Tag Archives: New York

The Ongoing Jho Low Saga

For my little but lovely group of friends who read my usual insignificant

ramblings here (and I thank you for it) perdóneme, this is one of those more er ..

‘heavier’ ones which has a little connection with my job as a journo.

This is one for those who keep coming back for that Malaysian millionaire

who apparently, can’t keep out of the spotlight.

.

It is the month of July.

Am sure you have read all the latest, necessary reading about Taek Jho Low,

also known as Joe Low, who has been keeping in very rich & blonde company.

Am sure you have seen this all out and about from

- http://www.fadedyouthblog.com/197536/paris-hilton-strikes-a-pose-for-malaysian-millionaire

- http://rockybru.com.my/2010/07/paris-hiltons-majestic-masterpiece.html

and so on.

Newcomers to the Jho Low saga would only now be discovering things that have

been somewhat public knowledge here &  in grand city of New York last year.

November, to be exact.

I wrote about him last year, and if you still are a bit lost as to how it all

started, perhaps you could begin with that.

.

As you would probably be reading other recent updates in the blogosphere like:

Who Is This Young Millionaire, Taek Jho Low?

Our ‘favourite’ millionaire cavorts with Paris and

Low Taek Jho, Paris Hilton, Rosmah & RM 11 billion ,

I will not repeat what it being said in these blogs, twitterverse etc.

I’m going to assume you know lah what has been said, reported on thenutgraph,

and that I have kind of spent many hours lah researching all this.

.

.

And going through all of it these past few months, I think I could say this:

  • It would be very easy to assume Jho Low is using public money to party with Paris Hilton. It is not easy in the slightest to prove that this is true.
  • It would be very easy to assume that Paris Hilton is only hanging out with him for the money. It is not easy to imagine that, like his Middle Eastern friends, she could just genuinely like hanging out with him? You know, cause er .. he is rich? He could be … hilarious, or … er nice, for all we know?
  • It would be very easy to say Jho Low is ‘fat’, or ‘tubby’, and this and that. It is not easy to find actual, solid, reasons to validate why we are criticising him, to justify why we are actually calling him such names. Besides, you got no bigger-size friends meh yang kau adore? Suddenly the argument is about fat people is it? Do people realise that when you resort to ad hominem attacks (Your mother bodoh, your muka hodoh), you effectively sully & blotch painfully researched info?
  • It would be very easy to say because Jho Low knows/interacts/is close to Rosmah, it automatically makes him … suspicious or dodgy. It is not easy for us to explain how that we can even ascertain/explain that reasonably. In public. On the record. If he is friends with her son, is that … bad, or illegal, or dodgy, in any way?

.

.

And oklah while I’m at it … I guess I’ll also put it in there that it is also very easy

to present somebody’s trails and links as your own as if you came up with it, and

not so easy to spend hours & hours destroying your eyes in front of the computer,

making those connections. Tidak apa, you know, I know lah Misters. Minus

respect points lor.

.

Anyway, I am not writing a In Defence of Jho Low piece.

I guess this is more about journalism versus gossip/rumour.

.

.

BUT …

Despite all the things I have pointed out above,

we can say these things for sure:

1- We already know he definitely is well connected to the upper echelons.

2- We know, from all sources, everywhere, that he really. likes. hanging.

out. with. stars. And drinking champagne. And living the high life.

3- We also know for a certainty that he has real influence and power. He makes

money from that.

.

A friend and I were laughing one day when we saw this

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1221007/+40 ,

where someone spoke quite emotionally in defence of JL.

More specifically, we laughed out loud when we read “i sense Joe Low in ACTION! icon_rolleyes.gif“

implying of course, that the man was defending himself anonymously.

The thing is that:

For months and months and months, the activities of Low have been a hot topic

among so many circles, whether business folks, diplomats or politicians.

This is fact.

Because Klang Valley is very small and incestuous (and Klang Valley-ites know

this), there is only one or two degrees of separation between many of us and

the famous Mr Low.

I can also say this as a matter of fact because I am in the same generation as him,

and there are many people out there who personally know/knew him, or his friends.

Even people from London tell me things about him, so it is not just here that he is

being talked about.

There is one thing that is constant. The tone is always … one that is unimpressed.

Most of it … basically kind of sneering.

.

Bear with me here. What I am saying is that people don’t necessarily hate or

resent rich people.

I am quite sure when people think of Tony Fernandes or the YTL family [correction:

Sorry, I was thinking of the Low Yat Family - sleepy mistake] etc they

don’t immediately sneer at their wealth. There is always a certain amount of respect

because we can distinguish people who built things up thru very hard work &

took many, many years to do so.

