Keydam

Josh is 8

2011-10-18T11:48:00.001+08:00

This blog started when i was courting his mom. Josh is now 8 and has a little brother. How time flies. Life has been a constant adventure for all of us spanning several countries over the years. For an 8 year old, he has seen and experienced more than most of us have in a lifetime. And yet, you can never take the kid away from him, which is good. He enjoys his life 'in the moment'. Something we as adults need to do more.

His current passion is golf and since taking lessons starting June this year, he has improved tremendously. I have to say, as a father there is great joy in having your son take up your own passion. Now I know how my own dad feels. I hope to have my dad here soon for him to play golf with Josh and me.

Island paradise

2011-09-09T12:49:00.001+08:00

The weekend is near and we need to decide which beach to go to. Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Island Living

2011-06-06T11:15:00.000+08:00

It's been more than a week since Josh and me landed on this beautiful island to start a new life. The weather is perfect, the people are nice, the work environment is good. What else can one ask for? I am truly blessed, Alhamdulillah!

Homeward Bound

2011-05-17T20:43:00.006+08:00

Waah! Can't wait to go home!

I've settled the major things I needed to settle before leaving Bahrain for good. Tomorrow evening I bid farewell to my host country for the last two and a half years to go home to this boy, his brother and their Mama. It's been an eventful last few months for the family. Now to settle down again and start new routines in our life.

Never thought routine is something I am actually looking forward to...

Hello World!

2011-05-16T01:26:00.000+08:00

Thanks to my sister, I finally get to see my son for the first time. Few more days and I get to hold him in my hands. Whoohoo! Can't wait.

Aaron Arrives

2011-05-14T02:30:00.001+08:00

Today the Zizster gave birth to our second son. Glad everything went well and both Mama and baby are fine. Too bad I couldn't be there since I'm serving my last few days here in Bahrain and needed to sort out our exit from the country as a Resident.

I have yet to see a picture of our new son Aaron but I did manage to hear him squeak while the Zizster was holding him when we spoke. Can't wait to be back in KL later in the week. Josh was excited when he turned up at the hospital. He asked me, "Papa, can I boss Aaron around since I am the big brother?". "Err.. I guess".

This pregnancy for the Zizster has been very eventful. Evacuating a country while 30 weeks pregnant, not having hubby around for the crucial weeks, gynae getting a heart attack just before the birth (surprisingly he still managed to deliver the baby)... Fittingly, Aaron was born on Friday the 13th.

Our adventure as a family continues with the latest addition. Welcome to the world, my son!

Farewell and Hello

2011-04-30T19:02:00.000+08:00

It's been 2 and a half years living in Bahrain. The country has been good to me and my family. But now, it is time to say goodbye as we embark on another adventure. It is still early to say where we will end up but I am excited and looking forward to it.

Looking back, this blog has been a good log of my life with the Zizster and then Josh. We wait any day now for the latest addition. Another reason to be excited. Watch this space!

Ponder

2011-03-28T05:10:00.000+08:00

Things are getting ugly all around the world. Natural disasters I could understand, but manmade problems are just incomprehensible. How did we get to this point? Did we inherit the world from our parents? Did they contribute to the problems of today? Did WE contribute? What are we leaving our children?

Apparently you can get more things done through facebook, twitter and blogs. Live changing events are attributed to the advent of social networking. Give me a break! If the impact is so powerful, everyone should read my blogs, Twitter and FB postings, and the world will be a better place. Each one of us have strong opinions about everything. Social networking allows people with the same views to feel belonged. Just because you have 15,487 likes does not mean the whole world agrees with you.

Whatever is happening around the world was going to happen anyway. Social networking merely facilitated them, not cause them.

"My dad is a Superhero!"

2010-12-06T01:02:00.000+08:00

These words were common in our schools when we were growing up.

To each kid, the father is always the strongest, the smartest, the handsomest, the nicest, the kindest, the coolest. I grew up with all these superlatives when describing my dad. Even now, these superlatives are still true to me as a son.

Dad is strict but always fair. Growing up as the youngest in the family, I got the most attention from him, apologies to my other siblings... NOT! I like everything that he likes. I like fishing since my dad used to fish a lot. I took up golf because my dad loves golf. Everything that he did, I wanted to do. Dad is cool. Dad knows everything. Never a question that he didn't have an answer to. In fact, everything that I did was to get that, "Well done", "Good job". Hang on, actually, he was never really explicit in terms of words but the hugs. The hugs say it all. That was enough to know he was proud of my achievements. He wouldn't say it to my face but in conversations with his friends, you could hear the pride he has when he talks about me (ok ok ok.. and the other siblings too).

Dad had this thing about wearing the right stuff for the right occasion. You always need to look smart even in your casual clothes. Shoes without socks? A Big No No! In fact, pants without belt? Tsk tsk! "Don't slouch! Walk like a man!" he would bellow. "Appearance tells a lot about a man".

What I admire most about dad was his ability to talk to anyone from any walk of life and can hold a conversation even with the worst of them. One big lesson he taught was, never hold a grudge. He was true to every single person he met. In fact, I find it amazing that even after 30 odd years, people will still go up to him and say they remember him from back then. I remember a road trip we had ages ago. He brought us to this small village he used to visit when he was a young man to distribute fertilizers. Back then there weren't even paved roads. We stopped for a drink in this old coffee shop. After 30 years, someone in that village still remembered him. Amazing!

Dad is my best friend. He is always a hug away when you are feeling down. He is always with the pat on the shoulder when you have done well. If you slack off, he tells it as it is. He is and always will be my hero.

Dad has never shown any of us his weaker side. Maybe it's his pride but I think it is more of his paternal instinct where he never shows his weaknesses to his kids or wife, AT ALL! I love that about him. He can be stubborn at times but the pride makes dad what he is. Superheroes never cry. Superheroes never feel pain. Superheroes are invincible. Superheroes always saves the day. Superheroes are our idols. Dad, you are a Superhero. At least to me.

When I grow up, I want to be just like my dad. I love you, Ba! You are MY Superhero!

Josh in Spain

2010-11-26T07:02:00.011+08:00

Raising a child is one of the best experiences a parent may have. It's never easy as there is no manual in how to do it. For us, it has always been about giving him the best any parent could give but within our means. No doubt we spoil him with things we never got when we were growing up but the values that we instill in him are the best values we were instilled by our parents.

We can never claim our way is the best but we certainly try our best. Josh has grown up to be the perfect child, at least to us. He's always curious, always wanting to know more and always willing to learn. We hope these traits will stay with him forever.In our travels, we try to give him variety. Be it adventure or cultural, we explain to him the places that we visit, its history and the ways of its people. Kids are like sponges. They absorb and absorb.

In Spain, around Barcelona, we exposed him to Gaudi, Dali and Picasso. It helps that each place of interest provide books that cater to kids his age to better understand the artists. In fact, he was able to do a Show and Tell about Gaudi with facts that we ourselves never knew before. At least his teachers enjoyed it.

As parents we are always proud of him and we hope he turns out to be a truly wonderful person. At the end of the day, we can only mould him so far but he decides his own fate, as we did. For now, we are very proud parents to a wonderful child. We pray that our next will be as wonderful. We love you, Josh!

Hiatus

2010-11-16T02:37:00.013+08:00

It's been a while since my last posting. More due to lack of time rather than lack of activities. Since January, we've been to some amazing places. Easter was spent hunting volcanoes in Italy. The wife dragged me and Josh up Vesuvius, Vulcano, halfway up Stromboli and froze our butts off on Mount Etna. It was an amazing 2-week journey where I counted 40 different forms of transportation from leaving the house till we reached back. At one point, we were in a train that boarded a ship to go to Sicily. That was one surreal train ride. Italy was fun but tiring due to the several places that we visited in a span of 2 weeks. We were in Napoli, Lipari, Catania, Siracusa and then Palermo before heading back to Rome to catch the flight back to Bahrain. We took taxis, jeeps, trains, boats, planes, metro, anything that had a motor, we were on it.

Summer, the family went back to KL leaving me behind in the heat. That wasn't fun at all. I did get to go back for a week for work, though.

We did manage to have another trip, Spain for the Eid holidays. This time, I insisted that it was a 1-city holiday. We settled on Barcelona to have a taste of the Catalonian Country. It was more relaxing where we took in the sights and sounds, in and around the city rather than chasing trains and buses for the next hotel. It was a cultural experience this time where we learned about the works of Gaudi, Dali and of course, Picasso.

We stayed in an apartment very close to the Sagrada Familia. From what we've learnt, the building will only be completed in 2026. Sigh, we just have to come back then...

Of course we didn't just stay in the city. Catalunya is a vast country from Mountains to seaside. Montserrat is not to be missed while Girona has its own character. We enjoyed this but surprisingly the food was not as great as we anticipated, although we do love tapas. I guess we weren't too lucky in choosing restaurants.

For the rest of the year, we doubt there will be any more exotic trips for the family. What I know for sure is that, the next holiday we have, will be a BEAACCHH holiday.

Till then, Ciao and Adios!

By the sea

2010-01-10T00:09:00.004+08:00

Our Greek Vacation

2009-11-14T05:39:00.002+08:00

Bahrain Fort

2009-05-04T03:28:00.007+08:00

I must say that this is so far the best attraction in Bahrain that we've been to. It's located very near my office and by the sea. At least this one has an on-site museum next to it. Sadly we didn't have time to visit the museum. Just a reason to go again? Josh liked it.

