Demonstrasi Demokrasi

I find myself, again after four years, observing what Malaysians do best prior to the elections -- a feast of flags and banners display. Everywhere, from the rural Parit to the urban Shah Alam, from the serenity of Cameron Highlands to the congested Ipoh, even the most secluded settlements are not to be spared. Distinctive to the Malaysian phenomenon of campaigning, putting up flags and other party symbols is a must, though for my very personal opinion, it really is not necessary. However the chaos gives us a clear sign -- the election is near, and there are a lot of things to fear.

It's a thing for me nowadays to feel skeptical to whoever that falls into the mediocrity of the Malaysian so-called political scenario. A scenario which is, basically, a 'battle' of a defined sides of 'right' or 'wrong', to condemn or to be condemned, and having 'options' to 'choose this, or else, suffer'. In a way, it's not a clean fight for democracy. Instead, sometimes it has critically fallen into the potholes of solely to gain power.

I feel apathetic over those who really eat up whatever is served in the mainstream media, without posing any further questions or at least having a curiosity of what really is going on. I guess it is such an ignorant and biased way of spreading information which lacks integrity and professionalism in a very imprudent way.

Any intelligent Malaysian would choose a government that would practice democracy over everything else. And by intelligent here, that doesn't mean that you've scored straight A's and gained scholarship to study overseas. Though the definition of who's clever and who's not has getting lamer and narrower nowadays, that doesn't halt anybody who really sees things outside of the box to judge the real situation and make a right decision.

Any intelligent Malaysian should know that loyalty should be paid to the country, and not to any political party that forms the government. This is a crucial thing that every Malaysian should know and take note of. But unfortunately, many of us don't.

Students are made to shy away from politics, thus making the majority of them very apolitical. Prone to one sided propaganda, we are all basically forced to believe what are manufactured to be made believe -- manipulated history, a corrupted version of freedom of speech, benefits of racialist politics, etc. etc. Our rights to speak have been denied, and since the 1970s politics have been off-limits for students.

Ironically in a very globalised world, these acts have critically made our ways of thinking underdeveloped and are subject to anybody else's definition of how should we live our country or what we want our country to be.

Sadly, we're way behind the real progress. The liberation of the minds of the people are still far away. We think in the midst of insecurities and indecisiveness. We're not sure of our future even though the future can be determined by the votes casted by our own hands. We're still divided albeit ignorant declarations of a fabricated unity. We're still challenged by our own version of religious freedom and freedom of speech. The question is, are we living a livable Malaysia?

Intelligent and contemporary voters should not just jump into the bandwagon and caught up by the bias agendas powered by the mainstream media. Intelligent voters cast their votes after making full analysis and coherent judgments and not just because 'they have to', or worse, after watching RTM every single day since the starting of the campaigning period.

Apparently we're still way behind in many ways of achieving true democracy consisting of first world election with first world parliamentary system, yet we still don't want to take a lesson from the swift and liberal democracy practiced in the US and the UK. Oh, maybe they're the West, so Westerners are all evil. But how about India and Japan? Maybe somebody wants to beg to differ.

Intelligent voters should not fall to any remarks made saying that 'we're not ready' in response to the call for a much liberal democracy. If so, when will we achieve a wholly mature, liberal society? If we're forever so ready to send a cosmonaut to space, why are we not ready for such crucial reforms?

We youngsters should not be excluded from contributing to this wave of change. We are, and should be the new generation of the nation's expanding young minds, a generation exposed to fraudulent changes of the global world, a generation which the word 'media' isn't limited to TV and the press only.

We should mature, and be sure of our options. The word 'future' is not just about bigger mosques, longer bridges, wider highways or taller buildings. Its about the liberalisation of our suppressed freedom and blocked minds, a progression of soul and a comprehended definition of unity.

As we're flipping through the election results tomorrow, be sure of the ever growing distant voice of the silent majority. The expected familiar victory of the ruling party -- which however will not be big this time -- will continue resonant and will be fabled repeatedly, but the restraining echo will be interrupted with loud sounds of changes made by the rakyat who have voted against them.

Whatever choices that have been made, we've made a choice for a better Malaysia. A better Malaysia where our land can be roamed safely. A better Malaysia with efficient and better public transportation, better mobility, and better public services. A better Malaysia with freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of practicing religious rights. A better Malaysia with real unity, and real courteous people. A better Malaysia with fair elections and clean democracy in the future. A better Malaysia for us to live in.

Last but not least, be an intelligent citizen. Don't just jump into the bandwagon. The mainstream is not all that good. And if you're intelligent enough, you know for now which side am I in.

God bless Malaysia.

Listening to: One Buck Short - Kelibat Korupsi
PHOTO by chedi73 SEE ALSO: Off The Edge, Malaysiakini, Malaysia Today, Malaysia Votes, Rocky'sBRU, Marina Mahathir, Farish A. Noor, Anwar Ibrahim, among others. For the results, go here.

