WHY LOVE IS BLIND?

Me, I'm just the lucky kind

Love to hear you say that love is luck

Though we may be blind

Love is here to stay and that's enough

THE BEATLES - "Things We Said Today"

One day, all the vices and virtues were gathered together and were bored than ever. Suddenly, Ingenious came up with an idea, “Let’s play hide and seek!” All of them liked the idea and immediately, Madness shouted, “I want to count, I want to count!” And since nobody was crazy enough to want to seek Madness, all the others agreed. As Madness counted, the vices and virtues went hiding. Treason hid in a pile of garbage… Fondness curled up between the clouds… Lie said that it would hide under a stone, but hid at the bottom of the lake… And Madness continued to count … “seventy nine, eighty, eighty one…”

By this time, all the vices and virtues were already hidden except Love. For undecided as Love is, he could not decide where to hide. And this should not surprise us, because we all know how difficult it is to hide Love. And Madness continued counting: “ninety five, ninety six, ninety seven…”

Just when Madness got to one hundred, Love jumped into a rose bush where he hid. Laziness was the first to be found, because Laziness had no energy to hide. Then he spotted Lie at the bottom of the lake and Passion at the centre of the earth. One by one, Madness found them all, except Love.

Madness was getting desperate, unable to find Love. Envious of Love, Envy whispered to Madness, “You only need to find Love, and Love is hiding in the rose bush.” Madness grabbed a wooden pitch fork and stabbed wildly at the rosebush until a heartbreaking cry made him stop. Love emerged from the rose bush, covering his face with his hands. Madness, so anxious to find Love, had stabbed out Love’s eyes with the pitch fork.

“What have I done? What have I done?” Madness shouted. “I have left you blind. How can I repair it?”

And Love answered, “You cannot repair my eyes. But if you want to do something for me, you can be my guide.”

And so it came about that from that day on, Love is blind and is always accompanied by Madness….

This is from an e-mail that Ms Lactose sent me. She found this interesting article in her son's school text book!

10-MEALS-TRIP

Yes – you heard it right. 10 meals in one trip in 10 hours.

On Tuesday, since most of us were on leave to avoid the jam for Thaipusam, we (self, CK, YY, Ms Lactose, Boon Seong) went to Seremban-Malacca for our glutton trip a.k.a. Fei Chai Trip I. (Yes, there are more to come.. there goes my diet plan for the year)

Here’s the stuff we ate, in chronological order…

Meal #1


Beef Noodles

We had this in Seremban. The stall has been there as long as CK could remember. Since little, CK’s parents always took them there to have their hot and delicious beef noodles. The stall is near the Seremban Market.

Meal #2

It is actually a siew pao or an egg tart for each person. I didn’t manage to snap the pics as they were gobbled up the moment they entered the car.

Meal #3


Hainanese Chicken Rice

This is the ever famous Hainanese chicken rice in Malacca, situated near the river, right in front of OCBC Bank. Usually, we would have popiahs or pineapple tartlets to go with the chicken rice, but the popiah selling ah pek was not there on Tuesday.

The taste had gone a bit way out of its usual scrumptiousness, nevertheless, it could still stimulate our taste buds.

The same Chinese man with grey hair is still there, chopping the chicken with his high culinary skills.

The chicken rice always go well with iced barley lime.

Meal #4


Tarts

Just curious on how durian tarts taste like, we had a piece of something else as well- pandan, durian, blueberry, portuguese and egg.

Meal #5


Chendol

This chendol had also gone way from its original taste. Used to taste so much better the last time I was here.

Meal #6


Nyonya

Had nyonya food at Ole Sayang Restaurant. It seemed, the place had gone over commercialized and it showed in its servings and food quality. There are better nyonya food at Makko Restaurant.

Meal #7


Baba Durian Chendol

I spotted this shop while we drove through the narrow one-way streets, on our way to Harper’s restaurant for tea. Since the first chendol sucks, we decided to try another real durian chendol. This one taste much much better compare to Tan Kim Hock’s – according to CK. Simply heaven!

