Discount On Traffic-Related Fines

DO READ THIS WHOLE POST BEFORE RUSHING OUT TO THE NEAREST TRAFFIC COUNTER AND HARASSING THE PERSONNEL THERE.


Yes, you read the title of this post right. There will be a discount for traffic-related fines starting on the 1st of December 2010.

1. For fines incurred BEFORE 01/12/2010, there will be a discount of 50%.

2. For fines that occur ON 01/12/2010 and beyond, the tariff will be as follows:

• For payment made within 15 days, a discount of 50% will be given.

• For payment made between the 16th day to the 30th day, a discount of 30% will be given.

• If payment is NOT MADE WITHIN 30 days, the FULL AMOUNT will be charged and YOU WILL BE BLACKLISTED.

PLEASE READ AND ABIDE THE FOLLOWING:

• The discounted rates are generated AUTOMATICALLY by the system so please DO NOT HAGGLE, BRIBE OR THREATEN Traffic COPS personnel's to give a lower rate.

• Traffic COPS personnel's DO NOT have the ability to ELIMINATE or REMOVE your traffic misdeeds from the system so DO NOT expect them to do so. Being BFFs with us from the womb or our far-flung relative (mother's twice removed cousin's niece, etc.) doesn't change anything either.

• The system is not perfect so DO expect a glitch or two. DO NOT INFLICT YOUR DISPLEASURE ON US by yelling, slamming you fist on the counter, spraying us with a geyser of saliva or any other methods because not only is it useless, it is NOT the Traffic COPS personnel's fault.

• DO be courteous and patient when waiting in line for your turn. You are not the only person in Malaysia who wants to pay for traffic fines.

• DO NOT complain to us Traffic COPS personnel's about any hostile feelings that you might have towards the Traffic polices, the system or the Government. We are Cashiers, not Customer Service.

• DO NOT BEG, CRY or TELL US A SOB STORY about how you can't pay your fines. We are not Agony Aunts and neither are we shrinks.

• DO come to your nearest Traffic COPS counter if you have the intention to PAY or ENQUIRE.

• DO NOT come to the Traffic COPS counter if your only intention is to BEG, HAGGLE or THREATEN Traffic COPS personnel's for a waiver or further discount than the rate given.  

• DO respect the lunch hours by NOT COMING to the Traffic COPS counter between 1PM-2PM. We are not robots. We are humans so we need food and rest to serve you better.

For any enquiries, leave a comment and I will try to answer as soon as possible.

How Trippin' To Be Cool Can Backfire...

Two days ago I had 2 missed calls from an unknown number. Usually I would just let it be but since I've had a few very important transactions done recently, I figured that it might be important and decided to call back.

A man answered and asked me about a big project in God-Knows-Where. He was talking in a West Malaysian slang. I told him that he got the wrong number but he insisted that Mr L gave him my number. After a few rounds of going back and fort like that he reluctantly apologized. I thought that was the end of it.

However, he sent me a text message yesterday saying that Dato N has given him a check of RM60K and that I was to inform Mr L to come to his office since Mr L wanted to borrow a sum of RM20K from him.. Not impressed, I just replied you got the wrong number dude.

He apologized and said he thought I was Datin (Yeah right, the way he said it sooo doesn't reflect the way someone would adress a Datin). Anyway, I just said "No problem man..." and I thought THAT was the end of it.

That evening at almost 8pm the guy text messaged me again and asked "How did you know my name is Man?" Adooooooiiii....I didn't know whether to be irritated or laugh.

Bingung...

Note to self: Ask if the unknown person's name is Man or Dude before using cool and laid-back phrases involving those two words on him.

Wordless Wednesday: Seiously Google? Like, Seriously?

