 course meal (the whole lunch lasting till 3pm on a Friday!!) and the second, with family members @Kinbo Restaurant in Sri Petaling on the 2nd day of CNY (i am sure the price of the meals we ate was exorbitant that night)

Step 1: Loh Sang with Crackers added (minus the raw Salmon as some of us were vegetarian)

Step 2: Begin to toss the Loh Sang ingredients (mix 'em well)

Step 3: Toss higher, higher.. (table resembled an aftermath of a hurricanne when we were done :P)

So all is left now is to see if the year '09 brings me any luck/prosperity etc ;)
Hmmmmm.....

Gong Xi, Gong Xi!

Ready, Steady... Go ?

Driving to work today, my sister suddenly brought the conversation to her personal (read: love) life.. Being a Scorpio that she is, she rarely speaks that kind of stuff with me... and somehow i have gotten used to it as well... i discuss heart matters more with outsiders than my own kin HAHA :P

Anyway back to the story.. so yeah she just said in a very professional manner that she and the friend she has been seeing have decided to go steady... And so that's when i decided to ask my burning question (**actually it has been on my mind since last Dec to ask her but never got the courage...). I asked her if she was merely just settling or compromising? And i was glad her answer was a no.

I dont want to divulge to much details at the moment. Best leave some things alone until it is further confirmed no? :P
But for all the years of my sister being single (and mind you, she is not ugly or anything.. in fact she is very much desired by many), being pressurised into the big M by many, etc, i am so happy that she has met this nice fella :)

He has a zillion of hobbies, has a kind heart (the most important thing!), he will never cheat on her, he is sweet and is talkative. **HAHA who knew she will end up with another yak-fest like me HAHAHA :P

I KNOW (and hope) she will never get bored of this fella... (this is in comparison with ALL of the mindless-noobs she had to meet/date prior to this =D No offence =D).

--> the only downside is he got a squeky voice..hehe But hey, no ONE is perfect aint it ;-)

So here's wishing her all the luck in the world and i do hope this time, its THE ONE ;)

the days when i love the Malaysian weather =)

It's the 1st day of CNY (Chinese New Year), the weather outside is P.E.R.F.E.C.T to a T.
Bright blue sky, fluffy white cumulus clouds, trees from the park shedding their leaves like there's no tomorrow! (personally i always call the late Jan-mid Feb as Taman Melati's very own Autumn season hehe), HOT weather (was about 35 celcius) and a fairly good tropical breeze all day...

the park in front of ma' house..lovely wasnt it? Ngeee :D

I just luuuurrvvveee tropical breeze be it during hot, sunny days or heavy monsoon rains (with the mist from the rain falling to my face as i stick it outta the balcony/window)... I dont generally like all kind of 'winds' though.. of course i dont mean the kind of 'wind' one gets a whiff from a person *Ugh!*
I meant more of the kind of winds that come from colder climates.. I remember when i was in Europe, i didn't quite enjoy the breeze there except one of two days in the summer...

The kind of breeze i so unwelcomed back then was the strong gush of COLDDD breeze when one goes into the subway stations and the train is approaching.. or the kinds when you're walking home from the office and it starts to get really windy blowing your scarf, jacket away and you are literally walking heavy steps against the wind.. Ugh! i hated that.. (and before that experience, i never knew i hated wind!)

And now i am suddenly uninspired to write some more.. and getting the nagging feeling i should set up an OOO (Out of Office) to my work inbox now and get some work stuff done :P

Signing out!

Gong Xi Fa Cai

The year that is 2009….

So far, it has been pretty okay :)

2-3 Jan 09 - Cried pretty much all the time on the plane back home. No, not because i was sad to leave India (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA) but because i was watching 2 really soapy movies.. one Hollywood flick called "The Women" (name me ONE movie with Meg Ryan that you didn't cry) and one Japanese flick "10 promises to my dog" (anyone who knows me don't need further explanation)..Not funny because each time the steward/dess passed by, i had to cover my face ala Manoj Kumar. (nvm, if u don't get it)

5 Jan 09 - 1st day at work after almost a month hiatus, found an official looking envelope on my desk. Silently chuckled and thought, "hey, maybe i got fired", and saw it was a letter to inform me that my request for support allowance got approved.. wohoo.. more small dough :)Went lunch and the waiter spilled chinese tea on me and Anya.. Still, it could have been a lot worse :)

6 Jan 09 - Found 2 really prominent frown lines on my forehead. My 1st lines!! Aaarggghhhh (somebody pls kill me now) :P

8 Jan 09 - Joined the once-went-then-abandoned yoga class at my work place. The class ended with the instructor saying "if some of you come back next week, bla bla bla" with me shifting uncomfortably on my mat coz last year, same time, brimming with over enthusiasm, i went to the class and then never showed up till again this year.. haha.. wonder if she meant me :P

So yeah, here's to a great year! And hopefully i meet my ever elusive non existant Mr Right this year! (since everyone and i mean EVERYONE around me is so eager to meet him).

Cheers!

The year that was 2008…

Here's my take on what transpired in '08...
1. Had a quarter life crisis. Didn't enjoy it one tiny bit :-S2. Result of the ‘quarter-life-crisis’, --> a significant career crisis.
3. Puked like never before. 8 times in 4 hours time span. Not funny
4. Somehow got dragged into stupid office politics. HATE my ex-boss!!5. Fought so much with a good pal till I got worn out and so did the friendship… :(
6. Got scolded by some jerk in the office for something which wasn’t even my fault. Wished I never have to face people like these in the office ;(
7. Re-visited one of my fav place in the world but didn’t feel “it” this time. Think I lost my innocence.. Oh the joys of growing up :(
8. Lost my V (in scientific/medical terms that is :P) Readers be cautioned! Do NOT go for spinning class! hehe9. No longer a blind bat. Life minus spectacles and lenses has been so LIBERATING :D LOVE IT!
10. Saw ALL (significant) relatives that are scattered out of M’sia in the same year!
11. Bumped into my ex’s gf face to face and never felt more confident or beautiful in life :D high 5!12. The yoga mat bought in Jan ‘08 is no longer dusty ;)
13. Had the chance to go Prague again…and I never knew I missed this city till I revisited. Oh that and flying business class for the 1st time.. haha:P
14. Sorta got promoted (result of career crisis) and got more dough ;)
15. Realized who my true friends are and those who aren’t.
16. Ablility to fit into trousers that were previously too snug (for the times I travelled this year, I lost weight each time I came back)17. Had a productive working year and LOADS of annual leave to spare. The year I was officially the workaholic :P18. Learned my MV isn’t that bad after all. Not carrying my own basket or anything but nice to know some people actually want to date me! Hahaha
19. Managed to mingle and actually talk with few girls/boys of my age and race. One is even a regular in IMs :) Big achievement for my socially-inept-in-Sikh-circle self!20. Did my 1st ever facial and pedicure. To a person female who have never buffed/shaped nail before, it is a big deal!21. The bitch from my office resigned and LEFT FOR GOOD THIS TIME :D (how could i have possibly forgotten this hehe)
Peace Out!