Sex And The City

Mood: Relaxed

Listening to: Hitz TV on Astro

Time flies so quickly without realisation.

Chinese New Year is almost over, my long-awaited trip back to Kuching has ended and now my real adventure begins.

In a space of 3 weeks, I’ve rushed through the following activities…

1. Reunion with my mum and dad – who never cease to drop hints about my getting hitched…

2. Reconnected with high-school friends, ex-colleagues, old flames – funny how almost everyone is married, except me…

3. Met new friends and acquaintances – I’m slowly organising the names and numbers in my phonebook…

4. Celebrated CNY and visited too many homes while having eaten, drank and gambled too much – I’ve put on 3 kgs…

5. Got a new job, new house, new car – I just need a new free “personal assistant-cum-translator”…

Yes, it’s been a hell of a month. And it’s been really fun.

And now I’m back in Kuala Lumpur.

So far, the past few nights have been no less exciting.

I’ve gotten myself lost while driving – even with the GPS on – and encountered road blocks while trying to familiarise myself with new hangouts.

Today, I’m taking it easy.

Special mention goes out to the very beautiful Eiling who has been extremely gracious, accommodating and helpful during my initial trip here. She treated me to a scrumptious steamboat dinner and the most exquisite roast-pork lunch ever

I’m looking forward to doing a bit more exploration this weekend, once I’ve gotten enough sleep to make up for the past month…

Hair

Mood: Spritely

Listening to: Autumn In My Heart by Jeong Il Young

Decided to get a hair cut today after not having it cut for 2 months.

So, off to Sunnybank after work hoping that there wouldn’t be too many patrons on a Monday evening.

I was wrong – my regular salon, owned by this Hong Kong lady, was packed to the rafters. She said I had to make an appointment for another day.

Since I was in that area, decided to have a walk around and check out a different hair salon.

Saw an interesting little Asian shop called Colour Rain Hair Shop and it didn’t look too busy so I went in for a look see. When I got in, I had a feeling I’ve been teleported to a scene on Tokyo Drift – techno music and plenty of young girls with dyed blonde hair, mini skirts and knee high boots.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at me…

Me: Lei Hoe. Ngo lei chuen tow fatt. (Cantonese for ‘hi, i’m here for a hair cut’)

*and trying to be cool in a young-ish kinda way*

Cute girl at the counter: Ahn-nyong-ha-se-yo!

*momentarily shocked but quickly recovered*

Me: Errr, harro. Cut hair?

CGATC: Cut hair, sure (pronounced ’shuarre’). You come, wash first (leading me to the back)

At this point, another cute girl comes to wash my hair…

Cute shampoo girl: Sit closer, move head up…yea… (and commences to vigorously scrub wash my hair)

10 minutes later, with my head and hair feeling surprisingly lighter, I was led to a seat at the front where another girl was waiting with a pair of scissors…

Cute hair stylist: Ahn-nyong-ha-se-yo! How you want cut? Long? Short?

Me: Errm, just trim the top, scissor-cut the edge and leave the fringe.

CHS: You want layering at bottom? Straight cut?

Me: Huh? Errr, what?

CHS: I do nice one for you.

Me: Just do whatever that makes me look nice.

CHS: You look nice? (a spattering of Korean or gibberish and a whole lot of giggling in the shop)

*my ears felt prickly and warm while my face blushed like fresh tomatoes – at that point, I just wanted to run out of the shop…no amount of charm or coolness could ease my blushing*

Me: No, no. Just cut your way.

20 minutes later, she was done. I looked in the mirror and was rather impressed by her handiwork.

Cute hair stylist and shampoo girl: Wait, ya. We blow first. (I think they meant blow dry)

*it was a weird albeit kinky experience to have my hair blown dry by 2 cute girls at once*

After a dash of wax and a bit more blow drying, I stood up looking like a K-Pop star and slowly made my way to the counter to pay a very worthwhile $15.

Me: Gahm-sah-hahm-ni-da. (one of the very few Korean phrases I learned, courtesy of Mark & Rovilson in last season’s Amazing Race Asia)

Cute stylist, shampoo and counter girls: Ooooo, you speaka Koreana? Gahm-sah-hahm-ni-da. Come again!