;P

Girl Confessions

 I saw this tag from Beauty Broadcast and I thought that it would be a fun thing to do. I tag EVERYONE who reads this to do it. :)

1. What color is you hair?: Black

2. Drama?: I'm experiencing it right now. Wish it would just blow over already.. 

3. Are you a girly girl?: Yes, but I do get lazy from time to time..

4. Who was the last person you hugged?: My sister, Hana.

5. Small or large purses?: Large purses. More room to put nonsensical and useless things in.. LOL..
 

6. Are you short?: No, I'm average by South-East Asian standards..
 

7. Do you like somebody: Of course...
 

8. What would you do if someone smacked your butt?: It really depends on  the smacker. 
 

9. Do you care if your socks are dirty?: Yes, I do...
 

10. Do you dress up on Halloween?: No because we don't celebrate it in my country.
 

11. Are you double jointed?: Nope..
 

12. Where is the weirdest place you have slept?: None really...

13. Has anyone touched/smacked your butt in the past 24 hours?: No...

15. Do you call anybody by their last name?: No, from where I come from that would be considered disrespectful.

16. How many guys will read this just because it says “Girl Confessions”?: Maybe one?

 

“X” Marks the Spot:

[X] I do wear make up
[X] I have cried at a movie theater.
[   ] I can put mascara on without opening my mouth.
[X] I get jealous.
[X] I think Johnny Depp is sexy.
[X] I love to laugh.
[   ] I like death metal.
[X] I like rap.
[X] I like country
[X] I carry a purse.
[X] I’d be lost without my computer.
[   ] I own a Spice Girls CD.
[   ] I own a Britney Spears CD.
[   ] I own a boy band CD.
[X] I get bored watching football.
[   ] I’ve never been called a spoiled brat.
[X] Guys are confusing.
[   ] I’ve been called a bad influence.
[   ] I have/had a piercing other than my ears.

 

17. What color is your bra that your wearing?: Tuuutttt...
 

18. Do you prefer light or dark haired guys?: Either one would be fine as long as it's their natural color. Bleached blond hair tend to look unflattering on Asian guys.
 

19. Are you currently frustrated with a boy?: Yup..
 

20. Do you have a best friend(s)?: Yes.

21. Have you ever had your heart broken?: Yes, I have..

22. What size shoe do you wear?: Mainly 6 but with some brands I wear one size up or down..

23. Do you like your life?: At this time, I'm not very happy with it.
 

24. Has one of your friends ever stolen a boyfriend from you?: The sister of an acquaintance had...
 

25. Have you ever jumped in the pool with your clothes on?: If you mean clothes that are not meant for swimming then nope...

26. Do you have more friends that are girls or boys?: As of now, boys because I work in a male dominated field...

27. Do you wear extensions?: Nope...
 

28. Have you ever slapped a boy in the face? : No..

29. What are your biggest fears?: Losing any natural ability I have... E.g. the ability to see, speak, walk, etc.

30. Have you ever cried yourself to sleep?: Yes..

31. Have you ever not been able to get someone off of your mind?: Yes.. 

32. Do you believe in the saying “once a cheater, always a cheater”?: Hard 

to say.. It wouldn't be fair to say yes but at the same time I've yet to see otherwise.

33. Have you ever had a good feeling about something?: Yes...
 

34. Do you ever wish you were famous?: When I was younger, yes.

35. Are you currently missing someone? Yes...

***This guy or that guy?***

Punk/Goth or Gangster?: Neither

Preppy or Cowboy?: Either one is fine..

Face or Body?: Both... Mostly on the face because then you can see what type of person they are. E.g. Broody, Cheerful, etc.

Sweet or Sexy?: Sweet.

Armani or Abercrombie?: Either.

City-slicker or Rural Guy?: Both are fine.

Blue, Green, Grey, or Brown eyes?: I doesn't matter but I like light brown eyes...

Contacts or Glasses?: I don't care.

***Your pick...***

36. Eyeliner or Mascara?: I'd pick mascara.
 

37. Louis Vuitton or Dooney & Bourke?: The former I guess..
 

38. Heels or flats?: Flats..
 

39. Skirts or pants?: Pants..
 

40. Socks or leggings?: Leggings...
 

41. Sweatshirts or jackets?: Definitely jackets..
 

42. Flip Flops or sneakers?: I prefer flip flops...
 

43. Straight or curly hair?: Both.. Leaning towards curly.
 

44. Hoop or dangling earrings?: Both but more towards hoops
 

45. White or black?: Black
 

46. Victoria’s Secret or Bath and Body Works?: I'm not familiar with either of them.
 

47. Smoothies or lattes?: Smoothies..
 

48. Diet or regular sodas?: Regular sodas..
 

49. Orange juice or Apple juice?: Orange juice.
 

50. Pearls or diamonds?: Diamonds of course... ;)
 

51. Vintage or boho?: Boho..
 

52. Mary-Kate or Ashley Olsen?: Whichever that's not anorexic or in and out of 

rehab.
 