Meal #8


Fishball

We had the chendol together with fishballs. The fishball was a bit pricey, 50 sen per piece, but they were really fresh and succulent. This shop serves assam laksa, curry mee, soup noodles as well. Try to go early for taste.

CK after the Baba Durian Chendol


The Shop

Highly recommended! It is situated at Jalan Hang Lekiu, right below Antique Shop 88.

Meal #9


Coffee and Beer

Attempting to let our stomach rest, we down some iced coffee and beer at Harper’s restaurant, overlooking the Malacca River and took a short nap.

Meal #10


Portuguese

Sorry about the picture – everybody was over excited with the smells and presentation of the food that they wanted to dig in immediately and had no time to let me take some pics. We had the portuguese food at this restaurant called, El Chino - Joanne, something something. Not bad.


Breath Taking View at Portuguese Settlement

Highlight of the Trip

CK drove all the way from KL to Malacca and back to KL without his identification card and driving license as he left his wallet at home.

Boon Seong ate 5 plates of white rice in total, chicken rice balls not included.

Ms Lactose, being lactose intolerant survived the cheese and milk booby traps.

YY, being the slowest eater, managed to compete with big eaters like me and get her portion well.

Me, on the other hand.. had succumbed to terrible sore throat and cough for two days now due to the food, basking in the hot sun and talking too much in the car.

SHIOK

Majestic Merlion

On the way to Singapore, at Yong Peng, the bus stopped for the passengers to take a leak..

WY: Do you think it is safe to keep our bags in the bus?

Self: Well, you can carry them down if you want to. We don’t have valuables in here... unless they want to steal some oversized panties.

Last year, we went for a cruise to Phuket.

Singapore – generally speaking, there aren't many places of interest to see or great food to stimulate our taste buds. Most of my friends were puzzled why I go to Singapore for a mini break.

Friends: Why Singapore?

Me, the self confessed bitch: Lim peh shiok (Hokkien: “My father” likes. Meaning, it is none of your business).

Initially, we planned to go to Bali. Looking at the tsunami incident, and other following calamities around the world, after the horrific disaster, both our parents, hesitate to let us venture too far. Being the filial Asian daughters, we obeyed our parents and planned a short trip – not too far away from Malaysia.

As usual, WY is all for a shopping spree. I am getting used to just tag along, and engaged in my new hobby – photo taking ala paparazzi style. I thank God for the invention of the digital cameras. In most of our trips together, I am always the photographer.

We were there to see WY’s sister, WM and some friends we met in our Redang trip in 2002, Dimples and Seng. Stayed over at WM’s house.

Day 1


Bugis Junction


Red for Chinese New Year


Chinatown

The first day there was uneventful – some boring shopping in Bugis and being packed like sardines in a can in Chinatown. Singaporeans are in their frenzy shopping mode for the Chinese New Year – not a good time to visit Chinatown, if you want to indulge in some serious shopping.

WY exclaimed at the maddening crowd at the MRT, “This is worse than Masjid Jamek!”


Dimples doing Salsa

We went to see another old friend, Dimples, who was there to feed her soul. She is there to seek a breakthrough in her spiritual life.

She took us to Latino Club in Amara Hotel, where strangers just salsa the night away. Cool joint. Free booze for the ladies on a Friday night. Super duper cool.

Some kind of religious breakthrough huh? Kidding.

Day 2

I am there to see a buddy, Seng on his birthday. My kindred spirit. Thank goodness, he came to break the spell of the endless shopping the last 24 hours. WY seemed to be enjoying her shopping very much.

I behave just like men – only shop when there is a need and I don’t try on shoes or clothes without intention of buying them. And I don’t understand why some women always do that. No offence. Some people are not born to shop and I am one of them.


Golden View


Cotton Candy Blue Sky

Seng and I took long strolls, from Queenstown to City Hall, to Esplanades, Raffles City, City Link, etc and took some pictures, catching up with the stories of our lives, debating our ideals all over again, etc before joining the Redang gang at Clarke Quay.