Perhaps the reasons why JL is written & talked about in such .. dare I say it ..

disgusted tones is because:

1. He is very young to be so rich & powerful.

2. He has done so primarily through the who-you-know route.

3. He splashes money even more outrageously than superstars.

Bukan Klang Valley superstars okay, Hollywood superstars.

4. And that he seems to want you to know it.

Let’s face it – this is not exactly shunning exposure a la Ananda Krishnan.

.

However. Until someone proves any of this is actually wrong, actually dodgy,

or actually illegal, who is to say he has no right to do so? Yes, in this world nowadays,

many people make business deals and they make commissions from it.

They link people & profit.

.

.

I shall end with this however. You know all the rather sneering tones and all

the activities and deals that people talk about when it comes to Jho Low?

People around him must be talking, giving the information.

People close to him, his entourage, perhaps those who partied with him in NY,

or who followed him to South Africa or France?

Which makes me wonder … and this is pure conjecture on my part …

but how do his friends / buddies /acquaintances / the entourage behave in

front of him, and what do they say … behind him?

.

Balik Kampung

On a day like today
How could one
be anything but happy?
The sun on the grass
The squeeze of the hands
The surprise boat ride
under the mighty bridge

On a day like today
How could one
be anything but beaming?
The thought for friends
The pressing of sore feet
The random, delightful
chats with strangers

On a day like today
How could one
be anything but brand new?
The bittersweet embraces
The imminent goodbyes
Buttered by the whispers
that I am your girl.

My Lungs

It is with a sense of gratitude and happiness

that I feel very different from a month ago.

If there are three words to describe it best it would be:

Smiles. Light. Expansion.

Yes, it’s all pretty good.

.

You know sometimes when you walk around and

a joyful thought enters your head & you smile?

In New York, I’ve walked so much (I have cracked heels and

handiplasted ankles now – not complaining tho) but many a time

in these solitary moments I beam to myself or laugh out loud.

I do not take this lightly at all.

I may be generally a happy person, but this random beams and laughs

while alone and walking, I know, are not normal.

.

I realise I have been rather crap at journaling my experiences

of this New York adventure. To be quite frank I have taken more

pictures than penning down my thoughts. But there have been

some wee lil short stories.

Thought I’d share just a smidgen with you

here. Some are fiction. Some are fact. Some about me. Some are

about others. No prizes for guesses because I am broke, yessiree ;)

And since I have been a little silent, here

are some wonderful Hipstamatic shots (iPhone, you’ve just been such

an arty friend to me, I’ll never swap you. Ever.) and other pix from the

latest batch of pictures. They are out here, even before the Facebook

ones. These are the ones during my walks around Harlem.

Halfway through my travels I realised that I tended to write more

when I had my notebook and pen. When I lugged my laptop around,

I didn’t do much, except procrastinate and muck about. I realised how

much I missed the pen and paper. I got a papercut one day, and I

actually relished it quite a bit! I think the best bits were when I would

sit & write in the New York Public Library. The Beaux-Arts building is

beyond inspiring – it gives you a sense of awe and humility.

Oh yes. The short stories. Note: Some are shorter than others!

And some others … are to be continued.

He was gesturing to the young man, his smile breaking

out once in a while. She looked at both of them signing to

each other, standing by the coffee machine. Even in their aprons,

and even in their silence, both men were exceedingly striking.

One had a crew cut, the other with short dreads tucked neatly under

a thin headband. The latter, a young, handsome Sidney Portier

look-alike, seemed to be talking about arrangements of some sort,

his hand making compartmental shapes.

The other signed what she could identify as ‘angry’ several times -

clawing his fingers upwards against his stomach.

She imagined them complaining about their boss and their shift

duties. She imagined young Sidney telling his colleague

that he had missed a date because of their unreasonable superior.

She wrote in her notebook that she must also learn the words

‘boss’ and ‘date’ in sign language.

And then she got up to leave, nearly knocking over her cup of latte

which was still half full.

She did not even like coffee very much.

Maybe I’ll just go for pie the next time, she thought.

.

.

Below are some pictures from when I went on a mini pilgrimage to

Billie Holiday’s former home. I went to Harlem because of many

other interests, but I must admit – being a big Holiday fan this

was one thing I had to do.

So I walked to West 139th Street. It was simple, no markers or anything.

Proceeded to take pictures of me with the door but I failed miserably

so many times. You have no idea how many times I took a picture of

myself with the rubbish bin, like below. The Hipstamatic shots

are beautiful, but not as easy to take when you are camwhoring alone.

Then finally.

Sigh.

Okay, I’ll take the one below.

I’ll take it, damn it!


He did not understand the last two messages she had sent him.

