Kooky Pics #330 Dangling at the edge

Kooky Pics #329 Blue, blue, blue

Beautiful beach at Redang.

Kooky Pics #328 Turtle Eggs

Turtle eggs- RM25 for 5 eggs.
In Terengganu market (approximately 5 hours drive from KL) near Shahbander Jetty.

Kooky Pics #327 The new me

Library at Cineleisure, Curve.
Buy 1 pint free 1 pint- 12pm till 6pm.
Carlsberg, Tiger, Heineken, Sella Artois, Hoegarden to name a few.

Busy bee

Many have blogged about Mid Autumn Festival but not me. All I did for the day- went for a wedding registration- not mine, in case you were wondering, had lunch with the Mothership whilst Mr. C had lunch with my dad and brother and everyone say, "Awwwww" and then the rest of the afternoon was spent at Puchong cleaning his brother's house. Definitely tiring. We played Monopoly Deal as the Reliance people came to fix the shower screen at their turtle pace.

By the time we got back to Mr. C's house, it was close to 8pm. Had a super filling dinner- banana leaf rice at Old Town with his dad. Hang out with his brother for a bit and headed out to meet his friends at the park nearby. Just chatting and chilling. But I felt icky and sticky as I did not have my bath with no extra change of clothes.

That's just a summary of my busy but free of work stress life. You would think that I'll be well rested with lots of time at hand but you thought wrong. From the moment I wake up till I sleep, if it's not time spent with Mr. C, it's his family, or mine or his friends or mine. And for him, it's easier to meet his friends as they're of the same group. They all grew up together since primary school. Where else I have one or two friends from different groups such as high school, college, university and work. It's really tiring to meet anyone and everyone on top of spending it with my family.

Kinda miffed at a friend who up to now has NOT initiated meeting up with me and at another who didn't tell me he was planning to propose to his girlfriend and that just proves my point once again that GUYS SUCKS! I was kinda hurt about it but I guess there really is no point on holding on to something that very well isn't much. Unfortunately, that's a part of me that is hard to change- caring about people, a lot!

Since I got back, it's been crazy hectic. I have many posts in draft waiting to be completed. I've been to Singapore to meet ex-colleagues like Lyn, Hying, Camz and plurk brother, Genting Highlands with the Sues, family time at Clearwater Sanctuary in Perak where they filmed "Anna and the king" starring Chow Yun Fatt and Jodie Foster, Cameron Highlands and a get-away-from-the-parents trip to Redang.

I have had my sing K fix with MsJuice til 4am, watched movie on Wednesday with Loon, Dick and Haseo proceeded by Frog Porridge, met up with the plurkers, driven up and down Genting twice, met my childhood friend, had a brief accounting session with someone, attended two courses just to obtain my CPD hours, had a farewell dinner by the Redang gang, was treated to Tao buffet at Sunway Giza and the list goes on.

Overall, this trip back has been great but at the same time, I can't wait to go back to Brisbane to get started on my plans. Plans for my future. This time, I tell myself, no more procrastination. It's time to take the bull by it's horn and charge on.

Kooky Pics #326 Current addiction

Monopoly deal for only RM19.90!!

Kooky Pics #325 Ninjas

Ninja Jo's at Tropicana City Mall, Petaling Jaya.

Kooky Pics #324 Murky depths

As we departed the scenic beach at Redang.

Kooky Pics #323 Forever blue

Kooky Pics #322 Keepsakes

How to write like JK Rowling

I was googling about creative writing a few weeks back and came across some pretty good basic tips that most of us would find it easy to understand, put it into application and perhaps, be on our road to J.K. Rowling's success or the equivalent. That's what I initially thought. Have a read and see how well you apply it.

As for me, it is still a constant struggle. I am still uncertain as to what my style is plus I have a tendency to be chiong hei (Cantonese for long winded). I definitely don't write the way I talk- even my own brother says that he rather hear me tell my stories then read them at my blog.

So, here are some basic tips that I hope will help you.

Creative Writing Tip #1: Be Simple

Write in the simple, natural language of everyday speech. This doesn't mean that you confine yourself to only the most basic words, but that you avoid pompous language, which may cloud your meaning or send readers to sleep.

