SE7EN

Wow, who would have guessed it’s been seven years since this graffiti board was born? Who would have thought it’d survived this long? That I could still find time and material and things to rant about? (Maybe I should be worried that I seem to have no end of things to rant). This blog is a reflection of me and of my passion (Arsenal, travelling, shopping, reading, health and the environment) and what you read is what you get: just an ordinary everyday next-door girl.

Reflections turns seven today. Thank you for joining me in this journey.

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I’ve decided to do something different thing this time around and share seven of the songs that I really love enjoy listening to right now. To be honest, I’m quite indifferent to some of these singers but find some of their songs quite good. Generally, I like songs that I can hum or sing to, whether or not it involves screaming my lungs out. It’s a bonus if those songs encapsulate what I feel or once felt, or those that motivate or make me feel empowered. So here are those seven songs:

Somebody That I Used To Know

Ahh, this song. For those we used to know but who now feel more like strangers. For those who played with our feelings and then broke our hearts, those who promised to love us but then left us, those who make promises then break them, those who just upped and left. For all those playboys out there. And for all those Juda$$$ and petit pute out there who think they are much better than the rest of the team, who think the grass is greener on the other side, who think they’re much bigger than the club. Well, screw you.

But you didn’t have to cut me off / Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing / And I don’t even need your love / But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough / No you didn’t have to stoop so low

Now you’re just somebody that I used to know

Payphone

OK, to be honest, I don’t listen to this as much as I listen as the others but I like this part:

If ‘Happy Ever After’ did exist / I would still be holding you like this / All those fairy tales are full of shit / One more fucking love song, I’ll be sick

No, I’m no way disillusioned with love but this is what you’d rant too if/when/after your partner left you.

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)

This is one song that really helps make feel strong, stronger than I really am, and makes me feel empowered. And the lyrics! I can so relate to them.

You didn’t think that I’d come back / I’d come back swinging / You try to break me, but you see / What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger / Stand a little taller / Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone / What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter / Footsteps even lighter / Doesn’t mean I’m over cause you’re gone

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stronger / Just me, myself and I / What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger / Stand a little taller / Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone

This song is for those who have known disappointments, faced setbacks, had their hearts broken, their dreams snuffed, or their hopes dashed but they refuse to let this drag them down.

Or just perfect for those of us who know that being alone doesn’t equate being lonely. It explains why I am perfectly happy to travel alone, just me, myself and I.

Part Of Me

Like Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You), this song to me is about gathering back strength, about overcoming an initial setback, and about knowing that no matter what life throws at you (or no matter what the man does to you), there is always a part within you that will always be yours. That you will be able to salvage your pride, that you can pretty much take what is thrown at you no matter how unpleasant. That you can bounce back from disappointment because and as long as you keep a part of you intact.

This is the part of me / That you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no / This is the part of me / That you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no / Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows / But you’re not gonna break my soul / This is the part of me / That you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no

The One That Got Away

I find this to be a sad melancholic visit to the past, of regrets of what-could-have-beens, of what-ifs, of if-onlys. It’s going down memory lane to one’s relationship that didn’t work out (for whatever reason), of letting someone go or having someone slip out of one’s life.

In another life / I would be your girl / We’d keep all our promises / Be us against the world

In another life / I would make you stay / So I don’t have to say / You were the one that got away / The one that got away

This song is dedicated to The Gentleman and Cesc. Although I never made any promises to The Gentleman because silly me worried too much about long-distance relationship (he is still in Blighty).


Dark Side


Well, we all have a dark side, don’t we? This song is for all of us insecure girls who take a look at our vulnerable side and question/wonder/ponder if our partners will stick with us even through the bad times or knowing that we have a weak or dark side. It takes a strong, strong man to love me and accept me for all my faults and flaws, my shortcomings, my temper outbursts, my insecurities, my fears, my emo yoyo...