Moonlight at Suntec

I quote Seng:

Sometimes, in life, we just have to slow down and walk instead of taking the MRT or cabs. Along the way, we would meet people, see interesting places or unusual event unfolding in front of our very eyes. If we rush all the time, we wouldn’t have the pleasure of encountering these moments. Savour every moment.

.. besides, you need the exercise. You seemed to put on some weight.

@#$%^&*


Brewerkz

It was wonderful to see the Redang gang again, chatting over dinner and 13 jugs of beer at Brewerz, Clarke Quay.

Broke my personal record for beers. I didn’t take beer since the day I puked like a fountain in my first company trip, which eventually led to my official nickname – the Fountain.

I took 7 glasses of beer – just to spite the guys to drink more. Damn. I wonder how many gym sessions will it take to burn the calories off.

Day 3


Point of View

Some shopping again, and meeting up with Dimples and Seng before we hit back to KL. Took a stroll again at the Esplanades and visited the Merlion.

Summary:

It was a good trip. WM has been a tremendously fabulous host. She made us Teow Chew breakfast!

The food in Singapore is improving and the chillis seemed to be genetically re-engineered coz they taste extra hot compared to the cili padi in Malaysia. A cili padi queen like me also cannot bear its spiciness.

We can’t get public toilets as clean as the ones in Singapore anywhere in Malaysia, and best of all, they come free of charge.

There are less cars in Singapore. Air is less polluted. The drivers are very courteous and they stopped for pedestrians on the zebra crossings.

Sigh. I wonder if I should find a job there.

FORTNIGHTLY UPDATES

Well, a friend commented that my blog posting is getting mundane. Lack of wittiness and spontaneity nowadays. Not surprising – already over 150 posts in less than a year. Witty blogging is a tough job, yet someone has to do it. Maybe I am just not cut out to be a blogger after all.

If you noticed the usual average 3 posts per week are not there – well, here is it, in summary.

Office: Do not to take your nice boss for granted.

Sugar was curious whether I am happy here. Of course I am. Just that, these days, I was somewhat distracted, making careless mistakes and aloof. Have to cut down on partying and late nights.

This is really serious. I know, as much as she adores me, I have to buck up and not to take her for granted. She is a nice boss really.

Friends: Do not to base your judgement on one’s character the initial way you knew him/her.

I don’t like Curly for numerous reasons. His super loud mouth and bossy character, just to name a few.

His loud mouth and bossy character came in handy in time of crisis. He went to the Buddhist Temple to help sorting out the relief aid. Initially, it was a total chaos. The moment he was there, he was appointed as a committee member and assigned to be in charge of the logistics. Everything went on smoothly after that, despite some glitches with the elderly due to his bossy character.

Friends: Do not to take your good friends for granted.

Visited James and Mae together with Pilot Boy. A different chapter of life enfolds. When we first met, we were talking about other disastrous meetings with internet friends, experimenting on booze, polishing our skills in pool, darts, foosball, etc.

Nowadays, we talk mainly about children, diapers, milk formula, etc. James and Mae have Jesse and Pilot Boy has baby Brian, and I have Sasha and Lok Lok (Not mine. Temporary baby sitting).

Sasha & Lok Lok

Had a quiet Japanese dinner to rekindle old friendships… not really that quiet, as I was complaining all the time.

Can’t wait for Kat to come home.

Supper gang – had supper last Friday. It was fun just to watch them yak the night away. LB is having his house warming party soon. We are happy for him and hope to see him settle down soon with his long time girlfriend, Tina. The Monk said, we should start saving up to buy LB a cow for slaughter as a wedding gift for kenduri. Geez.. this idea comes from a fellow Buddhist… namo amitabha.

Wang Loi, ex gym mate, came home alive, from Bali, after violent protest from her brother, not allowing her to go. She went there on 1st January. Well, like they say, it’s time when it’s time. Actually, I was worried sick the 5 days while she was in Bali. Bought me a bottle of Absolut Vanilla. Nice.

