So not the political kind but...

I'm not one to dabble in political debates. I accept that as opinionated as I may be, I'm not well read enough to talk about political issues. Maybe part of my ignorance is because of my lack of interest...I mean, it's bad enough that I'm more often than not swamped with and overwhelming amount of workload (yes, I'm known to have a wee breakdown every now and then when things get a bit much); why would I want to spend the little time I have left reading up on who promised to bring down bus fares and abolish the dol as part of their election campaign (which may very well be something I made up for lack of a better example), or which candidate is dissing the president and making endless mentions about how once a Malay person draws out his keris, it must not go back into its sleeve without a good fight? I'd much rather spend time with my family and mates at the beach, or going out for a good 'ol fashion comical movie (because there's nothing quite like it- besides a nice glass of red wine- to unwind after a long and impossibly rainy day). Or better yet, curl up in my happy place and have a heart to heart with my Creator.

But, when the upcomming election is all everyone around you can talk about, especially those who know walnuts about politics, then it becomes worrying. When friends who usually say things like, "man, we Malaysian are so lucky we get to eat all kinds of food" suddenly say things like, "eh, I think we need to pray for Malaysians' wisdom to vote lah" then you KNOW the situation is not so hunky-dory. The thing is though, this country has always needed God and after 50 years, that fact has not changed. Yes, I dare say it's a fact and not a mere opinion. So yes, let's continue to pray that Malaysia votes wisely and that we will move the hand of God to turn the situation around because at this point in time, there really doesn't seem to be much else we can do aye? And I believe with all my heart that if we fervently seek Him, there will come a change that we've been waiting for. After all, God is God, isn't He?

Having said that, I realize that what I'm about to say next is absolutely contradictory to what I've just said. Why is it that we had to wait for all these years before people started to stand up for what they believe in? Why have we waited till now to raise our concerns and speak our minds? Malaysia has always had some sort of political unstability...we've all known it- the seemingly undivided races (but really racial unjustice is one of the biggest underlying problems of this country), the ability to seemingly have free will in worship (but really temples have been broken down and churches have been coerced into shutting down), the seemingly free speech democratic country (but really if you diss the Prime Minister, you better start running because the ISA just might be chasing you down). Why wait till now to bring this all out in the open? Why weren't the opposing parites as gungho before? When did Malaysian politicians start airing out thier dirty laundry to as far as London? Why is this all only happening now when we all KNOW these were issues that were there all along? Why?

...are questions I should probably do some research on before I come back with an answer. Like I said, I don't claim to be in tuned to the politics of this country and I may very well be saying complete and utter bullocks but I'm convinced that at least half of the questions I've raised are not all together wrong.

I am going to bed now and shall not worry my mind off about this because I have quite a long day tomorrow. i might come back with a better explanation for all of this...or not but that's not the point. The point I's like to make here is this: Malaysia, please uphold your leaders and countrymen in your prayers because, this is uproar is not about to dust itself off easily. Big challenges are brewing ahead and if this is not the time Malaysia needs God, then I don't know when is. Join hands and keep P.U.S.H-ing. Keep Praying Untill Something Happens!

"Oh God, I want it bad...but I want YOU more!"

Movies I WANT to Watch...

...in no particular order, except for the first three:

1. The Jane Austen Book Club (check)- I could only finish this in 5 seatings because it was THAT boring. Brilliant cast though, not so brilliant script sadly. My only consolation: Grigg.
2. The Other Boleyn Girl
3. P.S. I Love You (check)
4. Death at a Funeral (check)- And I highly recomend it; pardon the swearing if you're not too keen on scripts of that kind.
5. 27 Dresses (check)
6. Definitely Maybe
7. Fools Gold
8. 30 Days Of Night

...and just for the heck of it, because I like Nicole Kidman,

9. Margot at the Wedding

Also I really really really want to watch Sherrybaby and Gideon's Daughter. I should borrow the DVD.

I should borrow it soon. Before I go back to the routine of a student's life.

Why must all the good movies come out now? ok, granted, perhaps not all the movies are really good must-watch ones but still... Damn opposite seasons!

