Half a year, an old friend, travels

Writing this in my hotel room, in Kota Bharu. Excellent hotel the Renaissance, I must say. Better than the ones I had to stay in Kangar or Alor Star. Yea, lucky that I get to travel to the states and learn and see new things. And the food, oh glorious food!! Food is my passion, of course. If only I've an acceptable camera, I'd be doing my own food blog, more of the off-the-beaten path food. My own standards.

Kota Bharu is nice. My Chinese colleague was pleasantly surprised because all of his misconceptions about Kelantan aren't true. The girls are hot. The food is great. The mat rempits performing stunts on the road are crazily attention-seeking cool bastards. Had the usual Yati Ayam Percik, which is now franchised and has presence in KL. And also Nasi Kak Wok, whoever Kak Wok is but everyone is selling them. And now apparently the trend is on Sate Baung, but not using ikan baung. I've never driven in Kota Bharu before, and it's more happening than Alor Star or Kangar.

On the 2nd day here, I met an old friend from college which I haven't met for bout 12years. He's married with 2 kids. And yeah, he's been pestering me to get married. "Nanti umur ko dah 50 tahun, anak ko baru Darjah 1". U think? He thought I was doing ok now, coz we both didn't make it to the States. I didn't realise that, as I've been pushing myself against the best in my class.

Half a year has gone. What have I achieved? Studying to pass my certification exam, for one. Maybe I'm not too old to study further. Maybe I'm not too dumb to achieve more. Maybe I can still kick ass like I was back in school.

I'm going back to KL tomorrow. An eye opener trip indeed. Half the battle is won when you said you can. Corny, isn't it? It works, especially when you depend on luck playing bowling with Wan, for example.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...

I've been traveling outstation almost every week since early Feb.

I should've done this last year, then perhaps my target to clear my credit cards could've been achieved end of 2009.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps... so said Shirley Bassey...

Some friends are checking out tickets to Europe this weekend at MATTA Fair, and I don't think I've enough to join them. Perhaps I can only afford the tickets, but not the expenses and the shopping. If only I did save up earlier, which I couldn't because I'm paying my credit card, then perhaps I could afford to join them.

Perhaps...

"Now, lie low and just observe like you always do"
"But I wanna have fun and enjoy!"

"Yes, but that won't make you happy"
"Why not?"

"Because you're cursed to understand. Because ignorance is bliss."
"No I don't understand anything. I only try to feel what they feel."

"Guess so... too bad. Perhaps you don't have to..."
"Perhaps..."

March of the fishes

I'm typing this in my hotel room in Kuantan.

Just got back from late supper with colleagues at the famous Kemaman Kopitiam. Realised that some of my close friends and family will be celebrating birthdays this month.

So, here's to all, in no particular order of importance:

• Hard
• Heri
• Safuan
• IsGelak Jangan Lupa Vote
  
• Damage Control
• Julia
  
• My mum
• My (late) dad

How does it feels like growing up with Pisceans? Of course, many would object something that sounds so 'intangible'... nor do they behave so differently from others, anyways. Maybe I'll blog about it someday...

So, who is the strongest-willed/'toughest bitch-from hell'/highly ambitious/artistically articulated Piscean you know?

gin blossoms - til i hear it from you

I was trying to sleep yesterday when this song was played on mix.fm. Yea, I always let the radio on when I sleep because the silence is deafening.

1995. The song was by Gin Blossoms. From the Empire Records movie soundtrack. Liv Tyler, Renee Zelweger, etc. Staying in Shah Alam with 4-5 others, we would rent video tapes to be watched together on weekends.

1995. Grunge. Nirvana. Cranberries. Seattle bands. Reality Bites. Winona Ryder. Ethan Hawke was cool. Junkie-look models. Kate Moss. Checkered flannel shirts.

"Ko pergi mana?"
"WUSHU"
"Pittsburgh!"
"New Mexico"
"NYU!!". "I'm gonna be a New Yorker!!"
"Michigan Ann-Arbor".
"Cornell". "Power sialll".
"Dia anak Ani Arope, dapat choice pergi MIT atau Stanford. Dia nak pergi Stanford sebab murah skit".

Friends left to the States by batches, I was left. I didn't make it. I wasn't good enough for the placing.

Never failed anything major before in my entire life so that sucked.

Something died in me after that, and has yet to recover.

"Time is running out, you have to move faster!!". I keep telling myself. And I'm getting tired.

Friends said I'm competitive, I said I'm trying to be relevant.

1995. I questioned everything.
"Is there a God?"
"Look up, just look up and see." The voice inside my head said.
I looked up and saw the moon. It wasn't the full moon. Earth's shadow made it crescent.
"That's a brilliant mathematical equation! Earth and moon have to be at the position they are now to cast a complete eclipse of the sun or moon!"
I decided there is a God...

Gained my strength and will to live, but something else that died in me has yet to recover. I don't know what it is.

Today, I've been auto-repeating this song the whole day, the only song in my WinAmp playlist. Brought back weird memories that I don't want to remember again, fun memories at college, sad memories of disappointments. I want to know what died...

Security & Stability vs Pushing Limits & Taking Risks

which would you choose?

...then again, don't we know our friends' answers already?

Aquascaping (part iv)

Removed the lid, bought a proper light and a new filter at Ikano.

Released the fries (want some fish with that?) into the main aquarium. And I think 4-5 out of 20+ survived. The rest? Got eaten by their own kind.

Will have to wait for the bacteria to grow, then perhaps I'll change the water, and scout around for DIY chiller.

Aquascaping (part iii) & New Year

Happy New Year all!!

The bigger plants in my aquarium died. Guess I'll have to be content with java moss and those river grass.

Got myself 10 guppies, 10 neon tetras. Gonna get a corydora (a type of catfish, but supposedly it eats algae and don't grow as big as pleco a.k.a ikan bandaraya).

Changed the water at 4am yesterday when I saw the gills of the fishes turned red (possible ammonia/nitrate poisoning).

Bought the guppies yesterday, and today found out the females gave birth to bout 20+ small fries.

Now I've no idea what to do with the little ones...

Had some friends over for New Year. Pretty low key affair comprised of close friends, some of whom I haven't met for quite some time. So... thanx to:

• Wan for the potato salad appetiser. Funky color, dude!
• Leo & Amri for the roasted chicken, chocs. Yeap, Ayamas's garlic sauce kicks ass!
• Hard & Azrul for the spaghetti bolognaise, jelly de la creme mon ami (or whatever the dessert's name is). Yum!
  
• Is & Shah for the signature drink SodaGelak and signature munchie CucurGelak.
• Safuan for the grubs & munchies, cranberry sauce, yummy dips, and best-in-class Pringles.
• Awis for the brownie & ice-cream dessert.

Played ps3 (no, i can't afford one and until there're 'cheaper copies' of the games, i won't buy it), charades (competitive bunch we are, aren't we?), watched movies (mostly halfway, different taste), discussed New Year Resolutions (new year, same resolutions, get it?!).

Well, cheers to all and thanx for coming!