Down time....

What a wrong timing to be sick....
This is the time of the year that I (and others) enjoy most..partying and eating and partying! Alas I caught the bug that was going around and could not missed all the merryments and enjoyments that I have planned. What a bummer :(

Ms Wannabee is down with a troat that is sooooo sore it feels like sandpaper, a head that is soooo heavy it feels like a tonne of brick and a body that is soooo weak, she feels like a.................................?????????

Whatever la....

The Annual Christmas Gala

This is the Notice Board in our office. It is self-explanatory.....from the list of 'Forbidden' gifts to the wishlist of each and everyone of us.

Everybody is trying to outdo each other....the budget is $20 and above but when you look at each person's wishlist....it looks like average cost per person would be from $200 instead of $20.

This have also brought out the ugly side in us, we sebotaged other's wishlist. Poor Stef, her request from Johnny Depp has been changed to an Ah Beng 'Jonh Dip Teng' and request for a return ticket to Bahamas has been changed to Balakong :)-


Ms Wannabee's wishlist:
- 'Holiday' movie DVD (the one with Jude Law, Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. I think this is one of best holiday movie ever!)
- Andrea Bocelli CV (something romantic to have but i wouldn't want to buy!)
- Crabtree & Evelyn Talcum powder (Any fragrance but Lavender! That is sooo grannyish..)
- Anya Hindmarch Handbag (Yeah, while I'm at it, might as well push my luck)
- Edward Cullens (This is a wishlist afterall!!!!!)
- 3/4 length Exercise pants (for my bootcamp....)
- New 'skin' for my wayarless modem (the present colour is yellow, I need one that would match my pink Viao)....... SOOO VAIN....I KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wanna meet for reunion? I don't think sooo...

Its been nearly 10-15 years since we last completed our uni studies…everybody went their separate ways. I’ve never been good at keeping in touch but luckily…there is always one or 2 (God bless them) friends who always keeps in the loop with everybody and will tirelessly track you down and remind you of so and so who is married or divorced/got new job/ moved to Timbuktu (yeah…guilty as charged!…I did wished that on one or two persons).

And now…it’s the time when everybody wants to meet-up again and have that meeting called ‘reunion’. I’ve never been really that close to my school mates (esp when you only spent 1-2 years in 4-5 schools…being nomadic is part of my life….don’t need to explain anymore, been brought and raised that way).

Call me a snob but I am just not curious to know what happen to so and so…even the classmate that I used to have a crushed on. If we bump into each other now, okay. Yeah, we can set a date and time to meet somewhere in KL, but to drive two to four hours away? Hhhhmmmm…...I’m not sure I want to take that trouble.

I suppose….I’ll come up with an excuse soon….. Besides, if I can to connect with anybody….would have tracked and connect with that person long time ago.
Don’t need to wait 10-15 years….

I love myself!

Today was a good day.

I can't help but feel flattered to be greeted warmly by our European 'VIP' guest, like an old friend (especially in front of my client).
To be the recepient of positive comments, I guess i've done something right in my job after all....

That is why I can be quite full of myself sometimes.....I'm soo good at my job! Hahaha!!!! There I go again, being smug and conceited.

Yeah, Wannabee's ego iwas soooooo totally stroked by a distinguished gay Dutch Professor and a cute French salesman at the Hugo Boss store today (she had to go in to buy a corporate gift....an honest,straight-forward office errant, not for persoal consumption).

Ms Wannabee is indeed full of herself....

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha

Wishing all my friends and love ones Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha. Maaf zahir batin...if there were any mistakes in my words or conducts, please accept my sincere apologies. I hope we've buried the hatchet, buang yang keruh, ambil yang jernih. Moving forward, blue sky and happy days....(or as close as can be) :)-

I spent a day in Kuantan(one of the east coast states) the place where I was born, my dad's hometown, getting acquainted with my relatives. Also took the time to indulge myself. Stayed at the Hyatt and paid extra for the sea view room. While the hotel is quite run down and room facilities are quite tired looking, the sea view is still spectacular.

It was worth it.....the last time I stayed here I was 15 years old and I remembered being woken up with the sound of the waves....I dunno why....ever since then... it has always been one of my favourite things...to be in place...close enough to the beach and hear the waves as it crashes into the shore..to hear that sound...early in the morning, really sooth the soul.....

And that I did....waking up early morning, listening to the waves......feeling contented and thankful, peaceful and serene......basically happy with the whole world.

Of course....when you were feeling that good, it never last long. Good old Bard has to bring my back down to earth and burst my euphoric bubble by reminding me...that the waves I love so much could be a potential tsunami......yeah...TSUNAMI.....Duhhhh....

Out went that peaceful,serene and happy moods. I could not sleep with the balcony door wide open anymore after that...imagining the gentle waves that lulled me to sleep could turn into giant, vicious waves that could tear my room apart....I'm not ready to die in such a way yet.

And what did I do? Got up, showered, went down for breakfast and checked out.

Thank you my dear....I love you for it :(-

PS: Despite that ending, Ms Wannabee enjoyed herself and her brief solitude....

The long awaited New Moon

Yeah...I am a shameless Twilling fanatic. Totally loved all the Twilight saga books and I have read, reread and reread each novel thousands of times. If there is an exam on Twilight, I would have been one of the thousand fanatic fans who will happily sit for the test.

Yesterday, we were lucky to get free tickets for the premier screening of the much awaited sequel, New Moon. Gosh! It was just the excitement needed for vampire love story fanatics and yours truly is one of them. And so...as the movie began....we began to see the story from the pages that we have so lovingly read thousands of time came to life. To see Edward Cullen and Bella on screen again....oooohhhhhh sooo romantic......I can't help but swoon....

To add my five cents worth of movie review, I would say that in the popularity race between Edward Cullen and Jacob Black...if you did not watch the first Twilight movie, then you would like Jacob more than Edward. However, if you have seen and read the first movie, then you would still love Edwards, though I have to admit that Jacob is quite endearing in the persistent, sure of himself, knows what he wants kind of way. And of course, that superbly buffed, hunky dory body of his....hhmmmm....

But there is the subtleties of being loved and pursued by an aggressive, hot-blooded, broad-shouldered with a superbly sexy body 17 year old compared to being loved by a matured, 104 years old octogenarian who still looks like a 19 years old. You don't love him on first sight but he grows on you. Yes...indeed he does ....even though he is just a pale and pasty looking bloke (to quote Stefanie's description of him).

The ending was quite disappointing. But never mind, they have not deviated too much from the original storyline. For that, we, the loyal legion of Twilight fans is greatly grateful and can sleep well that night. After all, we all know what's gonna happen next....

Ms Wannabee still yearns to be worshipped and loved by an Edward Cullens or Jacob Black.......(sigh)........

Here and there....

It has been quite hectic since last Friday...first, was the trip to Sing. I think I only slept a total of 4 hours over that weekend. The main intention was to visit a sick relative but along the way, there was a birthday party for a seven year-old, and I was roped in to help along wiht the cooking.

Then...there were more visiting around...considering the last time I visited these group of relatives were 9 years ago...there were lots of catching up to do this time. How time flies...all the children have grown from toddlers to modern and trendy teenagers now....