Everybody’s got a dark side / Do you love me? / Can you love mine? / Nobody’s a picture perfect / But we’re worth it / You know that we’re worth it / Will you love me? / Even with my dark side?

Well, do you love me and can you love me dark side, warts, faults and all?

Call Me Maybe

This is a quirky song, if I may call it that. Light and flirty and catchy. The lyrics may not win any literature prize or whatnot (but better than some songs I’ve heard).

It’s hard to look right / At you baby / But here’s my number / So call me, maybe?

Hey, I just met you / And this is crazy / But here’s my number / So call me, maybe?

And all the other boys / Try to chase me / But here’s my number / So call me, maybe?

Before you came into my life / I missed you so bad / I missed you so bad / I missed you so, so bad

Before you came into my life / I missed you so bad / And you should know that

So call me, maybe?

This song is dedicated to my new loves, Iggy and Giroud, and all the other gorgeous boys out there (Ramsey, even Poldi).

I’m not sure which category Tommy falls in. Maybe all of the above. I like to think I’m the one he let get away.

Off The Mark, Broke The Duck

Arsenal hosted Coventry City last night and fielded a mixture of experienced first team (who have not featured much thus far in the season) and the hungry youngsters. Giroud finally broke his duck (he also missed a penalty, his third penalty he’s missed in 2012 – the other two for Montpellier – so don’t worry too much about it). Ox, Arshavin and Iggy also scored and Theo scored a brace. For more pictures, go here.



Of course the news that would dominate are Theo’s contract (boring) and how his two goals are supposedly proof enough that he should be given a central role. But really, this overshadows his poor performance in the first half. Speaking about the contract Theo, please, stop saying things like you signed to be a striker and that it’s not about the money (excuse me while I vomit blood) when we all know they’re just excuses if when the contract talk breaks down. There are players who are willing to accept a lower pay to join Arsenal, some more experienced than you (Arteta for one), for the chance to play for the club and play in the Champions League. And even Arteta is now playing in a new role. Does he complain? NO. In fact, he relishes the challenge that comes with it.

I always believe it’s a good thing for an employee to clarify his expectations with his boss, just like a boss should clarify his expectations with his subordinates (let’s hope Theo gave that interview after he’s talked to Wenger for no boss would be too happy finding out about it from the dailies). But whether or not you’re good enough is a different matter altogether. That’s to the discretion of the boss. And you don’t ever give your boss an ultimatum, saying it’s time you be given a new role. I’m sorry but personally I think the only consistent thing about Theo is his inconsistency. Sorry, I just can’t buy your clarification/explanation about not renewing your contract.

And as you can see, we can cope without you. Just like we cope after the likes of Juda$$$, petit pute and Ade left the club.

The BFG Point

Arsenal travelled to the Middle Eastlands, I mean, Eastlands yesterday. The bad: Gervinho was back to his clueless wasteful self and Poldi’s contribution was peripheral. The good: Rambo was deployed in a different position but excelled; Jenks continued his fantastic performance; Kos scored and the BFG was immense in every sense – super-solid.

I’m never happy with a draw, with a single point, but to come to the champions’ ground and prove a match to them is encouraging. Our resolve is encouraging.



Our BFG!!!

The Calls

I was rudely awaken by a phone call just after 4 this morning and was not at all pleased when I saw the name on the screen. I rejected the call but no sooner had I put the phone down when it rang again. I furiously pressed the busy button and then silenced it. No good as I could still hear it when it vibrated on the next call a minute later. A few minutes later, I could hear the phone vibrated again to indicate an incoming message. Bloody hell.

What was so important that it couldn’t wait until a more civilised hour in the morning? True, I had asked a friend, R, to ask a favour from his friend, A, a Malaysian working in the US but surely he can still remember the time difference??

I’m the type who finds it next to impossible to sleep again after having waken up in the middle of the night and this morning was no exception. So I trudged to work, yawning occasionally and nursing the beginnings of a headache, feeling annoyed and resentful. And I had a two-hour meeting in the morning.

