Saturday, September 30, 2006

A Redeeming Con

A friend called me up the other day to go for dinner. Me, being my usual self, suggested Sri Neela’s banana leaf rice. My friend was not as keen, and said she knew of this place which serves very good sweet and sour pork. Now, what better temptation for me than to tell me of a good place for sweet and sour pork? Ok, will try it out if it is as good as she said. She guaranteed that it is better than the one she brought me to previously. I asked her, “Sure or not! Guarantee good sweet and sour pork?” and she replied “Yes!”.

So there we went after work. I was ok to drive to Sri Petaling, but she said she would drive instead. Ok! Better still, but the real reason she volunteered to drive was that she wasn’t 100% sure how to get there, roughly roughly only. Knowing me well enough that giving me wrong directions would turn my mood sour “a bit”, especially being indecisive as to directions, she played it safe and drove instead. The thing is, she didn’t remember the name of the shop, just roughly what it looked like and around which vicinity only although having been there twice before. Luckily she drove though, with her directions, we nearly went into a one way street. Would have freaked me out if I had been driving if such instructions were given.

After a few guesses, she finally found the place, but hesitated somewhat before going into the makan outlet as a moment of doubt crossed her mind. Then, she felt convinced that this was the right place as she sort of recognized the layout of the outlet, and later saw the lady boss who provided very good service when she was last here.

There we sat, and after we were handed the menus, the first thing I tried looking for was the sweet and sour pork. Hmmm, how come all chicken, fish, veggie, etc? How come no oink-oink section? When we then asked if they had sweet and sour pork, the lady told us that they don’t serve pork at this outlet! WHAT THE FISH!…. KENA CON BIG TIME!!!

I then asked my friend whether she had the sweet and sour pork the last time she was here, and she said not. She had the sweet and sour fish (which she said was very nice), and assumed they had pork. Alas, what can I say? Kena tipu. Was conned big time to forgo my banana leaf rice! SAD! :(

Never mind. Go for the sweet and sour chicken instead (medium size!), as well as another two dishes (small size). I was telling my friend that for sweet and sour chicken, the best I have tried was at Sri Melaka in Amcorp Mall. The dish there, although on the drier side, was still crispy and delicious.

First came the Chinese tea which we ordered to go with our meal, and when the tea cups were set on the table, I was pleasantly surprised that they were not the usual bland looking cups, but these had nice pictures on the cups. Not bad, not bad… (oh, not sure why the colour of the picture was a bit yellowish – could have been the lighting in the outlet) and when the tea pot was provided, was again surprised to see that there was a strainer for the tea pot. Now this I don’t usually see. Most outlets just put the tea leaves into the pot and pour hot water, and typically never use a strainer. Hmm.. things looking better already. Suitably impressed.

The tofu dish came first, and was considered a house specialty. Quite tasty, and my opinion of the place went up another notch. The next dish was a veggie dish. Was told the name in Chinese, but forgotten already. A simple dish, fried with garlic, but it tasted quite good.

And the moment of reckoning came. The sweet and sour chicken was served. First impression was that it looked ok, then tried the taste. Not bad…, better than I had expected, although not the best I have tried. For a chicken sweet and sour dish, I considered it slightly above average in my books. Would have preferred oink oink, but at least the sweet and sour taste was alright. Ok’lah, my friend sort of finally redeemed herself by conning me…. and yes, well worth the sacrifice of the banana leaf rice! :P

All in all, food quality passed in my opinion, and suggested to my friend that we should bring the other gang members to makan here also sometime. Although no sweet and sour pork, the other food tasted good. Must try the “honey chicken” dish the lady recommended next time we come here. After that, was slightly concerned on potential thirstiness with perhaps too much MSG loaded into the dishes, but surprisingly, it was ok with no “side effects”.

And as a reminder to my friend as to where the outlet is located, so that we don’t get lost next time (not that we got lost this time round, but I wasn’t certain whether it was due to lady luck or my friend’s super memory retention skill!), it is opposite “The Store” and next to KFC.