53. Lindsay or Hilary?: Duh... Hilary of course

54. Ipod or cell phone?: If iPod has open application, then I'd go with iPod. If not then I'd prefer a regular cell phone.
 

55. Friends or family?: Family, which includes friends that have become like family to me.
 

56. Lip gloss or lip stick?: Lip gloss. Highly pigmented and opaque ones can replace lipstick to a certain degree.

57. Manicure or pedicure?: Both...
 

58. Tiffany’s or Chanel?: Chanel, even though I've never tried either.
 

59. Love or peace?: Love... With love comes peace...
 

60. Sunglasses or purses?: Purses.

***In a guy…***
 

Funny or Serious?: Funny yet can be serious when situations calls for it..

Romantic or Daredevil?: Romantic of course..

Cute or Hot?: Cute..

Dark Eyes or Light Eyes?: I like light brown eyes so light colored then..

Long Hair or Short Hair?: Short. 

Curly Hair or Straight Hair?: Both are fine. Curly hair can be adorable. Hehe..

Good Dancer or Good Singer?: Good singer but neither are a deal breaker for me.

Basketball Player or Football Player?: Basketball.
 

Jock or Rebel?: Jocks... Rebels are a headache.

Smoker or Non-smoker?: Non-smoker... Do they even exist anymore?

Druggie or Clean?: C'mon... Clean of course..

Has a Motorcycle or Has a Sports Car?: Both are fine. Better to have a 

motorcycle than no vehicle at all.
 

Beard/Mustache or Clean-shaven?: Depending on how well it suits a person but 

generally clean shaven.

Younger or Older?: I'd prefer older although I don't mind them being younger as long as they are emotionally and psychologically mature.

Player or Loyal?: Um... Loyal I guess? LOL.. Is there any woman out there who would prefer the former over the latter?

iPhone 4 Vs HTC Desire - A Technology-Challenged Consumer's Opinion..

As promised, here is my post on the pros and cons of both the iPhone 4 and HTC Desire. Let me just make some things clear. I'm am NOT an expert on Smartphones, I just got my own for the first time ever less than a week ago.

Thus, this is a CONSUMER's point of view (a technologically-challenged on at that). So I apologise in advance if I fail to mention counter-explainations (if there are any) to the list of disadvantages listed below. Know that I am not with-holding information on purpose, I just don't know about it. So don't sue me.

So here goes:

iPhone 4

Pros
- Gorgeous visuals.
- Video Calls.
- Zoomed text still looks like ink and not blurred, unreadable whatchamacallit.
- Better connection (antennae along the left-side of the phone) than iPhone 3gs.
- Spoiled for choice when it comes to phone covers and cases.


Cons
- Does not have 4g technology, thus, cannot be used as a modem (correct me if I'm wrong about this).
- Video calls can only be made between iPhone 4 (it's the only 1 that has video call feature after all).
- Bluetooth can only be done between iPhones.
- Music can only be downloaded from iTunes (iTunes need to be downloaded and installed to one's laptop or PC).
- Need to add on RM220 for a two-year warranty if you get it from Digi.
- 2 year contract if you get it from Digi.

Dee...

HTC Desire

Pros

- Lower price than iPhone.

- No 24 month commitment with Digi (It’s not on promotion).

- I t uses android technology so it can be used as a broadband for PC or laptop.

- When not connected with a laptop/PC, it acts as a pocket PC.

- User friendly.

- Open application, meaning it can transfer data to and receive data from other hand phones such as Nokia, - Sony Ericsson, etc.

- Unlimited free apps from Android Market.

Cons

- No video call.

- Not a lot of options for phone covers and cases.

- Short battery life. Need to charge twice a day with heavy usage. Not sure if there is a way to save battery life.


Excuse me while a hide from the pitchfork-wielding iPhone owners.. 

I Finally Got It... But Not Quite...

