Checklist

Before i leave to Australia, there are things which i've thoroughly observed during my days, months and years in Malaysia. It's cool to know that Malaysian hold strongly to their 'truly Asia' motto and it's impossible to have Malaysian change their attitudes towards certain issues. Great! At least true Malaysian knows what it means to scream out 'Malaysia Boleh'. Well, on second thoughts, i was just wondering, should it be 'Malaysia Boleh' or 'Malaysia Mana Boleh'.

Here is a checklist on what does it takes to be a true Malaysian. This checklist is divided by a few different catagories.

1. You are a true Malaysian if....

(In the PUTRA LRT)

a) you pretend to que up. And when the train comes, you zoom pass everyone in line to get a sit on the nearest empty seats available. (2 points)

b) you do not care whether if there's someone behind you. You flip your hair as if you are starring in a shampoo commercial. Honestly, your hair stinks. (2 points + 2 points bonus)

c) you do not care if there's anyone standing behind you. You step on their feet and pretend nothing happened. (2 points + 2 points bonus)

d) you do not look around to see whether there are any disable or elderly people, nor do you care to aknowledge the woman standing in front of you is pregnant. As long as you are comfortable in your seat, nothing else matters. (2 points + 3 points bonus)

e) you speak as if there is no tomorrow. The Putra LRT is like your home and you talk in a voice as if everyone around you are family. (2 points + 2 points bonus)

f) you know the train is fool, but you still want to stuck your fat arse into it. (2 points + 4 points).

2. You are a true Malaysian when you...

(In shopping malls)

a) walk as if you are the queen of the shopping mall or supermarket. Translation: You walk slowly without knowing there are people behind you. (4 points)

b) you scream out loud so that everyone can hear ... 'wow, it's 70% off'!!' . The eyes can see, so there is no need for further information. (2 points + 2 points bonus)

c) dress up really nicely to impress everyone in the shopping mall. Translation: your spare tyres are conspicuous and you don't give a damn about those extra pounds you've put on. (2 points)

d) you think you own the walkway of the shopping mall. Translation: you bang into everyone that walks in your way without even having the courtesy of saying 'excuse me'. Is that so hard to do? (2 points + 4 points bonus)

3. You are a true Malaysian when you

(in the cinema)

a) bring in toddlers who have no seat-trainning or silence-when-you-are-in-the-movies tranning. They walk around, jump, scream, cry and whatever you can think of, but you don't give a damn cause you think they are so cute and just an infant. (2 points + 10 points bonus)

b) scream loudly when you see a ghost coming on screen... and .... swear at the top of your lungs! (2 points + 5 points bonus)

c) talk on the handphone, pretending noone's around you. (2 points + 3 points bonus)

d) munch on your popcorn, junk food, slurp on your drink and crunching your chocolate rappers without concern of the noise that you are contributing to the surroundings. (2 points + 3 points bonus)

e) shake your legs without knowing that you are disturbing the one in front of you, beside you and well, behind you (to a certain extent). (2 points)

f) come in fashionably late and stand in the middle of the path, checking out how far the movie went and how much you've missed before coming in an hour late. (2 points+4 points)

g) make out in the cinema like no body's business. (5 points)

4. You are a true Malaysian when you

(on the road)

a) don't even bother to put on your car signal to indicate which side you'll be turning into. (2 points)

b) pretend that your Proton Wira or Proton Satria is a racing car and drive at a speed of 120 - 160 kmh. (2 points)

c) drive really slowly (30-50kmh) on a freeway knowing that there are no cars infront of you. (2 points + 3 points for being inconsiderate)

d) flashes the car infront of you when you are a few feet away, not even close to banging. It's like a car can just slip in infront of you. (2 points + 3 points)

e) put on a signal without realising that you are misleading people into thinking you'll be zooming to the right or the left. And when you notice it, you left a million frustrated people who were considerate enough to drive slowly, thinking that you'll do a left or right turn any time soon. (2 points + 6 points)

f) zoom pass a right light or drives real slowly when you see the green light a head of you. (2 points + 10 points bonus)

g) occupy 2 lanes without knowing that you frustrate people behind you. (3 points)

5. You are a true Malaysian when you...

(in a parking lot)

a) park at the nearest illegal parking space so that you don't have to walk a distance. (Found mostly in shopping malls, LRT stations and on the roadside). (2 points + additional 5 points)

b) double park not even giving a damn whether the car next to you or infront of you will be getting out soon. (4 points)

c) snatch a parking space when it belongs to a patiently-waiting driver who comes in the right direction. Obviously, you were from the wrong direction and you do not even give a damn. (2 points + 4 points additional for being superb drivers)

d) do not even give a damn whose car you are blocking. You just park at your own risk and knowing that your car was brutally 'terrorized' after you come back from your shopping. Guess what, you have noone but yourself to blame. (5 points + 10 addtitional points)

See, being a true Malaysian just means that everything we do, we tend to ignore the consequences. We do not care the people we've irritated, annoyed or angered. We care for ourselves and that is what matters most in life. Hey, last but not least, it is a dog eat dog world and there is no such thing as caring and sharing in the Malaysian dictionary. As foreigners come into the country, we show peace and our smiles right up to our faces, that is all it matters. After they are gone, we just make sure they are fine with the hospitality, and know what, tomorrow, we'll be the true Malaysians again who are forever ignorant and least caring.

Keep up the good work Malaysians.

Town

Just as the town said goodbye,
I turned to the other side,
Saw your face just in time,
Not a sound you made,
But a lonely cry.

I walked my way back to the start,
No I can’t,
Impossible as now it sounds,
But true to heart,
Never once I left a single word before goodbye.

Nonsense,
The town I left behind.
Could it be no one’s alive by the time I got around?
Nonsense,
It’s quite now inside,
I failed to see the weakness in this town.

So much for the memories of this town,
It seems I lost my favorite spot,
No need to look back,
As now everything is lost.
I want back my town,
My love,
My forever…

My Laptop's Gone!

I would like to write another episode of dumb drivers on the road and i was just thinking to myself, "hey, if i do, most of us will get insulted as we are dumb drivers in one way or another". Well, but this does not stop me from saying that Malaysian drivers need to work on their driving habits and hopefully that they know the simple rules before driving on the road.

Robbery and theft are on the rise now. I guess it's because of the christmas season where most Malaysians are getting their handsome payments and are obvious targets to many of the robbers and theives out there. My uncle was a victim of theft the other day when he was in Taman Tun. Today, my aunt's house was broken into and my laptop has been stolen. It's pretty horrendous to know that robbery and thefts are part and parcel of the Malaysian culture. Scary as it seems but it's just life and it does go on whether or not it's an acceptable deed.

Reminiscence is bliss

There are many things holding me back. Nothing… no memories I wish to let go at the moment. Every experienced that I’ve lived through from the days of my college years till the time I work, nothing… absolutely nothing that I wish to forget. Maybe some burden memories or two, but the others, there are just too many, are just pure sweetness and enjoyment.

Note: I’ll be flying off to Australia soon.