Taking a deep breath, he took another read before putting the

phone down. “I don’t even know why I bother,” he thought to

himself. Half an hour later he would show those messages to Naima,

his eyes weary, his face expressionless. They were going to do lunch

at the park.


Naima shook her head gently, smiled and took his phone.

Barely a few seconds had passed

and she frowned. “I don’t understand what she is trying to say, man.”

His eyes widened, but he remained silent.

“She sounds like a young emotional girl who is trying to get a rise out

of you purely because she can. On the other hand, she also sounds a bit

stupid. Sorry,” Naima blurted out, shrugging her shoulders.

“I know. I know, right? She’s driving me crazy,” he said.

They proceeded to talk about the perils of arguing through text and

the inevitability of silly people sounding infinitely sillier on the SMS

stage.

“I don’t know what the fuck she is angry about half the time.

I am just trying to be nice.”

“Dude, I must warn you.

In a long distance relationship, everything is multiplied by ten.

It’s a weird universe.”

“How so?”

“A naturally calm, laid back person will seem to have been multiplied

by more coolness. Times ten. And that manifests itself, seemingly,

as apathy, as aloofness. The laid back person will just seem like

she really does not care. And let’s say she is paired with a passionate,

energetic fellow. In the long distance universe, multiplied by ten, the person

will seem unreasonably, possessive, perhaps even obsessive.

Combine the two and you have a recipe for disaster,” Naima said.

They sat down on the park bench. It seemed like a nice

place to eat their packed lunch.

Kenny took a bite of his pastrami sandwich, and with his mouth still

half full, he said: “Okay, I get that.

…. And so going by this times-ten factor, if she is just a bit

silly, attention-seeking … if she is a little needy ….”

“She’d come across as a psychopath or something,” Naima said,

laughing and nodding.

“Which she is. Which she so is. Fuck her. I mean seriously, I can’t take

this anymore. It’s so ridiculous.”

“You keep on saying that. Hey, it’s your life man,” Naima said.

They would spend the next 15 minutes chatting about

her crazy ex-boyfriend who used to steal her money.

.

That night, after settling in with a glass of wine, he looked

at his phone. He felt good. The evening run had been inspiring.

The just-concluded organic chicken dinner had

felt so healthy for some reason. Never mind that it was fried.

Right, he mumbled to himself. This is it.

He took his phone and proceeded to thumb it energetically

for the next half an hour. With furrowed brows he would pause,

write again, delete and repeat.

Finally he took one last read, and pressed ‘Send.’

He went to bed.

.

The next morning Kenny got another text message he could not

comprehend. The way he read it, she was basically calling him

a dickhead, albeit in a roundabout way.

He went to ‘Sent Messages’, and re-read the SMS he had sent her

the night before.

It read:

“Babes, could we just try not to argue so much? I care so much for you and

wish we could just be sensible, reasonable adults who are kind to each other.

Wouldn’t it be better if we were just nice to each other like before? Instead of

attacking each other all the time, could we go back to the time we used to say

sweet, loving things to each other?”

He sighed.

Times ten, he told himself.


Out of all the places I have been in NYC, my danger instincts would kick

in once in Harlem. As a woman (and a small-sized one at that) travelling alone

most times I have learned to obey this instinct … any time it should pop!

In a nutshell, I decided to turn back and not go somewhere. Didn’t regret it

at all – when you get that tingle, you really do not question it.

But perhaps I will leave that for another

posting. The most recent time I got that tingle actually was when I

was travelling in Guatemala in 2005.

As a result of following tingle, I was to walk back to my tiny room

each day before the sun would set.

No pubs, no bars, NO NOTHING at night. Nada.

Anyway, that’s for another time.

I need a power nap, baby. And with that he rolled over to his side of the

bed, catching the winks he said were elusive to him the night before. She

looked at his smooth skin, softly lit by the little line of sun creeping

into the dark room. She looked at the ‘little something’ he said he had picked

up for her the day before – it ended up being a sleek, brown Marc Jacobs purse

in the style she had eyed before.

She re-read the card he had written to go along

with the present. It said

‘The beauty of the heart

is a lasting beauty

its lips give to drink

of the water of life”

Thanks for being wonderful, it ended.

She wondered how many more Rumi sayings he had

tucked away. The purse was wonderful, she thought,

but the card. The card was magic.

She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of him sleeping.

She realised she was happy – happy to be here, happy to have found him.

She knew however, that in a few days, she would leave him. Again.

I still do not consider myself much of a foodie – not like how others

are. But thanks to some wonderfully hungry friends I have done

quite a delectable range of yum-yums in New York City.

What memories for the taste buds! But even more quaint are the delicately

blossoming flowers and trees all around the city.

It is quite a sight – the dead trees coming alive again!

Hi little ones. We have all been waiting for you.