Okay, if you're one of my friends on Facebook, you'd know that I have been lusting, yes lusting, after an iPhone and I was torn between the iPhone 3gs and the iPhone 4. Actually, I have been wanting one from when the first model was launched about two years ago. I mean who doesn't right? However it was only the recently that I have an actual possibility of getting one.

The decision between the 3gs and 4 model was made for me however, because when I called the Digi Center at 1Borneo, they told me that they don't have the 3gs model in stock anymore and it's being discontinued. Obviously, 4 is the only way to go.

When I finally arrived at 1 Borneo Digi Center, the guy who attended to me told me that the video call is only for between iPhone 4s and the Bluetooth function only for between iPhones. As we all know, all songs and movies or clips are also only available at iTunes. All this is because it's a closed function phone.

Then he showed me another smart phone which is the HTC Aria. This Smartphone is an open function phone and is much cheaper even with all the add-ons. Facts-wise, my brain KNOWS that HTC Aria is cheaper and convenient BUT since I have been wanting an iPhone for years now and it's so difficult for me to even contemplate buying a phone that is other than that.

Also if I were to be honest, another reason why I was hesitant was because... Well... The iPhone is famous whereas the HTC is... Quite unknown... I mean it's out there but there's not much exposure about the brand as the iPhone has.. Superficial, but true.

I called my eldest sister up who bought the 3gs model just this year and asked her opinion on which I should buy. Her answer was something that I never expected. She actually told me that the HTC is better though she was not familiar with HTC Aria as she was with the HTC Desire. She was really singing it praises up to the point when I actually asked her "If HTC is so good, why on Earth did you buy an iPhone?". She said it was because she didn't know about it at first.

I went back to the Digi Center and asked to see the Desire model. I looked almost like an iPhone. After testing the function and looking through the quotations of various add-ons, I happily purchased the HTC Desire in Grey. It's the only one left of that model by the way.

I'll be posting the general pro's and con's between the iPhone 4 and HTC Desire in my next post. Not as an expert, but as a consumer based on my personal preference. I know it's too soon to tell but I know that if my Dee (that's my nickname for my phone.. Hehe..) fulfills all that is promised, it's certainly an exceptional phone, which was what I wanted in the first place. 

Will keep you guys posted. Cheers!

Is There A Doctor In The House?

On Sunday I went to eat lunch at Juara Restaurant when a woman approached me asking to take my blood pressure for only RM1. I agreed and after going through the painful process (to me it’s painful because the pressure only stops until I felt like my arm was 1 second from literally exploding) I got my result which I never ever dreamed I would get which is  116/70.

I had low blood pressure! Well, I’m guessing that it’s not too low, just slightly, and the exclamation mark is not a sign of happiness but of surprise. After all that I’ve been going through the past few weeks it’s amazing that my blood pressure is not sky high. I’m grateful nonetheless that I do not have high-blood pressure. That wouldn’t have been very fun I’m sure.

Now I know the reason for my tiredness which has been on-going for the past 3 weeks. I just chalked it up because of insomnia and maybe that IS the one and only reason but at least I have another factor to consider now. I’m still not over the fact that I have low-blood pressure.

I mean, when you’re plus-sized I’ve always thought that you can only get two results; normal or high blood pressure. Low blood pressure are for the slim and slender, those who don’t eat red meat. Right? Then again, I guess that there must be a lot of other factors that contribute to this other than the obvious ones.

I’m not sure what I should do to improve my condition since I’m allergic to red meat. I wonder if there are other things that I can do to normalize my blood pressure. Is there a doctor in the house that I can consult?

Happy, Happy Day...

I went to 1Borneo yesterday (been going there quite frequently the past few days) just to enjoy a day out by myself. After having lunch at La Fuente Restaurant I decided to check out an event organized by the Alamesra Youth-PREP Center which is the Youth Art Festival with the theme Voice Out.

They had music performances by up and coming local bands, display, auctions and there were booths selling cupcakes (Cupcake Calendar), insurance (AIA) and a performing arts group which I unfortunately forgot the name of. Some of the bands were great, some were lousy and others were unique.

The painting that caught my attention. It retails for RM300

The brochure..

Their calling card, in case any of you are interested.