It’s a little disturbing to know what I’ll miss when I’m gone.

Zeck: My most lovable, special one who has and will still be there for me even though the distance between us will be much more wider for the months or even years to come. However, assurance could be made that my love will never fade.

Eddie: I seriously miss you being in my car and also the times we spent talking to each other about you-know-what. However, we have not been doing that that often now. I was so glad you agreed to come watch Harry Potter with Zeck and I.

Fikri: The King of Lame has somehow never fail to brighten up my day every morning/afternoon/ even at night. Will miss all the lame jokes you’ve made, and keep most of them in heart and, hopefully, will never forget them.
(Just want to thank you for inviting me to your open house, and I’m really sorry, again, that I couldn’t make it. Guess what, among my Malay friends, you are the first who actually called to invite me to your open house. Thank you so much, I really do feel appreciated.)

Eva: My most in need friend, always on the demand. Happy to have gotten close to you after a semester of trying to get to know each other and 3 semester for being stuck in the same, stuffy lecture hall. It is great hanging out with you, especially when Zeck, Yasir and Ayushna are there to bitch endlessly (okay, it’s a bit too much to use that word, but what the hack… that’s what we do most of the time!).
(It’s the first time being invited to a birthday party… again, I feel very appreciated. However, sad to say that I won’t be there and hope that you’ll have a great birthday! But, I will make it up to you, don’t you fret!)

Kel Li: My sweetheart. It has been great getting to know you better after the Penang trip and YES! I still want to go on a vacation like the good old times. This time, hopefully we can stay a little longer (1 week). Hopefully you’ll be able to come to Aussie soon and there will be much bonding!

Simon: Thanks for being there whenever I want someone to talk to. However, it has been long since we last have a thorough conversation about God. Call me and fill me in about what you’ve find out further about the Bible. I would so love to listen!

Will I ever get to embrace life in Australia when life here is so fulfilling and that leaving it somehow seem so difficult all of a sudden. Firstly, I was so eager to take the next step into a life that I will soon embrace, and the past that I will soon try not to forget. However, memories just tails from behind, and now, it is side by side as I stand. I want to smile at those memories and put them in heart and mind, but besides of smiling, I ended up crying. I cried because I know, after another 2 months, I’ll have to say goodbye to what is now and look forward to what’s next. Some may think I’m being silly, but it’s hard to let go of something that was once yours and now, they are just memories for you to dwell on and hopefully that there will come a day, with God’s approval, that I can live through my memories once again.

Life in Monash wasn’t easy, nor was it tough. There were some stressful moments; happy moments; agonizing moments, and enjoyment. Whatever it is, it just kept me going and it mold me into a better person. From a person from a little town right to the North of KL, to a city girl who acknowledge the fact of being book-smart is never enough; from a person who does not have many friends, to someone who cherished every moment available to be together with a bunch of people who share common interests; from someone who thought that love was just an illusion that never existed in life, but ended up falling for someone lovable and passionate and lastly, from someone who thinks that life is all about looking at the four walls somehow just came out of that conservative space and into the world of busy streets, endless chatters and just have a leisurely walk in a park with a friend or enjoying lunch in a mall.

There are just so much I want to write down as I sat here, near the window that I truly love looking out towards an old tree where orangey-yellowish flower blossoms, I’m just reminiscing back when I first came into Monash. An amateur who doesn’t even know Chillies, T.G.I Fridays, or even Italianis existed till the day I step foot into Monash. It may seem humorous, but I’m serious. Wherever the wind may take me, all I know is, it will never blow my memories away!

EXP: Kampung Chang Lama

I wanted so much to write about my experience in Kampung Chang Lama (Orang Asli Village in Bidor), but, i couldn't find much time as i'm working in the morning and fast asleep during the evening. Well, since that my supervisor is not here to take a peak on what i'm doing, so i guess i'll just take this golden apportunity to write a thing or two.

Well, it has been a really great experience for me and i thank Sze Ning for going through all the trouble to get us there for a visit.

I guess every single detail has been jotted down by Aaron in his blog (www.xanga.com/cyclonewipeout). Well, as i've said earlier on, it has been a great experience and i guess words wouldn't express how much i feel for the village. Just imagine living in a place where cold water is all you get when you want a bath and the rumah adat will be your only choice of accomodation. I must say that i love it there... being someone who truly adores nature, i love the sounds of insects coming out to play at night, and on early mornings, you'll hear the chickens crow as a wake up call at around 5.30 in the morning, then at 6.30 again. You'll never have the chance to hear this in the city. Well, maybe when you are staying near to a kampung.

Something strange happened at night at around 2.30am. According to Rieta, a presence was around the area and she heard dogs howling. I guess many of us heard it. I was freezing and i couldn't sleep the whole night because of the lingery presence which i know of and also my nose was giving me problems. Well, i guess what led to the mysterious presence was when we were shooting a 'pontianak' film in the lavatory. Even though the film was pretty hilarious to most of us, but it is a serious problem for the villagers. Now, we are just thinking whether to proceed with the film or just leave it as it is without editing or making it into a film. In my opinion, i guess we must need the villagers consent in order to edit this as we wouldn't want to step in anyone's tail and having ourselves breathing in the air of hostilities when we were to return to the village.

Personally, i do not believe in such things as a lingery presence, but, after the experience i came across while sleeping in the rumah adat, somehow i believe that some beliefs must be respected even though you don't believe in it. Oh well, i guess this is pretty much what i've been through and seriously, it was an amazing trip and a trip to be remembered. When i depart to Australia next year, i would love to have the chance to visit the Aboriginals in Australia and again, get to experience the way of life of the Aborigines.

Bad Day

Basically, i was having a very bad day today and truely, i don't want to talk about it. But, most definately... i want a blue sky holiday!!

Title of song: Bad Day
Artist: Daniel Powter

Where is the moment we need at the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to grey
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces everytime
And I don't need no carryin' on

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Well you need a blue sky holiday
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on

You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day

(Oh.. Holiday..)

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong
So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I

You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Life!

I was just wondering how many of you could just blog till the break of dawn. Wondering how you guys always get the inspiration to write and update your blog frequently with a blink of an eye. I am starting to question my own abilities on whether i'm able to blog much further as i've ran out of things to say.

I'm feeling a little piss off now as i just found out that my pc does not have 'I Tunes', well, this bascially means that i am screwed... i have not started typing out the assignment for Sheila and am not very sure whether the wave file that i've saved in my disc will be able to play on her PC. If it would not budge, i guess my whole group will be screwed.

Basically i have nothing much to say and that i still have two more papers to go before i step foot into the holidays... well yeah, at is as if... i need to work. Oh well, should i or should i not be complaining. Two extremely weird nature about humans is that they complain whenever there are things to be done, and whenever there is nothing to do, they complain of bordem. Ah well, this is basically life of being a human. I wonder if animals complain to other animals of them just lazing around and waiting for their master to provide them with shelther and food. Ah well, why am i starting to crap anyways. Sorry people, no further update on my boring, yet to be explored, ... life!

