nonseng

Ibrahim Hussein 1936-2009

2009-02-19T14:17:00.005+11:00

Port Klang / 28 April 2007

Ibrahim Hussein passed away this morning of a heart attack. He was 72.

Reports available here and here. To see his work, do go here.

Walking in heavy boots today.

Listening to: Here Comes The Sun by Nina Simone

2009-02-18T16:03:00.003+11:00

Phi Phi Island, Thailand / February 2009

Just almost two weekends ago I was soaking up the sun in Krabi. I still have sand from Railay Beach in my bag. It's been a while since I've been out in the open sea so the short break - in the midst of March deadlines nonetheless - was very good. The photo you see up there isn't edited, btw.

Much to my delight, I found this in our Klassifieds section:

Tush massage. What a classic.

Listening to: -

2009-01-26T15:22:00.004+11:00

The Annexe Gallery @ Central Market / December 2008

What happens when a furniture manufacturer ventures on to make shoes? You'd get these:

Kartell makes pretty cool chairs and lamps. It was only a matter of time they put their brains to making shoes. Although the Glue Cinderella line looks like Melissa shoes, they come in more colours and and and and they have this:

The shoes will only be available after it makes the runway somewhere some time this January... at the cost of 90Euros a pair. Heh.

Listening to: Sigur Ros

2009-01-26T04:25:00.002+11:00

Waffles / December 2008

This is in response to Sab's list:

Things to do:

1. *Elaine & Philip's Chinese New Year open house - 12PM, 26 Jan
2. Work - from Wednesday to a day after forever
3. Complete articles - til 5 Feb
4. Fool around the office - til 30 Jan
5. Get Fahmi from KL Sentral - 8PM, 30 Jan
6. Barbecue at Fahmi's - 8.30PM, 30 Jan
7. **Big boss' CNY open house - 12.30PM, 31 Jan
8. Fahmi's 28th birthday - 00.00AM, 4 Feb
9. ***Leave for Krabi - 12PM, 6 Feb

My list, as you can see, doesn't match up to her list of wonderful things she's going to do in Sydney over summer break... I thought I'd try anyway. Hehe.

*ang pao available
**ang pao in your dreams
***IF I finish all my work

Listening to: -

2009-01-25T17:14:00.002+11:00

Obviously not a polaroid of a pedophile /London / January 2009

Have you seen Hard Candy? Released in 2005, the sleeper hit features Ellen Page (Juno), Patrick Wilson (he plays Night Owl II in Watchmen) and a cameo appearance by Grey Anatomy's snappy, bitchy doc, Sandra Oh. It tells the story of a 32-year old photographer Jeff whom Hayley, a smart and matured 14-year old girl who he met online, suspects to be a pedophile. They meet at a diner and go back to his house. This is where their meeting turns into an unexpected series of events.

I'm not that great at reviewing things but let me say this... that 104 mins of runtime filled with spectacular acting. The two actors, Page and Wilson, were practically the only two people with lines in the movie. I'm not a big fan of psychological drama but the intensity througout the movie kept my mind boggling. It was quite a remarkable movie despite so many disturbing bits (in one particular bit, I believe men will fill it the most HA HA). I also love the camera angles and the choice of strong/subdued colors that were used to intensify emotions. Apart from that, it's the sort of movie that leaves everything at the end open to discussion. Why did Hayley do what she did? What happened to them at the end of the movie? Should I have felt sorry for Jeff?

Go watch and tell me about it.

Happy Chinese New Year, hoy!

Listening to: -

2009-01-14T03:18:00.004+11:00

Operasi Oktober / Galeri Petronas / November 2008

Strangely, I've been invited to two baby showers next week and because of that I had to go buy gifts last night. I've never gone baby-present-hunting in my life (with the exception of buying stuff for my nephew and niece) so I was in for quite a 'treat' at these baby stores. Now, if you must know, there are six to seven of these stores at the Curve, ranging from cheapo looking stuff to some expensive fancy shit. Now, if you don't already know, baby infant things can't get anymore plain than the desert: predominantly white things like receiving blanket (I bought some without knowing what it's for), rompers (baby suits), bedding, socks, etc. Of course there are bottles, bath tubs and... I don't know... other baby stuff.

Anyway, being the person who knows nothing about baby showers, gift, pregnancy and all that jazz, I gawked at these things at the shop. Every now and then you could hear, "what? Mahalnya!" from one corner of the shop. To make matters even worse, Nadine finds me in one of the shops and says, "WTF!"

Baby shopping has got to be one of those things they teach you in school. While I don't subscribe to assigning a specific color to a specific gender, we should be taught what to look out for when out buying baby stuff and how to avoid daylight robbery. I can't imagine anything more embarassing than turning up at a baby shower event with breast pads (or breast milk pouches) for the pregnant friend. Or coughing up $ for some plastic tupperware that shouldn't cost more than RM50. Everyone should have this basic knowledge. Seriously.

So when I cut out breast pads, maternity bra and breast pump from my list (some people are not built the same way - what you think is funny can just be offensive to them and I don't want to be in that position at a baby shower filled with happy, shinny wives and moms), I settled for things that are practical: a drying rack for bottles and a set of receiving blankets (aka swadling blankets - what you wrap babies with). For both items, I paid RM130. Sigh.

I'm not sighing at people having babies. I just don't understand why it's expensive.

So please... if you're planning on getting pregnant anytime soon and want me at the baby shower, please let me know in your first trimester so that I can save some $ to buy you that fancy twin electronic breast pump from Mothercare.

Listening to: Maxwell

2009-01-08T20:32:00.004+11:00

Musical instrument series / SiCKL / December 2008

You?

What a fucking joke.

Listening to: -

2009-01-07T15:32:00.003+11:00

Musical instruments series / SiCKL / December 2008

I've got shit load of articles to write but I feel like I should blog so I'm going to cop out by doing an Internet meme today.

Tagged by Jebon + Husni.

Do you think you're hot?
I'll try to keep a straight face when I say this: No.

Upload your favourite picture of you!

Why do you like that picture?
It was taken on a sunny lazy Saturday morning. I like it because:
Husni said, "fuisheh... killer look"
Mark (who's in the picture) said, "11am is not too early to start pouting..."

When was the last time you ate pizza?
Two weekends ago. At home. The Dominoes guy was funny... "Miss Myra ah, before you order ah, let me wishyew Happy New Year!"

The last song you listened to?
Ara Batur by Sigur Ros. It goes on for nine minutes and ends with a full orchestra playing its heart out.

What are you doing now besides this?
Changing the windows every time big kahuna or big boss walks anywhere near my table.

What name would you prefer besides yours?
Apple Pinapple Mahyuddin and A P B Mohamed. If I were a boy, then Jakob, Oskar, Franky or Joni.

People to tag
Sabon
Rinie
Azlan
Scrap-myself-silly
Are We There Yet?

Who is number 1?
Walking kaki, shopping kaki, kopi kaki, photography kaki, Pepper Lunch kaki, gossip kaki, makan kaki, SingStar kaki, etc.

Number 3 is having a relationship with?
Aha! I saw that coming... so I rigged the list of people to tag. Nomor 3 is in a relationship with nomor 1.

Say something about number 5?
Old uncle.

How about number 4?
Scrapbooking freak and mother to a silly 2-year old monkey.

Who is number two?
Good friend from high school. We go back a long way. We used to have so many things in common but now we're world's apart: she's married with a baby boy on the way.

Listening to: What Ever happened? by The Strokes.

2009-01-03T18:45:00.002+11:00

Musical instrument series / SiCKL / December 2008

Here are some of the things/events I said goodbye to in 2008:

- Being a noob at the first proper office job
- A day trip to Sarang Murai just to be with good company while eating some good food. Swimming in a pond, tripping over tree roots at jungle softball and Taboo were all the good things we did at Five Arts' family day
- Everything Sydney... from friends and uni to Coles and SingStar. That includes sandboarding in Port Stephens with Indonesian friends, Fara's surprise visit, meeting Keanu Reeves on George Street, looking at whales from a cliff in Bondi, watching Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Tokyo Sonata at State Theatre at 10AM, endless bus rides/walking up and down Sydney
- Living on my own (I do miss it)
- Graduating for the second time
- Quest to find a job but never heard from them
- Angkor Wat

Got more lah but this is standing in the way of me getting a massage in Bangsar. So I lazy.

MUAHAHAHA.

Happy 09! Here's to another year filled with more wealth, better health and all that lah.

Listening to: Kangen Barjanji by Slamet Gundono.

2008-12-29T03:55:00.004+11:00

Musical instrument series/ SiCKL / December 2008

When you try too hard to spend some of your money (malls=shopping), you'll end up coming home with a RM15 plastic water bottle from Isetan.

!@#$%^#

Listening to: -

2008-12-14T21:18:00.002+11:00

Whirling Dervishes / Cappadocia, Turkey / June 2005

Couldn't find a better photograph to show you how I'm feeling today... or how I've been feeling since mid October. From hosting events and manning booths to writing and traveling, it's been ride. While I'm happy to be doing so much in 2.5 months, I'm extremely tired... and it's more tiring thinking of the madness that will continue till February or so. Our February issue, for instance, punya deadline is in ten days time and we're not even done with January issue. So thanks, Chinese New Year!

The new office has become a second home, thanks to work and Guitar Hero. Hehe. But having said that, it's not like we've been slaving and/or pretend to be rockstars and staying late all this time. I think some like the quiet time, some stay on till it's time to go for events and some shamelessly start working at 7pm.

Anyway.

Did anyone catch White Shoes & The Couples Company at Rooftop Sg. Wang last night? Charming sextet from Indonesia. Last night they shared the stage with another Indo band - The S.I.G.I.T. - at our event. Suka sama WSCC lah. They're nice folks to talk to. Listen to their music here.

[Their manager, Indra, visited the Junk booth to say hello and give us a copy of WSCC's album! We got it autographed :D]

In case I don't update before the end of 2008, hope you've had a good 2008. Here's to better things to come in 2009.

xoxo

Listening to: Aksi Kucing by White Shoes & The Couples Company

2008-11-27T21:34:00.003+11:00

Leura / November 2008

Before I head off for an early weekend in Singapore, I thought I might share this with you: After fixing my IKEA shelves, I watched the latest Fairly Current Show episode. It's where Fahmi interviews Lorna on the Malaysian indie film movement. While watching it, I realized that almost all of my bosses have been on the Fairly Current Show!