I did buy a chocolate cupcake from Cupcake Calendar but unfortunately I ate it before I remembered to take a picture of it. Hahaha... They cost RM5 each and thought they are pretty pricey (I've seen cupcakes sold for RM1 elsewhere) but it taste really good. I'd give them a 4/5 rating simply because I wish their chocolate chips were bigger. :)

 After that I went to MAC to buy a few things (More info on the products at phoebe-loves-makeup.blogspot.com) and to Queen Beauty Hair Saloon (Sorry if I got the name wrong) on the 3rd floor. This is my 2nd time to this saloon and so far I'm liking the service the hair stylist there provides. from the way she answers my questions, she certainly knows her craft.

If you're living or working near 1 Borneo, do give this saloon a try. I have yet to try any of their chemical treatments but I'm satisfied with my hair cut on both the occasions I've been there. It's a bit pricey and far from where I live and work but after experiencing so many disasters with my hair at random saloons I think I'd rather pay a bit more then have a disaster that takes me almost 2 years to grow out.

If you know any affordable saloons in Kota Kinabalu, do tell me about it.  :)

In a nutshell, yesterday was a happy, happy day. I got to go anywhere I wanted anytime I wanted and bought anything I wanted (and could afford obviously). How did your weekend went?

La Fuente Restaurant, 1Borneo

Yesterday I went to 1Borneo and decided to have lunch at La Fuente Restaurant. In case you can't guess from the name, it's a Spanish restaurant. The ambiance was quite nice and the decor interesting. Spanish music played in the background including songs from the Gipsy Kings which I love.

 The ambience... I love the stain glass chandelier..

The menu. I really love the black and red contrast.. So Spanish-ish... Hehehe...

Notice the half-bodied statue of a singing lady? They have a lot of such statues around the restaurant. Reminds me more of Blues music and New Orleans rather than Spanish. And yeah, tht's me reflected in the mirror. Hehehe..

The pictures on the wall..

This is the ceiling.. How cool is that? :)

I ordered Prawn Tandoori in Pocket Sandwich which is a prawn cooked in Tandoori style and served with minted yogurt in pita bread (RM19.90). For dessert I had initially wanted to try out the Chocolate Volcano (I'm a sucker for all things chocolate, can you tell? Hehehe...) but unfortunately it was not available on that day so I ordered the Crema Catalana which is a Spanish version of Creme Brulee (RM8.90).

Prawn Tandoori in Pocket Sandwich

The Prawn Tandoori was to die for! I remember taking the first bite and thinking, "I never knew food could taste so good" over and over again. Hehehe... I was a bit apprehensive about the minted yogurt but it complemented the dish perfectly. I even ate the lettuce that came with it and that's something because I am quite (okay, very) picky when it comes to vegetables.

Crema Catalana

The Crema Catalana was quite good too. The thin, golden layer of burnt sugar cracks to reveal a fluffy, creamy interior when you dip your spoon into it. The the caramelized shards taste sweet but not overly so and infused with a touch of cinnamon which rings true to the spicy style of Spanish dishes.The creamy part is only ever so slightly sweet.

 They have a stage for a live band but I'm guessing that they only play in the evenings. The only thing that I disliked immensely is the cheekiness of the male staff. They acted like randy bucks in heat if you know what I mean. For an expensive restaurants, such behavior is not acceptable. The waitresses are nice, friendly and more disciplined though.

That's the stage with some band equipments and Penelope Cruz at the background. And no, that's not a real person playing the guitar, it's one of the statues I mentioned earlier.

In terms of price it's quite pricey with certain dishes reaching up to RM60 including taxes such as the Paella. There are some moderately priced dishes though so you can choose according to your budget. Overall, I think that it's a nice restaurant that's great for special occasions.
  

Only You...

I've tried my hardest but I just don't get it. Why is this all turning out to be a nightmare? When? How? Why?

What did I do to you? What did I do to all of you?

It doesn't even concern most of you. Napa sibuk sangat sampai mau take sides?

Allah, you know the truth. If it is for the greater good that they know and realize that what they are doing is wrong, then please open their eyes. If for some reason only known to You that it is best otherwise, let it be so. I do have one favor to ask of You though, and that is to give me the strength and guidance I need to navigate through this mess.