Nevertheless, these branch of relatives are real fun to be with. They are loud and cheerful, despite a looming shadow of death...(the sick cousin is really in the end stage....). I suppose, life goes on...you don't dwell on the pressing issues but make the most of life. Rejoice and be thankful that HisAlmighty still grants you extra precious time with your beloved family and friends....

After 2 nights in Singapore, we drove back to KL. Come Monday, had to catch up with looming deadlines and day to day chores, not to mention the Bootcamp. UUURRRGGHHHHH...WHY Do I put myself through this......but it kept me occupied.
Have I lost weight and is there any decrease in inches from the stomach, thighs and arms????

Hhhmmmm ... don't think so. With the increased workouts, came the increase appetites and I kept on telling myself that all those calories will burn itself out during the training. And so...that's how it goes....

Oh well....it is not even a month yet...give it 3 more months.....I'm sure I'll look HOT soon!!!!! HAHAHHAHAAHAHAH!!!!!!!

Ms Wannabee's knees still ached from the 3 miles jog amd her arms will be sore tomorrow after doing 60 rifle lifts with squats....

Welcome Amrita!

Hi Amrita,

Thank you for following my idiotic and chaotic musings....

Happy reading my dear. It is an honour to have another reader who makes her living from writing, reading my blog. But please, let me stress again, this is of no commercial nor scientific value (unlike your kind of writings), so please ignore all the imperfections you'll come across eh....

And so...Ms Wannabee warmly Welcomes Ms Amit into her FAN CLUB...(Applause, applause !!!)

Mixed Emotions

This week have been quite up and down for me. It started on a high note, then plummeted down with with something close to an argument which I had with a close friend. To do it during working hours via chatline....that was sooo idiotic!

But that had been settled and the air has been cleared....or so....I hope that will not mar our friendship, which I truly value.

Then when things seem quite okay for the rest of the week, suddenly this morning I was given an upsetting news with unexpected new deadlines. While it is good for business, it is not good for my own peace of mind.

My R&R plans for the end of the year had to be scrapped off since my leave was frozen due to an unexpected new project and I could not leave until mid January. UUUUrrggghhhhhhh!!!!!! And I was hoping to take time off...maybe go back to HK or accept another friend's invitation to London. Oh well....looks like I have to postpone my holiday plans to another month.

When thing seems quite endless and boring...suddenly I was jolted with a new proposition. Yeah...jolted is the right word for it because...there I was...oblivious to anything aorund me and suddenly I receive a caller with an unexpected proposition......and a pleasant news at that. I have been given a new potential....something that might change my life altogether.....

Anyway, it is still too early to tell. Only that I am honoured to be given this opprtunity. Wether I get it or not, it doesn't matter, at least all my hard work and professional image haAve been noticed. And so...I left the office in a euphoric state and as happy as can be.

Ms Wannabee is back to dreaming all the impossible dreamssss...

Good night!

The Bootcamp Battle begins

I never knew that I have a sado-masochism streak in me. This week is the third week I put myself through physical torture and agony that is the Bootcamp. When I told my brother about the bootcamp activities, instead of motivating me and telling me what a strong girl I am, all he waid was "..and you are paying them for this?"
Hmm...I dunno how to answer that.

Somehow the quest for size 10 bikini seemed as ludicrous as it could be. But one thing for sure, I can't back off now. This is do or die situation. I just want to give my best shot and see how far I could go. At the moment, still no where because I am still amonsgt the last to finish each exercise.

Now, for 3 mornings each week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5.45 to 6.45am, I struggled bleary eyes out of bed and make my way to Padang Merbuk at Tasik Perdana. This is the KL Alpha Team. If anybody is late or AWOL, then the whole team gets the punishment. Talk about "one for all, all for one"....if anybody is caught cheating (walking instead of running...or not following orders), the rest will have extra time added to their 'torture' (exercise).

The first week was a trial week...I came home each time covered in mud (head to toes!)with aches and pain...Walking, sitting down, getting up is so painful (everywhere!)..going up and down the stairs is the worse! I feel like a heavily pregnant women (no that I know how a pregnant women feels like since I have never been pregnant).

I supposed all those unused muscles for the paST 37+ years have finally been put to use. It has yet to get better...but this is hardly the first month and I still have 3 and half more months to go!

However, as much as I hated the pain...each time when the class is over...one feels soo proud and elated for having achieved such feat. Yeah, I call it a feat coz I never knew I could do such things!!

The trainers (Sarge and Corporal) really knows how to push you. They seem cruel and relentless on the field but I guess they know what they are doing and they know your limit and will push you over and over again.

Physically, as much as I hated the pain...I think I must have improved myself a bit, and now, I could say that I have some decent stamina now compared to 3 weeks ago. In the first trial....I spent most of the time laying down on the ground (next to my vomit) but in the 2nd and 3rd trial...I managed to stay up. That was a real motivation...

For 3 mornings each week, we struggle with grunts, lunges, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, running, jumping, sandbags, rifle (pvc tube filled with concrete, that weighs a tonne when you are really tired), ropes (yeah! weighs a tonne too when you really have no more energy to lift and carry it around), tyres (not the car type but those big tractors type. i couldn't even move it in the first week but I was shocked when I found that I managed to flip it last week!!!)and God knows what else awaits us. It sounds really easy but believe me...only if you are in this bootcamp, you'll know how scary those things are!

Come rain, hail or snow....there is no excuse. I have really outgrown my OCD nature. There is no such thing as wet tissue or sanitiser. As it is a wet season in KL now..the field is wet and muddy. And so, at the end of each class...yours truly will stagger out of the field tired out of her bones, completely bedraggle and covered in mud (and who knows what else!) from top to toe. Luckily I have a very good and diligent helper at home. She will dutifully clean my muddy clothes, shoes and socks (yes, the mud seeped into the socks too)and have them clean and dry before each class. I really must give her an extra allowance for this.

And so...my personal battle continues. Worse come to worse...there is always Marie France and Philip Wain but I realise that as long as I can still push myself physically, I will continue. The trainers and team members are equally supportive too....and I know they are other team members as weak as me.

No matter what, I shall reach my aims for agility, strength and that size 10 bikini by the end of this 4 months. And I shall be one of the prime examples of "remember that lady who collapsed during the warming up session in her first trial....?"

Till then....as they shout at the end of each session...HHOOOO YEAH!!!!!!!

My 38th Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me! Last year I celebrated my birthday in the circle of close and dear friends in Discovery Bay and this year I enjoyed my own company. The parents went away to visit a sick relative in Singapore, I would have gone along but due to work, got left behind. But I didn’t mind, needed time alone anyway. I have been sooo tired, with outings and projects the past few weeks plus the aches and pains from the Bootcamp which still have not fade from this aging body.

This weekend is the best time to recharge my battery. And so today, there is nobody in this house but my faithful helper and my own company.

I wanted to sleep in and wake up as late as I could but unfortunately got woken up with work-related phone call. Damm! There went my beauty sleep. Could not go to sleep anymore after that. But luckily, it was a solitary morning, the helper was somewhere in the house… while I get to made my own breakfast (which is not as often as I like), with the food that I WANT to eat. Usually mom dearest prepared the breakkie, so have no choice but to eat whatever that was prepared.