I can’t even begin to say how much I will miss walking in these

pedestrian-friendly cities. And New York is just a heaven for

that – once you get to know the streets … somehow you will never

get lost. It’s 20 times more welcoming than London’s streets, you

feel like they really become your friends after a while. Oh hello

Greene Street, how are you doing Jane Street? You again, Bleecker!

I know my memory is horrendous but I hope these names stay with me

forever and a day.

On the way to Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem

And I know I should be pasting the other little stories up but

I am now looking at the time at it is close to 6am here. Sleep time!

Hah, habits do not change – even when you are on the other

side of the world and are experiencing rejuvenation.

These streets. My feet!

Next time then.

Love. Near Columbia, having walked past Morningside Heights.

lightly.

i thread.

lightly.

i fall.

lightly.

i fly.

.

xox

Flow sweetly, hang heavy

I realised I accidently drafted the last post, and so it may seem a little outdated.

.

The update is: The weather is gorgeous again.

From the Hoboken waterfront, overlooking Manhattan :)

.

The update is:  I have been spending a little more time on the grassy areas

of Hoboken, because I have winded down to write more.

c'est moi. le bonheur.

.

The update is:  I am feeling this strong bond with my good friend MK, who

has been utterly wonderful. Such a kind, decent, caring human being, and he

is coming back to Malaysia. I am glad he will be close by.

Miao & MK, hanging at Union Square

.

The update is: I spent a glorious two days with a good girl friend, Khim. If

it is possible to love your friend more and more with each passing conversation,

it is definitely so for me when it comes to her. I think you form a very special

friendship with people you connect with at a later time, at a certain age, during

specific times in your life.

Chaborcinta, for reals yo

.

The update is : A man is coming to me in 4 days. He makes me feel like spring.

He makes me want to say all the things that cannot be said. Yet.

He makes me close my eyes, clench my fist on my chest and smile.

The heart expands.

hello there

Sekian update untuk kali ini.

xox

I’m a-skippin’

So the weather has gone bad in NYC.

It’s been drizzling, and the weather now reminds me of London.

But there is still a great deal of warmth around – my good mate Khim

is here for the week. Last night we all (her friends and my dear MK) went

out to Momofuku for dinner, we had wanted to head to Ippudo but

the wait was 2 hours and we weren’t about to wait that long in the cold!

The thing is the moment you put Khim and I in a room somehow we

end up chatting like our lives depend on it and others seem to fade somewhat

in the background. I said later to MK when we were in the car heading back:

“Her friends are so nice and friendly.” And he said to me, slightly bewildered:

“But…. you were talking to Khim the whole time!”

Er… Oooops?

But just a little summary of the week, because the day is now dreary outside

and I’m waiting for MK to rise and shine – we have a day of walking about

and drinking to do today. It’s St Patrick’s Day! A huge deal over here, so

I can imagine no one’s gonna be sulking about the drizzle.

.

.

This week I think I completed most of what the leftover things I wanted

to do or see in NY. Since this is my third time, I ticked off the remaining

‘Must Sees’ on my list, and took a deep, happy breath.

Now I can really, really walk the streets without a care in the world.

I usually walk aimlessly anyway, but before I had to look at the watch and

go “Oh darn, I have to go to here and here now before it closes or

this and there in case I can’t do it next week..”

It’s also been a week of me reuniting with some good old friends.

Met darling Ana again on Tuesday, she was one of my best buddies

in London during our undergrad days. Now she is getting married

and moving back to Serbia & Montenegro, another European wedding

to attend soon, how wonderful.

Ana & I reunited again in NYC

I met her hubby-to-be, an architect, and we got on so well at one

point I think Ana just watched two of us going on and on and on

about the house he is going to build for two of them – the inspiration,

style, materials, and so on. I visit their abode in Brooklyn next week.

On Wednesday I went walking about in a slight daze, and then ended up

at the New York Public Library .

.

It was so absolutely stunning I ended up

walking around with my mouth agape most of the time. I took NO pictures

inside because I was so awestruck – figured I would come another time for the pictures

and just truly menghayati the building this first time. I would end up

on a marble seat inside, facing this incredibly beautiful lobby and ceiling,

writing on my notepad. I think my notepad has seen more action than

my laptop these weeks – which is very welcome indeed.

Also went grocery shopping for the house and bought a new kettle for the

boys because I *ahem* pretty much destroyed theirs. How do I destroy

a kettle? Nevermind!