Dear visitors,

I didn't expect my last entry would invite so many responses. Thank you, especially to those who really get what I meant (yeah it really matters, and I know who really understands). I am currently very busy right now, rushed back to Shah Alam last night, driving all alone, only finding myself to go back to Perak after this. Ironically (and stupidly) we're bound for a trip down to KL, probably Cheras (I know, what the fuck) this Tuesday. It was Penang at first, then I seriously don't know what happened. And I can't stay, as there will be some tests tomorrow, blah blah. So there you go.

Till then, keep visiting. Hell yeah, I love you guys a lot!

Listening to: Billie The Vision & The Dancers - Summercat
There are always updates going down at my Flickr, anyway. And you CAN save the pictures (yeay?), just right click, or else, use Firefox as IE sucks. For larger sizes of a picture, click 'All Sizes' at the top of your picture.

First a 'mainstream subculture'. What's next?

With all these talks of indie going big and a popularised rise of a new bunch of 'indiekids', some people already in the scene loath the thoughts as being absolutely in contrary of the original idea of turning to the independent scene in the first place. Labels go wild again alongside new trends that are not supposed to be trends initially -- and are we not confused enough?

THIS SHORT BREAK they're giving us is very fulfilling, though being quite packed. Rarely do I find this time of the year as interesting, or to some extent, exciting. But it has been that way, even for the first early weeks of the year, so I guess I'm very glad to go with the flow.

To go with that, it is suddenly the season, again, to lament about some bands going mainstream, or your (once) favourite fashion label getting very overrated. That, and maybe a particular trend that I observe and appreciate being hit by a bigger crowd that looks very confused.

I get all these above, usually, from Syith -- who whines a lot but will in the end makes a point, the last time being our insomniac early birds nasi lemak session down at Kg. Baru -- and also from some other people with raging thoughts. At his arguments I would be incredulous at first, before virtually agreeing. And then maybe it's time to observe the reality.

Trends are one of those things that are confusing me a lot right now. Other things include J.Co's sinful doughnuts and people who always sound deadly horrible when they pick up the phone, but really, those are other things. However trends are ultimately bound to have followers -- which makes the whole 'trend' thing beats anyway -- and they are really meant to be followed. But who is to judge what is to be followed and who is following?

Even doughnuts are becoming a stressful trend. You have one column in a magazine saying that it's lustful and you'll have a long queue barging for another defined taste of something you've already known. And people do got the money flowing nowadays, as DSLRs worth thousands of ringgit now can be regarded as only 'accessories' to be 'slung' on your shoulders (?). So does that leaves pretty pictures to be captured using tiny sleek handphones while you're carrying this black, bulky thing around, or am I just wrong?

Once upon a time, at least two or three years back, I'm one of those guys who were very thankful for the presence of Topman in this cruel world. I'm always a minimalist in fashion, and back then, Topman was very desirably minimal, in a way, and I favour their clothes a lot. To carry that zesty lime green bag was something, but that was in the heydays.

Quiksilver survived and Zara brought along (finally) Pull and Bear, but Topman went down the drain with its overrated pity fate to be shared with its confused wearers. I still regard brands top-notch in choosing what I wear, but once you have these weird people wearing what they don't even know, you'll know that it is time to get off the bandwagon. We can hope for Gap, FCUK and Banana Republic don't go the way Topman did locally, or else I'll resort for independent clothing fully altogether.

Blogs have found their way into this jagged 'trend' too. For some blogs to be commercialised is not wrong, but the misinterpretation of blogs is something I cannot really tolerate. Ignorant views of non-bloggers defining blogs as diaries are something that I always have wanted to correct from time to time.

The fact that some bloggers made their blogs as their daily journals is true, and it is not wrong either. But to generalise all bloggers as diarists is very idiotic. It shows shallow general knowledge or the habit of interpreting things to a simpler (but wrong) comparison in some people, especially non-bloggers. Blogs are very large in definition. So if you have this certain types of people who are trying their best in 'catching up', but at the same time they're not appreciating (or more so, enjoying) what they're doing, it will practically mess things up.

And I'm not even getting to the music part. But I will leave that to the pros (that is, the enthusiasts) as they really do have many things to talk about.

It's all in the matter of self-opinion and defining attitudes. If you're still confused, it's as simple as this. You don't have to skate if you don't like to skate. And you don't have to change that if anybody else is skating, because you know you won't be appreciating that. I don't drag people into buying DSLRs and capturing pictures, or for clarity's sake, expecting people to love the art of building as much as I do, or, seriously, asking anybody else to wear green because I love that bloody color so much.

