ah ok lah

30 August 2006

Merdeka

Tonight, when the clock strikes 12 midnight, Malaysia will celebrate 49 years of independence. I will be on a bus back to KL.

For those who are not aware, Malaysia officially became independent from the British Empire on August 31, 1957.

The New Straits Times Press Resource Centre has put up a nice collection of old photographs published in The Straits Times in a website titled 1957: Road to Nationhood. Check it out.

Really feel lucky to be living here in Malaysia. Do you feel the same too?

Wishing all Malaysians a very happy Independence day.

29 August 2006

Being Charitable

I have seen that some people have no problems with friends and family borrowing their clothes. Not me, however. Simply hate people borrowing my clothes. I was really annoyed and severely scolded my sister once, for borrowing my pants and coat for a school play without my permission. I know each and every piece of clothing that I have and can tell when I have a shirt or pants missing.

And it’s not just clothes; realize that I am quite possessive about all my stuff. Though I do lend stuff to people, I make it a point to write it down – ‘who took what’ and on ‘what date’. Like the time a colleague borrowed RM50 from me (he has still not given it back yet). Not sure why, but I notice that a lot of people have a habit of borrowing stuff from people and not giving it back.

Marriage has changed me a lot. My wife keeps pinching my T-shirts and I have no option but let her wear them. She’s totally different from me and she’s not at all possessive about her stuff – apart from me I guess.

Anyway this post is not about possessiveness, rather the opposite. As most of my regular visitors know, I am leaving for UK soon. It was amazing how much stuff that I had accumulated over four years I had been here in Kedah. Have been able to sell off most of the items but I still have loads more including shelf full of books, both in my office and house.

A few days back I came to a very painful decision – to give away most of my books. It was hard and I went through them for the last time and found some great stuff that I had bought sometime back but had not even read. It took me some time but I finally separated them out into groups – ones close to my heart/ hard to get books and others. From the later, I gave some to my close friends and today I donated the rest (three boxes) to my nearest library. I have a habit of writing my name on the first page of my books but the guys down at the library said that it would not be a problem.

I have also separated all the clothes that I don’t want or can’t fit and put them into one old big suitcase. Tried one of my old jeans but it was too tight. Yeah, I must come to terms with the fact that I won’t go back to a 30 inches waist anytime soon (if at all). One of my friends said that he could pass them to some charitable organizations.

Thought I would be sad but I am not. Never realized that giving away stuff could feel so good.

Tags: Charity Moving Personal

28 August 2006

Sis back in town

A quick weekend round-up.

My sister is back in Malaysia with her husband. They arrived last Saturday from Melbourne and stayed a night over in the Concorde Inn Sepang, before proceeding to Kota Bahru.

Couldn't take them around KL as planned because of a series of unfortunate events. My wife suddenly came down with fever and our maid left for Indonesia. My in-laws weren't in because they had gone to attend a cousin's wedding reception. So I was alone at home taking care of my daughter Rahil and baby son as well as a sick wife. As Murphy's law states: "Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong".

Anyway, it was nice to see both of them again after such a long time. Thanks for the gifts.

Somewhere on the highway, on the way to pick them up from their hotel a small stone hit the windscreen. I was praying: "please don't let the windscreen crack" but to no avail. A few minutes later a thin silver hairline crack appeared from the spot extending down.

Does anyone know of a good place where they can repair hairline windscreen cracks?

I checked on the Internet and found only one Malaysian site. Better than changing the whole windscreen, which would cost me a bomb.

By the second meeting, Rahil warmed up to my sister real quick. However, she was very shy with Fred (my sister’s husband). This was the first time she was up and close with a “Mat salleh” with blond hair.

We were joking that she would get quickly used to white people as there are quite a few of them around in UK too.

Enjoy youself in Redang, guys.

Related Links: Cracked windscreen repair

Tags: Cracked windscreen Personal

23 August 2006

Sponge Bob in Muar

SpongeBob caught napping in Muar, Johor (another forwarded e-mail).

In case you are not aware, SpongeBob SquarePants is the main character of the popular animated television series of the same name.

It is unique because it is the is the first "low budget" Nickelodeon cartoon, to become extremely popular, with both children and adults alike. In Malaysia, the show is aired over Nickelodeon (Astro), TV3 and TV9.

On an unrelated note, just noticed that Blogger has a new logo on the dashboard - of a puppy wearing a party hat. Any significance of that?

Tags: Blogger Cartoons Logo SpongeBob SquarePants

18 August 2006

Amicable Divorce

I don't like spreading rumours but this was too hot, NOT to repeat.

Anyway, Someone told me this rumour regarding a marriage which ended amicably recently.

(BTW, this post has nothing to do with Datuk K or Siti Nurhaliza.)

According to this rumour, the marriage ended because of a third party. The wife discovered that the husband was having an affair. However, the surprising part is the third party was not another women but a MAN.

Adding some more salt to the rumour, the theory is that the wife (now divorcee) was not that bitter or mad as she would have been had the third party been another lady.

Can you make any sense out of all of this?

Tags: Divorce Rumours

15 August 2006

Starbucks drink discounts

Besides free Wifi access, there is now another reason for me to continue patronising Starbucks stores. Recently found out that I can get a 10% discount on my drinks by using my J card (loyalty card of Jusco stores) .

I guess that means that I am not supporting the recent call to boycott the company. Anyway, I feel that by boycotting Starbucks, we will ebe hurting ourselves. Afterall, Starbucks retail stores in Malaysia are exclusively operated by Berjaya Coffee Company (M) Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berjaya Group Berhad, a Malaysian company.