The last time someone attempted to call me after 11 pm (I deem uncivilised calling hours as between 11 pm to 6 am) was Akak who wanted to inform that Big Brother had passed. It so happened that I switched the phone to silent the night before as I had wanted to get up for Arsenal’s Champions League match. But even if I had not turned it off and I woke up to answer the call, really, what difference would it make? The burial proceedings would only begin the next day and there was nothing anyone else or I could do, save recite Yassin for him. The dead has died but why deprive the living of sleep? The living who had to rise the following morning and begin their days anew and who had to deal with the burial ceremony. A call in those uncivilised hours would only be tolerable if someone is in an emergency (escaping from a burglary or kidnapping or involved in an accident. For deaths, to me, informing via text message would be enough because why cheat the living of sleep when nothing more can be done about the dead? While you’d want to know the news as soon as possible, surely a text would do too?).

This morning when I came in to work, I typed an email to my friend telling him what I felt. That as much as I valued and appreciated his help, I value my sleep more. I told him of missing the call on Big Brother. I ended the email by saying that I could understand the friend wanting to contact this other person in his own time zone but he should know beter than calling someone in a different time zone and robbing that person of sleep. And I don’t feel at all guilty about letting my displeasure known.

Oh, and I still haven’t the info needed at 4.20 am to pass back to R and A. Looks like the person who has the info doesn’t think it important enough to lose sleep over to provide it promptly.

Malaysia Day 2012 Weekend

I’m a planner and I try to plan way in advance. Being kiasu, I make it a point to find out the following year’s public holidays and try to plan early. For instance, I purchased ticket for my trip to Europe this year back in August 2011 (although I only finalised the places to visit in February/March this year) to avail of the online offer. This Malaysia Day weekend trip was planned in end-January 2012.

Friday, 14 September 2012
 
I left office and made my way to KLIA. Arrived 10 minutes past 8 pm and the check-in queue was already long. Y, my old room-mate, was already there. We had agreed not to check in our bags as we would be landing after 11 pm local time and the last airport train to the city was at 2351.

It was our first time flying Royal Jordanian and the flight was full with students who came back for Eid/summer holidays and now returning to Jordan for their new semester. In fact, the lady at our check-in counter said the flight was overbooked.

We landed at a wet Suvarnabhumi Airport at 2330 and I rushed out and trekked the distance to the immigration. I had promised Yin I would wait for her there but I needn’t worry as the queues were short. But she took her time and when she arrived, she told me she had yet to fill up her landing card.

We hurried to the Basement level of the terminal building to catch the train and made it with seconds to spare. Phew! We rode the train to Phaya Thai, the last station. Journey took only 25 minutes and cost THB45. The rain had stopped when we arrived and we took a cab to our hotel, not before bargaining the fare. Honestly, why can’t they just use the metre?? We finally found our hotel, tucked in a small soi and checked in.

Saturday, 15 September 2012
 
We both slept late last night, to be precise we only went to be after 1 am this morning. Woke after 5 am to perform morning prayers and tried to sleep again. I finally got up at 8, finally admitting defeat to my plan on catching up on sleep.

We left after breakfast and walked over to Petchaburi Road via Pratunam Market. We crossed over to Diamond Hotel and waited for bus no. 113 to take us to Hua Lamphong train station. The journey took 20 minutes (I timed, but of course) and cost only THB8 as the bus was not air-conditioned. We bought an express train ticket to Ayutthaya for THB245 each, leaving at 1005 and scheduled to arrive at 1124.