#1

Although Zahim's technically my first boss, I worked pretty close with Lorna on Dramalab's Otak Tak Centre (2004). While Zahim was barely at the office, Lorna was constantly giving me things to do. Once we got done with Otak Tak Centre, I continued working for Lorna on a few film related projects. I thank her for the days when we listened to The Strokes, Iwan Fals and Pedro Almodovar's Talk To Her Soundtrack as loud as the computer speakers allowed us to :)

#2

The Fairly Current Show hasn't done an interview with my second boss - producer and publicist Lennard - but I'll just mention him anyway.

#3

In 2006, I assisted Five Arts in producing Second Link - a theatre show that featured Malaysian and Singaporean performers performing the two countries' literature. I didn't (and still don't) have formal training in managing/producing a production but Marion sorta saw beyond that. "Eh you want to help produce show?" Marion asked over some drinks at her place. I said, "sure!" konon-konon tau how to do it. But I did it anyway. This was only possible under her guidance and supervision. It wasn't easy working with a superbly super executive... there were times when Marion was breathing down my neck, looking at the things I was doing, waiting for me to screw something up and then shout "what the fuck!" at me. But she never did lah. She shouted at Adrian (production manager) instead. Hehe. Although there were times when I felt like I was walking on egg shells, I'm proud to be trained by the Datin.

#4

Current big kahuna. No need to say anything about him because I'd like to keep my job :D

Listening to: -

2008-11-21T21:15:00.002+11:00

The Meks, UOX Play / November 2008

Have you heard of The Meks?

Read a write up of the band by singer songwriter Reza Salleh here and join the fan club here.

Listening to: -

2008-10-31T15:58:00.002+11:00

Photo from A Softer World

I imagine Lulu having these thoughts when I get married.

Listening to: -

2008-10-24T14:17:00.002+11:00

Here's Ricky Gervais and Thandie Newton on the Graham Norton show. Norton produced a script for the Sarah Palin porn film. Thandie Newton makes a great Sarah Palin and Ricky Gervais is just awesome.

Have a good weekend!

Listening to:

2008-10-23T21:43:00.002+11:00

Desk, Jalan Bukit Bintang / October 2008

I can't do this sitting at desk all day/writing to sound kool/eating _____ (mamak, McDs, Carls Jr, kuey teow, cake, ice cream).

Listening to: -

2008-10-21T13:58:00.002+11:00

Josephine, Wedding Cocktail Party / September 2008

At the bank today...

Them: Ada credit card?
Me: Ada.
Them: Ada bank lain?
Me: Ada. Maybank.
Them: Dah kahwin?
Me: Belum.
Them: Duduk rumah sewa?
Me: Tak.
Them: Ada car loan?
Me: Tak.

...

Them: Office kat mana?
Me: Bukit Bintang.
Them: Naik lrt?
Me: Tak, drive.
Them: Oh pakai kereta family lah.
Me: Ye.

...

Them: Writer ni kerja apa ye?
Me: Er.
Them: *blink*type*blink*type*
Me: Tulis untuk magazine.
Them: Oh. Sila deposit minimum Rm20 ke dalam bank akaun, terimakasih.

Listening to: Intervention by Arcade Fire

2008-10-16T15:39:00.002+11:00

Photo by Myra, designed by Fahmi Reza / October 2008

It's Thursday! Three reasons to be happy about Thursday:

One day closer to the weekend - work's been crazy. By tomorrow I would have written ten articles (and some short blog pieces) within five days. That's a record of all sorts for Cik Myra. A pat on the back, please!

Emergency Festival! opens tonight! A must-see, must-visit, must-participate multi-arts festival happening at the Annexe. The space looks awesome! Propaganda Room's fake wall made of stacked paper is quite a sight. I still can't get over it. Must try at home. I'm very excited and I'm really proud of the team. Woot, you fllers!

I was born on a Thursday. heh.

Listening to: -

2008-10-12T23:19:00.004+11:00

Subang Jaya / October 2008

Somewhere between catching frogs and having full length conversations in my head, I saw Kheng polishing his ice cream cart. It was one of those slow, rainy Sunday evening and I was feeling lonely. At first I sat and watched him from afar, enjoying the silence that was strangely comforting. With a small hope of starting a conversation, I then moved my chair closer to Kheng. It annoyed him the same way you'd feel if someone was reading over your shoulder.

Me: It's my first day of job tomorrow...

[silence]

Me: Quick, wish me luck.

[silence]

Me: You know, I have to write a whole bunch of stuff for them. They have this section called 'Trial Run' where they test products, you know, like different heart shaped milk chocolates or antacids. You'll never believe what they've asked me to do...

[one Mississippi... two Mississippi... three Mississippi]

Me: Ketchup! Of all things... I don't even like ketchup. I mean, don't they all taste the same?? Anyway, I'm only telling you because I was-

Kheng: Trying to get some sympathy?

Me: Yes. I'm feeling restless.

Kheng: People go through it [starting work] all the time. What makes you so special?

What he said left me speechless. I wanted to kick him in the balls for saying it without even looking at me but he was right. Feeling embarrassed and slightly hurt, I got up to walk away. Before I could reach the door I heard Kheng say, "I'd sympathize with you only if you were still at home, in bed, doing nothing. Good luck and have a great day at work tomorrow."

Listening to: -

2008-10-11T03:11:00.005+11:00

Kheng / Your madder's house / October 2008

Meet my new tenant - Mr. Kheng... but since we're pretty chummy (I'm giving him a discount on his rent), you can call him Kheng. Nothing more, nothing less.

As you can tell, he's an ice cream vendor on a bicycle. I'm a bit skeptical about his bicycle. The bicycle doesn't have a bell and the right tire frame is slightly crooked. "What's your problem?," he asks when I voiced my observation. Kheng takes a last puff of his cigarette, puts on his Nobita hat and rides into the sun. As much as I admire his confidence and determination, I can see him riding his bicycle in circles.

Damn tire.

Anyway, Kheng, as I've tried to figure him out, is a one-man show. Just look at him. Imagine cycling from one neighbourhood to another in a suit and bow tie! You might start to question his fashion sense (and blushed cheeks) but he's quite famous. The young and old are his loyal customers. If they're lucky, as I've just discovered, Kheng will spew quotes or random animal/environment trivia he collected from BBC's Planet Earth. If they're not, he'll just hand them the ice cream cone, take their money and ride into the sun.

[to be continued]

Listening to: -

2008-10-06T22:30:00.004+11:00

Photo from Gabriel Gomez / Caracas, Venezuela

Designers in Caracas have designed signs for sloth crossing. Proyecto Yagrumo together with the local council have been installing these signs where sloths, or Perezas, use to cross the road.

The campaign includes a 'how to' should you find yourself confronted by a sloth:

It's good to know that I'm the only person who's fascinated with sloths :D

Listening to: Fire.fm

2008-10-06T18:58:00.007+11:00

Photos by Hyzein, Patrick, David, SK, Andrew, Graham & Michael / Bon Ton Langkawi

Last night's hotel hunting (for a family trip in December) brought me here. Boy and girls, say hello to the Bonton Resort and Restaurant, home to 8 beautiful antique Malay houses nestled in a coconut plantation.

The 8 villas, all facing the pool and lagoon, are individually designed and decorated with colorful bedding, furniture, etc. From 60 year-old fisherman's house (Yellow Orchid) to a 100 year-old ketua kampung house (Cahaya Villa - fits 4-6 adults), the Bon Ton is air-conditioned, hooked up to the Internet and 5 minutes away from the sea. Best of all, each house comes with selipar and sarong!

:P

My favourite villa:

The pool:

Chin Chin (Asian Bar):

The view:

So how much does it cost to sleep in a sarong in a kampung house?

Oh only between RM 490 - RM 1160 per night.

*cricket* *cricket*

Say what you want to say... I still think it's a gem!

Listening to: The Sound of Music

2008-10-01T03:14:00.002+10:00

Komik yang dipinjamkan dari Jebon (sila ke sana kalau nak kad Raya imaginarinya). Oleh kerana sudah tak berpuasa, anda boleh lah gelak-gelak dan cakap "macam sial!".

Anda cool kalau anda boleh menghayati lawak macam haram ni.

Selamat Hari Raya. Maaf zahir batin.

2008-09-30T01:11:00.003+10:00

Sydney / 2008

Much to my dismay, people are still in town. There I was, confident of leaving the office at 6.30pm in an attempt to reach home by 6.45pm, sitting in a traffic jam in front of Berjaya Times Square. I looked around to find other disgruntled people, all looking as if they were fooled by the 'KL will be empty for Raya' belief.

I say it's just an urban myth. Pfftt.

MokcikNab, one of my favourite Malaysian storyteller, says that her husband's ideal Raya is to have a deserted KL, which he thinks "it's good to have Kuala Lumpur back to yourself again." I absolutely agree with him, particularly when my Raya celebration is starting to shift to KL. But it wasn't always in the city. Just like MokcikNab, I, too, have fond memories of Raya in kampung.

But with age (as if so old lah but I mean, we're talking when I was 7 or something), I can only remember some striking images of my kampung:

The Volvo Wagon driven up and down Karak Highway's winding roads, where the view was filled with lush green trees (this idea of a view later became an interesting perspective for my photography, which I'll explain another time). The 2 houses, both maternal and paternal grandparents' houses, were separated by a fence. One had dark corridors and an attic, the other had green cement floor and kekabu mattresses. Despite the differences both had one thing in common: "Myra tidur mana?". I remember the young watching tv, the women baking, the kids playing. Bunga api (cap Black Cat or Thunder Cat? I forget), mercun ular, ayam, katak and lebah. The flurried Raya eve would end with everyone camping out in the living room, grouping either according to family or geng (peers lah).

