The One Where I’m About To Rock The Rainforest

It was exactly four years ago that I went to the Rainforest World Music Festival

in Kuching. I can say that with absolute precision because I remember

us watching some matches there. It was so fun that I danced almost a year’s

worth of dancing. Every night. I must lower my expectations this time around,

because well, they say the festival gets more commercial and expensive as the

years go by, but whatever it is I will relish the time in Sarawak.

I always do!

This time around the bookings and all were made a lonnnnggggg time ago, and even

if I am definitely not prepared to go (and feeling guilty as well), I will go today and

hope to dance a little more.

And even though some people might be calling me to say Eh WOMAN TAKE
THAT PICTURE DOWN,

I shall show you how some friends of mine ended up watching the World Cup

at the end of the Rainforest Festival four years ago.

Bromance + World Cup = Blissful Sleep

I swear there was an arm flung around that body but somehow I don’t have that

shot.

The wonderful Zehan was supposed to come along (boo hoo) but I am sure I’ll

have fun with her lovely twin Alia as well.

Okay I am supposed to pick her up within the hour OOops. Good bye and have a

good weekend, bumblebees!

xo

.

.

PS- Speaking of the World Cup, Matahari Books has this cool project

where writers have a go at covering the WC matches, and I was invited

to do the Holland-Uruguay match, so if you fancy a bit of futbol(ish)

writing, see here.

For my close friends, do have a read and try to guess who is who, tapi

not aloud lah ya ;)

xo

The One Where I Met NatNat


This is when I met Kat’s new baby boy.

I think the pictures are self-explanatory.


Does he look like someone when she was a wee lil cutie?


I love you dear girl.

We’ll have him honking at random cab drivers, listening to heavy duty rock muzak

and smoking kretek in no time. Just kidding Kenny.

 

The One About The 2.30am Matches


I’m using this as a visual not because it has anything to do with 2.30 am matches,

but because it is so … odd. (Okay so it is at The Bee, which did show the earlier games,

but still ..)

Why that look on Shoelace on the left?

Better yet, what are the rock stars on the right doing lah?

I have no idea. My friends are prone to weird performances,

emo & dance-like, at wee hours. I wish I knew what song was

playing at the time.

.

.

I just took a colossal nap and woke up round 11.30pm.

This is so that I am fresh for the 2.30am match later.

After some chatting with my boybesties Pin and Wotz, we decided

earlier today to just head out and watch the match.

We’re going to Taman Tun.

A Tuesday night out which will go on till 4am plus.

Haven’t had that in a while, if ever.

xo

The One About the Pearl Of the Orient

My thoughts are now in shades of lilac and sepia.

This one’s for the time we were in Penang,

going to some of the island’s temples and special sites.

I left my iPhone at the first temple, Wat Chaiyamangalaram

on Burmah lane, and only realised it after we had

completed our visit to the amazing Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion.

The discovery gave me a fright and sent me into panic.

In the car I was, as expected, nervous, upset and almost inconsolable,

thinking that was the end of my iPhone, which I love very, very, very,

very,

very very very,

very very very

smerry very MUCH.

The Londoner went: “I’m sure you will find it again. It was a temple,

I’m sure someone would have given it in.”

He had called the number but nobody picked up, which was a good sign, he said.

“It’s a place of worship after all, honey. I would have handed it in for sure.”

I said: “Well that’s because you’re wonderful that way.

You also have a whole lot more belief in people than I do, I think.”

.

So I drove on back to Burmah Road, the whole journey there going

‘I’m an idiot I’m an idiot I’m an idiot I’m an idiot‘.

We went to the main area, where the temple helpers were.

“Excuse me, did someone hand in a mobile phone just now? An iPhone?”, I asked

with my uberpitiful face on.

The woman looked at me, and gave a wry smile, saying “What’s the number

first? Call first?”

And I gave a huge smile back, knowing she had it.

“OhhHHHTenKIuUUuUuuSOHmucHHHH!!!” I shrieked pretty unintelligibly

while the Londoner rang the number from his phone.

She looked down at her desk, smiled and proceeded to hand  my phone

to me.

I had left the phone on the floor as I was putting my shoes back on (F a i l.)

But someone had seen it and passed it on to the temple.

Feeling very lucky and blessed, I put some money into the

temple’s donation box and gave a prayer of ‘good karma, good karma!’ in

honour of the person who had handed in the phone.

I hope he or she gets something very good coming their way today, I told

the Londoner.

“Well, it could be just your karma, you know,” he offered, ever the sweetie.

“No, I would have deserved the loss because I am so absent minded. This good karma

belongs to this person!” I said, continuing to mutter “Good karma to you good karma

to you good karma to you” to whoever the soul was.

