Wednesday, November 29, 2006

It really bothers me

It puzzles me how people can get so wrapped up and enthralled by feng shui, ba zi and face-reading, future-predicting methods such as these. It strikes me that many people don't want to be religious because it involves self-sacrifice and following a certain lifestyle. But what about feng shui? Does it not involve reading your horoscope frequently, buying ugly ornaments and living your life a certain way, for example, not going out on your "bad luck" days, wearing lots of metal to counter-balance your very earth-heavy element - and those are just the simple things. Do you really want your whole life to be dictated to you just because you have certain marks on your body and because two or three stars out in space have died and no longer shine? And I say dictated because if you don't listen to these signs, the price of petrol may rise yet again next year...

Maybe it's because it allows those people to believe they have some control over what happens to them. Although, most of the things that they believe come true are really self-fulfilling prophecies. Think about it.

What about predictions for the coming year? Will the country be politically stable or will there still be immature bickering among parties? Why ask Joey Yap? Ask a political analyst. Ask an economist. Ask a real estate agent. Ask people who are experts in their field. Why ask the stars, who were put there eons ago and are merely living and dying, not caring what earth people do? Why consult our moles and scars about our future? Does that sound right to you?

A friend of mine who follows this closely believes that her relationships will never be as fulfilling as she would like them to be because of some facial feature or some self-element she possesses. What does that tell me? That she will always settle with second-best. And that she will be dissatisfied but say, "What can I do about it?" then subsequently grow old crying in front of her life-sized, 8-legged golden frog.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

People need to be educated



One of the most basic driving skills taught and tested on is how to drive in a roundabout. Okay, so we shall disregard the 'kiasu' Malaysian drivers who deliberately jump the queue and get into the wrong lane because we shall assume that they know the rules but choose to be extremely RUDE and still cut into people's lanes and disrupt otherwise smooth-flowing traffic.

Yesterday on my way to work, a woman in a Kancil was on the outer lane of the roundabout. Picture this: a clock with its 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock angles. I'm at 6 o'clock going to 12 o'clock. From the outer/right lane, I enter the roundabout's inner lane (which incidentally, is the correct way to enter a roundabout from the outer/right lane - unless you drive on the left side of the road, if so, don't listen to me).

So there I am, obediently following traffic rules and as I pass 9 o'clock I indicate that I will turn off at 12 o'clock. I notice the aforementioned Kancil coming out of my 9 o'clock and into the outer ring of the roundabout, which means - if she follows traffic rules and therefore does not disrupt people's driving and potentially cause an accident - that she HAS to turn off at my 12 o'clock as well in order not to cut into people turning in from the inner ring.

But OF COURSE, being one of the 40%* of Malaysian drivers who blatantly disregard or who are ignorant of the traffic laws, she tries to pass the 12 o'clock turnoff and go right round the roundabout on the outer ring!

You know, this occurrence isn't very unusual to me, except that when she realised I was turning directly into her car, she stopped her car and gave me an ugly face, probably scolding me from the comfort (or however much comfort you can get in a Kancil) of her car. I guess she was kind of shocked as well because I was so close to her. I'm the sort that will not brake in advance just to avoid your illegally driven car and I don't give two hoots whether you piss your pants or not when you see me bearing down on you.

So since she stopped her car - in the middle of a moving roundabout, I might add - I had to stop mine too and see her give me "the face". We both got honked so I honked her back to scold her and she finally drove off.

In the end, I don't think her problem was blatant disregard of laws, but rather that she did not know at all what the laws are regarding roundabouts... hence the diagram above. Just a simple one to illustrate where people on inner and outer lanes must go. Of course if you're on the inner ring of the roundabout you may go round and round and round without ever turning off. Entirely your choice. But if you're on the left lane of a turnoff, you MUST always, ALWAYS enter the outer ring of the roundabout and turn off at the next turnoff. Simple!

*this is not statistically accurate but a general observation from my time on the road

Monday, November 20, 2006

Amateur professional photos. Hiring, anyone?

