Conspiracy Theory

A couple of days ago, a bunch of us went to watch the MYteam vs Malaysia game, and before the game started, they played the Malaysian national anthem; everyone around me stood up and started singing. I stood there in silence wondering what the hell to do. I tried listening to the lyrics, but i couldnt understand it. So sad isn't it?

I am a Malaysian, albeit a very confused one - i was born in the Uk, raised in Jb and educated in Singapore, and this is the first time i've heard the Malaysian national anthem in full. Yes. The first time in 20years. And in case you're wondering - but you stay in Jb, surely you must have seen something on TV? I think i've probably watched 2minutes of Malaysian malaysian tv (i.e NTV,Tv1 etc) in my 20years. I grew up watching something called Channel 5. An english channel from across the causeway.

Someone once told me, "its like you're from the middle of the causeway!" And i thought to myself, hey, thats so damn true. I know nothing about Malaysia. Im totally clueless about Malaysian history, Malaysian politics, the Malaysian sporting-scene; i do have a very slight idea on the general Malaysian geography though, like how theres East and West. =) You'd be right if you were thinking right now that surely i knew a little more about Singapore then. I do know slightly more about Singapore, but what i know isn't relavant because im not Singaporean so knowing what i know is a waste of time. You dig? So basically i don't really know anything about either country.

So then you, the very practical reader, might ask - so, to which country does your loyalty lie?

Those of you who know me, you probably know that im not the biggest Malaysia fan. And no, im not talking about football. Its the country in general. I don't like this place, for reasons i will not mention on this public domain.

Ah so then, you answer is Singapore then?

Singapore is a great place and all, but it's only great because i never really lived there and because im not Singaporean, so all i saw was the pretty things. The clean roads, the nice shops, the good transport system, oh and the pretty Singaporean girls =). I shall refrain from digressing into why Singaporean girls tend to be...

Anyway, you probably get what im trying to say. And even if you catch no ball, it doesnt really matter because this post doesnt really mean anything.

And your final answer is..

Neither. Like my friend so accurately put, im right smack in the middle of the causeway - where i'd be if there was a war between the 2 countries.

P.S : Im not unhappy about being in the middle of the causeway; in fact, its a pretty damn good place to be. =)

Posted by andrew at 7:37 PM | Permalink | Comments

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of 97...

Wear Sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas
the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience
I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand
the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years
youll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you cant grasp now how
much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
Youre not as fat as you imagine.

Dont worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying
is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your
worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing.

Dont be reckless with other peoples hearts, dont put up with people who
are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Dont waste your time on jealousy; sometimes youre ahead, sometimes youre behind
the race is long, and in the end, its only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing
this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Dont feel guilty if you dont know what you want to do with your life
the most interesting people I know didnt know at 22 what they wanted to do with
their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds i know still dont.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when theyre gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you wont, maybe you'll have children,
maybe you wont, maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken
on your 75th wedding anniversary.
What ever you do, dont congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either
your choices are half chance, so are everybody elses. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can dont be afraid of it, or what other people think of it,
its the greatest instrument youll ever own..

Dance. Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you dont follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when theyll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and
the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get,
the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander,
you too will get old, and when you do youll fantasize that when you were
young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their
elders.

Respect your elders.

Dont expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Dont mess too much with your hair, or by the time its 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past
from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling
it for more than its worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)


Haha! Do you guys rmmbr this song?

Posted by andrew at 12:58 AM | Permalink | Comments

helloooo
been awhile. sorry, just too damn lazy to blog.

hmm..i just came back from a super tiring climb up Gunung Stong/Ayam ; there were 7 of us - my uncle and 3 of his friends, kuan eng, irfan and i.



day 1

the weekend started with a long ass drive to Kelantan in my uncle's van, we left my place at about 8am and reached the mt. base at about 2/3pm. rli long drive. and the windy potholed filled roads made it almost impossible to sleep comfortably.

we begun our ascent at 4pm and at about 6pm we reached the other base camp at the top of the waterfall which looked like something out a rambo movie. wooden huts, canvas roofs oh and complete with the dark skinned dodgy looking people who sat around smoking whilst strumming their guitars. only thing missing was the guns.



the first thing we did was find a suitable spot in the nearby stream/waterfall, strip down into our underwear..and bathe! rambo-style bath!

day 2

the next day we climbed for 5hrs to one of the peaks called Ayam. we climbed and climbed and climbed and climbed and climbed; almost as if we were possesed. at least Irfan and i did. Kuan Eng was whining like a biatch. "why dont you guys stop??? im tired..." the peak was disappointing. no view whatsoever. even the sign up there was broken. damn 5 hour climb for nothing.





the climb down was even tougher. already tired from the hike up, the 3 of us broke off from the rest of the group and sped down the mountain. slipping and falling off the slippery rocks on the way down. took us a good 3 hours to get down, we arrived at the rebel camp famished,fatigued and very irritated. we bathed in darkness, changed, smashed open some sardine/mackeral cans, ate and slept.

day 3

6.15am we awoke to check out the sunrise; which was apparently one of the highlights of the trip. wasnt too bad..sat our asses down on the freezing cold rocks wrapped up in our sleeping bags and watched the sun come out. took some pictures..i think this is probably the first sunrise i've ever seen - properly that is.



7.30am sun was out in all its glory. we dragged our aching legs and headed back to the tent to sleep.

9.30am damn monkeys started doing their singing thing up in the trees. and the guide was pestering us to climb up a little bit further to check out another watefall. we were like.. NOOOO way.

"Tak boleh lah, kaki saya sakit. My feet are full of blisters look! Theres one here, one here, one here."

-Kuan Eng.

10.00am my uncle and his 3 friends leave for the other waterfall; leaving Irfan, KE and i behind bumming in the tent.

10.30am something happens to KE; hes injected with new life. "andrew,irfan! come lets go climb up to the other waterfall!" so we go along with him and a special bunch of people, irfan being the monkey he is, disappeared. and i stopped halfway when i met my uncle and co. on their way back.

-random stuff happens- (and im starting to get tired of typing)

12pm we pack up, painfully making our way down the mountain, slipping and falling again on the damn rocks on the way down.

-more random stuff-

4pm we set off from the place and head back to KL. long ass drive again. only got home at about 1.30am. yes. 1.30 AM.

Posted by andrew at 10:22 PM | Permalink | Comments