About Me

I have done a lot of things in my life and have also worked in many different jobs to make a living and to experience life. This blog is just some of my musings, sometimes funny, sometimes inspirational, sometimes sad, sometimes angry, sometimes simple but all the time, it's just me.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Cairo to Luxor to Edfu to Aswan to Abu Simbel

Day 6
Spent morning in Cairo, breakfast, pack, check-out, wait, wait, wait ....

Flew to Luxor from Cairo at 4pm and arrived rather late due to some screw up with the travel agency.

But nevertheless arrived and got an upgraded cabin on the cruise. Nice to say the least.

Went on a evening stroll and visit to Luxor temple - they are quite beautiful.

Tomorrow we go visit Karnak Temple, the valley of the kings and Hatshepsut temple. A lot of temples.

Day 7
Karnak temple in the morning and on the way to Valley of the Kings, time to look for my hidden unfound tomb full with all its treasures. I wonder if I have a right to it if I am the reincarnate of a pharaoh .... hmmm.

It is damn hot, damn damn hot and the people charge an arm and a leg for a bottle of water - imagine RM8 for a small bottle of water.

Our guide is hopeless - I find him a little rude and irritating and like a big bully. But many men in Egypt seem to be rude.

We are enjoying the visits but too much crammed in and it is really bloody hot.

Down to Edfu we cruise. Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.

Day 8
Temple of Horus and Edfu is a beautiful sight. This time we are prepared with bottles of water.

We will add pictures later.

Tonight is Galabiyah party on the boat. It is like "Jubah" or a Egyptian/Arabian Islamic robe. Actually not really Islamic to be honest as even Jesus et al wore these way before Islam.

As the Galabiyah party is ongoing, we arrive in Aswan.

Tomorrow we get up at 2am to go on a bus ride to Abu Simbel temple . . . so not much partying happened but we did enjoy ourselves.

Day 9
Two hours of sleep and we are up and in the shower.

Off we go to Abu Simbel with our breakfast boxes.

As soon as I get to our van, I spread out and am fast asleep. The convoy has to go together due to some problems they have had in southern Egypt or Upper Egypt as they say.

We actually leave at 4am due to the wait at the security checkpoint.

We reach Abu Simbel about 6:45am.

Abu Simbel is a sight to behold. The best temple I have visited in Egypt thus far.

Unicef took 30 years to move the temple 100 meters from its original spot. You would not be able to tell that it was moved. They had to move it because when the build the high dam, it flooded the Nile and created Nasser lake.

I wonder if Unicef will be able to help us move Mulu caves when our wonderful government builds unwanted dams near the Mulu area.

Abu Simbel, pictures will tell a thousand words but just so impressive. Ramses II and Nefertari build these temples and it is really something not to be missed.

On the way back, visited the unfinished Obelisk by Hatshepsut and the high dam in Aswan.

Then back to the boat for a rest.

In the evening we have been told of another unexpected change in the itinerary and our flight moved from evening to early morning. I smelled something fishy, called Egypt Air and was told there were no changes to their schedule - another great thing about coming here with Planet Tours.

Supposed to be Nubian night at the bar with some Nubian musicians - but we now have to pack and get up at 4am to catch the flight at 6am.

I will continue the rest of the trip later. But seriously considering to fly back home earlier, I think I've had enough dose of Egypt hospitality.

I think things were likely better in the Pharoanic times.

Take care and be well.