It was to be a day of leisure and I was happy because I managed to do just that. I relaxed, watched tv and then by noon I decided to go out. Of course, being my birthday today…it is a day of indulging and pampering myself. Started with a few hours at the spa followed with a few hours of retail therapy….it was soooo relaxing…..Now, that's what I caLLED A BLISSFULL LIFE……This is how life should be…

Alas, this is one of the best birthdays for me. My gifts were not as many as last year but compared to last year but its okay. I only got 2 things this year…..but like I said, its okay…especially counting the 10k extra spending money (never mind it’s just on credit) and this cute fuschia pink netbook which is sooooooooo cute and pretty. It is a Sony Viao no less! Hehehehe…(Bard really hates me for this).

I know, I know…I just got a laptop couple of months back but somehow….despite the earlier attraction…we just didn’t fizzle together. Must be the size or the weight. Anyway, this is gift, I can’t say no to it. And so…thank you to my loving friends who made this possible for me. I feel soooo blessed….

As part of my birthday rituals… (a ritual which I only started after I reached 35)I spent a standard 3-5 minutes for deep contemplation You know..."why, how, what, where I am now" kind of questions and thoughts.

I still havent got the answers till today. Have I reached a milestone in my life??? I dunno.... My friends always say that I am too critical of myself...but hey, its my life..
I am 38 now. If I were to compare my life to my siblings when they were 38, I would have to perform the hara-kiri now or live in shame. Apart from work (and that is not something to be proud of sometimes), nothing changes.

I’m still the same person with the same thoughts as when I was 18 or 28. Older does not neccessasarily mean wiser and I am the true testament to that. I still don’t know what I’m doing and still unsure where I’m heading with my life. There is NO long-term planning here….it’s just a day to day existance.

Oh well..., there is no answer. I don’t want to waste too much time to dwell on big question marks in life so that is why I only limit myself to maximum 5 mins on contemplation only. Why do I want to depress myself? Better do other things and think happy thought......in a true Wannabee nature.

And so, after a day of full indulgence (I sooo deserve this after working back-to-back the past few weeks) I am now refresh and fully rested. I also spent quality time with my second brother and his loving family for abirthday dinner last night.

The spa cost few hundred, the new netbook was nearly 2k (but free), some clothes, make-up and shoes cost a few hundred more but most of all…..this feeling of happiness (especially as I am typing away on this brand spanking new pink VIAO),the peacefullness and contentment that I enjoyed this weekend is PRICELESS!

Thank you!

Ms Wannabee wishes to thank all her loves ones, friends and colleagues for the birthday messages received via phone calls, sms’s, emails, cards and fb. Hopefully, next year it would include newspaper announcement too.

My first bootcamp experience

Everybody laughed out loud when I told them I was going to join the Bootcamp. The idea that yours truly is going to embark on an extreme physical training is too ludicrous and funny to some people.
But I don't blame them....I've never been one for those sweaty, high-impact physical sports.

Why I did I decide to do this??? Hmm...several reasons actually:

- need to lose weight and get back into my fav Tommy pants (most of my clothes are too tight now and getting a whole new wardrobe is too expansive

- need to build my stamina and be more healthy for my own good

- need to build my mental strength, bootcamp is not easy and with all the discouraging remarks...I need to push myself mentally and physically..this is something I have to do before I hit 40..which is not too far now (uurrgghhh)

- the mental strength is another step towards my next plan in life...maybe embark in a small partnership somewhere interesting and exotic with Ms T (somewhere not too hot to give us wrinkles and not too hit to give us rheumatism). So if I could succeed with this...who knows what else I could do if I really push myself...hahaha...that remains to be seen

- need to tone my body and slim down and fit into that size 10 bikini! Actually this was the first and primary reason but I added those reasons mentioned-above to make it more worthwhile..



And so...armed with my strong motivation and brand new running shoes (just bought the night before), I went to the first trial on MOnday morning.

The trainers were young men, not bad looking but quite stern and being a Ms Wannabee...I know these boys are Commando Wannabees. They called themselves Captain, Corporal and Lans Corporal...just like in the army.

This is the trial week, the actual program will start in early November. The training will be for 4 months, 3 times a week from 0545 hours to 0645 hours (dear Lord....).

After laying down the house rules, the torment began....

The first 5 minutes went well, then 10 minutes was still okay but after 15 minutes....I was dying!!!
Talk about lying in your own pool of vomit! I vomited, vomited and vomited!!! If I could bleed, I would have bled to death. It was sooo excruciatingly humiliating!!! I was past being embarrassed.....
As other went ahead with their training...I was on the ground...on the muddy field...spattered with mud and god knows what else (unfortunately it rained the night before, hence the muddy ground).

Could not even get up from the wet ground to save my life (for this Ms Wannabee...to be laying down on the grass and muddy ground without any mat or protection from the 'soil'...this is REALLY, EXTREMELY EXTREME!!! She never ever touches the ground without a mat and there she was...laying down IN THE MUD, NEXT TO HER OWN POOL OF VOMIT..EEEEEUUUUWWWWWWW

I wanted to give up at that time. This is not for me, there is always Marie France if I want a slim body. But I could not even move and was still retching up my banana breakfast. Sungguh memalukan....

I tried to go back again but after 2 attempts (after several steps) I dropped again. I was too dizzy to stand and COULD NOT move even a step forward. I wanted them to call the paramedics but nobody was looking at my direction...everybody was busy with their training.

Had I had my car keys with me at that time I would have crawled back and gone straight to Marie France. But earlier, they made us leave our car keys with them...for security purpose. But now I know...they also made it hard for you to leave.

Finally the fainting spell and dizziness died down. I was not dying after all.....and I could move and get up without wanting to throw up again.

And so...Ms Wannabee who wants to be in Bootcamp, staggered back to her team much to the surprise of the trainers and others.

Just like Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin, I walked back into the field and joined in the group for the final round of exercise...even though it was only for the last 10 minutes.

I know my limits now....low impact yes...high impact no! However...I still have traces of Mat Kilau DNA in me (being born in Pahang...that's the only think I could be proud of)....and so...I SHALL NOT not give up.

Ms Wannabee shall go on with the Bootcamp until...officially kicked out by the Bootcamp trainers.

And so...the painful, laborious, breathless journey towards size 10 bikini shall go on for Ms Wannabee...

Welcome Stefanie!

Ms Wannabee wishes to welcome Ms Stefanie (with an 'f') Chuah another new reader to her blog.

Gosh! First Sek Hin and now you.... I am honoured of course but with more editorial people looking into this, it gets more daunting!! I have to check my grammar and spelling and make sure all t's are crossed and i's are dotted.

Oh well....this blog is purely for entertainment and of no scientific and commercial value (compared to your kind of writing). Therefore, please close one eye to any editorial inperfections and just enjoy my personal musings on mundane matters....

Happy reading!

Whaisee's Wedding Dinner

I left HK on Sat afternoon and dashed off to Whaisee's wedding banquet in the evening at PJ Hilton. It was quite a mad hurry, arrived home from the airport at 6.30, got ready within one hour and by 7.30 dashed off again and arrived just in time for the wedding couple to make their grand entrance.

