If one year ago you were to tell me i would be organising a Christmas party and hold the position of 'President' of ANYTHING, i would've laughed in your face.
See, a year ago, i was working in a cafe, ever melancholic in the Christmas holidays as it reminds me of happenings of the year prior, hoping somehow we can go off work early to celebrate Christmas. I had wanted to meet up with my friends badly to watch fireworks and countdown Christmas together.
In the end we did close earlier by about half an hr, i did meet up with my friends and we did catch the fireworks. It was brief, but it was enough. It wasn't extraordinary, but at least i was in the moment. And i knew back then it would be my last Christmas there as well, so i was fully intended to enjoy it as much as possible, pushing back past memories to the back of my mind as far as possible.
A year later i was busy juggling work and extra-curricular activities; i was made the President of the Social Club of my job and the first event under me would be the Christmas party celebrations, which was really sudden and last-minute as well because i was elected just two weeks before the celebrations. I had also fallen sick and that made things worse when i had to postpone meetings and decisions.
But due to this election too, i got to learn new things. I have newer responsibilities now and i'm being tested more on my leadership and diplomatic skills. All these are necessary to be learnt to 'upgrade' urself and push to the higher echelons of corporate power, and it was really daunting. I have to learn to adapt quick while maintaining a peaceful truce with the previous committee, especially the 'leader' whom i was appointed to replace.
And here comes the party. Having never before organised ANYTHING, it was a major task for me. And that wasn't the only new thing. I also experienced a new way to enjoy Christmas: the getting together of everyone to work on SOMETHING, and to take part and getting my hands dirty to make sure everything went as smoothly as possible.
I sent out invitations. I had to speak to the higher management and get their approval on things(unfortunately for me i got a very unpredictable, in the sense of personal mood, lady boss as part of the management, which made things much harder), I had to actually give out orders and task people to their duties. I had to give speeches, and i had to speak louder and make myself heard.
For the first time, i decorated for Christmas. I also went shopping for Christmas decorations. I also took part in readying the door gifts for our party attendees. I bought, and in return, received Christmas presents.
This year's Christmas, felt the most 'Christmas' for me. I actually did something for Christmas. And i'm happier this Christmas as well, compared to the last two years. I genuinely enjoyed myself this year. It was a nice Christmas Eve too. Went to my colleague's BBQ party, and went for drinks after that.
Woke up and spent most of my Christmas Day with my dearest friends as well. It was so nice to see them again after so long! :D
And to my friends who i've seemingly less communicate with recently, sorry and please forgive me! I do still think of you now and then. Know that everyone is always in my heart, everyone i call my friends. :)
Take care and once again, Merry Christmas! :D
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Say hi to my iPod Touch!
I guess the title says it all! I'm actually typing this out on the blogger app I just downloaded this morning. Pretty cool eh? :P
I'm actually supposed to be working now but zzz I can't keep my eyes and hands off this thing! I have a serious Internet addiction I admit... :P
So yes u can say that this is just a testing post. Just a minor update as well, I'd fallen sick recently, worst fever and cough I've ever remembered in recent years... I've only just shaken off the fever but the cough and dry lumpy throat is still here. Painful!!
But it's great I'm recovering for now!
Take care my lovelies, I'll see y'all soon! :)
I'm actually supposed to be working now but zzz I can't keep my eyes and hands off this thing! I have a serious Internet addiction I admit... :P
So yes u can say that this is just a testing post. Just a minor update as well, I'd fallen sick recently, worst fever and cough I've ever remembered in recent years... I've only just shaken off the fever but the cough and dry lumpy throat is still here. Painful!!
But it's great I'm recovering for now!
Take care my lovelies, I'll see y'all soon! :)
Sunday, November 20, 2011
2011 Burpday
So here comes my annual birthday post (2 mths late LOL!)! I'm not one of those fortunate enough to celebrate it in a big way, and yet again i'm far from my family and the majority of my friends, so this year i'd pretty much settled for celebrating it alone.
And, it is another personal achievement, i guess, that i am still alive and well this year, and still have people i love with me at this stage of my life. That itself is worthy enough to celebrate, much less than the fact i was born so many years ago.
I hadn't really announced it loudly at work too, i just let things happen on their own. Most of them only know when the little facebook notification announces to everyone, but i'm fine with it anyway. My birthday falls on a Sunday this year, and most people are tied up in Sunday anyway. So yes, i'm ready for a little of 'ME' time on my special day!
---
If i remember correctly, as usual, i woke up late that day, and the skies were grey and raining. I decided to go to Mid Valley Megamall and spend my entire afternoon/early evening there, seeing how i didn't go there that frequent so it makes a nice change from the usual places i go on weekends. So off i went, had to take the LRT to KL Sentral, then change to KTM to travel to Mid Valley.
It was really wet and though i like the coolness, I really do not like the wetness.
Look, you can't even see the buildings clearly!
Anyway, i arrived at Mid Valley, and i dunno, it has somehow become some sort of ritual to me, i headed straight for the famous mata-kucing drink stall and got myself a cup of drink. It's the same one as the one in Petaling Street, but i felt this one always made it a tad too sweet. Nevertheless, i was very thirsty, and it's the only drink i'll get when i'm there, so....yeah...
Then i walked around, window shopping, look at people, until i found myself hungry and so went to try the pork burger from Ninja Joe, as recommended by my friend. Got myself a Brucely Burger (i think Brucely is just the name given to their size) and had it with my drink. There wasn't many ppl at the store, so i ate in general silence as well. It was okay, not too bad, but i think abit overpriced, i dunno...
With my stomach filled, i proceeded to walk about the mall & explore places i never went before. I hadn't finished covering the Gardens side last time so i walked over to the Gardens. Was very thrilled with the Borders bookstore there. It's so vast and quiet and relaxing, i finally found a bookstore that can rival Kinokuniya! Borders in Times Square can't even compare to this. But i didn't have much time to explore it cos treated myself to a movie and it's showing soon...haha. So after walking abit in Borders (Starbucks just next to it, it's like coffee reading session heaven!) i quickly made my way to the theatre to watch my movie.
But wait! Before that, i must have my cake first! I remember for last year i didn't have a cake for my bday... and the year before that... and i want to make this year different. Plus, they all say, birthday ppl shud have their cakes on their special day... so... i went to Secret Recipe and bought myself a piece of Chocolate Delight and ate quietly alone... LOL... i didn't miss other ppl staring at me though, is it really that weird to eat a piece of cake alone? LOL!
After that I went and watch Johnny English... played by the ever-funny Mr Rowan Atkinson, who's really famous as Mr Bean. I watched the first Johnny English many years ago, and i can still slightly remember quoting from the movies and acting certain parts out too. Haha. It was enjoyable light comedy, bt not LOL-funny, mre like smile-funny...bt it was ok nevertheless!
After the movie, it was already nighttime, so i resorted to eating my dinner at the mall before i went back. Mum they all already went back to Brunei by then, so i was truly alone by that time. I had claypot rice from the food court, nothing too special, and after that i took the (long) journey home... and by the time i'm back, i'm tired and didn't feel too special anyway, but again like i said, just grateful i'm still here and stuff.
Alot of friends sent their good wishes to me, on facebook mainly, and some texted me. I tried to not think abt how many really remembers my bday w/o the FB notification telling them, bt i guess ppl are nice to send their wishes to me too when they see it. I myself only remembers less than 10 birthdays myself, but only because i really love all these ppl and won't forget their birthdays, to be honest.
So i spent the night online and thanking everyone for their wishes. Physically, i might be alone, but the faraway wishes i received warmed my night and heart. So THANK YOU ALL. =)
Hope next year it'll be another one worth celebrating, and to celebrate it in bigger, weirder ways! I don't want to grow up so fast though... can i? =P
Love Always.
And, it is another personal achievement, i guess, that i am still alive and well this year, and still have people i love with me at this stage of my life. That itself is worthy enough to celebrate, much less than the fact i was born so many years ago.
I hadn't really announced it loudly at work too, i just let things happen on their own. Most of them only know when the little facebook notification announces to everyone, but i'm fine with it anyway. My birthday falls on a Sunday this year, and most people are tied up in Sunday anyway. So yes, i'm ready for a little of 'ME' time on my special day!
---
If i remember correctly, as usual, i woke up late that day, and the skies were grey and raining. I decided to go to Mid Valley Megamall and spend my entire afternoon/early evening there, seeing how i didn't go there that frequent so it makes a nice change from the usual places i go on weekends. So off i went, had to take the LRT to KL Sentral, then change to KTM to travel to Mid Valley.
It was really wet and though i like the coolness, I really do not like the wetness.
Look, you can't even see the buildings clearly!
Anyway, i arrived at Mid Valley, and i dunno, it has somehow become some sort of ritual to me, i headed straight for the famous mata-kucing drink stall and got myself a cup of drink. It's the same one as the one in Petaling Street, but i felt this one always made it a tad too sweet. Nevertheless, i was very thirsty, and it's the only drink i'll get when i'm there, so....yeah...
Then i walked around, window shopping, look at people, until i found myself hungry and so went to try the pork burger from Ninja Joe, as recommended by my friend. Got myself a Brucely Burger (i think Brucely is just the name given to their size) and had it with my drink. There wasn't many ppl at the store, so i ate in general silence as well. It was okay, not too bad, but i think abit overpriced, i dunno...
With my stomach filled, i proceeded to walk about the mall & explore places i never went before. I hadn't finished covering the Gardens side last time so i walked over to the Gardens. Was very thrilled with the Borders bookstore there. It's so vast and quiet and relaxing, i finally found a bookstore that can rival Kinokuniya! Borders in Times Square can't even compare to this. But i didn't have much time to explore it cos treated myself to a movie and it's showing soon...haha. So after walking abit in Borders (Starbucks just next to it, it's like coffee reading session heaven!) i quickly made my way to the theatre to watch my movie.
But wait! Before that, i must have my cake first! I remember for last year i didn't have a cake for my bday... and the year before that... and i want to make this year different. Plus, they all say, birthday ppl shud have their cakes on their special day... so... i went to Secret Recipe and bought myself a piece of Chocolate Delight and ate quietly alone... LOL... i didn't miss other ppl staring at me though, is it really that weird to eat a piece of cake alone? LOL!
After that I went and watch Johnny English... played by the ever-funny Mr Rowan Atkinson, who's really famous as Mr Bean. I watched the first Johnny English many years ago, and i can still slightly remember quoting from the movies and acting certain parts out too. Haha. It was enjoyable light comedy, bt not LOL-funny, mre like smile-funny...bt it was ok nevertheless!
After the movie, it was already nighttime, so i resorted to eating my dinner at the mall before i went back. Mum they all already went back to Brunei by then, so i was truly alone by that time. I had claypot rice from the food court, nothing too special, and after that i took the (long) journey home... and by the time i'm back, i'm tired and didn't feel too special anyway, but again like i said, just grateful i'm still here and stuff.
Alot of friends sent their good wishes to me, on facebook mainly, and some texted me. I tried to not think abt how many really remembers my bday w/o the FB notification telling them, bt i guess ppl are nice to send their wishes to me too when they see it. I myself only remembers less than 10 birthdays myself, but only because i really love all these ppl and won't forget their birthdays, to be honest.
So i spent the night online and thanking everyone for their wishes. Physically, i might be alone, but the faraway wishes i received warmed my night and heart. So THANK YOU ALL. =)
Hope next year it'll be another one worth celebrating, and to celebrate it in bigger, weirder ways! I don't want to grow up so fast though... can i? =P
Love Always.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Pop up!
Hello there, i'm back for some writing after yet another long absence!
Most of it is due to the slow line, i find it hard to load Google pages with my line. It's either very slow or alot of contents cannot be loaded at all... sucks rite?
Anyway, i see that Blogger has been revamped! The site looks more simple and 'cleaner' now that they've changed abit of the site. It looks in line with the Google+ and Gmail overhauls too. Nice, Google, nice...
Hmmm again my birthday had passed and i haven't really blogged abt it yet, as customary with my previous birthday posts! And LOL Christmas is coming soon already, MY FAVOURITE FESTIVAL OF ALL TIME. :D
Just the other day i went to Pavilion and they'd already set up Xmas decos and stuff there and i turned into a little kid there. Wide eyes, open mouth WOW. I simply love it! And the Xmas songs! Yay!
I'll make sure i update my posts more frequently, esp the bday post before Xmas. Lately alot of stuff is happening and i have alot of thoughts in my head need to write down...
So, i hope everyone (is there anyone left, really? haha!) is doing fine. December is near and alot of ppl can't wait for this year to be over. Let's make November a memorably good one, people. Take care!
Most of it is due to the slow line, i find it hard to load Google pages with my line. It's either very slow or alot of contents cannot be loaded at all... sucks rite?
Anyway, i see that Blogger has been revamped! The site looks more simple and 'cleaner' now that they've changed abit of the site. It looks in line with the Google+ and Gmail overhauls too. Nice, Google, nice...
Hmmm again my birthday had passed and i haven't really blogged abt it yet, as customary with my previous birthday posts! And LOL Christmas is coming soon already, MY FAVOURITE FESTIVAL OF ALL TIME. :D
Just the other day i went to Pavilion and they'd already set up Xmas decos and stuff there and i turned into a little kid there. Wide eyes, open mouth WOW. I simply love it! And the Xmas songs! Yay!
I'll make sure i update my posts more frequently, esp the bday post before Xmas. Lately alot of stuff is happening and i have alot of thoughts in my head need to write down...
So, i hope everyone (is there anyone left, really? haha!) is doing fine. December is near and alot of ppl can't wait for this year to be over. Let's make November a memorably good one, people. Take care!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Good or bad?
Recently one of my friends, in conjunction of the Raya festivities, posted a congratulatory message to fellow Muslims who are celebrating. However, in his post, he glaringly wished the best for "good" Malays, while cursing bad luck to fall on "bad" Malays.
First, let's put aside the seemingly obvious racial sensitivity here. I understand if there's a backlash towards his statement abt cursing "bad Malays" because it appears to be very discriminatory, but how much of a help will i be defending him that, on all accounts, he actually defended the "good Malays" in his eyes?
My point of this post, is not about Malay, or non-Malay. Honestly, when i saw his post, one of the first things that came to my mind is, what would he have felt if he saw a fellow Malay posting, on CNY, something like "wish all good Chinese a happy prosperous year ahead, and to all bad chinese, fuck ur arrogant ass!!!"? How would my friend feel then, tasting a pot of his own chilli?
I'm sure by writing what he wrote, he does understand that no matter what race or religion the human race is divided into, there exists both the good and bad parties. I hope he also see that, what one individual does doesn't necessarily mean that the rest of that particular group the individual belongs to did the same. That the action of one doesn't necessarily represent the ideas of the whole.
I'm pretty sure he's just angry at the government mostly, and with the main ruling party, who, naturally, belongs to the self-called "Malayan natives", the Malays. Most of the corrupt cops, civil agents, most of them, are Malay. We can be considered a minority along with Indians, as our country are full of Malays. But, are u so sure there aren't corrupt Chinese cops too? Corrupt chinese politicians, corrupt Chinese civil servants?
As a fellow chinese, i actually disapprove of what he says. It doesn't necessarily mean i'm defending the Malays nor being a coward and not daring enuff to write similar stuff. It's just....no matter what race it is...no matter whether they're purely good/purely evil, it is a poor act itself to wish harm upon others, no matter what your intentions are.
Maybe an unreasonable police officer gave u a saman before. Maybe u weren't treated fairly compared to another race, due to ur own race. But no matter what...it is simply wrong to curse other people, no matter good or bad. Come on, of the person is "bad', it will only be a matter of time before they receive their punishment. By cursing other people...you are only giving yourself bad karma. I mean...what if the things you curse happen to you? U don't want that rite? U won't be guaranteed it won't happen, just because in ur eyes u urself is a "good guy".
Who decides what is good or bad anyway?
Humans judge for themselves what is deemed good or bad. That's why rules are created, for people to follow it and to punish those who didn't. But is the line dividing "good" and "bad" really that clear cut? I can be considered "good" if i helped an old lady cross the road, but what if I'm actually an egotistical and selfish person at work, bitching here and there? Am i now completely "evil" or "bad"?