Friday, September 26, 2008

The Nile

Cruising up the Nile river
Am I in denial
Or am I the Niles
A brown man
On a boat cruise
Sitting here in my suite
First day
I see snakes on the bed
Second day
I see a crocodile
Third day
A mummy on the bed reading my Reader's Digest
Then
I get the key of life, a lotus flower and a monkey hanging around
Am I dreaming
Can these be for real
Or the stiffling heat
Burning me up and frying my brains
And a brown man
Becomes a black man
Oh well, I say
I guess my fro suits me now
A brown man
Becomes a black man
Pyramids of Giza
Temples of Luxor and Karnak
Temple of Horus in Edfu and Kom Ombo
The town that Alexander built
Valley of the Kings
Tombs of the Pharoahs
Temple of Hatshepsut and her unfinished obelisk
Aswan and the high dam
Water from the river Nile
Coptic Christianity and early Islam
Nothing beats the sight at Abu Simbel
A temple for Ramses II and his wife Nefertari
Simply an engineering and artistic marvel
Lost is the ancient Egyptian culture
Gone the language
Taken away by Greeks, Romans, Christians and the Muslims
A brown man
Becomes a black man
A Nubian prince or a black Pharoah
I may have been
Now just a brown man
Becoming a black man
Snakes, Crocodile, Monkey, Mummy, Lotus and Key of Life
Are for real
Real art pieces created daily by my wonderful room service man
From towels, toilet paper and anything around the room
Cruising down the Nile river
I am not in denial
The sun is bright
The heat is stiffling
And a brown man
Becomes a black man.

Take care and be well.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Cairo - Part 2

Day 3
We're on the 3rd day into our vacation. Cairo still reminds me a lot of Mumbai. Some of the houses/apartments here seem like they have been in a war zone.

Apparently, houses here come unfinished, the outside walls are brick and you have a hole for the windows. You have to finish it on your own.

The pollution is quite bad and I am having breathing problems. After the cold desert winds of yesterday, Sarah has fallen sick as well and is really under the weather.

Despite that, we decided to go on a pre-arranged Pharoanic Village tour. This village shows life as it may have been during the time of the Pharoahs. It also has 7 museums depicting the history of Egypt. This was much better then the Sound and Light show which was a little disappointing.

After this, we went to the oldest trading market called Khan El Khalili - maybe this the the place where Aladdin got his magical lamp.

Spent a few hours sitting and watching the world pass by.

Day 4
Today was a early start at 6:30am to go to Alexandria which is 3 hours drive north of Cairo and located in "Lower Egypt" on the Meditarranean sea. Alexandria is a smaller city and has more Roman and Greek influence.

Went to see a catacomb which I honestly believe that it did not contain any dead humans but oh well.

North Egypt is called Lower Egypt as it was the lower part of the Nile river and south Egypt is called Upper Egypt. These terms have been used since the Pharoahnic times.

Had a good lunch in a Egyptian restaurant in a Greek name and a great Italian dinner. First time since coming here, 2 great meals.

Day 5
Today was an adventure on our own. We took the hotel bus - an old school type looking bus which I used to take in primary school - that was an adventure by iteself. THen tried to cross one of the main roads in Egypt - another adventure. And then took a black and white taxi - yet another adventure.

Went to visit Coptic Cairo which is where all the old churches are - orthodox. The story is that Virgin Mary and Baby passed by Egypt and stayed here after running away from the persecution in Jeruselam. They remained here for a few years and Christianity started here really really early. 20 percent of the population here is Coptic Christians.

We actually had a nice taxi driver but really bad service in Ramses Hilton Hotel.

After getting back to our hotel, my tour guide picked us up for "buka puasa" or opening of fast with his wife. A simple but excellent meal called Khousary.

I did the smart thing of adding too much chilly oil and could not finish my food. I am going to feel this later.

After dinner, went to the high spot in Cairo to see the city by night over some mint tea. Spent a couple of hours to chit chat.

Then, through town - Cairo is awake at night. Had a interesting Carob drink, then on the way back to hotel.

City is alive, but sick wifey is now fast asleep and I am blogging away.

I will write more when time comes. But tomorrow we are off to a Nile river cruise. First a flight to Luxor in Upper Egypt and then we sail to Aswan. From Aswan, we fly to Abu Simbel.

Simple dinner and night with friends.

Till then ...

Take care and be well.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Cairo - Part 1

DAY 1
Arrived in Cairo early yesterday morning, before 6am.

As we could not check in to hotel, we were taken for the usual tour, Pyramids of Giza, The Sphinx, some perfumery and some place doing papyrus.