At the end of the day, I still need to say a big thank you to my friend for an enjoyable evening. :)

Friday, September 29, 2006

Drawing Parallels

For the past week, as I leave my place and walk up the slope to my car to travel to work, the sun has just about risen over the horizon. Sometimes I see it bright and true, and sometimes peeking out from clouds, as though shy to give the world its morning light. At times though, it has been shaded totally by the haze, casting thus a greyish hue to the entire scene. Still, the changing colours of the sky as it begins its morning ascend can still be pretty captivating, especially if watched from a place of quiet, to enjoy the serenity of the moment. Many a times I have taken, just for a few moments to savour the moment, thankful for another day before heading to work.

This is the thing, there is only one sun. Yet, the view changes as time moves. Our view is influenced by the many events happening, even to where we are at or who we are with at that particular moment whilst watching the sunrise.

What! Never seen the sun rise? Huh? Never get up early enough? Huh? Lucky bugger!… but sometimes, a break from normal routine serves as a great boost to our internal system. The last time I purposely woke up to see the sunrise was in Redang (wah! So the many years back oh! Must find time to go again).

Is it a misnomer too, then to say that the sun has risen? We learn when young, that the sun rises from the east and sets in the west. Well, that’s only perception and the obvious of what we see. In reality? Does the sun move, or does the earth dance a constant spin while it circles the sun?

A few times I have thought about this, and more often that not, I think back to my life, and try to see how others perceive me to be. My daily life is influenced by so many events, by my mood, by other people’s mood, by work schedules, by health, by emotions, by stresses, etc. At the end of the day, it is still me, but how people perceive me differs from one moment to another. I guess who I really am inside also changes as the sun may change.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

The Cicak story continues

Saw this picture in The Star today. Was specifically brought to my attention by another colleague as well. Too good to pass up:

Again to our ol' dear Meme,
the cicak tale to continue.
In Aussieland currently she be,
with koalas, wombats and kangaroos.

Your cicak friend currently pines for you,
searching hither, thither, and beyond the blue.
Await shall your cicak friend be,
perhaps within the genus eucalyptus tree.

To spring forth a genial surprise,
and to follow you to endless days.
To hear your squeal of joy,
as it hangs in midair and try, to be coy.

Roses are red, violets are blue,
The love of the Cicak Man,
For our bespectacled Cicak Woman,
Is not at all cold, but ever true,

A week without your cutesy noises,
Little 'zzt zzts' and unsolicited laughter,
Where the poor ol'souls over yonder,
Are totally shocked by the owner with the tresses,

Have your cakes and have your pies,
As your Cicak Man hangs on its two front limbs,
Not wanting to let go of its tail as it seems,
Till its Love comes home with pix of summer and autumn skies.

You left with the Tans without much hustles,
despite the gastrointestinal disorder.
With its ostentatious muscles,
we cogitate that things might get out of order.

Ol'dear Meme take your time and drink some wine,
As your Cicak Man practices its skill ebulliently,
Desiring for a chance to dine,
And set to win your touch belligerently.

Waiting for you is just too much,
solitary nights are often heartbreaking,
longing for your tender touch,
it patiently awaits for your homecoming...


... with thoughtful contributions from KKC and SF... (to be continued?)... :)
... for the previous story of the cicakman and cicakwoman, please click here.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Red faced and what nots

Came across this joke which tickled me somewhat:

To impress his date, the young man took her to a very chic Italian restaurant. After sipping some fine wine, he picked up the menu and ordered. "We'll have the Giuseppe Spomdalucci," he said.

"Sorry, sir," said the waiter. "That's the owner."


MUAHAHAAHAAA!!! Oh my God! I don’t know what I will do if that was me. Would simply die of embarrassment! Need to crawl under the table and hide!!! Any such incidences happened to people you know? :P

Also came across this "fork art". Way cool! Love the double bass. Alas, wish I could play it:

Monday, September 25, 2006

Belated

Just realised that my blog has hit its 1st anniversary! 23Sep06!
Yipppeeeeee!!! Yay!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ZingPtzPzz!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ZingPtzPzz!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ZingPtzPzz!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ZingPtzPzz!

Yeah, I know, syok sendiri...
But who cares!!! :P

To Moon or not to Moon…

“Legends aplenty surrounding the moon,
Of love and parting, ever a tale at noon.
Little round cakes of past revolution a boon,
The fifteenth day of the eighth month approaching soon”.