A "good" Chinese to you, can actually be a bad Chinese to someone else. It's only a matter of you ever seeing the offense or not. And a "bad" Malay can be a "good" one too, if he is loyal to his wife, which is a good thing rite? But if he ever commits any offense and u don't see it, he'll still be "good" in ur eyes for as long as u want to see...
My friend doesn't regret what he says....or at least he implies, as he doesn't mind anyone "suing" him for that statement. I didn't make any comments on it, rather, i wrote this piece stating my opinion. Is my friend "wrong" in doing so? In other's eyes, he might seem "brave". But does bravery justify what seems right, but is actually wrong?
Come to think of it, even "right" and "wrong" is as confusing as "good" and "bad".
First, let's put aside the seemingly obvious racial sensitivity here. I understand if there's a backlash towards his statement abt cursing "bad Malays" because it appears to be very discriminatory, but how much of a help will i be defending him that, on all accounts, he actually defended the "good Malays" in his eyes?
My point of this post, is not about Malay, or non-Malay. Honestly, when i saw his post, one of the first things that came to my mind is, what would he have felt if he saw a fellow Malay posting, on CNY, something like "wish all good Chinese a happy prosperous year ahead, and to all bad chinese, fuck ur arrogant ass!!!"? How would my friend feel then, tasting a pot of his own chilli?
I'm sure by writing what he wrote, he does understand that no matter what race or religion the human race is divided into, there exists both the good and bad parties. I hope he also see that, what one individual does doesn't necessarily mean that the rest of that particular group the individual belongs to did the same. That the action of one doesn't necessarily represent the ideas of the whole.
I'm pretty sure he's just angry at the government mostly, and with the main ruling party, who, naturally, belongs to the self-called "Malayan natives", the Malays. Most of the corrupt cops, civil agents, most of them, are Malay. We can be considered a minority along with Indians, as our country are full of Malays. But, are u so sure there aren't corrupt Chinese cops too? Corrupt chinese politicians, corrupt Chinese civil servants?
As a fellow chinese, i actually disapprove of what he says. It doesn't necessarily mean i'm defending the Malays nor being a coward and not daring enuff to write similar stuff. It's just....no matter what race it is...no matter whether they're purely good/purely evil, it is a poor act itself to wish harm upon others, no matter what your intentions are.
Maybe an unreasonable police officer gave u a saman before. Maybe u weren't treated fairly compared to another race, due to ur own race. But no matter what...it is simply wrong to curse other people, no matter good or bad. Come on, of the person is "bad', it will only be a matter of time before they receive their punishment. By cursing other people...you are only giving yourself bad karma. I mean...what if the things you curse happen to you? U don't want that rite? U won't be guaranteed it won't happen, just because in ur eyes u urself is a "good guy".
Who decides what is good or bad anyway?
Humans judge for themselves what is deemed good or bad. That's why rules are created, for people to follow it and to punish those who didn't. But is the line dividing "good" and "bad" really that clear cut? I can be considered "good" if i helped an old lady cross the road, but what if I'm actually an egotistical and selfish person at work, bitching here and there? Am i now completely "evil" or "bad"?
A "good" Chinese to you, can actually be a bad Chinese to someone else. It's only a matter of you ever seeing the offense or not. And a "bad" Malay can be a "good" one too, if he is loyal to his wife, which is a good thing rite? But if he ever commits any offense and u don't see it, he'll still be "good" in ur eyes for as long as u want to see...
My friend doesn't regret what he says....or at least he implies, as he doesn't mind anyone "suing" him for that statement. I didn't make any comments on it, rather, i wrote this piece stating my opinion. Is my friend "wrong" in doing so? In other's eyes, he might seem "brave". But does bravery justify what seems right, but is actually wrong?
Come to think of it, even "right" and "wrong" is as confusing as "good" and "bad".
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Merdeka Adventure - 31 Aug 2011
Seeing as how it is my first time actually being in KL by the time our Independence Day arrives, i had wanted to attend the Merdeka Parade held annually in conjunction with the day itself. I've always seen pictures and vid flashes of the parade/celebration on tv so now that i had the chance to attend it myself, i was hoping that nothing will clash on my plans today.
So my plan is to spend my entire morning and perhaps a little into the afternoon watching and maybe taking part in the parade as a "domestic tourist". Take enough pics, absorb the atmosphere, get some suntan....so i got myself ready and head out, taking the 1/2hr LRT ride to Masjid Jamek station.
After getting out of the train, i took the oppoturnity to set the date and time for my camera. Funny, ever since dad fixed the lens cover problem last time, everytime i charge the battery the camera resets itself & i always had to set the date and time again. So i took out my camera and press the buttons....
Nothing.
Alarmed, i thought there was something wrong, that maybe i had pressed the wrong button, and then it hit me--- i had forgotten to insert back my camera battery after i charged it last night! In my hurry to get out of the house i had totally forgotten about the camera battery still lodged nicely in the charger. Add a mere 4hr sleep to that, yeahhhh.... no wonder i'd forgot.
Cursing myself for being so careless, i pondered whether i should go back retrieve the battery. After all, this is a once-in-a-blue-moon occasion. As soon as i thought it tho, i gave up going back. It will take another hour before i'll be back again, and it's simply not worth it. So, i would have to attend it and not bring back any "footage" of it....sigh.
Stepping out of the station, somehow my instinct made me take the left turn....i dunno why, but i just walked anyway. I actually have no idea whatsoever how to get to the Merdeka Square, my destination. Attempts to locate a good travel route the previous night failed with bad internet connection. So yeah, after getting a tip from friend to stop at Masjid Jamek station, i'll just have to find my way by following road signs.
I walked and walked and after 10mins was unsure if i headed the right way(because there was no sign!) but soon on a wide road opened and there's a huge sign pointing to my destination, so i followed the road. It wasn't after another long 15mins of walk before i saw the 2nd sign and again i followed it and soon i begin to spot familiar landmarks.
Prior to this i had went to the Merdeka Square before with my friends via the Hop On-Hop Off bus so i had generally a good idea of the place and what's in it within 1km of the square itself. Finally seeing a field in the distance, i made my way over as fast as possible.
Alas...there is nothing. Not even police, and the streets though are less busy than normal, but it wasn't up to the point till the road is blocked off for the parade. It took one good glance at the area for it to sink in: there is NO parade being held here. The whole square is empty save for some tourists.
I sat down and took a breather + chug of water from all that walking. Lucky it wasn't too sunny, or else i might've been baked. Lol. I was very disappointed by how things turn out by that time. I waited for a couple minutes more to see if anything will come up, but apparently, nothing will happen. It's as normal as any day!
Suddenly my plans are crashed just like that. I didn't know where the parade/celebrations are held; my good guess is that they're decided to celebrate it elsewhere, and from what i read last nite, it might've been ongoing for a few years already. Darn my incomplete research!
So i resort to do a self-exploration of the area instead. Time for another self-mapping of the city! xD So i walked on (by the way, the flag at the Merdeka Square is gone. They didn't hoist it up. Sigh.) and soon the National Textile Museum came into view. Seeing i never been inside it and it's free, so i went in have a look.
As the name suggests, the museum showcases types of clothings and material the people of Malaysia had and made over the years, of different cultures and ethnicities. Besides that they also show the various ornaments and accessories ppl used to wear then and now. It was pretty interesting overall. The museum itself is nicely kept and clean, just that abit too quiet cos no visitor at all except me LOL. Besides the lady outside guarding the entrance, there's only a security guard inside(who at one point, held a radio playing Raya songs and walked into the galleries and out....hmmm i think u all know what this gestures mean right hehehee ssshh!) and another counter lady(whom i caught sleeping on her job! LOLOLOL) on the entrance hall on the other entrance to the building. Overall i visited 3 galleries(they divided different showcases into different mini galleries) and 1 was shut off due to what i don't know. Hehe. Only when i was abt to leave there was this Japanese looking elder woman coming in for a visit. Lols...
Peering at the brochure of the museum the front lady outside gave me earlier(she had seemed eager for me to leave my name on the guestbook; poor thing, probably didn't get much visitors...), there is a simple map on the brochure showing other attractions i can check out: from the museum i can fairly get to the National Mosque, National Museum, KTM building and Central Market. Since all places are quite near (via memory off the Hop On-Hop Off trip) i decided to just spend my morning checking out these places.
So i went to the National Mosque and basically got to the main entrance and that's about it; visitors are barred from entering already especially if you are a non-Muslim, so yeahh...apparently non-Muslim visitors are only allowed on the outer mosque grounds. There were a couple of foreign tourists being let off there by their respective buses and vans and were taking pictures everywhere. Goshhh my heart itched at the sight of camera LOL!!! It just reminded me i forgot to bring my camera battery @@~~
After that i wondered if i should walk up the hill to check out the National Museum. Scratch that...i can feel myself quite dehydrated and de-energised already (lack of sleep remember) so instead i went to the KTM building. It was very cool because i like the design of the building. That retro, old building feel. Love it.
However, soon i was stuck, don't know where to go. I (unknowingly at that time) stepped into the ticketing counter and since it's just a room, i thought there'e nothing more and just that. Fairly bored with what's inside(or lacking thereof), i decided to walk to Central Market.
The map slightly deceived me though; yes it was correct in mapping out the location and direction of the said landmarks, but it wasn't a detailed and exact map of the area. Because of that, i actually circled the area twice, walking twice just to make sure i hadn't miss a bend here or there. I even took an underground passage that windled underneath the highway above, and to my horror the place actually stank of dirt and urine. I wonder how many homeless ppl used the underground passageway to sleep in at nights, or what unlawful deeds have been taking place there. Those thoughts won over the other thoughts of the place like "wow never knew Msia had these type of underground passageways before! Only seen this before in HK dramas or NY dramas lol". While the underground passageways of other countries i saw on TV are always crowded with ppl, the one i took is also eeriely empty; something cud happen to me inside and no one will ever know. *shrugs*
Deducing that my only way out is via the KTM building(i had this nagging feeling i haven't explored the building fully to find a way through), i returned to the KTM building(that or walk all the way to KL Sentral, which i saw is just ahead on a nearby roadsign) and true to my instinct, i actually hadn't reached its main hall, so i went and i found myself on the train platform and i gotta tell you, like any first-time wide-eyed kid seeing a marvel for a first time, it was quite a sight for me. The platform gave me a very "Harry Potter" train-station feel LOL. And right at that exact moment there's alot of people just gotten off a train and everyone was like walking casually to an exit somewhere to my left.
Seriously, what a sight!!! I really wish i had my camera with me. The life and everything that is playing in front of me....really kick myself at my clumsiness that morning. I sat down again just observing everything that is happening on the platform. Soon an ETS train arrived and it was bound for Ipoh. Reminded me of my Ipoh trip sometime back. I suddenly thought of my friend, then wondered if i could secretly sneak onto the train LOL.
After the train left i began to leave too, going in the direction of the people i saw exiting earlier. Soon i can see exit and almost immediately i saw the Central Market LRT station in the distance. Hereon i know where i am already!!! I had wandered to this area only a few weeks back and even though that time it was nighttime, but i can still recognise the area. xD There were alot more people there though; everyone was boarding/getting off buses and milling about at the Central Market. I began to be more careful with my belongings and alert with my surrounding.
The Central Market wasn't my ultimate destination though; i had only wanted to go there to reach Petaling Street, where i intend to have some food + check out football jersey LOL. So i had my brunch of Wantan Mee + the famous Longan drink there, before checking the stalls out for my jersey. I found alot of the jerseys are quite big-sized...i'll look ridiculous in it. And most of them had an extra EPL badge on the sleeve. I don't want that. I want a replica as similar to the....well, original replica as possible. Couldn't really find one that's suitable, so i gave up...and thought of catching a movie at Times Square.
Taking this opportunity to explore the route to catch a monorail nearby straight to Imbi/Bukit Bintang, i went in search of Hang Tuah monorail station. I've always heard friends saying u can directly take a monorail frm nearby to go straight to Bintang area, instead of taking LRT and switching to monorail at Hang Tuah station, a way of travel i previously used to go there from Petaling Street. We all think it shud be Hang Tuah station, so i decided to find out for myself.
Alas, after twice taking a route that made me end up in Central Market again, i finally saw a monorail route and followed it and reached a station--alas, it is not Hang Tuah station, but Maharajalela station! Yay mission succeeded! What a relief cos i was pretty tired already (really Lit Yee? You used to last longer! I think it's cos of the lack of sleep...) and don't want to walk ALL the way to Imbi omg.
So i took the monorail and arrived at Times Square, went to check the showtimes and decide to watch "Cars 2" as the timing was right and kinda the only interesting movie at the moment. To be honest though, i never really liked "Cars" and thought it was my least favourite Pixar movie. Zzz. But ohwells, i gotta spend my time rite? xD
Movie was at 2pm and it was only 12.40pm so i walked around....curious to see how the 10th floor GSC Maxx cinemas look like i went to the 10th floor for like the first time ever and lol, there's a bazaar up there! But it was kinda...empty. Lol. Seriously tho...who wud travel up 10 floors to a bazaar...zzz. Anyway i went up and spent quite a long time looking at the mini-theme park from up there. It's a better view though, i can see much more of the roller coaster and the whole theme park itself hehe. Made me want to play as well lol. But i'm alone, play what oh? Haha...
Finally i went down and to my dismay, there is a power outage at the floor of my cinema...so everything was delayed and normally i wud've been more patient but my feet hurts like shit and i'm agitated and not being seated yet. I was beginning to think what an unlucky day i've had...so many things unexpectedly happened. Fortunately we were let in after nearly 20mins of delay and i went in for the movie.
The movie was not bad, but it didn't win me over still. I still think it's the poorest Pixar movie ever. It's glaringly obvious that, i actually enjoyed the short mini Toy Story skit at the beginning of the movie than the entire "Cars 2" movie. Not to say it's a bad film, it's not, it's actually good, but still incomparable to other timeless, classic, very well-made Pixar films like the Toy Story trilogy, Finding Nemo, Wall-E, Up...etc etc. Goshh please don't let Pixar's standard drop!!! >.<
Anyways after that i tried Pearl Milk Tea from a store called ShareTea, which i'd seen a couple of branches somewhere in Sungei Wang and also MidValley already, and there's a queue usually when i saw them, so wanna try if it's really that good. Their tv was showing all these ads and testimonials and news of the groundbreaking Pearl Milk Tea...so even though it's ridiculously expensive for a Milk Tea drink (mine costed abt RM7 large sized, Taiwanese Pearl Milk Tea--- i tend to choose either an original/neutral flavour when trying out new stuff, after all, if u can't even get the basics right, surely the others wont taste good as well right?) i gave it a try.
First sip in, WHOA NICE!!! But later after that the taste starts to fade and it's as if i'm drinking iced plain water instead. Plus the pearls are tasteless, not even a slight honey sweetness to it. However, the pearl texture is just right; the right softness, bounciness and size. Overall it is a disappointment tho; i couldn't feel the satisfaction drinking it like what i got from drinking ChaTime's pearl milk tea. And by the way, ChaTime is REALLY GOOD!!
After that i just resorted to go home. I'm pretty tired already. So have to walk all the way to KLCC to take LRT from there home. And omg the crowd. Ridiculous!! I've never seen the place sooo packed before. There is hardly a place to just PASS THROUGH. I actually walked away to come back later again, hopefully the crowd will lessen by then. But no...it's still the same. And it was nearing 7pm d and i really need to get back home, so i queue to buy tickets.
First i went to one of the machines as the counter has a long queue as well and machines might be faster. But at the machines ppl from other machine lanes are cutting into the queue and basically rushed to buy their tickets right in front of the machine. =.= fairly annoyed by this and after a good 10mins of waiting, i gave up and went to the ticketing counter.
Soon a LRT police officer started to control the crowd queuing situation, telling us to get to one side and line up properly while he puts up dividers on the lanes to control how people queue up(before that ppl were just standing anywhere they want in the crowd trying to jump in as soon as they see a chance). It was pretty chaotic and some people started pushing and the officer had to shout loudly "Don't push ba!" in Malay. The things human do when they are desperate. Sigh. The policeman then kept telling us and kept checking us so we are properly in a line(another officer assisted in the line and queue checking as well)to buy our tickets. Luckily they did this and the whole ticket buying process is much smoother(and inside i was like thank god no more stranger touching me =.= cos i seriously don't like it when strangers touch me, esp more so when they try to push me from behind to force me forward or push ppl in front of me. I'm like "fuck, dun push me and make me move, i know how and when to move!" and i usually just glared back at them) and soon i got my ticket after nearly 45mins of being stuck in the massive crowd, i finally can go down to the trains! Luckily for me the train itself isn't jam packed like sardine like above, so it was a relatively smooth ride back. Phew!