The train arrived and I was surprised to see there were only four cars, two for third class (ticket for third class was THB20!) and two for second class. We reached Ayutthaya after eight stops and went to the ticket office to buy ticket for our return trip, only to be told the counter would sell tickets 20 minutes before departure. So we walked out of the station and ignored the tuk tuk drivers who accosted us and walked to Riverside Hotel to ask for directions. The concierge suggested, in halting English, for us to ride a tuk tuk and said it would only cost us THB20 per hour. ‘Twenty Baht?’ we asked several times for confirmation until he finally wrote it down. It turned out it was THB200 per hour. Thai speak very limited English in general (you’d have thought with the number of foreign tourists the country attracts, they’d at least brush up on their English but no). He also told us the historic city of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, is some 5 km away. We agreed to his suggestion. Well, you could ride a bike and cycle around – provided you know the direction (hardly any from what I saw) – but we both sucked at cycling.

Our first stop was Wat Mahathat, located at the east of the grand palace (entrance fee was THB50). It is the royal temple and most sacred in Ayutthaya during the glorious time. This monastery was once the residence of the supreme patriarch. We spent half an hour there before heading to the neighbouring wat, Wat Ratchaburana. We paid our THB50 entrance fee and went in. This wat was built by King Boromracha II (Chao Samphraya) for his coronation ceremony. We explored the grounds and I even climbed up. We spent 15 minutes here before leaving.

We then travelled about two km away to Wat Chaiwattanaram, built by King Prasat Thong to commemorate his mother’s hometown and his coronation, and also the victory over the Khmer. It was built in the Khmer architectural style which I thought is strange: why build it in the style of your enemy? No entrance fee was imposed here, probably because the wat was cordoned off. Nevertheless, of the three wats we had been so far, this wat was the most ‘complete’ as the earlier two we visited were seriously damaged by fire. We spent less than 15 minutes here.

Our last stop was Wat Lokayasutha in the west with the reclining Buddha. We declined the flowers on sale and left less than 10 minutes later.

Our tuk tuk driver then drove us back to the hotel and when we asked where we could have halal lunch, he agreed to take us to a halal restaurant but insisting we be done within 20 minutes (his 2-hour time with us was ticking away). So we had a somewhat hurried lunch. I had duck noodles.

He dropped us back at the train station and we paid and thanked him and parted ways. Then we went in and sat down to wait.

The ticket counter finally opened at 5 to 3; turned out the train time was rescheduled to 1515 (instead of 1530). Our ticket back to Bangkok cost THB125. Strange, we thought but didn’t question further. We were assigned seats next to other strangers though but at least the passengers who boarded before us didn’t sit at our seats.

We reached Bangkok at 5 pm and only realised it had rained earlier when we saw the wet roads. We asked for directions and crossed over to Bangkok Bank to wait for bus no. 73 back to Pratunam. It started raining as we reached Pratunam and we walked back to the hotel in the increasingly heavy rain.

We ventured out at 7 pm to look for dinner. Alas, the nearby malls and food courts were starting to close for the day so we returned to our room and had instant noodles instead. I was geared up to watch the Arsenal-Southampton match; alas, it was not shown live and had to depend on live feed instead. 65 channels (OK, maybe about 60 stations; the other 5 showed blank screen) and not a single one showed my match?! Two channels showed the ManUre match: a cable station and a local station. Outrageous!!! So I missed all the goals and could only watch a repeat of them on Arsenal Player.

Sunday, 16 September 2012
 
Today was a day for shopping. We left after breakfast at around 0930 local time and went to Shibuya 19, a wholesale mall nearby. Most shops were only just opening and what little I saw didn’t really catch my fancy. Then we crossed over to Platinum Fashion Mall. There were more people here but despite the five levels of shops, I wasn’t much tempted. We met again and went over to CentralWorld. I lost track of time and went to our agreed meeting place an hour earlier, reasoning it couldn’t have just been an hour since we parted ways (for I had already gone all the way out to the ‘sky walk’ and to President Tower Arcade. All that in an hour? Surely not but it seemed to be the case). After waiting 15 minutes for Y, texting her and trying to call her (no connection), I went to find the Arsenal store. But it was there no more. All the directories I looked at still had Arsenal store listed at E304 so I was not amused when I found Giordano in its place instead. FFS. That really put me in a bad mood and I lost my desire to shop. I was also looking for a pair of red Converse so I tried to console myself by looking for it. Only there was no Converse store in the whole CentralWorld but I finally managed to find some Converse shoes in Sports store (and also at Zen). I had set my eyes on Chuck Taylor All Star but saw Star Player EV and was in a dilemma. The former cost THB1050 and the latter cost a marginal THB50 more or THB1100.