Already spent a lot of money on perfume, a whole loads.

Cairo overall reminds me a lot of Mumbai in India. The roads, the dust, the color of the houses, the traffic system - it is congested, dusty, crowded.

Our hotel, Oasis Hotel is quite large with many gardens within it. It is located in Giza which is on the Western bank of the Nile whereas Cairo city center is in the Eastern bank of the Nile.

The pyraminds of Giza - the 3 main pyramids and the Sphinx was impressive but I have no doubt in my mind now that humans build them rather than with some help from aliens or some alien technology.

They are huge and big, but not something that humans could not have built.

Just was so tired after the trip and all the visits, we just came back and ordered room service for a late lunch.

Then I got the dredded sms which I have blogged about already, an sms from Bu Bu telling me that my house was broken into.

Just lost my apprettite after that and both of us pretty much just tried to go sleep, take a nap after all calls.

Took a nap at 4pm and then only got up at 10pm. Stayed up until midnight or so and just fell asleep again.

DAY 2
Still recovering from the burgled house as well as tiredness of the trip but in better moods.

Got up and had a decent breakfast at the hotel.

Then off we went to Cairo Museum - smack through the traffic jams, congested roads, no traffic system

This place is very very crowded.

The museum was very very crowded.

If you find KL jams bad, wait till you see jams here.

Spend a good 4 hours in the museum, it was nice.

The museum is a 2-storey building built early in 20th century by a French. Non air-conditioned in this sweltering desert heat but still it was good.

Saw some mummies in the mummy chamber - main attraction was Ramses II.

We also went to a cotton shop and bought some T-Shirts and some traditional costumes.

Going to the Pyramids Sound and Light show in a couple of hours and then off to Hard Rock Cafe Cairo.

That's all so far. Pictures will be added at a later stage or onto Flickr.

I am still tired and not entirely feeling well, still taking anti-biotics but also feeling very dizzy.

I love it here with wifey, but I miss Al-E and I miss some friends. Thanks for all your support and concern.

Take care and be well.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Robbed

An extremely frustrating and stressful news/incident to start off my break.

My home in Miri was broken into and things were stolen from the store room and I have a sneaking feeling they are going to be back to try something again.

As not many people actually go into the store, my landlord and my friends do not know what was taken.

From my conversations, it seems like my mountain bike, a television and maybe some bags are gone.

While I am grateful that nobody was hurt in this senseless thing, I am very sad and frustrated for losing the bicycle which has a lot of sentimental value for me as it was a birthday gift some years back.

For nearly a year that I have been staying in the house, and many times that I have been away, this sort of things have never happened in my area despite it being the only one of the few community of houses without gates.

Now, it is nearly midnight over here and I can't go to sleep thinking on whether I should move to somewhere more secured, even if the bloody apartment has a bloody crack on it.

Do I feel the house is secure enough for my family to stay in while I go away on business?

I feel frustrated, upset, insecure, sad and a whole million different feelings at the same time.

I truly appreciate all the support I have received.

I know I have stated that I would avoid using vulgarities but the rage inside me is just wishing for those bastards to burn in hell, to fuck with them and their families, may they all rot in damnation, may their houses be burned down in a rage of fire that I feel within me.

Vacations are supposed to be fun. This is the first time writing my blog that I am in tears, on my first day of vacation, at midnight in the dusty desert, my heart feels so empty like the desert around me.

I wish upon the combined positive powers of the universe and its beings to keep me positive.

Take care and be well.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Malaysian 916

9/16 or Sep 16 in Malaysia, anything interesting happen? New government or same old, same old?

I am away, I guess I will just have to read about it.

Does it matter, well, honestly, I don't think it does as much as the hype it has been made out to be.

See you'll after Hari Raya. I will likely not post any blogs until I return. This is the last pre-blog that I wrote to be posted at a later time.

Take care and be well.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Singapura Singapura

Writing a quick blog post in transit at Changi Airport.

This is really by far the best airport I have been to in all my travels.