...of clothes and thoughts

Oh my gosh! I've become one of those people who have an impulsive need to buy nearly everything I happen to like though I may not actually necessarily need it. Oh no, could it be? Have I (dare I say it) succumbed to the overpowering force of consumerism? I think I've become a...*gasp!* shoppaholic without even realizing it. I was cleaning out my wardrobe (because I finally decided to give mom's nagging skills a break and also because I wasn't sure where some of my clothes hitchiked to) and the whole time I was looking, folding, rolling those clothes, I asked myself, "where in the world did all this stuff come form??!" I had absolutely no idea exactly WHAT was in my wardrobe and worse, how some of them even got there to begin with!

It's a good thing mom didn't catch me saying out loud because she'd totally get all up in my grill about all those times I whined about not having enough clothes. In my defense though, I don't ALWAYS go shopping and when i do it's usually because I need those clothes. I guess I just hadn't realized the enormity of this "need" that I've collected over time.

"I should stop buying clothes for a while" is what I would say if I actually meant it but I don't...so I can't...which makes me an even bigger clothes addict. But then again, my addiction to shoes is ginormously (giganticaly enourmous) incomparable to my love for them clothes, although again, in my defense there are worst cases than me; case in point, my sister who came back from KL with 7 or 8 pairs of shoes compared to my measly 4 or 5 pairs.

I realize that this is something I never would have been caught saying 7 years ago (because as a kid, I would climb trees, go fishing, play football in bare feet and hang out with boys more often than girls). Heck, I never thought I'd actually say something like this. I'm still in no position to make snide remarks on dresses celebs wear everytime I watch the Oscars or Grammy's but sure have come a long way since my 'jeans and t-shirt, baggy pants and even bigger shirt' days...or so I like to think. My grandmother would have been proud, I'm sure, since she always had something to say about my fashion emsemble, particularly when attending Indian weddings.

I have nothing clever to say right now and so I shall stop here for now. But after writing this I realized something else. I need to start writing more. I've become rusty and am not as sharp and quick-witted as I used to be and I keep making silly typo-s.

Reflection

Ok, so I'm back after a two month- long hiatus. I think all you holiday go-ers can totally relate when I say that although I'm glad to be back, I'm bummed that I couldn't stay longer.

In the two months that I was back in my homeland, here're some things I learned:

1. The political situation has deteriorated all the way down the drain and has been flushed out into the sea.


2. The whole 3 races living in harmony under in the same country is at large, overrated but on some small scale is still existent so there's still hope.


3. I'd never have alcohol at the clubs/bars/pubs (unless I'm in Langkawi or some kind sould decides to shout me some) because they're so flippin' expensive and I'm not prepared to shell out 20 bucks for a rum and coke...again!


4. I miss the theatre and I'm such a beach bum!


5. True mates are those with who you can instantaneously pick up where you left almost three years ago.


6. It's as amazing as it is scary to realize people whom you thought you knew so well are not the same and you have to spend time rediscovering them all over again...and THAT's the amazing part.


7. Singing in a band is one of the best feelings ever, eventhough it's not my own band.


8. I've missed Char Kwey Teow and Dim Sum.


9. God is ever faithful even though I constantly find myself screwing up.


10. I am LOVED!

And as I look back at the good times I've had these months, I realize that I have much to be thankful for, despite the fact that my life is not perfect. God is awesome because He saw me through my weakest of moments.

2007 took off slowly but once it went full throtle, it was nothing short of wonderful! I had quite a few firsts and lasts too so those were some good and not so good times to remember the year by. I'm glad my year ended the way it did.

And I certainly started off 2008 with a bang and I'm still on a high from all that energy and buzz! I reckon 2008 is going to be blast and a challenge to cope with at the same time but with God by my side guiding me, I think I'm gonna be alright =)

Dear God, I' commiting this year into your hands. Do with me as You will but I wish You'd let me know what it is that You have plans because You always have a way of throwing the randomest of things at me...a wee l'il heads-up every now and then would be nice. I know I can be quite stuborn at times but that doesn't mean I'm not willing to listen. I pray You'd help me because I sometimes struggle to obey You wholeheartedly. I pray for my mates too; may you keep them safe and guide their hearts to do right by You. I love you and I thank You for everything that you've blessed me with. Amen.