Allah, only You can help. It is only You who listens patiently, without judgement . 

Let me learn from my mistakes for I've done many. Help me attain peace of heart and mind and help me to be in a better place, literally and figuratively..

Help me to have patience and not submit to the insanity of it all. Help me to do the right thing, to say the right thing. Help me to hold my silence if need be. Protect me from those who intend to hurt me in any way.

Ameen...

I'd Rather...

I'd rather that people would say what they mean and mean what they say.

I'd rather that they tell me what they're not happy with instead of talking about the issue to exhaustion yet come up with no solution behind my back.

I'd rather that they say nothing then pretend to be concerned only to dig up dirt for them to spread to all and sundry.

I'd rather that they talk about the truth no matter how ugly instead of weaving stories that they heard from a tertiary source.

Movie: Megamind

I went to see the movie (or rather, cartoon) Megamind in 3D at 1Borneo last night and it was so funny! I watched it again today with my boo. I think it's going to be one of those cartoons that I don't get tired of watching over and over again. I think I'll be purchasing the DVD in the future..

It's about this villain ,Megamind (Will Farrel), whose goal in life was to defeat the city's hero, Metroman (Brad Pitt). He managed to do so one day and ran rampant in the streets. Eventually he became bored because there was no hero to stop him, hence he hatched a plan to make things interesting for himself again. I won't say anything more lest it ruins the plot for those who haven't watched it yet..

The Adorable Minion

On both the occasion that I watched it the theatre was almost empty which is a good thing because we (meaning all 5 of us viewers) could laugh our heads off as loud as possible without annoying anyone and sit wherever we wanted. It's a pity that so many are missing out on the movie though. Then again, it could be empty because we were watching it in 3D so I don't know how the 'normal' movie did.

Do pay attention to the conversation and the little details in this movie if you decide to watch it. These are the things that makes this Laugh-Out-Loud-Whenever-You-Remember-It funny... All in all, it's different from the usual Good Vs Evil cliche cartoon yet quite familiar as well..

That's all for now folks. Cheers!

Alhamdulillah....

Today is the day that I feel sad and yet happy at the same time. I feel sad because of the things that are going on in the office, the slanders, the gossip, the meaningful look as I walk past, the stares that I feel boring into my back when they thought I was not aware, the titters behind their hands, the cold shoulder, the... I won't go on...

I try telling myself that it does not matter, that Allah knows the truth and that is more important. I try telling myself that it's just a passing phase, just until the next big (or little) sensation rocks their world and I will be forgotten. Not that it lessens the hurt and injustice of it all..

Whatever it is, one of my major undertakings have been approved and I'm over the moon... Alhamdulillah.. Thank you God for making me smile again today. Guide me in seeing this through and let the other one go as smoothly as this one. Ameen...

Breathing easier... But Not Quite..

These past few days has seen me being able to breathe better when it came to those two major undertakings that I've been hyperventilating about since 2 weeks ago. I'm just a step away from breathing normally again. Please let it all fall into place perfectly.. Please...

Keeping my fingers, arms and legs crossed.

Do's and Don'ts On A Speedboat Ride

On an impromptu trip to Labuan I decided to take a speedboat trip from Membakut instead of taking the ferry ride at KK. I also used the speedboat when I came back. So here are some dos and don'ts on a speedboat ride.

Don't wear heels or flip flops. The former will increase the probability of you toppling into the water while you are trying to cross over from the dock to the boat. You will then be forever known as The-Girl-Who-Toppled-Head-First-Into-The-Water-Because-Of-No-Footwear-Sensibilities.

The latter is extereme whereby it may be so afraid of water that it would stay on the dock as you step onto the boat or it likes water so much that it would hop from your foot right into the water and leave you looking like an idiot as you attempt to fish it out..

Do wear flats like shoes or sandals with secure straps. It's safer, secure, practical and comfortable. Nuff said.

Don't eat or drink during the boat ride. Not only will you be spilling half your food and/or drink on yourself, you'll also be spilling 2/3 of the other half on other people. It seems like a no brainer but you'd be surprised at the idiocy of some people.

Do bring food in secure containers and then put the containers into plastic if you simply must bring food with you to minimize spillage and bring only bottled drinks with tightly screwed lids...

