Autobots Rule!!!

YAY!!!



I remembered black skies, the lightning all around me
I remembered each flash as time began to blur
Like a startling sign that fate had finally found me
And your voice was all I heard that I get what I deserve

So give me reason to prove me wrong, to wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross the distance in your eyes
Give me reason to fill this hole, connect the space between
Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies across this new divide

There was nothing in sight but memories left abandoned
There was nowhere to hide, the ashes fell like snow
And the ground caved in between where we were standing
And your voice was all I heard that I get what I deserve

So give me reason to prove me wrong, to wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross the distance in your eyes across this new divide

In every loss, in every lie, in every truth that you'd deny
And each regret and each goodbye was a mistake too great to hide
And your voice was all I heard that I get what I deserve

So give me reason to prove me wrong, to wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross the distance in your eyes
Give me reason to fill this hole, connect the space between
Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies across this new divide
Across this new divide, across this new divide

One night in Bangkok

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster... well, that's the title to one of the songs in the musical "Chess". But I was there this time (my second trip) for 3 nights at least. The first time was quite rushed, followed a tour, but this time also kind of rushed, because it was a working trip. However, managed to squeeze in some time between attending various sessions of the conference. Even got to hear the Prime Minister and Finance Minister speak!

Rather than talk about the conference, might as well let some pics do the talking. There was a lot of walking, and just exploring where ever curiosity struck.

Essentially:
1) Food prices can really range. Some reasonably cheap, others pricey, particularly at malls, etc.
2) A lot more tourists compared to KL.
3) Contrast between Chinatown area and the main upbeat shopping malls is so great. The agedness of Chinatown could be felt right down to the bones. There is a certain beauty, yet the feel of oldness permeates right through.
4) Patpong by day and night. Such a contrast, and they are all there to make a living what ever way possible.
5) Massage parlours galore, for both locals and foreigners. Reasonably cheap comparatively to KL. A 2-hour Thai massage costs about RM45, with aromatherapy massage slightly more.
6) Shopping, shopping, shopping. From the expensive, right down to the cheap. Just need to know where to go.
7) River transport for short trips still available. Makes sense too, as I reckon it is cheap. To cross the Chao Phraya River costs only 3Baht, which is about RM0.30.
8) Tailoring for a suit is quite a breeze and fast! They even deliver, and is cheaper than KL.

Of one family day and another

What a bright sunny day it was! Almost cloudless sky, with even the just popped confetti, reflecting the radiance of the magnificent sun.

A family day it certainly was for the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, with the young and not so young aplenty, intermingling freely and smilingly in most cases, with scheduled song and dance as well as Tae Kwan Do exhibition, coupled with various telematches abound. All just a stone throw away, from the increasingly popular KL Sentral at the Girl Guide's Hall.

For the organisers, it was a hectic time making sure things run smoothly and that all are comfortable. Kudos to the Committee for taking time to plan and to carry through the process.

Being somehow involved via my BEC (yeah, was somehow roped in as Coordinator and then don't know how, Zone Coordinator!), more like a messenger to relay messages etc, it was an eye opening experience watching the various vagaries of human interaction. As though working in the salaried corporate world isn't enough to see the yes and nos, and cover backside events, it was certainly a different perspective on a volunteer basis. But to be honest, at times it was not so much volunteer but desperation because there was no one else to do it or help out. Name throwing became common to the extent that it was no longer a volunteer basis, but almost like a directive from the top. The funny thing is, I hardly attend Mass at this Parish and am not involved in any of the ministries, but by virtue of my residential address, I "belong" to this Parish. However, I have thoughts of lessening commitments in St. Francis Xavier Church in PJ (which is just "down the road" from where I stay), and contributing more to the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, but somehow, I don't feel a connection.

Having said all that though, I salute the aunties aunties who willingly wake up in the wee hours of the morning and do their bit to make the event successful in their own way. Stories of waking up at 5am to do mega rounds of cooking just for the family day for charity sale and other what nots somehow made the whole event a richer and more appreciated experience. After all, these are on a volunteer basis.

From here too, I learnt a few things:
a) Kesari - an Indian kuih/dessert is pronounced as "KaySeRee" and not "KehSarRee", which unfortunately happened to me, but am sure I have been forgiven by those who heard me.
b) Kolkattai (as vertically pictured above) - Heaven forbid if it is ever pronounced as "KolKhatTai" but more with a side shake of the head "KolKetTay"! You see, I have never been strong in languages, so had the daring misfortune to pronounce it wrongly in the presence of the aunties aunties and uncles uncles who excelled in the culinary delights of the Indian Community, who initially looked at me in shock and horror when I blurted the mispronounced names. LOL!!! You see, this is what will likely happen when a Banana Chinese have been assigned to coordinate the Indian dishes for sale!
c) Pulut Panggang - and not Nasi Panggang. Had a few blank stares initially, but subsequently clarified that it is pulut panggang! And you noticed the signage in the picture above? That's done by RF who saw me making the sign and said that my handwriting was too ugly to read and not to use white because it doesn't stand out! So, she revamped my signage for me instead. She asked me to put some pictures in, but I tactfully declined. LOL!!!
d) String Hoppers with Dahl Curry - also known as "Iddiyappam" which luckily, was given to me as "string hoppers" to pronounce! For the life of me, when I first heard of string hoppers, I thought of something green and stringy like thingy. Until I saw that! as pictured above. Had thought that the dish was Putu Mayam but didn't want to embarrass myself to ask, and now, after doing a bit of research, it is one and the same!

There were games aplenty too, with the usual throwing of rings to bottle necks, trying to catch moving fake fishes within a time frame, navigating balls through perilous (almost!) obstacles, and other carnival like games. There was even a guess the weight of the cake game!

In line with going green, potted plants were donated and put on sale. I saw the price they charged for the plants, and it was a veritable steal! Was almost tempted to buy a few of the potted plants to put in the office, but RF (who had been assigned to take care of my plants) would have a mega fit! After all, I had threatened to put it as a KPI (Key Performance Indicator) that for every leaf lost, deduct one point! Muahahahaha! (evil laugh!)