For example, do not say, He acquired an instrument of destruction wherewith he decapitated the formidable foe, when you mean, With his axe he chopped off the giant's head. Use short, familiar words rather than long, obscure ones - unless the longer word fits your meaning more precisely.

Most good writing is simple. Read the works of authors like Jack London and Ernest Hemingway; read the classics; read the Bible. Simple language is the strongest and most effective.

One way to acquire good style is to study the works of great writers: not to imitate them but to learn how simple language can be elegant, lyrical and powerful.

Creative Writing Tip #2: Be Yourself

Be yourself; be natural and sincere. Don't try to imitate another writer's style; find your own, the style that bears the stamp of your personality.

A guarded, polished style is like a faceless mask; it's not real. Good writing resonates with the true voice of the human author, with all of that author's warmth, wit, idiosyncrasies and vulnerabilities.

Write as if you're speaking to a friend. Your reader should be able to hear the rhythms and cadences of your speaking voice. Your family and friends should be able to say, “This sounds like you.”

Creative Writing Tip #3: Be Precise

Choose words that say precisely what you mean.

Avoid trite words like nice, interesting, big. As in: We had a nice dinner; That's a big bird. Be specific. Is it sushi, wonton or mutton curry? Is it a flamingo, an eagle or an ostrich?

Avoid vague words like walk, laugh, pour. Be creative. The boy ambled, shuffled, swaggered; the villain scoffed, jeered, sneered; water gurgled, gushed, spurted out.

Avoid meaningless words like thing, something, somewhere. Be definite. Name the thing or place, use concrete words that evoke clear images: click on this link for more Creative Writing Tips on Concrete Words.

Get a thesaurus to help you. Roget's Thesaurus, for example, is an indispensable reference tool. It comes in many versions; pick the one that best suits your needs.

A dictionary of synonyms helps too. Webster's New Dictionary of Synonyms, for example, tells you the subtle difference between almost similar words. Or get the compact version, The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms.

Choose words that convey your message clearly to readers. Good writers look for the apt word, the word that carries the precise denotation and the strongest, richest connotations. For more Creative Writing Tips on Denotations and Connotations of Words, go to Good Word Choice.

Creative Writing Tip #4: Be Concise

Concise writing is clear and strong. Write to the point, cut out unnecessary words. This doesn't mean that you throw out all details, descriptions and figures of speech but that you make every word pull its weight.

Cut out meaningless words and phrases like basically, personally, as a matter of fact.
As a matter of fact, today is my birthday has the same meaning as Today is my birthday.
Personally, I feel we shouldn't go near the bull: can anyone ever feel impersonally?

Don't repeat yourself. Phrases like round in shape, the reason is because, revert back, say the same thing twice.

Use strong action verbs. Sentences with active verbs are shorter and stronger than those with passive verbs.

Active Verb: The man bit the dog.
Passive Verb: The dog was bitten by the man.
Click here for more Creative Writing Tips on Action Verbs. Replace roundabout phrases like in the event of, by virtue of the fact that, by the name of, with single words that do the same job, like if, because, named.

Phrases like there is, there was, it was dilute your meaning:
There was a baby crying in the basket; it was the baby's cry that woke him up.
Cut out the verbiage: A baby was crying in the basket; the baby's cry woke him up.

Kooky Pics #321 Chillaxing

Kooky Pics #320 My vice

Kooky Pics #319 Smoking not allowed

Kooky Pics #318 Solitude

Green Eyed Monster

Jealousy is a very ugly but powerful emotion. You can think all is right with the world and BANG, it creeps up on you and grasps you in its deadly grasp. This feeling, this emotion stems from a feeling of insecurity that one is never good enough or perhaps, envious of what others have that one lacks, usually when one is insecure.

It's funny how you can be secure in a relationship may it be family, friends or bf/gf and something small or insignificant can evoke this little green monster out of the blue and throws you off balance.

Despite the connotation that jealousy is a negative emotion, it can actually be good as long as it spurs one to perhaps study harder, work harder to achieve that very thing they are envious of.