Hahahaaa! Make out what you may of the title (especially following my previous post!). It’s that time of the year again, when we see mooncakes being sold here, there and everywhere. The shapes and sizes of the mooncakes have varied over the years, with many ingenious ideas being shown. My younger sister brought home these two little piggies (which is kind of cute), and it was almost a shame to cut them up! Incidentally, I have been moderating the amount of mooncakes I am taking. More conscious of the calories involved. My favourite remains the "tau sa" type... hey!, I am a simple guy! :)

Definition of Moon:
Noun
1. The natural satellite of the Earth
2. Any object resembling a moon
3. The period between successive new moons (29.531 days)
4. The light of the moon
5. Any natural satellite of a planet

Verb
1. Have dreamlike musings or fantasies while awake
2. Be idle in a listless or dreamy way
3. Expose one's buttocks

Pstt.. incidentally, the name of my group (The Wicked Pitches)'s coming acapella concert in November is "Mostly, We Moon..." :P

So what are mooncakes? Traditional mooncakes are typically baked and consists of a thin tender skin enveloping a sweet and slightly oily filling. The moon cake can also contain single or multiple whole salted egg yolks in its center to symbolize the full moon. The saltiness of the yolk balances well with the sweet filling in the mooncake. Although rarely so, mooncakes can also be steamed or fried.

Traditional mooncakes have an imprint on top consisting of the Chinese characters for "longevity" or "harmony" as well as the name of the bakery and filling in the moon cake. Imprints of a moon, a woman on the moon, flowers, vines, or a rabbit may surround the characters for additional decoration. Not sure if I took this "tau sa" mooncake picture character correctly or not (could be upside down) :)

And the legends? (with many variations to the tales)... adapted from http://www.regit.com/hongkong/festival/mooncake.htm

Moon Cake Festival: A Mid-Autumn Festival (Chung Chiu), the third major festival of the Chinese calendar, is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month. This festival corresponds to the harvest festival as observed by Western cultures.

Contrary to what most people believe, this festival probably has less to do with harvest festivities than with the philosophically minded chinese of old. The union of man's spirit with nature in order to achieve perfect harmony was the fundamental canon of Taoism, so much so that contemplation of nature was a way of life.

This festival is also known as the Moon Cake Festival because a special kind of sweet cake (yueh ping) prepared in the shape of the moon and filled with sesame seeds, ground lotus seeds and duck eggs, and is served as a traditional Chung Chiu delicacy. Nobody actually knows when the custom of eating moon cake to celebrate the Moon Festival began, but one belief traces its origin to the 14th century. At the time, China was in revolt against the Mongols. Chu Yuen-chang, and his senior deputy, Liu Po-wen, discussed a battle plan and developed a secret mooncake strategy to take a certain walled city held by the Mongol enemy. Liu dressed up as a Taoist priest and entered the besieged city bearing mooncakes. He distributed these to the city's populace. When the time for the year's Chung Chiu festival arrived, people opened their cakes and found hidden messages advising them to coordinate their uprising with the troops outside. Thus, the emperor-to-be ingeniously took the city and his throne. Mooncake of course, became even more famous. Whether this sweet Chinese version of ancient Europe's "Trojan Horse" story is true, no one really knows.

The moon plays a significant part of this festival, with many legends surrounding it.

First lady on the moon: It is generally conceded that Neil Armstrong, the American astronaut, was the first man on moon (he made that historic landing in 1969). But that's not necessarily the truth to Chinese, who believe that the first person on the moon was a beautiful woman who lived during the Hsia dynasty (2205-1766BC).

This somewhat complicated moon-landing story goes like this: A woman, Chang-O, was married to the great General Hou-Yi of the Imperial Guard. General Hou was a skilled archer. One day, at the behest of the emperor, he shot down eight of nine suns that had mysteriously appeared in the heaven that morning. His marksmanship was richly rewarded by the emperor and he became very famous. However, the people feared that these suns would appear again to torture them and dry up the planet, so they prayed to the Goddess of Heaven (Wang Mu) to make General Hou immortal so that he could always defend the emperor, his progeny and the country. Their wish was granted and General Hou was given a Pill of Immortality.