Ms Lactose in Action

Celebrated CK’s birthday in Rum Jungle and Deutsches Bierhaus. Not on the same day though. As usual, the cake, booze and entertainment by sexy Ms Lactose in birthday suit (without the ears and furry tail) and unfortunately, she did lap dancing (ooOOo) on an invisible person.

The Girl with Hot Ass

The dinner at Deutsches Bierhaus left a warm fuzzy feeling inside, except for the exceptionally rude waiter. No more next time. There were seven of us, self, WY, YY, CK, Ms Lactose, Bee Stung Lips and Boon Seong. We planned to scale the Mount Kinabalu this coming March… erm.. not really my cup of tea.

Closet Gays – Bee Stung Lips & CK

I hope I don’t end up as the cattle (read: Pig) to be slaughtered as offerings to the spirit of the mountain.

Catching up with Ann and Victoria on tsunami disaster and religious discussion (more like anti-religion talk) over Big Whoppers in Burger King. Victoria came up with her mom’s amazing religious theories on why these places are swept by the great waves of death.

Visiting Seng in Singapore tomorrow. No, it is not a tongue twister. It is his birthday on 21st. Will be seeing Dimples and catching up with old friends whom I met in Redang Trip about 4 years ago.

Friends come and go. We just have to appreciate them as and when they are with us, and let the sweet old memories linger when it's time to say goodbye and continue with their new lease of life – having a family, migration, change of sexual preference/orientation, etc.

Family: Not to take your family for granted.

There have been some tiffs over petty issues in the house. This is what you get when you stay with a dozen people in the same house. 12 people with 12 opinions… err.. 10 opinions. Sasha and Lok Lok, I believe have not form their own opinions as yet.

Whatever it is, family members usually meant well. Compromise, tolerance, patience, perseverance and close one eye.

Sex Life: It doesn’t pay to have sex on the first date.

I don’t have one. Just checking if you are still reading.

Gym: Do not to sing/whistle while in the shower

I think I freak some girls out as I whistled while taking the shower in the ladies changing room. They thought there was a man.

I have made a progress.. not in terms on body mass and shape.. I was chatted up by a man yesterday, instead of girls. Okay – even if he looks a bit like William Hung, but at least he is from the opposite sex.

Dating Scenes: Went on two blind dates this year.

Blind date I: You are very attractive.

Self: So are you... Are you saying that to get me laid?

Blind date II: You don’t look weighing 15 kgs on the moon. (For those not-so-scientific-savvy, the ratio is 1:6)

(He quoted me 20 kgs lighter. I felt my feet floating for a few seconds).

Self: You look so much better in person than in pictures. But.. sorry... I can't imagine dating a Ch*bai (He is half Chinese/half Sikh).

THE QUEST FOR PERFECTION

Perfection

How many women had fallen victims to gimmicks that promise eternal youth?

As old as the world maybe, the beauties like Cleopatra of Egypt, Helen of Troy, etc must have taken drastic measure to ensure that their beauty above all things are well preserved. Models or beauty queens who insisted they only cleanse, tone and moisturize are all liars.

As for me, I couldn’t care less how I dress up for the day, how I style my hair, but my skin condition is on top of my priority list. After all, it is the first defense mechanism of the body from external invasion. (Note: Scientific excuses will be used in order to camouflage my vanity).

To me, going for facial courses is not my option for radiant skin, till I was plagued with excess excretion of sebum and eruption of little volcanoes (those dreaded pimples) all over my face when I was in TAR College. Must be the water, or some friends said, I hit the second puberty at 19.

After numerous pimples and many disastrous purchases of cleansers, toners, scrubs, tea tree oil products, oxy (famous in the 90s then), etc which made my toilet cabinet looking like a mini pharmacy, later, I decided to take drastic measure by going to a beautician.

After shopping for the perfect salon with the 4Rs - Right people, Right service, Right price, Right location, I am a loyal customer of Agjov Beauty Salon in Plaza Mutiara, Jalan Ipoh for the third year now. So what if it doesn’t have big names like Leonard Drake’s Dermalogica or Clara International? I have been to both and I don’t get the personal attention that I needed.

Facials are like mini plastic surgery to me, minus the cost of the bomb.