Whatever it was, it felt good to know that people proved me wrong that day.


At the temple opposite the main Wat.

He actually did land a coin in the ‘Good Luck’ bowl :)

At the Khoo Kongsi. This was after the Cheong Fatt Tze

Mansion, where I was awestruck and took no photos.

(No photos allowed inside anyway though, and the Londoner

has yet to upload his pictures of us with the mansion)

The kongsi was beautiful. This one in, particular, is special

because Kat’s husband, Kenny, is in the Khoo family and

used to stay with the clan.

We also went to the E&O Hotel, where Kipling used to stay.

It has such an old school ambience to it.

The buffet was EXCELLENT and well worth the price.

The view of the sea from the E&O.

Orson Welles stayed here.

Charlie Chaplin too.

And so did vava-voom Rita Hayworth.

But it was the Kipling connection which impressed

The Londoner most, since he is a big fan.

I love Penang even more each time I visit.

It is truly a pearl.

xo

The One About Sending Him Off

Perhaps it’s all the greasy, rich food in my system over

the past 2 weeks now rearing its ugly head, making me

feel wretched.

Perhaps it is because Argentina lost last night, which

rendered me so upset I whispered “Let’s get out”

even before the full-time whistle went off. We walked

out of Ecoba without saying good bye to our friends.

Happy Birthday again dear Mikey xox

“I think your expectations were too high, honey.

At least for England, well, I knew they might let us

down,” the Londoner said.

“I know,” I replied.

.

.

This morning, I wore this top I have had for about 11 years.

It is one of my ultimate favourites, I got it in London

during my undergrad days. It lasted for so long, but

obviously it has seen better days.

I am greatly nostalgic about certain clothes, so it is

hard to let go. This one has probably travelled to over 20

countries with me. But today, I decided, I would wear

it one more time, and then say good bye.

For memories’ sake.


It had holes forming in many places, and this one

was the most prominent. I went to the airport

to send the Londoner off wearing this, with a cardigan

on as well.

It is truly time to put old things away, and look forward to

fresher, lovelier characters.

Do you say goodbye to your clothes?

.

.

There is that familiar odd feeling in my stomache.

As a long distance relationship veteran, I know

it well.

Perhaps I just know that things are different now.

Here’s to a Monday with a bang tomorrow!

xo

All But Malacca Left …

We returned from Penang today.

Visited one of my besties, Kat.

Like me, she is a firm admirer of the Straits Settlements aesthetic,

and we spend a lot of time cooing over the heritage and history of

Penang and the other two member states – Malacca & Singapore.

Which explains why, perhaps, over many many months I have

been visiting these places more.

So it came to pass that I would introduce my Londoner to my favourite

states, of course.

.

We have been housed very kindly by another bestie of mine, LeeAnn.

(We love you, Ann!)

One day her uncle came over to the apartment and started chatting

with my Londoner when I wasn’t around. They started talking about

Malacca and he must have charmed the Uncle, which I’m

not surprised about, because he told me later he got an invitation from the kind

sir (who is a Malacca native) for us to visit the historic state.

.

For now though, just some glimpses of our time in Singapore.

We walked around, ate a lot, hung out with our darling friends and

shopped very, very little. It is very refreshing, in this day and age,

to meet someone who really is not into material things and is the complete

opposite of a hoarder like me.

While I am obsessing over antiques and certain bags, he happily only

buys things when he truly needs them.

So what did he buy from Singapore?

Nothing, pretty much.

Seriously, I’m trying to remember.

Yup, nothing. He got nothing.

.

We did however, donate a bit of money to the new Singaporean casino monsters.

Hello, Sands! You swallowed a bit of our moolah (and pride), but boy were you

fun to be around.

.

Okay, it is late.

The man is already sleeping as I do some work in this quiet lounge.

I leave you with some pictures from the island republic.


Strolling around Singapore’s Chinatown


Like some other Chinatowns, they have areas where the folks play chess & checkers


We came across a large group of people dancing together, entire routines and all.

From afar, and from all angles, the Sands’ ship-shaped top is quite a sight to behold


That weekend, we wondered if everyone from Malaysia had come down to Singapore..

There was no shortage of good folks for company. Singapore’s really attracting them all ’round, I tell ya.


After quite some (successful) rounds of our favourite, Roulette, our girl Ket does her celebration drinks. Big Smiles!

On a lazy day, Pat explains his beauty regime to my Londoner.

They also talked about facials and gym routines. I will await orders to delete these sentences.