I went to met Y and we then went to find lunch. There’s no food court in CentralWorld so we walked out and walked over to Siam Paragon. Not satisfied with the choices, we went to Siam Discovery (‘We don’t have food court, only restaurants,’ the girl at the info counter informed) before crossing over to MBK diagonally across the intersection.

It started drizzling as we walked to Siam Paragon and still pissing rain when we left MBK. We returned to Siam Discovery and to the newly opened Converse store there. Y helped me made up my mind and so I left with a pair of red Converse Star Player EV. Mission finally accomplished.

We returned to CentralWorld for another hour plus before leaving at 7. Dinner was had in the room.

I had set out to buy this pair

But bought this pair instead. No regrets though. My sixth pair of Converse ☺

Monday, 17 September 2012
 
Our last morning. Y left early as she wanted to go for a massage. I wasn’t too impressed with the options: aromatherapy or Thai massage. No hot stone massage or other variety of massage? OK then. I left after breakfast and went to explore the back area but increasingly got put off with the traffic so I left and walked to Gaysorn. OK, I can confirm that although Converse cost less there, Marks & Spencer, Chanel and Louis Vuitton cost so much more. I crossed over to CentralWorld (back there again!) but left after 40 minutes empty-handed.

Back to the hotel and completed my packing. Y returned shortly after with some food stuff. We performed prayers and rested before checking out at 1245 (we had earlier requested to check out at 1 today). Took a can to Ratchaprapop station (again, had to bargain the fare down to THB80) to catch the train back to the airport. We were caught in a bad crawl – seriously, it would have taken less time to just walk! – and missed the train by 3 minutes.

The check-in queue was long and this time, the flight was co-shared with MAS. I went to find retail therapy and only rushed to the gate at 4. We took off after 1615 and landed at KLIA at 1930.

As fun as I find Bangkok, it will be some time before I return, I think.

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Giroud returned to Montpellier as the Gunners visited the ground for their opening Champions League group match. Diaby collected the fastest yellow card ever issued and the captain’s clumsy challenge on Belhanda but Prinz Poldi restored parity shortly after from a Giroud pass. Gorgeous was also involved in the second goal when he passed the ball to Jenkinson who in turn fed Gervinho. This was our second match of seven in 21 days (after no football due to stupid international matches, we will now have a lot of football before the next meaningless international break) and while we worked hard, counter-attacked intelligently and finished decisively, it was not a classic Arsenal performance.

Dark Side

I don’t know if it’s because of my upbringing or the environment I grew up in that makes me a kiasu. Yes, much as I hate to, I must admit I am kiasu. I deride our neighbours as being that but when I examine myself and my behaviour over time, I realised that I’m equally kiasu. When I say I am kiasu, it doesn’t mean I jump queues or pile food high on my plate or avail myself of free meals (by going to open houses for example). I am kiasu because I want to sit as close to the front as I possibly can in public coaches and planes – so that I can disembark quickly and rush to the immigration counter to clear immigration. I hate queuing up for a long time – it seems like such a waste of time – that I either visit the bathroom in the plane or hold my bladder until after I have cleared immigration. Even if the bags from our flight have yet to appear on the carousel, I can always perform prayers while waiting for my bag. So now you can understand why I’m a kiasu when it comes to disembarking planes. I’m not kiasu enough to be standing up and reaching for my bag at the overhead compartment when the plane is still taxiing like some people are.