I don't remember what happened afterwards on Raya day except receiving duit raya and lining up to take the Raya photograph (also grouped according to intermediate family, siblings and cousins).

Point is, with all this recollecting memories and being nostalgic and all, Raya celebration is always shifting. People grow older, cookies are manufactured, duit raya gets less, unrecognizable relatives coming up to ask, "kenal tak siapa? awok ingat tak siapa?", etc. Without anchors, I suppose it gets less communal and less in your face. I don't know. I'm not complaining. I'm not complaining about the shifts because I've had my Raya di kampung experience. I don't remember much but I know how great it felt.

I guess I'm wondering what kind of Raya my nephew and niece will remember.

Oh well.

Selamat Hari Raya! Have a safe one & maaf zahir batin :D

Listening to: Mabuk Gusti by Slamet Gundono

2008-09-26T22:23:00.006+10:00

Cambodia / August 2008

As Raya draws closer and closer, I'm impatiently waiting for people to leave KL. I've spent too much time in traffic jams, from Jalan Tun Razak to LDP, cursing and stressing over rude drivers. It can't be good for my mental health or the car's break pads (must be checked! break pads, not brain). So for this Raya, since I'll be working up to Raya eve, I'd like to see roads empty of kakak-kakak in Kancils and abang-abang in souped up Wiras right from Bukit Bintang to my doorstep. I'd like to be able to leave at 5.30pm, go on Tun Razak and maybe go for a spin around the city before taking a longer route home.

I'll be unemployed as of next week. With an exception of a small photography gig in early October, I'm not sure where I'll find more moolah. You'd think money's just for food, petrol, bills and entertainment but you forget little things that costs money like fixing laptop after it's been Trojanized, tapau-ing food for your friend then your friend lupa bayar balik, toiletries, etc.

Menyusahkan.

ps. Thankchew Husni and Kucing Kopi for the postcards.

Listening to: -

2008-09-25T01:13:00.002+10:00

Wild Ass / Photo by Brent Huffman

Random fact:

The Tibetan wild ass, or Kiang, will gaze across dry Tibetan plains to find oasis but when they do find paradise, they head back to the dust for no apparent reason.

Listening to: -

2008-09-23T22:32:00.002+10:00

The trailer for an upcoming documentary by superstar Fahmi Reza, the same f'lla who did 10 Tahun Sebelum Merdeka.

Watch the trailer. Watch the documentary (20.10.08, The Annexe, Central Market).

Listening: -

2008-09-22T00:39:00.002+10:00

Cambodia / August 2008

Kalau kena marah, suck it in and maintain a poker face.

Listening to: -

2008-09-16T16:51:00.010+10:00

Sydney / Konica c35 AF3 (1983) / 2008

Tip minggu ini is provided by a fellow fasting friend:

Macam ni, bila nak order buat-buat tengah call anak. Boleh kata, "Aiman (nama anak boleh ditukar) nak makan apa ni? Mama belikan kat mcd (pause). Aiman lekaslah, Mama puasa ni, mama letih tau. (pause) Apa? Aiman nak big mac dengan chocolate sundae? Ok, bye anak mama."

Listening to: Festival by Sigur Ros

2008-09-15T02:02:00.002+10:00

Steve Urkel, Sydney / Photo by Sabrina / June 2008

I've been tagged by Syed Husni Syed Abu Bakar to do this 15 things nonsengs.

1. Unlike Jebon and Husni, my Bahasa Melayu is so teruk. I can't write/speak in Malay without sounding like a dud. C6 for BM for SPM. Selamba.

2. As a kid, Miffy was my hero.

3. I like bragging about running on the treadmill especially when I've gone on P3 mode aka 'fat burner' mode (4kms of brisk walking, jogging and running). This P3 regime, which lasted no more than 3 times, was actually prompted by Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2007. The things that flat stomach and long legs can do to you.... Anyway, I don't know which is worst: having inferiority complex or not exercising because I overcame that inferiority complex.

4. My number one fear: balloons.

5. I get Husni, Fahmi and Sabrina to ~~rewrite~~ edit my articles. Shameless.

6. Keanu Reeves said 'hi' to me at his Street Kings premiere in Sydney. Selamba.

7. Old furniture and old buildings make me nostalgic. I particularly like Majestic Hotel, shop lots on Lebuh Armenia and the Bok House.

8. I can hold in pee for quite some time. "Joy of retention," as a friend puts it... though I did pee in my pants once in primary school. Recess was almost over and I had to return a book. At the age of eight, it was a hellish binary situation: to go pee or kena denda for not returning a book on time. Luckily I wore track pants.

9. Star City 's bright lights has seduced me three times. I lost twice and broke even once. Here's a tip: go play Roulette and/or Black Jack with accountants.

10. I'm a champion when it comes to singing Coldplay's Fix You on SingStar.

11. I insist on marrying Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

12. There are only two movies I watch over and over again: Chungking Express (one of TIME Magazine's ALL-TIME 100 Movies) and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Chungking Express is on a daily basis, right before sleeping.

13. Obsessed with Havaianas: six pairs and counting.

14. The first time I produced a theatre production (Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari by Five Arts Centre) was in June 2007. It won an award at the Cameronian Arts Awards 2007 for Best Group Performance (Theatre).

15. I'm a Sydney University Alumni with a Masters degree in Media Practice. Selamba.

--

I'm tagging all lah

Listening to: -

2008-09-13T14:42:00.007+10:00

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia / August 2008

I waited for Chow Mo-Wan to appear at these steps.

--

Chow:

In the old days...
If someone had a secret they didn't want to share...
You know what they did?
They went up a mountain, found a tree...
Carved a hole in it...
And whispered the secret into the hole.
Then they covered it with mud.
And leave the secret there forever.

--

The setting of the final narration of the story is at Siem Reap, Cambodia, Chow is seen visiting the Angkor Wat and whispers several years worth of secrets into a hole in a wall, before covering it with mud.

Listening to: -

2008-09-10T22:30:00.005+10:00

Bedok MRT Station, Singapore / Lomo LC-A / 2005

Despite not understanding any of Sigur Ros' songs, Heysatan (from Hvarf-Heim, 2007) tops it all. I first heard it while letting Heima play on Google video. It was difficult to name it at first and I had to load the first half of Heima (45 mins) every time I wanted to listen to this "song on a barn with statues of animals and human beings".

The sound scape of Heysatan is spectacular that it's almost surreal to be listening to it while stuck in a jam on Tun Razak. One should be in an open field with a big bonfire, watching the Northern Lights while listening to this. The sight of Pekeliling flats isn't so sexy lah, you know?

Anyway, like most of their songs, no one (excluding Bjork) knows what they're singing. They apparently sing in Vonlenska, a term to describe the gibberish nonsengs sung by Sigur Ros. Meaningless syllables, word meaning and inconsistent grammar structures are repeated throughout many times throughout each song.

But people do try to make sense of their music. For example, I had asked a friend what Birgisson was singing in one of their song.

"I sigh alone," said my friend. I percaya like for the longest time that particular song's chorus was "I sigh alone, I sigh alone."

So when the Sigur Ros bug bit me, I Googled 'I Sigh Alone Sigur Ros' in hope of finding the song. Nothing came out.

I smsed my friend:

'You liar. Where got Sigur Ros song 'I Sigh Alone'!'

He replied:

'I was joking lah. How would I know what they're singing but it sounds like it, no?'

It does! With dreamy, depressing, bleak, quiet sound scape, it's not that hard to think they're singing about life in the cold and grey Iceland. Somehow I imagine there'd be a lot of sighing going on there. Haha.

So when it came to Heysatan, I read the translation and it was about haystack and tractors! Then I found someone's comment on the thread that best describes how I feel about reading translations:

Heh.

Listening to: Heysatan by Sigur Ros

2008-09-08T02:35:00.004+10:00

Sydney CBD / April 2008

If you really don't want to hurt your parents, and you don't have nerve enough to be a homosexual, the least you can do is go into the arts
(Timequake, Kurt Vonnegut)

Try reading that on AirAsia and then deal when all eyes on you because you're laughing and choking on your own saliva. It's quite a sight.

Listening to: Not Ready to Love by Rufus Wainwright

2008-09-06T01:39:00.004+10:00

The Smiling Room, Siem Reap, Cambodia / August 2008

Two donuts sat next to me on my way home from work today. One was Cocoring, the other GoNutz. One hour into a massive traffic jam on the LDP, they started talking to each other.

Cocoring:
GoNutz:
Cocoring: !
GoNutz: !!!

Unfortunately I couldn't eavesdrop because I had massive headphones on.

I'm sure they were scheming on something.

Evil donuts.

Listening to: A running commentary of BBC's Planet Earth

2008-09-02T17:32:00.002+10:00

Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah / August 2008

I've discovered that listening/watching Sigur Ros' Heima on Google Video helps in easing hunger pangs. I've never really paid that much attention to them even though I used to see endless Sigur Ros concert posters along George Street or hear the cd in Fahmi's car.

I find it too depressing.

But today, while being bleugh due to low sugar/water, Jonsi Birgisson's falsetto voice and minimalist post-rock music has soothed the starving one. Bravo Iceland.

Q: Why so depressing?
A: Because it's a cold country.

Listening to: Sigur Ros

2008-08-25T01:51:00.002+10:00

Emergency Project curatorial team photo shoot, Tmn Tun Dr Ismail / 24 August 2008

And we'll all float on.
Alright already, we'll all float on.
Alright, don't worry even if things end up a bit too heavy.
We'll all float on.

Listening to: Float On by Modest Mouse

2008-08-13T14:20:00.003+10:00

Urbanscapes / June 2008

While athletes are competing for gold ornaments to put around their neck (some will settle for less - being at the Olympics is already a victory), anger is growing over the Opening Ceremony. I personally think the gala event was mind blowing - I sat there for 4 hours, cursing because I was blown away by the precision of every Chong, Liew and Seng on stage. Like the moving-type (humans squatting and standing with a box on each head) and martial arts made me go ape shit.