Went back, had dinner and back into my room and the internet. Tired, but overall to be honest, it's a good day actually. Not too bad, just that i had my plans scratched. But along the way i learnt and saw new things too; now i know more or less how to get to Merdeka Square, and the nearby tourist attractions, and some of the roads nearby. And also solved the case of the mysterious monorail station near Petaling Street. xD
I think the best thing that happened is that i helped this cleaning lady up the stairs at the KTM building. She is one of the cleaning ladies there, and had difficulty carrying a huge bottle of liquid up the stairs. As i passed her i offered to help her with her liquid, and while it's not really something, the satisfaction i got from helping her made my day. Will not forget the smile she gave me after that, and her initial surprise at my offer to help her. Helping people feels so good! We should help each other out more often :)
***
That's how my Aug 31st went....wanted to make this post up before it turns 1/9 but seems i'm too late! So instead of being the last post for August, it's the first post of September 2011!
Take care everyone! 3more months and it'll be end of the year. Strive to make everyday count! :)
Selamat Hari Raya to all my Muslim friends! And Happy Merdeka to fellow Malaysians. Will try to make it to next year's celebration, if possible! =D
P/S Sorry for the lack of pictures! I hadn't brought my camera battery with me after all!
So my plan is to spend my entire morning and perhaps a little into the afternoon watching and maybe taking part in the parade as a "domestic tourist". Take enough pics, absorb the atmosphere, get some suntan....so i got myself ready and head out, taking the 1/2hr LRT ride to Masjid Jamek station.
After getting out of the train, i took the oppoturnity to set the date and time for my camera. Funny, ever since dad fixed the lens cover problem last time, everytime i charge the battery the camera resets itself & i always had to set the date and time again. So i took out my camera and press the buttons....
Nothing.
Alarmed, i thought there was something wrong, that maybe i had pressed the wrong button, and then it hit me--- i had forgotten to insert back my camera battery after i charged it last night! In my hurry to get out of the house i had totally forgotten about the camera battery still lodged nicely in the charger. Add a mere 4hr sleep to that, yeahhhh.... no wonder i'd forgot.
Cursing myself for being so careless, i pondered whether i should go back retrieve the battery. After all, this is a once-in-a-blue-moon occasion. As soon as i thought it tho, i gave up going back. It will take another hour before i'll be back again, and it's simply not worth it. So, i would have to attend it and not bring back any "footage" of it....sigh.
Stepping out of the station, somehow my instinct made me take the left turn....i dunno why, but i just walked anyway. I actually have no idea whatsoever how to get to the Merdeka Square, my destination. Attempts to locate a good travel route the previous night failed with bad internet connection. So yeah, after getting a tip from friend to stop at Masjid Jamek station, i'll just have to find my way by following road signs.
I walked and walked and after 10mins was unsure if i headed the right way(because there was no sign!) but soon on a wide road opened and there's a huge sign pointing to my destination, so i followed the road. It wasn't after another long 15mins of walk before i saw the 2nd sign and again i followed it and soon i begin to spot familiar landmarks.
Prior to this i had went to the Merdeka Square before with my friends via the Hop On-Hop Off bus so i had generally a good idea of the place and what's in it within 1km of the square itself. Finally seeing a field in the distance, i made my way over as fast as possible.
Alas...there is nothing. Not even police, and the streets though are less busy than normal, but it wasn't up to the point till the road is blocked off for the parade. It took one good glance at the area for it to sink in: there is NO parade being held here. The whole square is empty save for some tourists.
I sat down and took a breather + chug of water from all that walking. Lucky it wasn't too sunny, or else i might've been baked. Lol. I was very disappointed by how things turn out by that time. I waited for a couple minutes more to see if anything will come up, but apparently, nothing will happen. It's as normal as any day!
Suddenly my plans are crashed just like that. I didn't know where the parade/celebrations are held; my good guess is that they're decided to celebrate it elsewhere, and from what i read last nite, it might've been ongoing for a few years already. Darn my incomplete research!
So i resort to do a self-exploration of the area instead. Time for another self-mapping of the city! xD So i walked on (by the way, the flag at the Merdeka Square is gone. They didn't hoist it up. Sigh.) and soon the National Textile Museum came into view. Seeing i never been inside it and it's free, so i went in have a look.
As the name suggests, the museum showcases types of clothings and material the people of Malaysia had and made over the years, of different cultures and ethnicities. Besides that they also show the various ornaments and accessories ppl used to wear then and now. It was pretty interesting overall. The museum itself is nicely kept and clean, just that abit too quiet cos no visitor at all except me LOL. Besides the lady outside guarding the entrance, there's only a security guard inside(who at one point, held a radio playing Raya songs and walked into the galleries and out....hmmm i think u all know what this gestures mean right hehehee ssshh!) and another counter lady(whom i caught sleeping on her job! LOLOLOL) on the entrance hall on the other entrance to the building. Overall i visited 3 galleries(they divided different showcases into different mini galleries) and 1 was shut off due to what i don't know. Hehe. Only when i was abt to leave there was this Japanese looking elder woman coming in for a visit. Lols...
Peering at the brochure of the museum the front lady outside gave me earlier(she had seemed eager for me to leave my name on the guestbook; poor thing, probably didn't get much visitors...), there is a simple map on the brochure showing other attractions i can check out: from the museum i can fairly get to the National Mosque, National Museum, KTM building and Central Market. Since all places are quite near (via memory off the Hop On-Hop Off trip) i decided to just spend my morning checking out these places.
So i went to the National Mosque and basically got to the main entrance and that's about it; visitors are barred from entering already especially if you are a non-Muslim, so yeahh...apparently non-Muslim visitors are only allowed on the outer mosque grounds. There were a couple of foreign tourists being let off there by their respective buses and vans and were taking pictures everywhere. Goshhh my heart itched at the sight of camera LOL!!! It just reminded me i forgot to bring my camera battery @@~~
After that i wondered if i should walk up the hill to check out the National Museum. Scratch that...i can feel myself quite dehydrated and de-energised already (lack of sleep remember) so instead i went to the KTM building. It was very cool because i like the design of the building. That retro, old building feel. Love it.
However, soon i was stuck, don't know where to go. I (unknowingly at that time) stepped into the ticketing counter and since it's just a room, i thought there'e nothing more and just that. Fairly bored with what's inside(or lacking thereof), i decided to walk to Central Market.
The map slightly deceived me though; yes it was correct in mapping out the location and direction of the said landmarks, but it wasn't a detailed and exact map of the area. Because of that, i actually circled the area twice, walking twice just to make sure i hadn't miss a bend here or there. I even took an underground passage that windled underneath the highway above, and to my horror the place actually stank of dirt and urine. I wonder how many homeless ppl used the underground passageway to sleep in at nights, or what unlawful deeds have been taking place there. Those thoughts won over the other thoughts of the place like "wow never knew Msia had these type of underground passageways before! Only seen this before in HK dramas or NY dramas lol". While the underground passageways of other countries i saw on TV are always crowded with ppl, the one i took is also eeriely empty; something cud happen to me inside and no one will ever know. *shrugs*
Deducing that my only way out is via the KTM building(i had this nagging feeling i haven't explored the building fully to find a way through), i returned to the KTM building(that or walk all the way to KL Sentral, which i saw is just ahead on a nearby roadsign) and true to my instinct, i actually hadn't reached its main hall, so i went and i found myself on the train platform and i gotta tell you, like any first-time wide-eyed kid seeing a marvel for a first time, it was quite a sight for me. The platform gave me a very "Harry Potter" train-station feel LOL. And right at that exact moment there's alot of people just gotten off a train and everyone was like walking casually to an exit somewhere to my left.
Seriously, what a sight!!! I really wish i had my camera with me. The life and everything that is playing in front of me....really kick myself at my clumsiness that morning. I sat down again just observing everything that is happening on the platform. Soon an ETS train arrived and it was bound for Ipoh. Reminded me of my Ipoh trip sometime back. I suddenly thought of my friend, then wondered if i could secretly sneak onto the train LOL.
After the train left i began to leave too, going in the direction of the people i saw exiting earlier. Soon i can see exit and almost immediately i saw the Central Market LRT station in the distance. Hereon i know where i am already!!! I had wandered to this area only a few weeks back and even though that time it was nighttime, but i can still recognise the area. xD There were alot more people there though; everyone was boarding/getting off buses and milling about at the Central Market. I began to be more careful with my belongings and alert with my surrounding.
The Central Market wasn't my ultimate destination though; i had only wanted to go there to reach Petaling Street, where i intend to have some food + check out football jersey LOL. So i had my brunch of Wantan Mee + the famous Longan drink there, before checking the stalls out for my jersey. I found alot of the jerseys are quite big-sized...i'll look ridiculous in it. And most of them had an extra EPL badge on the sleeve. I don't want that. I want a replica as similar to the....well, original replica as possible. Couldn't really find one that's suitable, so i gave up...and thought of catching a movie at Times Square.
Taking this opportunity to explore the route to catch a monorail nearby straight to Imbi/Bukit Bintang, i went in search of Hang Tuah monorail station. I've always heard friends saying u can directly take a monorail frm nearby to go straight to Bintang area, instead of taking LRT and switching to monorail at Hang Tuah station, a way of travel i previously used to go there from Petaling Street. We all think it shud be Hang Tuah station, so i decided to find out for myself.
Alas, after twice taking a route that made me end up in Central Market again, i finally saw a monorail route and followed it and reached a station--alas, it is not Hang Tuah station, but Maharajalela station! Yay mission succeeded! What a relief cos i was pretty tired already (really Lit Yee? You used to last longer! I think it's cos of the lack of sleep...) and don't want to walk ALL the way to Imbi omg.
So i took the monorail and arrived at Times Square, went to check the showtimes and decide to watch "Cars 2" as the timing was right and kinda the only interesting movie at the moment. To be honest though, i never really liked "Cars" and thought it was my least favourite Pixar movie. Zzz. But ohwells, i gotta spend my time rite? xD
Movie was at 2pm and it was only 12.40pm so i walked around....curious to see how the 10th floor GSC Maxx cinemas look like i went to the 10th floor for like the first time ever and lol, there's a bazaar up there! But it was kinda...empty. Lol. Seriously tho...who wud travel up 10 floors to a bazaar...zzz. Anyway i went up and spent quite a long time looking at the mini-theme park from up there. It's a better view though, i can see much more of the roller coaster and the whole theme park itself hehe. Made me want to play as well lol. But i'm alone, play what oh? Haha...
Finally i went down and to my dismay, there is a power outage at the floor of my cinema...so everything was delayed and normally i wud've been more patient but my feet hurts like shit and i'm agitated and not being seated yet. I was beginning to think what an unlucky day i've had...so many things unexpectedly happened. Fortunately we were let in after nearly 20mins of delay and i went in for the movie.
The movie was not bad, but it didn't win me over still. I still think it's the poorest Pixar movie ever. It's glaringly obvious that, i actually enjoyed the short mini Toy Story skit at the beginning of the movie than the entire "Cars 2" movie. Not to say it's a bad film, it's not, it's actually good, but still incomparable to other timeless, classic, very well-made Pixar films like the Toy Story trilogy, Finding Nemo, Wall-E, Up...etc etc. Goshh please don't let Pixar's standard drop!!! >.<
Anyways after that i tried Pearl Milk Tea from a store called ShareTea, which i'd seen a couple of branches somewhere in Sungei Wang and also MidValley already, and there's a queue usually when i saw them, so wanna try if it's really that good. Their tv was showing all these ads and testimonials and news of the groundbreaking Pearl Milk Tea...so even though it's ridiculously expensive for a Milk Tea drink (mine costed abt RM7 large sized, Taiwanese Pearl Milk Tea--- i tend to choose either an original/neutral flavour when trying out new stuff, after all, if u can't even get the basics right, surely the others wont taste good as well right?) i gave it a try.
First sip in, WHOA NICE!!! But later after that the taste starts to fade and it's as if i'm drinking iced plain water instead. Plus the pearls are tasteless, not even a slight honey sweetness to it. However, the pearl texture is just right; the right softness, bounciness and size. Overall it is a disappointment tho; i couldn't feel the satisfaction drinking it like what i got from drinking ChaTime's pearl milk tea. And by the way, ChaTime is REALLY GOOD!!
After that i just resorted to go home. I'm pretty tired already. So have to walk all the way to KLCC to take LRT from there home. And omg the crowd. Ridiculous!! I've never seen the place sooo packed before. There is hardly a place to just PASS THROUGH. I actually walked away to come back later again, hopefully the crowd will lessen by then. But no...it's still the same. And it was nearing 7pm d and i really need to get back home, so i queue to buy tickets.
First i went to one of the machines as the counter has a long queue as well and machines might be faster. But at the machines ppl from other machine lanes are cutting into the queue and basically rushed to buy their tickets right in front of the machine. =.= fairly annoyed by this and after a good 10mins of waiting, i gave up and went to the ticketing counter.
Soon a LRT police officer started to control the crowd queuing situation, telling us to get to one side and line up properly while he puts up dividers on the lanes to control how people queue up(before that ppl were just standing anywhere they want in the crowd trying to jump in as soon as they see a chance). It was pretty chaotic and some people started pushing and the officer had to shout loudly "Don't push ba!" in Malay. The things human do when they are desperate. Sigh. The policeman then kept telling us and kept checking us so we are properly in a line(another officer assisted in the line and queue checking as well)to buy our tickets. Luckily they did this and the whole ticket buying process is much smoother(and inside i was like thank god no more stranger touching me =.= cos i seriously don't like it when strangers touch me, esp more so when they try to push me from behind to force me forward or push ppl in front of me. I'm like "fuck, dun push me and make me move, i know how and when to move!" and i usually just glared back at them) and soon i got my ticket after nearly 45mins of being stuck in the massive crowd, i finally can go down to the trains! Luckily for me the train itself isn't jam packed like sardine like above, so it was a relatively smooth ride back. Phew!
Went back, had dinner and back into my room and the internet. Tired, but overall to be honest, it's a good day actually. Not too bad, just that i had my plans scratched. But along the way i learnt and saw new things too; now i know more or less how to get to Merdeka Square, and the nearby tourist attractions, and some of the roads nearby. And also solved the case of the mysterious monorail station near Petaling Street. xD
I think the best thing that happened is that i helped this cleaning lady up the stairs at the KTM building. She is one of the cleaning ladies there, and had difficulty carrying a huge bottle of liquid up the stairs. As i passed her i offered to help her with her liquid, and while it's not really something, the satisfaction i got from helping her made my day. Will not forget the smile she gave me after that, and her initial surprise at my offer to help her. Helping people feels so good! We should help each other out more often :)
***
That's how my Aug 31st went....wanted to make this post up before it turns 1/9 but seems i'm too late! So instead of being the last post for August, it's the first post of September 2011!
Take care everyone! 3more months and it'll be end of the year. Strive to make everyday count! :)
Selamat Hari Raya to all my Muslim friends! And Happy Merdeka to fellow Malaysians. Will try to make it to next year's celebration, if possible! =D
P/S Sorry for the lack of pictures! I hadn't brought my camera battery with me after all!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Popular Bookfest '11 27/8 - 4/9
So after 3 years of wishing to go to the Bookfest, i finally made it this year! I had been pretty excited about it ever i saw banners being put up at the Convention Centre when i go to work. So yesterday, Aug 27th is its first day and i was working as well, so i went after work and lunch.
Was surpised at how big the event is when i see so many people at the centre, even more than the time i went to the PC Fair some weeks back. The queue at the English Pavilion ticket counter along spoke lengths at how big this is. For me i think this is a good sign that still alot of people live to read here!
Without further ado, here's some pics i took:
I went a round throughout the English and Chinese Pavilions before starting to really look at books. I had a few books in mind already that i want to buy, that and i'm continuously looking for good books at a great bargain. And what bargains they have at the fest! Most of them are slashed by more than 70%, so previously unaffordable books are affordable now xD
Because of that, i went on a book shopping spree, and got myself these:
That's alot right! The most books i ever bought in one go. Normally these will cost me about RM400++...but i got them at more than 50% less in total xD
***
I know i know....i said i wanted to save for a camera by the end of the year...but if you know me, i love books and reading just about as much as i do with photography. The common thing (and also the difference) is that, i was never really able to afford books even though i love them. With this bookfest, i think it's logical to spend all on books just once a year right? And everything is at bargain price! Still a fair decision to me.