LDP - Speed Limit

I'm not sure how far this is true but please do take note, you wouldn't want to be caught just like that right?!

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Dear All,

SPEED LIMIT - LDP

Please note that effective today the LDP highway speed limit will be monitored by the CCTV. The speed limit is 90 kmh and if you go above that at 91 kmh, the camera will auto record and pass to police.

The few identified areas where the CCTV is monitoring are as follows:

1) on the overhead pedestrian bridge in front of Kelana Jaya LRT station, monitoring the straight stretch

2) Somewhere near Western Digital (CCTV might be on Western Digital), monitoring the straight stretch in front of the Kelana Jaya Seafood

3) On IKEA, Monitoring straight stretch in front of IKEA and 1 Utama

4) On the double overhead bridge, monitoring the stretch between the Puchong toll and the Federal Highway turnoff.

5) In the tunnel near SS2 (please note that the speed limit is 60 kmh, not 90 kmh) Please let your friends know.

Please note.

Forever (Poem)

Forever found a way to turn its back on me,
I cried knowing the fact this is all it seems,
No matter how hard I try to find a scene,
It never will fit both you and me.

It’s gruesome,
I know,
But I never stop to wonder.
My life was shattered almost in an instance.
Forever came and gone once again.
On September night,
Right after your smile fades away.

What I really meant to say,
Is that I’m sorry I ever said,
I am who I am in your eyes,
I am what I am in your sight.
What I wish I could say,
Is that I’m sorry that it comes a day,
Where forever tumble off its way,
Back in the month of May,
Where it all started in dismay.

Forever - never will happen

I sat on my bed and wondered; what life may be like when one speaks of “forever”. I have not known “forever” in context of being in a relationship, but after knowing him and having the chance of a life time, I finally saw “forever” in his eyes. However, what I wished I could have “forever” will never come true as religion is seen to be the biggest barrier for the relationship to go on.

In the book that I was reading, about the women of China, I came across a chapter where a woman was heart broken to know that after four years of infatuating her one true love and awaiting for his arrival after a long time of separation, just came to find out that he was engaged to another in a reunion party. I was just thinking to myself, if one sees “forever” and feels “forever”, one’s hopes and dreams can be shattered “forever” when things does not work out in the future.

I feel insecure all over again tonight, just to know the fact that “forever” could only be seen in his eyes but the love that needs nurturing will somehow stop in the matter of years to come. When you once thought you will be holding and cherishing a lover so dearly to you for life, but somehow, the fact of being together “forever” will only have a slight chance of being granted.

During lunch today, I found out that I was one of the happiest woman on earth sitting in front of my love while dinning Chinese cuisine with him. Just love the way he uses his chopsticks while trying his best to pick up the vegetables from the dishes. Can I have that view “forever”? I love it when he tries so hard to speak a word of Chinese and it never fails to make me laugh my senses off, but, could I have that “forever”? Sometimes in life, what’s before you can seem to be beautiful, but what stays ugly is that to know the fact that it’s just momentarily or temporary beauty before you to admire and cherish.

I don’t want to be a victim of a life-time heartache. I wouldn’t even want the clock to tick the very next moment to tell me that it is a minute to the next hour. I don’t want time to fly when I’m with him, or have his goodbyes said to me like it meant an end to an afternoon meeting. I just want time to freeze its ticking when we are alone; just want him all to myself in a room and most of all, I want to know that he can give me “forever”.

“Forever” can be seen as a word that does not holds faithful to its meaning. When one speaks of "forever", she/he means for all future time. However, when I speak of something to be “forever”, what I really meant it to be is that it only holds memories of what will be temporal in reality but will stay ever lasting in the corner of my mind.

I’ve been reading a book written by Xinran on the women of China and couldn’t stop thinking of how many other hidden voices are there in the world today. There are women being abused each and everyday without anyone noticing. Even though one may notice of the continuous abuse, but can one step up to report the incident? Rapes and abusive stories had been circulated through out the media everyday and nothing is done to prevent these from happening as, first of all, the government could not control the entire population in a country and secondly, no one actually dares, not even me, to step up and bravely report the incidences of abuse in the neighbourhood.

I was just flipping through the Time magazine one night and an article caught my attention all of a sudden. The article entitled ‘Fighting Feudalism’ caught my very attention. I read it through and a feeling of disgust just lingered in my heart. My heart cried out to the women in rural areas of Pakistan where, until today, believe in tribal punishment or tribal justice. I just couldn’t understand why, until today, men still uses their ‘reproductive system’ (scientifically speaking) on women in order to show their supremacy. In the days of war, rape was not seen as an activity to satisfy one’s sexual pleasures or lust, but it was a tool to show once victory over another’s land and even a way to strip off an honour of a women as well as declaring victory over the community’s enemy. Women were seen as a weak-link, as men were seen to be superior right up till today.

A little inside on how the tribal justice is done in the rural areas of Pakistan

One may say it’s disgusting or inhumane to one so fragile and vulnerable, but the fact is, these things are still going on around the world and again, they remained hidden. For instance, tragedy in a household where mother-in-laws burnt their daughter-in-laws to death because found looking or speaking to other men besides the husband in Bangladesh. Repetitive stories on rape in a household or by a close one are always circulated in newspapers. What is the world coming at today?

Back to my point, women were dehumanized in Pakistan just because an offensive act was done to another person of another household. Taking a narrative from the article, Mudassan and Mumtaz were raped because one of their family members “dishonoured” another villager. The penalty for the dishonoring caused to another villager will be that women of the offender’s family will be raped by the men of the household who were offended. I don’t see justice in this, rather, I see inhumane and uncivilized beast roaming central Pakistan. Only one woman, Mai, who was brave enough to step up to protest against the inhumane activity, others chose to remain quite because they do not want to offend the village council. Like men, women have pride and honour; and like men, women are supposed to be guarded in a country.

To faithful readers of mine,

Seriously sorry for not updating my blog cause i've been busy with assignments as well as presentations. Well even though i'm not busy with these things... i'm just being plain lazy and ran out of words to say on my blog. I wish all of you the best of health and hopefully i get to write more entries in time to come.

Civilization

From a thousand miles I heard a scream,
A scream that shaken the world from within.
The shadow rises, the sea roared with hunger,
What's happening now as life's distorted?

No one seem to be able to answer me,
Times I've spent analysing this basic theme,
Times I've spent focusing on what's worth,
Now ages seem so far away,
Civilization has its price to pay.

What's there more for us to know?
People are drowning as no one wants to float.
History has been repeating itself from the beginning,
Judgment day's here, where will they be hiding?

Pieces of wood feel into the depths of the ocean,
Sets the earth rumbling in a pathetic notion.
I saw civilization staring at non-existence,
History and civilization were just mere cousins.

Say goodbye to the day of untold tales,
Embrace the world of what seems to be real,
Live life to the fullest with no hesitation,
As you'll never know what's next that gets you going.