But before that, there was a moment of panic when I could not find my car key, apparently my parents drove it to Kuantan for the weekend but luckily there was another car under the porch. Thanks to my bro's C200 Merc, with its single digit plate-number (which I later nonchalantly passed to the valet. I also can’t help but noticed the covert glances from people at the lobby...wink, wink....ooohhh i soo loved that moment!)

To compliment the car that I drove, I also looked HOT (even if I say so myself) in the black Club Monaco Monroe style LBD that showed lots of skin and cleavage (Karen will be envious if she were to see me that evening) but still managed to be demurely covered with the black shawl paid by my beloved buddy (thank you gift I supposed....but thanks so much!) at the airport shop.

Okay back to the wedding (being so full of myself again....), this is the final wedding for the Lee family. My dear (ex) housemate cum tuan-rumah when in HK, Whaisee Loong (as she is now should be known as) finally had her wedding reception.

After nearly a year of hearing the moans and groans (I mean the non-sexual type). More to do with frustrations of having to deal with too many debates and suggestions of interfering well-intentioned family members and new-in-laws which I guess are the normal pre-wedding dramas and rites of passage that one has to go through if one gets married. Especially if this is to be the first wedding in the groom's family and also, when the groom is the only son!

And it finally happened. Phew!!! Finally.....What a relief.....I am sure not only to the beautiful and radiant looking bride and groom, but also the close circle of friends that constantly have to hear the abovementioned complaints, moans and groans. WHAT A BIG RELIEF!!!!!!!!!! I also like the short but meaningful speech given by WC’s eldest brother. Quite touching….but that’s always the case with weddings….

Alas, it was a beautiful wedding... as any wedding ceremony should be.....any behind-the scenes dramas or hiccups could not be avoided but as long as everything went well and all guests left home fully-fed and happy and the anticipated angpows poured in, that's ALL THE MATTERS.....

(I wondered if the total angpow collection broke even the whole cost but I was too polite to ask).

Everybody left with smiles and thanks. Even yours truly...though tired that she was, left home happy....

Congratulations to Whaisee and Sze Peng!!!!!!

Service with a smile at the airports....with a few exceptions..

This is the something exciting that I wanted to write about earlier....

Okay, okay....you must be thinking what is sooo exciting about that??? Actually, it was something to be amused about. Okay, if you are a regular traveller and keen observer like err....eerrr......yours truly (imagine my gleeful smirk here), one will see this typical scenario:

When the plane lands, ....upon exiting the aircraft, most of the flight attendants will stand at the door and will wish goodbyes and thank you's as you leave the plane. Then at the first arrival door, another group of airport personnel holding flight transfer notices or those meet & greet cards with the traveller?s name and flight number. Everybody greets you with a smile.

If you are not sure where you are going to, you approach the Enquiry Desk and as expected, again the smiles and friendly hospitality. You will see smiles on most of the front liners' faces except on these small groups of airport personnel......

- Janitors/ airport cleaners. They are mostly quiet and surly....can't blame them though....who can be cheerful doing what they are doing for a living? Though one country is an exception. I met friendly and cheerful airport cleaners in Japan. But then again...this country is known for their politeness and kind hospitality. Even when they are being rude or unhelpful, they are still polite to you. But I was amaze with the Japs. One of my most memorable travel scenes was seeing the airport ground staff happily bowing, smiling and waving off to each aircraft that slowly reverse from its gate prior to take off. Being the passenger in that aircraft, I must say that was a very nice feeling and even though they cannot see you, one can't help but wave back at them. Imagine they do this every day for every aircraft that leaves. Amazing isn't it????

I was most impressed and for a few second, the Ms Wannabee in me saw myself being the a Queen or a First Lady, leaving a country after a successful official tour on that country and I did that 'WAVE'....

- Okay back to the janitors and airport cleaners.....the ones in China seems very serious about their jobs, the ones in Changi look like overworked senior citizen (that should be enjoying retirement rather than still working). It makes one feel guilty and sad for them because where I came from...these people who look like elderly relatives and grandparents should be sitting at home not slaving away washing public toilets. So sad....

The ones in KLIA are varied in age and usually sits in a corner waiting for you to finish-off your business while busy 'sms'ing on their mobiles or gossiping with each other... and the ones in Heathrow will be speaking in the kinds of English that made you wonder if you are really in England after all......Blimey...

The next unsmiling group:

- Security personnels......okay this goes without saying. Sometimes they are accompanied by scary looking canines and always made me shudder especially if I happened to bring frozen beef or chicken rendang with me at that time.

Finally, the group that is the highlight of this topic....the fearful Immigration Officers........

I often wondered if one of the requisites of being an Immigration Officer at the airport entails that each officer has to look serious and mean. Or, maybe they have to go through some training class for this.....Not mean in a bad way but mean...in a chilling, serious, 'I better like your look', 'don't piss me off' way.... and as you wait for that person to go through your passport and finally give you that chop or stamp your arrival date into that country and how long you are permitted into that country.....don't you realised that for that particular few minutes....the fate of your whole journey depends on that Immigration Officer!

Sometimes they are sooo deep in thoughts while browsing through your passport, sometimes they took such a long time to scrutinise the message on the screen and the information on your passport with the ones that you wrote on your Disembarkation Card (arrival card), there were never eye contacts unless they asked you some extra questions and I supposed, the next worst thing is when they called another officer to look into your passport while you stood on the other side of the glass wall, trying to look patient and pleasant (while inside churning with dread, trying to figure out what is wrong), holding your breath, waiting for your fate......

Do you realise that this person has the power to change your whole perspective of the country, especially if that is the first time you arrive in that particular country. This person can either make or break your holiday. He can approve you to enter that country OR, on the other hand, if something is not ?right? in his or her eyes....he will squash all your travel plans and deny your entry into that country. There goes that holiday, there goes that business deal that will be signed during this trip, there goes that meeting or conference that you will missed, there goes that visa-on-arrival that you hope to get .......This has not happened to me before and hopefully will not ever happen as long s I do my homework prior to travelling.... But unfortunately, it has happened to some unlucky people I know.

Nevertheless.....I realised that each time my turn came for my passport to be stamped, I always wait with bated breath, try to look pleasant as that officer flick his/her eyes when comparing my passport photo with my present look and I never, ever, ever forget to say 'thank you' after my passport is handed back to me. Oh...I also make sure that I write every information on my Arrival Card clearly and neatly. We don't want to cause unnecessary inconvenience or annoyance to them with illegible handwriting, do we?

In China, there is a small device at each Immigration counter. The device is a service-measurement system, there are 5 buttons to press......numbered from 1 to 5.
On that scale of 1 to 5, you are to merit the level of service given to you by that Immigration Officer with 1 for 'not happy' and 5 for 'very happy and satisfied'.

Being the kind hearted, polite girl that I am.....I always pressed button number 5 :)-

Those who always will be....

I got this poem from somewhere have scribbled it on my notebook....can't remember when or where I took it but it struck a chord somewhere....

There comes a point in your life when you realise...
who matters,
who never did,
who wont be
and who always will
So don't you worry about people from your past
There is a reason why they didn't make it to your future........