Another version of this story notes that Chang-O, the wife of the Divine Archer, shot down nine of ten suns plaguing the world and received the Herb of Immortality as a reward.

Whoever the hero was, Chang-O grabbed the pill (or the herb) and fled to the moon. In some versions it is uncertain whether she ever actually got there, because Chinese operas always portray her as still dancing-flying towards the moon.

When Chang-O reached the moon, she found a tree under which there was a friendly hare. Because the air on the moon is cold, she began coughing and the Immortality Pill came out of her throat. She thought it would be good to pound the pill into small pieces and scatter them on Earth so that everyone could be immortal. So she ordered the hare to pound the pill, built a palace for herself and remained on the moon.

This helpful hare is referred to in Chinese mythology as the Jade Hare. Because of his and Chang-O's legendary importance, you will see - usually stamped on every mooncake, every mooncake box, and every Moon Cake Festival poster - images of Chang-O and sometimes the Jade Hare.

The old man on the moon: There is a saying in Chinese that marriages are made in heaven and prepared on the moon. The man who does the preparing is the old man of the moon (Yueh Lao Yeh). This old man, it is said, kept as a record book with all the names of newborn babies. He is the one heavenly person who knows everyone's future partners, and nobody can fight the decisions written down in his book. He is one reason why the moon is so important in Chinese mythology and especially at the time of the Moon Festival. Everybody including children, hike up high mountains or hills or onto open beaches to view the moon in the hope that he will grant their wishes.

To celebrate this sighting of the moon, red plastic lanterns wrought in traditional styles and embellished with traditional motifs are prepared for the occasion. The lanterns are made in traditional shapes like rabbits, goldfish, carps, butterflies, lobsters and star-shaped fruits. Now, it is not uncommon to see lanterns in the shape of missiles, airplanes, rockets, ships and tanks. In Chinese mythology, the butterfly is the symbol of longevity and the lobster the symbol of mirth. Star-shaped fruit is the seasonal fruit in the autumn, and the crab is an old symbol of the Emperor, personifying strength, courage, wisdow and, of course, power.

Go eat your mooncake! :)

Friday, September 22, 2006

What's in a name

Was told a joke last night. I didn't get it at first (since my knowledge of Chinese is not that good) but after some explanation, it became clear.

How do you pronounce "Sun Moulin"? It's a bakery which does great food located in Isetan. A friend ta-paued some to share share last night. Tried some, and yes... very nice.

Innocent though the name may appear, those who are more inclined to twist words around (read it in Cantonese) will get TWO different connotations which may be inferred. Oh well, must improve my cantonese... Next time you see a name, don't be surprised if it has another meaning (or two) in another language! :)

Thursday, September 21, 2006

A Fishy Tale

Have you ever wondered upon the impact of rain? Do we want more rainfall? Less rainfall? Does rain affect you?

Am sure rainfalls are beneficial to some people. Rainfall does freshen the air, clear the polluted air, and dispersing the haze filled sky. I suppose it acts as a critical source of water for irrigation purposes as well as filling the water dams for the provision of our daily usage of water.

But to others, it may be an inconvenience. For me, I observe that it usually rains just before office hour ends for the day, thereby usually causing flash floods around the city and massive traffic crawls. Despite that, I do welcome rain, and see it is a cycle of purification.

When I was in Sarawak last weekend, it kept raining everyday, with prolonged periods of a couple of hours. I saw my dad catching fishes in the pond, and was asking why. My parents told me that given the rainy period, there are less fishes available for sale in the market, because rain disrupts the local fishermen’s daily catches, resulting in higher prices of fish all around. Not only that, was told that prices of chilly has gone up. It now costs about RM14 per kg, which is considered very high. Not sure how much it costs in KL though. I seem to take these things for granted and buy from the supermarket. Higher cost of living?

All in all, there were six fishes caught. Nope, still don’t know what fish these are, well, I know them as 2 dark ones, and 4 yellow ones. Was told the yellow ones are very nice. The flesh is very smooth.



Of course, after catching them, need to de-scale and clean the fishes. Before that, need to "stun" them first so that they don't flip flop here and there before you gut them (CRUEL!!). That’s me cleaning the fish. Yeah right! :P

Fresh fish anybody?