Just abit headache how am i gonna drag all these books back with me home when i do go home soon...sigh. The weight! >___<
Was surpised at how big the event is when i see so many people at the centre, even more than the time i went to the PC Fair some weeks back. The queue at the English Pavilion ticket counter along spoke lengths at how big this is. For me i think this is a good sign that still alot of people live to read here!
Without further ado, here's some pics i took:
I went a round throughout the English and Chinese Pavilions before starting to really look at books. I had a few books in mind already that i want to buy, that and i'm continuously looking for good books at a great bargain. And what bargains they have at the fest! Most of them are slashed by more than 70%, so previously unaffordable books are affordable now xD
Because of that, i went on a book shopping spree, and got myself these:
That's alot right! The most books i ever bought in one go. Normally these will cost me about RM400++...but i got them at more than 50% less in total xD
***
I know i know....i said i wanted to save for a camera by the end of the year...but if you know me, i love books and reading just about as much as i do with photography. The common thing (and also the difference) is that, i was never really able to afford books even though i love them. With this bookfest, i think it's logical to spend all on books just once a year right? And everything is at bargain price! Still a fair decision to me.
Just abit headache how am i gonna drag all these books back with me home when i do go home soon...sigh. The weight! >___<
Transition to adult
I remember when i was much younger, being a "teenager" is very important to me. There's something about being a teenager; you get to do more 'dangerous' things you can't do as a child; you can hangout and sleepover at friend's house, you can watch 'certain' movies etc etc. Being a teenager seems so much fun!
I remember being very thrilled and happy when i reached 13yrs old. "I'M A TEENAGER NOW!!!" i loudly exclaimed. And i went on to teasing my younger brother abt how he still needs a few years to be a teen, and i actually call him "pre-pre-pre-teen" LOL. I'm such an ass back then, no? :P
Of course u get other stuffs when u're a teenager, ZITS for example. Goshh how i hate those pimples and all the trouble it caused me. >.< By the time i was 19yrs old, the last age to be a "teen", i was thinking how innocent i was back then, thinking being a teenage is cool, but really it's just...normal. HAHA!
By then, the age of 20 is just the transitional age from a 'teenage' to a full 'adult'. In our country you are only fully legal by the time you reach 21; at age of 21 you can go to clubs, for example. xD and you also can register officially as a voter. There's alot of things you can do at the age of 21. So at age 20, it's like in the middle of being a teen and adult.
Of course i was thrilled at finally being legal. It felt like the whole world is out there, waiting for me. Waiting for me to leave my mark. I felt like i can do alot of things, achieve alot, see alot. People around me were growing at the same rate as me; up until this point, the majority of the people i know in my life are my friends, my schoolmates, my university coursemates, and a few senior university mates. We are all young, perhaps some not too ready yet to face the world, but we know, right there and then, we are THE FUTURE.
Now having entered into working life again, the people i'm surrounded with are different once more. Now i find myself among more "mature" and "experienced" adults, who have so much backstories to them. Some of them are even married already, and/or going to deliver a baby soon. Suddenly, i am one of the youngest again.....it did take me some time to get used to hearing "you're so young!" again...
Of course, being surrounded by such 'adults' is a whole different experience altogether. Suddenly the reality sinks in; you're in society now, you're in a dog-eat-dog world. You obviously can't fool around anymore. There's more to things than just the surface. You're not only living life for yourself, you're also living life for your partner, your future kids and family. Everything you do now maps out your future. You and only you, are solely responsible for what happens to yourself. There'll be no safety arms of your own family, because at this transitional stage to being an adult, your roles had changed; now, you have to protect your parents and take care of them in their twilight years. You are no longer a kid; they've done their responsibilities bringing you up. Now is your time to take them on a safe and comfortable journey to their end. Circumstances force you to change sometimes, you know?
Growing up fast is all i wanted when i was young; now i rather resent having to grow older. I want to be in my peak young years for as long as i can so i can do alot of things. Maybe there's pride in wanting to achieve something at a young age, but really it's more than that. I don't know. I only know that, to achieve this, i will need good health. Because health is really one person's greatest asset; without it, no matter how great you are, you can't achieve more even if you had wanted to. So start to live healthy so you won't regret it in the long term.
Now i just really miss the times when i was still a teenager. A period of time where you can be carefree and not give a shit about the world, while still kicking ass. xD Now it's a period i can never relive again, but one i never regretted.
In the end, it's still the COOLEST being a teenager. =)
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Taking the bullet~
Sometime during the 2nd and 3rd week of this month, i went into yet another bout of depression. And the worst thing is, i can't even afford a drink to calm my nerves down, or just to numb me enough to lull myself to sleep. No i had to bear the night with dark, depressing thoughts in my head. I couldn't sleep at all.
I pondered to write something about it back then...while i was in the full-blown fury of it. My mood was "right". Yet i hadn't thought of it back then and by the time i arrived at this page trying to type something, my "feel" was already gone and i knew i couldn't write back the stuff i felt back then. So i gave up and carried on with my life, knowing someday i will still return to write it, because storing it away in my memory bank won't make it go away, at least i want to pour out some of it, filter my brain for other stuff. Yeahhhh what a smart dumbass i am. xD
---
So what happened was this(to cut a looong story short), i stood out and voiced out opinions on a matter that everyone had uncomfortable feelings to, but had not dared to voice out. So i did it on behalf of everyone cos i was already tired of all these dragging and "behind the scenes" wonder and suspicion. It was risky of course, because it might hurt someone else and change whatever they think abt me. But i had enough and i am the sort that prefers u cut-to-the-chase so i did it anyway.
As expected, the reply came back curt. Of course, everybody else was quiet. From what i read of the reply, the person clearly stated where she stand and where and how she was in the whole incident, basically telling of her own POV. Of course, i was glad i finally got an answer; however, the whole thing made me realise we had seen her wrongly and had not thought from her POV, and i knew then we had misunderstood her and had not kept her well-informed. She was lack of information, of course she didnt know what was happening and thus didn't respond as how we expected her to be.
In short, i realised we were wrong. But, i knew the fault is not entirely mine. So being the stubborn apeshit that i am, i refused to apologize. I however, did acknowledge her and her lack of information and was sympathetised with her. With that i said "sorry u had to go through that" to her, because it really is what i felt. I genuinely thought we hadn't been fair enough to her honestly. We ourselves made a small misstep.
But because i'm not the "messenger", i'm not the central pivotal character that knows everything from everyone, surely i cannot take the full blame of it? I do not know everything after all. I also got my information in bits and pieces. To my own fault, i had assumed as well that the other party knew everything. Thus i spoke out.
Yet.....everyone else was still silent. At least those on "my side" as i saw it that time. They were silent. Of course, they weren't silent behind-the-scenes, just that no one stood out and defended me, though we share the same views(i'm not sure, even now, if back then we really shared the same views? my confidence in them had dwindled massively since then).
The "neutral" ones, though, spoke up abit, told me to "chill" and tried to ease the tension. No one replied after that, with me stating once more where i stood and what i understood of things. It was lengthy, but i really wish ppl read it. In the end, the girl opted out of the plan, and another told me i shouldn't "shao" so fast.
Well, to be honest, of all things, i felt hurt the most. I'm not even angry when the girl replied me making her stand, even though she scolded "stupid" which is not aimed at me, but still, the choice of words, hurt me. And made me worried abt her. Cos if i'm in her situation, i will be deeply hurt as well. I dunno this girl well enough to know exactly how she will think/react to this, but i know if it's me i'll be hurt.
But at this point, i'm more devastated than hurt. It went way beyond my expectation, the level of backlash this created. What's worse is that, the SILENCE that surrounds the whole "battle scene". It's bad enough to know how pissed someone is at you. It's a whole other thing NOT knowing how pissed they really are, or if they are pissed at all, because u can never know...and that's wearing me down the fastest.
So i got all disappointed and hurt and everything....because i thought there would be people backing me up out front, instead of in the dark. But no...i took all the bullets, while they watched on feeling they should cover me but in the end didn't.
I don't even want to start on how the other side is thinking of me at that point. I'm sure though most of them thought i was too reckless and flamed up abit fast, albeit unnecessarily. I don't think any one of them stopped and think carefully, in the months and year that they knew me, have i ever raised temper in front of them? Was i ever pissed? Do they really know it when i'm pissed? I cant blame them, they judged me based on this one situation. The fact that NO ONE tried to approach me for a talk to try and find out what's happening from MY side, no one tried to grasp and understand where i come from regarding this, is soooo disappointing.
Yes i admit, i expected something to happen, someone who would lie down beside me and hear my story as i lie 'bleeding' on the ground. At least, if you want me to die, let me die a fair death. But no....i even hinted, even talked to one of them abt it, and got nothing at all. Then and there i gave up ever explaining, simply because no one asked for it.
So if they want to think i'm a brass, reckless and temperamental person, so be it. Just wanna be clear that they didn't get the full circle, just parts of it. And i've always lived by the principle that i won't ever explain myself if i don't care about what that person think abt me, so sadly, for this case, i have to do it. Even though i'll gladly explain again should anyone mention this again.
Well, it was a dark period for sure, cos right then i felt very alone. No one backing me, no one protecting me. And ppl were misunderstanding me. I had no one to talk to....i was disappointed with most of them. I spiralled into extreme depression, until i actually feel sick and want to vomit. It was such a nauseous feeling. The whole thing made me sick....
I now know how nauseous ppl feel when they are bulimic or anorexic or in deep depression. I didn't feel it full force, but it was already enough....
Forced myself to close everything and try to sleep...eventually i did slp, after a few toss and turns in the bed. Everything keeps replayed in my head, but at least lying down eased the sickness. Sigh. I think i nearly cried at one point...i was so sad.
The next morning i woke up, i felt an unexpected(but not unsettling) feeling of calm within me. Instantly, i knew i had changed. I dunno if the change is good or bad, but i know one thing for sure: i stopped expecting people to stand up for me. Stopped expecting people to protect me. From now onwards i'm truly alone.....i have to start from zero.
And i know, deep down, there won't be anyone to back me up when i need them the most...i don't think there'll be such a person, at least for now(if there is, lol show urself and show to me. LOL)
I don't blame them....my friends, whom i thought should've stood up for me. I'm not angry at them....i'm just really really disappointed. But that's okay, because, in my naivety abt friendships, i had expectation abt them. I expected them to do something. And when they didn't, i'm disappointed. And you know what they say about expectations....
The higher the expectations, the bigger disappointment you'll get. How fucking true.
And i don't want to turn into this angsty and close-minded individual for picking and berating on them for one small case . I don't want to be this calculative person who only knows how to blame others. So trust me when i say i don't blame my friends. I accept what's happened had happened, and even if it's abit hard to swallow, but i'll swallow it anyway. Because there really isn't any other way else, except the dark path.
So the only way is to lower, if not totally dismiss, any expectations i will have from my friends. It might mean i don't trust them anymore, but i'm not thinking in that way. I still trust them, but when it ever comes to a situation of "i got your back", i will simply stop hoping for anything.
Because ever since young until now, it's really been a one-man journey anyway.
And i guess, it is not only until you reach a point, that single point where u simply cannot take it anymore, that you change. And you change into this newer version of yourself whose defenses are up higher than ever, just so they can react and overcome this breaking point. I think that's where i went....the whole incident changed me.
---
Ever since that incident, i've gradually returned to "normal", healing slowly i guess...and thank goodness i didn't choose the other path...cos if that's what happened, i would've just shunned everyone out of my life, and ignore everyone and live life on my own. That's just abit too extreme isn't it? Lol....so far so good for me now though.
Again, a self-recovery process. I wonder if anyone even noticed all this that happened. Lol. To be honest, i really felt like......ending everything there and then. But now thinking back on it, had i done it, it's really stupid thing to do. Luckily i didn't choose that.
To all my friends....i love you guys...u guys helped shape how i am today....although there were good and also bad times, i still wish to continue our friendship in a mutually peaceful way. And it's great knowing you all :)
Sometimes(and this "sometimes" had grown to happen alot of times), I wish, that someday i won't have to continue being so strong, that I can be allowed a moment of weakness; that someday there's a pair of hands that'll hold me; a broad shoulder for me to lie on, and i'll just rest and the person will tell me "everything's going to be okay." Because....i've grown tired of telling that to myself, being my own comforter, being my own "saviour".....
I pondered to write something about it back then...while i was in the full-blown fury of it. My mood was "right". Yet i hadn't thought of it back then and by the time i arrived at this page trying to type something, my "feel" was already gone and i knew i couldn't write back the stuff i felt back then. So i gave up and carried on with my life, knowing someday i will still return to write it, because storing it away in my memory bank won't make it go away, at least i want to pour out some of it, filter my brain for other stuff. Yeahhhh what a smart dumbass i am. xD
---
So what happened was this(to cut a looong story short), i stood out and voiced out opinions on a matter that everyone had uncomfortable feelings to, but had not dared to voice out. So i did it on behalf of everyone cos i was already tired of all these dragging and "behind the scenes" wonder and suspicion. It was risky of course, because it might hurt someone else and change whatever they think abt me. But i had enough and i am the sort that prefers u cut-to-the-chase so i did it anyway.
As expected, the reply came back curt. Of course, everybody else was quiet. From what i read of the reply, the person clearly stated where she stand and where and how she was in the whole incident, basically telling of her own POV. Of course, i was glad i finally got an answer; however, the whole thing made me realise we had seen her wrongly and had not thought from her POV, and i knew then we had misunderstood her and had not kept her well-informed. She was lack of information, of course she didnt know what was happening and thus didn't respond as how we expected her to be.
In short, i realised we were wrong. But, i knew the fault is not entirely mine. So being the stubborn apeshit that i am, i refused to apologize. I however, did acknowledge her and her lack of information and was sympathetised with her. With that i said "sorry u had to go through that" to her, because it really is what i felt. I genuinely thought we hadn't been fair enough to her honestly. We ourselves made a small misstep.
But because i'm not the "messenger", i'm not the central pivotal character that knows everything from everyone, surely i cannot take the full blame of it? I do not know everything after all. I also got my information in bits and pieces. To my own fault, i had assumed as well that the other party knew everything. Thus i spoke out.
Yet.....everyone else was still silent. At least those on "my side" as i saw it that time. They were silent. Of course, they weren't silent behind-the-scenes, just that no one stood out and defended me, though we share the same views(i'm not sure, even now, if back then we really shared the same views? my confidence in them had dwindled massively since then).
The "neutral" ones, though, spoke up abit, told me to "chill" and tried to ease the tension. No one replied after that, with me stating once more where i stood and what i understood of things. It was lengthy, but i really wish ppl read it. In the end, the girl opted out of the plan, and another told me i shouldn't "shao" so fast.
Well, to be honest, of all things, i felt hurt the most. I'm not even angry when the girl replied me making her stand, even though she scolded "stupid" which is not aimed at me, but still, the choice of words, hurt me. And made me worried abt her. Cos if i'm in her situation, i will be deeply hurt as well. I dunno this girl well enough to know exactly how she will think/react to this, but i know if it's me i'll be hurt.
But at this point, i'm more devastated than hurt. It went way beyond my expectation, the level of backlash this created. What's worse is that, the SILENCE that surrounds the whole "battle scene". It's bad enough to know how pissed someone is at you. It's a whole other thing NOT knowing how pissed they really are, or if they are pissed at all, because u can never know...and that's wearing me down the fastest.
So i got all disappointed and hurt and everything....because i thought there would be people backing me up out front, instead of in the dark. But no...i took all the bullets, while they watched on feeling they should cover me but in the end didn't.
I don't even want to start on how the other side is thinking of me at that point. I'm sure though most of them thought i was too reckless and flamed up abit fast, albeit unnecessarily. I don't think any one of them stopped and think carefully, in the months and year that they knew me, have i ever raised temper in front of them? Was i ever pissed? Do they really know it when i'm pissed? I cant blame them, they judged me based on this one situation. The fact that NO ONE tried to approach me for a talk to try and find out what's happening from MY side, no one tried to grasp and understand where i come from regarding this, is soooo disappointing.