Freedom... the word of non-existance

What exactly is freedom? A friend of mine once told me that there is no such thing of freedom on earth. Well, what he said was pretty much sensible. Just think of being in a world with nothing to choose from; no decisions to make in the life you are living in; and no need for food and drink… now that’s what freedom is all about which is, do no choice at all. Think about it, one can never have freedom as they have no choice but to breath to live the next second of his/her life.

I feel like a fly trapped in an empty container, hoping to find a way out of this enclosed space. I don’t know when I could find an opening to fly away from this misery. All I know is that if I were to find an opening, the distance that I can fly to may not be far before I get locked up once again.

Ironic isn’t it when life knows no freedom. No freedom of choice and no freedom of speech. What you need to know is guarded, what you need to follow is always stated there in the book of rules and regulations. Whichever corner you turn to, a barrier will be there to prevent you from knowing what’s going to happen at the other side. All you know is that by the time you are granted freedom is on the day of your death itself. Well, not as certain yet of course as by then, you’ll be on your journey to either heaven or hell… *tee-hee* (of course, if these two places exist in your vocabulary, then you wouldn’t have the freedom to choose which place you will go to as God will be the judge).

I’ve been through times of perturb these days and I wouldn’t want to blame it on anybody. I wish that sometimes people could just keep a distance in the difficulties that I am facing. It is good to care, but it is entirely wrong to interfere when one does not need help in hoping to make their own decisions. Sometimes in life, even as a teenager, we need to have the given space and time to make our own decisions; mistakes and learn to mend it. I don’t see why, being a 20 year old, everything and every move made must be well thought and well taught by parents and others around me. Why can’t I be given the opportunity to learn from my own mistakes and hopefully to mature in the process? I don’t see how others’ supervision is going to take me to places but to only have me become cowardice to take my own risk in life. Advice may help once in a while, but again, the consequences that need to be encountered will be up to the person to live it through.

Think about it, a teenager afraid to drive on the road just because his or her parents think that their daughter or son will be next to contribute to the statistics of road accidents.

I wish I was given the chance to work wherever I want; travel around the globe alone on a plane; go backpacking across the country; prove to myself that I am capable of any risk and that I can learn from the mistakes I make. Am I still that young? Aren’t 20 the age of pure maturity? Isn’t it the age of risk taking and also the age of learning how to live independently on earth? It is true that a child should always be interdependent to parents, but, a child needs to grow out from his or her diapers and into the world of reality.

My mind is full of thoughts right now and I find it hard to put my troubles to rest. I guess I’ll just close my eyes and count to 10 till I doze off to sleep. All I know is that I would not want to be a fly which is caught in a container to await for my own death to make me part from the earth.

Anxiety Hits the Boiling Point

Our love is like an unsteady boat on an ocean,
When it rocks one of us is bound to fall over.
Like the promises you made and broken them always,
I’m sick of you breaking the promises you made.

Buy me love and tell me it is not from you,
I don’t mind as I’ve falling out of love for what is true.
I see unhappiness in the relationship we are in,
You promise me forever, but it will never stay till the end.

I figured out a speech,
It’s directed to your heart.
Don’t ask me what it means,
You know it well enough.

Look into my eyes and say that you love me,
Never once it came true nor did authenticity show its meaning.
I’m fed up with the world I’m living in.
My love for you is now constantly declining.

Through times I need you, you went to another.
Like I wouldn’t mind, but I did, you’ll never know the other.
It’s not like my broken heart meant anything to you,
It’s that girl you always think that you will never be together.

Stop this junk and say that you love her.
It’s not like I never knew the truth for that moment.
I wouldn’t cry nor scream in anxiety,
Just wish I could go on without these sufferings.

The boat we are in will always be unstable,
Who will fall off? That we shall see in an instant.
I admit defeat; you can walk away from my life now.
I wouldn’t want to see myself in front of your eyes ever.

Let's see... i'm sick and tired of editing my templates, so i came down to a decision of using a standard (so-called) template so that i don't have to go about editing HTML codes and make it difficult for my faithful readers.

I'm glad to be back in KL after a long, 3 weeks, boring holiday back in Ipoh where Aaron Kam and Jun Ling weren't there to serve my bordem, so i guess i just got to come back a week earlier so that i could spend time with Zeck and a couple of my friends. Yo, Alexandra, seriously sorry couldn't meet up with you gurl... well, you know right, when you are in a relationship, priorities, responsibilities and commitment will immdediately come first. I'm sure you'll understand as now you have Paul (*winkz*).

Freak.. i hated my results... the worst ever i've gotten since my days in Monash. Sharks... how can i just got a pass for Authorship and Writing when i really well know that i did pretty well for the finals... maybe it could be as what Debbie puts it 'What's good for you may not be good for the examiner'. So i guess i got to be a little thankful as to not failing the exam. Let what people always say, failing doesn't mean the end of the world yet. Guess what's most dissapointing in life is that when a person fails to achieve something, they just give up and never carry on. That's what 'Loser' on foreheads are for... for people who doesn't know how to appreciate their mistakes to correct them and move on with life. I just don't want to be that loser and i very well want to prove to myself that failing to get what i want will never diminish my confidence in reaching what i want in life itself... and that of course, will be 'success'.

This also goes out to the people who think they didn't do well in the exams. It's just life that nothing seems perfect and that also getting good grades does not even determine what will happen in life later on after graduation. Guess we do not need to always compare ourselves to what others get for their results, just have to be satisfied with what we achieved and to learn how to move on in life without crying over spilled milk. Thanks Zeck for being by my side when i was so upset the other day over my results.

The Harry Potter craze is back in town. Well, it is pretty predictable to say that at about 6 am sharp, there will be people lining outside Times, Borders, Popular and even MPH to get their hands on the new Harry Potter book - Harry Potter and the Half Blooded Prince. Oh well... i do love reading it but not that crazy as to crawl out of bed early in the morning to get my hands on the book. Besides, i still do not have the money yet. Oh well, anyone would like to loan me some cash without interest needed? I can do with RM50 *grinz*. Oh well, i guess i got to wait for a month before i can get the book as i am still reading Susan Elizabeth Phillip's 'Ain't She Sweet?'. However, my enthusiasm is still on Harry Potter.

Oh... sorry for taking away the tagboard. I'm still cracking my brains to remember some of your blog pages. So please do send me a comment with the URL of your blog again, thank you.

I’ve been having bad dreams once in a while during the holidays and couldn’t really find a person to talk to. I relied on my pet brother (Jun Ling), but he has to go back to Australia for his following semester. Didn’t really get a chance to go out with him as he is busy renewing his visa and all, as for me, I’m left fighting my boring weekdays and weekends and finding the best way to survive!

I’m currently reading a book by Pat Barker entitled ‘Another World’. Well, it is interesting and it is mostly about supernatural stuff that happens in the present and the past. I’m closing in the conclusion, but, whenever I wanted to go on reading till the very end, my eye lids get really heavy and I stop at each ending chapters. Honestly, I am not the bookworm I use to be. During the years of my primary and secondary days, I can read a book till late morning and takes a two hours nap before school. Guess I’m just being plain lazy and it all occurs from the boring days I’ve been living in and I am looking forward for uni to reopen so that it could put a temporary end to my loneliness and boredom.