I’m not kiasu all the time though. I like to browse duty-free shops and because of this, I always run out of time and end up having to walk briskly or even run on travellators. So I’m not being kiasu when I run on the travellator but rather because I am running late. Also, I would not join a queue to embark a low-cost airline until the last possible minute as I hate crowds and queuing up. The best part of travelling solo is I can still find seat for myself as close to the exit as possible. So there are circumstances when I’m a kiasu and when I’m not.

I also like to arrive early at times (not all the time) to ensure I have a good seat. A good example is when I went to watch the Arsenal match last year. Our tickets did not come with numbered seats so of course I wanted to arrive early to get a good seat. All the better to watch my Arsenal from!

Mummy was someone who would not sleep or rest until she had completed her chores and I inherit that part. I’d rather sleep late than let the dirty plates pile in the sink. Sure I can wash them the next morning but I’d rather do the washing up immediately. After all, it needs to be done anyway. Why put off for tomorrow what I can do tonight? If you can have happiness now, you’d want to enjoy it now and not put it off, so what’s different with chores? Besides, I’m a firm believer of delayed gratification.

Mummy was also someone who’d, upon returning from a trip, unpack, place the dirty clothes in the washing machine, do the laundry and hang the clothes, and finish unpacking. I think if she could have it her way, she’d want to iron those clothes immediately and store them back in the wardrobe too. And I can’t help inheriting that gene. I’d also come back from a trip – any trip be it local, regional or beyond – immediately unpack, sort out the dirty clothes, finish unpacking the rest and tidy up the kitchen too. If that makes me kiasu, then so be it. I know of some people who’d keep their bags in the store – with everything unpacked – and only sort them just before going on their next trip. I’m just not that kind of person.

I’m also a very stubborn person, sometimes too stubborn for my own good. I can’t just take no for an answer at times and will fight my way to get what I want. Perhaps it’s also because I’m the youngest and I always want to have my own way. But I’m never stubborn enough to admit it. But hey, my love Giroud is also stubborn so we are like two peas in a pod, oui?

I’m also an insecure person. All these years and all this time and yet I can still be insecure. I don’t want to care what people think of me yet sometimes I find myself wondering.

Last but not least, I have irrational fear of a lot of things. My mates think I’m all brave and courageous, all because I travel solo but the truth is, I’m afraid of a lot of things. For instance, I hate pain, I can’t stand it and I’m afraid of it. I’m afraid of rejection (who isn’t?) despite it being out of my control. Like I said, irrational fear.

The above are among that that make up my dark side. But I believe everyone has his own dark side.

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Southampton perhaps thought they were visiting the dark side when they came to Ashburton Grove on Saturday. We were helped by OG, the player who kept scoring for ManUre, who scored a brace. Heck, even Gervinho, playing in an unfamiliar central striker position of the gone and increasingly forgotten Juda$$$, scored a brace too. And those who dismissed the match saying it’s only Southampton, remember that both Manc clubs also trailed before finally overcoming Soton.

But damn, we are no longer The Impenetrables.

Search Me

There is a colleague I’m kind of close to by virtue of us being in the same department before. Despite being ‘close’ to her, sometimes I cannot stand her. Let’s call her A.

A, another colleague, B, and I have agreed to go on a trip together. I have also asked my mate, C, to join the trip. So I went to the MATTA Fair on Saturday to search for the best packages that would be palatable to our budget and proposed date of travel. I spent 3.5 hours at the MATTA Fair, updated them in between before finalising our trip. I paid the deposit then left, thinking that was that.

On Monday, A enquired if C’s partner would be coming along on our trip. I know C and partner have since separated so I replied no, saying they are no longer together. Then I said, ‘But you already knew that, don’t you?’ and was not surprised when she admitted knowing. (So why did you ask??)

Anyway, today, A asked me if she could bring another member of family to the trip. Before I could offer my opinion, she cut me off and said that she would handle this additional person with the travel agent. I told her that it was not my decision alone to make, that she also needed to check with the two others travelling with us. After all, it’s not just me who’ll be travelling with her, but also B and C. She looked surprised and asked me if she needed to do so and I said, yes, of course! (To be honest, I’m not keen for more people to join the trip. If you want to bring in additional family member, then arrange the trip yourself. I wouldn’t need to spend hours at the MATTA Fair trying to find a package for the four of us if the trip was going to turn to be a family trip. FFS.)