So few days into the Olympics, Chen Qigang, the musical director of the Opening Ceremony, comes out and says the rendition of 'Ode to the Motherland' by Lin Miaoke (dubbed 'the Smiling Angel') was lip-synched. The real singer was this 7 year-old girl who, apparently, wasn't thought to be pretty enough to appear. Qigang assures all parties that it was done out of "national interest".

There was something else about the footprint fireworks. Since it was logistically impossible to film the footprint fireworks making its way to the bird's nest from a helicopter, it was actually digitally enhanced video superimposed onto live footage of the event. Talk about sheer madness and creativity. The organizers even got the weather forecast right to simulate the same smog as on the night and adding camera shake.

!!!

I'm just impressed lah. I'd give them A++ for effort and determination and precision and timing and unlimited supply of man-power.

Listening to: -

2008-07-30T02:18:00.005+10:00

Penang / December 2006

I was in Penang last week for work.The last time I was there was at the end of 2006 for a backpacking trip that led us to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Dao. For the entire 30 hours I was there, I thought of the 6.30am ferry ride from Butterworth to George Town, food at the Chinese hawkers' stalls, Edelweiss Cafe for drinks, stopping by 'ais tingkap' after rummaging baskets of books at Chowrasta, the josstick-maker uncle, yellow 'Milan' buses, Rio Hotel's breakfast, Balik Pulau's nutmegs and animated silver-smith uncle and temples and rumah kayu and beautiful colonial buildings.

And and and.

But this time around those sights and sounds were replaced with the flat, grey landscape of Bayan Lepas... the main industrial hub of Penang, home to the Free Trade Zone and 1 million factories. Crazily hot, humid, hazy and on the other side of the island.

Now I've got 2 tips for you if you ever find yourself stuck in Bayan Lepas:

When in Penang, forget long pants. Skinny jeans, as I found out, aren't made for Penang weather

When the thought of battling traffic to join civilization in Georgetown is not so appealing, seek refuge at Queensbay Mall. The largest mall up North will cool you down when you're shopping at Gap, Forever 21 and MNG

Listening to: -

2008-07-24T17:27:00.002+10:00

Karen Nunis, KL Sing Song 2008 / July 2008

A conversation with a former boss:

birbiru: job hunting where?
myra: i've applied with shell, petronas, pixel, ddb and starcom mediavest
birbiru: pixel??
birbiru: pixel what?
myra: pixel integrated media lah. i saw a job posting today
birbiru: u want to do sales?? u will hate working in pixel

[pause]

birbiru: u r an artist
myra: an artist??! oh lordy, i'm no artist

[pause]

birbiru: u can't do sales, the ppl will drive u nuts :)

[pause]

birbiru: if u r interested in some part time work we have some. u interested?
myra: ok
birbiru: let me see

[pause]

birbiru: why didnt u come to us earlier? not your first choice eh?
myra: ...
birbiru: pixel comes first?????
myra:...
birbiru: bad myra

***

I start work next week.

Listening to: -

2008-07-22T17:38:00.002+10:00

Urbanscapes / June 2008

A recent blog entry elsewhere has revealed my first clubbing experience! Aiyerrr...

Thanks, kawan.

According to her cerita, dunno if it's reliable or not, it was in 2002. That must have been my first year in uni. I was only 19. I had made friends with all sorts of people that year including some kaki clubbers. At that time (this is a clear indication of age) Orange was the place lah... the club du jour before the establishment of Novo, Zouk, Heritage Row and most recently Ministry of Sound.

Anyway, some people just get it right the first time around lah... you know, like first day of school was great, first date was memorable, first day at work was a Kodak moment? My 'first clubbing experience' just had to be the opposite lah.

Eyewitness' accounts of the event :

On attire:
"Seorangnya berambut leper belah tengah, dan dua orang lagi berpakaian lengkap seperti mahu ke pasar malam Seksyen 18."

"masa tu dia pakai spek mata steve urkel versi perempuan."

On social skills:
"jln pegang tgn sama-sama"

On looking/acting cool:
"Minuman pilihan malam itu : Orange juice sebab kononnya cool minum orange juice di kelab Orange. Faham? Orange di Orange."

Needless to say, it was quite a sight lah but I vaguely remember that phase and I don't really want to remember it. It wasn't so much about the company or the late nights. I was never interested, you see, but I still went because my friends went (it was much later that I identified this as a form of peer pressure).

Years later, despite a bigger circle of friends, events and really nice clubs (The Argyle, The Ivy, Art House in downtown Sydney), I still have very little interest in clubbing. I've even earned a title: the designated handbag holder. Haha.

I don't know lah.

Clubbing to me is like how you'd ask a botanist to look at a microchip, you know?

Listening to: -

2008-07-18T13:22:00.004+10:00

Sydney /June 2008

A typical Thursday night in Sydney:

Bad TV except for Big Brother's Daily Show from 7 - 8 pm. At some point in the night, Cheaters, a cheap reality tv show with detectives exposing cheating spouses and partners, comes on. This is how it usually goes...

Host: Alex, we've got something to show you.
Alex: Okay.

[shows video]

Host: Is that your wife?
Alex: Oh dear Lord, it is. Oh Lord... [shakes head]
Host: Okay, our team knows where they are right now. Are you ready to confront them?
Alex: Yes.

[arrives at the scene. there's confusion with all the lights and camera. the husband (Alex) confronts the wife as she's about to get into her car]

Alex: How could you do this?
Wife: I don't know what you're talking about.
Alex: We're married. Oh Lord...
Wife: I don't know what you're talking about.

[cut to Host who is chasing after the wife's lover. in this case, it's her boss]

Host: Did you know she's married and she has kids?
Boss: No comment.

[Boss escapes by foot]

[cut to husband and wife]

Alex: How could you do this to your kids?
Wife: I don't know what you're talking about.

[wife shuts her car door and leaves]

A (not so) typical Thursday night in the Klang Valley:

Catching The Dark Knight and loving it. Christian Bale, sans the Batman suit and very husky voice, is superbly hot. Heath Ledger's performance as Joker was fucking brilliant. He goes "hee hee haa haa ho ho... why so serious?". I'll watch it again. Oh did anyone follow The Dark Knight's viral marketing strategies? See one out of many here.

Visiting Yuhang's set for his upcoming movie 'At The End of Daybreak', featuring an upcoming Hong Kong actor Chui Tien You. He was last seen in Patrick Tam's award-winning movie 'This After Our Exile'. I've not seen the movie but I've been told that Tien You plays an older version of Aaron Kwok's son. So... in not so many words, Tien You looks like Aaron Kwok lah. Since I don't have a picture of Tien You, I'll use one of Aaron Kwok's pictures and you'll use your imagination:

Aaron Kwok

Tien You looks exactly like that. And because of his pretty boy face, I'll place him alongside Lee Hom, Rain, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Aaron Kwok in one of two categories I have for my secret obsession with Chinese male stars.

Listening to: -

2008-07-16T19:16:00.002+10:00

Sydney / April 2008

Listening to: -

2008-07-15T13:10:00.002+10:00

July 2008

Communication in Professional Context A:

This is just a fancier title for Grammar & Report Writing. Despite having Honours in English, I hated the subject. Dr. Jan Shaw kedekut markah. Heikal, Desmond and I spent many hours wondering (and spacing out in class) why we had to do an English paper for the semester.

News Writing:

A mark away from Distinction! It's okay lah considering I fabricated the interviews (konon-konon I spoke to City Council rep, Chamber of Commerce, World Youth Day rep and Lord Mayor Clover Moore) for the first hard news article.

PR Management and Conflict Resolution:

Dr. Suwichit Chaidaroon is the shiznit.

Making Magazines:

2 marks away from High Distinction, Megan!! I designed the entire magazine, Megan!! Sampai nak buta, Megan!! Other than temporary blindness, the unit was very interesting and helpful. Now Husni and I can start a goss magazine ;)

Listening to: Life in Technicolor by Coldplay

2008-07-07T02:15:00.006+10:00

Sydney / April 2008

This post comes out of waiting for the Wimbledon Men's Singles Finals to resume. The pissing rain has stopped Nadal's ass-whopping momentum. For some reason, centre court has no roof. So leceh lidat.

In my many hours spent online, I came across an article related to tennis: Rafael Nadal playing through the grueling match without calling a time-out to free himself from wedgies. Yes, even professional tennis players have wedgies. Nadal, in particular, has to "dig deep" after almost every point. Nike may be responsible for both Nadal and Federer's outfits but it's pretty clear that one has had a bum deal.

[Nadal bontot besar! Nadal bontot besar!]

Hueahueahuea.

Hey, do you remember those round wooden tennis racquets? Circa John McEnroe lah. I think we used to have one, which was a substitute for badminton racquet. It might have been a squash racquet. I don't know lah. Most racquets were of similar shape and size... Almost multi-purpose lidat.

Update:

Rafa defeated Federer 6-4, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6, 9-7 in a game that took 4 hours and 48 minutes to complete. Rafa did miss 2 championship points in the fourth set but he fought back to steal Federer's 5-year reign at the All England Club. I loved it lah... such a great match.

Listening to: -

2008-07-05T02:38:00.005+10:00

Urbanscapes / June 2008

So I've been home for nearly 2 weeks and I've done a lot of things (please beg to differ here, people who have seen me in pjs after 3pm) except write. Dulu I was writing because I had to keep the momentum for all those articles for sekolah but now that I'm finally done with uni... I'm reluctant lah.

Staying at home can't be that interesting... going to the pasar malam can't be that interesting (but I did get laughed at for refusing plastic bags)... watching Chungking Express for the hundredth time can't be that interesting (but I must say the sight of Tony Leung in white singlet and briefs often leaves me essouffler).

So how?

Listening to: -

2008-06-21T02:55:00.002+10:00

Harbour Bridge, Sydney / June 2008

Auf wiedersehen, Sydney!

Love,
Myra

Listening to: -

2008-06-19T13:07:00.003+10:00

Surry Hills, Sydney / June 2008

Desssright. That's me celebrating my 25th. This was last night. Desssright. A birthday 2 months in advance. Moroccan style ;)

The birthday thing was accidental. Some people present at MY table thought it would be funny to say it was MY birthday... in hope of a belly dancer showing up and singing 'happy birthday' to me.