Besides of rambling about my boredom back in Ipoh, Debbie has now flown to Australia and I am already missing her a lot. In Uni, I treat her like my very own sister, but just to know the fact that she won’t be around to discuss work with me seriously sucks! I’m feeling guilty as I have not been able to meet up with her during the holidays to have lunch with her or even go with her for a movie. I guess I had been selfish and that I’ve so wanted to be back in Ipoh as I have left Ipoh for a couple of 3 months without coming back for a visit. I miss home but it is not a home to be permanently engaged in. Don’t get me wrong, my family has been supportive for the past few years of my life, but sometimes, the just expect too much from me that I feel like my whole future is tumbling right in front of my very eyes. Especially my dad, he expects me to know every single details of affair happening all around the globe. The questions he asked could sometimes be intimidating. Why can’t he see the fact that non-geniuses are not always to be labeled as dumb? When he asks a question that needs much thought, all he does is just give me seconds to answer before he shouts ‘how can you not know the answer after so many years of education?’ I admit, I’m never good in math, so if he was to ask a question that needs much calculation done, I expect him to give me a minute or two for me to have it done on paper. So unfair!

Sometimes, I’m just ignorant to what the papers have to say because everything that I’ve read in papers is all just a bunch of bull-shits. Nonsense, scandalous affairs, and up-to-no-good wars; I’m fully aware that it is part of my daily life routine, and that is to read the news as I am studying mass communication. Well, the truth can be experienced and seen through with our own naked eyes and our instincts and intuition. I don’t have to read the newspaper tomorrow morning to know that there is another rape suspect on the loose. Don’t mind me saying, our papers had been a cliché in life.

No Room For Commenting

I guess this time there is no room for commenting. Well don't ask why... somehow, i just learn a new way to srew up the whole HTML codes and i guess i'll just try to figure out what's the next move to try inserting my 'commentary HTML codes'. Oh well, the tag board's still there for you to comment on my page... so feel free doing so. Again, so sorry for the tiny wording, as if i can help it, the font is actually constrain by the skin of the blog itself.

FedEx all the way

It's an uncanny feeling right on for Andy Roddick in yesterday's Wimbeldon match against Roger Federer. And yet again, deja vu has its way around and Federer beat Roddick 6-2, 7-6, 6-4. I stayed up the whole night just to watch 2 matches and told myself... 'guess i do not have to sit for the whole match to know who's going to win'. It is another cliche for the tennis world as Federer stays unbeaten for 3 consecutive time. Oh well, he wouldn't be known as FedEx for nothing right? Credit goes to him and my salutes!

Lesson that i will bare in mind for life

I learnt a lesson today and that is, in a relationship, sometimes you can never have the things you hope to have but to only hope for the best. It is important to give and hope that whatever you gave are much cherishable by your partner.

Loving a person only means that you are learning to give unconditional love without hoping for anything in return. That is how you see things in a brighter manner and avoid getting hurt when disappointment comes your way.

Note: May be thinking of closing down this blog and put an end to my ramblings. I may start a new blog when i go over to Australia next year.

Life House - Everything

Artist: Life House
Title: Everything

I’m finding my way back to sanity again
Though I don’t really know what I’m gonna do
When I get there...Take a breath and hold on tight
And spin around one more time
And gracefully fall back to the arms of grace

’cause I’m hanging on every word you say
And even if you don’t wanna speak tonight
That’s alright, alright with me
’cause I want nothing more
Than to sit outside heaven’s door
And listen to you breathing
It’s where I wanna be, yeah
Where I wanna be...

I’m looking past the shadows in my mind
Into the truth and i’m
Trying to identify the voices in my head
God, I wish it were you
Let me feel one more time what it
Feels like to feel alive
And break these callouses off of me one more time

’cause I’m hanging on every word you say
And even if you don’t wanna speak tonight
That’s alright, alright with me’cause I want nothing more
Than to sit outside your door
And listen to you breathing
It’s where I wanna be, yeah-ah...

I don’t want a thing from youI bet you’re tired of me
Waiting for the scraps to fall off
Of your table to the ground...
’cause I just wanna be here now...

’cause I’m hanging on every word you say
And even if you don’t wanna speak tonight
That’s alright, alright with me
’cause I want nothing more
Than to sit outside heaven’s door
And listen to you breathing
It’s where I wanna be, yeah...

’cause I’m hanging on every word you say
And even if you don’t wanna speak tonight
That’s alright, alright with me
’cause I want nothing more
Than to sit outside heaven’s door
And listen to you breathing
It’s where I wanna be, yeah
Where I wanna be...
Where I wanna be...

Sick and Tired

My anger has been projected in this poem itself.

I’m sick and tired of noises in my head,
Tried breaking free but I end up in the same old place,
I ran to the ocean just to see a carousel right in front of my face,
Tried to stop it, but it wouldn’t budge a single bit.

Screams so irritating caused by a fight,
Shut up, shut up, if you care.
I couldn’t take this misery anymore,
I couldn’t stand a day crying without any sleep.

A light shines through a life which is pathless,
What’s the point when my life is darkened?
The sea roars symbolizing my life of roughness,
I couldn’t stand a chance with this life of nonsense.

Could anyone cry out to me?
I need to be save from this misery.
Broken hearts and endless lies,
Stop it now, please, I want to stop my cries!

The carousel wouldn’t stop,
My life is an endless spinning.
There is no air which I could take,
It has been robbed,
The world around me,
Just an endless shaking.
I want to be back again,
Back to the door of peace.

Life House - Sick Cycle Carousel

Something terrible happened last night, and i seriously don't want to talk about it even though someone asks to clarify what happened. All i can say is that, i kept listening to this song by life house titled 'Sick Cycle Carousel'. This song has been booming in my mind since yesterday night. It's sick... but it's what i feel. It's what everyone in my family feels after yesterday!

Artist: Life House
Title: Sick Cycle Carousel

If shame had a face I think it would kind of look like mine
If it had a home would it be my eyes
Would you believe me if I said I am tired of this
Well here we go one more time

I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how low I could get down to the ground
I tried to earn my wayI tried to change this mind
You better believe that I tried to beat this

So when will this endIt goes on and on
And over and over and over again
Keep spinning around I know that it won’t stop
Till I step down from this for good

I never thought I’d end up here
I never thought I’d be standing where I am
I guess I kind of thought it would be easier than this
I guess I was wrong now one more time
Cause I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how low I could get down to the groundI
tried to earn my wayI tried to change this mind
You better believe that I tried to beat this,

So when will this end
It goes on and on
And over and over and over again
Keep spinning around I know that it won’t stop
Till I step down from this

Sick cycle carousel, this is a sick cycle, yeah
Sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle yeah

So when will this end
It goes on and on
And over and over and over again
Keep spinning around I know that it won’t stop
Till I step down from this for good
When will this end
It goes on and on
And over and over and over again
Keep spinning around I know that it won’t stop
Till I step down from this for good

Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel

I got a call one night from a friend of mine and she told me that Jing and Nigel will be visiting me. Those are the two really good friends of mine whom i met during my 1st semester in Taylor's College and we became very very close friends from then on. I'm seriously happy to have a friend like them as they are the ones who always keep their word.