Then A asked me about C, about why she and partner went their separate ways. She asked if I knew why and my reply was it was probably financial because come on, many a relationship have failed because of money – not just because it’s too little but also in some instances, because there’s too much. She proceeded to grill me and wondered who the partner was. I told her it doesn’t matter because he’s a jerk anyway. She looked at me and asked why I said that. I told her he’s a jerk because he did that to my friend and anyone who does that to my friend is a jerk. She then proceeded to test the limit of my anger by asking, ‘What if she’s the jerk? You’re saying he’s the jerk but what if she’s the jerk? Or if he’s a jerk but she’s a jerk too?’ My reply was if both of them are jerks then they probably deserve it but because I’m C’s friend and not C’s partner’s friend, I would of course side with C. After all, C told me her side of story.

You would have thought it’d stop there but A then asked me to share with her what C told me. My reply is that I could not do that. What kind of person does she take me for? That I would betray my friend’s confidence and share all? I told her it’s not my story to tell, that I’m not liberty to tell and I would not betray my friend. Besides, this is not the first relationship to fail and trust me, it won’t be the last. Why do you need to know the dirty juicy details (because they’re juicy? Please.)? What is it to you anyway? How does it enrich one’s life trying to find out people’s deepest and darkest secret (or even if the secrets are not deep or dark, something you don’t care for the world to know)? How does the info alter your life anyway? Will your life be richer and fuller having known someone’s secret? And dammit, why do you even have to know? What would C say if she found out that A has been trying to find out about her by asking me about it?

And at the end of the day does it matter? Does it make C less of a human for having a failed relationship? If so, then I’m to be in the same category for I have my fair share of failed relationships too: some I walked away from, some I chose not to pursue, some the other party walked from.

It made me wonder about people like A. It makes me wonder about my sanity for suggesting we go on this trip together. It makes me worry about the trip, about spending a few days close together, especially when I’m starting to see A in a new (unfavourable) light. Plus, I hate being put in a spot like this, I hate it when people ask me insistently and incessantly about someone else. Heck, even if the question is about me and I don’t feel like telling people, that’s my prerogative, isn’t it? If I don’t feel like telling people about my secrets, what makes you think I want to readily spill the beans on someone else? Granted, there are people like that who love digging out the skeletons in another’s closet but at the same time get furious when the reverse is done on them but I’m not one of them. So, please, don’t insult me by thinking I’m one of them.

My Merdeka Day Weekend

I was mulling where I should head for during the Independence Day weekend. Then a friend suggested Penang and I thought, ‘Why not?’ I haven’t been there since a Treasure Hunt trip some years back and certainly not since it’s been accorded the World Heritage status (I had been to Penang once or twice as a child). So I checked the deals, bought a MAS return tix and booked accommodation.

Friday, 31 August 2012
An early start to the day. Left house after 0630 and cabbed it to KL Sentral. The uncle cabbie drove as if his life depended on it, as if the demons themselves were chasing after him. I made it in 7 minutes flat and boarded the 0700 coach to KLIA.

I had checked in online and proceeded immediately to the domestic terminal. My, there were a lot of travellers at KLIA today. Browsed the few duty-free stores but nothing much tempted me so I proceeded to the gate. For some reason I was assigned seat 27A at the very end so the minute the door closed, I moved seats and finally sat at 9C. I had earlier deposited my bag at the overhead compartment above row 6.

We landed at 1020 and I walked out from our gate (B7 I think, at the very end of the building) and saw the bus 102 bound for Batu Ferringhi via Komtar and Jalan Burma. The fare was RM3.40 so mind you have the correct change or you’d be short-changed as I was. The journey took an hour to my hotel at Jalan Burma diagonally across Penang Adventist Hospital. Good thing I could check in then.