The worst has to be Mumbai Airport but that is a different story all together.

Changi Airport is like Pavilion or Suria KLCC but it is an airport. Now with 3 terminals, there is even more to do and computers all around for people to use the Internet. There is also WIFI connection throughout the airport.

Last year, I was travelling in and out of this airport every week, travel to Singapore on a Monday morning and back to KL on a Friday evening. This lasted for close to 15 weeks and I really got sick of it.

Coming to Changi again after an absence of more than a year is quite refreshing. Terminal 3 is completed and is nice.

And there is also a place where they have XBOX360 to play. Although I am not a big computer game person, it was nice to play a game or two.

Oh well, how I wish more airports can emulate the comforts of this airport.

We'll be off soon.

Take care and be well.

Nearly 10 years have passed

Nearly 10 years have passed since my mom passed away - just a couple more weeks.

Somehow, I still miss her every now and then and I still think of her every now and then.

Every time I see my friends mums or when friends talk about their mums or when I see my wifey's mum, which I do consider mum as well, I just miss my own mummy.

(Not the one wrapped in toilet paper or cloth and not the one Brendan Fraser keeps chasing after!)

I also still feel that she is somewhere still watching over me, protecting me from various bad or evil people, things etc.

Just a feeling that I also got today, that she is watching over me, giving me some direction, setting me to the right path.

I do not feel that I am lost, or that I don't belong, or that I do not know where my life is leading when I feel her direction.

I am sometimes lost, and sometimes feel that I don't belong and sometimes do not know where my life is leading.

But I do not feel so when given a sign.

Thanks mummy for all your guidance while you were alive and thanks for all your guidance now.

Love you lots.

Take care and be well.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Walk like an Egyptian

Remember the Bangles?

I don't think I'll be walking like an Egyptian while I am away the next couple of weeks.

Nevertheless, I will enjoy my vacation but always have my friends, my family especially my Lil' Albert Einstein in my heart, in my mind.

Lock it up and close it down, the sound of morning like a dove, high beyond the rattle and roar, look into the face of love. In your mind, in my mind.

Likely no chance to blog for the rest of the month but many stories to tell when I return.



Take care and be well.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur

I am getting comfortable with life in Miri. I just do not like the pace of life in Kay-El.

I love my family and I come here because of them. But sometimes I feel like I am lost.

But in KL, everything, everybody, everyday ... tick-tock tick-tock. Busy, busy, busy.

Yet, in this busy place I call home, there are friends of ours who find time, who have the work life balance, who go diving in the weekend, who spend quality time with their family, who go photography shooting in the wildlife, who go model shooting in some fancy smancy hotels, who go hiking, who live less than 3 minutes drive between work and home.

I guess I have had to come out of KL to see that while it is a hectic life and a hectic pace, if you really really really want a work life balance, you can find it anywhere, anytime, any how with anyone.

Take care and be well.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Here they go again

I have various blogs set to be posted over the next few days including the one that was posted today. However, in view of the current situation and news in the country, I have decided to write this article.

The current government's method and use of ISA is just appalling. Here they go again, locking up people left, right and center and no reasons have to be provided.

RPK, a journalist and an MP ... who else? The news is still trickling in.

Having been a journalist a long time ago, and having left journalism for this same reason, I am appalled and tired of this circus.

I have never liked Anwar when I was a journalist but currently, with the share market going down the drain, the world economy in tatters and the government more concerned about putting people in ISA, I think he may be the best option.

Mahathir, this is all your fault. Stayed too long, and choose a "fantastic" successor to replace you.

Sad, the state of this country. Gutless politicians. I guess I am really a squatter in this country.

I congratulate my brother (who I do not get along so well with many times) for having the guts to give up his Malaysian citizenship, the smartest thing he has done thus far.

May God help us all.

Take care and be well.

We had joy, we had fun (Dedicated to Bu Bu and Al-E)

Goodbye to you, my trusted Bu Bu and Al-E.
We've known each other for a few months.
Together we played frisbee in the field.
Learned of love and some blub blub's,
skinned our hearts and skinned our knees.