After my exams, i smsed Jing and told him that i've already finished my exam and was sorry that i could not be in KL to meet up with him. Well, he just told me to not worry so much and that he will be coming to IPoh to meet up with me instead. At first, i thought that he was just joking... but, didn't know that he actually kept to his word. Amazingly Nigel came along. Had pretty much fun with them, and not forgetting Yin Ching.

We drove all over Ipoh... doing something which are out of the mind for instance, visiting the mental asylum and going into restricted areas of the mall and even driving around the car park of Jusco. Oh boy... we even went to visit the lost world, and again, drove around the car park, not to find for parking space (there were only about 30-40 cars in a car park which can hold up to 200-500 cars) but for fun. We went to furniture shops to look around and started visualizing what our house whould be like and what we want to bring over to Manchester, Australia and Ireland. Wanted so much to go for a round of karaoke, but i guess most of us couldn't sing haha.

The fun was that we went to town to have White Coffee, and sitting in the coffee shop for about an hour talking about life in Ireland, Manchester and KL. Nigel and I was basically criticising on Monash's life... Nigel's lucky as he is already going to Aussie for his further education. Well, both of us couldn't wait for the Australian Tennis Open and Commonwealth games to be held next year in Aussie.

I haven't had much fun in Ipoh as Ipoh is a seriously boring place. Anywayz, thanks to Nigel, Jing, and Yin Ching. You guys really brighten up my life in IPoh.

Reincarnation

Another boring afternoon where there is nothing much to do; nothing to look forward to. I just stayed home after lunch just to watch the tree outside my window. Unfortunately, it have not even blossomed one bit. To ease my boredom, I just went into my dad’s study room to check out what’s on Discovery Channel. Out of the blue, not very frequently, someone will just decide to talk about reincarnation and have it as a documentary. I am not sure about everyone, but I personally don’t believe in reincarnation. When a person dies, there are only two places one will go to… hell or heaven.

The stories projected in this documentary called ‘Past Stories: Stories of Reincarnation’ was pretty *cough* interesting. For a person who is not strong in the Christian faith may be blinded by the fact that reincarnation existed during the olden days and that heaven and hell was just another fantasy that someone can relate to. I do not have doubts nor do I question much on my beliefs. If Christ clearly stated that by Faith I shall be save, then so be it. I wouldn’t want to argue the fact that God gives a second chance to be reincarnated and to have a second chance in life. Well, maybe at times a person will stare into the eyes of death, but never come close to begging God for a second chance after he is put to death by God’s willing.

Anyways, again, was pretty bored this afternoon so I just sat through the whole one hour, listening and watching the documentary on the stories of reincarnation. There were two breathtaking case studies discussed about and it is actually pretty interesting to know. Can this be true, it’s all base on one’s perception and judgment. No unnecessary condemnation is allowed.

Sri Lanka is a place where reincarnation is strongly believed and commonly talked about. There was a girl name Dilukshi living in a small area who told her parents about how she had drowned in her previous life before she was born in her current home. Her mom was pretty frustrated with her as Dilukshi went over and over about her previous life and how her previous mother treated her. Well of course the mother has the rights to be jealous as you wouldn’t want to make up stories by telling your mom that how nice you have been treated in your previous life. However, the fact is that Dilukshi has a previous life to narrate to her family members as well as Dr. Erlendur Haraldsson who is a professor of the University of Iceland who came to investigate Dilukshi’s case.

In her previous life, Dilukshi was drowned while playing with a group of friends in a nearby stream in Tambala. She described the way she died to Dr. Haraldsson and she wanted so much to just meet her previous parents again. Her previous parents found out about Dilukshi through a locall journalists and wrote a letter to Dilukshi’s parents about how eager they were to meet up with her. Dilukshi threatened her parents to take her to see her previous parents or not she’ll run away from home.

A wish was granted. Her parents brought her to Tambala and meet up with her previous parents. On the way to Tambala, Dilukshi recognizes most of the landmarks and the places she use to hang around with her friends. Almost immediately, she somehow felt so at home and recognizes her belongings as well as the pictures shown to her by the previous family. She brought Dr. Haraldsson to the place where she was drowned and everything that Dilukshi described in her story was similar to the surroundings that Dr. Haraldsson was in. He felt that he was in a dream but at this point it was the real picture he is in.

Another case involved a little boy by the name Gus Ortega who’s father was so surprise when one day, he was changing the little kids diapers and suddenly the son looked up at him and said, ‘when I was your age, I use to change the diaper for you’. Mr. Ortega was astounded by his son’s remark. How can a little kid speak about something like this? The most surprising thing was when Mr. Ortega took out a black and white picture showing a group of people, little Gus just walked up the picture and pointed at a man in his mid 30s and said ‘there, this is me’. Mrs. Ortega was definitely dumbstruck as she was from a Baptist family who does not even believe a single thing about reincarnation.

Another professor by the name of Jim Tucker went to Florida to investigate yet another case about a little boy by the name Ian Hagerdon who narrated about him being a policeman in the past life who was shot to death during a burglary attack in a retail store. Ian was suffering severe heart disease when he was born and underwent a total of 6 surgeries. This was believed to have certain ties with his previous being. His maternal father had been shot right through the chest and pronounced dead when he reached the hospital. When he was reincarnated, little Ian now suffers from heart disease.

One day when Ian was crying in his room, his mother came into the room and told him to soften down or not she will spank him. Besides of immediately ceasing his cries, he looked up at his mom and said ‘when you were my age, and when you were naughty, I did not even spank you’. Of course, the mother was shocked by his remark. Another remarkable thing was that Ian asked his mom one day about the cats that she had when she was a little kid. One was named Maniac (the black cat) and the other was named Boston (the white cat). Ian asked his mom about one of their names.

‘Mommy, what was the cat’s name again? The one that you have,” Ian asked.

“Maniac?” replied his mom.

“No, the white one,” asked Ian once again.

Memories, statement and birthmark of a little child may be similar to the person of the previous life but can it be known as pure luck? Dr. Richard Wiseman was never a fan the topic on reincarnation. He wanted to prove that reincarnation is just a myth in society. He randomly selected children to interview and asked each and everyone to make up his/her own story. There was a little child by the name Molly who narrated a story about a little girl with red hair, blue eyes and wearing a pink, flowery dress who went away from home. Her runaway from home turned out to be a tragic death.

After hearing the story of the child, Dr. Wiseman did some research on the newspaper archive and he was flabbergasted to find that the 17 facts that Molly gave about the little girl, 13 out of the 17 facts that she gave was in point of fact similar to the case of the girl described in Molly’s made up story. So, was it just pure luck or was it true that reincarnation does exist before out naked eye?