The wonderful Lan - my model for the day :)

On Thursday I caught up with Lan, who was my flatmate when we were doing

out masters in LSE. She’s from China but now living in Manhattan, near Columbia

U. I asked her if she’d be willing to accompany me to Ellis Island because I wanted

to visit the Immigration Museum there, and so the next day she met me at

Battery Park. There we were, at Clinton Castle, in disbelief that we were meeting

again. We proceeded to bitch about a certain Greek friend of ours who is absolutely

HOPELESS at keeping in touch, and sighed loudly about how we love her

so much despite the fact. The Immigration Museum was everything I hoped for

and more – it carried so much memory, pain and hope in its walls, floors and ceilings.

I was very touched by the whole experience and left with so much to think about.

It makes New York and America’s history all the more complex, sweeter, and rich -

this tapestry of different cultures all colliding, intertwining,

because they want to be live new lives in the land of the free.

I love these old shots

The sun was shining brightly when we stepped out of the museum. Ellis Island

gets a Must recommendation from me, I’ll say. For history buffs – no two ways

about it, you have to go.

Today is somebody’s birthday  - it was so good to speak to him on the phone :)

Ooops, I have to go soon – it’s close to lunch time.

It was quite lovely chatting with Khim last night. She reminded me

about something that she said I had told her in the past. She

was just in that stage at the time – having some butterflies inside the tummy

about a certain someone. I think women at our age are at a half-and-half

phase, it’s a little weird. We are so independent, used to a certain

lifestyle …. have been through enough pain to be wary, still enough

hope and faith to be joyous, & we want so much (and probably worry just

as much sometimes!)  We have had it with the debilitating mindgames

we played or were in when we were in our early twenties, the drama-filled

years that may have left us a bit scarred. [I'm sorry I don't mean to generalise,

perhaps it is just my own single female friends & I who have had these experiences]

And now as we find ourselves stronger than we have ever been, of course it is

scary to find yourself meandering back to anything that could mean you

slightly losing your senses again.

So inevitably when good things come, people like us (or

well, people like me anyway) tend to go “Is this for real?” …. or “Is this too good

to be true?” or… “Something’s bound to go wrong..”

Well anyway it takes friends like Khim to issue me a little gentle

reminder.

“You remember what you told me at the time? You said ‘Skip a little, Khim,

just skip a little. I think now it’s your turn to listen to that … Skip a little, Laych.”

I guess my answer to that would be….

“Well .. okay then”

:)

Love*

Eyes Wide Open

[Today's posting is best read with the accompaniment of the incomparable

Ms Billy Holiday. Please press Play and then read on :) ]

.

I’m staying in today to do some writing.

With some delightful music in the background.

But here are some pictures that I took yesterday while

walking in Central Park.

It’s snowing outside and it just feels right – there’s nothing quite like

nestling a steaming cup of tea on a day like this.

I woke up today greeted by a message that someone was

thinking of me.

I replied by saying that as wonderful as New York is, it didn’t seem

as fabulous now that it was missing something.

I kind of hate that feeling – how everything is so relative.

.

The first time I came to New York, I was in love, and it kind of

overshadowed the city. I don’t blame anyone, of course,

I am just saying, that your heart (head?) does funny things to you

when you are struck.

It’s like it really does blind you – it chews on your synapses and spits

them out for sport. So much so that it can even render a great city like NY

somewhat flavourless.

That was my first.

The second time, the city hit me hard. It was like The Big Apple Cupid shot

10,000 arrows at me, and all I could think was that I had seriously taken

it for granted. I know everyone sings the song ‘The Empire State’ to me now,

but I don’t think a city anthem has ever been truer – the streets do really make

you feel brand new. Little light bulbs just continued flashing every hour that I

was here. If I was completely frank I wanted to traipse around on my own

on most days, I do actually prefer walking on my own in cities when it comes

to getting inspired (which may explain why sometimes I’d venture off on my own,

very sorry if I was a wee bit dishonest road trip buddies)

In the end, I extended the stay and then didn’t want to go home at all! I almost

didn’t – the pull was that strong.

Which leads me to this current stay, of course.

I am more than ready to really breathe it in this time – to know the streets like the

back of my hand, to really look, and to truly listen.

I spent a while staring at this man above in the park, he seemed sad.

He seemed to be alone in his deep thoughts. When he realised I had taken a picture,

he looked at me for a few seconds, and then continued just standing there.

I think he later posed for me – but not in a purposeful way.

Whatever it was, I felt a little connection to him as he looked into the vast whiteness

and the city’s evening lights beyond.

I think we’ve all felt like that before. The thing about New Yorkers is – they are

a whole lot more expressive and vocal about their feelings.

I love that side of them.

So perhaps I will take on the New Yorker persona while I am here -

my heart is out on my sleeve, and I intend to write that way.

Probably best to have a mixture of feelings – a little good, a little bad,

a little cold, a little warm, and a dozen other ones in between.