Appreciating and enjoying are the cores of doing basically anything. I don't enjoy wearing skinny jeans, as I don't think I will pull the look off, so I don't wear them even if it is such a freaking hit. I don't appreciate hardcore, more so metal music, but I don't force myself to listen to them even if my good friends are listening to them. I appreciate visual and performing art, but that doesn't mean I have to open the topic on a table of people who have zero knowledge about it. I enjoy blogging, for fuck's sake, that why I blog!

We don't have to be semua boleh, as we are given options. We can try out new things, but that doesn't mean that we have to like everything we try. So I heard a lot of people saying that 'they're becoming something they're not' -- then don't! Seriously, when some people utter 'get a life' to you, do pinpoint it accordingly. I am seriously not going to live my life over anybody else's decisions.

So with this 'indie going big', I do think that there's something contradictorily wrong with the phrase. Something redundant like 'a cili api that's not spicy' or, say, 'Islam Hadhari'. Indie goers have scornfully paid thanks to Hujan and Kami The Series for the past few months, while contemptibly welcoming indecisive newbies in the local scene.

While they are criticised for not being 'sharing' enough, the very intent independent local scene followers have barred the mainstream followers as 'non-appreciative' of the sounds and sights they are trying to embrace. It's the situation nowadays which shows no sign of receding.

The focal question is always about how fast indie is not becoming what it is supposed to be -- independent. And for all these other 'trends', you may try and you may choose, but don't fall as a victim.

PICTURES 1 Zip Zieller, performing at Bingit! at MCPA Hall, January 26 2008. 2 Exhibits at Jerit fest, at MTC KL, September 1 2007 More Updates on Pictures at Flickr.

When solutions get really subjective.

In a search for cure, I am stumbled, once again, with contrasting thoughts and contradicting ways of solving our everyday problems. While I was not in the pinkest of health all over last week and struggling for a cure, I was again served with the typical mishmash of unsolved questions that linger in our lives.

ITCHY spots have been beginning to take place during last week's Friday, where certain parts of my body have started to get really scratchy, and of course irritating. I dismissed them as the effects caused by the naughty green flying little insects that occasionally interrupt our nights. Scratching I was, and by Saturday, back in Adi's place, I finally realised that warm, red rashes were starting to appear.

Upon arriving in Shah Alam that very night, I immediately went to see the nearest doctor at of course the very near DEMC. The buoyant Dr. Maznor gave me an injection and some precautions, while suggesting that I was having an allergy. I went home soon after that as the injection will cause me to get sleepy, and I was driving alone. Though the rashes didn't make a disappearance the morning after, I was not disturbed as I have yet to take any further medications given.

Later that day I went to see Dr. Kaur at Seksyen 2's Klinik Anis, to get a backup MC. The cold doctor also suggested that I may be having an allergy, in which it may have been caused by something that I have eaten, or the environment, or any insect bites. However the green insects I mentioned earlier were not something new, and I have yet to know what I'm allergic of, so by the end of my visit with another set of medications I was still clueless about the disease I'm having.

Assuming that I was fine and I have to catch up with some classes I went back to the campus on Tuesday morning, with bad coughs along the way back. It was later that I found out that I am still not very well. Back in the studio while I was doing my work itches were starting to ravage, and by the end of the day, red rashes have taken place all over my body, to the extent of my face.

I went back to my hostel only to find a horrible reflection in the mirror. The rashes were, in fact, very horrible, and I'm not getting to the itchy part of the story yet. But really, I was rather horrendously shocked (yes, it was that exaggerative), and I know I must get a treatment immediately.

On Wednesday morning Abang Alil picked me up, together with his other two friends and we went to the Batu Gajah Hospital for a check up. As it was Thaipusam, only the emergency unit was open. The adamant Dr. Yeoh unsurprisingly suggested the same thing, told me to stay away from what I am allergic of, gave me an MC for two days and a packet of medication - another anti-itch drug - a limited stock, as it the larger pharmacy was closed due to public holiday.

At Abang Alil's hostel in UTP, I Wiki-ed, for awhile, and later discovered I was having a form of hives, or urticaria - a form of rashes - which is to be caused by allergic reactions, and the 'rashes' I was referring to are properly called welts. The occasional coughs were also related to the symptom.

But what the hell, correct me if I'm wrong - especially you medical students.

So it was then when Wan, my grandmother, was fast in telling Mama that I was encountered by a situation called teguran - that I was 'greeted' by an unseen being, which could probably happened anytime during my recently taken excursions.

I was hesitating in dismissing that thought. True, I was rather 'wild' for the past two weeks whereby I ventured for weird places and passed by the gruesome darkness of the jungle along the way. But spirits? Not again! Either way, I have to go back. So on Thursday afternoon, I went back to Shah Alam from Ipoh to really settle my unstable health conditions - which were getting more physically problematic.