After one of our many heart meals, my four darlings of Singapore

wait for cabs. From the left: Pat, Joyce Mamasan, Jason Papasan & Ket.

No, you will never see a cuter foursome. Ever.

On the day we left the republic, we managed to fit in a visit to the Zoo.

I haven’t been since I was a kid, and it was definitely an eye-opener.

Do you see the three beautiful white tigers? This photo does not do them justice.

They were so big, gorgeous and awe-inspiring.

However I shall say one thing – one of them was pacing. A lot.

And just like the *ahem* less healthy and happy looking tigers in Malaysia’s Zoo,

pacing is what it is - a sign of animal stress.

I guess I just don’t like the ideas of zoos in general.

I may understand it, nod my head at proponents’ points, but …

boh suka mah boh suka lah.

.

.

.

PS – Our good friends are all popping this year!

Congratulations to the wonderful E-Hoon & Chee Seong on the birth of their new

baby girl, Abigail, to my darling Kat & Kenny on the birth of Nathanael Ethan, and

to the Londoner’s best mate Chris & Amanda’s new baby boy Ethan Thomas.

These three beautiful babies were all born just these two weeks! What a blessing.

.

Good night you lovely little bumble bees

xo

When Yr Friends Get You, & He Gets Yr Friends

We are in Penang.
He is eating like he has been stuck on a desert island for 7 months.
Witness his dinner on Sunday night. In order of dish arrival :
Char Kuey Teow
Prawn Beehoon
Fried Springroll
Wan Tan Mee (Extra Siew Yoke)
Grilled Stingray
and then …
Another plate of Wan Tan Mee (Extra Pork Crackling)

.
And I have been sighing when I look in the mirror because I am eating with him. This is not good. I tell him
I have no desire to look like a walrus
in love.
.
.
.
On Saturday night, before the Penang leg of the BF Tour, we went to a friend’s birthday party in Skewerz, Subang.
After many many many rounds and the usual shenanigans from the usual suspects and the Singaporean crazies,
he tells me ..

.
Hey guess what your Mamasan told me just now?
She said: Hey!!! If Baby Miao beats you up … (Face like Thor, God of Thunder) YOU LET HER OKAY?!
He replied: Er what about I cubit (pinch) her?
She said: (Face still like Thor, with extra growls of thunder) NO. YOU JUST LET HERRRR.
He: Okay.
The end.

.
And then an hour or
so later, he stories me, my dear friend (and Mamasan’s bestie) Ket speaks to him.

She: Hey, you seem to
make her happy, so, good, continue to to that.
He: Thanks :)
She: Yeah, I don’t really care if you’re happy, that doesnt matter, but you make her happy so just keep on doing that okay?!
He: … er ok
She: Okbaiiiiiiiii *skips off*

.
.

And he grins and laughs after telling
me these stories.
I don’t know if I’m more amused by the drunken darling girls, or more amused that he kept saying Okay to them.

xo

Scarlet Hues

There are some special parts in Singapore, and I’m still discovering them

when I go down.

I usually stay with my ‘adopted’ parents (or I call them my er, miaorents)

Jason and Joyce. But this time I come with a partner, so we booked this lovely

boutique hotel called Scarlet.

Quite lovely, and in a wonderful area. Service was exemplary,

and the room, though little, was very satisfactory.

I’d recommend it to anyone. The best thing about it?

It was near beautiful temples and little quaint cafes, and the

Maxwell Food Court – which had pretty much everything we wanted

to eat. That was just a 2-minute walk away.

Time to sleep.

Spain 2, Chile 1.

Tomorrow is a hectic day – but in the best possible way.

xo

Smile generator

I go down to Singapore quite a lot these days, since some of my

loveliest friends from London have moved there.

And so recently, I have discovered that there is more yummy food

to Singapore than meets the eye (or that we are prone to disbelieve ;)

The pictures below are when we queued up for close to 40 minutes for

porridge at Maxwell Food Court.

But everyone else was queuing so patiently we just salivated as we watched

people coming out with their steaming bowls of porridge,

each bowl prepared individually.

Zhen Zhen Porridge, at Maxwell Food Court, Chinatown.




I believe the last picture shows that it was worth the wait.

We had the fish porridge, which was tasty and flavourful.

To be very honest though, I wouldn’t really queue again

for 40 minutes. 15-20 minutes for that porridge, yes, maybe.

Empat puluh …. hmmmm.

But I went during lunch time, so perhaps you’d have better luck

than us :)

.

And to end this post, here’s something that’s a bit old,

but I see it and my heart just swells with hope for mankind.

You kind of need that swell once in a while or it just

flops over like dead fish.

Happy end of Thursday folks.

xo