Penang forever!

There is no place like Penang!

Living in KL for 3 weeks was horrible.

I have to admit that I appreciate the kind hospitatlity of my bro and sis. My bro has a nice place in Subang and there was always dinner thanks to the maid. It was great spending time with him and the family.

My training starts at 9 am to 5 pm only during weekdays. The venue is 3rd floor of Kompleks Antarabangsa along Jalan Sultan Ismail I think, right in front of the Raja Chulan Monorail station.

My day starts at around 6 am every weekday. I had to leave my bro's house at 6.20 am (serious shit!) to get to the Subang KTM commuter station to catch the 6.36 am train to KL sentral. Thankfully the station is like 10 minutes away minus the traffic being so freaking early! I park the car at the station for RM 2 per day.

This train begins it's journey from Port Kelang and the last stop is Sentul. KL Sentral would be on it's way. The fare of my ticket is RM 1.60 one way. The reason I go early is to beat the crowdedness of the commuter. People start crowding it already from Port Kelang as they work in town.

The commuter car is normally pack like sardines, shoulder to shoulder, groin to butt or whatever you wanna call it. Haha! The worst stop is Pantai Dalam because of the high density of people living there so they mostly fill up the train.

I reach KL Sentral at around 7.05am. I walk to the entrance that faces KL Hilton for my puff, light reading of notes or FHM and to call Ruby to wish her good morning.

At 8 am, I walk to the monorail station in Brickfields about 100 m away to catch the monorail to Raja Chulan. It is freaking weird as to why the KL Monorail station is not built into KL Sentral. I think somebody never gave money to somebody so no go. Haha!

On my route, I see beggars, drug addicts and only yesterday prostitutues. It's a bit dodgy but I keep to myself and becareful of the people around me. I sometimes have teh tarik at the coffee shop near to the monorail station.

The journey to Raja Chulan station takes approximately 10 minutes. The fare one way is RM 2.10 which is expensive for public transport. The monorail also gets jam packed with ppl that jump on at Tun Sambathan, Maharajalela, Hang Tuah, Imbi and Bukit Bintang station before reaching Raja Chulan.

The reliability of the KTM commuter is so far good except for 2 occasions when the air-conditioning broke down and left passengers sweating all the way home.

The KL monorail has broken down or has been not reliable on 3 occasions. First case, the whole monorail network standstill due to technical issue and caused delay in getting to destinations. Second case, at 30 feet in the sky, monorail car(I was on board) hit the side of the Bukit Bintang station damaging the railing. That was so freaking scary man happening up in the sky! I don't know how the hell that happen. Thirdly, only yesterday, the monorail train could not go into gear once all on board. All had to come out of train and caused huge jam of people at KL Sentral Monorail station and delay to destination.

The cycle Subang - KL Sentral - Raja Chulan is reversed when I go home.

From 5 pm, it takes about 2 hours to get home because sometimes you just have to take the next train because of the volume of people. It is a tiring and stressful procedure even after you had a stressful time at training!

When you get on trains during evenings, there is always body odour or people sweating. However, the smell of fart or "kentut" is always available during morning or evening trips. Especially when crowded, the smell is terrible!

Lunch can easily fetch RM 9 inclusive of drink and the food is plain simple. Those people back home in Penang better stop complaining about food being expensive. Trust me live in KL , can die man! Initially I tried to skip lunch because I felt the cost was unjustifiable but had gastric so decided to just screw it and eat. I know the saying, "Of course, it's KL".

I have to apologise to my friends in KL for not calling them because I really kept my training and my stay there this time on low profile. I hardly went out much. Normally just to Subang Parade or my uncle's house in PJ. That's it.

I will apply for jobs both in Penang and KL after the training and see what is the package. I am not making any decisions as of now.

Happy 10th birthday Google!

I hated reading! I just could not understand how my sister when I was young busy reading Archie comics, Sweet Valley and Enid Blyton. I did read but I did not read as much as my sis because I felt it was boring. Haha! If I remember correctly, I stuggled to learn how to read and had difficult times in early primary school be it in Bahasa Malaysia or English.