Areas around the fort is still being excavated or should I say still left in ruins but the major restoration on the main fort looks like it is all done. I would recommend this place even for a casual visitor to Bahrain. It's in town and very easy to get to. Very clean and not too crowded. It has a nice cafe next to the museum where we had coffee while waiting for the sunset and the lights to go on illuminating the fort. Nice one, Bahrain. This one has our approval.

Gitarku...

2009-05-01T04:44:00.005+08:00

Oscar Schmidt

2009-04-30T14:37:00.002+08:00

This is the new guitar the Zizster bought for me. Sweet sounding box, this is. Now all I need is to learn how to play it. Hahahahaa... "Practice makes perfect, Papa", says Josh. For a 5-year old, he is very good at giving encouragement. "Don't give up. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again, Papa!"

Bahrain has its own appeal. You just have to find it

2009-04-06T04:27:00.003+08:00

There are burial mounds everywhere on the island and numerous temples. Alas, these monuments are not really exploited fully for what they represent. Probably the conditions they are in are not as pristine as some of the more famous sites in other parts of the world.

This one that we stumbled upon is actually a stone's throw away from our house. Apparently it was a site for a temple with altars for sacrifices. However,there was not much information provided at the site. There was a guard or two and a few stray dogs but apart from that we were the only visitors.

The picture of the tree is the infamous Tree of Life. No trip to Bahrain is complete without visiting the tree. Only that once you get there it all seem very anti-climatic. The tree has been vandalised with graffiti on its branches and bark. How sad a national monument is not really looked after.

Oh, this one is a monument to signify my love to the Zizster...

Quality of life

2009-04-02T02:24:00.004+08:00

Living in Bahrain allows me to spend more time with Josh. I still come back late from work but I do not have to spend 2 hours on the road everyday. Home is only 15 minutes away so dinner is always on time and the three of us get to have real quality time with each other.

In KL, the journey home saps away whatever energy is left out of you. Here, it's more relaxing. For that, I am thankful that I have been given this opportunity. Not only do I get to expand my horizon career wise, I also get to spend more time with my kid and wife. Now that my mom-in-law is in town, Josh gets the best attention he can hope for.

Here you see us on volcano eruption day. It's a science kit from Toys'r'us where we get to build and erupt our own volcano. He already did one in KL before coming here but I missed that one since I was here on my own then. So this is Papa n Josh's volcano. Heheh.. I think I enjoyed it more than he did.

Zizzster's new ride

2009-03-30T01:23:00.002+08:00

Bahrain's first post

2009-03-29T23:54:00.005+08:00

I've been in Bahrain for over 4 months but has not been updating this blog at all. That's probably because FB has taken over our lives. In fact, FB has taken my wife. To know how she is, I just have to check her status update.

Bahrain has done weird things to me. Golf is too expensive so I have a new hobby now...
Yup! Gardening. It's a challenging hobby enough since we live in a desert. Fortunately the space I have to work with is limited. Don't ask me the names of the flowers. I just like the colours...

Goodbye Picasso, Hello Dali!

2008-10-20T10:33:00.002+08:00

Aquaboy

2008-10-15T23:29:00.005+08:00

I'm enjoying this routine even more now. Not working enables me to bring Josh out to swim everyday. Problem is the weather. It's come to a point that I get exasperated at the sight of rain too. Not just Josh. Today we managed to get one hour before the rain. So no rubber dinghy, just flippers, goggles and snorkels.

I've always been a lousy teacher for the simple reason I do not have the patience with my students. I'm taking a different approach with Josh when it comes to swimming. Let him be comfortable in the water first. Never mind the techniques. Let him learn what works and what doesn't. We'll work from there. Told him how it should work, then let him decide whether to try Papa's way or not.

Mind you, the boy is competitive and raced me from one end to the other. Technique or no technique, he can sure move fast with those flippers!

Josh the painter, the swimmer, the farmer, the bookstore keeper, the nasi lemak seller, the photographer, the musician...

2008-10-14T21:46:00.007+08:00

We tried out the dinghy today. Josh was more excited with his vest than anything else since he could move around in the adult's pool without hanging on to me. He actually did laps. The rubber dinghy? The dinghy was mine!!! Muaahahahahahaa!!! Anyway, we had fun. Tomorrow we try out the snorkeling gear.

During dinner, Josh must have had an inspired moment so he filled up the living room with his paintings within minutes. I like this stage in his growing up. He finds everything fascinating. All I wanted to be was a fireman at his age. At an earlier age, the Zizster tried to train him to say JP Morgan as his employer. In retrospect, that was a good choice among the American Investment Banks. Now we are even happy to hear him wanting to be a farmer. Reason? He gets to drive a tractor. Why not? It's a noble job!

He asked his mom a few days back. Can i be a farmer AND a photographer at the same time? Wife said, why not? Let's face it. Being an investment banker ain't as sexy now as it used to be. Let papa be the only one in the family. I'd rather Josh be a rock star than go through school and work like I did. Of course the Zizster would not agree. Ok ok ok.. get a degree, then become a rock star, or a painter, a swimmer, a farmer, bookstore keeper, a photographer...

Looking for the perfect birthday gift for Josh

2008-10-13T22:31:00.006+08:00

Today was a tiring day for us. I wanted to get Josh a snorkeling set. Getting the fins, snorkel and goggles were not too difficult. It was the swimming vest that proved to be more difficult than the Amazing Race challenges. I started in One Utama, then off to the Curve, then Sunway Pyramid and finally Plaza Damas. Still, I didn't manage to get the specific Speedo one that I wanted. I had to settle for a blow up vest which serves its purpose, but not if you need to blow it up everytime you want to go for a swim. It will do for now. The vest can wait.

Today, we celebrated his birthday with the in-laws. Lo and behold, everyone got him water related gifts!

Was Josh a happy chappy when Uncle Zul, Aunty Juju and Wan got him a rubber dinghy, oars and an electric pump. He was more excited when I started to fill up the dinghy with air. He was already wearing his swimming vest during dinner. Once we inflated the dinghy, it was difficult getting him out of it. He was even singing "Row, row, row your boat..."

Once we got home, (note to self: an inflated dinghy does not really fit in a Golf GTI!) I had to take pictures of him in the dinghy along with his other presents. Surprise! Surprise! After Josh got ready for bed, he just gathered some cushions and climbed in, read his Doa sebelum tidur and fell asleep.

I've always wanted a rubber dinghy... I wonder if he'd let me use it tomorrow in the pool.

Josh is turning 5 tomorrow...

2008-10-12T22:48:00.011+08:00

Josh had his own countdown to his fifth birthday. Must be the birthdays of his classmates before him, making him wonder when his turn would be. I hope he won't be disappointed especially when he's already gotten gifts one day before. He didn't ask for much. Pakchak bought him the very thing he has been asking for. A remote controlled car. That's probably because I couldn't find the charger for my Mini RC. Papa and Mama has yet to get him stuff so we wil see his reaction tomorrow.

Today we went to Hulu Langat to my parents' place so he could cut his birthday cake with his cousins. We got there at lunch time so Josh got bored waiting for tea time. He wanted to learn how to use my Digital SLR so I gave him a few pointers and set him free around the house to snap away. Usually he has his own compact digital camera but has always eyed Papa's camera.

Don't touch the lens! Hold it like this! Don't press this, don't press that! Make sure you don't drop it! Those were the simple instructions I gave him before I fell asleep. Hahahaa!!! These few pictures were his own. That's the beauty of digital cameras nowadays. U are not stingy on film. No more "takut habis Kodak". I do have to say with a bit of practice, this could be a serious hobby for Josh.

I like this last one only after I downloaded it into the Mac. You could actually see the scene in this one, me in the reflection talking to the Zizster from the garden. I always believe in giving my kid the right encouragement in his forming years. Can't say that I am an expert in parenting but at least I liked them when I was growing up. The simple acknowledgments, the simple pat on the back, the simple "Good job, Josh". I hope it goes a long way with my kid.

Happy 5th Birthday, Josh! I'm proud of you.

Baju Raya

2008-10-11T23:48:00.007+08:00

Josh and I try our best to match our baju raya every year at the insistence of the Zizster. Except this year she had trouble getting a match with the colour Josh picked out. She wore green but not the same tinge as ours. My, my, was she upset!

When I was growing up, I remembered the ritual of buying baju raya. I enjoyed wearing new stuff for the day but to have a whole new wardrobe for all the open houses we were invited to? You had to have 1 new baju melayu, shoes that match (this used to be the chapal), new songkok. Then you have to have new sneakers, shirt, pants and socks. Heck new underwear too! Of course a new haircut a few days before raya is compulsory.

I am sure to some, this is still the ritual that you go through with your kids. Don't get me wrong, It's not a bad thing as long as you can afford it. To some it becomes a stretch especially if you have 5 kids and one baking in the oven. Puasa and raya, to a point, has been commercialized. Ramadhan Bazaars forces you to buy more food than necessary. Raya forces you to buy clothes more than necessary. Whatever happened to moderation?

Hahahaa... I guess I just don't share the same enthusiasm as many about the raya season. I do enjoy Josh looking like me though. Now if I could sneak him out to the hairstylist and....

Beached, stranded and left to rot...