Hello there everyone,

Today we will be looking at some photographs taken by an amateur-professional photographer. If you like what you see, don't hesitate to leave comments on the photos. You may even request a certain type of shot to be taken for your own business or personal use. Take note that the categories will be English countryside, English canals, English people, English countryside, English ducks and so on and so forth.

But seriously, if you have an opinion about the photos, do leave a comment.















Saturday, November 18, 2006

Melaka on the menu

Here are pix from when Gary and I were in Melaka last year. Unfortunately we arrived too late for lunch so there wasn't much choice for food. The place didn't seem to have changed much from the last 20 years. It really seems to be stuck in the past haha. Sigh... okay I didn't mean to offend any staunch Melakans. It's just been a long day at work. Here goes them pix!


View from inside the local museum


Still inside the museum


I think this was on top of St Paul's hill just outside the ruins


In another museum


Really really nice pic taken by Gary of the shutters in the museum (yes, museum again)


Gary's booty


Me looking out some really nice green windows of... yes, a museum


Out on the streets of Melaka and away from them pesky museums haha


Lots of cool shopping in Melaka for traditional crafts and food items


An image worthy of being a part of my Motorcycle Chronicles

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Snapshot time!

I know I promised some pictures of my moving house but I haven't had the chance to take any. So, going through my photo albums, I've picked some random yet engaging photos for your enjoyment.



An ode to the coming Christmas. Last year's Christmas tree.

Our Penang trip (2005)

Last year, on the drive up to Penang. Sleepyhead.


Munching on "crips" helps relieve travelling boredom.


Sitting on the sand, taking a "snappy" break from watching the sunset.

Gary's first Muslim Wedding (2005)


Gary looks excited... well I'm sure he is, deep down.


Yes, I've seen all this before.


I think Mumsy's trying a Tai Yee pose?

Other Randoms


Ron, Penny and me. Penny's the blue one on the left.


Don't they look so cute?


Walking in KLCC park just after visiting Aquaria for the first time.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Changing addresses!

On Saturday 4th November, my mum and all of us moved out of the place in Damansara Heights to somewhere in the vicinity of OUG. We actually used to live there before we moved to DH and all of us loved the place cuz it's a really nice and spacious apartment unit. But we moved out cuz it was too far from all our workplaces. However, the DH house has really old wiring so it's pretty unsafe to be there especially now during the stormy season - so we're back in the nice old place!

I'll take this opportunity to snap some photos with Mum's really nice digicam of us unpacking stuff and upload it here soon. Not today, but soon. So don't hold your breath... you know how long I take to upload pictures. Haha!

Friday, November 03, 2006

What? Another maid story!

So yeah, I know I've been devoting a couple of posts to this maid in the office, but honestly, when I don't see her, she's not in my mind at all.

I think she knows that.

Which is why she's now keeping ominous reminders around the place to cast a shadow over my life here at work. What am I talking about? Well, I came to work this morning, all awake and sipping my packet Milo drink. When I got to my desk I remembered that I had to pass the HR people something so I went out of the office again. They're located in another block of offices.

Waiting for the lift, I pondered various important world issues. Like how I'm getting to the bank later to retrieve money. And whether the Interbank Funds Transfer at Public Bank online is working yet. They're taking far too long. One wonders if there's something wrong with the system.

Then the lift doors open and what do I see? "Someone" has kindly left their mop bucket full of soapy water and some objects floating around in it right in front of the lift buttons. I guess I should be thankful "someone" was considerate enough not to just plonk it in the middle of the lift. Thing is, the lift buttons are only placed on one side of the lift so everyone who steps into the lift has to lean over the bucket and press the buttons. Why not just move your bucket 3 feet to the left and not block anyone at all?

Well, I may not have seen The Maid today but she is definitely on my mind.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

What a silly entry



Oh no I'm becoming one of those people who have loads of time on their hands and nothing in their heads! Offence intended.

"I had such a good day at work today. All I did was sit around painting my toenails and trimming my ear hair. I have to trim it because Jake/Josh/Brad/Brett/Brandon loves it short and fluffy, not long and wiry like those other girls at school. Gosh, I wonder which magazines tell them that that's acceptable? Like, maybe Geek Glamor?"

By the way, the wallpaper comes from Pixelgirl Presents.