Yes i admit, i expected something to happen, someone who would lie down beside me and hear my story as i lie 'bleeding' on the ground. At least, if you want me to die, let me die a fair death. But no....i even hinted, even talked to one of them abt it, and got nothing at all. Then and there i gave up ever explaining, simply because no one asked for it.
So if they want to think i'm a brass, reckless and temperamental person, so be it. Just wanna be clear that they didn't get the full circle, just parts of it. And i've always lived by the principle that i won't ever explain myself if i don't care about what that person think abt me, so sadly, for this case, i have to do it. Even though i'll gladly explain again should anyone mention this again.
Well, it was a dark period for sure, cos right then i felt very alone. No one backing me, no one protecting me. And ppl were misunderstanding me. I had no one to talk to....i was disappointed with most of them. I spiralled into extreme depression, until i actually feel sick and want to vomit. It was such a nauseous feeling. The whole thing made me sick....
I now know how nauseous ppl feel when they are bulimic or anorexic or in deep depression. I didn't feel it full force, but it was already enough....
Forced myself to close everything and try to sleep...eventually i did slp, after a few toss and turns in the bed. Everything keeps replayed in my head, but at least lying down eased the sickness. Sigh. I think i nearly cried at one point...i was so sad.
The next morning i woke up, i felt an unexpected(but not unsettling) feeling of calm within me. Instantly, i knew i had changed. I dunno if the change is good or bad, but i know one thing for sure: i stopped expecting people to stand up for me. Stopped expecting people to protect me. From now onwards i'm truly alone.....i have to start from zero.
And i know, deep down, there won't be anyone to back me up when i need them the most...i don't think there'll be such a person, at least for now(if there is, lol show urself and show to me. LOL)
I don't blame them....my friends, whom i thought should've stood up for me. I'm not angry at them....i'm just really really disappointed. But that's okay, because, in my naivety abt friendships, i had expectation abt them. I expected them to do something. And when they didn't, i'm disappointed. And you know what they say about expectations....
The higher the expectations, the bigger disappointment you'll get. How fucking true.
And i don't want to turn into this angsty and close-minded individual for picking and berating on them for one small case . I don't want to be this calculative person who only knows how to blame others. So trust me when i say i don't blame my friends. I accept what's happened had happened, and even if it's abit hard to swallow, but i'll swallow it anyway. Because there really isn't any other way else, except the dark path.
So the only way is to lower, if not totally dismiss, any expectations i will have from my friends. It might mean i don't trust them anymore, but i'm not thinking in that way. I still trust them, but when it ever comes to a situation of "i got your back", i will simply stop hoping for anything.
Because ever since young until now, it's really been a one-man journey anyway.
And i guess, it is not only until you reach a point, that single point where u simply cannot take it anymore, that you change. And you change into this newer version of yourself whose defenses are up higher than ever, just so they can react and overcome this breaking point. I think that's where i went....the whole incident changed me.
---
Ever since that incident, i've gradually returned to "normal", healing slowly i guess...and thank goodness i didn't choose the other path...cos if that's what happened, i would've just shunned everyone out of my life, and ignore everyone and live life on my own. That's just abit too extreme isn't it? Lol....so far so good for me now though.
Again, a self-recovery process. I wonder if anyone even noticed all this that happened. Lol. To be honest, i really felt like......ending everything there and then. But now thinking back on it, had i done it, it's really stupid thing to do. Luckily i didn't choose that.
To all my friends....i love you guys...u guys helped shape how i am today....although there were good and also bad times, i still wish to continue our friendship in a mutually peaceful way. And it's great knowing you all :)
Sometimes(and this "sometimes" had grown to happen alot of times), I wish, that someday i won't have to continue being so strong, that I can be allowed a moment of weakness; that someday there's a pair of hands that'll hold me; a broad shoulder for me to lie on, and i'll just rest and the person will tell me "everything's going to be okay." Because....i've grown tired of telling that to myself, being my own comforter, being my own "saviour".....
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
August update + July summary
Sup everyone? Long time no update! >.
Anyway i had a great July. It was the most exciting month i had so far this year. Well the middle two weeks of July anyway. Haha. First is the rally(the most thrilling experience in my life so far!) then the trip to Pangkor Island the following week. Feels like I'd been to opposites of the world. xD
That and work-wise, ended it in a satisfactory way, albeit its own tension! So July turned out to be a surprise to me really.
******************************
And now we're in the month of August! xD Abit late already considering half the month had passed by. Goshhh time sure flies! Just one month ago i'm still in Pangkor... ahhhh i wish i could go back. Relax, walk a the beach...and the perfect sunset view... xD
Now August so far had been quite a wet month in general. It rains almost everyday here, usually starting in afternoons stretching all the way into the evening and night. I like this nice change of weather, but i don't like the wetness. xD I've always liked cool weather...
Work-wise though, this month is very tough....i'm falling really behind....sighhh what to do, keep trying! I want to perform better than last month, but it seems so tough, especially when end-of-month is so near now :(
August is supposed to be my favourite month after my own birth month...but it's been a really subdued August this year. So much had happened. Sigh.
There's one thing though still need to be done. I must make it this time....as i think it is the final time i'm doing this. I hope everything goes smoothly.
Anyway i had a great July. It was the most exciting month i had so far this year. Well the middle two weeks of July anyway. Haha. First is the rally(the most thrilling experience in my life so far!) then the trip to Pangkor Island the following week. Feels like I'd been to opposites of the world. xD
That and work-wise, ended it in a satisfactory way, albeit its own tension! So July turned out to be a surprise to me really.
******************************
And now we're in the month of August! xD Abit late already considering half the month had passed by. Goshhh time sure flies! Just one month ago i'm still in Pangkor... ahhhh i wish i could go back. Relax, walk a the beach...and the perfect sunset view... xD
Now August so far had been quite a wet month in general. It rains almost everyday here, usually starting in afternoons stretching all the way into the evening and night. I like this nice change of weather, but i don't like the wetness. xD I've always liked cool weather...
Work-wise though, this month is very tough....i'm falling really behind....sighhh what to do, keep trying! I want to perform better than last month, but it seems so tough, especially when end-of-month is so near now :(
August is supposed to be my favourite month after my own birth month...but it's been a really subdued August this year. So much had happened. Sigh.
There's one thing though still need to be done. I must make it this time....as i think it is the final time i'm doing this. I hope everything goes smoothly.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Pangkor Trip 16-17/7
Hallo there! I know it's a bit late to update but i went to Pangkor Island last weekend, it was a company trip so i went with my colleagues, it was so much fun! And a nice break too from the city cos guess what? I was back at the beach!!!
***
The trip was long though. Bus journey(departed from our office building) took 4hrs to reach the Lumut jetty, where we had to take boats over to reach the islands. That alone took 30-40mins. By the time we reach and checked-in to our beach resort hotel, we were so hungry!!!!
After lunch we started our snorkeling session, it felt good and thrilling too. My first time snorkeling, initially i was scared and hesitant at first but once i got the hang of it, it's a pretty nice experience. The water is clear enough even for my not-so-perfect vision(i had opted to wear the goggles without my glasses, seeing it's pretty tight and might damage my glasses) so i can really see the fishes in the sea =D was so happy! I even touched one of the fishes, it felt weird but so nice at the same time ^^
That said though boats bringing ppl to that particular part of the island to snorkel are quite dangerous though, they just drive up to the shoreline, which is within the snorkeling area. At one time i was pulled up by a person and i realise the boat is so near me, i was shocked ><
There were huge rocks in the area too, and alot of my colleagues got scraped by it while snorkeling...some climbed up the rocks and were grazed by it just like that...the rocks are very slippery! Again i tried to be as careful as i can, and in the end i didn't get any open wounds/scrapes fortunately.
When snorkeling time is up we were taken for a short island hopping tour, not much really the guy just brought us to some islands in the area and showed us interesting rock formations at each island. One island had a rock formation that looks exactly like a whale, another is turtle, and another is crocodile-shaped. So interesting!!! Too bad i didn't bring my camera along so no pics =( the guys said there are no stories behind the rocks; they are naturally formed that way. xD
Then he put us back to the main beach and me and some colleagues stayed back and continue to play water while the others went back to the resort to rest and shower. The waves are quite strong and when they push against you, goodness it felt SO GOOD!! It was so relaxing! The water depth is okay too and i made sure i can always step on the beach floor lols dun wanna get washed away ><
We almost wanted to play Banana Boat but it was RM15 per person and the way the guy play it, doesn't look fun at all so we didn't play. But playing at the shore there is quite fun already! After that we went back and showered to get ready for the dinner later. Was nice able to get out in time to take some sunset photos. It was breathtaking, the view. Sun setting over the sea horizon. Nothing's more beautiful than that xD
Then we all set off for dinner (barbecue) bt it wasn't ready yet(i was thankful we didn't have to barbecue ourselves, someone will do it for us) so we all spread out and walked along the road and visited the stalls selling souvenirs etc. Then we went back to dinner and not quite ready yet, everyone was talking etc and i went off silently alone to the beach.....and had a quiet walk by myself on the dark beach(it was still illuminated by the lights from the seaside stalls and open air eateries so no worries)
Walking by myself on that beach.....it was of course a walk full of emotions and memories. I was numbed by the moment but quite enjoyed the silent walk. After awhile i went back to the group and found the food was ready, so i started eating.
Pangkor is famous for its sea products, esp fish products, and we had alot of fishes and crabs for our meals that night. I also realised they produce alot of fish-related food, but i'm not a big fan of fishes so i didn't buy any...haha...
After dinner ended we're supposed to have a karaoke session but it was an outdoor karaoke session with limited songs(mostly Malay songs lol) so ended up no one sang and we all dispersed again, each to our own activities. However the night is still young (9pm ++ only) and i didn't feel like going back to the hotel and rest for the night yet. But the whole area is turning to sleep itself and there was no entertainment around! After looking through the stalls again we went back to the hotel and sat at the lobby there. The others are sitting there playing with their iPhones/iPads. LOL. Apple fans. xDD
Then at last we decided to go limteh and went out again to drink. In the end we decided to drink beer instead so we all set off and bought a couple bottles of beer and went to the beach there and drank it, sharing between each other. It was a moment i savoured intensely deep inside. I mean....just 2mths back, if u told me i were to spend time at a beach in the night sharing beer with ppl i never knew existed before today, i wud've said that u are crazy! Seriously, u never can guess what will happen in the future...and i certainly didn't expect this. xD
It was quite fun though, some of us sat and lied on the sand, some of us remain standing(me included, didn't wanna get my shorts dirty) but we were there all together, talking, joking among each other, enjoying the night, enjoying the beach, the sound of the waves. Nice experience =)
The most interesting part of the night is that we found glow-in-the-dark particles in the sand as the waves wash up on the shore. At first we thought it was glitter left behind by ppl who might've been wearing glow-in-the-dark clothes(yes they were actually selling those clothes but i'm not too sure i believe it), but when we saw more being washed up onto the shore by the incoming waves, our curiosity were all piqued and we kept searching for more of the particles. The glow will fade after sometime and it was too dark(even with the very bright moonlight) to see clearly what the particle looks like(it felt like sand though!). In the end we didn't really know what it was that glowed, but it was pretty...
Then after that we went back to the hotel and slept... xD
---
Woke up very early and went to bfast, another day of Malay cuisine(i had Nasi Lemak Rendang Ayam) and honestly i'm missing chinese food LOL. I ate much mre than i wanted and i felt bad abt it cos we're gonna have a telematch afterwards and i didn't wanna get too full before the match. Went back and changed into sports attire again(was warned might get wet again) and then set off.
I took some pics before the match started(started late too cos the guy was so late ==). We played "build the castle", "blind date" (where one has to be blindfolded and the teammates shout direction to get an object they hid somewhere) and then the old "tug-of-war". My team won and lost one match. LOL.
In the end after the tug-of-war everyone was exhausted and very thirsty(no one bought water) so no more games after that(was supposed to have 2 more). In the end some of us went to play with water and just relaxed, no vigorous activities. I joined in as well but didn't play as crazy as the day before.
Soon it was time to go(we were running late as well) and the results of the match came up: my team got third place. xDD So we rushed back to shower and check out on time, then went for lunch. WHile there we learnt that our afternoon activity of island hopping was cancelled so we all went back early to the jetty, and back to KL. The drive there was madness though!! The driver was driving so fast and dangerous at one point we almost got into an accident when a car on the opposite lane cut into our way. We all screamed in the car rofl...but in the end we all arrived safely. Phew!
It was a shock at the jetty tho cos there is a huge and long queue of ppl waiting to depart the island. We only got out turn nearly an hour later!
It felt awesome on the boat out in the vast sea. And the weather was very good and sunny, it was a beauty seeing the blue of the water amidst the green of the island jungles. Fantastic!
When we arrived back at Lumut Jetty it was still early, and we found out the bus back to KL isn't gonna start ahead of schedule, so we will only leave back to KL arnd 4.30pm as planned. So we all separated and went shopping around the area, mostly to buy local products(more fish products). I didn't buy any cos i really dun eat much fish products and my family was too far away to send it to. So i just tagged along that's all.
Soon it was time to go and most of the time most of the ppl napped in the bus. Haha. They played two movies(one is Norbit which i slept through and another is a local ghost film; we didn't have much choice of movies left) during the journey. Finally we reached KL at 8.30pm and we all went back home after that.
***
Overall it's a good experience for me. Tho it reminds me of an old memory but i love the experience there. I finally snorkelled! LOL!! Had the lifejacket save my ass but still. xDD I thought it was a good ice-breaking session too between all the colleagues. It was fun. Never expect to have a holiday with virtual strangers, but it was fun :)
***
The trip was long though. Bus journey(departed from our office building) took 4hrs to reach the Lumut jetty, where we had to take boats over to reach the islands. That alone took 30-40mins. By the time we reach and checked-in to our beach resort hotel, we were so hungry!!!!
After lunch we started our snorkeling session, it felt good and thrilling too. My first time snorkeling, initially i was scared and hesitant at first but once i got the hang of it, it's a pretty nice experience. The water is clear enough even for my not-so-perfect vision(i had opted to wear the goggles without my glasses, seeing it's pretty tight and might damage my glasses) so i can really see the fishes in the sea =D was so happy! I even touched one of the fishes, it felt weird but so nice at the same time ^^
That said though boats bringing ppl to that particular part of the island to snorkel are quite dangerous though, they just drive up to the shoreline, which is within the snorkeling area. At one time i was pulled up by a person and i realise the boat is so near me, i was shocked ><
There were huge rocks in the area too, and alot of my colleagues got scraped by it while snorkeling...some climbed up the rocks and were grazed by it just like that...the rocks are very slippery! Again i tried to be as careful as i can, and in the end i didn't get any open wounds/scrapes fortunately.
When snorkeling time is up we were taken for a short island hopping tour, not much really the guy just brought us to some islands in the area and showed us interesting rock formations at each island. One island had a rock formation that looks exactly like a whale, another is turtle, and another is crocodile-shaped. So interesting!!! Too bad i didn't bring my camera along so no pics =( the guys said there are no stories behind the rocks; they are naturally formed that way. xD
Then he put us back to the main beach and me and some colleagues stayed back and continue to play water while the others went back to the resort to rest and shower. The waves are quite strong and when they push against you, goodness it felt SO GOOD!! It was so relaxing! The water depth is okay too and i made sure i can always step on the beach floor lols dun wanna get washed away ><
We almost wanted to play Banana Boat but it was RM15 per person and the way the guy play it, doesn't look fun at all so we didn't play. But playing at the shore there is quite fun already! After that we went back and showered to get ready for the dinner later. Was nice able to get out in time to take some sunset photos. It was breathtaking, the view. Sun setting over the sea horizon. Nothing's more beautiful than that xD
Then we all set off for dinner (barbecue) bt it wasn't ready yet(i was thankful we didn't have to barbecue ourselves, someone will do it for us) so we all spread out and walked along the road and visited the stalls selling souvenirs etc. Then we went back to dinner and not quite ready yet, everyone was talking etc and i went off silently alone to the beach.....and had a quiet walk by myself on the dark beach(it was still illuminated by the lights from the seaside stalls and open air eateries so no worries)
Walking by myself on that beach.....it was of course a walk full of emotions and memories. I was numbed by the moment but quite enjoyed the silent walk. After awhile i went back to the group and found the food was ready, so i started eating.