I want...

...TO GO BACK TO LANGKAWI!

I want to go back and bum on the beach the whole day! I want, I want, I WANT!

Man, can't believe I'm going home in less than two weeks!

Too Good To Be True

I knew it is NEVER as easy as people say it is when it comes to dealing with the government. I thought I'd give them the benefit of the doubt, you know, since I've not been back to this country in over a year- hoping they'd somehow come to terms with their tardiness and pick up slack. But, I'm happy to laugh in your face and tell you, "HAH! nothing has changed!"

I wonder what is the whole point of having a microchip embedded in your ID card if it doesn't have ALL your information keyed into the big system. I had a name-change about two years ago (also due to the incompetency of the government- particularly the Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara). Logically thinking if I had a state-of-the-art changgih-fied ID card that hold ALL my personal details, then this information should be included in as well...right? I mean, seriously, would someone tell me if I've got it all wrong? Now I can't renew my passport without going all the way back to the rego department in wait for it, Putrajaya to get a letter authenticating the name-change! I can't believe I've to take the fall for their incompetencies and screw-ups! As Always.

Ok, so I'm venting my frustration. I'm sure I'll be okay in a couple days. Seriously though, I had a hunch it was gonna be a bad day as soon as mom said we were going to face this government. All I can say is these numbnuts better not send me on another wild goose chase when I go to Putrajaya to get that bloody letter!

I've just been too lazy to blog...so lazy that all I long to do to is go back to Mickey's and watch House with Ju and her...I've become such a homebody for the last one week and it's not even been in my own home to be a homebody in!

But on a side note, it felt absolutely amazing to catch up with my girlfriends and just be able to be myself again, without having to bother about "behaving myself". I've missed that.

Thank God, Thank God, Thang-God!

THANK YOU LORD!!!

Skip. Hop. Run down the street (not naked!). Scream. Shout for joy. WOO-HOO!!!

Reason? I did so much better than I expected for my Video Production paper! My first A-grade paper! Nevermind the fact that the rest were like, B-minuses; I suppose I can't have it all, can I? There has to be some part of it that's not as satisfying and so I will admit that I'm not the brightest star around. But to be fair, those other papers were theoretical and factual ones; I'm not wired to always remember every single fact about the New Zealand media industry- only the ones that matter. So really, I am a wee bit guttered that I didn't score as high for those papers but then again, I console myself by saying they're not the determining papers.

That said, however, I'm not about to slack off on those kinds of papers. Hopefully I'd do better next year. But for now, I'm perfectly content and quite happy with basking in my little victory in just that one paper.

Thank You, God! Trully!

You KNOW You're Back In Kuala Lumpur When:

1. You feel the heat wave wash over you as soon as you step out of the airPLANE (note: I didn't say airPORT)


2. You're able to have a "maggi goreng" at 11pm at your neighbourhood "mamak stall"


3. Your aunties fuss over what to cook for you because they KNOW you've missed good 'ol Malaysian Indian cuisine


4. You drive around and all you see is highways, cars, more cars and resultantly heavier traffic


5. Malls are your hangout spots (as opposed to beaches and mountains and parks and farms)


6. You wake up and go to bed at ungodly hours for the first few days (eg: Sleep at 8pm and wake up at 4am) Note: I'm making progress now though...I woke up at 7.30am today


7. One shower a day is not enough =)


8. The smell of raw fish greets you at the entrance of morning markets.


9. Your "la's" come back to you instantly upon arriving at the airport =)
10. You can depend on your friends to order your dim sum dishes ;) Thanks girls!

Oh, and on a side note, my now three year old niece is speaking in full sentences! And now that she can, she just wouldn't stop talking altogether! (not that it isn't oh-so-adorable)

But despite that, it certainly DOES feel great to be back!