Don't attempt long conversations during the ride. Speedboat rides are rough especially when the waves are choppy and you get a young driver with the thirst for speed. You might bite off your own tongue in mid conversation. I'm serious.

Do bring a pair of shades with you because apart from looking effortlessly cool and keeping the sun out of your eyes, it will also minimize the embarassment of having a petrified expression on your face the whole 15 minute ride because you WILL have a petrified look on your face especially if it's your first time... Unless you're one of those who lives on adrenaline rushes.

Do try your hardest to have a poker face going on and try not to shriek because in every speedboat there will be an unspoken competition on who's going to display fear/yelp/scream/shriek first. If that lucky first person is you then everyone will be looking at you the whole ride waiting to see how scared you will be when you hit the next big wave.

Do tie your long hair and if it's really long, put it in a bun or you will be flapping your hair in the person next to you's face and that would make your neighbor very unhappy indeed.

Do secure you're tudung to your clothes with pins (keronsang) if you're wearing one. I recommend the 'tudung masuk' or tudung Syria.

Don't do your shawl (selendang) in elaborate styles with long trains (juntai) if you insist on wearing one. It has the same effects as long hair in a ponytail. Your neighbor won't thank you. 

Don't wear a cap/hat on during the ride unless it's a really old one and you're just dying to have a reason to buy a new one or it belongs to your ex boyfriend and you want the sea to be it's new home..

Don't call or SMS during the ride especially if you're sitting at the front/back of the boat or near an open window. The rough ride might make you lose your grip and... Well, you get the picture. Unless of course, you're believe that mermaids exist and you want to establish contact with them by donating them your cellphone.

So there you are friends, the Do's and Don't when going on a speedboat ride. Hope you enjoy your first speedboat ride for those who haven't been on one. Cheers!

Can You Hear the Violins Playing?

Can you hear the violins playing?

Because what better instrument is there to accompany this pretty depressing post where I drown myself in a pool of self pity. There will be a lot of venting and maybe a huge dollop of childish whining too I think. So if you have been walking on cloud 9 all this while I strongly recommend that you stop right here and turn back lest this post cast a dark cloud over you ray of happiness.   

Remember, you have been warned… Let the wallowing begin…

These past two weeks have been pretty crappy for me. Stressed out and insomniac, I have teetered on the verge of losing utter and complete control. Not only did I have to settle two major undertakings, both of which are unresolved, a jack*ss colleague of mine had sneaked behind my back and made me have to put one of them on complete hold.

In a bid to settle this issue I seek counsel (as recommended by my superior) from someone who despite his eccentrisity, was (read: WAS) still a leader in my eyes only to be handed embarrassment and total humiliation, not to mention total degradation on a silver platter this morning. This so called leader did something so unprofessional in a meeting that if I didn’t have any shred of lady like upbringing, I would have marched into his office and smashed his teeth in.  

A leader is someone who guides, leads and teaches one’s subordinates without singling out anyone and embarrassing anyone in public, least of all when that someone is not in the room. Right then and there any smidgen of respect that I may have for him is gone and never to come back again. To embarrass me is one thing, but to insult my superior and drag my department down as well? That’s pathetic.

The stress, lack of sleep and battery to my self-esteem in the short span of time has made me feel about a hundred years old. Add that to the feeling of emptiness that can only be obtained from doing a job one doesn’t like (okay, hate) and working in a place where people only feel remotely important when they’re talking about someone else behind their back, I can feel depression settling upon me.

Once again for the 2578^th time I wondered, why did I move back to Sabah? Each time that question resonates in my mind I feel a stab of pain and guilt. I feel guilty because it seems disloyal somehow. The fact of the matter is I don’t miss living in KL and Putrajaya nor do I prefer both over Sabah. I just miss working in an HQ where there are better facillities, never a lack of resources and everything can be settled ASAP because the person in charge sits two cubicles to the left from mine. Is that wrong?

Oh well, I guess that's enough indulgence on self-pity. You guys have a great weekend and Happy Deepavali to all my friends who celebrate it.. 

Psssttt... Want to Know A Secret?