Well, the question will somehow make you ponder on what seems to be a fantasy to you that turns into reality after hours of research and listening to inspiring stories of others. Again, what we hear may not be a factor of what we should believe in. After watching this documentary, it actually challenges my faith. What do personally feel?

11 signs of falling inlove

This pretty much shows how bored i am during the first half of the holidays and if it were to prolong till 1 month, i'm not sure what a bore i could be. Anywayz, i got this post on the friendster bulletine board.

The thing here is that i have already fallen deeply inlove with Zeck, but what is said here is pretty much true.

11. You'll read his/her sms over n over n OVER again. (That is what i always do at night before i go to bed)

10. You'll walk really, really, really slow while walking with him/her (Not exactly)

9. You'll be so shy while being with him/her (well, at first yah... but now, i just love to be with him that it makes me forget about my own shyness)

8. While tinking about him, ur heart beats really really really fast. (Not just thinking about him, when he embrace me or even compliments me)

7. By listening to his/her voice.. you'll be smilling by yourself. (He's the only guy whom i talk to that unconciously puts a smile on my face... my sis has been complaining about me smiling to myself whenever Zeck calls)

6. While looking at him/her, you can't see other people around the both of you, you can only see him/her. (Okay, this is a little too much if you are hanging out with friends, but whenever the both of us are alone, somehow we just belong to the world for 2 and nobody else)

5. You'll start listening to love songs. (More to listening to the songs he likes eventhough i know that i don't like it in the first place)

4. You'll really, really, really like love songs. (i already did from the start when i still was single)

3. Only by smelling his/her perfume smell you'll be high. (Tell me about it, i just love the way he smells everyday!)

2. You'll realise that you are always smilling by yourself. (Okay, this is a little too extreme)

1. You'll do anything for him/her. (I'm just there to give him love and much pampering)

The beginning of my holiday

Sad to say, I have not thought much about what to do this holidays and I guess that is the reason why I am stuck here, at home, doing absolutely nothing. I miss the fun times back in Monash where silly things are all we discuss about. Truly, I am pretty much waiting for this one month holiday to pass so that I can be back in Monash again. One month is just way too long. Why can’t they have like a week off or something where 2nd semester starts the next week?

The tree with the yellow flowers located just outside my window is not blossoming. I remember reading a novel while sitting near my window so that I could stare out every now and then just to look at that beautiful tree. However, what’s left seem so naked to the eye. How I wish it could bloom once again.

The most hurtful thing of all during holidays is that you can not look into the eyes of the one you truly love most. All you can do is just call to hear his voice, but not experiencing the emotions. Argh! It has only been 4 days and I couldn’t take the silence anymore! I wish to go back to KL now, but I got to be with my parents for the holidays as I have long gone from them. How I wish distance was never the factor, but I guess it is after all.

Hrm, nothing interesting which I can talk about here. Oh, anyways, what’s with all the grunting on court by tennis players? Maria Sharapova seems to be having the loudest grunt ever that made the umpire annoyed. Well, I don’t see it necessary myself for the grunting and other provoking noises while playing tennis. It may intimidate the opponent that’s for sure, but what Sharapova’s coach said actually surprised me… grunting is the way for a person to build up energy. I’m impressed by his statement because I never once think of that before.

I didn’t quite celebrate father’s day with my dad. I should have done something special. After all, he’s the one who brought me up and disciplined me fully till I am mature enough to be independent. Mom and dad went for the Engelbert concert in Genting Highlands which made me feel regretful now as I opted not to go with them. The man with the magnificent voice that sang ‘Quando, Quando, Quando’ and ‘Release Me’ in the olden days during my father’s childhood era. I’m glad that my mom went with my dad, I guess it is time for them to have a little quiet time away from the children. I wonder…

My dad is full of jokes at times which made him look a few years younger than his atual age. He's 50 now but still look young and healthy. Just love it when he says 'Sure, i'll get you BMW530i tomorrow, i just have to go to NIKKO to get it for you'. It just made me laugh whenever i joke with him about wanting to get a new, luxurious car for my birthday or any other occasions. Dad is likely to say what he always will say to me 'Sure, i'll get it for you'. He is just an amazing dad! However, i realized that deep down inside, my dad is a little dissapointed in me as i have not chosen to take Quantity Surveying as my desired ambition. Well, i just hope to prove to my dad that i can get a steady, lucrative job after i get my degree in Bachelor of Communications. Of course, experience will have to come first!

I drove back from KL at about 9.30am that Saturday and had a pretty knowledgable trip back to my hometown. My cousin kept on babbling about her life in Japan and the differentation of the culture here and there. It was pretty much an enjoyable talk by her and it just made me want to get to know more about the world's different culture. Sometimes, watching it on National Geographic or any other documentary channel will not give you the fill of those cultures, and yet of course, if we are to experience it by traveling, that would be great! I am waiting for the day to come where i can travel around the world just to learn how people live in every corner of the world.

It was pretty much a good thing to leave us kids at home. I am full of contradiction sometimes as i said it earlier that i should have gone to that concert! Of course we kids got to enjoy the evening without parents, and the night going crazy with the music on and the watching movies till late night. Well, i slept at about 2 am, as usual, but didn't know that mom and dad was back early the next morning. I didn't have the time to sneak out of the house for breakfast at my usual place. Sadest thing of all, Aaron is not back yet from TAR and i have no one to play tennis with. I am not sure where to go... Ipoh can be such a boring place, but face it, I'm so unwilling to drive out as my house is pretty much comfortable and i just spend my time sleeping.

What a start to the holidays...

Frustration Hits The Boiling Point

I'm pissed off right now. Seriously i am!

First of all, i was so looking forward to come back to Ipoh because of my dogs, and yeah, they are great and everything. Second of all, i would love to be online for longer hours so that i can spend more time chatting and visiting websites. However... DAMN!!!! I couldn't get onto msn messenger, i couldn't download Yahoo messenger and i am sick and tired of using ICQ which is a bore and i couldn't even check my hotmail as well as get into my Monash student portal. This is so f**ked up! Well, what i CAN do online is to do more posting on my blogpage which of course, i always run out of things to say.

What am i suppose to do back here then?

Well, i do have novels to help me pass my time, but i couldn't be reading the whole day. It's just not me. I don't want to go out because most of my friends from Ipoh are not back yet and they don't give a damn of calling me out anyways. Argh, all i can say is that i am so screwed up for this holiday. Lord, send an angel please! Immediately!

What is the use of having streamyx if you can't download music, go online and chat with your buddies from overseas and even check your mail!!! Argh!!

Myth or Truth?

REPORTER: Miranda Miller
BROADCAST DATE: May 24, 2005

If you believe olive oil is less fattening than butter, giving up smoking makes you gain weight and chewing gum is hard to digest, you may be in for a shock.

Some people will believe anything they are told about food if it might mean losing a few kilos. But it turns out there are more diet myths than facts. Nutrition expert Dr Tim Crowe of Deakin University said many food myths started as one person's crazy idea. We asked him to help sort food fact from food fiction.