2008-10-10T23:10:00.007+08:00

This picture goes well with the headline I have written above, but what I was referring to is more of the condition of the financial markets as of late. Beached, stranded and left to rot could easily describe the players and the institutions that deal in them and the industry that I am in all my career.

What are sub-prime mortgages? what are prime mortgages to start with? What is a CDS? Why would people not paying their mortgages in the US affect us? What did we do? These are all questions that people ask me and what the US congress had problems voting on. Mind you, it ain't easy to understand, let alone explain what caused the problem we are in now. Don't worry, I won't bore you in attempting at explaining. Simple answer to all these? Greed! How come all the governments that supposedly work in concert to shore up confidence by bailing companies out not do enough to stop the slide in the markets? Guess what? It's just not enough.

So what next? How do we get back to sea? You could either fix the boat which may cost more than a new boat, or just build a new one. Oh by the way, the sea has changed its familiar characteristics of old. The waves are different, the wind erratic, and you may need a bigger and better boat...

Good luck!

Reflections...

2008-10-09T22:40:00.004+08:00

Today I played golf with dad. Mind you our game wasn't as good as we expected but the outing was. Not that we connected on a different level but it was just me playing golf with dad and his buddies. Actually it was very surprising that he even allowed me to play with him since his friends were gonna be there too, what with my blonde hair and all. I introduced myself as his Scandinavian son but the joke got lost in translation.

Few years back, I had a wish. My dream job would be one that allows me to play golf with my dad at least once a week. Seeing I wasn't my own boss, I thought maybe I could at least join him once in a while on his regional tour of golf destinations. Nope! Not even that. It's not that I couldn't afford it but time was never permitting. Now, why is that? Why isn't time available? Me and wife noticed that back in the day when our paycheck was a mere fraction to what our last drawn paycheck was, we managed to travel the world more. It wasn't that we had more leave days, it was the fact that we MADE the time. Every dollar saved was towards that nice trip we'll have every 6 months. We need to figure out how to get back to those days and still keep our paycheck.

After golf, I rushed home since Josh wanted to go for a swim again. Unfortunately, we were just in the pool for a few minutes before it rained again. Poor boy! I'll try again tomorrow. In a weird turn of events, we were actually stranded in the shelter by the pool for a good half hour waiting for the rain to subside. And for that good half hour, we chatted. Me and my nearly 5 year old son. We chatted about everything and nothing. When was the last time you could say that you chatted with your son. Really chatted. I enjoyed it tremendously. Josh was just hoping the sun to come out so he could go back in the water.

Nope, the sun didn't come out but wife did with an umbrella. Josh resigned to the fact that pool day was not gonna be today but was probably glad cos he didn't have to chat with me anymore. Hahahaa!

Back in the house, wife and I watched Hulk and Hellboy2 in our mini superhero marathon.

All in all, it was a fulfilling day for a jobless yellow haired dude.

Everything is going swimmingly...

2008-10-09T00:53:00.010+08:00

It still rained today but we managed to go swimming in between showers. Josh was so happy and asks if he could swim again tomorrow. But of course, my boy! As long as it doesn't rain.

I myself have been disappointed when not being able to bring him to the pool especially when I have promised him and all due to weather. It doesn't really matter to a child if there is good reason you do not keep a promise. Bottom line is that you have not. But when you do, the reward is priceless. The joy that he gets...

I'm especially proud of my boy now as he is starting to read on his own. I like the way they teach him in his kindergarten. Phonetics. So be it Bahasa or English, he is able to make out words by not memorizing but making the sounds the letters make and stringing them up to make a word. We take it for granted because we put it to memory most of the words we use daily. I thank the Zizster for reading to him every night and to inculcate the reading culture in Josh even when he was in the womb. I have never been a good reader, save for Laughter the Best Medicine, Life's Like That, All in a Day's Work, Humor in Uniform and Campus Comedy. 1000 points to people who can guess where these can be found!

Maybe once Josh can type, I'll get him to start his own blog!

Today also, I had to face the hard reality that I may have to part with my 'other' beloved, Gina. I showed my car to a few potential buyers but the mere experience have made me depressed. I'll try my best to contain my tears when I do actually sell her. For now, I will cherish every single mile I am with her...

The Magnificent Shiny Disc Warrior

2008-10-07T22:10:00.003+08:00

I've always wanted to peroxide my hair since my uni days but never got round to it. Since I'll be jobless for a while, this was the best opportunity for me to do so. Hey, what the heck? At least I still have hair now. 20-30 years down the road I won't have enough to bleach anyway.

I like the outcome of the long 3 hours it took to do this. The first bleaching process turned me into a baby orangutan. I kid you not! I was orange. Then the second bleach got me to be yellow. Nope! It wasn't even blonde, it was yellow as in the prime colour. The third process got me to this stage. You should read the response I got when I uploaded this pic on my facebook. Hahahaa!!!

Anyway, today was a nice day chilling with the family (minus the 3 hours with Kent my stylist). Josh was so happy and surprised when I went to pick him up from school today. That boy bolted for the door the moment the bell went off. Of course I only did my hair after picking him up. If not the teachers would have stopped me from taking Josh.

From yesterday's post, I managed to have breakfast with wife and got dad's time to play golf on Thursday. I couldn't take Josh to the pool as it was raining. We'll try that tomorrow. All in all, it was a good day for a jobless dude with the yellow hair.

Jobless should not be job less...

2008-10-06T23:32:00.003+08:00

Since I graduated, I have always held a job and the time between jobs were confined to a few days to a few weeks. This time round, it will probably be longer. What will I do with the time? I have no idea. I have 1001 things I would love to do but most would eat up into my reserves too fast. So I will try my best to fill up the time dedicated to my immediate family. Take my kid swimming tomorrow? He'd love that. Bring my dad golfing? Hell yeah! Have breakfast with the wife after sending Imran to kindergarten? Why not?

Simple things in life I have taken for granted thinking I'll do it later. I'm too busy now. I'm too tired. They would understand.

We tend to forget what working is for. A means to earn enough so that we can live comfortably. To provide for the people close to you. Your family. We tend to take work too seriously that we neglect the very people you work to support. What have we not given that they yearn? Your time to be with them. Your time to share the things your salary can buy. Your presence.

I need to remedy that...

Woof Woof!!!

2008-07-01T10:10:00.012+08:00

This country has gone to the dogs!!!
I have no faith in the current leaders nor are there any suitable candidates to take over. This is ridiculous! Don't we have politicians with dignity, humility and grace anymore? Could someone with no skeletons in their closet come out and declare wholeheartedly that they wish to serve the nation and its people? And not their own breed and kins?

I want security and a conducive environment to work and raise my family. Is that too much to ask in this day and age?

Wake up and smell the coffee!

2008-03-31T12:16:00.001+08:00

My blog has never been about politics but the recent GE'08 got me tempted. Sorry, but I won't succumb to temptations. If not I might end up being an MP. In short, Malaysians woke up and decided to vote with their eyes open, but what do I care? I'm not even registered as a voter. Don't ask me why but classify me as a disillusioned professional, political-wise. So please can someone convince me to vote? So anyway, wake up and smell the coffee is my advice to the government-of-the-day (face it, that's what u r) to get off your laurels and listen to the voters. They are trying to tell you something. On that note, have a read on my good friend Denang's blog at azrain-adnan.blogspot.com. I like his views on current politics from a learned UMNO member point of view. Congrats to Denang for the courage to be the sensible voice from within. We need more people like you.

Twin towers

2008-02-29T00:36:00.001+08:00

Mondays are tennis days for me with the boys. Mind you, I'll be the worst player in the bunch but it's a good workout so I try to make it a point to turn up every week. This picture was ironic because we had the 2 tallest guys in a pairing wearing all white playing on the court with the twin towers as the backdrop. Between the two of them, they stand 12 feet tall. Ironic iconic!

Homeward bound

2007-12-29T15:54:00.001+08:00

11 days and 10 nights later we come to the end of our stay in Sabah. Fond memories brought back with hundreds of miles of tire tracks and footprints left behind. It was a tiring journey but it is rated high among all the destinations we've been to together. Josh and the Zisster are great traveling companions but sometimes the finer art of bladder management elude them. Growing up with a strict dad about going to the loo before a long journey, unscheduled pee stops are uncommon to me. But we managed just fine during the 11 days. I learnt how to use toilets along the road, or in some cases made do with makeshift toilets. Yes, even this is uncommon to me. All in all, Josh proved to be quite a traveller for a 4 yr old. This will only mean he will be ready for more adventures later on. Keep reading this blog for our next adventure but that won't be in the near future. I need to heal my sore neck and shoulders first...

Lazing about in a 5-star hotel

2007-12-28T21:31:00.001+08:00

After so many days on the road, staying put sounded like a great idea so that was what we did. We were planning to go on a train ride to nowhere but services were down since they are fixing the railway track till next year. Brought Josh to the pool and that definitely tired him out. Tomorrow we head back to KL.

Sandakan back to KK

2007-12-27T20:35:00.001+08:00

This is the 4wd we've rented. Since we set off on Thursday, we have clocked 1300kms not inclusive of the 160km or so that the guide took us in his van to Gomantong and Sukau. Or the miles we covered on the Kinabatangan and the boat ride to Mataking and back. The next 2 days there will be more miles to be covered but maybe on a different kind of transportation. Today was especially strenuous for me as the 330km took more than 6 and a half hours. That means the journey was slow averaging 50kph. Through estate roads and through mountainous routes. This picture was taken in Kundasang. If it was a clearer day, it would be Mt. Kinabalu in the background. Regardless, it was still breathtaking. Well, the adventure continues in the land below the wind.

