LAT the Musical

I've been meaning to blog about this but couldn't find the time to do so.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of watching 'LAT' the Musical at Istana Budaya. And boy, was it good! It was funny, witty, engaging, nothing quite like what I imagined. I left the theatre feeling a higher sense of pride for Malaysian productions.

I have LAT comics at home but I’ve never read them. Thus when there was an extra ticket being circulated around in my department at the very last minute, I took it without hesitation.

LAT the musical depicts a little boy who grew up in a Kampung. Times had forced LAT and his family to move to a town. He was reluctant, of course - with all the good buddies he has made in his kampung, and that he had comfortable life there.

LAT is extremely talented in drawing. His ambition was to become a professional cartoonist. He went to school in the new town and made a good friend called Frankie. The teacher noticed his talent and encouraged him to pursue his passion/dream. He became successful in the end, but it came with a price. With all his fame and busy schedule, he neglected family.

But, but... just like any other fairytale, things turned out good in the end. Things fell right into place for LAT in the end, and he insisted that the whole family moved back to the kampung he was brought up. 

Photo extracted from LAT the musical's facebook page.

Key take-away(s) I've gotten from this musical, and also parts which I like best:

• DWYL, LWYD: Do what you love, Love what you do

• No matter how powerful the sun is, it has to make way for the moon eventually. It can't be overshadowing the moon forever. (or something along this line....). I thought this saying was so meaningful.

A happy me during intermission time!

It's amazing how a musical can make an impact and part its values to its audience. I had a good time watching the musical, and look forward to more amazing Malaysian productions in the future :) A huge thank you to my company for the musical ticket!

Weekend @ Melaka

I've always enjoyed visiting small towns. People in small towns are generally more down to earth, friendlier, nicer. (Note: Generally. Hehe). Also, it's a kind reminder to self that despite having a job, a good life in the city, it's always good to remain grounded.

I spent this weekend at Melaka with the badminton team of the bank. We were enrolled in this warm-up Open tournament, so to better prepare us for the MIBA (the real deal) one next weekend. SRD team was so very kind to organise for us everything - registration of games, lodgistics, budget. Thank you to the bank for covering the budget for us. 

We also were very lucky to have a local Melaka-ian in our team to bring us around for the best Melaka-ian food trail. I always believe that the locals know best. For me, Melaka has always been just Jonker Walk, A Famosa and that's that. This time around however, the trip was fulfilling as I got to learn new things about Melaka - food and culture.

I'm happy to be getting my game back. The last I played a badminton tourney was during the MASCA games last July in Canberra. Good times.

Now, a few pictures to share my fantastic experience in Melaka :)

One of the best seafood I've had @ Duyung, the hawker restaurant by the jeti.

Picking fresh fishes!

Fried Sotong, Prawns, Taufu Bakar, Best Fish ever.

A side note: At the hawker restaurant, I came across a family who can't speak (mute). The only person who can speak is the youngest son. They will communicate through sign languages to the son, of which he will communicate externally to other parties. This came as a reminder to me, and all of us too out there who have all 6 senses in tact, to be grateful for what we have.

Did I also mention that I've found my second favourite liveband after the one in SG?

They sing amazing. First song that came from the female vocalist was 'Bring me to Life' by Evanescance. I was all stunned. Yes, she was that good. The band continued to play U2's 'With or Without You' and Bon Jovi's 'Always'. I decided there and then that I will come back to watch them play again in the future. I'm such a sucker for live bands.

In a nutshell, this weekend Melaka trip was fantastic because:

1) I got to play one of the games I enjoy so much and have passion for

2) I got to experience a weekend getaway with a sports team, supporting one another feels so damn good! Team spirit, all the way

3) I got to experience unconventional, traditional Melaka-ian hawker food

4) I got to witness one damn good live band

I am happy :)

two hauntingly beautiful songs

It was pouring this morning while I was driving to work. When this new song came up on the radio, I was completely taken in. Nothing like a good song to brighten up a gloomy Wednesday morning.

Don't you wanna stay
by Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson

I really hate to let this moment go,
Touching your skin and your hair falling slow,
When a goodbye kiss, feels like this

Don't you wanna stay here a little while?
Don't you wanna hold each other tight?
Don't you wanna fall asleep with me tonight?
Don't you wanna stay here a little while?
We can make forever feel this way
Don't you wanna stay?

Let's take it slow I don't want to move to fast,
I don't wanna just make love, I wanna make love last,
When you're on this high, it's a sad goodbye



**
Another song that has caught my attention recently :

If I Die Young
by The Band Perry

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors
Oh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time

And I’ll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I’m as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I’ve never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
There’s a boy here in town says he’ll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by

So put on your best boys and I’ll wear my pearls
What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no I’ll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I’m a goner
And maybe then you’ll hear the words I've been singin’
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin’



Loves.

the woman I want to be, aspire to be

As you grow older, you start thinking a lot more of the person you want to be, and the person you are becoming. (Or in my case, at least).