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Confusion

Was driving the other day, and suddenly saw this sign when I was queuing at a junction on the way to work. “CAT RUMAH?” huh? House for cats? Then, realization dawned after reading the second portion, “Potong Rumput”. Oh!

“Cat Rumah” = “Paint House”

This reminded me of the various times I would go and pump petrol. There is usually a sign which says “AIR”. I always have to think, “Is it Water? Or is it Air for my car tyre?”. Hmm…

I guess I would read and think in English first as opposed to Malay. Can be confusing at times.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Roadshow - Part 2

What about roadshow part 2? The food of course!!

My first stop was Seremban, but alas, didn’t get to try the beef noodles there, as I was rushing to get back to KL. Have heard all the rave about it, and supposedly very good. Perhaps next time.

Finally tried the Chicken Rice ball thingy in Melaka. Went to this supposedly famous shop across the river from the red church. I think the shop has been there for quite a long time already and has garnered a good reputation onto itself for the chicken rice. The previous time I came with friends for a holiday to Melaka, we wanted to try it (at this same shop I think), but there was a long queue so we had something else instead. This time, finally managed to try it after my event in Melaka.

Personally, I thought that it was so so only. The novelty is that the chicken rice itself is molded to a round shape, about the size of a ping pong ball. Taste wise, nothing particularly great to shout about, but for those looking for something “different”, I guess this would be it. The chicken? Steamed and served with cucumbers as well as some garnishes. But finally, after all that hype and expectation, I can say that I have tried one of the more recognized dishes in Melaka. There was a suggestion for some Nyonya food, but maybe next time.

Next stop was Johor Bahru. The Zon was fully booked, so stayed at the New York Hotel. Rooms I thought were better than The Zon’s but in terms of convenience (like a shopping mall right next door), the Zon won hands down. Still, it was only for one night, so no complaints there. It was quieter than the Zon, so managed to get a good rest. Food!!! Went for dinner nearby at the MAA building, at this outlet called Yew’s Café on the ground floor. Was pleasantly surprised at the range of food and the internal décor. Nicely furnished with a wide array of choices from the menu, ranging from eastern, western to fusion.










They even had a welcome drink in the way of a small glass of soursop ice blend. Nice touch. When it was initially served, was wondering whether we ordered it, and was puzzled as to what it was. Decided to go for Japanese (Tori Katsu Don) and shared a starter with my colleague. Had a mango freeze to go with my meal. Overall, it was a good experience. Food quality was there, ambiance was good, and prices were reasonable. I did ask what was famous in Johor Bahru, and was told it was a type of noodle thingy, but I have forgotten the name.







The trip continued after a one day break, to Kota Kinabalu. Stayed at Jesselton Hotel, a small but nicely furbished hotel. The doorman was dressed in colonial style, and staff were very friendly. Room was on the smaller scale but had a more up market look. Pleasant stay. In terms of food, wasn’t adventurous, and had KFC for dinner in Wisma Merdeka and kon lo mee hoon for breakfast at a nearby shop. Saw a Bak Kut Teh shop nearby, but didn’t try it. Not really a fan though. What?! No sea food? WHOAAA! Go to KK and not have sea food? The shock! The horror!

But yes, for lunch the next day, we had a splendid meal in Port View Restaurant along the beach front. Not that cheap (but cheaper compared to KL), and the quality was first rate! Had this elephant trunk clams which was new to me. Steamed fish which was done just right. In Chinese, I think it is called “Hoi Tai Kai”? (Direct translation would be sea bed chicken, but more commonly known as "Snapper" in English). Retail price for this fish about RM120 to RM140 per kilo. Also had crabs galore and one or two additional dishes. Very good quality. Unfortunately, did not take any pictures (a bit shy, as it was a business lunch).

Dinner, a bit of an anticlimax, and had another go at KFC, this time at the airport before flying to Kuching. I think no more KFC for me for a while after this.