I drank a few mugs of air penawar - literally, water for curing - given by Wan and Atuk to Mama for me to drink, alongside with my usual medicine prescriptions. Air penawar is usually an amount of water that has been recited certain excerpts from the Qur'an, however, it is absolutely wrong to regard it as something as holy. Today, after Friday prayers, Ayah brought me to PJ to meet up with one of Atuk's close friends, Pak Cik Ghazali, for berubat - to heal my illness.

Pak Cik Ghazali is the usual pakcik you'll encounter especially in mosques and places like that. With his white kopiah worn on his head, a pagoda shirt and kain pelikat, he behaves grandfather-like, just like Atuk, and speaks sternly rather in a pleasant way. He is thin in his late 60s, with cheekbones and wrinkles most visible when he talks.

To think of him as a shaman, or bomoh, is perfectly wrong. He just apparently has the knowledge to traditionally cure people, and by that, using perfectly rightly-driven methods acquainted with vast usage of excerpts from the Qur'an.

So while his wife was watching a drama at TV3 and it was lightly raining outside, not really far from us, Pak Cik Ghazali asked for my name, recited a few verses of the Qur'an, and blew some light breath to the back of my ears repeatedly, before he began to cut a lime into two pieces. He then took one of slices and smeared it on all over my upper body, especially in the parts where the rashes were still visible.

It was stingingly painful, if you ask me. And it went on just like that, until he completed, and then he offered another two bottles of air penawar in which he had uttered some recitations too. Pak Cik Ghazali stressed again that I was terkena teguran and was, in all manner, dihembus - exhaled, or blown - by any particular spirit or other unseen creatures. This 'phenomenon' called hembusan is very distinct from rasukan - possession, although initially they work in a similar way - but seriously, for God's sake, we don't want to get anywhere near there.

Later, back home, I took the usual medications and bought Vitamin C and a cough medicine at Guardian. I am also expected to smear sliced limes Pak Cik Ghazali has given to me for a number of times, after showers, for until at least tomorrow.

Anyway, I'm not sure which method really worked out, but right now as I'm writing this, thankfully, the rashes are receding, gone away together with the severe itchiness. Interestingly I still haven't figured out my reputed allergies (which I am rather very eager to know, so that I may avoid it in the future, if it's avoidable). Again, I'm not sure which one of which has helped in fighting away the disease. However I am to continue on taking my medications until I am fully recovered.

This matter of the clash between modern and traditional never fails to make me wonder - a lot. Sometimes it confuses me a lot, but I will please myself - for awhile - with the thought that both sides always practice knowledge that belongs to God. Maybe that is the way of how science works, or maybe I'm just blabbering again.

Oh well, what do I know?

Listening to: Arctic Monkeys - A Certain Romance (fine, not a really suitable track, but this song lingers in my head a lot as I was typing this) PICTURE Modern pills and lotions, alongside limes - which have always been a key medium in traditional healings and medications.

Now this is unexpected.

Seri Iskandar-Ipoh-Butterworth-Alor Star-KL-Shah Alam, and everything in between.

(Photos of Alor Star is at Flickr.)

Journey to the North

I was attending my first Arabic class in late Friday afternoon. I still haven't packed yet, nor do I am anywhere behind the schedule. So when the class has finished Yat picked me up with Ijam's motorcycle to get me back to Damar to prepare my stuffs, because we're going to Alor Star that very evening.

Adi and Yat wanted to do a recording - a metal piece - up in Alor Star, a place which Adi calls home. Comet, Ijat and Qayum also tagged along. That evening we walked out of the campus towards the bus stop at the main road outside, together with Syith who wanted to go back to Shah Alam. Hanila and Aqilah joined us later at the bus stop - after an indescribable havoc that caused us all to miss a bus - and we all waited rather very anxiously for another bus until sunset.

I think we were very lucky that a bus finally came. Everybody boarded the bus, rather gleefully, and we were all set to Ipoh's Medan Kidd - the terminal where all intercity buses will head in Ipoh. Medan Gopeng, on the other hand, is the hub for express buses for the city- where we were heading at that time, after stopping at Medan Kidd.

The idea to take a train to Kedah, instead boarding a bus, came to surface when we just arrived at Medan Kidd. It was rather reasonable, considering that we will get to Alor Setar at the wee hours of the morning anyway. So after much discussions, warts and all, we went to have a meal first before heading to the Ipoh Train Station - which is just a walk away - after Syith, Hanila and Aqilah managed to get a taxi to take them to Medan Gopeng at the other side of the city.

The same unfriendly ticket guy I bought tickets to KL from for our balik kampung journey last October told us that the tickets for Alor Star were already sold out. The same goes for Sungai Petani, so stopping at Butterworth was the only option. We waited (of course, the usual 'waiting' was not the only thing) for the Ekspres Langkawi from KL for about two hours at the station, before the train came, and we were bound for Penang.