I spend evenings chatting with my dear friend Munkit now – we have

loads to talk about and reflect upon.

As the snow melts, and I do hope it does soon, I will try to not be slightly

melancholic

(oh don’t worry, just slightly!)

slightly daydreamy

that someone is not

here with me right now.

I remind myself that this NYC stay is for me, and me alone.

And that no one, no one … will take that away from me!

I am not blind this time – my eyes are wide open.

.

.

But you know what …

it’s still nice to wake up to the thought that someone is thinking

of you too.

Life’s just that little bit sweeter when you are aware of the fact.

Perhaps sometimes that’s all you need, isn’t it?

xo

Pangs.

(Warning: This is a very very late night spot of rambling

triggered by …. just a picture)

.

Pangs still come once in a while.

Despite the current happiness!

Pangs and longing to live in another city,… now… now… NOW.

New York, I blame it on you.

I need to go n.o. w.

I deliberated on burning my ticket back home to stay in NYC for a while,

y’know. If I had thrown all caution to the wind, and sodded commitments

(some, I still have some), I’d have stayed there for as long as I could have,

hopefully find a job.

That would be quite something, wouldn’t it?

.

Chatting with my good friend Khim about 2 months ago,

we talked about living and working in other cities, (as we are wont

to do).

The lucky girl has had the good..the great fortune of living

and working in KL, Sydney and London … Three Wonderful, Awesome Cities!

And there may be more in store!

Among my friends right now I’d say

both of us share the similar urges and pangs to explore different cities.

And we aren’t talking about a month or two.

“I spenda coupla months there I’ve LIVED there woohoo!”

Well…        n . o .

Not really.

.

For me it’s been KL and London for me, (I don’t count the sojourns in

Singapore and Gibraltar somehow, even if I did feel I lived there

for quite a bit in different times of my life)

To live in a city, to really know its alleys, its history, little quirks and

day-to-day lessons, … that’s quite something else.

The buses (what number and to where), the main streets, the most

popular spots or beaches,

the park you go to when you want to read,

the shop you get

your sandwiches or teas from,

the slightly crazy person on what side of what street ….

these things you learn

when you live in another city.

Travel is not quite the same, despite its obvious wonderfulness.

.

The pang, the immense urge I have right now … it’s all about living in

a big, grand city.

One where I can walk or bike everywhere,

with an old-school or excellent tube/subway … one with a river

(I miss the Thames) … one where I can take long ass walks by myself

and be the happiest person alive just doing that.

.

I’m working on it, I’m working on it.

In a year, if all goes well, I’ll be somewhere else.

I’ll be discovering a new city, God Willing.

Travel just pales in comparison at the moment for me, I guess.

It’s money saving and planning time.

.

For you younger ones who just don’t find the urge or will to move

and explore ….. ah well … one day you may find yourself unable

to move anymore, when you could have … and then what?

I have friends who say they wished they did it when they

had the chance.

Because you can always travel, drink yourself silly wherever

and so on and so forth, but to live in another city -

that’s quite something else.

To know another city, to really breathe it in …. it’s like

nothing else in the world.

 

Seize the opportunities now, if you can.

xo

Just Who is Jho Low?

I’m sure you’ve read or heard about this.

Malaysian Jho Low, has made a name for himself

in a grand, vivacious, wonderful city that will never

be quiet. Yes, it will shout out your name should

you deserve it.

It’s New York after all, and the name Jho Low has made

there isn’t at all referred to in flattering terms.

First the New York Post, no less, writes about him.

And then New York Mag picks it up.

In both, you can almost smell the disgust dripping from

the pieces.

As the New York Post writes:

Strangely, for a man attracting so much attention, very little is known about Low.

According to his official biography, he currently serves as a group adviser of several international corporations and was appointed to the board of UBG Berhad, a financial-services group in Kuala Lumpur, last year.

But when The Post interviewed Malaysian experts at such think tank as the Council on Foreign Relations, no one had ever heard of Low.

According to inside sources, Low lives at a $100,000-a-month apartment in the Park Imperial, on West 56th Street, home to James Bond actor Daniel Craig and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs — and he won’t go anywhere, not even on the elevator, without at least one bodyguard.

Some of Low’s entourage of eight to 12 people also reside in two other apartments at the Park Imperial — a $30,000-a-month pad and a 2,200-square-foot loft with Central Park views that costs $20,000 a month, according to real-estate investor Michael Hirtenstein, who used to live in the latter.

(the rest of the article here …)

And then, as is with the Internet’s breakneck speed,

it comes out in Twitter and our own Malay Mail.

The latter somehow flashes and then removes and then

flashes the story again, effectively rewriting it as its own (with

NY dateline and all, hmm)

People are wondering where he gets all that money.