Last stop, Kuching. Met a banker friend for lunch, and he brought me to this coffee shop famous for FooChow food. I think he had Mee Suah. For me, how can I go back and not tried my tomato kuay teow? My West Malaysian friends always say it is my imagination and my fixation with tomato sauce. Well there! They have it in the coffee shop, and I had mine with prawns (big ones that is)!. Am salivating just thinking of the dish again.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Roadshow - Part 1

Roadshow? Attended one? How nice! Can just sit quietly and listen and absorb whatever is being said. That is, if the topic (and speaker!) is interesting enough. The worst is when the speaker talks in a monotone. In my line of work, I have attended many of such talks conducted by various speakers. Some interesting, others will send everyone to slumberland within a few minutes. I particularly dislike those who read outright from the powerpoint slides.

Well, fancy some public speaking experience? I wonder how many “freeze” when they have to talk in front of an audience. Do you think it can be learnt or conditioned?, or is it an inborn ability by virtue of an individual’s personality? Hmm…

Well, tables have turned, and this time, my job required me to do some public speaking, together with my bosses. Due to the many number of branches in Malaysia, we split into two teams. Bid big boss presented to the main branch in KL, big boss covered northern and east coast, whilst I was tasked with southern and east Malaysia.

Where do I even start about this experience? Well, preparation of powerpoint slides of course. Went through quite a few drafts until we more or less agreed on one standard outline to follow. Due to the hectic work schedules of my bosses, slides were finalized last minute.

Business traveling has always seemed glamorous when one starts their working life. It’s the thought of visiting so many places which may attract many. But truth be told, for me anyway, schedules can either be very hectic that don’t leave much spare time for anything else, and sometimes due to flight schedules, a lot of waiting time required. It is not glamorous at all (to some maybe). Imagine moving from hotel to hotel, living out of your luggage. Short trips are ok I guess, but extended business trips can be very taxing on the body and mind.

But I digress. Presentation, roadshows, talks, or whatever you may call it, is always nice if someone else conducts. Unfortunately for me, this time I had to share my knowledge of fixed income with agents in the various branches. Personally, I think the various “training” I had via standing in front of audiences for my singing and music performances have sort of conditioned me not to be as nervous.

I recall attending an interview / screening which took place for one full day for my first job. One of the requirement was to present a topic (duties of a branch manager – I can still remember it), to the other interviewees and a panel of “judges”. Can be very daunting for some. There were six of us for the assessment session, but only five made it through. One lady fumbled quite badly during the presentation evaluation thingy.

Somehow, my personal goal is to do a good job (not just good enough, but to do it well). So mental preparation is required. It actually gets easier with each session. There are so many differing presentation styles though, Some are very interactive, others go on and on, etc… My style? I am a sucker for punishment and aim for interactiveness. So far, feedback has been positive on my presentation skills, so am kind of glad.

The other “tough” thing would be the Q&A session. Questions differ in range, sometimes off topic, but I do try to answer as many as I can. The least I had was only one question, and the longest, a Q&A session lasting one and a half hours! Whoah!, that was tough, but I think I survived it well enough.

What did I gain from this experience? Well, I sharpened my presentation skills, I learnt from the ground level what the concerns and difficulties they have in terms of the knowledge and support required for them to do a better job. Also gave me an opportunity to interact with the branch staff and understand their working constraints. I suppose for the agents, it gave them an opportunity to meet someone from HQ who specialized in an area which is generally not well known.

More interestingly, it gave me an insight on ground level morality, work ethics (some staff sauntering to work at 9:30am, whilst others are already busy as bees by that time), working relationship between the organizers of the event, the various attitudes of the branch managers… the list could go on. I suppose I could have approached this purely as a talk, whereby I go in and just present what I want to say, but just keeping and eye or ear open, somehow shows a lot more than what may be obvious at the various branches.

On a lighter note, no matter the gripe on business traveling, it does give a flavour of the hotel for future visits, and even the various places for a return visit which may not be business related. Can find out first hand what is good to see or eat around the various localities, etc. As an added benefit, my last stop ended in Kuching on the Friday, so I extended my stay and went back to my hometown for the weekend.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Moment

Have you ever stopped in your tracks, and gone "wow"? Have something caught your eye and made you pay attention for a few moments? I have posted on this before, and sunsets do catch my eye. Was driving along pantai the other day for a meet up with friends, and suddenly I saw this motorcyclist stopping on the grassy area beside the road (perfectly safe) and holding his phone camera up. My attention was diverted, and I saw what he was trying to take. It was the sun setting behind a row of trees which made for a very nice picture. Unfortunately, I couldn't stop, otherwise I would have done the same thing. The place was on higher ground, so the view overlooking the New Pantai Expressway was very picturesque.