SIGH!

Safe to say there wasn't any belly dancing (or even worse: the owner doing it for me) but there was some damn good (free) sticky date pudding.

My farewell dinner went pretty well and the food was really good. I enjoyed the company, the lamb couscous and the owner throwing rose petals at us.

Thank you, you good f'llers for making some time for me! I heart you big time.

Listening to: Scissor Paper Rock by Architecture in Helsinki

2008-06-18T12:38:00.003+10:00

Bronte-Bondi cliff walk / May 2008

Just a normal sight here in Sydney. It's just the beach, you know? No need to jump and down.

Haha. Cilaka, eksyen.

Listening to: Ben Harper

2008-06-16T16:05:00.002+10:00

Paramatta Road, Sydney / June 2008

I'm officially done with uni!!

What my Facebook status will be like for the next couple of days:

Myra and Ibrahim Ferrer are hanging out.
Myra has gone shopping.
Myra is doing a Wim Wenders dvd marathon.
Myra is bored.
Myra has gone to the Opera House to watch Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea.
Myra is at the Museum of Australia, looking for cavemen and dinosaurs.
Myra will be having a farewell dinner with some kawan-kawan.
Myra wonders when she's going to start packing.
Myra doesn't have enough space. Crap.
Myra is cleaning the room.
Myra will miss you, you, you and you.
Myra is thinking, "this is it".
Myra is on her way home.

Listening to: Buena Vista Social Club

2008-06-13T14:17:00.004+10:00

Sydney / June 2008

Completed my travel piece for a 40% assessment. Celebrated by playing Ben Harper at full volume while grilling lamb in my pajamas. I've never felt so Philly... so Southern before. Hahaha.

I do deserve to watch Wisit Sasanatieng's movie later and a slice of Hungarian cheese cake di kedai kopi belakang rumah.

Listening to: Fight Outta You by Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals

2008-06-12T09:21:00.005+10:00

Breakfast at Elaine & Philip's, Mont Kiara / January 2008

Nothing beats the feeling of getting up early, taking the bus into the city and catching a movie at 10am.

[Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Tokyo Sonata was good, in that dysfunctional Japanese family story sorta way. Not as moving (and fucked up) as Hirokazu Koreeda's Nobody Knows but I do appreciate Japanese subtle sense of humor (refer to Koki Mitani's Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald). Anyway, it was a full house and Kiyoshi was there to introduce his film]

I liked being in the State Theatre. When I stepped in, I was awestruck by the Italian, Gothic and Art deco design. It is, by far, my favorite place in the city.

Now back to finishing work before I get to watch Wisit Sasanatieng's The Unseeable tomorrow evening :D

Listening to: Shelcha by Yael Naim

2008-06-08T18:06:00.002+10:00

Leura, Blue Mountains, Sydney / June 2008

Happy Father's Day, Baba, Kamal & Hau-Tek!

Listening to: -

2008-06-05T02:53:00.002+10:00

Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur / May 2007

Haven't been sleeping well. Too much to do, too little time to do it. Less snoozing time brings out the best in me (read: cranky, grouchy ALL the time).

Think of: Parents, the two tots, Fahmi, Lulu, home cooked food, own bed, some friends, cable-tv, One Utama, familiar faces, ketam masak telur masin, kangkung belacan and cabonara. And tempe.

Listening to: -

2008-06-01T00:16:00.004+10:00

Lulu / February 2008

Happy to say the Bronte-Bondi walk was great. Stunning views of the cliffs and the ocean. We started in Bronte and as we passed Tamarama Park, we saw whales! Four whales!! Just out and about, splashing in the water on a sunny day.

Apparently the 4 humpback whales (from Antartica) spent a couple of hours in the harbour before moving out to Bondi, where we were.

What a way to spend the last day of Autumn.

ps. Congratulations Husni! I'll join the Masters club in 2 weeks lagi :D

Listening to: -

2008-05-30T12:37:00.002+10:00

Strasbourg Clock, Powerhouse Museum / May 2008

This was modeled after the Strasbourg Clock in France. The original clock was made in the last 17th century. The one you see here, Strasburg Clock, was made between 1887-1889. Just like it's model in France, the Strasburg clock is an astronomical clock that has a calendar, planetary dial (position of the sun, moon and stars over Sydney), solar & lunar eclipse, cherubs, crowing rooster and Greek gods. Six minutes before each hour, the clock starts its story from the Bible. Jesus appears in an alcove where the 12 Apostles (and Satan) do their procession.

The clock has been changed to digital but everything else remains mechanical. It's quite a sight, I must say.

Have a good weekend.

Listening to: -

2008-05-28T22:04:00.002+10:00

Powerhouse Museum / May 2008

Found Nobbi on Facebook today. Heh heh!

And that's the highlight of my day.

Listening to:-

2008-05-27T12:27:00.002+10:00

Hyde Park, Sydney / April 2008

Just last weekend, I went to Lindt Cafe with Sab, Najib & Nabilah. We strolled down Pyrmont and crossed the Pyrmont Bridge to Darling Harbour. On our way there, somewhere in Pyrmont's residential area, some guy said, "fuck you guys, fuck you guys" to us. He wasn't even drunk. After dessert, Nabilah got to see some action happening in an alley in Pyrmont. Lots of groping and leaning against a wall, I was told. Hahaha...

Spending my last 3.5 weeks finishing up my assignments. Not many left. I've got things to sort out. It will feel weird clearing out my room. It's scary yet exciting. I'm listening to bharata natyam to calm my nerves.

Listening to: Bharata Natyam on Sutra Dance Theatre's website

2008-05-26T21:56:00.003+10:00

Here Is My Home, Malaysia / 2008

Few weeks back, I was told Mark was spending the whole day at KLPac shooting a Pete Teo video with a million other people. His passion for football meant he had spent the day talking to Shelby Singh while Awie, Afdlin, Reshmonu, Jaclyn Victor, Ning, Sharifah Amani, Atilia, Yuhang, Tony Fernandez, Tom, Dick and Harry mingled.

Apparently, Pete Teo wrote 'Here Is My Home' for Malaysian Artistes For Unity, which is an independent, non-profit multi-artistes song and video to promote racial unity in Malaysia. It also ran on RM0 (that's a nice ring in any producer's ear!!!).

I quite like the concept and video, especially when Pang dances whorishly and Mark attempts to 'dance'. Hahaha.

Read about them here. Watch it here. Join them here. Oh and support them by embedding the video on your site/blog.

Listening to: Here Is My Home by Malaysian Artistes For Unity

2008-05-23T11:52:00.002+10:00

Beth Yap's In 1969, directed by Sek Thim, Sunway College/August 2006

I go by many names: Myra, Azrina, Adik, Puteri, Oi, Babe, Bebop, My My, Myreezy, Myrot, Maherah, Nina and even Azrin (by Cikgu Fauzi - my Physics & Add Maths tutor).

What if we just changed our names whenever we felt like it?

I told Fahmi few months ago that I were to become a dancer, I'd change my name to August Mahyuddin, just to compete with January Low. Haha.

Just the other day, I had a conversation about names with the guy from JayJays.

Him:
[looks at my debit card] Where are you from?

Me:
Malaysia.

Him:
I thought so. Which one is your name?

Me:
That one [pointing to 'MS A P' on the card]. That's my dad's name [MOHAMED MAHYUDDIN]. I've been reduced to 'MS A P B' here.

Him:
So you could actually make your name up.

Me:
Yeah, like my name is Miss Apple.

Him:
Haha, yeah. Something exotic.

Me:
Yeah, like, Miss Apple Pineapple.

Him:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I like that one. Use that one!

****

Dug up an old email to find an interracial love story set in Malaysia in 1969. It's painfully beautiful.

Here's an excerpt:

And now rain. Washing the mud from my mother's face so it became streaked and could be seen. My mother burrowed into the ditch. She clung like a slug to its side. Now things began to wash down, sharp stones to scratch her and sticks to break her bones. The water licked at her feet, then covered them, scrubbing vigorously, washing them clean. Two pale feet in a churning ditch, two fine feet with soles soft and pink. Feet used to the finest arched shoes. My mother lay like a corpse in the ditch, only her fingers gripping. Only there, in the crook of her leg, behind the knee: that would give her away. That purple vein, beating and beating, pulling the eye towards it and beating through the current of water like some angry beast. This vein and the one behind her other knee, and the ones on the seat of her bum, and lower. The ones she rubbed and smoothed with balms on a quiet night. These, beating and beating till the sound filled her. These were the ones that would give her away.

Beth Yap, In 1969

Listening to: -

2008-05-22T20:43:00.002+10:00

Bedok, Singapore, Lomo LCA / October 2005

No internet the whole day. Was very, very crossed.

Also got my first feature article back today. It was the one on vintage fashion and Pigeon Ground Records and Clothing. Did ok. A measly 82/100 for it. Strangely, I was more worried about edit and notes from Megan than the marks.

Bleugh.

Listening to: -

2008-05-21T12:15:00.002+10:00

Bondi Beach, Sydney / September 2007

Listening to: Homecoming by Kanye West feat. Chris Martin

2008-05-20T00:40:00.002+10:00

Sydney / April 2008

Despite the 8 hour difference, I'll look forward to being in the same climate.

Listening to: It Ain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It) by Fats Waller

2008-05-19T15:38:00.002+10:00

Sarah & Omar, PJ / 18 May 2008

The tots having a go at the Mac.

While Sarah was busy climbing Tok Mi's treadmill, Omar was waving 'hi' and 'bye' at me. Sarah managed a 'Dada?' out of her mouth, which was cute. O shot me twice with his bang-bang game but then compensated me with his cheeky smile.

Happy sigh.

Listening to: -

2008-05-18T12:27:00.002+10:00

Jalan Pudu Lama, Kuala Lumpur / LCA /October 2005

The weekend has just morphed to week 11. How did it go by so fast?

Yesterday I took a quick stroll down Harris Street to visit the Powerhouse Museum. A pretty cool place if you like twiddling and experimenting things (it's a Science + Design museum. Go figure). They had the Diana exhibition, which displayed her personal belongings (report cards, notebooks, letters, stuffed toys, photos, etc), videos, tiara, wedding dress and two walls filled with condolence books (compiled by the Spencer family). I was called a necrophiliac by someone after I said I really liked the Diana exhibition. Hahaha.