Now, there are a few comments on the relevant sites

that say people are just envious of his good fortune,

and are throwing in jokes with regard to his Cristal

obession, Lohan connection and so on … but, perhaps,

is this more than a joke?

The Post’s ‘expose’ was actually old news for New Yorkers

apparently, judging by these blog posts from the Big Apple below.

- 40 bottles of Cristal

- $160,000 at Avenue

- Bubbly for Lohan’s Birthday

They’ve been trying to figure out WHO this guy was, apparently.

So:

1. If this is all true, this guy is kind of embarrassing us.

Burned through thousands of US dollars. Over Champagne?

In our current economic downturn, and time of bail outs & stimulus

packages?

Far be it for me to deny anyone some partying, but when New Yorkers

are scratching their heads over how you party and drink, oh lord,

you must really be dishing it out. It takes some balls to be flashier than

Donald Trump in his city.

2. In the articles (and in other sites) he is a representative

of Majestic Masterpiece Sdn Bhd and

the Abu Dhabi-Kuwait-Malaysia Investment Corporation.

Woah, if he was bankrolled, what a way to be bankrolled.

As for why, your guesses are as good as mine.

But hey, look here, I found some interesting links.

[Yes I'm a nerd and read and scour a lot]

 

We know, from the article, and from many google searches that Low

is in strategic investment house UBG Berhad. Details easily found here .

And that UBG is connected to Loh & Loh, Majestic Masterpiece (MMSB)

and …..

how Majestic Masterpiece and the Abu Dhabi-Kuwait-Malaysia

Investment Corporation became substantial shareholders of UBG ….

Or how there is the Sarawak connection there …

Or how they took over Putrajaya Perdana among others ..

And that (once again), Low seems to be very well connected

to the Kuwaitis and Abu Dhabi big boys …

Like  UBG directors Yousef Al Otaiba and

Sheikh Sabah Mohd S. Al-Sabah. (They are all in

MMSB, along with Low, as you can see here)

Both men are partners in Abu Dhabi-Kuwait-Malaysia

Investment Corporation, of which Jho Low is a rep for,

as we’ve established already.

Otaiba is a prominent member of the United Arab Emirates inner

circle, while Sheikh Sabah is also a member of the ruling family of Kuwait.

Our King, and Terengganu Sultan, with the noble intentions

of increasing investments and opportunities within his state

and country, visited Kuwait and the Al Sabah family in December

2008, according to these Bernama pictures of the official visit.

What’s interesting is that Terengganu, as business circles know, has

formed its own Sovereign Wealth Fund.

This fund was reported late 2008 and early 2009 as

the Terengganu Investment Authority.

Its own CEO was sceptical at first too when he was asked to helm

TIA, as he had admitted here.

Many in the business scene also had doubts, as The Edge writes here.

Since then, TIA has transformed into the

1Malaysia Development Berhad, (whoah)

which has this written on this website,

1MDB forms equal-capital joint ventures in investments with high multipliers, especially energy, real estate, tourism and agribusiness. This business model is proven successful with an early indication of USD3 billion investments from the Middle East.

1MDB will continue to be swift in responding to rapid-changing global market, seizing opportunities before others do.

1MDB will have an initial funding of RM11 billion (USD3.13 billion). The first tranche of RM5 billion (USD1.7 billion) was raised in the capital market with the issuance of Islamic Medium Term Notes guaranteed by the Federal Government. 1MDB’s shareholders will determine the future funding for the balance.

That’s some big money.

Now. Here’s the thing. Wait a minute …

Is the last guy below in this Straits Times article, a Mr Joe Low,

the Jho Low merrymaking away in New York?

Joe Low

Another low-profile businessman, he was a key architect of a multibillion-ringgit sovereign wealth fund established by the state of Terengganu.

The fund, called the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA), has sparked controversy because it will be created using borrowed money and not existing capital held by the state. It will raise capital from a RM5 billion (S$2 billion) bond issue, which will be guaranteed by the Malaysian government.

Little is known of Penang-born Mr Low, who a TIA official said is an adviser to Malaysia’s King, Sultan Mizan, and has close ties with several Middle East investment funds.

Is this the same guy, or is this some typo and mega huge coincidence?

If so, are our leaders seriously backing this young man? (Well he is apparently

just 28 years old)

[By the way, these companies mentioned are also involved,

along with bigtimers Mubdala Group, in the

Iskandar Development Region too]

I had flashes of two Hollywood stories I’ve read before,

but I won’t put there here, interested parties can

e-mail me.

 

 

The bottom line is …

Mr Jho Low is involved in some very serious Malaysia-Abu Dhabi-Kuwaiti

business co-operation.

Big business, big deals.