Today, I decided to go for something other than the routine algae mask, I went for bio renewal and repair.

It was a 2 ½ hours facial, (usually 1 ½ hours to 2) with extra special stuff being slapped on my face for added Oomph! Jovy, my beautician, afterall is my sister's best bud. Jovy was my brief roommate when we were in TAR College, till she opted to do beauty course instead. Good move, if you ask me.

The place evolves with time. Now they have 4 private rooms instead of one row of five beds with curtains when they first started.

The cozy environment with soothing rendition by Enya or Kenny G will lull you to sleep, while the professionals attend to your face, neck and shoulder. I particularly like the massage on the face right after the extraction of polluted residue. There is also a slimming course but I do not have the time to do it. Have to go like once every two days for best results. That is why I go to the gym instead. Nearer to my office and I get to check out the guys. It’s a long term process.

I didn’t say I look like a cover girl now. Just imagine – if I don’t go, I would have looked even more tragic. At least I keep those pimples and blackheads at bay.. and look clean.

And they use Cellnique, believing in Passion for Perfect Skin.

For more information, please contact Jovy at:

Agjov Beauty

1-53, 1st Floor, Kompleks Mutiara,

Batu 3 1/2, Jalan Ipoh,

51200 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-6250 3202

WIFE MATERIAL

I just don’t understand why men bother to marry at the first place, if they plan to have extra marital affairs after that. Like this fellow chatter, who complained about having a low sex drive wife.

[Self] Do you have sex with your wife before you marry her?

[HottStud] of course!!

[Self] then?

[HottStud] wat era are we living in these days??

[Self] do you know she has low sex drive?

[HottStud] yes i know...and it's better to have a low sex drive type of wife....then i can flirt more outside ;)

[Self] like that also can

[Self] you don’t prefer to have a wild wife in bed?

[HottStud] hahaha....no la, just that she's a real wife material

[Self] What type of wife material?

[HottStud] of course, not materialistic type, look pretty, can cook, not possessive type etc etc...

[Self] die lah... i am materialistic, not pretty, cannot cook, damn possessive, i will die a spinster

[HottStud] Hahah. Then, become a mistress lah.

I am definitely NOT a wife material. Like Bridget Jones' saddest imagination, my tombstone would be engraved with the following words:

GINA CHENG
1976 - 2050
SPINSTER

Related stories:
Is There a Hitch? Does marriage make you happy? Or do happy people tend to be the marrying kind? The facts about wedded bliss.

WALK YOUR TALK

This morning, as I was braving the maddening jam to office, (how I wish the school holidays are still on!), Shaz and Richard were talking about Oprah Winfrey on Mix.FM.

What has the richest woman in the world done for the tsunami victims? No news – according to the disappointed Shaz, that she decided to write Oprah an e-mail.

What have I done for the tsunami victims?

As I am neither Oprah nor Siti Nurhaliza, or Maria Sharapova, and on the verge of bankruptcy due to my credit card bills, all I can do is perhaps, to lend my able body to expedite channeling relief contribution.

It all came as a request from my AVP (Assistant Vice President a.k.a. one of the Fire Marshals, the reliable one), as the 10 of us chowed down succulent dim sums at Tai Thong Restaurant for lunch this afternoon.

AVP: Where will you be going after work tonight?

Self: Err.. gym?

AVP: Let me take you to shed those pounds elsewhere.

* it is not as kinky as it sounds. Out of the 10, only 2 went.

On the way, Ann decided to join in the “fun”. I’ve never seen an overly excited volunteer before. She said she was dying of boredom. Boring people make good volunteers?

9.00 pm at the sorting house at Maha Vihara Temple, Jalan Berhala, Brickfields…

Self: Err.. Do you need help?

Wise woman with white wig .. err.. hair: Obviously we need help!

She gave me the "DUH" look. Stupid question. Brain has not been functioning properly due to too much booze. Need to top up on gingko biloba.

Ann came to my rescue.

Ann: Where do we start?