When I went to uni, I was so impressed with my friends using search engines like Yahoo! and Google. You could find out about almost anything. It was even more interesting with addition of picture content. I think this was what started my craze in the WWW.

As most people know me, I am so in love with Volvos that I went and really deep dive into the product lineage, all via these search engines. I think at that time I was using Google because it had that Image tab where you can view thousands of photos of the car from all over the world.

From then on, because I found it so easy and interesting with the rich multimedia format, I grew into wanting to know more about technology, religion, politics and news. Typical of the internet, is the latest updates in news from around the world. I was eager to keep myself abreath with what was going on and I was eager to share the latest findings with my friends at that time.

I am really thankful to Google! It has changed a person who once hated reading books because of the format but now I am a better reader (I humbly admit!). However, I still hate reading books! Haha!

Ruby's trip to KL

I was so delighted that Ruby visited me over the weekend. She came last Friday by NICE Bus and I fetched her from the old KTM station in KL. I really missed her and I was overcome with tears of joy although I don't think she saw. Haha!

That night I took her for great Chinese Food at the Park Way restaurant in Subang SS 19.
We ordered Bawal fish steam, butter chicken and vege.

Then we went home to bath all before leaving for Starbucks at The Curve.

A photo of us with a red cow in front of one of the restaurants at The Street, The Curve.

We sat there talking about my new life and we shared about how things were back home in Penang.

The next day, we went to One-Utama. To even my amazement, there were loads of shops. Was not very crowded maybe due to the "puasa" month. I bought my shoe padding for my office shoe as I have been doing loads of walking. To cure my boredom, I got the latest FHM mag and I got Ruby the latest CLEO.

For lunch, Ruby took me to this fancy but cozy place called Dave's. Kinda pricey but the food was great and the experience was positively memorable. Just me and my babe! :D

Me and Ruby on the cozy sofa.

At night, we had dinner at my bro's home as my bro, Hans organized a get together with my couzs; Lynn's family and St. John's family. It was the first time St. John's family met Ruby and they were happy to meet her. It's hard to join our "club"! Muahaha!

Rubz had "Bombay Saphire gin with Sprite" and I had "Jack Daniel's whisky with Coke". I had a couple of them and got pretty high! My couz's kids just loved Rubz and kinda reminded me of how her mom, Aunt Caroline, was great with kids.

The next morning, we went to Krishna's Curry house for breakfast. I had thosai and Rubz had roti bawang.

We then went to the Church of Assumption nearby. Had to double park on the road ala 'sembahyang Jumaat'. The church was full so we sat outside with the other parishners. Father Phillip Muthu celebrated mass and we did pray for the detainees under ISA. Thank God the reporter has been released!

Then we went for a drive at the Sunday Car motor and took a glimpse at the second-hand cars, my ussual routine on Sunday mornings in KL. So happy to share my routine with Rubz and she now knows a thing or two about cars!

We then went to my godparents house in seksyen 3 PJ where they waited to take us for lunch at the Royal Selangor Club in Mont Kiara with Uncle Musa. We all had the "Banana Leaf" spread by the patio overlooking the field.

Rubz and I then went home and spent time together. It was very sad for us to part again but we will meet this coming weekend in Penang as Hans wants to visit my aunt.

I cried so much because I realized that I am trully blessed to have Rubz in my life! I really miss her during the times when we are apart although we are connected through Digi for free calls, SMS and MMS.

I guess behind all my strength, I depend on my source that is Ruby. I love you honey! :D Can't wait to see you in Penang this coming weekend. Muakzzzzzzzzz! ;)

Remembering Aunt Caroline

Today is almost a month that Aunt Caroline left us.

As I sipped my beer at a coffee shop in Subang SS19 at the time close to the time she passed away a month ago, I felt the sadness and became teary.

I very much understand how difficult it is to lose a mom as my mom means so much to me. I don't know what will I do without my mom.