There are some individuals in your life that matters....sometimes you thought these [people will matter for a long time but situations change....and surprisingly, they fade in time. Then...just like the sand that washes to the shore with the next wave......there are others that matters. I totally relate to that 'who never did, who wont be and who always will....'

Nothing is permanent. But as long as these friends don't piss me off, don't take my friendship for granted and betray my trust, I think I will give my support AS BEST AS I COULD no matter where we are, where we will be and who we are with....

I am here again in HK trying to give some physical or moral support to my buddy who is currently not so well....
However, he's okay now and whether I have helped or not....I don't think so. I think he's okay now...being his old no-nonsense self, moving up and about (when he shouldn't be) and smoking like a chimney as he'll always be. The pain is there....he's trying to be macho about it....but like it or not, I'm being a pest here with my mom-like nagging. But hey! I'm still a companion, like it or not :)-

At the same time, it's good to use this opportunity to catch up with other friends. It was free ticket after all, and the lodging is free....and so, here I am and will be for the next few days till I go back home again.

Till then....I have another new topic coming up which I will write about, very soon. So, stay tune to Ms Wannabee agAIN....

Hari Raya Family Reunion & Penang....

My biggest and main weakness....procastination...took hold of me again and I kept on postponing updating this blog. Not for the lack of things to write about but I was just plain lazy! No other reasons....this laziness is not doing any good at all....have been sleeping more, working less and you can see that from my continuously tickening waistline and chubby face.....urgh...nevertheless, I'm still hot! (hahah!!!)

Okay, the fasting month came and went...there was that trip to Seoul, back to HK and Xian...a superb trip and big success if I may say so myself. After that, after 2 years... its back to ramadhan at home and a big raya do with my beloved family.

After more than 10 years of partial get togethers, it was full house this time. My parents finally managed to have all the 3 sons with respective daughter in-laws, daughter (still no husband), all the 7 grandsons and 1 grand-daughter for a get-together on the first day of Hari Raya. What a joyous, happy and (not to mention very noisy) occasion it was....

I contributed my part this time. yeah...it was good to have everybody under one roof. However, as much as I love my family, I still need my own time. I've was the good daughter, sister and aunty for that week and with that done and over with, I managed to slip off to Penang for a few days of frenzied eating and pampering with my 2 close buddies.

What a gastronomic trip it was....Thanks also to Azmer and Allen for showing more good places to eat. Gurney Drive was no exception of course....we went there in pouring rain and yet still managed to eat to our hearts content. Nasi kandar, nasi padang, Sawtow Lane and Penang Road ice kachang and cendols and of course, to satisfy Karen's craving, durian on the way to Balik Pulau.

Apart from eating, it was also a self-indulgent trip for 3 of us. We ate, we went to spas, we have scrubs and massages from hotel spas to beach-side massages....and the hotel...it was a marathon of luxurious hotels. I wanted to try different experiences and the 4 nights were spent at the swanky boutique G Hotel, luxurious Rasa Sayang with a bathtub in the balcony and the elegant E&O hotel with our own 'butler'...wow!!!!!! I WAS SOOOO BORN FOR THIS!!!!!!!!!!!

After the 'high' of the past week, Ms Wannabee is slowly coming down back to earth ......

Again and again ...

I reread the contents on my previous posts and realised that I have been writing about this 're-adjustment' process over and over again. Sorry if there were too many reference to it...though I did say it was no big deal but come to think of it again, I supposed I have been harping at nothing else but this topic since coming back . Okay, that's it! No more!!!!

The re-adjustment topic is now closed and from now on I shall not touch on this topic again.

Till then, Ms Wannabee will move on with her life....

Sorry for the long silence...

Where has Ms Wannabee disappeared to??????

I know, I know…everybody has been asking that question…so sorry…I just did not have the time nor the inclination to write. The first excuse was no laptop/computer/Internet access at home but that is no longer the case….

Then next excuse and most major was the lack of inspiration….I lost interest…must be due to hectic schedules, and also that ‘not in the mood’ feeling…re-adjusting life back home is harder than expected…physically and emotionally.

Of course it is much easier here, I have the luxuries of living in a bigger space, no bills to pay, don’t have to take public transportation, there’s always home-cooked food and yet…there is this feeling of disquiet…it is just not the same.....

I missed my freedom, my singleton freedom....

I am not married and yet…the commitments, filial duties…..it may not make sense…but those who knows me and my way of life here will probably understand what I am going through…..I just return from HK again a couple of weeks ago and I realized that my life is vastly different ….I loved my single life away from home …but here….I just don’t feel like a single girl.

Oh anyway…I’m not going to dwell too much into this. Thanks to the support and understanding of my close friends…they help me to stay sane and cheerful.

The ‘pep-talk’ always helps and I just have to pull my chin up, move on and make the best of this situation….And...if push comes to shove...if things are really bad...I'll just take a few days off and fly off again. Yes...that's going to be my way of distressing myself.

Thank you my dearest friends...

You’ll hear more of me soon again….Au revior!

PS: Ms Wannabee also wishes to welcome another new reader to her small and modest fan club…Welcome Mel!!!

I'm back!!!!!

Hello! It is soo good to be back!!! I am now the PROUD owner of a brand, spanking new HP DV2 Pavilon Entertainment PC!!!! Not netbook, mind you......Its soo cute, shining, gleaming and sleek.......I'mmmm sooo in luvvvvvv......

Hahahah!!! That is soo pathetic but true. But that's life back here. It was quite a major readjustment, there are good, also some not so good...Of course life was more 'happening' in HK but this is home. There are ups and downs, I have learnt to change my style, slow down the pace a bit, get use to more and more solitatry confinements in my room but despite that, also have to be more generous with my time for my parents.

Finally now, I have a new companion. Thanks to the persuasive power of credit payments....I am not so lonely and bored (till I cAN DIE!) anymore....

IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK!!!!!!!!

Welcome Mr Foo!

‘Your blog funny la’…..I take that as a compliment, coming from one of my editorial team members. Its nice to know what you write is being appreciated. Oh well….like I said earlier, this is just an avenue for me to voice my thoughts, feelings and experience, be it good or bad, happy, sad or bored……

Thank you my dear Foo. Thank you for taking the time to read my jumbled manglish writings. But I supposed after reading all your scientific documents all day long, you DO need to look at something light and inconsequential (trying for a bombastic word here) to clear your thoughts. I'm glad to offer that service to you....

I’ll try to try write more but I realize it is harder here in KL compared to doing it in HK. Hence the long gap of silence.... Reason being because in HK, I was mostly in on my own and had time in between working hours (in office) to write…but here….well…there is always something to do and we seem to be talking all the time! There is not much time to pen my thoughts down and update my blog…

Anyway….thank you for the motivation!

Ms Wannabee will put more efforts to jot down her wannabee dreams and activities...hehehe...

Eating and putting on weight

What can I say.....I love to eat!

Ever since coming back, I have been eating non-stop. The selera is just there and despite warnings, scoldings and all the teguran-teguran and the ever increasing tightening of all my clothing items.... I still can't seem to curb my appetite. Just can't get over my love for carbo-rich food!

I know I should slow down and start to take care of my once 'slim and svelte hour-glass figure' (HAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!) but I just can't seem to do it!!!