One resort, two islands and a spa...

2007-12-26T22:27:00.001+08:00

The last 3 days and 2 nights we were at Mataking Island with the tagline in the title. Sadly we don't scuba dive as the surrounding area is littered with amazing dive sites. Mataking is basically one island but becomes 2 during high tide creating Mataking Kechil. The sandbank separating the 2 islands is called the Moses walk for obvious reasons. We were close to the Phillipines but security is assured as there is also a police outpost there. Josh had a great time feeding the fish, lazing on the beach and just playing with his toys when we were in the room. It was a relaxing stay for the Zizzster and me too with nothing on the itinerary except meal times. What holidays are about, really. We're back in Sandakan now for a pit stop before making our way back to KK. Where we end up between Sandakan and KK has yet to be decided...

Sandakan to Semporna

2007-12-23T17:30:00.001+08:00

Another four and a half hours of driving. On the way out of Sandakan, we stopped by Sepilok to see orangutans at the sanctuary during feeding time. There were only 3 apes that came out and one busybody monkey stealing free bananas. Our sighting of orangutans in the wild yesterday was more rewarding. Reaching Semporna, we immediately arranged for a stay on one of the islands. That would be another post for you to find out where we will be, starting tomorrow.

Gomantong caves and Kinabatangan river cruise

2007-12-22T17:29:00.001+08:00

Today the adventure was amazing. First stop was Gomantong caves. We were quite fortunate as it was bird's nest harvest time. It only happens 3 times a year for a fortnight each time. Men hanging on bamboo harnests 50 metres in the air all on the name of birt spit. I hear they make RM30k for 2 weeks' work. Then it was a river cruise along the Kinabatangan hoping to see the elusive proboscis monkeys. We we rewarded with more than that when we actually spotted a pair of orangutans. A mother and a baby. It was funny as the guide himself was excited to see one in the wild and how all of us bolted into the jungle to get a closer look. Including the boatman! Amazing apes they were. Not long after we saw a family of the proboscis monkeys before it started to rain. It was worth the soak as a rare sighting of orangutans in the wild more than made up for the wet ride back.

Kundasang to Sandakan

2007-12-21T16:48:00.001+08:00

The drive was supposed to be 3hrs. It took us nearly 5 with bad roads and slow traffic. There was nowhere memorable to stop along the way. It was just miles and miles of palm oil estates. Reaching Sandakan was a pleasant surprise with a quaint old town centred around its port. We're now having tea at the English Tea House. Surreal!

Kundasang on Day 2...

2007-12-20T17:14:00.001+08:00

Day 2 was a relaxed day in Kundasang. We went to the Kinabalu park where we followed a short trail in the Botanical Garden where Josh became the guide. Following clues along the way to ensure we were on the right path. Well, ok so they were arrows along the paths but he did a good job taking us thru the trails and back. He deserved a break so he gets to watch the Disney channel in the afternoon. Tomorrow we head for Sandakan.

Kinabalu welcome!

2007-12-19T13:30:00.001+08:00

Reaching the airport from a 4am flight wasn't pleasant. Having to change the 2 front tyres to the 4x4 was wasting more time. Once we got on the road, it was already 3hrs since touchdown. A slow drive up the mountains was breathtaking. Missed the turning to the hotel so had to double-back 15km but all was worth it with this view from our room.

East Malaysia Tour

2007-12-15T15:57:00.001+08:00

Cuti-cuti Malaysia is something most of us take for granted. To most KL-lites holidays are exotic destinations like Bali, Phuket, Mauritius and such. When the Zisster and I were going out we used to take aimless drives around. We've ended up in places like Teluk Panglima Garang on the west coast to Teluk Iskandar in the east. This time we're planning to do a road trip in Sabah bringing Josh along. From KK to Tawau. We will report on what we encounter in the next blog.

Tengkujuh

2007-12-10T18:56:00.001+08:00

Musim tengkujuh is a season associated with bad weather and reduced income for the fishermen especially on our Eastern shores. Our recent visit to Kuala Terengganu was not a holiday but more of visiting relatives. Even so, personally the tengkujuh time is a time when nature is at its best. The wind blowing mercilessly bending coconut trees to awkward angles and rain in the bucket fulls coming down effortlessly. To me these are all gentle reminders to how insignificant each of us are in the greater scheme of the universe. Allah is great. Even in the worst of weather, there is graceful beauty at show. Even with raging seas there is a sense of serenity to the surroundings that is tengkujuh.

Blogging from my phone

2007-12-07T10:45:00.001+08:00

This is my first blog using the phone. Maybe with this application I get to publish more frequently and on the go.

Memory Lane

2007-11-29T11:54:00.000+08:00

Amazing how memory lane seems to change everytime you visit it. What I mean is that the same instances in the past can give pain and comfort at different times in one's life as you journey back through time.

We sometimes have selective memories. Like me, my adolescent years are better left not talked about but they were interspersed with beautiful memories too.

Recently my elder sister wrote in our family yahoogroups! her memories of the time she was growing up in our kampung house in Tongkang Yard (I kid u not, this is the name of the place). Her posting was made more colourful with the help from my uncle who sent in these pictures of that specific time for our families (uncles, aunties and cousins too). Yours truly was just a toddler (an ugly chubby one if these pictures were to be of any proof) so I had no idea what she was writing about.

Then I started to pen down my own memories of growing up in Alor Setar. My version was no longer of Tongkang Yard but of Taman Golf. The only thing in common between me and my elder sister (who is a decade and 2 years older than me) was the fact that we grew up tormenting my other sister (who is 4 years older). The middle child syndrome is a theory someone came up with after meeting this sister of mine. Hehehee...

I guess in years to come, my son will be reminiscing his childhood with his kids from the hundreds of pictures I have of him now. "This is when grandpapa brought me to Phuket and I actually piloted the elephant myself...."

Me and my dad

2007-11-12T14:57:00.000+08:00

Fatherly love is weird. It's not as straightforward as you may think. Each one of us have different kinds of relationships with our respective dads. Heck, even our siblings enjoy different degrees of closeness with the same person. Of course by default a mother's love is stronger than any bond there is out there, but a dad's? It's personal to holder.

Here is a small collection of pictures we took during Hari Raya.

Asking for forgiveness is a ritual we do before we go out and see other families on the first day of raya.

The youngest addition to the family, Zayn, was patient enough to wear his songkok throughout our lenghty 'salam-salaman' session.

Josh was not really in the mood to pose as he was too busy snapping away on his own camera. This was the best shot of him and us, I tell you.

On other days, it may be the mom who dresses you but for raya, the elusive 'sampin knot' can only be administered by a father.

So how is YOUR relationship with your dad? We each have our own private moments with the old man. It may not be numerous enough but I am sure there was at least one time you really connected with dad. Go give the old guy a hug...

A walkabout in KL

2007-10-22T15:31:00.000+08:00

Had been wanting to do this for a long time and finally got round to it. This time, I increased the saturation, maxed out the contrast and sharpened the pictures. They (the pictures) turn out warmer than it is when it was actually a cloudy day. It's amazing how we in Malaysia take racial harmony for granted. We are ok with each other's religions more than we think we are. Evidenced here by various temples and holy men within a swivel of a camera. The British, and now politics, keep us in harmonious disunity for far too long. To me, the average Malaysian will eventually see that we can't live in isolation.

Hmm, maybe I should go out and buy me a unity band.

Experimenting with light...

2007-09-20T16:31:00.000+08:00

It's all about how much light is captured. These series of photos is my attempt at getting my pictures to appear bleak and moody.

At the end of the day, it is our own interpretation that matters when we look at anything that we perceive to be nice. I kinda like these pictures but they don't do it for my wife.

The hard part is being consistent throughout your selection. What I do here is just play around with saturation, hue, sharpness and exposure. No touch-ups done.

No touch-ups? What I mean is that I don't lose someone's navel by airbrushing. Tweaks were done on the way light is captured.

Fireworks at Putrajaya

2007-08-28T10:35:00.000+08:00

The inaugural Malaysia International Fireworks Competition attracted thousands and I mean thousands of people to Putrajaya. The show started at 10pm but we were there before 8.30pm to make sure we get there before the gridlock started. We wanted to give Josh a treat so to be comfortable, we bought tickets to watch it from the Putrajaya International Conference Centre (PICC).

The show was spectacular with the music aptly playing to visual cue. Great job Team Italy!

We would love to see other teams' effort but the jam going home was just horrendous that we opt not to. I would advice those going to check-in the Shangri-La and just retreat to your room after the show and not get stuck in a 2hr jam just to get home.

I didn't have a wide-angle lens so the pictures look too close-up for a perfect shot. Nevertheless, I was happy with the outcome as it was my first time taking pictures of fireworks with this camera. Next time, I'd choose a vantage point across the lake to get a nicer angle.

Got me new lenses...

2007-08-03T16:04:00.000+08:00

I always wondered how the adverts on billboards have really nice close-up pictures of people or objects with very blurry background. Technically this is done by using the biggest aperture in your settings.

However, the lenses I had before never managed to go beyond 1:4.5 (cheap amateur lenses). So the desired effect didn't quite turn out to my liking unless the background is really far away. I always knew this will set me back quite a bit if I were to invest in better lenses. I stumbled upon a Canon 50mm f1.8 canon lenses by chance. It was housed together with the ones that cost well over RM3000. Surprisingly, this one only cost a fraction of that.