My first encounter with Aunt Caroline was when Ruby invited me up to her apartment on a Friday afternoon to meet her mom. I was so scared for so many reasons. Firstly, what her reaction would be to me. It also meant a lot to me because I finally got to meet her.

As I stepped into her home, she sat on her chair and extended her hand to me and said "Nice to meet you". I was so releaved that Aunt Caroline was welcoming. Ruby prepared the "hor fun" that her mom requested for from Pulau Tikus market. I sat there beside her mom watching AFC(a TV channel on Astro about food). I knew that poor Aunt Caroline could only dream and imagine eating them as I understand that she was loosing her appetite and also there was pain within her.

Ruby and I were leaving for Queenie's 21st birthday in Butterworth, the weekend of the St Anne's feast. I said my good bye to her and she said bye back. She thanked me for the "hor fun".

Days went by and Aunt Caroline was at Ah Poh's (Ruby's mom's mom's house) which is near to her home. I sent Ruby back one Thursday and I told Ruby that I wanted to meet her mom.

We went to Ah Poh's place and I saw Aunt Caroline lie on the sofa. As I entered the home she sat up and let me seat beside her. I was quite scared to seat next to her because I still could not believe that I finally met her. Ala, u know me a bit sensitive to this kinda stuff. Haha!

She was telling me she could not eat much and there was pain.

She touched my right hand suddenly and told me about Ruby's uncle who was also seated at the living room, that he had just returned from an opperation because of blood clot in his stomach. It was a surprise to me that she touched my arm in her condition but it just made me feel comfortable and welcomed to be with her.

When I left the home I told her I will see her again.

I came back that night and the following 2 days I was there. Poor Aunt Caroline was vommitting and did not have much to eat. She just drank water. She hardly slept also and she did say she never slept for 24 hours when I met her that week on a Sunday.

I just felt so concerned for her that I made a point to be there although I could not do anything.

When she wanted to go toilet, we had to put her on her wheelchair. First time she went, she stood up and tried to reach for my hand but I was a bit scared to get involved in family affairs so I called Ruby cousin come and help. The next time she wanted to go toilet and we had to get her on the wheelchair, she stood up and this time I extend my hand. She caught my hand and gripped it firmly.

I am a guy who is very sensitive to people's body language. Her respond to me, I felt was positive from my encounters with her.

That same week, on a Sunday, my mom wanted to visit her so I took her. I felt so sorry to my mom coz I delayed the process of meeting Ruby's mom. My dad did not know her condition and before my mom left our house, he told my mom to call Ruby's mom for dinner at our place one day. My dad never got to meet Aunt Caroline. I guess some thing's in life we have to accept and they are just not meant to happen.

My mom got teary when met Rubz mom because from a medical person point of view (my mom is retired matron), Aunt Caroline was thin and it was not a good sign.

We sat for a while and we left.

Before leaving, I handed my hand out again and she reached out and held it tight. I told her I am going home and I will come again to see her. She nodded. That time she was really week already.

The next morning, her condition worsened and she was taken to Hospice. I went early morning to be with the family. It was a hard time for all of us.

At 9.08 pm 11/8/2008, she breathed her last breath surrounded by all of us. I held back my feelings trying to be macho as ussual.

At that time, we could only do what was needed that was to make arrangements for the funeral.

On the night before the funeral, I went through the slides Ruby prepared of her mom for the funeral. I cried. I honestly felt sad. I broke down again in the car when Ruby was in it after the funeral mass on the way to crematorioum telling Ruby I am sooooo sorry and I told her I don't know why this had to happen to Aunt Caroline. I guess I had a problem accepting it and until now I still wonder why and trying to come to terms with my loss.

I guess I had a lot of respect for Aunt Caroline being Ruby's mom and I was so touched by her kindness towards me.

Corinne Baum, a close family friend, did tell me that Aunt Caroline was a great person, kind and very good with kids.