I guess perhaps I should be envious that he is using his

millions anyway he wants, including flushing

it down his (as well as) Usher’s, Lindsay Lohan’s digestive

systems, or shopping and buying expensive homes in NY

if he so chooses.

Isn’t someone who goes all

out to impress extremely well-known, international super stars in

very popular hot spots in one of the flashiest, grandest cities in the

world with such aplomb, overkill and excess fair game for these

questions?

Or perhaps we are being too paranoid, when we

should just accept (albeit with some serious envy) that Low

is having some  holiday fun, with some wealthy friends in

New York, a city that we would all love to go buckwild in.

In the Post article it did say after all, that it’s his Kuwaiti

friend Hamad Alwazzan who is belanja-ing him.

Is he a genuine financial genius at 28-years-old who we should

take lessons from, or not?

Am I just very good at finding links but have got it all

wrong and am just super jealous that someone is living it up

in the great New York City?

All I know is I am awake at 7am, having not slept because of

this post.

Great.

All I know is that I love links.

It’s all there.

 

 

 

 

Now for the serious stuff:

Disclaimer:

[If you're going to comment on this post, jangan mencaci, mencarut or

give me nonsense. After all my research & linking above,

don't give me excrement or I will delete your entry. I reserve the right to

delete any comment for any reason whatsoever (abusive, profane, rude,

or anonymous comments) – so keep it polite, please.]

[Also, all the above are merely my opinions, & I am not responsible for the comments below. Yes.]

I’m catching up …

Apologies for the lack of posts. Need to clear somethings up

before November really begins in earnest … for me, at least.

At least my jetlag is finally (I think) dead and gone.

Jetlag is nature’s way of telling you “Cut the crap,

don’t fuss. Let your body and mind adjust to changes.”

It doesn’t feel like November in this country, truly.

Even though I have caught up with beloved family and

some dear friends ….

The pikupuff and kudapuff & I at Rootz. Seems a lifetime ago that Lot 10 was as happening.

With piku & kuda at Rootz. Seems a lifetime ago that Lot10 was as happening

IMG_1859

From left - Ro, Sharm, Arjen & Jasbir. I <3 this family. xo

…

I’m still thinking about two trips that have taught and inspired me

greatly this year. That’s the best thing about travel – when you

keep learning learning learning. I’ve learned so much from

America that I’ve been bursting with ideas since I got back.

Out of all the places we went, I must admit, I got most inspired

and learned most from New Orleans. (Yes, even though I

am dying to live in New York for a year or two)

I have to tell u ALL about this story ... but u must wait :) This is in New Orleans, with a woman who invited me into her home after I gawked & stared at her home for quite a bit LOL. She knows Brad Pitt ;)

Have to tell u ALL bout this story..but u must wait :) This is in NO, with a woman who invited me into her home after I shamelessly gawked at her home for ages. She knows Brad Pitt ;)

Ana & I ... at the Meatpacking District, NYC

Ana & I ... at the Meatpacking District, NYC

IMG_5620

My dear roadtrip buddies & I in Washington DC, at the end of our adventure. Sigh..

In front of Abe Lincoln's Memorial

Someone (unknowingly) became my model in front of Abe Lincoln's Memorial

And before that, a quieter, more reflective time …. I still remember this …

IMG_3799

At Long Lamai, Sarawak. I bathed in this river with my young friend Victoria (yes, Victoria :) for company

IMG_3827

That's her on the left & her cousin Kristiana, in front of their house

For those of who have not seen it, I wrote some articles on my

Penan and Long Banga trip which came out in The Nut Graph in October,

before I left for the US. You can read about them here , here and here .

But there are definitely more pictures I wish to share, here, soon enough.

Sometimes though, it aches to see these pictures. I remember how I felt

when they were taken.

Sometimes I feel more like the real me when I am away.

Some random points before I end:

-  Sometimes in this country of ours, I wonder if certain dastardly acts are

pure and intended evil &/or corruption, or if a big part of it is people just

well … f*cking up. Seriously.

A series of Ooops, Aiyaks and a startling acceptance of Kebodohan

Melampau or Ape-ape sajelah. Perhaps it is ‘Fight Ineptitude’ we should be

aiming for.

-  Is it normal to suddenly get turned off by friends when their heads

get too big? But you were so much more attractive & lovelier when

you were more humble, sweethearts.

-   I’ve been thinking (or having to face thoughts) about bullying,

intimidation, revenge and forgiveness for quite a bit recently.

It’s made me seriously question what I believe in, and whether I have

the strength to commit to principles I hold dear.  I never, ever thought

I’d allow myself to be bullied. Would/have you?

-   I really miss having dogs. Think it’s that unconditional love thang.

xo