You may also want to read their rumour response.

Tags: coffee J card Starbucks wifi

08 August 2006

Farhan didn't win

Did anyone of you catch Akademi Fantasia 4 finals last saturday?

This was the first time I watched the entire show this season.

As I had predicted before, Farhan didn't win even though she was the most talented among the lot. She was amazing with her version of Spain by Al Jarreau from the album This Time (1980). If she comes out with an album, I will definitely buy it.

One thing I noticed was that a lot of the AF students were giving the "sign". And Lotter was the guy doing it most of the time. Check below if you don't believe me (all pictures from the Astro website).

The lyrics for Spain.

Yesterday
Just a photograph of yesterday
and all it's edges folded
and the corners faded sepia brown
and yet it's all I have of our past love
a post script to it's ending

Brighter days
I can see such brighter days
when every song we sang is sung again
and now we know
we know this time it's for good
and we're lovers once again
and you're near me

I can remember the rain in december
the leaves of brown on the ground
in Spain I did love and adore you
the nights filled with joy were our yesterdays
and tomorrow will bring you near me

I can recall my desire
every reverie is on fire and I get a picture of all our yesterdays
yes today, I can say
I get a kick every time they play that spain again

I can remember the rain in december
the leaves of brown on the ground
Our love was a spanish fiesta
the bright lights and sounds were our joy each day
and the nights were the heat of yearning

I can recall my desire every reverie
is on fire and I get a picture of all our yesterdays
yes today, I can say
I get a kick every time I see you gaze at me
I see moments of history
your eyes meet mine and they dance to the melody
and we live again as if dreaming

the sound of our hearts beat like castanets
and forever we'll know their meaning
I can recall my desire every reverie is on fire
and I get a picture of all our yesterdays
yes, today, I can say
I get a kick every time I see you gaze at me

(music solo)

You gaze at me
I see moments of history
your eyes meet mine
and they dance to the melody
and we live again as if dreaming

the sound of our hearts beat like castenets
and forever we'll know their meaning

I can recall my desire
every reverie is on fire
and I get a picture of all our yesterdays
yes today I can say
I get a kick every time I see you gaze at me

be do de
(scat solo)

You gaze at me
I see moments of history
your eyes meet mine and they dance to the melody
and we live again as if dreaming

the sound of our hearts beat like castanets
and forever we'll know their meaning
I can remember the rain in december
the leaves of brown tumbling down

in spain I did love and adore you
the nights filled with joy were our yesterdays
and tomorrow will bring you near me

I can recall my desire every reverie is on fire
and I get a picture of all our yesterdays
yes today I can say
I get a kick every time you sing that spain

whoa, whoa, oh yeah

07 August 2006

Blog statistics

My blog has a Google page rank of 5 and is listed as a Crunchy Crustacean in the TTLB Ecosystem. This is quite impressive but looking at my web statistics, this doesn't translate to a high number of visitors.

According to OneStatFree.com, the average visits per day is 65, whereas it is 55 according to Sitemeter.com. If you think that's a lot, think again. Famous Malaysian blogger, Kenny Sia receives like 9000 visitors to his blog everyday.

Discussed this situation with a few friends (regulars to my blog) and they pointed out a few possible reasons:

1. ah ok lah is too serious. Malaysians don't like serious topics.
I don't really agree with this. I often post "light" stuff too.
2. I don't post pictures of myself. I don't think this policy would change. I prefer to remain anonymous.
3. I don't post pictures of cute and/or sexy girls. I don't think this policy would change either. My wife is my censorship board and she says "No cute and/or sexy girls in your blog" and I have to agree.
4. None of the famous bloggers (not even the Malaysian ones) link back to ah ok lah. Nothing much I can do about that.

Anyway, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the regular visitors to my blog.

TAGS: Blog Statistics Visitors

02 August 2006

Lebanon - Scary scenario and some facts

Thought up this really scary scenario:

After several months, the fighting between the Israeli army and the Hizbollah doesn't let up. Even thought they don't want to, the regular Lebanese army joins the fray on the side of the Hizbollah.

US supply of weapons to Israel continues. On the other hand, there is a steady flow of weapons and volunteers from Syria and Iran and some other Arab countries.

Israel attacks Syria accusing them of supplying weapons and supporting the Hizbollah. Iran also joins in. Now the war is on a full swing.

Other Arab countries hang onto the sidelines watching closely while public opinion grows against their Government's inactivity.

The US finally joins in on the side of Israelis. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Egypt who don't realy like the Hizbolllah or the Iranians forced to choose sides - and you can guess which side.

Now it's officially World War 3. Other countries forced to take sides

Finally, nuclear bombs go off in the region and THE WORLD ENDS.

The End

Anyway here are some facts about Lebanon that you might not know:

- Muslims form the majority of the total population (estimated about 60%). The rest are Christian and maybe some Jews.
- It is one of the few democratic countries in the middle east. It held it's first free (from foreign interference) legislative elections in May-June 2005.
- There are approximately 15 million people of Lebanese descent, mainly Christians, spread all over the world. Brazil has the biggest Lebanese community abroad.
(Source: Wikipedia and CIA World Factbook.)

Some interesting Lebanese Blogs:
- UrSalim. Has a lot of links to other lebanese blogs.
- Beirut Live

Tags: Israel Lebanon Third World War