Goodbye my friend, it's hard to fly,
when all the birds are singing in the sky,
Now that the spring is in the air.
Pretty girls are everywhere.
When you see them I'll be there.

We had joy,
we had fun,
we had seasons in the sun.
But the hills that we climbed
were just seasons out of time.

Goodbye, Buang and Al-E, please pray for me,
I was the black tiger of the family.
I tried to teach you right from wrong.
Too much tuak and too much song,
wonder how I get along.

Goodbye, Buang and Al-E, it's hard to fly
when all the birds are singing in the sky,
Now that the spring is in the air.
Little children everywhere.
When you see them I'll be there.

We had joy,
we had fun,
we had seasons in the sun.
But the tuak and the song,
like the seasons, have all gone.

My brother, aka Bader aka Bu Bu aka Muniandy Chennodurai aka Buang Puti aka Anak Hajok aka Yenadai aka Buuuubs - you take care, be well. Our bond is stronger and goes beyond our cubicle and thank God that we are the only jokers around and that our cubicle does not talk back to us.

My boy, aka Al-E aka Al-E Baba aka Albert Einstein aka monkey aka Al-E Boy aka mummies boy aka kuchi kuchi boy aka the ripper aka sloppy joe - you will be well taken care off by Angel Clinic and our bond too will be for as long as we live.

I will see you both on Oct 6.

Take care and be well.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Tick-tock tick-tock

It has been a tick-tock tick-tock for the last two and a half weeks.

Acting for my boss has been good, fun and I am exposed to a lot of things. He did an excellent job at handing over his job to me. We had at least 3 meetings before he left, each for at least 2 hoursnlong just for him to go through all the things with me. It has also been quite stressful and tense because on top of his job, I've still got my job to do.

But I have enjoyed the 2 weeks mainly because of the exposure. But now sure as hell I am needing a break. So, half day of work tomorrow, hand back to my boss and off the KL, then Singapore, then Egypt I go.

When I come back refreshed, that is where the real work will start. That is when I start really implementing changes I have in my mind to excel the team.

For those not familiar with tick-tock tick-tock, basically it's a term from an advertisement that Bu Bu and I have been using to denote a busy busy day where sometimes finding time to piss can also be challenging.

Time passes so fast. Even Bu Bu has been tick-tock tick-tock for the past few weeks.

When I am back on 6 October, my cubicle may well be empty. You see, my sidekick, Bu Bu, Buang Puti, Muniandy Chennodurai - his contract ends on 26 September.

Tick-tock tick-tock - a year passes by.

Oh well, our friendship...in fact, our brotherhood is endless. Contracts may end, but brothers are forever.

Take care and be well.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

How can?

How can being less possessive equals to being less caring?

Possessive = the desire to own or dominate.

Caring = to feel interest or concern.

You can possess things, stuff but not people. You can possess a car, but you cannot possess a person.

Some people seem to want to be possessive over their girlfriends or boyfriends or spouses or children.

Let go, they are human beings with feelings, you cannot possess them, unless you are the devil.

Doesn't mean if you let go, you are less caring or concerned.

"So, how to show someone you care without being possessive?"

"How to show you care? Use your common sense." But then again, that's dead.

How can being less possessive mean the same thing as being less caring?

Sigh ... 3 weeks away is going to do me some good.

Communicate, respect, listen, care is the only way to be a good pair.

Take care and be well.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Obituary - death of a good person

'Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentional but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant, and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home, and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion, his daughter, Responsibility, his son, Reason. He is survived by his four stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Take care and be well.

Hey whatever

Well I can't control the universe
Cause I'm only a person
And I've been reading the papers
But they won't tell me who I am

If you really need a new philosophy
Well there's one that makes sense
The one I profess but I say

Hey whatever

Let your beauty come alive
Let your colour fill the sky
And say whatever
Why don't you liberate your mind
Let your colour fill the sky

All the world's a waiting room
And we're standing in line
For the answers to the question
"What makes this fine?"