I rested for a bit and had a cuppa while waiting to perform prayers. I left after 1330 and walked to the nearby Gurney Plaza. I spent some time there and had assam laksa for lunch before braving the intense afternoon sun and heat.

I walked all the way to the old part of Georgetown where the historical buildings are. Well, there are a lot of old colonial buildings and bungalows along the way and I paused every now and then to take pictures. I love old buildings and I wish that KL has conserved its own colonial buildings. I don’t know why the people who run KL are so determined to erase its past. Isn’t our past part of our heritage?

I was armed with a map and had earlier planned to visit most places indicated on the map but as the afternoon panned out, I decided to skip some buildings. I stopped to get some fluid before walking back to the hotel. Later, I checked Google map and determined that I walked at least 12 km today. Way to go to burning those calories!

I ventured to the adjoining building to explore it. It’s a strange building (like Ampang City closer to home) and most shops were closed as it was a public holiday. Dinner was had at a halal Thai stall. It was just edible and nothing to shout about.

Saturday, 1 September 2012
Wow, sweet September is here. Today I decided to just explore the area within one km radius of the hotel. After breakfast, I went to nearby G Hotel to check out some handbag sale. Then I returned to Gurney Plaza. Saw a pair of lovely gorgeous red Converse shoes with blue details. Alas, it was in size 40 and the last pair. Boohoo.

I checked out the beauty centres and massage places but decided I wasn’t going to pay that amount. I walked to Jalan Bangkok before returning back to hotel. Lunch was bought from a roadside stall. There were not many halal eateries around the hotel area unfortunately. My other complaint about the hotel is its slow crawling Internet connection. Other than those, I have no other complaints.

I returned to the hotel to rest before venturing to the strange building next door. Went for a massage at a centre and thought it was the best I’ve ever had so far. Fantastic. I even asked if the masseuse didn’t want to relocate to KL. Man, she is that good.

I tried to find dinner - I was craving for prawn noodles - but I wasn’t keen to walk back to Gurney Plaza so finally had KFC for dinner - for want of other halal choices so don’t judge me. There was a massive jam along both sides of Jalan Burma that evening.

Watched a bit of footie (haha, good job Norwich! And AVB is proving to be a very god signing for the scums) before retiring for the day.

Sunday, 2 September 2012
Checked out at 0755 and waited about 25 minutes for the bus. This time the journey took 45 minutes. There were a lot of people at the airport, more people sending off passengers than passengers themselves. I collected my boarding pass and proceeded to the gate. Not in the mood to shop so only gave the shops a cursory glance.

We took off about 10 minutes later than scheduled and landed at KLIA at 1145.

I think I shall return to Penang again and this time make sure I visit the Penang Peranakan Mansion (I arrived there after closing time on Friday). Maybe next year’s Merdeka Day weekend would be a good idea to spend time exploring more of my country.

Hope you had a good Independence Day weekend too!

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Arsenal travelled to Liverpool and new boy Prinz Poldi scored our first goal 3.5 hours after the season kicked off. Fellow new boy Cazorla scored one of his own too – indeed both goals were worked among the two – to give Arsenal a flattering score. It was time to start scoring and winning after two scoreless draws and it remains to be seen if this would be a platform for the Gunners to start terrorising their opponents or whether the tranquillity surrounding the club as the transfer deadline ticked down. And no, my Giroud has yet to score but don’t worry because he will. Soon (on average, players in the ‘100 Club’ score their first goal 4.41 games into their Arsenal career). Even with Mannone in goal, we have yet to concede (thank God) and who knows, after The Invincibles, this bunch of Gunners might be The Impenetrables.

And, I never thought the day would come but yes, Diaby was the man of the match.

P.S. When asked in an interview how he would describe himself, Giroud replied, ‘Ambitious. Generous. Natural. Intelligent. Stubborn!’ That’s my man!