Here are some of the pictures I took. Of course you could also edit the pictures in Photoshop and add the blur effect, but where is the fun in that?

Phuket Getaway

2007-07-27T15:52:00.000+08:00

"Tell me when we get there, Papa!" Phuket was a long awaited holiday for the family. Mind you, the destination changed a great deal of time as we contemplated on the best place to bring Josh and making sure he enjoys it. Kerala, India was top of our list but sanitation and the nature of the adventure we planned was not quite suitable for a 3 year old. An executive decision was made by yours truly to check out a resort I first stumbled upon several years back in Phuket. The Chedi.

It's a boutique hotel suitable for young couples with some level of fitness, as the whole hotel hugs a hill and that translates to hundreds of steps to get to and fro the beach. Nevertheless, during the first evening there, we were greeted by the most beautiful sunset during our stay there. Nice welcome, Phuket!

We managed to get a few hours of fun on the beach after checking in, which for Josh was the only thing he was looking forward to. There are other things to do in Phuket and we didn't want Josh to associate this holiday with just the beach.

What's a visit to a paradise island without island hopping on the agenda? There was a choice of Phi Phi Island and Phang Nga Bay speedboat tours. We opted for the latter and turned out a better choice as the sea was calmer on this side of Phuket. The sea was choppy to Phi Phi.

Nice hat, Zizzster! The tour included a stopover at the famous James Bond Island featured in The Man with the Golden Gun edition. It was an ordinary enough island with not much beach to shout about. To see the island, a short hike is necessary. Sad to say, the result of carrying a toddler over steep rocks was not rewarded by an awe inspiring sight. It was just a big rock in the water. Hence I'm not posting it here.
Of course, safety is of concern when you are bouncing on open waters at considerable speed with 400 breaking horespower strapped at the back of the boat. The tour operator even had a life jacket for Josh. They are very organized up there in Thailand. Wherever we went in Thailand, Josh was given preferential treatment. Our tour guide took extra care of him as he reminded him of his own son. At the hotel, all the girls, be it waitresses or the front desk staff would play with him and give him sweets. Josh being the stud he is would act nonchalantly.

The final stop of the boat ride was on an island with beaches on either side. It was basically a long sand bank with a cafe. Here Josh was feeding the fish a banana. He really looked the beach boy that I wanted to be.

And again, another day at the beach was spent with me burying my son up to his waist. "Papa, this is for a little while only, right?" Afraid we might leave him on the beach like that.

Our visit to Phantasea was not documented as there was no photography allowed in the main theatre. The main attraction was a good stage show with all the elephants and domesticated animals of Thailand doing a stunt or another. The story was of Thailand's famous lore involving a magical elephant. You also have a chance to take pictures with tiger cubs at the entrance for a fee, which I thought was a bit inhumane as the cubs were passed from one tourist to another at lightning speed.

To cap the visit, we had to take an elephant ride. It was called a mini eco tour which started with a hike to see a waterfall (boring!), stopped at a gibbon sacntuary (double bore!! especially when we weren't allowed to see them up close) and an elephant safari through a river and rubber plantation. In this last picture, Josh was actually riding on top of the elephant's head. The trainer hopped off his elephant and took this picture. I was quite shocked as I don't remember my license to include elephants as vehicles I am allowed to drive. Luckily Josh was able to steer the elephant without any incident. There was also a buffalo cart ride which was as exciting as riding in a err.... buffalo cart.

All in all the family had a great time with Josh always talking about Phuket and when he could go again. It's hard to explain that a holiday is not an every weekend thing to do, that we need money, that we need to take leave... "But papa, I have money!" Pointing to the piggy bank we have at home.

can u see me with my raised Jari Hantu? ...an open letter...

2007-06-05T11:13:00.000+08:00

Dude,
The movie is such a fagfest that I have nightmares of them rather than the tiger. How can Zahim be the beau in the movie when he is as bent as a uri geller spoon? "Apa kurangnye aku?". Good grief! This line cracked us up and we were the only ones laughing in the cinema. I'm not homophobic (maybe a little) but I respect you if you choose to be gay. Heck, I'd even come out of the closet and admit that I am a lesbian.

Shuhaimi Baba has made me vow never to watch her films again. Why? She managed to mess things up with a batch of good actors. Again! Come on laa... The scenes with Jit, Kavita, Joanna, Zahim and Maya... overcooked! These are seasoned actors and they make the scenes look like a high school drama.

Individual performances were commendable. Azean was good. Even Maya was good (I'm biased cos she's a babe). Rusdi was amazing (he gets to hug Maya so many times that I wonder if his hetero self stood in attention during takes). Nanu, Liza, Riezman, Zaidi, Rashid were all good. Heck, everybody was good but why does the movie leave a bad taste in my mouth? It was definitely not the sambal petai I had at my in-law's before that.

When it comes to storytelling, what was she trying to achieve? Tell the audience about the 'Harimau Jadian' folklore or is it our society's inability to accept transsexuals? Ok, maybe she watered it down by saying Ari was a hermaphrodite so it wasn't his fault to begin with. But where are you taking this? The harimau can accept Ari so we the society should as well? Give me a break!

The folklore about Harimau Jadian is an exciting aspect of our Malay origins. Tahyul or khurafat, the fact remains it is practiced in this part of the world. What I wanted to see was more of its origin, its 'what why when how who'. Not everyone is familiar with the lores. You should exploit this more. TELL THE STORY!

What's up with the 5 years later bit where it is to celebrate an anniversary, a birthday, a graduation...? DANG! So convenient to pile everything up with a party scene. The movie needs to be tighter. Why have unnecessary scenes where a whole five seconds is dedicated to one person uttering 'Unh!'. What was Dang Suria doing in the movie? It's a mess!

Look, I am sure the budget for this movie is not like PGL but given the cast, the subject matter, why can't it be better? I'm not a film student but it is appalling to see good talent go to waste on very bad editing and screenplay. Maybe I should volunteer to be the director and put my creative talent to the test. Give me the budget, the script and the actors and I am willing to put a small wager that I can do better.

Keydam

PS : This blog was never meant to be a film review blog but I was so pissed off after being forced to watch this movie last night that I just had to vent my grievances to my friend at GBSB.

A tribute to ibanguy

2007-05-07T17:39:00.000+08:00

Rentap or Ibanguy left us on the 2nd of May 2007 suddenly. This was one guy who never failed to leave a mark on the lives of the people he touched. Never without a smile on his face, Frankie J. Demang, his real name, was everyone's best friend. At least everyone hoped their best friend was more like him. Frankie reintroduced me to blogging and for that reason alone, I will go on blogging and keep his blog on my blogroll.

I was introduced to him on a weekend and realised I could relate to Frankie on almost all levels. An afficionado of good movies and a great musician, Frankie was passionate in the arts. At this moment, I am actually listening to a song he wrote called 'Twisted Fate'. How apt.

I AM NOT WITH YOU NOW
SOMEHOW FATE IS TWISTED
OUR LIFE IS NOT FATED
I AM NOT WITH YOU NOW
SOMEONE ELSE IS TAKING MY PLACE … TODAY
- Frankie

Leaving us at a young age, he will be missed greatly.
May his blog live on forever, may his compassion in others make us better people, may his music play on in our lives, may memories of him never leave us for there are many.

VW Family

2007-04-25T16:26:00.000+08:00

Wife has joined the VW family when she bought the New Beetle. I'll post the pictures once she picks the car up next week. Next will be the old flower power VW van for us. I'd love to restore that and put in all the AV necessary to make it our mobile cinema. Hehehee....

Josh at Sepang F1

2007-04-09T10:21:00.000+08:00

This year, I brought my son to his first F1 race. Wife insisted that I made sure he wears earplugs so I went a step further by putting on my iPod at low volume underneath the F1 headphones to muffle out the noise.

Needless to say, he was not too comfortable but at least he enjoyed himself.

The first few corners determined the outcome of the race. Here, I missed Alonso but you can see Hamilton was already alongside Massa.

By the second, Hamilton was already ahead and stayed that way even after Massa's failed attempt to overtake at corner 4. By this time, Alonso used this buffer between the 2 Ferraris to build a gap. Massa was attacking Hamilton at every chance he had.

This was as close as Massa got to Hamilton before unceremoniously going off the road on turn 4 to be overtaken by Kimi and Heidfeld.

Then we thought Kimi had a chance to go for it but Hamilton made himself wide enough to not let the Flying Finn pass him.
The crowd was good but still the seats around us were quite empty. Probably those who got free tickets never bothered turning up. Sad!

It was a tiring day out for father and son but worth the experience. The seats we got were quite good since we could see the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th corners. The event could have been better if there were more action. We were praying for rain but it never came. Also SIC could actually do better with traffic control. We didn't even have time to shop around as it took us nearly 3 hours just to get to the stands. All in all, Josh and me had a good day out thanks to our benevolent friend, Uncle JK.

Gina from the shop...

2007-03-05T09:36:00.000+08:00

Didn't know that Gina was put in a beauty contest until I went to pick her up. The shop, NextLevelCustomz had a launch (a relaunch) where they paraded the cars they've pimped up thus far. Amazing line-up, including a DB9 (apparently it was about to be pimped up to 'double 0' status). Was quite anxious at the show especially when they started drifting a Nissan Sylvia and doing a donut with it.