It's a known fact that women are complicated... I never realized it until one day I chatted with an Aussie guy (well, at least that's what he claimed to be. He could be a dog for all I know) through MIRC (this was during the time it was THE it thang) and we had this convo in cyberspace.


Him : Why are women so complicated?

Me  : What do you mean?

Him : I never know what they're thinking.

Me  : For example?

Him : Well, there was this one hot girl who was dressed really sexy and we danced together. She was so provocative. I stared at her boobs and when she saw me doing it she got upset and slapped me. I mean, if she doesn't want me to stare at it, why show it?

Me  :........


He has a valid point there....


I remember that conversation until today simply because I realize how true it is. Women, beautiful as we are (Hihi..) are fickle beings. We change our minds every 5 seconds and what pleases us now may make us as pissed off as Medusa on a bad hair day tomorrow/ in an hour/ 5 seconds from now..


We fairer sex are also guilty of beating around the bush instead of saying outright what we want or need. It seems that we have an unhealthy habit of expecting men to read our mind.


Still in denial ladies? Tell me, how often do you have this conversation with your honey...


You : *Lugging heavy shopping bags* Can't you see that my hands are full?

BF  : Yeah....

You : So?

 BF  : ......

 You : Aren't you going to be a gentleman and give me a hand?

 BF  : Oh alright...

You : Oh never mind! If you were a gentleman I wouldn't need to ask you to help me...


or this conversation......


You : My back hurts...

BF   : Okay... *Playing online game*

You : I said my back hurts...

BF  : I heard you the first time.

You : So?

BF  : *Look at you with a blank expression*

You : *Burst to tears/ Walk away in a huff/ Start nagging*


Wouldn't it have been easier just to ask for a back rub?


In all honesty I myself have been guilty of doing all this too. I mean, every female does it. I'm female aren't I? It's in the genes.. It's a girl thing.. Not that I'm making excuses or trying to validate my unreasonable tendencies or anything.


Oh! One more popular question that guys always ask their best gal pals: What is it that women want?


You wanna know a secret?


We women don't have a clue of  what we want either.. Hehehe...

Something Sneaky, A Discovery And A Union...

Olla...


The past week I have been pretty stressed out with 2 things and one of them is half way done. I just hope there will be no more roadblocks with that one. Now it's the 2nd one that is not settled and is making me super upset.


I've planned to go for a trip overseas and have paid for the plane tickets since early this year. I've invested so much money on this trip already yet a colleague sneaked behind my back and made things all complicated for me. He applied leave overlapping mine so now it's up to my big boss who to grant the leave to. Thinking about it makes me upset all over again. Argh!


After work I went to 1Borneo to buy a few things for my new rented room. From Daiso only okay, not Aussino or something like that. At the same time I was trying to forget that I have an As*hole of a colleague whose selfishness could very well cause me to lose over 1K. Anyway...


Since Deepavali is just around the corner I saw a booth opened by a few Indian youths selling Indian sweets and such. One of them provided henna drawing service so being a sucker for it I checked out the designs and decided to get one done on the back of my right hand. It was so cheap too, only RM5 for the design I chose.


I must say that I've seen better workmanship but she was persistent and meticulous so I must give her credit for trying.. It still turned out quite nice I think and she was gracious when I changed my mind about doing henna on both my hands to doing only one..

Tadaaaa....

I then started walking around at the basement and discovered a new bubble tea outlet.. Well, at least it's new to me. It's called Tea Box. For some reason I decided to try the Royal milky tea( I don't rally remember the exact name, only that it has the word 'Royal' in it) and it was goooooddddd.. I can really taste the tea and in a good way.


For me it gave Yoyo a run for it's money and it's cheaper too, only RM3.30 with pearl. I did take pictures of the kiosk and my drink but I took it with the camera on my phone and I haven't been able to transfer it to my lappy yet.  Huhu...


Happily slurping on my cold milky tea I went to the Times (in case you don't know, it's a bookshop) and lo and behold! I saw the novel Eat,Pray,Love... I was so excited because I had been looking high and low for this book since I saw the movie and it's always sold out. After reading the first page, which reeled me in I immediately took it to the counter and paid for it..

 I finally found you....

I'm off to read my precious book now... Or sleep... Whichever that comes first... Hehe...