Coming back is not a good thing either. For the past month it was catching up with all the food that I did not get to eat.

Not that I did not eat in HK, mind you. My dear Bard, bless him has also been feeding me and responsible for my tembam face :)-
And now, being back here......coupled with indulgent family (mom who like everything goreng-goreng and masak lemak...) and having kaki makan as friends.......i'm just like a drug addict... getting from bad to worse. How can I stop myself????

And with all these eating, came the 'bulge' or spare tyres around the waist area. I thought only men get that as they grow older or those women who has given birth. I'm a female and has never went thru any giving-birth experience...and now....I have those bulge...sigh....

Is this a sign of aging? Is age cathing up??? I've been talking to friends and we all seems to have the same problems. The 'bulge' ain't bulging anywhere....

Before...if we cut down on a day meal or two, we are back at our 'ideal' weight and size but now...it would take longer time, possibly a month or two of fasting and serious workouts to get rid of those bulge and spare-tyres, expecially at the waist area.


But despite this moans and groans, at the same time...I'm still eating and enjoying my meals. And if I'm not eating, I'm meditating in front of the tv or sleeping.

Perfect workout for slimming down.... or, shold I say, 'slimming up'??
Can't blame anyone else but me! me! me!


Oh well.....another excuse to shop for new clothes.....

At least I'm eating healthy food........Yeah...that's what I keep telling myself.....burp!

The Prodigal Daughter Returns

Yeah....I'm back in tanah air tercinta.....back for good?? OR....

Until the next good offer comes along??? OR...

Until somebody foreign, good looking, successful, rich, sensitive new age kinda guy, independant (and not overly attached to his family especially his mom) whisk me off my dainty feet (yes! size 5.5 can still be considered daity okayyy) in his private jet (oh alright...., I'll settle for Business Class in commercial aircraft) and take me back to his homeland far, far away from here......(maybe to his chateau or palace perhaps??).....

Who knows eh??? There is always a possibility of that happening.....hahaha!!!!


And so for the time being, I'll stay put, be a good daughter, sister, aunty and employee. Oh...and also employer, since I have also just engaged a full-time domestic helper in the house. Oh yes....we are moving up..


Coming back to the office here is not much different either. I'm back in the same office with same colleagues. For the past weeks I've had more laughters (in the office here) than I had for the past 2 years in HK office. Can't say it was a bad experience, there were some good times too and some good people that I love. But its just different.....in KL, my colleagues are my extended family.

Yeah, have to say that it is good to be back......by today, my third week of being home, it feels like I've never been away!

The weather has been relentlessly hot and scorching since i arrived. Had I arrive in July it wouldn't have been too bad when its the height of summer in HK but i left HK when it was just a pleasant 20-24degrees celcius and arriving in KL, it was 32degrees! So hot!!!!

Having the fan and aircond in full blast only made matters worse. The moment you are out of the room or out of shower, you are engulf in hot, dry heat and you will just start to sweat like in sauna. Urgh!!! Sooo uncomfortable!

But....as usual........just as I was about to get used to the heat again....it started raining. S0 at least it's quite cool again. Sometimes, the rain came down in heavy downpours and windy...in HK, it would have been classified as Typhoon 3 or more or the coloured warning flags would have been hoisted.

In KL, noooo such warnings and the next thing you know....flash floods and horrendous traffic jams!!!

Talking of traffic jams, how can I forget!!!! After 2 years, an election and a new Prime Minister, it is still the same.......Federal Highway is chop-a-block with bumper to bumper vehicles day and night.

There is also a new highway behind my house, technically just next to my bedroom window. It is called Duke Highway that links somewhere to somewhere----- I can hear vehicles whizzing pass around the clock. But thanks to HK, I am used to the noise now.

My parents, poor them are still trying to get used to the traffic sounds and complaint can't sleep....I, on the other hand....despite the noise and all, cocconed under my tatty old blanket and comfortable mattress......can sleep all night long and all day long...........

I guess that is something that my parents realised never change about their one and only daughter whenever she comes home......she can sleep like a log.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

And the prodigal daughter is finally home!

PS: Dear Karen.....Thanks for the title :)-

The Central view with Kowloon in the horizon from the Grand Panorama

MTM friends at Ma Restaurant (the Art deco building at the back is a heritage building)

Thanks for coming along Rick & Wilson




A great day with the greatest companions

Shek-O, one of the best beaches in HK

Night views from the Peak

The standard HK pose

A sweet ending to a perfect day

My 2 weeks worth of properties prior to leaving

The farewell committee

Farewell Hong Kong....I'll be back !!!!!!!!!

Farewell Hong Kong

Prologue....Good bye Hong Kong.

How time flies....after 2 years enjoying life as a single, independant, successful (hhmm...hmmm...) woman of the millenium in the vibrant city of Hong Kong, I am being called back home to Kuala Lumpur.

I didn't expect to be sooo well-liked to deserve even a party but surprisingly.....I was in for a few pleasant surprises. There were a few rounds of farewell parties that I did not expect to have and I came back with a bagful of little gifts and trinkets from well meaning friends and colleagues.

A million thanks to the my friends, colleagues and ex-colleagues for brigthening up my life especially the past 2 years. Thank you also for your kind notes and messages to bid me farewell and made my daily life bearable. To the 'local' friends, I'm glad to show you the parts of HK that you didn't know existed (dinsum at the canteen mosque, Ma's restaurant...). Live and learn my friends....

However, can't truly say that the past 2 years have been perfect and rosy either....but I shall not dwell on the bad times or the individuals that have crossed my path the wrong way...Those are best forgotten. Live and learn.....remember the good times, forget the bad times.

I was very happy and deeply touched with my final moments in Hong Kong....

Beautiful days with clear blue sky + company of my beloved and trusted friends = Priceless memories......

Not even the prospect of potential quarantine due to the swine flu could mar good spirit.

Fare'thee well Hong Kong.............

Ms Wannabee left Hong Kong on 03 May, 2007 on CX 721 with fond memories of her favourite places, shops and friends. Fear not......this is not the last of her. She will be back again!!!!!!!!!!!

The farewell festivities......

As John Denver said,

All my bags are packed ...I'm ready to go....

Well....most of my bags are packed and I'm ready to go but I have a few more days left....the bulk of the items have been packed, picked up by the movers and most probably sitting in a container on some ship heading to Port Klang. I only have 10 days worth of clothings, couple of shoes and 2 bags with me waiting for my actual departure which should be on 3rd May.

We finally moved out of the the Vantage Park apartment a week back. I'm used to moving up and about all my life so it wasn't that melancholy. However, a week before we moved out, we had our last small dinner at the house. That was quite funny coz earlier that day the table had been sold and picked up and when our guests came....it was dining a'la Japanese style.

Luckily I had my big Shinco TV box and that doubled as our dining table. The irony of it, we started our first 'dinner' do on that table box 2 years ago with Samantha and friends who came over from KL as our first dinner guests and we had our last dinner using that box as well.

As they say.....back to basics.....