Mr. BIG!

I've always known that the God I serve is a big God. And just two weeks ago, I took a little trip down south to Wellington for a conference and then detoured to New Plymouth (out west of New Zealand's north island) and I had a whoa-God-is-SO-big moment throughout the drive. I saw magnificent mountains, breathtaking seaviews, beyond awesome beaches, rip-roaring waves crashing over rocks and I stood in absolute awe as I looked at Mount Taranaki and Mount Ruapehu in all its glory. At night, I could literally feel the blanket of stars wrap around me as I looked up from the field. I've not seen THAT many stars all at once in the longest time!

And to this that God created all this AND MORE...in less than a week! I'm convinced that HE is indeed a BIG God- a God that cannot and will not be boxed; a God that not only created this huge universe and all that's in it (seriously, HE's got a name for every possible star in the universe!) but is also a God that lives in me and who loves me enough to want to have a relationship with me; A God that knows me and sees me for who I am and still wants to forgive me despite the many times I've hurt Him. I do trully serve a magnificent God!

I finally understand the meaning of the word "breathtaking". I honestly could not breathe for a few heartbeats, just standing in absolute wonder at God's handy work! Man, I think everyone who has the chance to visit New Zealand should seize it, it'll be worth it. I LOVE New Zealand for its raw and untouched beauty. Let's hope it stays this way...

Oh, and on another note, I'm flying back to Malaysia for the Summer and I'm sooooo excited! *does a little happy jig*

Emotions Within

Joy: the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation; a state of happiness or felicity.

Perfect: excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement; entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings.

Passion: any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling; a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything.

* Picture and meanings courtesy of Gettyimages and Dictionary.com respectively :)

Holding My Head in My Hands...

...and breathing. Just...breathing. Gosh, it's been one rollercoaster of a week, but it all came to an end at 3.30p.m yesterday when I filled up my cover sheet, bounded the essay together and tossed it into the assignment box (with such flair if I do say so myself!). "Wendy's" and "sleep" were the only two words my mind could process as meaning. Well, "run", "shout", "top of the building", "badminton", "guitar", "bass" and "flatmate" were in there somewhere too but those two were the prominent ones! You know, it's like that feeling you get when you ask someone out on a first date and he says yes; you just wanna jump up and click your heels and run around the street hugging absolute strangers, singing your heart out for the sheer joy you just can't contain. That is exactly how I felt yesterday. "Finally", I thought, no more Red Bull. No more flat whites with an extra shot (or 2) of espresso. No more stepping on peoples' toes. No more falling asleep to the thought of which assignments to do when I wake up. No more weird dreams of referencing (APA style). NO MORE!

That is not to say that Im completely rid of assignments though. I've 2 more practical pieces to work on in the coming weeks and let's not forget the "be all" of all ends-of-semesters: Finals. But my consoling thought is the fact that Summer is in sight and so is my trip back home, where I can finally have those long awaited "pasta and beer" nights with my girls. As I've just typed that out, I sudenly thought of what next year might have in store. But that thought has fleeted as instantaneously as it has entered. I'll worry about next year when next year comes. "Baby steps, Naveena" is what my mom always says. For I know my God will sustain me through the weeks to come. Thanks for not letting me crack under preassure these few weeks.

On a lighter note, Char discovered this awesome new Malaysian Cafe in Newmarket and has been wanting to go there. So when we finally made a date with each other to check out that place, Steph decided she'd come along. Had a wee little trouble finding the place but when the menu was brought to our table, we decided it was worth the trouble. And then the food came; now I know why Char was so keen on going there. The food was a-MAY-zing! I kid you not when I say I felt like I was transported back to one of the "makan spots" in Gurney Drive, Penang! All those of you who live in the city should definitely pay that place a visit. Will post up the address next time. For now...this is proof:

Pan Men (please Spellcheck)

Curry Mee (the curry is seriously out of this world! Ok, out of New Zealand maybe...)

Hainan Chicken Rice

This is not just any tea; it's TEH TARIK!