In my head, is Gina going to be put through this? Can they drift a front-wheel powered car? Do a donut? Thankfully the guys at NextLevelCustomz just made her do a catwalk. Phew!!

Enjoy the pictures while I enjoy Gina...

Introducing Gina...

2007-03-01T13:53:00.000+08:00

This is what you get when you are experiencing a mid-life crisis at 31.
I'll call this my Mid-life Crisis Ver1.0 because I am sure there will be more to come. These pictures are 'before' pictures of my car. Before the upgrades! Hehehee!!! Muahahahaaa!!!! I will post the 'after' pictures, hopefully with better clarity once it comes out of the shop.

Johnny Tiptra, a Phenomenon

2007-02-07T11:11:00.000+08:00

This post is a tribute to Johnny.

It is difficult to find a cool geek. I am sure Johnny will be upset if anyone were to call him a geek but a first class honours student, an accountant with an affection for the arts? You can talk to him about anything and be sure of an intellectual response, even if the subject matter is on the mating habits of red ants. Ok, maybe not.

His current job combines his skills with his passion. It is not always that you get a job that you can be passionate about. In this I envy him. If only I was making a living as a golfer. It's like getting paid for indulging in your own hobby.

The life of all parties, and this may sound like a cliche but with Johnny, it is a gross understatement. You are never going to be disappointed with an outing with Johnny. A born entertainer, he lives off the crowd around him.

Johnny, hope this post will keep me in your top 5 list!

Keris

2007-01-17T12:20:00.000+08:00

Family heirloom got a new meaning for us recently. This keris was handed to the family after much research has led us back to our roots in Sumatera. Apparently it belonged to our forefathers who made the journey across the Malacca Straits nearly 300 years ago.

The casing is new but the blade and the 'ulu' (handle) is original and purportedly made 900 years ago.
I have half a mind to send it for carbon dating but why destroy the magic? Apparently our ancestor left it behind and the keris was kept by another family. Once it was ascertained that we were the rightful heirs, my dad received the keris during a handover ceremony in Padang.

Unfortunately I couldn't go along. It was a whole village affair and I could just imagine the fanfare. Lo and behold, I am the 7th generation since Dato' Jannaton decided to set sail for Penang.

Bandung Beautiful

2006-12-18T11:32:00.000+08:00

This was my first overseas golf holiday. It turns out to be more of a shopping holiday than golfing. Nevertheless, the golf courses we played were breathtaking to say the least. Many thanks to Pak Budi (our faithful guide and friend) for enduring the adhoc schedule we came up with. Mind you, our itinerary changed every 7 minutes! Here are some photos of Bandung and her people...

The many faces of Josh

2006-12-12T15:02:00.000+08:00

Kids make you better people. Never knew how to handle being a parent before but nature takes its course and you just... know. Call it instinct, call it whatever but the bond is real! Of course mothers have the added advantage of biology. Us dads have to earn it!

Heritage in a concrete jungle...

2006-11-29T08:59:00.000+08:00

Only a few weeks ago KL was plagued with a bad case of haze courtesy of our friendly neighbour. Below you see before and after shots from my office. It's nice to be able to see the mountain range in the back again to remind us what the phrase 'Klang Valley' really means.

Working in the oldest part of KL where the city literally began, I get to see the remnants of the past everyday. It is quite disheartening to see no great effort is taken to protect and conserve these majestic shophouses from ruin. Singapore for all its metropolitan lifestyle has whole areas in the city refurbished by the government preserving the buildings of old.

Here, it is up to building owners to conserve but not everyone has deep coffers to do a good job of it. With the rent control still in effect, the owners have no impetus to revive their buildings to meet current building codes. Sad!
Having said that, a rich entrepreneur may still be able to swoop in on a few spots in KL that has great potential. If you are one, get in touch with me for some ideas. We can do the whole nine yards of luxury city dwellings, to vogue eateries, to haute couture shopping. If you think YTL has done that, the good Tan Sri missed out a few spots. Email me, Mr. Trump!

Did you know that KL is the only city with a natural tropical rainforest right smack in the middle? It also houses my alma mater which can be seen here. There used to be cable cars going up Bukit Nanas when we first moved to KL. Now, that would have been one novelty worth preserving for this city. One of these days, I'll walk along her streets with my camera and try to capture the essence that is KL. Watch this space!

Just the way mom does it...

2006-11-17T10:55:00.000+08:00

Going out for lunch is a daily adventure for us. With so many outlets to choose from around the office, we still opted to go out of the way to have a taste of 'home'.

Ghani (left) is the guy we look forward to see to serve us the basic 'home' food that we crave for. What's on the menu? Ikan goreng! Simple dish of rice with a selection of fried fish and some gravy. Of course sambal belachan is a necessary side dish to gel all the taste together.

The venue? Would you believe it, Puduraya Bus Depot. Not actually a place you go to for gourmet meals. Nevertheless, going back to basics has its inner appeal where a home-cooked meal just like mom does it attracts even the most westernized amongst us.

Camera play...

2006-11-01T18:06:00.000+08:00

We took a drive out of town to get to the closest beach we could over the weekend. The main reason was that Josh wanted to build sand castles. What option did we have but to go to PD. Not exactly your white sandy beach destination.

Nevertheless, with some imaginative angles and the play of some of the functions available on the camera, we managed to get some cool pictures taken. The left picture is with the sepia filter with high contrast parameters while the one on the right is just Josh from a nice angle.

The beach was not much to shout about but the ingredients were right for silhouette shots. This is achieved by under-exposing your shots. The aperture setup was the smallest while the speed was the quickest. If you're camera illiterate, set it up for the highest number for both. Oh yes, a big light source from the back is crucial too....

My favourite shot for the trip...
You can see the glitters on the water and really clean outline around Josh. Play around with your cameras. It's now digital so you dont have to waste money on printing if they don't turn out well. Just snap away...

When we first started, we used a fully manual Nikon F50 SLR. There was one time when I happily snapped away on black and white film and when it was time to put in a new roll, I realised that the whole roll was wrongly put so no pictures were actually taken for the last 36 frames... DUH!!! Thank god for technology!

Aidilfitri 2006

2006-10-27T14:34:00.000+08:00

Here are some family pictures on the first day of Raya for the Baharum clan. Each family was colour-coordinated and we were lucky to have everyone in town this year to celebrate at the newly completed house in Hulu Langat.

Josh has not really grasped the concept of Raya, hence the Mickey Mouse hat. Ba and Mak on the front lawn where Mak wanted the picture to capture her blooming flowers.

Umar had a problem with wearing his songkok too. Kak Ida's family really blended well with the surroundings.

Kak went for the Deeparaya look and this year is Tia's first raya ever. As for Josh, at least we managed to get him to hold on to his songkok while the picture was taken.

All in all, it was a very private raya for us with only one visit to an open house during lunch. The most important aspect of the day for me was the immediate family. My parents were happy to see all of us together.

Selamat Hari Raya

2006-10-20T15:19:00.000+08:00

Wishing everyone a Selamat Hari Raya and a joyous Deepavali. Drive carefully on the roads, please. Maaf zahir batin.

Got me a new phone...

2006-10-16T10:34:00.000+08:00

Ok, I have been on a mission to look for a cool phone that does not have a camera.... and I have failed miserably. Don't really need a phone that takes pictures since I have 2 other digital cameras, right? Nokia doesn't think so. The one I bought (actually wife paid for it) is more for the mp3 player than anything else. The camera was just thrown in to make sure they can charge us 4 digits.

Ironically I got my new phone on my son's birthday. Here are some pictures I took using the phone. We tired him out shopping at Toys'R'Us. Tried to make him 'like'the toys I always wanted. Heheheee... Wife was just happy shopping.

Have to say Josh was well behaved in his stroller. Probably was too tired to walk on his own. Ended the day at my in-law's where a cake was brought out for the boy. He was happy to blow out the candles. Happy Birthday Josh! And thanks for the phone, Zizzster!

Merdeka weekend getaway

2006-10-03T12:21:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since I uploaded pictures in here. Merdeka weekend was a quick getaway from the city to the East coast. Stopped over at Cherating for an overnight before proceeding to Kuala Trengganu for another night. Then we drove all the way back to KL. Yup. Very tiring but it was all worth it to see Josh build his first sand castle.

My favourite picture for this trip. This was taken in Setiu, north of Kuala Trengganu during sunset.

Exile no more...

2006-09-29T10:06:00.000+08:00

Today is the last working day that I am in exile....

Reunion...

2006-08-02T12:30:00.000+08:00

First an email, vague... then an sms, hope... then the phone call, ecstatic!!

Yup! I'll be able to gaze into these two pair of eyes more often now as my work requires me to be closer to home. I'll still be working on the lil rock but the weekends will be with my babies.

Over the last weekend I was back in KL with them but the days were hectic as we were moving houses. Josh was so happy to see me that he spoke non-stop from the time I saw him till we went to sleep. Even waking up with his foot in my face brought joy to me. Never want to be apart again...

Romantische Strasse

2006-07-27T09:31:00.000+08:00

The Romantic Road is a route that covers the southern part of Germany from Fussen to Frankfurt. In this map you can see the various cities and towns that we visited in a span of a day. We only stopped for 10-15 minutes in each place and sometimes skipped the less picturesque places along the journey. There were so many stops that I couldn't remember the name of the places nor what we saw at each stop. The Zizzster made notes but after a few towns, we couldn't keep track of the places. The driver spoke little English and all he did was put on a tape at specific intervals during the trip describing the next stop. It was fun but tiring.