Finally we gave our respective house keys (sob..sob...) back to our landlord and got our rental deposit back (hurrah!!!). Thank GOD for that!!!! It helped to pay my income tax. I managed to break even my stay here. Mind you, i should have saved so HKDDDSSSSSS after being here for 2 years but unfortuntaely....i feel that it is my duty to contribute to the HK economy. Its a win-win situation....i'm happy that I have managed to helped the independant boutique owners of HK and some friendly and pro-active sales girls got to make their commisions....they have earned it.

I'm glad at least I'm not in the red....(let's leave the credit card out of this okay....)

And so....the past week have been a whirlwind of catching up with old friends and colleagues. I was soo touched with all the efforts and gentures that some of my old close friends have made. It is a pleasant surprise when you never expected anything and suddenly...Voila!!! The faces you never expected to see, came all the way and surprise you.

Janet and Carmen...thank you girls! You came all the way and I truly appreciated it very much....Thanks heaps Kaman for arranging everything and giving me the idea that it will only be a quiet evening for us. Julie truly rocked the evening. Wished Naomi was there too. And had there been Philip, Sandra and Robert....we would have laughed the whole place down that night. This is the dream team to work with and among my FAV people in MTM....too bad they are not in MTM anymore....

This was followed with an indulgent and luxurious brunch at the Watermark with my 2 bestest 'girls', Kaman and Karen. A beautiful place, classy setting, delicious food, great company followed with a productive quick shopping spree .........Ms Wannabee is happy!!!

And so...the farewell do's shall continue till Ms Wannabes's last day in Hong Kong.....


Kaman and Karen showing off thier 'gifts'...

My and my girls....

Note to Self.....

Things to do before leaving HK:

Clear all outstanding taxes,
Clear as much credit card debt as possible,
Get a netbook (if not a laptop),
Get an external hard drive (with sdd instead of hdd).

And if there are still some balance HKD$$$$ left….

Get that aviator from that new shop!!
Get an Agnes B’ or that cute and practical looking Anya Hindmarch tote (hopefully).


The things I’m going to do when I am back in M’sia:

Get a car, maybe a small non-guzzling petrol type,
Get the whole house wifi-ed…it is the 21st century after all,
Get a new shower screen for my bathroom---am sick of washing the shower curtains all the time,
Start giving money to parents on a more regular basis..yes, must do this more often now that am earning a little bit more than before,
Give as much attention as I can to my nephews and my one and only darling of a niece…
Touch base with old friends and relatives…

In between….hopefully……..

Continue with piano lessons until I get to play that Twilight soundtrack on piano,
Resume yoga/pilates ,
Start dieting...eerrr.....exercise properly and regularly (until I can fit into that old bikini)?

Easter holiday...Being sick, packing and shopping frenzy

A week more to go and it will be exactly 2 years in this apartment. Then we’ll have to vacate this place. I’m moving to Bard’s temporarily until I leave KL and Whaisee will move to Linda’s before leaving for her Lijang trip.

At first we decided not to bring anything home but since I could not get rid of my bed..ohh what the heck…..might as well ship as much things as we could. The shipping cost??? Thanks to my generous employer, hopefully I don’t have to pay anything…,just be bonded to them for the next 5-10 years. Hahaha!!!

We’ve been having Easter holiday since Friday. I did not leave the house for the past 3 days…Amazing huh! Well…partly due to my not being well on the first and second day and then we got busy sorting out our stuff and packing our things for the impending move. It’s amazing what you accumulated for the past 2 years…..there were so much stuff that we both accumulated!!!! Clothes, shoes and books, and more clothes, shoes and book and also bags….

But there’s more……since we are going to ship our things back, we decided we might as well fill up the whole container. Whaisee and I decided to buy a few kitchen items that we could ship back as well. Household electrical goods…costs cheaper here compared to home.

And so we each got ourselves some basic kitchen items….I even got my mom one of those deluxe size rice cooker that can feed 20-30 pax. At least when we have family gatherings, she doesn’t have to use 2-3 pots. The cost? 1/3 cheaper than home. Whaisee got herself one of those super-duper food processor and mixer. And each of us also got our coveted pressure cooker. Much cheaper here…really!!!

In between a couple of stops at Dermalogica and Ikea in Causeway Bay, by some miracle…we found another gem of a shop. It was an optical shop. This was the highlight of my day. I got myself a new pair of glasses….not just any glasses but a Prada, something which I have been eyeing for the past few months! Am in cloud nine…. Not only that, Whaise got a 2 pairs of matching Aviators for her and hubby. It was soooo worth it!

Excellent service, very very reasonable $$$$....this shop has just got another loyal customer…..

Ms Wannabe!!!!!!

A productive shopping day……..
Ohhhhh what an adrenalin rush!!!
Ms Wannabe is fully cured from her ‘ailments’........

Modelling around HK

Fancy ice cream anyone???

A couple of weekends back, I met 2 interesting blokes. They were friends’ of friends and holidaying in Hong Kong for the first time. Thanks to Bard who included me in…we had a fun weekend showing them the beaten tracks of Hong Kong.

As usual…we started the day with a hearty dim sum breakfast. There were no specific agenda or game plan so we decided to try the tram route all the way to the southern end in Shaokeiwan. After an hour of tram ride, we headed to the Museum of Coastal Defense…very interesting place with exhibits that dated back from the past few hundred years.

I saw a few things that one only sees in films…a huge cannon (more tan 10ft long!) and a real medium size torpedo. Yeah…a real torpedo!!! Surprisingly…the whole area was guarded by vigilant, serious looking middle aged female guards….

This is my first time going out with ‘real’ photographers. I guess this time…these 3 guys could pass off as ‘real’ if not ardent photographers. Good thing I left my super compact handy camera back at home. It would look really 'toy-ish' and embarrassing compared to these guys’ super duper hi-tech DSLR cameras…they spent every minute ticking away!

Zainal is the photographer sifu (master) and there were Joe and Bard, the protégés. And yours truly…Ms Wannabes became the model du jour. Poor guys…they had to make do with me since I was the only rose among the thorns.

Yeah….…. I'll be lying if I say I didn't like the experience. Have to admit it was really fun posing, smiling and pouting in front of the camera. Throughout the 2 days…I kept hearing technical photophraphy jargons from the sifu to his protégés while they took pictures…shutters, aperture, tv, speed…bla, bla, bla…..

Apart from Shaukeiwan, we also took them exploring our fav spot near Shek O (Deep water Bay). They loved it! Despite the fog and graying mist………the natural beauty of the place……took our breath away. Now they know that Hong Kong is not just a scattered mass of concrete jungle…..

We continued the next day exploring Mui Woo in Lantau with Rahim joining us this time. Each rented a bicycle and after some wrong turns finally found the Silvermine Waterfall. The light drizzle on rain drops did not stop us at all.



Again, it’s the photo taking time…under the patient tutelage of the sifu, the guys were snapping away at waterfall…trying to capture the speed of the fall, the splashes, the flow of the water in all its glory….. Even Rahim got the bug and started snapping pictures using his brand spanking new, multi touch-screen mobile phone/camera.


And of course….I was the highly sought after model of the day again……Haha!!!

Over that weekend…..I think….I have also learnt one or two tips on photo-taking:
- When taking photo of a couple (male and female), the basic trick is to focus on the female;
- When capturing sunlight on water….look for the ‘bintang-bintang’;
- Use high speed when capturing water flow, lights…
- Bla, bla, bla……..