Have been travelling these past few days, and more travelling to come (will update later), but as I was nearing Malacca's main centre, something caught my attention as I stopped at a set of traffic lights. Something more like a mini waterfall, but slow cascading down a series of blocks. Obviously man made, but first thought was "Nice!", second thought "Wah! Maintenance cost?". Third thought "Who maintains?". Haven't gotten my answers yet, perhaps will know one day.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

A tribute

Was in MPH Great Eastern Mall the other day during lunch time, and suddenly came across the 2nd and latest trilogy by one of my all time favourite authors, David Gemmell. Although it was in large version paperback, I did not hesitate to buy. He is one of the very writers I would not think twice about buying a book by, and would just grab and savour his weaving of easy yet descriptive passages, bringing me to a totally different plain of sci-fi (fantasy) world.

However, as I was looking up as to when the third and final trilogy would be released, I came across news of his demise, four days shy of his 58th birthday. It is saddening to think that the sci-fi literature world would be without his great contribution going forward. I am sure I am not the only avid fan of his.

Have been journeying with his series since so many years back, and I began appropriately with Legend. The Drenai series is simply captivating, and my all time favourite character, Tenaka Khan, lived within the superbly created world of the Drenai. I lent it once (Legend) to one of my cousins who wanted to have a read, but sadly, the book was never returned. Yet, I bought another just as a replacement for my collection. That is how serious I am with his books. I have also particularly enjoyed the Rigante and the Greek series, and not forgetting to mention, the individually titled series. Simply brilliant.

So, as a special tribute:

David Gemmell (August 1, 1948–July 28, 2006)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Early career
Born in West London in the summer of 1948, he was expelled from school at the age of sixteen for organizing a gambling syndicate. He became a day labourer and a nightclub bouncer in Soho. He also worked as a freelance writer for the London Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, and Daily Express. One rejection letter he received in the early 1960s read: "You mention in your resume that you are working as a lorry driver's mate for Pepsi Cola. This is an occupation not without merit. Good luck with it."

Later Career
He published his first novel, Legend, in 1984 but continued as a journalist. He was an editor of newspapers in Sussex, but this career ended after the publication of his third novel, Waylander, in 1986, in which he used his work colleagues' names for characters in the story. Recalling the event he stated "The managing director regarded it as a poisonous attack on his integrity,".
At this point Gemmell became a full-time writer and published 28 books under his own name, all of which have remained in print. He also published a novel White Knight, Black Swan under the name Ross Harding, a thriller based on his own personal experiences growing up in London which to this day is his only novel out of print. His most recent release was Troy: Shield of Thunder, the sequel to 2005's Troy: The Lord of the Silver Bow. This will be probably be the final novel released under his name. His novels have also appeared in some collected editions and graphic novel form.

Death
A heavy smoker, he died at the age of 57 of coronary artery disease, on Friday 28th July, 2006, two weeks after undergoing heart bypass surgery. In his words "I tried to quit smoking and found that the years of polluting my brain with nicotine meant that I couldn't string a reasonable sentence together without filling my lungs with smoke. I went three months without a drag, took a good look at the crap I was writing and lit up." He died due to graft blockage secondary to advanced coronary artery disease, 2 weeks after a heart bypass operation.

Works
Drenai Series

Legend (1984) (Originally published in the USA as Against the Horde, re-released as Legend)
The King Beyond the Gate (1985)
Waylander (1986)
Quest for Lost Heroes (1990)
Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf (1992)
The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend (1993)
The Legend of Deathwalker (1996)
Winter Warriors (1996)
Hero in the Shadows (2000)
White Wolf (2003)
The Swords of Night and Day (2004)

Rigante Series
Sword in the Storm (1999)
Midnight Falcon (2000)
Ravenheart (2001)
Stormrider (2002)

Sipstrassi Series
Wolf in Shadow (1987) (Published as The Jerusalem Man in the USA)
The Ghost King (1988)
Last Sword of Power (1988)
The Last Guardian (1989)
Bloodstone (1994)