This picture of the Bavarian Alps shows the start of our journey where we pushed off from Fussen, the town made famous by Neuschwenstein Castle, purportedly the castle that inspired Walt Disney for his cartoons. Pictures of the castle will be posted in future instalments. For now, if you use a magnifying glass you could actually make out its outline in the mountains. At least, I think it is.

Now why did I take this picture? It just occurred to me then that this is a good opportunity for me to capture on film, a German cock checking out two German chicks. That, my friends, is one confident cocky cock. This was in front of a church that looked plain enough from the outside but the fresco inside was amazing. Too bad we couldn't take pictures inside. Hence the picture of the cock!

It was fitting that this Benz entered the frame. A German car in a quaint German town. This is Rothenburg. Our favourite stop along the Strasse. It is a medieval town totally surrounded by a 20ft wall. Wouldn't mind going back there and roam the cobbled streets for a few days. Amazing how one of the most advanced country has managed to keep its heritage pristine for centuries while we teardown pre-World War II buildings indiscrimminately.

Even the newer buildings are built in the old design. Here we want ugly glass structures that lose their novelty after a few weeks. If you think about it, building designs nowadays are either too elaborate or too functional. Nothing that is ageless. For instance, all the Balinese design homes, they do not look at all like the homes we saw in Bali. So what's so Balinese about them?

This hottie was on the bus with us. Hey! It's the Zizzster! I have to hand it to her. She found out all about Neuschwenstein, the Romantic Road, the Eurorail, and charted out our trip even before we got to Europe. Mind you, we had to book all the hotels via the net and she did all that by herself. I just had to nod in agreement and read out my credit card number. She has this knack of making it seem like it was my idea in the first place. So for all females out there, that's the trick in handling your men. FEED our ego! For the guys out there, admit it. That works out just fine for us.

Some buildings just had to outdo their neighbours. This one in particular had ornate statues lining up the exterior walls. We never enquired about what those statues represented. Just found it unique and pretty. I believe architecture is another expression of art. No matter what period they are, art is to be enjoyed by all. If you think it's nice, then it is. You don't need an expert to TELL you it's a classic. If you don't like Picasso, no matter how many lectures you go to on understanding the creator's meaning, you either like it or not. Hence why I never really liked Shakespeare. Cos I can never understand the language!

These guys are hung like a ....
Okay, maybe that's why I never appreciated Shakespeare. I'm just a simple neanderthal. At the end of the day, my needs are simple. Coffee in the morning, Astro remote control in my hand and clean pair of underpants. Of course being a neanderthal, the other carnal needs are a given.

I can't remember which town this is. The town centre is a crisscross of tram tracks and a web of all the overhead cables. The buildings were very nice except that we were there on a Sunday so it was mostly deserted. Mind you, the trams don't really make a lot of noise as it runs on electricity so right after this picture was taken, I was fortunate to get out of the way of another oncoming tram.

Churches define each town that we visited. Without fail, these churches manage to coax us into clicking away at our cameras. No matter how small a town, they are all built grandly and to a certain extent, opulently. I guess it was hard times for people back then and faith was a strong comforter. How else would you represent divinity but with extravagance.

Hope you've enjoyed a snapshot (literally) of Germany. I'm trying out the sepia feature in iPhoto so don't try to tweek your monitors. All pictures were taken with a NIKON Coolpix digital camera at a very low pixel setting so I can't really enhance them that much given that it was cloudy the whole time with not much light. Nevertheless, it served its purpose in helping us capture memories of our journeys.

Till later. Auf Wiedersehen!

Angkor Wat: One-word, WOW!

2006-07-24T10:10:00.000+08:00

Cambodia is a country that has been pillaged and plundered of its richness in culture and natural resources for eons, and that has not stopped totally even today. Our trip to Siem Reap was to see Angkor Wat. We weren't disappointed with the stuructures of old and we were also impressed with the friendliness of the Cambodians. Angkor Wat is one temple in a vast city of temples built in a city that grew and grew in the 9th-11th century. Places of worship built in stone, with practically no remnants of human dwellings such as palaces or houses as these were wooden. Most of the temples have a common basic structure, they all reach for the heavens.

Travelling only with your partner makes it hard to have pictures taken together so having a small digital camera helps as you can check if the composition and lighting is ok there and then, especially if you just flag down the nearest tourist/bystander to snap away. A stranger you've never met before nor will ever again has played a hand in capturing a memory for the rest of your life....DEEP!

We always travel with our own cameras. During this trip, I had the dinky digital camera while the Zizzster held on to our non-Digital SLR so more pictures were taken on film than digital as my camera had limited storage. Hence why I now have my own Digital SLR with 1GB memory. This picture is of her trying to capture one of the temples' reflection in the moat. We never realised how cliche it was until our guide said everybody she took there would look for similar angles.

You'd think that big structures like the Angkor Wat is impressive enough for people of that era to build but check out the details on the walls. Angkor Wat has whole walls carved intricately telling stories of Ramayana and Mahabrata spanning hundreds of yards. Nowadays people have problems building flyovers without having to close it again for repairs after a few months.

This dude with us is the caretaker and probably the only guy who lives in the complex apart from the handful of Buddhist priests on pilgrimages. He is featured on the frontpage of Lonely Planet's Cambodia guidebook. He was more than happy to sign our copy. We were thrilled to be in the same frame as a celebrity!

This has to be my favorite photo of the trip. Why? You decide.

Remember Angelina Jolie and the Tomb Raider movie? This was the temple that was featured. The jungle has swallowed the temple structures but ironically it is the trees that are holding together the stones. Didn't Jolie adopt a Cambodian kid and named him Maddox?

Different Kings have different styles in architecture and even by the select few pictures shown in this posting, it is possible to see. One dude built a few temples for his mom, dad, wife, teacher, so the temples have similar proportions and footprint. Different eras will also determine the type of stones used, volcanic rocks, granite or even sandstones. Some poor soul working in a quarry hundreds of miles away had to bring the stones to the King. They didn't actually have DHL back then.

If you are an architecture student you will probably pay enough attention on how these temples were built. Back then, they have not adopted the European style of arches in their building plans. Stones were carved and stacked on one another to form the roof. The problem with this style is that limited weight can be supported and you cannot have expansive halls unless the roof was wooden. Hence, narrow passageways and buildings that are no more than raised dais to house deities. Impressive, nevertheless...

My advice, go see Angkor Wat before the temple is either ruined by the ravages of nature or the millions of tourists that will flock eventually. At the moment Siem Reap is still a quaint little town and is a unique adventure. Go before they open-up a Starbucks in one of the temples. Also be polite if enquiring about the Khmer Rouge. It is without a doubt, a sore patch in the hearts of all the people there.

PS: Forgot to mention that this trip was in October 2004

The City of Love

2006-07-20T14:16:00.001+08:00

As promised, the first instalment of a series of trips we did. This Paris trip was in the Spring of 2005.
We were on a quest, at least Zizzster was, to find out what was so romantic about the city. To me the definition of romance in Paris depends on who you are there with. Can't be going, "Oh this place is so romantic" if you're on a business trip with your obese boss, can you?

It was a quick 2-day stop for us and we wanted to take-in all that we can in the city. The Louvre, house to Mona Lisa and DaVinci's Code's main character, was mere footsteps away from the place we stayed in. We waited in line for a good hour to be the first few in. We actually ran to Mona Lisa before the crowd got there. Some may wonder what's the big deal with this portrait of a woman with no teeth? But you have to be there to appreciate her. Different angles stir very different emotions. Now how is that possible, you may ask but you just have to have your time with the great lady to 'feel' her.

What visit to Paris is complete without saying hi to Quasimodo? Magnificent cathedral, this. From the inside I managed to capture the stained-glass window albeit in bad light. Did you know the best quality stained-glass allows all the light to pass through? For example, if you hold up a coloured glass, it only allows the colour that it is stained in but the great cathedrals of yesteryears have stained-glass windows that allows white light in. Meaning the congregation won't be in multicolor when attending mass.

No prize for guessing what shop this is on Champs Elysses.

A symbol of triumph for the Parisiens but the most dangerous roundabout in the world to us. There are absolutely no road markings where 8 roads intersect. If you think KL folks are monsters on the road, try driving in Paris!

This is us on top of the toothpick courtesy of Monsieur Eiffel. The Zizzster is afraid of heights so don't be fooled thinking that she's actually smiling for the camera. It was more of, "Ok, we've made it up here. Now, can we go?". The nice American lady who took this for us couldn't stop laughing.

It was raining when we got to Sacre Couer. We were told by our friend to see it during sunset as you can see the whole Paris from there. So much for that, huh? We took shelter in the cathedral itself and to our surprise there was Mass then and we were entertained by ethereal singing of hymns by the nuns. The acoustics were amazing.

This is a shot of a Paris street at sundown the next day. We were fortunate enough to be in the part of Paris where there are hundreds of restaurants and eateries. Alas, I've never been a fan of French cooking except for French fries.

Hope you've enjoyed the sights of the City of Love and yes, that IS the Zizzster and me.

merci boucoup ibanguy!