But I also liked the Strasburg clock model. I sat there watching the intricately made clock come to live. After a brief commentary, the procession of the Apostles began. In an alcove, Jesus came out and stood there while the 12 apostles moved and bowed in front of him. When it was Peter's (the 6th apostle) turn, Satan appeared at a small window as the rooster on top of the clock flapped its wings. When it came to Judas, Satan came out again as Judas, carrying a bag of gold - payment for the betrayal, moved and bowed in front of Jesus.

But what I liked the most was Hannah's pie stand outside the museum. Chicken mushroom pie with barbecue and chili sauce in the cold.

Next weekend: Attempting the 3.5km Bondi - Bronte Walk. The walk will cover Bondi Beach, Surf Life Saving Club, Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Baths (home to the world famous Bondi Icebergs Club), Tamarama Park, Bronte Park, Bronte Baths, Aboriginal Art and the Waverly Cemetery.

Listening to: -

2008-05-17T12:26:00.001+10:00

Ephesus Ancient City, Turkey / June 2005

Do not disturb.

Listening to: -

2008-05-16T12:33:00.002+10:00

Le Apartment, Chinese Peace Garden, Sydney / April 2008

This is Liyana explaining to Ro how she knows me:

yes i know myraaa...put it this way....if i need to go out and stay out all night, i tell my mum im staying over at myra's for a girlie PJ party. when im about to get married and im not sure im doing the right thing, myra will tell shine light on what is right or not right...and when i have kids and theres no one to babysit n i wanna go out all night, ill barge into her house without telling her, dump the kids and they forget they exist. she'll curse me, but take care of them anyway.... thats how i know myra... :)

Hahaha...

That's how she knows me... I don't think telling Ro about following our parents to Animal Sciences' conferences in Penang at the age of 10 or 11, staying at the hotel, swimming together and eating at that 'The End of the World' seafood joint would have made a cool enough story to be published on FB :P

Listening to: John Legend

2008-05-15T02:53:00.002+10:00

The 4's around Sydney city / May 2008

This is for you, Fahmi Fadzil ;)

xoxo,
Myra

Listening to: I Wonder by Kanye West

2008-05-14T21:41:00.003+10:00

Sydney / May 2008

And that would be my marks for my Public Relations Management & Conflict Resolution quiz.

It was an open book quiz worth 20% of my grades. My (organized) ramblings on Grunigs' 4 models of public relations and McDonalds Australia vs. Super Size Me (the documentary by Morgan Spurlock) were considered as:

"Excellent! One of the best organized essay that directly answered all the questions asked. There were only minor issues that could have been fletched out if you had more time"

How the hell am I going to get anything better than that for the second quiz next week?

Listening to: -

2008-05-13T01:18:00.005+10:00

Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari, Kuala Lumpur / 28 May - 3 June 2007

I'm pleased to announce that Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari won an award for Best Group Performance (Theatre) at the 6th BOH Annual Cameronian Arts Awards on Sunday night.

Congratulations to Mark and the performers - Fahmi, Chung Wei & Tay Sy. Also to Fahmi Reza for the beautiful projections on the wall & Aziz for his 'crowd dispersing' music. Marion, Norman, Hari and Adrian deserves a big thank you for helping us out with this.

(Must also thank sponsors and venues. A mental note for when I'm back in KL!)

And thank you, Fahmi :)

For Pak Hamzah Awang Mat & Pak Dollah Baju Merah.

xoxo,
Mark's Prod

****************
Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari is a docu-performance that investigates the position of the wayang kulit dalang (master puppeteer) in the shifting contexts of Malaysian history.

The performance presents different versions of the Betara Kala story, where a bloodthirsty, child-eating giant is confronted by a dalang. The performance also explores the lives of renowned dalangs and fierce rivals Dollah Baju Merah (1938 - 2005)and Hamzah Awang Mat (1940 - 2001), through texts culled from interviews and newspaper reports.

Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari ran from 28 May to 3 June 2007 in at The Annexe, Central market and colleges/universities in the Klang Valley.

Presented by Five Arts Centre

Creative / Production Team

director: Mark Teh
performers: Fahmi Fadzil, Lim Chung Wei & Wong Tay Sy
multimedia designer: Fahmi Reza
sound designer: Aziz Ali
production manager: Adrian Kisai
production assistant: Hari Azizan
graphic designer: Norman Teh
producer: Myra Mahyuddin
executive producer / publicity manager: Marion D’Cruz

Listening to: -

2008-05-12T10:39:00.005+10:00

Sydney / May 2008

I spent money on nonsengs in Paddington (evil place with lots of nice shops), time with Azura/Khad/Alia and an hour watching Grey's Anatomy over the weekend. I had also spent some time watching Randy Pausch's 'Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams'.

Randy Pausch, as I had read in Time's 100 Most Influential People 2008 issue, is a professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. In 2006, he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Doctors told him he had 3-6 months to live.

On September 18, 2007 Randy delivered his 'Last Lecture' (this was part of lecture series where top academics were asked to think what matters most to them and then give a hypothetical "final talk" - basically answering the question of: "what wisdom would you try to impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance?") at CMU.

Calling it 'Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams', Randy didn't appear frail or sick. He managed to do push-ups on stage, humored the audience and gave insights on CS and life lessons for 70 minutes without a break. Richard Stengel, Time's Managing Editor, describes the lecture as "poignant 'last lecture' and its message of fortitude and good humor in the face of death".

Carnegie Mellon has posted the video of Randy's lecture on YouTube so that it could reach millions of people. When I watched it last night, I was number 2,209,580. It was pretty fun to watch. Do make time to watch it. It's not as corny as Tuesdays with Morrie, I promise.

"What was the second head fake? This [lecture] wasn't for you. It was for my kids. Thank you very much"

Listening to: Cat Power

2008-05-11T02:19:00.004+10:00

Autumn, University of Sydney / April 2008

Happy Mother's Day!

Get well Omar Koh Ee!

Have good fun at the 6th Annual BOH Camerionian Arts Awards & after party tonight, guys!

Listening to: -

2008-05-10T10:22:00.002+10:00

KLIA / December 2003

While I do nothing tomorrow night, some people will be attending the 6th Annual BOH Cameronian Arts Awards at Mandarin Oriental.

(The BLAM boys designed a whole bunch of publicity stuff for the Cammie's this year, including this year's theme: Come dress as your hero)

Nominations for Five Arts Centre:

Music

Best Group Performance (Instrumental) - Alih PungGONG by Rhythm in Bronze
Best Musical Direction - Jillian Ooi & Susan Sarah John for Alih PungGONG
Best Original Composition - Jillian Ooi for "Runtuh" in Alih PungGONG & Susan Sarah John for "In The Beginning" in Alia PungGONG
Best Production Values - Alih PungGONG

Theatre

Best Group Performance - Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari
Best Director - Mark Teh for Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari
Best Lighting - Mac Chan for Know No Cure
Best Actor in Leading Role - Anne James for The Breath of Life
Best Original Script - Fahmi Fadzil, Wong Tay Sy, Lim Chung Wei & Mark Teh for Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari

As you can see, it's quite an exciting line-up. I'm rooting for Alih PungGONG because it was a good gamelan concert directed by Namron and designed by Bayu Utomo Radjikin. But Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari remains closer to heart because it's the first theatre production I had produced after being Assistant Producer in other Five Arts projects. Managing production, people, sponsorship and publicity for Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari was very stressful especially when we toured colleges in KL but it went well and I'm very proud of it. It doesn't matter lah if we win or not... we had fun and it was worth the time/effort/money/etc.

Oh, I veh excited because same time last year, Second Link won Best Group Performance - beating other contenders like PGL The Musical, etc (we, some of the Singapore cast were there too, literally jumped out of our seats! Great fun). Fahmi was also named Mandarin Oritental Kuala Lumpur Fan of The Arts For Most Promising Artist Award.

Also rooting for Edwin and Zahim for their nominations.

Fingers crossed!

Listening to: -

2008-05-09T10:03:00.002+10:00

Sheila Majid, Kuala Lumpur / February 2008

Did I tell you about the time I was sent to cover Sheila Majid's concert for KLue? Shermen, the photographer, was too cool for this. His tight vintage t-shirt and skinny jeans would have stuck out like a sore thumb in the middle of thirty somethings. Oh and like all hipsters, I'm sure he had other places to go that Friday night.

So I went with Fahmi, disguised as a writer for KLue, in tow.

We were given RM200+ seats, which was sweet because it was free, but we were light years away from the stage. I was seated on the same row as other photographers. No Shermens here. Only pakcik-pakcik and abang-abang from your Malay dailies, magazines, etc. Fahmi sat behind me, along with kakak-kakak and abang-abang (think Mama Juwie) from magazines. While we cursed in our seats, the Malay newspaper and magazine gossip folks were interested in a few things: Ning's wedding (from her dress to her pelamin), Anuar Zain and Sheila Majid (her new life with her new husband, Acis). I think Fahmi wanted to cry in his seat.

The concert was alright. Sheila's still the same only that she looked a tad preggie. She sang most of her songs. Everybody stood up and sang with her. Good ol' memories for the crowd of thirty somethings. Everybody was happy.

I was happy. I managed to get a few decent photos out of the hundreds I took that night, then got them published on a page spread in the March issue :)

Ok malas to write already.

Have a good weekend!

Listening to: -

2008-05-07T09:11:00.002+10:00

Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur / February 2008

I feel like crap.

And I'm still grouchy.

Not enough sleep and couldn't sleep properly.

I thought this was going to be a relatively easy week. Obviously, I missed reading the fine print: expect lethargy, annoyance and little bursts of anger.

You can find me brooding in my room or at the Belgian Beer Cafe tonight. Approach with caution.

Listening to: 2 Hearts by Kylie Minogue (in an attempt to "lift" my spirits up)

2008-05-06T10:57:00.003+10:00

Around the house / September 2006

It's weird to think that while I'm having my Milo for breakfast, someone else is going to court today to be charged with sedition.