Pangkor is famous for its sea products, esp fish products, and we had alot of fishes and crabs for our meals that night. I also realised they produce alot of fish-related food, but i'm not a big fan of fishes so i didn't buy any...haha...
After dinner ended we're supposed to have a karaoke session but it was an outdoor karaoke session with limited songs(mostly Malay songs lol) so ended up no one sang and we all dispersed again, each to our own activities. However the night is still young (9pm ++ only) and i didn't feel like going back to the hotel and rest for the night yet. But the whole area is turning to sleep itself and there was no entertainment around! After looking through the stalls again we went back to the hotel and sat at the lobby there. The others are sitting there playing with their iPhones/iPads. LOL. Apple fans. xDD
Then at last we decided to go limteh and went out again to drink. In the end we decided to drink beer instead so we all set off and bought a couple bottles of beer and went to the beach there and drank it, sharing between each other. It was a moment i savoured intensely deep inside. I mean....just 2mths back, if u told me i were to spend time at a beach in the night sharing beer with ppl i never knew existed before today, i wud've said that u are crazy! Seriously, u never can guess what will happen in the future...and i certainly didn't expect this. xD
It was quite fun though, some of us sat and lied on the sand, some of us remain standing(me included, didn't wanna get my shorts dirty) but we were there all together, talking, joking among each other, enjoying the night, enjoying the beach, the sound of the waves. Nice experience =)
The most interesting part of the night is that we found glow-in-the-dark particles in the sand as the waves wash up on the shore. At first we thought it was glitter left behind by ppl who might've been wearing glow-in-the-dark clothes(yes they were actually selling those clothes but i'm not too sure i believe it), but when we saw more being washed up onto the shore by the incoming waves, our curiosity were all piqued and we kept searching for more of the particles. The glow will fade after sometime and it was too dark(even with the very bright moonlight) to see clearly what the particle looks like(it felt like sand though!). In the end we didn't really know what it was that glowed, but it was pretty...
Then after that we went back to the hotel and slept... xD
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Woke up very early and went to bfast, another day of Malay cuisine(i had Nasi Lemak Rendang Ayam) and honestly i'm missing chinese food LOL. I ate much mre than i wanted and i felt bad abt it cos we're gonna have a telematch afterwards and i didn't wanna get too full before the match. Went back and changed into sports attire again(was warned might get wet again) and then set off.
I took some pics before the match started(started late too cos the guy was so late ==). We played "build the castle", "blind date" (where one has to be blindfolded and the teammates shout direction to get an object they hid somewhere) and then the old "tug-of-war". My team won and lost one match. LOL.
In the end after the tug-of-war everyone was exhausted and very thirsty(no one bought water) so no more games after that(was supposed to have 2 more). In the end some of us went to play with water and just relaxed, no vigorous activities. I joined in as well but didn't play as crazy as the day before.
Soon it was time to go(we were running late as well) and the results of the match came up: my team got third place. xDD So we rushed back to shower and check out on time, then went for lunch. WHile there we learnt that our afternoon activity of island hopping was cancelled so we all went back early to the jetty, and back to KL. The drive there was madness though!! The driver was driving so fast and dangerous at one point we almost got into an accident when a car on the opposite lane cut into our way. We all screamed in the car rofl...but in the end we all arrived safely. Phew!
It was a shock at the jetty tho cos there is a huge and long queue of ppl waiting to depart the island. We only got out turn nearly an hour later!
It felt awesome on the boat out in the vast sea. And the weather was very good and sunny, it was a beauty seeing the blue of the water amidst the green of the island jungles. Fantastic!
When we arrived back at Lumut Jetty it was still early, and we found out the bus back to KL isn't gonna start ahead of schedule, so we will only leave back to KL arnd 4.30pm as planned. So we all separated and went shopping around the area, mostly to buy local products(more fish products). I didn't buy any cos i really dun eat much fish products and my family was too far away to send it to. So i just tagged along that's all.
Soon it was time to go and most of the time most of the ppl napped in the bus. Haha. They played two movies(one is Norbit which i slept through and another is a local ghost film; we didn't have much choice of movies left) during the journey. Finally we reached KL at 8.30pm and we all went back home after that.
***
Overall it's a good experience for me. Tho it reminds me of an old memory but i love the experience there. I finally snorkelled! LOL!! Had the lifejacket save my ass but still. xDD I thought it was a good ice-breaking session too between all the colleagues. It was fun. Never expect to have a holiday with virtual strangers, but it was fun :)
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
709 - The Day I Came "Clean"
Last Saturday, 9th of July 2011, is the day the Bersih rallies are going to take place. Deemed "illegal" by the government, the Bersih group's application to stage an assembly at the Stadium Merdeka was rejected, and they had no choice, but to stage a peaceful rally trying to enter the city and the stadium itself.
What are the Bersih organisation standing up for? Clean and fair electoral reforms. Recent elections conducted in the country over the last few years are blighted by accusations of unfair polling and poll-fixing. It was a whole lot of mess that couldn't be summed up in a book let alone a blog post. The national ruling party UMNO/BN faced a huge 'defeat' after opposition parties won alot of seats everywhere, even as they retained a mojority of 2/3 of Parliamentary seats. A revolution heading our way? BN losing its footing soon? What is the PM and his party going to do now?
I don't wanna go on and talk about how badly the government is reacting to all these political agendas. I'm not going to rant about how stupid i think the "1Malaysia" slogan and all the shit connected to it are. Those are for talks over a cup of tea and with like-minded friends. No, i'm going to talk about the Bersih experience.
I wrote a note on FB accounting my experience through the whole spectacle, but that was just an account of my journey through it all. Not my emotions, the people i met, the distance i ran, the heavy rain, the shouts, and most importantly, the UNITY between the people. To put all these in a singular post in a site where attention span is low, people wud've lost interest halfway reading through. So i trimmed alot of detail, gave a skin of everything.
***
I went at it alone and not entirely prepared(forgotten abt the possibility of rain, didn't check and prepare stuff to counter tear gas), and unlike alot of rally-goers who went there with purpose, to put it simply, i was just being a 'busybody'. The unofficial 'journalist'. I was a neutral; i was at a point in my life where i gave up my country's politics totally, because to me really, their constant bickering and antics and cheap tricks to sway people's alliance is making them the shame of the country in the world's eyes, not to mention being the drivers behind the express that is the country degeneration. My single purpose was to simply take pictures of the event, because honestly, how often is it that i find myself in a 'hotspot' like this? I couldn't just let the opportunity slip away.
So like any storyteller, i tell the story from the beginning; i shot pics of before, during and after the rally. Although they aren't in a preferred proportion to each other, but at least i did it. I tried not to leave out as many happenings as possible. Because really, it only happens once. You capture it, it will last forever....
But you can look at pics, watch videos and can only be limited to imagination....imagine how it would feel like if you're down there with them. And to be honest, being there is a totally different experience. What i felt, right there and then, cannot be expressed in a picture alone. I was living, breathing, adrenaline pumped; the high morale of the marching confident Bersih rally group got to me.
They affected me.
It started when i was first at the UMNO Youth Party group, the so-called "Patriots" of Malaysia. Their noise interrupted my planned advance to the Stadium Merdeka. Their chants, their energy, the way they tried to raise everyone up....the songs they sang(yes, the National Song included), they affected me. But i know and felt that something is wrong. I felt that this shouldn't be the right group i should be supporting, or even watching/marching with them. Something is wrong. Their slogan is wrong. They are shouting "Hancur Bersih!" ("condemn Bersih") even though i felt some pride when they shout "Hidup Rakyat" ("Rakyat Lives"). Yes, Hidup Rakyat means alot to me, because as a rakyat myself, i want the country to prosper and live long, its rakyat living in peace and harmony, and that we as a whole, are proud patriots.
But not under him. Certainly not under this group. They have their own selective rakyat to protect, but definitely not ALL the Malaysians. I'm downright disgusted at myself. Where are the Bersih? Where are my real brothers and sisters? I felt like losing my family, right there and then.
Then suddenly i overheard a media worker that they are just nearby. I was again very excited, like i found my lost family! Blood soaring, i ran in search of them, and finally found them up ahead several minutes later.
The things i did to get to them? Climb a steep, wet slope. Broke into a private property by climbing over its closed gate(because that is the only way to go to reach the Bersih group; police had blocked off sections of the road). Prolly stepped on a couple of people's feet and heard them shout back at me. Gotten pushed by other people as well. But at last, i made it. I caught up to them.
Even tho i didn't start out by purposefully joining the rally, by now i was feeling like one of them. For once my heart felt right! I began to think in terms of "we", like "we marched on!" or "we raised our hands". By now, my heart is beating as one. As one with them.
I didn't chant along, i didn't shout, but i marched forward with them(although it was driven more by the fact that i need to get to the front for some nice pics). I was already having something against the FRU, was silently thinking "now don't you do ANYTHING to us....you can't turn on your own citizens!"
As time goes by though i sensed the breaking point is reached and surely as i guessed, all hell broke loose. The FRU finally threw tear gases at us and forced us to run for our lives. Me coming without any counter measures to tear gases, resorted to covering my face with my bag and shirt. Usually when i smell smelly gases(like fart! LOL) i will not breath thru the nose at all; i will breath through the mouth because if i did i won't be able to "taste" the smell. So i tried and did the same without really knowing the effects of tear gases.
What a big mistake it turned out to be. As i gulped in the now smoke-infested air, the sensation burnt my throat and forced me to choke on myself. I nearly gagged. Because of that natural reaction to outside harm, my eyes opened wide in surprise and it was another mistake: this time the gas stung my eyes. It was sooooooo stinging, i could hardly open my eyes. But i had to, because i need to see where i'm going. I was running away, running for my life.
In addition to choking, there is also the breathing part that is so bad. I felt suffocated, gasping for more air. It gave me more chokes and tears in my eyes as really, there's no air at all. The atmosphere was soaked with the stench and the spread of tear gases. It was raining harder by the second and i was hoping the rain will diminish the spread of the smoke, but it still spread strongly.
People around me were already starting to choke. I heard alot of coughs, and felt alot of people pushing and running away. I couldn't totally watch where i'm going, i just kept telling myself to keep straight and follow the path of people in front of me. One of my hands are on the bag of someone in front of me. I made sure with the force i'm placing on her bag, i won't be pulling or pushing her. In a way, i was steadying her and myself.
Then came shouts behind me to "Stop pushing!" and "Do not push!" There were also occasional "Calm down calm down!!!" "Be cool, relax! Slowly!" I even heard "Ladies first!" Of course, those were shout in Malay. I was touched. Even in the midst of chaos, people still retained some sense and logic and more importantly selfless care in them, to make sure while everyone ran away safely, we ran away unharmed by our own. A stampede is avoided this way.
I ambled a few more meters before i finally thought i couldn't take it anymore, that i was gonna faint and lie down there and be caught by the police. But at the thought of police i surged forward with more determination to NOT be caught by the police. There is a small regret right there and that where i think to myself "look what u got urself into coming into this rally!" but i forced that thought out; i was prepared mentally for a gas attack anyway. My mission now is not to be caught by the police...
It was really hard by now. I've taken the full force of the gas and the pain in my head is pounding. I tried to take deep breaths to slow my own breathing but it was only temporary relief(like 1 nanosecond? LOL). Everytime i open my eyes it was a blur(my glasses are wet and it blurred my already blurry vision) + pain + stinging, couldn't keep my eyes open for mre than 3 seconds. However i manage to spot a man ducking by a water pipe on a wall of the building and i crawled over to the other side of the wall where there is a pot of plant and hid beside it. Up to this point since the tear gas attack started, i never looked back at the police, so i didn't really knw how close/far they were from me. And i don't want to know either.
The man was taking as much water as he can from the pipe to wash his face and body. I did the same too, not caring if the water from the pipe is clean or not(normally, i'm very sensitive to cleanliness!). He left as soon as i came and i followed him, doing what he did; take water and wash my face. Mostly dabbled onto my eyes and mouth, and goodness it felt so much better. I was able to open my eyes more frequently now, and my mouth didn't feel as dry. But the nausea is still there...
A Malay woman in front of me was sprawled on a table choking her lungs out. When i glanced at her i heard a bang and saw someone escaping behind a shop gate just to the side of the girl. I then realise i'm in front of a restaurant! The gate was loosely dropped down and wasn't locked properly(prolly forgot to lock in the chaos of the sudden dispersal of the crowd + tear gas) and i realised it was my only escape route from the horrible tear gas. Quickly i made a dash for the gate and finally found myself on the other side of the doorgate, inside the safety of the restaurant.
I quickly grabbed and sat on the nearest chair i found and took deep, big breaths to calm my own breathing and nausea. There were already a couple of ppl inside. I saw the Malay girl earlier had escaped into the restaurant with me too. I looked around,; it was an Indian restaurant. The counter there is still selling rendang and various meals in economy rice style. I saw some of the people who escaped inside were washing themselves at the sink area in the restaurant. I got up(still dizzy) and tried to walk over and do the same.
A man saw me and came forward putting his hand out for me. I saw in his hands a fair amount of white stuff. Still not coming fully to my senses, i asked blindly "What is it?" My speech was slurred due to the tear gas, but he got me. "Salt," he said, eyes looking at me with concern. Not understanding why he gave me salt, i asked "What do i do with it?" He told me to eat it. "You will feel better.." he assured me. I grabbed a pinch and threw them into my mouth and sat back down.
The discomfort in my stomach eased greatly. For once i was feeling better. Salt! Who would've imagined! I glanced around the restaurant again and actually saw people handing salt out from salt packets they stored in their pockets. So salt was part of the "inventory preparation"! Again i wondered why i hadn't done my homework abt tear gases beforehand. Now i understand why alot of the people were drapping cloths over themselves. Those cloths are not to shield themselves from rain; they are to be soaked with water and to be covered up your face to ease discomfort breathing in tear gas!
As i sat there resting after washing myself up(sharing a moment with the salt-man when i saw him still looking at me with concern, checking if i'm okay. I smiled back at him assuring him i'm fine) i feel like wanting to stay there until everything stops and ends. I want to be in that safe haven. But no...within minutes, the shopworkers advised us to go back out(after peeking through their gate and checking if the coast is clear). I felt a sense of dread.....because it means heading out to danger again. But we had no choice and have to leave, after all we budged in in the first place. So i went out of the restaurant, thanking the Indian/Bangladeshi worker on my way out where he was holding the gate open for us to exit. In that one moment, he was my saviour, it felt like we are on the same side regardless of our races or maybe even nationality, but he helped us, in dangerous times like this. To me that time, he was my brother.
When i was out the rain had clearly became much much heavier, it was downright POURING. Not caring anymore that i'm gonna be fully soaked to the skin and without looking back in the direction of the FRU, i ran. I ran in the rain for my life. I couldn't have been more pumped. At last i seek shelter in a small eatery enclosed by a tent flap. I didn't really see where i was, i just went into a shaded stall and try and get my bearings right.
Only by then i realise i brought my umbrella with me and that i shud use it. Previously i didn't because it will be hard for me to take pics and it wasn't raining hard anyway, so yeah. I took out my umbrella and was ready to walk out of the tent and towards anywhere that i could escape to.
A man saw me and commented "No need use umbrella-lahh! When u run later it's gonna be hard! You're also wet already anyway!" LOLOLOL. But he did has his point. Of course i'm not gonna run while holding up and umbrella...so i just smiled back at him. Really, the advices ppl give you in dangerous times! Ppl seem to be more willing to help/advice when we're all in trouble at the same time! xD Normally, why would a stranger talk to me right? =D
Just moments later though, i saw a couple of tear gas canisters flying towards it. Everyone started to panic again and ran. There was nowhere else to run except backwards and up the slope in the distance. So i ran and nearly got knocked down by a guy who flung open the tent flap to run out, not wanting to be trapped inside the tent with the gas. I was so pissed at that time but scared too. The police are coming and they're not stopping!
So i ran as quickly as i can and finally reached a higher ground, near the top of the slope. I stood there and looked back towards the scene before me. People were still running up the slope but the path behind them was blurry with smoke already. By now the rain had become lighter and i unfold my umbrella straightaway. There were people around me too looking at the scene below. In the distance, i can see water being sprayed very high into the air over the road where we all just escaped from. I realise in horror that they had begun to use water canons too on the people still stranded down there. I heard the water was laden with chemicals, not just plain water. I've always thought it was plain water...