We may not realise it, but little things like the way we talk and treat people, the way in which we carry ourselves in our daily lives, the things we do, the people we mix with, essentially form the person we are becoming. We are our greatest asset, we are a walking brand. 

I then started thinking, what kind of person do I want to be? And what kind of person am I becoming? To different people (or stakeholders in a company, that's what working in a Bank does to you :p), I play different roles. If I were to get married in the future, how do I see myself being a good wife? What kind of qualities do I seek to have looking from a husband's perspective?

At home around with my family, I want to be a loving family member. To my parents - a respectful and obedient daughter; to my brothers - a caring and responsible sister; to my grandmother - a granddaughter who spends the little extra time she has with her; to my kakak - an employee's daughter who is nice and kind. At work, I want to be a valued employee. A team player, pro-active, hardworking, disciplined, one with integrity. One who is honest. When with friends I want to be engaging, funny, bringing life to the group. I want to listen and understand. I want to be happy for them when they succeed, and be there to emphatize when they are down. I want to learn from them, and in return share with them what I know. When meeting strangers, I want to be friendly and not-judging. (I've been tired and reluctant to make new friends lately, this has to change!).

As a person, I want to be one with humour and wit (haha yes, humour is so very important to me!). Ok jokes aside, I want to be someone of compassion, of gratitude, of kindness and love. I want to be resourceful, a go-getter, driving and running after my ambitions and passions in life. I want to be humble, and always willing to learn more.

Thus, I'm now leaving you with a current picture of me: contented but wanting more from and of life; ambitious yet being a realist; thankful yet aiming to cultivate more gratitude; driven and yet knowing how to achieve a balance in life.

This is to hopes that one day, I will become the woman I want to be, and aspire to be.

Yours truly.

chinese new year 2011

I've decided to start blogging again! I love writing too much to give it up hehe.

Anyway, thought I'd kick things off with a chinese new year post :)

**
Family always comes first in anything. I am blessed to have a family to celebrate chinese new year with, to have good food on the table on the eve of new year, and every day; and a comfortable home to live in. Moreover, I am thankful to have a great family who's always supporting me, encouraging me in whatever that I do, and in giving me nothing but the best. I am who I am today because of them.

Eve of eve chinese new year dinner with mom's side of family

candid picture with mummy dearest

(she's soo pretty, right?)

first day of CNY - grandma with her beloved grandchildren

**

Then there are the Open Houses of close friends I've attended...

Wesley gathering of wagyu beef & wine @ Yauw's

I can still remember this night clearly. It was the night before one of my exams at the Bank, and I was singing karaoke till god knows what time. Hehe. Thank goodness I did OK for that paper. (Not fantastic but as long as I know I've got things under control, I don't mind spending the extra time with loved ones).

two very good buddies of mine since highschool

At another open house - also happens to be another good buddy of mine, D

Managed to catch up with a couple of old friends too!

And this was on Valentine's Day! Rushed over to Kwee's open house after a long day at work

Glad I made a little time to pop by these open houses. They are afterall good friends, and I really appreciate them inviting me to their place every year during chinese new year.

**

Then there are the Parties...

3rd day of new year @ Zouk

two favourite college babes of mine! theresa, missing you that night!

(drew had his farewell there that night)

my favourite melbourne darling was there too!

**

Then there are also the Livebands...

we share the same love and passion in music

haha and we made andrew sing on stage! clearly he didn't mind, in fact he enjoyed it I think

**

We invited our German neighbours over for lunch :)

sharing some chinese culture (of 'lou sang') to the beer-loving germans a.k.a me (hehe lameee, i know!)

And finally, a little corner of our home mummy did up - memorable times our family had printed out in pictures, with funny & lame captions she came up with (now I know where I got my lame genes from...). She's into scrapbooking and picture, video collages thingo now.

**

Overall it was a good chinese new year. Albeit a little quiet (as I was already working), I spent it with people I love, people who loves me; and that's all that matters really :) I am truly a blessed girl.

the world as a better place

Let us not hate one another,

but instead try to understand, and hopefully accept one another.

And if we find it hard to accept the other person,

let us not mock, talk bad, or condemn the other person - just leave him/her alone. Be gracious.

Let us also not be jealous of one another,

but instead be happy for one another; genuinely happy.

For everyone deserves to be happy.

**

If we can practice this in our daily lives, the world will be a better place; and we'll be happier, more peaceful human beings in life.

appalled

Read this in The Star earlier. Call me naive but I was appalled by this news! Men, or boys rather, started buying sex at the age of 16?! Some even still do it when they are engaged!

I am not judging or anything, I am just surprised. That body and life’s ours and we can do anything we want with it, as long as both parties agree to it then there is no problem.

However I do have my stand and preference in that - I personally think sex should only be given to someone whom you really love. Call me conservative but that’s just the way I am I guess. And I am proud of it.

Life as powerpoint slides

Life, to me’s somewhat similar to preparing powerpoint slides - I will always find something somewhere to make changes to, to make it better. And the feeling of having completed something better sure feels good :)