2006-07-19T12:43:00.000+08:00

It has been a while since I actually looked at the features available on blogger.com. Hence why all of a sudden my blog has pictures now. Hahaha.. Special thanks to Rentap of ibanguy.blogspot.com for giving me pointers. I am now blog-rolled (never knew this was a term)on his blog so the least I could do is to have his link on mine. That will increase his readership by at least... one.

Also linked is kakijalan.com on this blog so as the name goes, you'll only click on it if you are one. The rest is self-explanatory.

The Zizzster asked me why she wasn't featured as much as Josh was so for my coming postings we will see more of the Zizzster. Incidentally, this blog WAS created as a dedication to her.

Apologies for those who tried to click on my previous posts where the links were to my .mac account. I no longer subscribe to that account so the links err... don't work anymore. Don't fret. Next few postings will be of our (Zizzster and me) travels.

Ciao

PS: Teaser for upcoming posts

I miss Josh and the Zizzster

2006-07-18T09:37:00.000+08:00

I'm now in exile for a few months on a lil rock in the south china sea. don't get to see my kid and the Zizzster at all so it's kinda hard. Can't wait till I get back. Few more months...

It's hard for all of us, Josh, the Zizzster and me. Made a promise to the Zizzster that this will be the last time that I'm gonna do this kind of absent father/hubbie stints. At least from Singapore I was able to see them every weekend.

Anyway, here are some photos of them I took when I was still back in KL using my new EOS350D Digital SLR. Bought the camera specifically for our trip to Vietnam. As usual the Zizzster managed to sort out some wonderful activities for us there. We used Hanoi as the centre and took separate tours up North. On one of the tours, we stayed overnight on a junk cruising Halong Bay. I'd recommend it to everyone young and old.

Thank god for modern technology, I still get to hear my babies back home everyday. They didn't come along as the Zizzster is also in a new job and it won't be fair for her to just drop everything to follow me. Hence me alone on this lil rock.

To be fair, it's a good place to raise a family without the usual distractions of a metropolis. If you are alone, then you'd probably find it a bit scarce on the activities aspect. Nonetheless, it helps if you have a hobby and some like-minded people to hang with.

Zizzster, thanks for putting up with our current arrangements. I'll make it up to you.

Until my next posting.. adieu.

taking the plunge..

2006-04-14T11:46:00.000+08:00

First Blog in 2006 and a new start in our life. Wife and I quit on the same day from the same institution to venture out into the world. It was a big decision on my part as things were going well for me at the old place but I guess the time just came for me to try out new things in life.

Currently I am freelancing, doing odd jobs here and there. It ain't too bad being on 'the other side'. However, job security is not a word you should have in your vocabulary.

Josh is doing well, and is very adventurous. Trying at times but adorable all the same.

So watch this space for updates on where I'll turn up in the next few months....

End of 2005

2005-12-27T11:04:00.000+08:00

WOW! How time flies when you are too busy. Have been back from Singapore for 6 months now and haven't been writing since. Anyway, 2005 has been a good year for me with the 2nd half less hectic as I get to spend more time (relative) with Zizzster and Chotzess. Although working nights a few weeks of the month really messed up my system.

As for traveling, minus Singapore, managed to go to London, Frankfurt, Munich, Lucerne, Zurich, The Romantic Road (South Germany), Paris and recently Vietnam. Not too bad for a lowly executive. Will try more places in 2006.

What can I say, life has been good to me and hope for better in the years to come. Best part is that I get to experience life with the Zizzster and Chotzess!!

Happy New Year!

Countdown...

2005-06-01T15:14:00.000+08:00

Have till end of the month in Singapore. Phew.. time doesn't really fly that fast for me this year. Looking forward to being back home where I belong with Josh and the Zizzster. No more hectic weekends of bus or plane rides.

For all out there thinking of commuting SIN-KUL every weekend, take it from me, it ain't that easy. I remember as a teenager taking the flight was a thrill. Well, for a start, my family didn't have the privilege of overseas vacations too often. Now if you tell me to take a flight, I'd say, "Do I HAVE to?".

Did a lot of traveling over this one year too. There was this time I saw the inside of 5 airports within a span of 48 hours. I won't call myself a jetsetter but I don't envy those who are.

Well, as for updates, Josh is at an age when most parents would rather have time freeze. At least that is what my siblings tell me and how my parents treat me still. Hahahaa! But, mom and dad, you know I love you guys right?
Being a dad is amazing. Josh makes me and the Zizzster dream about when he grows up and all the fun things we will be doing together. Hell, we are even thinking about his wedding already. And, Josh, if you are reading this, I'm gonna say what my dad told me about our wedding. "Hey, it ain't your party, it's ours! You are just invited".

Parenthood is cool. Disciplining sucks though.. How do you rationalize with a toddler? "Josh! No no no! Bear doesn't like to be thrown on the floor" Read somewhere where parents aren't supposed to say negative words like 'No' or 'Don't' too often. I wonder what these authors say to their kids when they start throwing your laundry into the garbage bin.

Hey, my longest blog yet!
Till later, bye-bye!

Latest photos of Josh

2005-03-18T09:53:00.000+08:00

Hey! It's 2005! Didn't realise my last posting was in 2004. This link is to a new page I added as the front page to all my sites on .Mac. Josh is now a very energetic young man with limited vocabulary like papa and mama and weird enough... BANANA!

Nothing like the classic child on shoulders shot. The secondary link is to a collection of his pictures in KL, Singapore and Jakarta. He has his own passport so he likes to travel now. My bro is in Jakarta and Josh has pictures taken with his cousin Umar.

As for me and the Zizzster, we're still very much the same as when we started out with just tons of new responsibilities. Life has been great to us and hope things will be better in years to come. One day, I'll get Josh to start his own blog..

Check out Imran's pictures and our trip to Cambodia..

2004-12-03T11:16:00.000+08:00

I have also downloaded 2 short videos I created using iMovie. to see these, click on the tabs at the top.
Enjoy!

2004-09-14T14:43:00.000+08:00

Hey!
Long time no write. Well, I am now in Singapore doing my Masters in Wealth Management for a year. The Zizzster and Josh are home waiting for me to come back every weekend. Josh is now 11 months old and I regret not being able to be home for his first birthday as I will be in class. Bummer.

Anyway, been learning a lot over the last few months and hopefully these lessons will translate into KA-CHING KA-CHING!! (cash register, you moron!).

Will try to update this blog more often.

Keydam

2004-03-25T09:46:00.000+08:00

Hey World! It's 2004 and I just celebrated (not really the operative word) my 29th Birthday. Been depressed for the last few days of my non-achievements but realised that so far my biggest achievements in life are the Zizzster and Chotzess, my wife and kid.

Not many people can say that they have a better family than I do so I am fortunate and thankful for that. Amin.

So Zizzster, may you, as my achievement, stay with me always to experience other achievements to come. LET'S BREAK THE CYCLE TOGETHER!!

2003-11-14T09:00:00.000+08:00

Guess what... it's been so long since my last blog... here's the update... Zizzster and me got married and we now have a son... Imran.. the cutest baby ever.. the grumpiest too..

He's a month old but cranky like an 80 year-old..
To all single people out there... being a father is amazing!!! but do get married first.

2002-10-09T18:45:00.000+08:00

my baby boo boo. my baby boo boo is so bossy. my baby boo boo is one mean missy. my baby boo boo is no lassie. my baby boo boo is my one and only cutie. my baby boo boo makes good curry. my baby boo boo is so good to me. i love my baby boo boo you see.

2002-10-09T18:41:00.000+08:00

bosan nye.. first she complains about me going home late since she can go home at 5. now she has to stay in longer than i do especially when we have plans. ish ish ish... gotta give her a good bottie spankin' when we get home.

sayang jugak...

2002-07-04T13:36:00.000+08:00

yup... finally did it. bought her a ring. now all we have to do is 'inform' our respective families. really excited at the moment. she is too. wish us luck. Keydam and Zizie.

2002-05-06T10:16:00.000+08:00

Powerpoint Maestro is back!!!

2002-05-06T09:53:00.000+08:00

Hmmm.. another Monday and life still sucks... i need a million dollars right now. but then again, who doesn't

2002-03-14T10:39:00.000+08:00

We need fresh ideas for Nuna and her car... hmm...

2002-03-14T09:58:00.000+08:00

ZIzzs and I have declared war on Nuna and her car... kesian dia kena panggil by the security guards .. HA HA AHA!!!!! This will not be the last!!

2002-03-11T09:09:00.000+08:00

ZIzzs is really trying my patience today.. I guess her obnoxious self is really showing now. I don't like her now.

2002-03-11T08:07:00.000+08:00

If only I didn't have to get up this morning..
Mondays.. hmmph..!

ZIzzs... you still have to be nice to me. I am still not well..

2002-03-09T10:48:00.000+08:00

All is quiet on the western front. Feels like the calm before a storm. Monday is sure to be hectic. Damn, I hate Mondays. At least the Zizzs is gonna be here. Can bitch to her. Welcome back Zizzs!

2002-03-09T10:42:00.000+08:00

Yup.. she is coming back...

2002-03-09T10:38:00.000+08:00

My gf is sooo degil!!!

2002-03-08T15:37:00.000+08:00

Wish I was in Karambunai ....

2002-03-08T11:26:00.000+08:00

Bodoh punya TOPS!!!

2002-03-08T11:07:00.000+08:00

susah jugak buat website ni