Don't let them change your story
Won't let them change your song
Don't let the gurus and philosophers lead you on

It's like taking a seat at the roulette table
Just spinning the wheel
Good or bad just take what comes
Don't change how you feel
Youre a champion of science
Or are y'just some freak show's fool
What can not be proved, no no
Can still be true
And I say

Hey whatever

Take care and be well.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Love actually is all around ...

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at airport.

General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that.

It seems to me that love is everywhere.

Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends.

When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love.

If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion love actually is all around.

The above quote is from the movie "Love Actually". I've somehow watched this movie four or five times and somehow really like it, like the characters, like the quotes and like the love.

There is a lot of love going around. Love is all around, and what the world needs more of now and it shall have more of it. From my heart, to your heart, from my home to your home, from my country to your country - because love actually is all around.

Take care and be well.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Monsters Inc

Wifey sometimes calls me Kittie and I call her Boo - yes, from Monster's Inc. Who is Mike Wajkowski? Well, we don't have one. I have a Mike Wajkowski toy on my table though.

However, we got our doggie Al-E boy or Al-E dog. Where am I leading . . .

Well, with my new look, we now have Alleycat at home :D

I personally know David (Arumugam) and late Loga and honestly, I do not look like either of them. David is extremely skinny and short and his fro is a lot bigger, larger. But well, hey, if people want to associate me with Alleycats, I am proud to be part of the Malaysian icons from my hometown Penang.

Here's one of my favorites . . . "Andainya Aku Pergi Sebelum Mu."



Take care and be well.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Go with the fro

I am not one to usually go with the flow (which is not to push against prevailing behavior/norms/attitudes, occassionally including bowing to peer pressure.)

So, I decided to go with the fro ....



Take care and be well.

Hot Sunday Morning

Partial darkness
Crashing waves
Fan has stopped
No power
In the living room
Wife is sleeping
Al E's incessant barking
Wakes me from my slumber
On this hot Sunday morning

Partial power
1 phase is down
2 phases are running
I am sweating and wide awake
Broadband is working
But tele is not
Al E's routine is done
and he's sleeping by my feet
On this hot Sunday Morning

One more week
Then off to Egypt
Blogging will take a break
It will be a hot time in the Sahara
Beneath the sheltering skies
We'll be cruising down the Nile
Abu Simbel, Alexandria, Cairo and Ramses beckons us
The sun may blind our eyes
On this hot three week vacation

But for now
For today
Only thing in my mind
At this very moment
While the wife has awoken
And the stomach is growling
like Al E by the door waiting for her
All I can think of is
this hot Sunday morning.

Take care and be well.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Flying Tiger Hidden Bear ....

Welcome to Lejoland and Buangville.

Flying Tiger Hidden Bear, not another flick.

Lejo Pitem is my name. It means Black Tiger or Panther.

Buang Puti is my Kayan brother. It means White Bear or Polar Bear.

We live in Lejoland and Buangville - 500 feet of the ground - we soar the skies.

We live a happy life, despite all the stresses of the world around us.

And we spread our cheer, and our love as much as we can.

And we wish and hope for a better life for all, a better future and do as much as we can within out means as a panther and a bear.

Many people sometimes soar into our land and sometimes they fall. We are usually there to catch them, assist them back to Lejoland and Buangville or ensure they have a soft landing.

Some people, it is too high, they loose their bearings, they have vertigo and they fall.

Some people, they fall too fast, too hard.

Some people just don't get of the ground at all whereas some people just bask in Lejoland and Buangville.

Of course, Lejoland, being more established has more people soaring up to it. Buangville is still new.

Lejoland, where your wishing and hoping becomes a reality.

Wishing and hoping and
thinking and praying,
planning and dreaming
each night of her charms
that won't get you into her arms,
so if you're looking to find love
you can share, all you gotta do,
is hold her and kiss her, and love her
and show her that you care.

Welcome to Lejoland.