The route was, of course, the same one I (and the rest of the others) took to get to the north during the Langkawi trip. It is still a nostalgic one, and one thing I regret during that end-2006 trip was I was a little less adventurous, still a guy of too protective ideas. There were so many stars clustering at the sky that night, and the moon, though not a full one, was shining bright. The train passed by gloomy, dark shrouding forests and the wind caused by the train movement was breezy, though sometimes was harsh. After Taiping, I fell asleep at my seat, with earphones attached to my phone, which was still playing my music.

the Butterworth incident

At the break of the morning, we arrived at Butterworth. I was the last to hop off, whereby before disembarking, I was quite sure there was nothing left. I don't know how or why, but I was really sure about having everything with me when boarding off the train.

We then walked out of the station to the bus terminal nearby, where we finally found a bus to take us all to Alor Star. It was 6.30 a.m, and the bus was scheduled to move at 6.45 a.m. I decided to take a loo first, whereby Qayum joined me to the toilet. I boarded the bus, took my seat and put my bag down. I searched for something in my jeans' pocket, then suddenly a surge of blood gushed into my head.

My phone was missing.

I plundered my bag, and then borrowed Yat's phone to make a miscall. A ringtone can still be heard, meaning that nobody has taken it and switched it off. However I heard no Arctic Monkeys around, and I was certain that my phone was not in silent mode. Undesirably, the bus has already started to make its way to Alor Star.

I felt really uneasy. The bus passed the shoreline, with the lights of Penang clearly visible, then industrial areas, kampungs and padi fields before entering the highway. I tried to call Ayah but was of no success. I called Mama after that, who was, of course, startled. I told her the details and asked for Ayah to call back. And I'm already on my way to Kedah, with my phone is, again, nowhere.

We made it to Alor Star, and the six of us went to Adi's place by two taxis. Upon arriving we were greeted by his mother, who had prepared nasi lemak for us. I cleansed myself, got online, and fell for a short nap, before we were all set to go out to the city.

We went to the jamming studio where we met Fariz, also a coursemate, who apparently lives in Alor Star too. I became an observer of this part if the trip as I don't have anything exactly to say (I'm sure any of you would not have a slightest guess that I'm into metal). Yat, Adi and Fariz jammed while we watched, and yeah, they were good. After awhile I decided to take the camera outside, where I tagged Comet along and do a bit of sightseeing while the other guys are still handling their business.

I got a call from Ayah, all the way from Frankfurt, through Comet's phone while I was at Masjid Zahir. There were this and there was that, so I was explaining everything. One thing about Ayah is that everybody knows he will sound OK when he is upset, which is not so OK at all. Then there was a call from Mama, then Ayah, then Mama again and finally Ayah before Comet's phone battery went flat.

So after the mosque there was nothing else, we all went back and fell asleep as we're really tired. At one point I felt like I was ruining everything. Though manageable, it killed my mood. At the same time rashes were appearing at my hands and legs during a very unlikely time, though before there were itches caused by little insects bites and they were nothing serious.

Home: Flying back

As night appears, we prepared to go to the airport, as I'm going back to KL that very night. I sense a guilt in my heart but I really have to take care of things. Later I was relieved, as the guys were being such a sport. So at 9.15 pm I took off from Alor Star, and after fifty-five minutes, the MH1235 safely landed on the tarmac of KLIA.

After settling myself at home, I went to DEMC straightaway where I got an injection from the perky doctor. It was allergy, though I really don't know what I'm allergic of. It could be the damned insects, or our increasingly dusty room, or ikan keli, something distinctively different that I have begun to add in my lunch meals.

Now I'm right here on my chair, swearing that I really think that this weekend could be another empty weekend. I didn't expect it to be so troublesomely adventurous. It did, though it cost me quite a lot.

I hate my notoriously careless habit. Notorious here, by means, it is to some people not so surprising anymore to find me misplacing things or just being absent-minded.

And my horoscope for yesterday reads 'you have dominant stars for travel and long distances', and 'you are in two minds on whether or not you should undertake that journey. Consult your finances and see how much money is left in the travel budget. You may as well grab whatever opportunities that come your way.'

Speaking of coincidence.

Listening to: Incubus - Drive
REMINDER I won't be changing any phone number, so stick to the old one. I just need a new phone :/ PICTURES Top just another freaked out blogger. L-R, Father and son praying at Masjid Zahir, Alor Star; Sign at a pawn shop indicating their upcoming closure. The birthday of the Sultan of Kedah is on Sunday, celebrating his sweet 80 and his 50 years of reign over the state; A woman is using her phone while a graffiti looms behind her at a restaurant in the city centre.

(Not so) distant notes

Series of updates, as usual.
(Many other pictures at Flickr!)