In half an hour's time, while Raja Petra's court hearing begins, I might be washing my empty mug and taking out the trash.

Aisey, I'm starting to feel bad.

Listening to: -

2008-05-05T21:27:00.000+10:00

Penang / December 2006

Listening to: -

2008-05-04T10:50:00.003+10:00

Elaine & Philip's, Mont Kiara / January 2008

Interesting headlines in today's New Straits Times:

Time for Fahmi to shine
by Subashini Nair

Fahmi Fadzil can make anyone meeting him for the first time feel either inspired or intimidated. Or both.

Proposal to protect 'fly alone' women: Have letter will travel
by Patrick Sennyah

In a move to stop Malaysian women being duped into carrying drugs for international sydicates, the Foreign Ministry has proposed that all women travelling out of the country alone be required to have a letter from parents or employers.

Brothers get their My-Kad

A "technical error" resulted in two brothers facing a nine-year struggle to get their MyKad

History book looks at contributions of Chinese

A "must read" book for students of Malaysian history was launched yesterday, examining the contributions of the Chinese community to nation-building.

Job security for NS trainees
By Ahmad Fairuz Othman

Working youth called up for national service training may get more financial and job security.

Listening to: -

2008-05-03T11:46:00.002+10:00

Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney / 2007

Some lady sent me a massage on Flickr about this photo being was short-listed for inclusion in the second edition of Schmap Australia Guide. It'll be published mid-May. Online, that is.

Schmap is a map is like Lonely Planet because it gives you some background reading, suggested tours, photos from the public (i.e. me) and reviews by local correspondents.

Unlike the Singapore Airlines' in-flight magazine, this isn't a paying job. Whatever lah.

I want more moolah from my photographs!

Listening to: -

2008-05-02T12:49:00.002+10:00

Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey / June 2005

Chapter 18: Love Among The Angels

HOW ANGELS SLEEP. Unsoundly. They toss and turn, trying to understand the mystery of the Living. They know so little about what it's like to fill a new prescription for glasses and suddenly see the world again, with a mixture of disappointment and gratitude. The first time a girl named Alma puts her hand just below your bottom rib: about this feeling, they have only theories, but no solid ideas. If you gave them a snow globe, they might not even know enough to shake it.

Also, they don't dream. For this reason, they have one less thing to talk about. In a backward way, when they wake up they they feel as if there is something they are forgetting to tell each other. There is disagreement among the angels as to whether this is a result of something vestigial, or whether it is the result of the empathy they feel for the Living, so powerful it sometimes makes them weep. In general, they fall into these two camps on the subject of dreams. Even among the angels, there is the sadness of division.

PRIVATE MATTERS. It's true that they don't have a sense of smell, but angels, in their infinite love for the Living, go around smelling everything in emulation. Like dogs, they don't feel bashful about going up and sniffing each other. Sometimes, when they are unable to sleep, they lie in bed with a nose in their armpits, wondering what they smell like.

BEING ALONE. Like the Living, angels sometimes get tired of each other and want to be alone. Because the houses they live in are crowded, and there's nowhere to go, the only thing an angel can do at such moments is shut his eyes and put his head down on his arms. When an angel does this, the others understand that he is trying to fool himself into feeling alone, and they tiptoe around him. To help things along, they might talk about him as if he weren't there. If they happen to bump into him by accident, they whisper: "It wasn't me."

FOR BETTER OR WORSE. Angels don't get married. To begin with they are too busy, and secondly they don't fall in love with each other. (If you don't know what it feels like to have someone you love put a hand below your bottom rib for the first time, what chance is there for love?)

* an excerpt from Nicole Krauss' The History of Love (pages 185-186)

Listening to: Haruskah Pergi by Iwan Fals feat. Indra Lesmana

2008-05-01T17:18:00.002+10:00

Five Arts Centre, Kuala Lumpur / 2006

Bored. Restless.

Listening to: -

2008-04-30T13:43:00.000+10:00

Livi, Bukit Timah, Singapore / March 2007

Listening to: -

2008-04-29T00:13:00.002+10:00

Around the house / August 2006

10 years ago, my playlist was this:

Dru Hill - 5 Steps, We're Not Making Love No More, Angel, April Showers, In My Bed, How Deep Is Your Love, These Are The Times, etc
Shai - If I Ever Fall In Love Again
112 - Your Letter
Allure - All Cried Out
Jay-Z - Can I Get A..., I Know What Girls Like, The City Is Mine, You Must Love Me, etc
Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop, Ex-Factor, Tell Him, Can't Take My Eyes Off You, Nothing Even Matters
Third Eye Blind - How's It Going To Be, Motorcycle Driveby, etc

These days, I have:

Feist - Mushaboom, So Sorry, 1234, How My Heart Behaves
Maroon 5 - Nothing Lasts Forever, Won't Go Home Without You
Glen Hansard - Falling Slowly, Lies Lies Lies, Fallen From The Sky, Leave, etc
Prince - A Case of You
Basia Bulat - Little Waltz
Pink Martini - Tea For Two, etc
Tori Amos - 1000 Oceans, The Power of Orange Knickers
Adele - Daydreams, Chasing Pavements

The list goes on lah but I wanted to show that I've moved on from R&B/Soul to lots of vocals. Listening to them oldies (wanted to download them but couldn't find it on mininova, so listened to them on YouTube) made my heart flutter.

Them good ol' days.

Listening to: Love Will Tear Us Apart by Susanna and the Magic Orchestra

2008-04-28T10:28:00.002+10:00

Port Klang, Malaysia / 28 April 2007

For Krishen
1939 - 2005

selamat pagi laut
baringlah aku
di dadamu
supaya kudapat ketenangan
yang tersembunyi di celah
bulu camar-camar

- Tg. Alias Taib

Listening to: -

2008-04-27T11:54:00.002+10:00

Sydney / August 2007

Great advice but spot the typo.

Listening to: So Sorry by Feist

2008-04-26T12:00:00.002+10:00

Watsons Bay, Sydney / August 2007

Finally finished writing my feature article for the Making Magazine subject. At 1118 words (limit is 1200), it's still very much a rough draft. I had fun writing it but I can't seem to read it without thinking it's messy and all over the place. Dunno. Don't care. Don't want to talk about it.

Listening to: Basia Bulat

2008-04-25T11:13:00.008+10:00

Martin's Place, Sydney / August 2007

Today is Anzac Day, a day of remembering the Australian and New Zealand soldiers during WW1, while the rest of us laze around on a public holiday. It's probably Australia's most important national occasion. It's like Hari Pahlawan but bigger and more serious. So no, it's not about collecting donations whenever the day comes around (they had a habit of passing the tabung around at school). It's about waking up early in the morning to pay respects during the Dawn Service. Businesses in Australia are only allowed to operate after the services, in respect of Anzac Day.

Managed to catch the live telecast of the Dawn Service in Gallipoli, Turkey.

(In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula to open the way to the Black Sea for the allied navies. The plan was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), the capital of the Ottoman empire and an ally of Germany. They landed in Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Turkish defenders. What had planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for 8 months. At the end of 1915, the allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered severed causalities and endured great hardships. Over 8000 Australian soldiers were killed. It has been a memorial ground ever since. - The Anzac Day Tradition)

Services, across the world, are held at dawn to mark the time of the original landing/the quiet peaceful moments for soldiers/favoured time to attack.

The one in Gallipoli was my favourite because they were at the cove, facing the sea. They laid wreaths, had a period of silence, flags at half mast, etc. My most favourite moment was when the Turkish, New Zealand and Australian national anthems were sung.

It made me teary (!!!).

Definitely as 'Lest we forget' moment there in Gallipoli.

Listening to: -

2008-04-24T10:13:00.002+10:00

Around the house / January 2007

Keep on moving. Keep on moving. Keep on moving. Don't stop moving. Keep on moving. Keep on moving. Keep on moving. Keep on moving. Don't stop moving. Keep on moving.

Listening to: the dings on gmail chat

2008-04-23T14:24:00.002+10:00

Live Green Festival, Victoria Park, Sydney / August 2007

I'm stupidly swamped with assignments, group work, meetings, research, interviews, etc until the end of next week.

Four ways of consoling myself:

will never have to do assignments or attend classes ever again
flight home - two months away!
miserable weather - at least I won't be kicking myself for staying in when there's pissing rain and cold wind outside
daily musings from the Mundane Email Group (Karen, MDC, Edwin and Wyn)

On another note, Zahim was conferred Datuk-ship last Saturday by the Sultan of Perak. With this new title, Karen, Mdc and I thought it would be really funny (and good too) to change Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 7 (where Dramalab and Five Arts Centre is) to Lorong Dato' Datin Zahim D'Cruz 7.

Heehaw. Heehaw.

It's the best shit I've heard this week.

Listening to: Release Me by Oh Laura

2008-04-21T00:02:00.003+10:00

Jalan Masjid India / February 2008

The love/hate relationship I have with Facebook is taking an odd turn.

I've been a member since July 2007. With hardly a year of being there, I've 'collected' 316 friends. Not all of them are friends lah. Well, they are but more of acquaintances... because I definitely don't remember seeing/hanging out with 316 friends before/after I left for Sydney!

Childhood friends, ex school friends, college friends, university mates, cousins, 'celebrities', in-laws, former bosses, divas, jet-setters, mums, family friends, a 12 year-old, activists, musicians, creepy friend's friend, friends' significant other are all on my list.

It was not until a month ago that a different category popped up: aunts and uncles.

Yes, 2 of my aunts are on Facebook.

Then yesterday I saw an uncle's profile under the 'People You May Know' tab. Funnily, I held my breath so that he wouldn't find me and add me on Facebook. Bodoh betul, si Myra ni.

Anyway, finding my uncle on Facebook was the highlight of my mundane Sunday. It was a good (nervous) laugh until I asked his son about it.

"Is you dad tech savvy now?" I asked.

"Yeah but he's only on Facebook so that he can look at his grand children's photos," he replies.