And then it was all over – I walked out and back to my car, feeling rather spritely.

Normally I’d have lost my patience but when the girls were as cute as them, I guess it pays to be forgiving.

I think I’ll be planning my next trip to Seoul. Starting to be fascinated by Korean girls…

Waves

Mood: Relaxed

Listening to: Drifting by Enya (Amarantine)

Went on a road trip to North Stradbroke Island aka Straddie on Saturday.

Hadn’t been there myself so was pleasantly surprised by the many breathtaking views around the island.

Seeing the deep blue hues of the Coral Sea and South Pacific Ocean, hearing the sound of the fierce waves crashing against the rocks, feeling the powerful gusts of wind kissing my sun burnt cheeks…

It reminded me of Sorrento, Port Phillip Bay back when I was still studying in Melbourne.

The sensation cannot be put in words, but can only be captured onto these pictures…

Cylinder Beach, Straddie

Dune Rocks, Straddie

Home Beach, Straddie

South Gorge, Straddie

Blue Lake National Park, Straddie

South Gorge, Straddie

Redland Bay, Cleveland

There were viewing spots for whale watching but I saw dolphins instead. See if you can spot them in the picture…

View of the Coral Sea / South Pacific Ocean from Straddie

A relaxing weekend well spent in the outdoors, looking forward to next weekend already.

Realisation

Mood: Reflective

Listening to: A Moment Like This by Leona Lewis (British X-Factor winning song)

2 days ago as I spent lunch break at Westfield Garden City, I did some book browsing at Borders.

Was about to head over to the coffee counter to order my usual latte at Gloria Jeans when I chanced upon this little book called Unpolished Gem.

I was both intrigued by the cover and the title of the book.

Gave it a browse and was immediately enthralled, so I decided to buy it there and then.

It’s a memoir written by Alice Pung, an Australian-Cambodian, who writes her experiences as a migrant living in Melbourne.

Although I’m still in the midst of Robert Ludlum’s Sigma Protocol, I just couldn’t keep Unpolished Gem down.

Finished reading it in a space of 2 days (or rather 2 nights) because it really is that good.

I don’t normally read non-fiction but this one is a must-read.

Full review of the book is posted at Laksa Diaries.

*****

Something happened today.

Something not particularly pleasant.

How do you feel when someone close who is privy to your innermost thoughts and insecurities betrays your trust?

It hurts. It truly does.

I used to wonder how some people go through life without the strength of conviction to uphold principles and values.

I now realise, it’s not a matter of conviction.

These people simply have no principles…

Fade

Mood: Relieved

Listening to: Distant Dreamer by Duffy

How quickly the week has passed. It’s the weekend again.

It has been an eventful week, filled with sadness and surprises.

A death in the family, a reunion with an old friend, events at work…life goes on.

I’ve been deprived of sleep, lacking energy, too many thoughts running through my mind.

Worries, fears and anxiety fills my head.

Thinking of the past, present and future.

Reflection of a deep thinker, that’s me. It’s certainly no gift, considering the condition I’m in.

It’s more of a curse.

Sometimes, I wish I could just break down my thought process and become simple minded.

Yes, at least life would seem less complicated that way.

All the troubles and worries would just fade away…

*****

I’ve experimented with dinner today.

I attempted to cook kueh chap.

It turned out very wrong. Failure on all fronts.

I won’t give up. Will try it again on Sunday.

At least I still have the number for Domino’s…

*****

Fading away.

The candle flickers,

as it slowly burns out.

~

Fading away.

The light dims,

darkness becomes prominent.

~

Fading away.

Everything becomes blurry,

as I slowly lose my sight.

~

Fading away.

I lose all senses,

it all seems surreal.

*****

I’m hooked on this song, Distant Dreamer by Duffy, a Welsh singer.

Another moment of serendipity, I discovered this song while typing this post. It was playing on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation channel and I immediately downloaded it.

The song comes from her latest album, Rockferry. Very hypnotic, very soulful, in the tradition of Amy Winehouse and Gabriela Cilmi. The album is really good. It has a kind of 70s feel to it.