I'm currently at Qayum's studio - Part 1's studio, that is - and yes, that good ol' friend has succeeded in switching his course from Estate Management to what-else Architecture. Seriously there are a lot of people who are very happy other than myself. Quite frankly it made Qayum famous in a blink. Hell yeah!

There's no work for now, technically. Well I better think of it that way for now, considering that I've just recovered from three exhausting days full of completing tasks. Our lecturers are crazy (or getting crazier). Enough said.

Besides that there is a lot of good news that came barging in (I think). One of them is that Bachelor students are now allowed to bring vehicles in, so I am now legal to drive my car up here.

Sounds like a perfect news for a transport scarce lad.

Oh and how could I forget this one - there are wireless connections now. So they blocked Myspace, Friendster and YouTube during office hour. But of course, the members of the much elite F-site don't really have to fret, if you know what I mean.

Thank you, Haziq, for the Switchfoot tickets.

Now I know I can't blog at places that are too open. Sigh. Proper updates soon lah.

Will be back next weekend?

Cameron Delights

I've given the thought that a little excursion up to the hills won't hurt before I headed home for the rather made up Maal Hijrah break. Cameron Highlands is always a good two hour away from the blistering Seri Iskandar at the heart of Perak, so Amir - my neighbour-room mate during last semester - and Wani, his coursemate, agreed to bring me up there and chill.

We stayed at Amir's uncle's place. Cik Ti'e and his wife, Cik Mah have called Cameron Highlands their home for decades, and they were more than glad (it seems) to have us around. The loving couple had no children, so they were very happy to attend guests, usually relatives and relatives' friends, to their flat in Tanah Rata.

The jovial Cik Ti'e is also known as Khairi Pendek. 'Cakap je nama Khairi Pendek, semua orang kat Cameron Highlands ni tahu siapa,' and he was right all along. As the name suggests, Cik Ti'e is a little man, but very high in spirit. He is loud for a man of his size. He's enjoyably talkative, and excessively friendly.

Cik Mah, on the other hand, is very warm and motherly. Her height surpasses slightly of Cik Ti'e's, talks with a distinctive Perak dialect, as she hailed from Kampar. Her way of dressing when going out reminds me a lot of Opah when she was in Paris - wool cardigan over a blouse, long skirt and a scarf tied backwards. Cik Mah basically agrees with everything Cik Tie says or does, obedient in nature and pretty much lovely in her own way.

Together, they made our day. Cik Ti'e and Cik Mah really knew how to kick everything in Cameron Highlands in style. I never really expected a visit to the highlands would be a feast to my taste buds, well, it did quite excessively this time. We were served with abundant chicken curry upon our arrival, alongside fresh Cameron Highlands vegetables, ikan pekasam and of course, Cameron Highlands tea.

Practically we got everything free more than what we actually bought. Buy one packet of strawberries, we got the other three free. Buy three sweet corns and we get a plastic bag full of other sweet corns. The vendors knew Cik Ti'e well, and by the time we left Kea Farm we were all loaded with fruits and vegetables for our steamboat dinner.

At Sungai Palas, we were treated by one (or more than one) of Cik Ti'e's former student, with tea. And yes, there was a lot of tea drinking when I was up there - it was awesome drinking free tea overlooking the splendid view of the vast tea plantations after a downpour. It was a breeze of soothing feelings.

They brought us everywhere even to the extent of Orang Asli settlements at Sungai Ruil. We walked around Tanah Rata, visited Amir's other aunt at Brinchang and the strawberry farm nearby, visited the Ye Olde Smokehouse and even visited my last place of stay (ten years ago). They promised a picnic atop of Gunung Brinchang - even jogging, a visit to the rose gardens, cactus farms, and even butterfly farms for our next visit as the time is quite limited.

We were bloated right after dinner. Dinner that night was a combination of everything fresh from the farms. Cik Ti'e, who is fond of cooking but not really a big eater, prepared a whole periuk of steamboat loaded with vegetables and seafood. Beforehand there was steamed corn spread with margarine, alongside a crystal guava and Boh's Vanilla tea I got from Sungai Palas.

Simply said, I was not even for a minute felt hungry up there.

'Makan ramai-ramai macam ni seronok, kan?' uttered Cik Mah, for quite a number of times whenever we have a meal together. It might signify something else, but from what I know the couple was really happy to have people around. I can really see it through the amount of food they prepared for us - it was really a lot.

The couple led a very simple life. Both walk to work from their flat situated on the slopes on a sloppy hill. They led a quality life up there and looked content. Their house has no heater, and yes, bathing means splashing a whole block of ice that just got unfrozen - it was superbly cold even at 1pm! But they were healthy - and why not? Everyday is a breath of fresh air, supplies of fresh water, meals of everything fresh, and get around places just by foot. And they were pretty much happy, so it sums everything up.