Myth one: Starve yourself for instant slimmingStarving yourself is the worst possible thing you can do to lose weight.

What you lose is water and muscle, you can only do it for one or two days. In the end you will probably "pig out" after depriving yourself of so much food.

Myth two: Olive oil is less fattening than butter

When it comes to the heart, olive oil is the one to go for. But as far as fat goes, both have just the same amount. Both will put on the same amount of weight.

Myth three: "Reduced fat" means low in fat

The reduced fat product - even though it has less fat than the original product - is probably still high in fat and therefore high in calories.

Myth four: Giving up smoking makes you put on weight

A big myth. When people give up smoking, some lose weight, some gain weight, and some people stay the same. It is far better to be a non-smoker who is overweight than a smoker who is at a healthy weight. Where people fell down, Dr Crowe said, was when they reached for the comfort food to replace the cigarettes.

Myth five: alcohol is good for your health

Alcohol is only good for you in moderate amounts and only for people later on in life who are at risk of heart disease, Dr Crowe said.

Myth six: eating late at night makes you put on weight

What really matters is how much you eat over the whole day, not what you eat at night. If the food you eat at night is high in calories, on top of all the food you have been eating all day, you will put on weight. Otherwise the total quantity you eat matters more than when you eat it.But many still believe going to bed with a juicy steak in your tummy is a big no no, because meat is said to be hard to digest.

Myth seven: meat takes days to digest

Another big myth. Meat is fully digested just a couple of hours after we eat a meal. Fruit and vegetables take days to digest because of the beneficial fibre that's in them. Meat is not a problem.

Myth eight: frozen vegetables are not as good as fresh

Frozen veges are just as good for you, if not better, than the vegetables you buy from the supermarket. They are picked and processed within 24 hours on the farm, meaning the goodness is frozen into them. They are not wilting away on the supermarket shelf.

Myth nine: sugars in fruit juice are better than the sugar in soft drink

Sugar is sugar, no matter where it comes from, whether it's fruit juice or soft drink. Fruit juice is better because of all the vitamins and minerals it contains.

Myth ten: swallow chewing gum and it takes years to digest

While chewing gum can make you hungry by stimulating salivary glands, swallowing it will not keep your tummy busy for six years. Dr Crowe said this was just something parents told children to prevent them swallowing chewing gum. But like anything else, chewing gum is easily digested in our stomachs.

Things You Should Do When You Are Back In Your Hometown

1. Getting lost as you have never got lost before in your hometown.

2. Eat as much as you can even though it's just food you can get all over the world.

3. Make sure you pay your grandparents a visit and tell them that you miss them. Make sure you mean it when you say that.

4. Drive your parents up the wall when you have the time because you know you'll miss it once you head back to Uni.
5. Borrow as much money as you can from your parents and make sure you keep them in your savings account.

6. Blog till late night like there is no one's business. If you can, chat till your friend says 'i need to go to bed'.

7. If you have a pet, make sure to give them a great big 'bear' hug and show them, through actions, how much you've missed them.

8. Hog on to the phone. A little increase on phone bills won't hurt.

9. Get crazy whenever you have the time to. After all, it is where you were born and it won't hurt to get back a little feel of innocence from your childhood.

10. Last but not least, make sure you sleep till late morning where you don't have to do anything... anything at all... why? You're on holiday!!!

Just for a Laugh

Future NRIC Card

The multi-purpose FutureCard will be the version of our perpetually metamorphosing IC in the near future. With an embedded smart chip, it can also be used as a passport, store our medical history, driver's license, act as an ATM card, serve as an electronic purse and even be used at the National Library...what ever you do with the card...you will be tracked! It may also be a tracking device via GPRS (Good or Bad, depending the situation) However, a recent debate has brought to light the questionable control on access, potential information abuse and privacy infringement. As the debate rages on, I can foresee a likely scenario when ordering pizzas in the near future...

Ah Beng's FutureCard ( Likely Scenerio )

Operator: "Thank you for calling Pizza Hut Geylang. May I have your..."

Ah Beng: "Haloo, arh...can I orler huh..."

Operator: "Can I have your Future Card number first, Sir?"

Ah Beng: "It's arh..., hold on prease, arh..... S6102-0499-54610FC"

Operator: "OK... you're... Tan Ah Beng alias 'Or Kwee Tao' and you're calling from 17-D Lorong 14, Geylang. Your home number is 6782 8828, your office 6782 8838 and your mobile is 96828848. Which number are you calling from now Sir?

Ah Beng: "Home lah! Wah Lan...How you get all my phone lumbers, arh?"

Operator: "We are connected to the 'FutureCard' system Sir"

Ah Beng: "OK lah, okay lah...Can I orler your Seafood Pisar..."

Operator : "That's not a good idea Sir"

Ah Beng: "Why....Cannot arh?"

Operator: "According to your latest medical records, you have high blood pressure and even higher cholesterol level Sir"

Ah Beng: "What?...Wah Lan!....medical lecords also hab... you lecommend lah?"

Operator: "Try our Low Fat Hokkien Mee Pizza. You'll like it"

Ah Beng: "Wah...How you know I like Hokkien mee, arh?"

Operator: "You borrowed a book entitled "Popular Hokkien Dishes" from the National Library last week Sir"

Ah Beng: "OK...OK...Buay Ta Han... I give up... Gif me three family sized ones then, how much arh?

Operator: "That should be enough for your family of 10, Sir. The total is $45..."

Ah Beng: "I pay by FutureCard...Can or Not ?"

Operator: "I'm afraid you have to pay us cash, Sir. Your credit card is over the limit and you're owing your bank $6720.55- since October last year"

Ah Beng: "Ka Nee Nah!... Everything also know...chiat lat!"

Operator: "That's not including the late payment charges on yourhousing loan Sir.

Ah Beng: "Okay lah...I run to ATM and withdraw some cash before you come my house lor"

Operator : "You can't Sir. Based on the records, you've reached your daily limit on machine withdrawal today....with the latest withdrawal of $250 for 4D and TOTO at 2.46pm"

Ah Beng: "Never mind just send the pizzas, I borrow money from my AhMah. How long arh?"

Operator: "About 45 minutes Sir, but if you can't wait you can alwayscome and collect it on your motorcycle...it'll be ready in 15 mins and you are only 5 mins away"

Ah Beng: "Where got transport?"

Operator: "According to the details in your FutureCard", you own a Honda Scooter, ...registration number FE 3288..."

Ah Beng: "Ka Nee Nah!"

Operator : "Better watch your language Sir. Remember on 15th July 1987 you were convicted of using abusive language on a policeman... ?"

Ah Beng: [Speechless and calms down after being reminded of the brushwith the law]

Operator: "Is there anything else Sir?"

Ah Beng: "Nothing... by the way... still got stock of that 3 free bottles of cola as advertised or not?"

Operator: "We normally would Sir, but based on your records you're also diabetic....... "

Ah Beng: [Heard cursing away as he slams down the phone and telling his family he is going to the Hawker Centre to 'Tar Pow'