It was there i realised i am on the slope right next to the Tung Shin Hospital. Surely they aren't gonna catch up to us up here?? The people around me were starting to distribute salt again. These people really came prepared! I think i'm the only idiot here who didn't go prepared. LOL. Struck up a little chat with another rally-goer who kept talking about how salt will reduce the effect of tear gas. Told a couple of girls nearby too that they should take some salt(not sure if they know each other, but oh wells it's not important at this stage. Stranger or not, we are the same right there and then. Same victims.) and also apply it to their skin. LOL. It was amusing, but i'm thanking the guy too. He even asked the girls to distribute their salt to a few Malay girls nearby. They gave without hesitation, and the girls took the salt with gratitude. This is what we called "helping each other"!
The calm didn't last long though, as we saw more canisters thrown into the compound where we are now. My mind went "Holy shit!" cos they did the unthinkable- gassing ppl on a private compound!! The police really wanted us to disperse as far as possible! A fact i find funny because they are the ones who blocked the other side of the road, preventing reasonable escape routes! Seems more like they were trying to trap us and catch as many of us as possible!
Nowhere left to run, the only way is up. There is a short but high gap between the slope and a carpark area around a bulding higher up. Like earlier there is rising panic again as people desperately want to escape the tear gas. Luckily for us there were already people up there waiting to pull you up into the compound and escape. Steadying myself on the slippery roots of a huge tree nearby, i reached up and was pulled up to safety by a Malay man. "Thank you!" I said to him loudly and patted him on the back. Then i continued to run. He on the other hand, stayed to pull more people up, helping them to escape despite the tear gas rapidly spreading over the area.
Once up on the compound again we were only left with two paths to take; both having to trek through a huge tree and its various roots and fallen branches. What's worse is there were nails in the debris on the ground; i felt on piercing through my shoe soles and pricking my flesh. Luckily i wasn't stepping full force on my feet, if not, the huge long nail would've cut into my foot causing me to bleed. And that was one thing i never want at that moment.
To reach the other side, which i saw is a huge wide compound, i had to jump off the ground to below. And it was really high up and i wasn't so sure of it cos i didnt wanna break my leg. Fortunately the tree had long vines stretching down, and by clutching onto the vines and hopping down we were able to make it down to the wide compound safely.
It was so nice knowing that while you were at it, there were people asking you to "be careful" "look out for nails!" "do it slowly, take your time, dont rush, just be careful" while trying to hop down underneath. I didn't see who it was, bt i feel good about them. Once out in the wide compound, we began to walk slowly ahead to nowhere. I didn't know where i was at that time. I was lost, together with the others....i came in step with a few ppl and one of them, a hearty Malay man, said "Ehh mana kita pegi ni??? Kampung Baru ke?" (Ehh where are we going right now? Kampung Baru?) and we all laughed at his joke. It was a light moment, and we all shared some laugh and smiles. There were more actually before and after this, that one single moment while on the run together with your "comrades", when you look in their eyes and shared a smile, knowing we are all in such a deep mess, yet it feels SO RIGHT at the time. We BELONGED there. We were fighting for our cause.
Helicopters still flying low above, i heard shouts behind us suddenly and turned around, saw everyone running in our direction trying to escape from something. That something is called FRU and tear gas!!! I finally shouted out a curse "FUUUCCKKKK!!!!" before turning away and start to run away again. One half being pissed at the FRU for not stopping to harm us and another half wondering how long do i still have to run. LOL.
Finally on my right i saw a building and ran towards it together with some of the people. FOund out it was the Bursa Saham building and stopped there to catch my breath and recover. Some people were already taking refuge there. The others who ran with me earlier took other roads to escape instead of within the building. But i need rest, and i was still weak from the tear gas...
Took the opportunity to check on my friends who's leaving KL that day, ending their vacation. They are safely out of the city, thank god. I was actually trembling as i sent text messages to them. I think i spent abt 20mins in the building, deciding where to go next.
There were three ways actually, one back to where we came from, another that spreads to a road junction beneath, which itself spread to two directions: one left, one right. The problem is i dunno which road leads to where, and whether the roads themselves are still safe or not. There was a moment two Malay uncles went past me and i ask them where are they headed to and whether they know where the roads lead to; apparently they don't know either.
Suddenly a huge cough got me and i choked out. The uncle did not hesitate and pulled out his packet of salt and offered it to me "Nah...ambil ni...". I put my hand out and he poured salt onto my hands, but i told him to stop it when i felt it was enough, but apprently he did not think the same way, saying "Taklah....lebih lagi!" when i say "Cukup sudah, cukup sudah!" LOL i really didn't need that much but he poured alot to me anyway. I took some and he asked his friend to give me his water to wash down the salt, and he did :))
After awhile we debated where to go. I told them i want to go back to Kelana Jaya as i heard that they are trying to take LRT back home. They want to go to Bangsar. As if scared i dunno the way, they then tell me how to change trains at Jamek etc etc to get back on Kelana Jaya line. So nice and caring!
Alas we parted ways in different direction, due to them in the end changing mind to take taxi instead. I stood rooted where i was though, right at the junction of the road. Then i saw a group of friends(one of whom i'd chatted lightly to while in the building, discussing where to go) come back to my way. They had earlier went off the road to the right(which will eventually land u in Bukit Bintang) and were now planning to head back to where we ran from earlier, back to Puduraya. Feeling quite at lost, i gave in to them and joined them to walk back up the road.
The girl whom i talked to finally asked for my name and introduced herself as well. Her friends join our conversations once awhile. I guess they're just curious abt me, cos i was alone and everything. LOL they were like "You're so brave coming alone!" which made me embarassed abit, dunno why LOL but yeah. Found out they are a group of surveyors surveying the area and of cos this event. They soon asked me which side was i on. I told them i didn't choose any side, and that i'm just a nosy busybody. =D
They found out too that i like photography(the girl asked me if i'm interested in journalism, after i joked abt being an unofficial reporter) and told me two of their other friends are into photography as well. "Interested in shooting are you?" he asked. I said yeah. "My friend here, that dude over there, likes to shoot too." I am not alone anymore. In this 'troubled' times, brief friendships are sparked.
"Your're not alone anymore! You're with us now!" another girl from the group said loudly to me, flashing me a smile. To be honest i was quite touched at that moment....because she said the truth....right there and then, i was not alone...i was part of something, and whether i had wanted it or not in the first place, i am with them now. Even if i had started neutral, now i'm inclined towards Bersih...and i wanted to fight for them too, together with them.
So we walked until we nearly reached Puduraya again and saw a large group already there and chanting loudly as well. Alot of them are wearing white tho, or draping white cloths over themselves. Quite far and i can't see much. However, despite wanting to join, i wasn't really ready for a second round of tear gas, and i was feeling weaker and weaker too, i couldn't go on anymore. i left the group (more like they advanced in separate groups and i sorta wasa left behind lol) and went back the way to Bursa Saham building, and decided to try the Bukit Bintang road to go home. I want to eat in Times Square and go back home after that. So i started walking....
Then i finally realised where the road will take me. I had just been lost on the same road two nights beforehand while trying to meetup with my vacation friends in Petaling Street. That night i took the wrong shortcut and ended up so far away from my destination. And now..........i'm at the same road!!! U won't believe how i felt at this revelation. Never knew a bad thing that happened to me 2 nights before will serve me so well that day! Because of easy recognition of the particular street now, i was able to make my way back to Bintang and in the end, Times Square to refuel my body(still having minor after-effects of the tear gas). I thought of my friend and called her to let her know i'm safe(one of the few who knws i'm going to the event), also texted the others who knew too. LOL!
After that is back home and nothing exciting except if u wanna count in the time when i reach the LRT station and found out it was closed and had to wait outside for nearly an hr before it was reopened again. It sorta looks like some war camp though. Haha...interesting....
At night i asked my friend out for supper/tea while we sat downstairs watching the evening TV3 news. I was excited to see how they will show the whole incident on tv. To my major disappointment, the only showed minor footages and talk abit abt it only. I felt that alot of the truth that happened are not being reported out. I felt....cheated....and was very very very disappointed with the tv stations. I knew the media are govt-controlled...but after finally seeing and experiencing how much difference there are between the footage and news reported in tv and the real-life event, i finally lost faith in the local media...utter disappointement...
***
Anyway, what i gained from this experience is more than the event itself. In just one day i found out how the people of Msia can be so united, through thick and thin, regardless of race. We helped each other regardless what skin colour we have. I've never felt so united in my life with the other rakyat before. This peaceful rally shows easily the unity between us more than the fallacy that is the PM's 1Malaysia plans. Even the name sounds stupid, if i may say. All that $$$ spent on developing this program(which obviously doesn't work, instead stirred more racial discrimination and hatred) is a complete waste compared to one rally which costs almost nothing and yet still manages to unite people.
Another thing i learnt from this is how shitty our country's media is.....i know most of them are govt' owned, but it really disappointed me how they covered this event. Almost close to none of the events are shown or reported. They only reported the police's statements and interviews. What a major letdown. Those who didn't attend the rally won't even know how tension it was because they didn't experience it and had to rely on TV news for information.
And to think that i wanted to work as a journalist, a reporter at a local news station here...i have my doubts now. If i wanna work as one, i wanna report the TRUTH and only the truth. The very basic moral of journalism: INTEGRITY. Sure, the news might not had twisted details on purpose, but they never served to report the truth either. Mostly just beating around the bush. So disappointed.....
Anyway, i think i've written quite a long post haven't i?? Hahahah i really have to give it to you if you read until the very last word in this post. xD I'm so lazy to edit anymore(make bold typefaces etc) and this actually took two days to write...lol.
Yes, it was one HECK of an experience i will never forget. Thrilling shit. No regrets even though gas-ed!!! xDD
What are the Bersih organisation standing up for? Clean and fair electoral reforms. Recent elections conducted in the country over the last few years are blighted by accusations of unfair polling and poll-fixing. It was a whole lot of mess that couldn't be summed up in a book let alone a blog post. The national ruling party UMNO/BN faced a huge 'defeat' after opposition parties won alot of seats everywhere, even as they retained a mojority of 2/3 of Parliamentary seats. A revolution heading our way? BN losing its footing soon? What is the PM and his party going to do now?
I don't wanna go on and talk about how badly the government is reacting to all these political agendas. I'm not going to rant about how stupid i think the "1Malaysia" slogan and all the shit connected to it are. Those are for talks over a cup of tea and with like-minded friends. No, i'm going to talk about the Bersih experience.
I wrote a note on FB accounting my experience through the whole spectacle, but that was just an account of my journey through it all. Not my emotions, the people i met, the distance i ran, the heavy rain, the shouts, and most importantly, the UNITY between the people. To put all these in a singular post in a site where attention span is low, people wud've lost interest halfway reading through. So i trimmed alot of detail, gave a skin of everything.
***
I went at it alone and not entirely prepared(forgotten abt the possibility of rain, didn't check and prepare stuff to counter tear gas), and unlike alot of rally-goers who went there with purpose, to put it simply, i was just being a 'busybody'. The unofficial 'journalist'. I was a neutral; i was at a point in my life where i gave up my country's politics totally, because to me really, their constant bickering and antics and cheap tricks to sway people's alliance is making them the shame of the country in the world's eyes, not to mention being the drivers behind the express that is the country degeneration. My single purpose was to simply take pictures of the event, because honestly, how often is it that i find myself in a 'hotspot' like this? I couldn't just let the opportunity slip away.
So like any storyteller, i tell the story from the beginning; i shot pics of before, during and after the rally. Although they aren't in a preferred proportion to each other, but at least i did it. I tried not to leave out as many happenings as possible. Because really, it only happens once. You capture it, it will last forever....
But you can look at pics, watch videos and can only be limited to imagination....imagine how it would feel like if you're down there with them. And to be honest, being there is a totally different experience. What i felt, right there and then, cannot be expressed in a picture alone. I was living, breathing, adrenaline pumped; the high morale of the marching confident Bersih rally group got to me.
They affected me.
It started when i was first at the UMNO Youth Party group, the so-called "Patriots" of Malaysia. Their noise interrupted my planned advance to the Stadium Merdeka. Their chants, their energy, the way they tried to raise everyone up....the songs they sang(yes, the National Song included), they affected me. But i know and felt that something is wrong. I felt that this shouldn't be the right group i should be supporting, or even watching/marching with them. Something is wrong. Their slogan is wrong. They are shouting "Hancur Bersih!" ("condemn Bersih") even though i felt some pride when they shout "Hidup Rakyat" ("Rakyat Lives"). Yes, Hidup Rakyat means alot to me, because as a rakyat myself, i want the country to prosper and live long, its rakyat living in peace and harmony, and that we as a whole, are proud patriots.
But not under him. Certainly not under this group. They have their own selective rakyat to protect, but definitely not ALL the Malaysians. I'm downright disgusted at myself. Where are the Bersih? Where are my real brothers and sisters? I felt like losing my family, right there and then.
Then suddenly i overheard a media worker that they are just nearby. I was again very excited, like i found my lost family! Blood soaring, i ran in search of them, and finally found them up ahead several minutes later.
The things i did to get to them? Climb a steep, wet slope. Broke into a private property by climbing over its closed gate(because that is the only way to go to reach the Bersih group; police had blocked off sections of the road). Prolly stepped on a couple of people's feet and heard them shout back at me. Gotten pushed by other people as well. But at last, i made it. I caught up to them.
Even tho i didn't start out by purposefully joining the rally, by now i was feeling like one of them. For once my heart felt right! I began to think in terms of "we", like "we marched on!" or "we raised our hands". By now, my heart is beating as one. As one with them.
I didn't chant along, i didn't shout, but i marched forward with them(although it was driven more by the fact that i need to get to the front for some nice pics). I was already having something against the FRU, was silently thinking "now don't you do ANYTHING to us....you can't turn on your own citizens!"
As time goes by though i sensed the breaking point is reached and surely as i guessed, all hell broke loose. The FRU finally threw tear gases at us and forced us to run for our lives. Me coming without any counter measures to tear gases, resorted to covering my face with my bag and shirt. Usually when i smell smelly gases(like fart! LOL) i will not breath thru the nose at all; i will breath through the mouth because if i did i won't be able to "taste" the smell. So i tried and did the same without really knowing the effects of tear gases.
What a big mistake it turned out to be. As i gulped in the now smoke-infested air, the sensation burnt my throat and forced me to choke on myself. I nearly gagged. Because of that natural reaction to outside harm, my eyes opened wide in surprise and it was another mistake: this time the gas stung my eyes. It was sooooooo stinging, i could hardly open my eyes. But i had to, because i need to see where i'm going. I was running away, running for my life.
In addition to choking, there is also the breathing part that is so bad. I felt suffocated, gasping for more air. It gave me more chokes and tears in my eyes as really, there's no air at all. The atmosphere was soaked with the stench and the spread of tear gases. It was raining harder by the second and i was hoping the rain will diminish the spread of the smoke, but it still spread strongly.
People around me were already starting to choke. I heard alot of coughs, and felt alot of people pushing and running away. I couldn't totally watch where i'm going, i just kept telling myself to keep straight and follow the path of people in front of me. One of my hands are on the bag of someone in front of me. I made sure with the force i'm placing on her bag, i won't be pulling or pushing her. In a way, i was steadying her and myself.
Then came shouts behind me to "Stop pushing!" and "Do not push!" There were also occasional "Calm down calm down!!!" "Be cool, relax! Slowly!" I even heard "Ladies first!" Of course, those were shout in Malay. I was touched. Even in the midst of chaos, people still retained some sense and logic and more importantly selfless care in them, to make sure while everyone ran away safely, we ran away unharmed by our own. A stampede is avoided this way.
I ambled a few more meters before i finally thought i couldn't take it anymore, that i was gonna faint and lie down there and be caught by the police. But at the thought of police i surged forward with more determination to NOT be caught by the police. There is a small regret right there and that where i think to myself "look what u got urself into coming into this rally!" but i forced that thought out; i was prepared mentally for a gas attack anyway. My mission now is not to be caught by the police...