I just hope Buang is okay to maintain Buangville ... if not there is always Lejoland.

Don't soar too high, don't stay grounded too long, don't fall too fast, don't fall to hard.

Come on over - to Lejoland. It's just a place, in your mind, in my mind.

Take care and be well.

Friday, September 5, 2008

100

This is my one hundredth blog post.

Started blogging rather recently. To be exact on 21 March 2008.

I do it mainly for myself and for my friends to read my musings.

I am now wondering, do I want more publicity, do I want to put this out for the vast public, advertise the blog in some places like Miri net or other networks.

I don't know yet. I write for my pleasure, but then again I have always wanted to be a writer, write a book, publish my poems . . . so, then what is a blog open to public scrutiny and comments? How do I also go about getting more publicity for the blog? I really don't know.

Any comments, suggestions?

Take care and be well.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

99 Red Balloons

Really used to like this song, it was fun, it was a long long time ago.

Initially I thought it was in French, little did I know in 1983 the difference between French and German. It is German.

I was 14 years old, Sar was 11, Mack was 5, Bu Bu and Yani were 2, Chandran was 1, Kuppu was just a dream, maybe a butterfly ...

99 Luft Balloons / 99 Red Balloons - it was a cold war era protest song, even the cold war is gone.
There are other wars and many uncertainties in the world and in life.

But these friendships here, amongst us seem to remain strong and we are developing a nice bond. I cherish it, I savour it, I love it.

You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons
With the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one, they were gone
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message"Something's out there"
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by
99 red balloons
Floating in the summer sky.






Take care and be well.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Olympic mascots commonality with Miri

One of the conversations over lunch yesterday at Deli Pappa . . . .

I asked, "What's the deal or fascination in Miri with the seahorses?"

Ever wondered, why sea horse, why two of them, why in Miri?

We have seahorse roundabouts, seahorse lighthouse, seahorse this and seahorse that.

Then Mack mentioned that they are Miri mascots.

Yes, mascots, you got that right . . . Miri mascots and they have names.

And their names are..... (drum roll) .... Mi Mi and Ri Ri.

The Beijing Olympics 2008 actually got the idea of their 5 mascots from Miri's very own 2 mascots Mi Mi and Ri Ri and named them accordingly Bei Bei, Jing Jing, Huang Huang, Ying Ying and Ni Ni which means Beijing Welcomes You.

There you have it.

Maybe Mi Mi and Ri Ri will have kids and we can name them Res Res, Ort Ort, Ci Ci, Ty Ty . . . get it?

Take care and be well.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Rainbows and butterflies

What a lovely Tuesday morning.

A beautiful rainbow across the sea in front of my house, wifey at my side, Albert Einstein in tow, a light drizzle . . . and a thought of butterflies.

Check out http://www.talkingcubicle.blogspot.com or click on Kuppu's Talking Cubicle from my bloglist.

Take care and be well.

Stop and stare

Why do the people have a tendency to stop and stare?

If you are different
If you are unique
If you are outstanding
If you are disabled
If you are down syndrome
If you have Tourette's syndrome
If you are autistic
If you are popular
If you are ugly
If you are pretty
If you are fat
If you are of a certain skin color
If you are albino
If you are blind
If you are deaf

Why stop and stare - is there a show going on?

Move on,
Walk on by,
live your life,
stare at yourself in the mirror,
Stop the stare,
Don't stop and stare ....

One day, I'll just stare back and then ....

Take care and be well.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Life

Life is a gift
Life is a miracle
Life is to be cherished
Life is short
Life is love
Life is to be lived fully
Life is exceptional
Life is grateful
Life is sometimes sad
Life is sometimes bittersweet
Life is rewarding
Life is beautiful
Life is colorful
Life is funny
Life is sweet
Life is fine
Life is a highway
Life is a journey
Life is good
Life is free
Life is just
Life is change
Life is sacred
Life is great
Life is tasty
Life is delicious
Life is a beach
Life is an adventure
Life is right
Life is a gift

Take care and be well.