We were assigned to sort out clothes donated by people all over Malaysia. Yes – the stories about some inconsiderate things that some brainless people donated are sadly, true.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have my trusty digicam with me.

Inference obtained from Box No. 1, after watching far too many episodes of C.S.I…

Husband, early 40s, big ass because most of his pants had holes in them, not very tall, due to the length of his pajamas. A bloody cheapo (he wore only clothes sponsored by tourism company, petrol stations, clubs, etc)

Wife, late 30s, slim body and petite (most of her skirts' waist circumference is the size of my thigh), kinky in bed (the three black lacy panties), a nurse - OooO, even more kinky (five sets of worn out uniforms – two skirts, two dresses, one pants suit).

Daughter – 3 years old, small built, pink clothes all over. Pampered. (Got more clothes to give away compared to the brother)

Son – 5 years old, fat boy – big t shirt for a 5 year old. A Q-Dees student.

Mother-in-law, late 50s, bitter (only two XXL sizes old ladies clothes in the box. The daughter in law must have not bought her enough new clothes for the new year).

Thank goodness for the volunteers who help to clear those unwanted items from the many boxes of clothes donations.

It is befuddling to think, why would the tsunami victims need a fur carpet, broken lego toys, black lacy panties, nurses uniforms, neck ties, high heels shoes, etc.

We managed to sort out only one box when they decided to call it a day. They still need volunteers, so I will gather there this time, earlier, and make more inferences as I rummage through the boxes.

What have YOU done for the tsunami victims?

IN EVERY HEART, THERE IS A ROOM

In every heart there is a room
A sanctuary safe and strong
To heal the wounds from lovers past
Until a new one comes along

And every time I've held a rose
It seems I only felt the thorns

So I would choose to be with you
That's if the choice were mine to make
But you can make decisions too
And you can have this heart to break
And you're the only one who knows

I utter more words than this
But if my silence made you leave
Then that would be my worst mistake
So I will share this room with you
And you can have this heart to break

I spoke to you in cautious tones
You answered me with no pretense
And still I feel I said too much
My silence is my self defense

Source: A poem from an old friend, who has lost in the battle called love. I feel for you, buddy. Hang in there.

AULD LANG SYNE

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?

This song never fails to bring tears to my eyes. I was first taught to sing this song in primary school when our beloved headmistress, Ms Dorai, retired. From that day onwards, I know that this song will be sung on sad occasions; like departures, death … to bid adieu to someone we loved and never to see them again for good.

The same goes to a passing year. Time and tide awaits no man.

Year 2004 was a challenging year. Whether you are enslaved to the corporate world or self-employed, it is good to know when to move on, to make necessary changes and having the courage to do so.


Pushing 30, there are many things I haven’t done. Being a serial procrastinator would only make things worse.

These are some of the things I did last year, which I am proud of:

1. Joining the gym
2. Controlling my temper
3. Learning to take things easy
4. Taking my aunt for a cruise as promised
5. Maintaining this blog

These are some of the things I wish I had done last year

1. Spend more time at home with family
2. Lose more weight
3. Eat healthily
4. Lending a hand for the needy
5. Joining the toast masters club

These are some of the things that I had done and regretted doing them

1. Being untactful in confessing my feelings, almost causing an end to a much cherished friendship
2. Bad mouthing people
3. Overspent
4. Jumping into conclusions, without checking
5. Being frivolous and flamboyant
6. Having supper after each gym sessions

7. Talking too much.

These are the things I hope to accomplish this year

1. Spend more time at home with family
2. Lose more weight
3. Eat healthily
4. Lending a hand for the needy
5. Joining the toast masters club
6. Minimize bad mouthing people ( I know I can’t stop totally)
7. To think first before I open my mouth (Stop being a bitch)
8. To fulfil spiritual needs
9. To spend time wisely
10. Owning an apartment

... last but not least, learn to let go. (So, help me, God!)

Last night.. obviously, I didn't take Plan C.. else I won't be blogging now. I went to see a good friend for supper and watched unexpected fireworks in Bandar Sri Damansara. It was beautiful... I didn't get pissed drunk either.