It's been awhile since I felt jealousy when it comes to my boyfriend. But as he was talking about his friend and friend's friend, there it was- that ugly feeling. I find it strange that I even felt it at all. In the past, I was easily jealous as I was obviously insecure about a lot of things, suspicious of all men's intentions, constantly self-conscious coupled with my lack of exposure to realities of the world.

All I can say is, I don't like this feeling at all and I hope it doesn't make another appearance anytime soon. =p

Kooky Pics #317 hidden valley

At Sungai Palas, Cameron Highlands.

Kooky Pics #316 What's your story?

Kooky Pics #315 Beautiful you

Kooky Pics #314 I love you

Past, Present and Phuture

Sometimes we get so caught up

in the past- in our past

we forget to appreciate whatever that is before us

even if it is right smack in our faces.

Take a hard look at yourself

Evaluate those that surround you

Friends and family

who you love and loves you back.

I looked up to you in my past

and you were my world

but time passes and with time, hurt and disappointments

you have changed and so have I.

You've always had a knack

for saying hurtful stuff

sometimes, you may say it to protect yourself

but for all that you've done, I thank you.

You make me want to slap you in the past

but we learn to understand each other better

I wish you would step up and do what you have to do

Irregardless, I still love you.

I don't hate you and I never will.

But a turtle you still seem to be

You are so much more than you let yourself be

and you need to fight for something that is definitely worth it.

The good you is stuck in my past
The shit you is definitely not in my present

I thought we were more than friends

but at the way things are- I am more and you are less.

You were my playmate in my past

I liked you and I envied you

your intelligence, your business mindedness

I am glad that we met and you're still my friend.

I used to regret you in my past
hoping that I could turn back time

but now you're my present
and I think, my future.

Kooky Pics #313 Magic Mushrooms

Me, myself and I

From the moment we are born, we were given parents. Some parents leave but most of us have parents to watch over us and take care of us. Parents to guide us towards adulthood. However, no one is perfect and everyone is likely to be fallible to some degree and parents are no exception.

Some parents try to live their dreams through their children. Some parents think they know what is best for their children. Of course, when I become a parent one day, I would want the best for my child and primp them up to be the best that they can be or at least, to my definition of what I perceive is the best for them.

Parents often have the best intentions but perhaps, there are times, parents may want the best for us but THEIR definition of best might not exactly be what we need or what is best suited for us. And that is why, after years of sacrifice and being obedient, well, that is how I perceive things whether one may agree with it, I chose to do what I did.

Many would think that it was a rash move. Some said that if they were earning as much as I was, they would never have resigned, up and left. Ultimately, I did it for many reasons and one of them was that, for once, I had to do something for me. For self preservation. For once, I thought of myself and even then, to be honest, I did not make the sole decision just for my sake, I did it for someone else too.

On Saturday, I had a good cry. Not because I wanted to but it was definitely overdue. For me, coming home, I decided family comes first. Yes, even over friends. I forsake a friend in her moment of her need just to be with my family. Was it worth it? Somehow, I felt that perhaps, at that very moment, I should have been there with my friend instead. She probably would have appreciated my effort more.

People say that friends are family you can choose BUT how about, FAMILY are friends you cannot choose. And that how life is. There are friends out there that you never chose. Those friendship just happens.

After all that has been said and done, even coming back with the noblest intention to spend quality time with a certain people, I have discovered that I am only human. I, too can only withstand so much. She may not agree with me. She may feel that I am just enjoying life or whatever else that goes on in her mind these days.

But once again, I have to go on this journey not just for the sake of having fun but more so for self healing. When I do something, I do it out of love. Not because of any ulterior motives. I am too straight forward for that- a direct translation from Chinese way of saying that I am not manipulative. I wished with all my might that I can be cunning and sly but I just can't. Despite my flaws and imperfections, deception isn't something I execute very well.

I can't play the mind games anymore leading me towards needing a break. Time away to recoup. And when I come back, I will be ready once again to take on whatever that is dealt to me.