It was really hard by now. I've taken the full force of the gas and the pain in my head is pounding. I tried to take deep breaths to slow my own breathing but it was only temporary relief(like 1 nanosecond? LOL). Everytime i open my eyes it was a blur(my glasses are wet and it blurred my already blurry vision) + pain + stinging, couldn't keep my eyes open for mre than 3 seconds. However i manage to spot a man ducking by a water pipe on a wall of the building and i crawled over to the other side of the wall where there is a pot of plant and hid beside it. Up to this point since the tear gas attack started, i never looked back at the police, so i didn't really knw how close/far they were from me. And i don't want to know either.
The man was taking as much water as he can from the pipe to wash his face and body. I did the same too, not caring if the water from the pipe is clean or not(normally, i'm very sensitive to cleanliness!). He left as soon as i came and i followed him, doing what he did; take water and wash my face. Mostly dabbled onto my eyes and mouth, and goodness it felt so much better. I was able to open my eyes more frequently now, and my mouth didn't feel as dry. But the nausea is still there...
A Malay woman in front of me was sprawled on a table choking her lungs out. When i glanced at her i heard a bang and saw someone escaping behind a shop gate just to the side of the girl. I then realise i'm in front of a restaurant! The gate was loosely dropped down and wasn't locked properly(prolly forgot to lock in the chaos of the sudden dispersal of the crowd + tear gas) and i realised it was my only escape route from the horrible tear gas. Quickly i made a dash for the gate and finally found myself on the other side of the doorgate, inside the safety of the restaurant.
I quickly grabbed and sat on the nearest chair i found and took deep, big breaths to calm my own breathing and nausea. There were already a couple of ppl inside. I saw the Malay girl earlier had escaped into the restaurant with me too. I looked around,; it was an Indian restaurant. The counter there is still selling rendang and various meals in economy rice style. I saw some of the people who escaped inside were washing themselves at the sink area in the restaurant. I got up(still dizzy) and tried to walk over and do the same.
A man saw me and came forward putting his hand out for me. I saw in his hands a fair amount of white stuff. Still not coming fully to my senses, i asked blindly "What is it?" My speech was slurred due to the tear gas, but he got me. "Salt," he said, eyes looking at me with concern. Not understanding why he gave me salt, i asked "What do i do with it?" He told me to eat it. "You will feel better.." he assured me. I grabbed a pinch and threw them into my mouth and sat back down.
The discomfort in my stomach eased greatly. For once i was feeling better. Salt! Who would've imagined! I glanced around the restaurant again and actually saw people handing salt out from salt packets they stored in their pockets. So salt was part of the "inventory preparation"! Again i wondered why i hadn't done my homework abt tear gases beforehand. Now i understand why alot of the people were drapping cloths over themselves. Those cloths are not to shield themselves from rain; they are to be soaked with water and to be covered up your face to ease discomfort breathing in tear gas!
As i sat there resting after washing myself up(sharing a moment with the salt-man when i saw him still looking at me with concern, checking if i'm okay. I smiled back at him assuring him i'm fine) i feel like wanting to stay there until everything stops and ends. I want to be in that safe haven. But no...within minutes, the shopworkers advised us to go back out(after peeking through their gate and checking if the coast is clear). I felt a sense of dread.....because it means heading out to danger again. But we had no choice and have to leave, after all we budged in in the first place. So i went out of the restaurant, thanking the Indian/Bangladeshi worker on my way out where he was holding the gate open for us to exit. In that one moment, he was my saviour, it felt like we are on the same side regardless of our races or maybe even nationality, but he helped us, in dangerous times like this. To me that time, he was my brother.
When i was out the rain had clearly became much much heavier, it was downright POURING. Not caring anymore that i'm gonna be fully soaked to the skin and without looking back in the direction of the FRU, i ran. I ran in the rain for my life. I couldn't have been more pumped. At last i seek shelter in a small eatery enclosed by a tent flap. I didn't really see where i was, i just went into a shaded stall and try and get my bearings right.
Only by then i realise i brought my umbrella with me and that i shud use it. Previously i didn't because it will be hard for me to take pics and it wasn't raining hard anyway, so yeah. I took out my umbrella and was ready to walk out of the tent and towards anywhere that i could escape to.
A man saw me and commented "No need use umbrella-lahh! When u run later it's gonna be hard! You're also wet already anyway!" LOLOLOL. But he did has his point. Of course i'm not gonna run while holding up and umbrella...so i just smiled back at him. Really, the advices ppl give you in dangerous times! Ppl seem to be more willing to help/advice when we're all in trouble at the same time! xD Normally, why would a stranger talk to me right? =D
Just moments later though, i saw a couple of tear gas canisters flying towards it. Everyone started to panic again and ran. There was nowhere else to run except backwards and up the slope in the distance. So i ran and nearly got knocked down by a guy who flung open the tent flap to run out, not wanting to be trapped inside the tent with the gas. I was so pissed at that time but scared too. The police are coming and they're not stopping!
So i ran as quickly as i can and finally reached a higher ground, near the top of the slope. I stood there and looked back towards the scene before me. People were still running up the slope but the path behind them was blurry with smoke already. By now the rain had become lighter and i unfold my umbrella straightaway. There were people around me too looking at the scene below. In the distance, i can see water being sprayed very high into the air over the road where we all just escaped from. I realise in horror that they had begun to use water canons too on the people still stranded down there. I heard the water was laden with chemicals, not just plain water. I've always thought it was plain water...
It was there i realised i am on the slope right next to the Tung Shin Hospital. Surely they aren't gonna catch up to us up here?? The people around me were starting to distribute salt again. These people really came prepared! I think i'm the only idiot here who didn't go prepared. LOL. Struck up a little chat with another rally-goer who kept talking about how salt will reduce the effect of tear gas. Told a couple of girls nearby too that they should take some salt(not sure if they know each other, but oh wells it's not important at this stage. Stranger or not, we are the same right there and then. Same victims.) and also apply it to their skin. LOL. It was amusing, but i'm thanking the guy too. He even asked the girls to distribute their salt to a few Malay girls nearby. They gave without hesitation, and the girls took the salt with gratitude. This is what we called "helping each other"!
The calm didn't last long though, as we saw more canisters thrown into the compound where we are now. My mind went "Holy shit!" cos they did the unthinkable- gassing ppl on a private compound!! The police really wanted us to disperse as far as possible! A fact i find funny because they are the ones who blocked the other side of the road, preventing reasonable escape routes! Seems more like they were trying to trap us and catch as many of us as possible!
Nowhere left to run, the only way is up. There is a short but high gap between the slope and a carpark area around a bulding higher up. Like earlier there is rising panic again as people desperately want to escape the tear gas. Luckily for us there were already people up there waiting to pull you up into the compound and escape. Steadying myself on the slippery roots of a huge tree nearby, i reached up and was pulled up to safety by a Malay man. "Thank you!" I said to him loudly and patted him on the back. Then i continued to run. He on the other hand, stayed to pull more people up, helping them to escape despite the tear gas rapidly spreading over the area.
Once up on the compound again we were only left with two paths to take; both having to trek through a huge tree and its various roots and fallen branches. What's worse is there were nails in the debris on the ground; i felt on piercing through my shoe soles and pricking my flesh. Luckily i wasn't stepping full force on my feet, if not, the huge long nail would've cut into my foot causing me to bleed. And that was one thing i never want at that moment.
To reach the other side, which i saw is a huge wide compound, i had to jump off the ground to below. And it was really high up and i wasn't so sure of it cos i didnt wanna break my leg. Fortunately the tree had long vines stretching down, and by clutching onto the vines and hopping down we were able to make it down to the wide compound safely.
It was so nice knowing that while you were at it, there were people asking you to "be careful" "look out for nails!" "do it slowly, take your time, dont rush, just be careful" while trying to hop down underneath. I didn't see who it was, bt i feel good about them. Once out in the wide compound, we began to walk slowly ahead to nowhere. I didn't know where i was at that time. I was lost, together with the others....i came in step with a few ppl and one of them, a hearty Malay man, said "Ehh mana kita pegi ni??? Kampung Baru ke?" (Ehh where are we going right now? Kampung Baru?) and we all laughed at his joke. It was a light moment, and we all shared some laugh and smiles. There were more actually before and after this, that one single moment while on the run together with your "comrades", when you look in their eyes and shared a smile, knowing we are all in such a deep mess, yet it feels SO RIGHT at the time. We BELONGED there. We were fighting for our cause.
Helicopters still flying low above, i heard shouts behind us suddenly and turned around, saw everyone running in our direction trying to escape from something. That something is called FRU and tear gas!!! I finally shouted out a curse "FUUUCCKKKK!!!!" before turning away and start to run away again. One half being pissed at the FRU for not stopping to harm us and another half wondering how long do i still have to run. LOL.
Finally on my right i saw a building and ran towards it together with some of the people. FOund out it was the Bursa Saham building and stopped there to catch my breath and recover. Some people were already taking refuge there. The others who ran with me earlier took other roads to escape instead of within the building. But i need rest, and i was still weak from the tear gas...
Took the opportunity to check on my friends who's leaving KL that day, ending their vacation. They are safely out of the city, thank god. I was actually trembling as i sent text messages to them. I think i spent abt 20mins in the building, deciding where to go next.
There were three ways actually, one back to where we came from, another that spreads to a road junction beneath, which itself spread to two directions: one left, one right. The problem is i dunno which road leads to where, and whether the roads themselves are still safe or not. There was a moment two Malay uncles went past me and i ask them where are they headed to and whether they know where the roads lead to; apparently they don't know either.
Suddenly a huge cough got me and i choked out. The uncle did not hesitate and pulled out his packet of salt and offered it to me "Nah...ambil ni...". I put my hand out and he poured salt onto my hands, but i told him to stop it when i felt it was enough, but apprently he did not think the same way, saying "Taklah....lebih lagi!" when i say "Cukup sudah, cukup sudah!" LOL i really didn't need that much but he poured alot to me anyway. I took some and he asked his friend to give me his water to wash down the salt, and he did :))
After awhile we debated where to go. I told them i want to go back to Kelana Jaya as i heard that they are trying to take LRT back home. They want to go to Bangsar. As if scared i dunno the way, they then tell me how to change trains at Jamek etc etc to get back on Kelana Jaya line. So nice and caring!
Alas we parted ways in different direction, due to them in the end changing mind to take taxi instead. I stood rooted where i was though, right at the junction of the road. Then i saw a group of friends(one of whom i'd chatted lightly to while in the building, discussing where to go) come back to my way. They had earlier went off the road to the right(which will eventually land u in Bukit Bintang) and were now planning to head back to where we ran from earlier, back to Puduraya. Feeling quite at lost, i gave in to them and joined them to walk back up the road.
The girl whom i talked to finally asked for my name and introduced herself as well. Her friends join our conversations once awhile. I guess they're just curious abt me, cos i was alone and everything. LOL they were like "You're so brave coming alone!" which made me embarassed abit, dunno why LOL but yeah. Found out they are a group of surveyors surveying the area and of cos this event. They soon asked me which side was i on. I told them i didn't choose any side, and that i'm just a nosy busybody. =D
They found out too that i like photography(the girl asked me if i'm interested in journalism, after i joked abt being an unofficial reporter) and told me two of their other friends are into photography as well. "Interested in shooting are you?" he asked. I said yeah. "My friend here, that dude over there, likes to shoot too." I am not alone anymore. In this 'troubled' times, brief friendships are sparked.
"Your're not alone anymore! You're with us now!" another girl from the group said loudly to me, flashing me a smile. To be honest i was quite touched at that moment....because she said the truth....right there and then, i was not alone...i was part of something, and whether i had wanted it or not in the first place, i am with them now. Even if i had started neutral, now i'm inclined towards Bersih...and i wanted to fight for them too, together with them.
So we walked until we nearly reached Puduraya again and saw a large group already there and chanting loudly as well. Alot of them are wearing white tho, or draping white cloths over themselves. Quite far and i can't see much. However, despite wanting to join, i wasn't really ready for a second round of tear gas, and i was feeling weaker and weaker too, i couldn't go on anymore. i left the group (more like they advanced in separate groups and i sorta wasa left behind lol) and went back the way to Bursa Saham building, and decided to try the Bukit Bintang road to go home. I want to eat in Times Square and go back home after that. So i started walking....
Then i finally realised where the road will take me. I had just been lost on the same road two nights beforehand while trying to meetup with my vacation friends in Petaling Street. That night i took the wrong shortcut and ended up so far away from my destination. And now..........i'm at the same road!!! U won't believe how i felt at this revelation. Never knew a bad thing that happened to me 2 nights before will serve me so well that day! Because of easy recognition of the particular street now, i was able to make my way back to Bintang and in the end, Times Square to refuel my body(still having minor after-effects of the tear gas). I thought of my friend and called her to let her know i'm safe(one of the few who knws i'm going to the event), also texted the others who knew too. LOL!
After that is back home and nothing exciting except if u wanna count in the time when i reach the LRT station and found out it was closed and had to wait outside for nearly an hr before it was reopened again. It sorta looks like some war camp though. Haha...interesting....
At night i asked my friend out for supper/tea while we sat downstairs watching the evening TV3 news. I was excited to see how they will show the whole incident on tv. To my major disappointment, the only showed minor footages and talk abit abt it only. I felt that alot of the truth that happened are not being reported out. I felt....cheated....and was very very very disappointed with the tv stations. I knew the media are govt-controlled...but after finally seeing and experiencing how much difference there are between the footage and news reported in tv and the real-life event, i finally lost faith in the local media...utter disappointement...
***
Anyway, what i gained from this experience is more than the event itself. In just one day i found out how the people of Msia can be so united, through thick and thin, regardless of race. We helped each other regardless what skin colour we have. I've never felt so united in my life with the other rakyat before. This peaceful rally shows easily the unity between us more than the fallacy that is the PM's 1Malaysia plans. Even the name sounds stupid, if i may say. All that $$$ spent on developing this program(which obviously doesn't work, instead stirred more racial discrimination and hatred) is a complete waste compared to one rally which costs almost nothing and yet still manages to unite people.
Another thing i learnt from this is how shitty our country's media is.....i know most of them are govt' owned, but it really disappointed me how they covered this event. Almost close to none of the events are shown or reported. They only reported the police's statements and interviews. What a major letdown. Those who didn't attend the rally won't even know how tension it was because they didn't experience it and had to rely on TV news for information.
And to think that i wanted to work as a journalist, a reporter at a local news station here...i have my doubts now. If i wanna work as one, i wanna report the TRUTH and only the truth. The very basic moral of journalism: INTEGRITY. Sure, the news might not had twisted details on purpose, but they never served to report the truth either. Mostly just beating around the bush. So disappointed.....
Anyway, i think i've written quite a long post haven't i?? Hahahah i really have to give it to you if you read until the very last word in this post. xD I'm so lazy to edit anymore(make bold typefaces etc) and this actually took two days to write...lol.
Yes, it was one HECK of an experience i will never forget. Thrilling shit. No regrets even though gas-ed!!! xDD
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Last day of June.
Hi there :)
So it's the last day of the first half of June. Life does fly by doesnt it? 6mths more and its bye-bye 2011....
Anyway, i had a very full dinner today. Got my pay finally and can splurge a little. xD I usually skip dinner for your information...so i'm always hungry. Don't judge me! :P
I sat right underneath the railtracks. So trains are actually zooming above me. And goodness the noise they make. I was so unused to it the first time i took the train underground. >.
Well not much happened today anyway....i sat in the park briefly, it was kinda relaxing anyway. Took some random pics while i sat eating fries xD
I think this sums up well how i was feeling during that time just now. http://fav.me/d3kjgn8
Goodnite ppl. I'm off to bed. xD
So it's the last day of the first half of June. Life does fly by doesnt it? 6mths more and its bye-bye 2011....
Anyway, i had a very full dinner today. Got my pay finally and can splurge a little. xD I usually skip dinner for your information...so i'm always hungry. Don't judge me! :P
I sat right underneath the railtracks. So trains are actually zooming above me. And goodness the noise they make. I was so unused to it the first time i took the train underground. >.
Well not much happened today anyway....i sat in the park briefly, it was kinda relaxing anyway. Took some random pics while i sat eating fries xD
I think this sums up well how i was feeling during that time just now. http://fav.me/d3kjgn8
Goodnite ppl. I'm off to bed. xD
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