[insert 'fuzzy warm feeling' here]

Listening to: Too Long by Yael Naim

2008-04-20T11:48:00.003+10:00

Masjid Kapitan Keling, Penang / December 2006

Kesedaran adalah matahari
Kesabaran adalah bumi
Keberanian adalah cakrawala dan
Perjuangan adalah perlaksanaan kata-kata.

Rendra

Listening to: No One by Alicia Keys

2008-04-19T12:33:00.002+10:00

Kuala Lumpur / November 2006

Stomach ache and feature article for magazine pulled me out of bed today.

I'm 8 days away from submitting my first feature article and I'm moving as extremely slow as a sloth. I wanted to write on vintage-inspired clothing and accessories with a focus on this cute Betty Bop-esque shop in Newtown called Pretty in Pink. The designer did agree to an interview but that was a week ago. I've been suggesting dates but she's superbly busy. So busy that I'm not going to write about her anymore.

So in my most busuk manner, I've spent 2 hours on thinking of a different angle for my feature article. Why not write on vintage shops instead of vintage-inspired shops? There are a lot of vintage shops around here and despite smelling bad, they might be easier and friendlier to talk to. My expertise in Googling pointed me to Pigeon Ground Records and Clothing - a super tiny vintage shop for ol' skool junkies. It looks like a really cool shop. They sell vinyl, clothes, accessories, books, etc. Their space, for whatever small space that they have to sell stuff, is also used for small gatherings, mini exhibitions, product launch, etc.

So yeah. That.

I hope they'll reply my email soon because I've got my knickers in knots over this feature article.

Now wait, brush teeth, wash face, put on contact lens and have breakfast.

Listening to: -

2008-04-18T10:52:00.005+10:00

Around the house / 28 February 2008

Issue:
Advertising and ethics of journalism

Problem:
Coke wants to advertise in your magazine but they have had enough of display page or double page spread. They want product placement instead, which leaves you (the writer) to write a short article, say, on '10 Best Summer Drinks' and mention Coke 3 times. The article won't even carry your name. Would you do it?

Position of Magazine lecturer:
Won't do it. It's unethical.

Position of classmates:
Won't do it. It's unethical. Some said, "oh no, that's wrong!" "it's unfair to the readers"

Position of Myra:
Meh... I'll do it.

Interest:
While everybody has the interest of upholding the ethics of journalism, I'm thinking it shouldn't be a problem if you had to become a ghost writer for Coke. They are the clients and clients are important to the survival of a magazine. Yes, ideally, we don't succumb to the needs of advertisers who want their product to be mentioned 400 times in an issue. Yes, we don't write an article about Coke right next to the article about diabetes.

I understand all of that but let's be practical and realistic. Clients make it work for magazines. Cover sales and subscription (if you manage to get any) will not cover the cost of production and administration. Paper is expensive, staff needs to be paid, contributors are expecting the cheques you owe them from 3 months ago, etc.

I'm not saying you should ditch the ethics of journalism. I'm saying don't be precious about it. Don't think of yourself. Think of the other people at the office, the readers, the magazine, the marketing, the breakfast after Monday editorial meeting, the runner-boy, etc.

Clients. make. it. work. Ok?

Be good to your clients. Being good will not only foster a healthy, long relationship with the clients, but it will also ensure the flow of pretty food baskets during the festive season. While you're happily munching on fruit cakes, your readers are happily paying $7 for your magazine (without ads? it could easily cost $21 per issue). Clients might also jump in as sponsors if your magazine wants to have a festival/competition/exhibition/etc. So it works out ok. No one dies during the process. Well, maybe the marketing executive and project manager will lah but I'll explain that in 'Handling Clients 101' later.

***
Disclaimer:

This write up was made possible with the use of Plowman's Issue/Problem/Position/Interest theory and Grunig's two-way symmetrical public relations model.

I might have worn my producer's hat while writing this. That might explain why I was so passionate about production more than creativity. Tee hee~!

Listening to: Daydreams by Adele

2008-04-16T10:33:00.004+10:00

Keanu Reeves, Street Kings' Movie Premier, Sydney / 15 April 2008

A standard paparazzi shot... no where close to a nice shot with someone's hand (and mobile phone) in the same frame.

I was at the movie premier of Street Kings last night. Keanu was on Rove's show on Sunday night and he was saying something about going to Sydney on Monday. Little googling pointed me to Greater Union Cinema for the red carpet on Tuesday. So I went with Sab, camera in hand, to the city. We didn't expect to see that many people waiting at the red carpet. Well, to be fair, the place is small. The cinema is on the main street and they couldn't seal off George Street during rush hour.

Anyway, I barely got to the front but when push came to shove, I was right in front of Keanu. His five-o'clock shadow was just like the one he had in Feeling Minnesota (filmed in 1996!). He hasn't aged lah.

No autograph or handshake for me but he did say, "Hello".

Swoon.

Listening to: -

2008-04-15T13:30:00.003+10:00

Pulau Indah, Klang / 28 April 2007

Today is a cloudy 17'c kinda weather.

Today is my 20% quiz for Public Relations Management & Conflict Resolution subject.

Today is also Keanu Day. That's when I head out to the city to get as close as I can to the red carpet for his movie premier. I might be able to see Rove too.

Now, tomorrow...

Tomorrow is half priced mussels day for everybody at the Belgian Beer Cafe on Harrington Street. I barely managed to book 5 of us a table but I did. Dinner is at 6 pm sharp.

Listening to: -

2008-04-14T10:52:00.002+10:00

Pesta Pulau Pinang / December 2007

Listening to: -

2008-04-13T12:19:00.004+10:00

Butterworth, Penang / December 2006

And then the rain came. In buckets full.

Walking in heavy boots today.

Listening to: -

2008-04-12T12:02:00.003+10:00

Chiang Mai, Thailand / January 2007

Azlan posted a photo of him with a turtle in Bali. It was him standing at the edge of the water, surrounded by bamboo fence. I guess it's a fun petting zoo for tourist but a cruel cage for the turtle... unless it's a rehabilitation centre. That's highly unlikely though. Turtle meat, not eggs like in Terengganu and Kelantan, is a delicacy there.

Someone commented, "is this giant turtle still alive? lol"

(you think?? dumbass)

Azlan replies, "about 60+ years old fyi!"

It wasn't just any giant turtle. It was a Green turtle.

!!!

Chelonia Mydas, or Green turtle in English and penyu agar in Bahasa Melayu, lives in coasts and islands in the tropics i.e. Pulau Redang.

In the few years I was in Terengganu, I've gotten acquainted with them. I've stayed up all night, slept on the beach, recorded data, tagged them, marked nests, dug up nests for relocation (those damn red ants and lizards), watched them swim in the bay just before dusk and released hatchlings back to the sea.

I've also taken care of one at the university. Mary, a fairly young turtle, was in captivity because they wanted to put a tracking device on her body. My job was to feed her, scrub her and make sure she had enough water in her pool.

Her favorite thing was getting her shell scrubbed. It made her dance.

:)

I still know these things after so many years. I've not been back at Chagar Hutang since I was 17. I've missed being around Man, Mahadi and a quiet beach.

I think it's about time I go again.

Listening to: -

2008-04-11T10:41:00.005+10:00

Chiang Dao, Thailand / January 2007

Naked, you are simple as one of your hands,
smooth, earthy, small, transparent, round:
you have moon-lines, apple-pathways:
naked, you are slender as a naked grain of wheat.

Naked, you are blue as a night in Cuba;
you have vines and stars in your hair;
naked you are spacious and yellow
as summer in a golden church.

Naked, you are tiny as one of your nails -
curved, subtle, rosy, till the day is born
and you withdraw to the underground world,

as if down a long tunnel of clothing and of chores:
your clear light dims, gets dressed - drops its leaves -
and becomes a naked hand again.

(Morning XXVII by Pablo Neruda)

Listening to: Razor by Foo Fighters

2008-04-10T13:20:00.002+10:00

Lulu / July 2006

Via SMS last night

Fahmi:
Hey, just got done with mtg. Had dinner with your family earlier, was ok.

Me:
Makan kat mana?

Fahmi:
Your house. I think kamal bought food. Mmm, sedap!

Me:
:) hope lulu was hospitable

(this was referring to a time when Fahmi had accidentally forgotten to pick her up from the pet shop - she spent an extra night there - Lulu's capable of doing some crazy things if she's unhappy with you)

Fahmi:
She was gallivanting! Only saw her as I was about to leave. But she looked cheeky :D

***
Listening to: La Llorona by Chavela Vergas

2008-04-09T14:07:00.004+10:00

Campos, Newtown / March 2008

Pitch News Story Idea (10%)

Find one community based news story. This could be, for example, a public event, a book launch, a film premier, etc. Attend it and write and prepare a verbal (5 min max) and written story pitch (100 words max)
Consider news values
Find 3-5 people you plan to interview. State their full name and title
State where your article is going to be published. You must follow their house-style
Start your pitch with "This is a story about..."

(After spending days looking for an issue, I finally picked to write on the disruption to work, lives and businesses in Sydney CBD during World Youth Day in July)

Title:

Holy pilgrimage to keep Sydneysiders out of CBD

Pitch:

This story is about the World Youth Day in July this year and its effects on the work, lives and businesses in CBD. The six-day event is expected to be bigger than the Olympics and APEC as it will not only attract 600,000 attendees from around the world, but also 300 road closures during the holy event. This article will look at how professionals, residents and businesses are responding to the disruptions, particularly to the suggestion made by NSW’s Deputy Premier John Watkins for them to work from home and keep out of the city from July 15 to 18.

List of Interviewees:

The Transport Management Centre, Roads and Traffic Authority
Leanne Lincoln, Media Officer, City of Sydney
Stephen M. Taylor, President, City Partnership Inc.
Jill Yates, The City of Sydney Combined Resident Action Groups (CityRAGs)
Najib S., accountant, Ferrier Hodgson
Nik A., waiter, Cafe Kasturi
Sabrina H., resident on George Street
Jennt Tan, resident on Goulburn Street
some random shop owner

Published in:

The Sydney Morning Herald.

***

I have a feeling everybody's going to write about it.

Cis...

Listening to: -