Kooky Pics #312 Breakfast that matters

More love quotes

I read some quotes from Movies on 'love' and think it's really good to share it with you guys. Some pickup lines you guys can use, if you know how to execute it. =p Anyone with your own great love quotes?

Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time.

-- Casablanca

If I tell you I love you, can I keep you forever?

-- Casper

Life is messy. Love is messier.

-- Catch and Release

A dream is a wish your heart makes.

-- Cinderella

I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss from her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it.

-- City of Angels

My husband and I fell in love at first sight... maybe I should have taken a second look.

-- Crimes and Misdemeanors

Love is not a feeling, it's an ability.

-- Dan in Real Life

There are only four questions of value in life.

What is sacred?

Of what is the spirit made of?

What is worth living for?

What is worth dying for?

The answer to each is the same. Only love.

-- Don Juan Demarco

Life is like a box of choclates, you never know what your gonna get.

-- Forest Gump

When you love someone,

And you love them with your heart,

It never disappears,

When you're apart.

And when you love someone

And you've done all you can do,

You set them free,

And if that love was true...

When you love someone

It will all come back to you.

-- Forget Paris

A heart can be broken; but it keeps beating just the same.

-- Fried Green Tomatoes

It doesn't matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect, as long as they are perfect for each other.

-- Good Will Hunting

You make me want to be a better man.

-- Jack Nicholson, "As Good As It Gets"

To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering, one must not love; but then one suffers from not loving. Therefore, to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer, to suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love; to be happy then is to suffer, but suffering makes one unhappy; therefore to be unhappy one must love or love to suffer or suffer from too much happiness. I hope you're getting this down.

-- Love and Death

Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you'll find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding, but there's also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who's been standing beside you all along.

-- Marion St. Claire, Bride Wars

Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived.

-- Meet Joe Black

Love is a many splendid thing; Love lift us up where we belong; All you need is love.

-- Moulin Rouge

Your eyes are the sweetest stars I've ever seen.

-- Moulin Rouge

Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide, but I love you, until the end of time.

-- Moulin Rouge

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place,

suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace,

suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste,

it all revolves around you.

-- Moulin Rouge

I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.

-- Notting Hill

I am someone else when I'm with you, someone more like myself.

-- Original Sin

If the people we love are stolen from us,

The way to have them live on, is to remember them.

Buildings burn, people die, but real love is forever.

-- The Crow

In these dreams I've loved you so, that by now I think I know what it's like to be loved by you. I will love being loved by you.

-- The King and I

Summer romances begin for all kinds of reasons, but when all is said and done, they have one thing in common. They're shooting stars, a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, fleeting glimpse of eternity, and in a flash they're gone.

-- The Notebook

Love is friendship on fire.

-- The Perfect Man

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

-- When Harry Met Sally

Kooky Pics #311 Guess what I found in the jacuzzi?

Movie quotes

Movie Quotes: Addams Family Values

You'll meet someone. Someone very special. Someone who won't press charges.

Movie Quotes: Antz

I think everything must go back to the fact I had a very anxious childhood. You know, my mother never had time for me. You know, when you're the middle child in a family of five million, you don't get any attention.

Kooky Pics #310 Out of town fruits

It's all about skin colour

Recently, I read Zewt blogged about being in Singapore and yet he is still keeping abreast with the happenings in Malaysia.

And this is what I had to say in response to his post.

I, too have been reading the news and what he's blogged about. When I read crap like that and the obvious favour on a certain race, it irks me. It makes my blood boil. It brings out racist sentiment towards a certain race.

Most importantly, it makes me feel sad to be a Malaysian. Why? Because my NEGARA ASAL (Malay words for Original Country) is Malaysia and even if I were to obtain Australia PR in the future, Malaysia will always be my home-my country.

When I was in Brisbane, despite all that it has to offer, I missed Malaysia. Even it's corruption and pollution but definitely NOT the loony, psychotic drivers.

And who is our government- the ministers in Malaysia kidding when they ask why there's a brain drain?? It's rather obvious that the rest of the rakyat (Malay word for citizens). The people are not fools and choose to leave due to all this nonsensical happenings and leadership which has potential to make Malaysia go backwards instead of propelling the country towards being a developed country.