There were more but I wasn’t paying attention nor was I interested in all those jargons.

I was happy to just sit and smile prettily and leave the photo-taking to the experts…

Thank you guys!!!!!!!!

Bard (partner in crime, fellow model)
Zainal (the gentleman sifu – such a gentleman to escort me home in the middle of the night)
Joe (volunterred to be my ‘manager’ and a fellow ocd)
Rahim (that quiet, patient and enigmatic guy)





City slickers in the village

Picturesque village scene

Leaving my trail...

Can't believe that I managed to take such beautiful photos...(if I may say so myself)

Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints……yeah….that’s what I have been doing the past couple of weeks and the next few mores left….leaving my trail…

Let’s see…we had a glorious spring weather a couple of weeks back and we used it to the fullest! There was one Saturday that we went inter-island island hopping from Central to Peng Chaum then to Lantau and Mui Wo and back to Central.

A bit of hiking in Peng Chau, smooth and windy but no sea-sickness ferry rides, a sumptuous lunch with a friendly and not so bad looking American host Gerry, enjoying the quaint old villages in Mui Wo on our rented bikes and ending with a hearty seafood dinner…..it was a great day with a pleasant spring weather and of course…..enjoyable company.

After a short bout of beautiful spring sunny weather, last weekend was a bit of a damper. It was foggy and grey the whole weekend! And so…it was indoor camping with movie marathon……I think we must have watched nearly 10 movies? Come to think of it…can’t remember much what we watched but it was pleasant time indeed.

And of course….there was that endless feeding and eating throughout the whole time …from a delicious home-made gulai darat and sambal durian and cili….fluffy lempeng kelapa (with real kelapa muda soft bits and pieces), nasi goreng kampong and finally…. closing down the weekend with another dinner at Sri Siam in Soho. And I finally after a long time craving….i get to enjoy my creamy red rubies…...

Burp! excuse me :)-

The hustle & bustle of HK Harbour seen from the Central Pier

A hundred year old Banyan Tree in Peng Chau

This is not a longkang okay...but it looked prettier in real life

Its low-tide and shell picking time. It is also competition for best looking ???

Living by the sea...in every sense of the word

As picturesque as it is....i wouldn't want to live here during the typhoon seasons

(1) Views from my place on foggy & misty days

(2) On beautiful clear days

The Full House - Korean Love Comedy

This was a famous Korean drama about 3 or 4 years back which I did not get to watch fully. Eventually…somebody kind enough took the trouble to download the whole series for me. Thanks so much Dr Lee Wang Wang Ph.D (as she always introduced herself back then…dunno what it is now….she’s relocated back to UK, bless her!).

After sitting in the cd pockets for the past 3 years, I eventually took out the cds and started watching from last Saturday nite. And I wonder why I didn’t start sooner. It was sooo enjoyable to watch!!!!

I especially love the girl meets boy, they hated each other on sight, then they are stuck together by accident or unavoidable situation like in a ‘marriage of convenience’ kinda situation and after a while…..the hatred turn to love and the much-loathed person turn to be the most significant other in the other person's life.

That is one of the most common and popular recipe for a love story from the Sweet Dreams stage up to Mills and Boons. Who wouldn’t resist a good laugh and happy ending….

What we’d love more is when both protagonists are good looking people as in this story, the main actors (males and females) are really gorgeous and easy on the eye. I don’t understand Korean but whoever did the English subtitles did quite a good job resulting in a captivating, engaging and entertaining scripts. This really brought out the romantic in me.

Love conquers all and hopeless romantics like yours truly will swoon and sigh happily at the end of the story………

Ms Wannabee is still looking for her own 'love story'........

Momsy in town

My mom was in town for the past 10 days and to keep her company ...I have been working only sporadically in the office. Have been on leave for quite a bit these past 2 weeks.

Being away from the office that long was very nice indeed and coming back to work today is a big yawn........ However, being coop-up in the same place with my mom, though beloved she maybe…..was more than I could bear.

Don’t get me wrong! I do love her but most times….she really tried my patience to the limits! Sometimes or I should say…most of the times now…we have a role reversal…she’s the daughter and I’m the wise and ever patience mother. Guess I’m the ‘chosen one’ after all. My friends were greatly amused by this….

But then again, this is good re-orientation for me since I’ll be heading back home again soon.

There will be no more going out on a whim and staying out as long as I like. It will all have to be reported: my ins and outs, my activities, where I’m going to and whom I’ll be meeting, how long it will take and what time I’ll be coming back….

URGH!!!!! It’s a little bit disconcerting but no worries….I’ll get used to it again. And if it gets really worse…I can always move out.. Yeah, I wished…………

And so…. despite the shaky starts (couldn’t help but scolded her for picking up the wrong luggage at the airport which inconvenienced everybody tremendously, the clashing outfits and ill-fitting shoes, the endless chatters, same ol’lectures and repeated stories of our various family members (which I have been hearing over and over again till I can throw up!)…..it was kinda entertaining to have her around (for a limited time).

I did behaved myself, we had an ‘okay’ (I won’t say great) mother/daughter bonding time together and thankfully, there were no major emotional outburst or soapy dramas.

Thank you Lord!

Broken Glass

There was a beautiful sheet of glass that had many beautiful facets of colour
Glasses are fragile...it needs to be handled with care
Overtime...if you mishandled it...there will be cracks
But sometimes....the more you handle it
the higher chances that accidents will happen and it will be broken

Sometimes this can be fixed, you can gloss over the cracks and hide it
But unfortunately, most often that not....
once the cracks appear....there will be more and more appearing
I tried so hard to keep the cracks at bay
I don't think it is of my mishandling
But I am trying to do my best to fix it
I try to gloss it over with lots of vaneer paint
But I don't think I'm fixing the problem
Sooner or later....the glass will crumble to million pieces

There goes another broken dreams......

Valentine's Day

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Okay it does not mean that much anymore, especially since there is no loved one to celebrate it with. But to me...in the hey days of 'being in luvvv' everyday is Valentine's day...everything was sweet and rosy...and nobody could do any wrong....Talk about looking at things from rose-tinted glasses....Ha Ha!!

This reminds me of a poem that I received many many years ago. Amazingly, I could still remember most of the lines. I guess it was because during 'our' times together, we kept on repeating this. Oh.... bittersweet memories...I didn't regret being together but I regretted being together that long and both of us were too coward to end it. Anyway, we finally did it and I am glad we have both moved on with our respective lives.

Now I am dedicating this to all my close friends.. I appreciate every attention, help and support that each of you have given me. But don't get any wrong idea with the last paragraph eh....
that was purely from the 'ex'.


I know its been sometime
Since we had some quiet moment together
There's been so many schedules to follow
Appointments to keep
Little details to take care of...

But through all this busy times
I know there one think I could depend of no matter what
Your love...
You always try to be there for me
And even though I haven't told you often enough
I hope you know I appreciate every little things you did for me

I hope one day soon
we can get away from it all
When we are all alone
I'll tell you how very special you are to me
And when I run out of words
I'll show you...........

(anon)