I am sad that I could not have spent more time with Aunt Caroline for us to get to know each other better and enjoy each other's company. I always wanted to take her to Gurney Drive with Ruby's as my aunt did tell me that the sea is good for people who are recovering from illness but I guess time was not on my side.



Aunt Caroline,

I pray that your soul may rest in peace with the choirs of angels and souls in heaven. May you always be with us in spirit and help guide us in our lives. As what Aunt Cindy (Ruby's aunt said), make Aunt Caroline proud of us. It was a pleasure to meet you in this lifetime but hope we can meet up again in the next. I hope you are looking down on us from above and smilling. :D

Love,
Trevor.

Racist against pendatang!

After we joyfully celebrate over 50 years of independence, united as a nation comprising of people of different races, this is the outcome.

Please visit this link from The Star Online:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/4/nation/20080904143325&sec=nation

This guy is a reflection of a low standard Malaysian or should I add politician, a leader from the community representing us Malaysians to supposedly look after our well-being. I personally find him as a fat ass, scum bag, racist, arrogant, immoral, his mother never taught him manners piece of shit from a dead horse!

As a non-bumi, I fully respect the rights and realize the respect we need to show to the bumiputras of this country. Knowingly, there are somethings that you cannot question about the rights these bumiputeras have but this does not affect the freedom and happiness that I appreciate as a Malaysian. I mean each of us have certain perks too if you really think about it and we should count ourselves lucky! Fine by me, as by the constitution of Malaysia, we non-bumiputeras (now known as pendatang) will be protected regardless of race and religion.

I think we pendatang have been very good and have adhered to the rule.

I personally have a lot of bumi friends whom I respect and appreciate their friendship. We may be different but we are united as Malaysians and we have successfully cultivated prosperity and harmony between people of different races.

Now by hearing this remark, it is very hurting and I find it totally unacceptable.

What is that something that we have less that you have so much more?

OR should I rephrase that sentence and say that what we have so much more that you envy while you have so much less? ;)

We have done a lot for this country in terms of economic growth which is fundamental to the strength of any country regardless if the government supported us or not. We have managed to bridge our contacts with partners from foreign countries, pulling in investors from abroad and doing the extra work on the job while our friends enjoyed sitting at the warung drinking tea and talking emptily like the wind blowing by, screwing their own sister or daughters, illegal racing to show there keberanian or sleeping as what they are known for doing best!

I mean this is something we all Malaysians know but may not talk about it because it is not nice.

However, emerging out of no where comes a dog who discriminates us and forgets about the basis of what our nation is built from. It is a reflection of how narrow his knowledge and lack of appreciation for Malaysian history where there exist a generation of people from different races that fought for our freedom from the British.

This will severely affect our confidence in the political party that this ass is from and I am sure it is going to be even worse for this party to prove it's worthiness to it's citizens when the focus and support is already becoming more for the opposition.

I mean come on lah people. I am saying something that is right here and is in the minds of most of us. I am not creating any cerita dongeng for your entertaintment pleasure.

Is it wrong what I am saying here considering what this politician has said about us pendatang?

Is he God enough to say that we humans are any different from one another?

No English, no golf!

LPGA is an American ladies golf association. They have the annual LPGA tour (competition)which also takes in international female golfers from all around the world to compete for the top ladies position in the world ranking.

Golf like any other sport is about the game. It is primarily about the talent and performance that an athelete has to excel and to be their best in the sport. It is wonderful for any sport to be participated at an international level bringing in participants from different countries.

The recent announcement by the LPGA committee to have all participants be judged on a verbal English test in order to be effective in the English command.

There are many good golfers out there like from Thailand, Korea and Mexico that may not be as competent as their American competitors who are great in English. However, they participate with high spirits to compete and look forward for the reason they are coming together that is for the game.

This just takes the fun and enthusiam about the game itself. I feel it is kinda discriminative as only the well speaking ones get selected. It feels like America is looking to the east specifically us here and is only prioritizing on the "bukan pendatang". I guess we do influence other countries in a way with our creativity and innovation!