No country is perfect. Each country is inhabited by humans and we all know that- to err is human. There will always be racism everywhere we go. In Australia, I've heard countless stories retold by my ex-colleagues and come to think of it, it mostly happens to guys. However, at times, I think some cases are just more of pranks then an act of racism towards Asians.

When I was walking to Carindale mall once, this Aussie teenager was saying "Ni hao ma" (Mandarin for How are you) from afar and I wanted to retort back that I can speak fluent English but decided to just let it slide. Don't get me wrong, it's not because I was chicken or that I couldn't hold my own. I just didn't want to start anything that was unnecessary.

As he walked past me, he shouted "AAAAHHHHHH" at me to my face. Well, I could take it that he was being racist, targeting me but all I thought at that point of time that he was just being silly and ridiculous. I laughed him off and continued my walk without stopping.

Who is to know that if it was an Aussie girl walking past that he wouldn't have done the same? Or perhaps an old lady or some young kid?

And even if it was an act of racism, my case and the guy in Malaysia getting bashed on the eve of this year's Malaysia's Independence day has a huge difference- I came out unscathed, the most, perhaps with my ears ringing.

The poor guy that got bashed had to have stitches and probably post-bashing pains.

Love quotes from Movies

I was reading on some quotes from Movies on 'love' and think it's really good to share it with you guys. Read it over HERE.

Movie Love Quotes

A collection of romantic movie love quotes from a variety of movies.

You are what you love, not what loves you. That's what I decided a long time ago.

-- Adaptation

How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.

-- Annie

Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.

-- Captain Corelli's Mandolin

Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time.

-- Casablanca

If I tell you I love you, can I keep you forever?

-- Casper

Life is messy. Love is messier.

-- Catch and Release

A dream is a wish your heart makes.

-- Cinderella

I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss from her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it.

-- City of Angels

My husband and I fell in love at first sight... maybe I should have taken a second look.

-- Crimes and Misdemeanors

Love is not a feeling, it's an ability.

-- Dan in Real Life

There are only four questions of value in life.

What is sacred?

Of what is the spirit made of?

What is worth living for?

What is worth dying for?

The answer to each is the same. Only love.

-- Don Juan Demarco

Life is like a box of choclates, you never know what your gonna get.

-- Forest Gump

When you love someone,

And you love them with your heart,

It never disappears,

When you're apart.

And when you love someone

And you've done all you can do,

You set them free,

And if that love was true...

When you love someone

It will all come back to you.

-- Forget Paris

A heart can be broken; but it keeps beating just the same.

-- Fried Green Tomatoes

It doesn't matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect, as long as they are perfect for each other.

-- Good Will Hunting

You make me want to be a better man.

-- Jack Nicholson, "As Good As It Gets"

To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering, one must not love; but then one suffers from not loving. Therefore, to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer, to suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love; to be happy then is to suffer, but suffering makes one unhappy; therefore to be unhappy one must love or love to suffer or suffer from too much happiness. I hope you're getting this down.

-- Love and Death

Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you'll find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding, but there's also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who's been standing beside you all along.

-- Marion St. Claire, Bride Wars

Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived.

-- Meet Joe Black

The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.

-- Moulin Rouge

Love is a many splendid thing; Love lift us up where we belong; All you need is love.

-- Moulin Rouge

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place,

suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace,

suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste,

it all revolves around you.

-- Moulin Rouge

I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.

-- Notting Hill

I am someone else when I'm with you, someone more like myself.

-- Original Sin

If the people we love are stolen from us,

The way to have them live on, is to remember them.

Buildings burn, people die, but real love is forever.

-- The Crow

In these dreams I've loved you so, that by now I think I know what it's like to be loved by you. I will love being loved by you.

-- The King and I

Summer romances begin for all kinds of reasons, but when all is said and done, they have one thing in common. They're shooting stars, a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, fleeting glimpse of eternity, and in a flash they're gone.

-- The Notebook

Love is friendship on fire.

-- The Perfect Man

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

-- When Harry Met Sally