Hawk Queen Series
Ironhand's Daughter (1995)
The Hawk Eternal (1995)

Individual Fantasy Titles
Knights of Dark Renown (1989)
Morningstar (1992)
Dark Moon (1997)
Echoes of the Great Song (2002)

Greek Series (alternate history)
Lion of Macedon (1990)
Dark Prince (1991)

Troy Series
Troy: The Lord of the Silver Bow (2005) featuring the events leading up to the battle for Troy.
Troy: Shield of Thunder (due- Sep 2006) ·
Troy: The Fall of Kings (due- Sep 200?).
Although David passed away before completing the final novel in his Troy trilogy, Transworld announced that around 70,000 words were completed shortly before his death. They report that his wife, Stella, will complete the remainder of the book, working from his chapter notes. Stella Gemmell has been involved in the research and creation of the trilogy since its inception in 2003.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

A time of reflection

The weekend has come and gone,
Another moment in time has flown.
A quiet time I had, with some reading done,
To minimise dosh being uselessly blown.

The eight month has passed me by,
Busy with activities I do but try.
A crying plea sometimes resound,
To slow my pace and to rest abound.

Life is a journey some say,
To what end has mine achieved today?
Acquaintances a plenty, true friends a few,
Does my heart have more room for new?

The drumming propels me further forth,
A lone person I do but seek north.
Someone I pine, yet can it ever be?
My heart taken and may never again free.

So to dispel the shadowy hours,
A new seed needs to flower.
Trumpets blast and tubas boom,
A new space must I find room?

Yet, longing is for that long time past,
Feelings linger ever more to last.
How can I let go of my one true grasp?
But truly, I want it all with hands a clasp.

So time spend in reflection,
Perhaps will be good for me.
With arguments of deflection,
Must never be put to be.

I ponder yet, my purpose in life,
Is it to end, or to bring more strife.
Who shall I look to for a saving grace?
A softer heart, my soul to brace.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

A Poem

Thank you laymank for this poem :)

Known of this guy who was born in the year of swine
First impression was an argument over 'turning water into wine'
Disputes over religious belief didn't do us kind
Over time our friendship began to solidify and to shine

Differed between the Mother and the Son
It's how we worship during the day of Sun
Between a serious person and a clown
He's a Friend whom I could share ups and downs

From a Lan-Si fella to a friend
I count him a blessing to befriend
Someone I could speak to in open frank
Classical songs are what he sang

Friday, September 01, 2006

My lunchtime interlude

I first caught sight of her as I was trying to cross the busy street. Cars wheezing pass dangerously close, noisily honking as I almost lost my attention. People talk about first impressions being everlasting, and my, did hers come across like a smack on my entire being. Jolted to the core, I wanted to rush over and introduce myself, but at the same time, wondered how such a lowly me would be received by such a beautiful being. Her long silky hair cascading down, her gentle sway, seemed to be further enrapturing.

As I approached, she stopped and looked at me with her oh so beautiful eyes. A smile slowly came to her lips, and my, how a man could literally drown in such wonder. No words were exchanged, yet a look was all it took, as she followed beside me down the street. As I furtively glanced at her as we walked, I noticed her eyes would stray to me and smile that secret smile.

I contemplated bringing her home, but it was the middle of the day. Wouldn’t do me good to rush home, and be back out to work again. Further more, I had an all important presentation to deliver which I couldn’t get out off. Could I lock her up somewhere? Where do I find a cage big enough? Or is that too cruel a nature to do so? As my heart began to hammer, afraid that I would lose her, it dawned upon me that I don’t even know her name. But what is in a name anyway, when two connect?

Before I knew it, we came to an intersection. She stopped, looked at me for a bit and indicated that she had to go. Time was too short! Oh the cruelty in life. Will our paths ever cross? Will I lose my sanity thinking of the time which we could have? Will I ever be the same?

My heart heavy, I finally relented and accepted the fact for what it was. I squatted down and held up my hand to say goodbye. She extended her front right paw and gave mine a gentle shake before she sashayed down the street with her tail gently swinging. Alas, there goes my four legged friend….., but what a story it could have been otherwise. :)