I like this excursion a lot. Amir drives our manual rental car like a pro as he is familiar with the roads, and the journey descending to Ipoh with the Simpang Pulai route just took us a good 1 hour and a half. At Medan Gopeng of course it was hot once again as I bid farewell to Amir and Wani before I board my bus to KL with two flower bouquets in my hands.

My last visit was in 1999, so pretty much I didn't exactly know for sure except for the dizzy road leading up to the highlands from Tapah - and I didn't like that. I still have my part of acrophobia anyway. It is amazing, however, to know that Cameron Highlands is at large still peaceful.

Temperatures are rising throughout the day and uncontrolled developments spoil the mood, but the authentic simplicity and serenity of the people and nature toppled everything up with the charming colonial era Tudor houses still stood unchallenged alongside their ugly plagiarized and rather confused newly-built cousins - gargantuan resorts and buildings of no aesthetic taste.

As I didn't bring my camera along, it's clever to stick to the idea that this will not be my last visit at least for the first half of the year. It is quite near to me nowadays, so why not?

It's back to the assignments now, hmph.

Pictures are from Wani's phone - a SonyEricsson K800i that I always trust when taking phone pictures.

An end, another beginning, tales of a year and stuffs to hold for the next: A post.

OK, first things first. I actually have started to write something about last year - 2007 - for more than a week. So many have been turned into drafts because I am simply NOT SURE what to write about EXACTLY. Well I'm not good but summarizing either, but for a year that has been so tremendous (for me), surely something has to be said about it. Something! My uncertainties and indecisiveness have made this post (not counting the other posts since Christmas that has been turned into drafts), commenced on December 31, 2007 and ended in January 1, 2008. Now that's a long post!

December 31, 2007

I would regret letting the year to make an exit just like that without having a proper note written about it. So this is going to be vain and exaggerative, but whatever it is, 2007 really was phenomenal.

For me, the year was, by right, transitional. It saw changes that took place for real. Changes that were made by myself, maybe by you, and the people around me. Changes that walked a big deal out of everything. And finally, to the point that I finally feel that I deserve to call certain points of my life as 'changes', and many parts of 2007 became the turning point of them.

I started the year naked in thoughts and maturity. No puns intended. Half the year was spent in a 'It's Complicated' relationship, while the other half a very much happy single guy full of zest. The first quarter of the year was spent much in enjoying the post-SPM free time, taking up driving lessons until the result was out.

Come PLKN, and for two months, I really am not sure of what I was doing. I was not being me, yet I was learning things that were not actually new, but rather introduced again in a very fundamental point of view. Straightforwardly, PLKN really changed things a lot. For myself, of course, but even in my connections with the people around me, especially those back at home.

People change, and they change more even when you're not around. In a good way or bad I am not so sure, but when I am finally back from the relative wilderness to my so-called original life here, I was blatantly culture-shocked. Things were different back in Sabah of course, but here? So I was a little sickened. When I know some people were not meeting each other when I'm not around, and when people make jokes I don't even have a clue of, I was disappointed.

After my rather arranged break up, I set off for Istanbul. It was sort of a recovery process, somewhat in denial, but I got my refreshments back there. And when I'm back in KL in June, everything seemed to recover from my eyes. Things was sure once again.

July was coming. I thought I got what I wanted when I were given the chance to grab the UiTM offer. It was something that I looked forward to, despite the scornful suggestions that questioned my decision of going to Perak, instead of enrolling myself in private colleges. It was after entering and being a UiTM student that I took notice the staggering attitude crisis and all the problems people have talked about.

I had to deal with that. Adapting myself in was an issue, and not falling into being typical was another. Many times the problems happening in between ourselves - the students - happened to reflect the problem that is happening within our society itself. It's crucial. Somehow the attitude blockade is really giving a big halt to liberalise our thoughts, and afterwards, modernise. Been there, done that, and been confused all over again.

And so a new semester is beginning. A year will be put to an end.

2007 was really not all about how many places I've traveled to, or how many new friends that I've met. I love the new places and the new people, true, but that really is another thing. They just took part in the process, adding to the colour and accelerating the cycles. In the end what matters is how I react to them.

There are a lot to be listed down. However there is one thing for sure - I don't regret anything. Things that happened throughout the year quite simply thought me that it is important to be independent. Sometimes people can turn their backs on you - worse still their asses - while you're being so dependent towards them. It really messes things up, and it sucks big time when that happens.

So it's time look forward. I am fed up of reminiscing. Liberal is the new traditional, and while keeping in touch with my faith and what I believe in at the core, I am trying to see things out of the typical views.

PLKN and UiTM opened the doors for me to know what life does to my new friends out there. People who don't go to PLKN, more so PLKN in Sabah, will not understand. One thing for sure - it reminded me of how we are being in a comfort zone so vast, we're slowly becoming ignorant of other people. If you don't want to admit it, well, it goes for me that way anyhow.

These things could happen anytime, but for me, it happened in 2007. It is true that if you can't go against the flow than go with it. PLKN is best experienced when you're one of the trainees. Though I still think that some of my points are still relevant (dismiss the emotional remarks, really), it is best to criticize the programme after you have taken part in it. Which not everybody had the chance to do so, but I did.

Happy? I don't know. Sad? Not exactly. National Service, in the end, is always something subjective.

Well I'm another teenager still trying to set up his own identity. Slowly throughout the year I've took the effort to improvise, and for that I'm glad. Not for people to take notice, but just to make myself happy. And sometimes people who throw those negative thoughts are just not meant to be screwed, but they are just fucking around to make things better with their (sometimes true) criticisms.

January 1, 2008

My New Year's Eve? Well, it was a blast! The only idea at first was only to go for a lahap session down at Hartamas, in which we - Dira, Nadia and I - did rather successfully anyway. But instead of going straight back home, I decided to crash The Curve (the one where we want to avoid at first due to the heavy traffic jam), where we met lots and lots and lots of jovial people, so it was really fun! (there's a lot to be listed down, just think of the usual + unusual circle of wacky friends. For a general idea of the people, go Flickr!).

We left the very energetic (and overflowing) crowd at The Curve to 1) Escape from the expected traffic jam after midnight, 2) for a great view of the fireworks. So we went to Damansara Perdana first to find a spot, but of no success, until I found a bunch of happy people parking their cars on the Penchala Link flyover ramp. So we decided to park there too and spending the rest of our year there (which is, 15 minutes left).

The view was really great from there. We got to see fireworks from everywhere - Uptown, those faraway PJ areas, OU, Taman Tun, even a bit from Hartamas, and the last one the Curve. So it was a happy start for a new year, and I was very happy. And traffic on the way home was so smooth (because I know the escape route - LDP was stuffed!).

What I especially like was the feeling I had when I ushered into the year - calm. Perfectly calm. I realized now, and then, that 2007 is finally over and some parts of it are just meant to be cherished, and the some other parts to be totally left behind, forgotten.

Unlike last year, 2008 is not easy to be something expected. Simply, nothing is arranged about it, the whole year is just relatively unknown, so basically life in 2008 is just left blank for me to determine. I see many options lying ahead and funnily, though uncertain, I feel secure. At least very much secure than I was when 2007 started.

Fine, rape me because I'm quite traditional, but really, I do see this time of the year as a period of renewal. Just like clicking the 'refresh' button when everything gets lagged, or eating Twisties in a traffic jam. I don't quite have those to-do-lists, or maybe another bunch of resolutions but rather some wishful thoughts, or maybe some anticipations in between.

I didn't hear the clock ticks to twelve or whatever dramatic moments signaling the new year except for the fireworks, but as the moment I know I am not in 2008 anymore, there was also a sudden urge of hope. Hope to fix things (including the camera), and refurbish life all over again. I'm not sure precisely how, but this year seems to be the time.

Parts of 2007 has been dramatic, yes. Some of it are also unnecessarily dramatic, if you know what I mean. Quite honestly this (stuffs like jealousy, backstabbing, those friendship tra-la-las) is one of the things that I would really want to avoid, if ever going to happen, in 2008. Though I really think that these things that are so childish should be banned totally from our minds.

Frankly, I gave the year a good start. For now, there is a whole new year for you and me to shape. Sure, we can only plan, but doesn't planning gives a hand in ensuring future? And with that, from A to Z (or alif to ya, if you prefer), everything is under God's will. In the end of the day it's up to you to make your own judgements that are not subject to those mislabeling infidelity or overprotecting faith, or whatever lah, but judgments that are made by ourselves.

I've learned in 2007 to go out of the box and take challenges. I've achieved and at certain points failed too. I've tried to liberalize, and put a force on rigid thinking. I've tolerated and took a right pace to anything new - not too slow, and not too fast, but just the right speed. I've been alienated and accepted, I've seen and ignored, and that all formed the ups and downs of my 2007.

Everything was like a social conundrum of some sort - from the comfortable Seksyen 9 to the remote Kampung Ovai, from the cold breeze of Switzerland to the random stalls down at the hot Taman Maju, completed by the interesting people from (seriously, seriously) various backgrounds I've met from the early months until yesterday. Really, things have been marvelous. 2007 was really vibrant in a no-nonsense way.

And I'm not even exaggerating. I'm elaborating.

2007 was just another figure before it becomes a year. And a great year it was, and just like any year could've been, it come and go - just like some things that are meant to stay, and some that are just meant to be left away. Whether we like it or not, it's already the first day of a brand new year.

For you, blog readers - that includes Ayah, Mama and Acu - friends and cousins, I wish you a very Happy New Year!

Syukrishairi 2008 - Going back to Seri Iskandar now, gotta rush!