A weekend to remember...

I have to say I had a GREAT weekend! Went up to Genting on Friday and had to admit, was a little trepidatious (is this a word?) as most of my trips uphill have ended in some form of trauma. (Flashback: - brakes failed while going downhill, - battery died and had to be jumpstarted, - got lost walking, - diarrhorea, etc.).

This time round however, everything went perfectly well! Checked in without delay, got great rooms with great views. Weather was blissful! All nice and clear while driving then suddenly all misty and cool when I've parked. Just perfect!

Throughout, did the whole Genting fanfare. Went on rides, watched movies, went for the Mysteria magic show, ate like a pig, and had a ball of a time!





I want to go again!

Gimme a 'H' 'O' 'L' 'I' 'D' 'A' 'Y' and what do you spell?

Am off and away! Will be on leave from tomorrow till the weekend. Going off to Melaka, then to Sunway Lagoon then off to Genting. Doubt it'll be 'relaxing' but it'll be fun!

HOORAH!

Muddled Monday

I am full of gibberish today. Not sure whether it's all the sleep I got on Sunday or the fact that I'm underdressed (in t-shirt instead of shirt) but today is one muddled Monday.

It has been ages since I have literally nothing to do and it's amazing that it's all tied up to my machine. My PC is in the shop being upgraded to XP and without it, I'm utterly useless. Furthermore, with this week being a mid-semester break, I have no classes to go to and no students are around for consultation.

Summary is... I'm bored.

To make matters worse, only 7 of my colleagues are around and from this 7, only 2-3 are about in the office. Having 14 people on leave certainly makes a huge difference to what is usually a lively office environment. It's just so dead today.

It's now 2pm and I've exhausted all possible time with emails... rearranged the pens and pencils... went to the bathroom almost every 30 minutes and ate lunch twice.

Thankfully, my machine will be back tomorrow and hopefully, life at work will keep me busy again. I like being useful.

Ooooooooooohhhh.......

My happy SpongeBob collection :)

SEGi Community Day (8/7)

If you are around the neighbourhood this Saturday (8/7), do drop by SEGi College Subang Jaya for an activity-filled day! With over 30+ external vendors, Futsal challenges, carnival games, computer games and lots of FOOD, the day promises to be full of fun!

Look me up for 'discounted' coupons :) Hope to see you guys there!

Introducing Raisin!

A new baby bunny has emerged from the burrow and it's Raisin!



Here's Raisin with his mom, Biscotti and dad, Fudge.

what a genius...

I've been having problems with my office email. Any email I send out with attachments get bounced back. So I emailed the IT guy and told him very clearly and slowly that my email works fine except when I send out one with an attachment of any file type and size to any email account. If I do, my email will bounce. Please advise.

His advice?

1. What file type did you attach?

And when I explained, he then asked:

2. Who did you send it to?

When I said both internal and external accounts, he then suggested:

3. Why don't you forward to me a sample of the file you are trying to send so I can test it out.

Hmm...

CreativeKids is 2 years old!

June marks the 2nd year anniversary of CreativeKids and there's definitely cause to celebrate! I started off CreativeKids 2 years ago with a big dream, 3 classes, and an average of 1.5 students a class. For the whole first year, I scraped by with barely 2-3 students a class, earning just enough to break even.

Right now, CreativeKids is at 95% capacity! Out of my 3 classes, I have 34 students from a maximum population of 36. For the first time, I have had to turn down parents and I even had to cancel a fourth class, not due to demand but due to my time constraints. It really feels great to have something you create be so successful :)

Sigh... I am contented, tired, but contented.

Not again...

The World Cup is back. Hoorah...

For the next few weeks it will be another annoying period of trying to explain to people why I don't know who won what or who played who and more importantly, why I don't care. After all, it's only football.

It irks me though why it's so hard to accept that different people like different things. And it's particularly gender bias when it is argued that men must like football although there are some really passionate women fans out there as well. It's human nature I guess to want the justification of others for your interests because I strongly suspect that not every 'fan' out there is really one. Perhaps peer pressure may be involved.

So be nice and don't ask me about football. Otherwise I may very well turn the tables and start discussing the science of Star Trek instead.

Hmm...

Your Personality Profile

You are sexy, powerful, and bold. You're full of passion and energy... Sometimes this passion has a dark side. You feel most alive when you're seducing someone. You never fail to get someone's attention. Quick minded, you're also quick to lose your temper!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

I am bored...

I am bored. Yes... bored.

I've been working at my current place for just over 2 years now and boredom has started to set in. It's quite interesting that I also lasted just 2 years at my previous company. Maybe 2 years is the max that my interest span can last. Hmm...

To be honest though, the job isn't too bad. There are highlights and there are perks. It's just, well, unchallenging, or rather challenging in mundane ways. It's hard to get excited about preparing documents for a regulatory inspection or checking on classes to make sure attendance is a'ok. I'm also bored (or rather fed-up) organising showcases and graduation events that ends up pretty much the same every time.

I need a change. A little disappointed that a scholarship I applied for didn't went through but there's a few more still being processed. Hopefully one works out. I also applied for a job with Google (although that's really a stretch). Then again, can't say I didn't try! :)

I blame Mondays for this.

X-Men 101

This is something you find in a bad horror movie... it is most definitely NOT Jean Grey.



THIS is Jean Grey aka Marvel Girl.

X-Men 3 - Spot your favourite mutant and watch it die a horrible death!

My gawd... Needless to say I've watched X-Men 3 and I feel so annoyed. The movie is such a let down and so terribly corny. Granted some scenes are pretty good but overall, the movie seems to feel like a montage of character clips. It's like the director is having a jolly good time introducing the characters (and then sadistically killing them off, bloody bugger).

(spoilers ahead)

First of all, the tease with the Sentinels is just plain mean. I think the whole movie could do with just the Sentinels. And Grey looks so darn old. And what with the metamorphosis into the Korean horror movie meanie whenever Phoenix (that's DARK Phoenix) takes hold?

I actually don't mind them killing off Cyclops (especially when it's James Marsden) but generally, don't quite see the rationale of the mass killing spree. Also it's quite a shaky X-Men lineup at the final confrontation and it's really quite amazing how 6 or so X-Men (some still seemingly in their underpants) can hold off a force of oh, 50-60 mutants?

Granted, it's a movie, and it's escapist fantasy but these characters form the bedrock for many a childhood's imagination. And you should not 'toy' with them like characters in a carnival shoot-out. Look at Juggernaut for example... a massive force of destruction turned into a bumbling wall wrecker.

I'm not a happy X-Fan.

Unearthed from ancient files of MMU days...

c__k: cool chill

kotakkosong: muahhahaaaa

kotakkosong: @_0

c__k: how goes everything?

c__k: BOB doing well?

kotakkosong: allllmoosssstttt done

c__k: heard a lot bout him

kotakkosong: alive and well

c__k: so how long have u known bob?

c__k: heard bout your problems wif him

c__k: things will work out between u two though

c__k: just wait and see

c__k: :)

kotakkosong: well

kotakkosong: bob is one of a kind

c__k: he sure is

kotakkosong: and one of these days i will kill him

c__k: wah

kotakkosong: NYAHAHAAAA!

c__k: things that bad?

c__k: sigh

c__k: u really need to get that temper in check

c__k: bobs kinda insecure right now and he needs u

kotakkosong: maybe we'll go see counsellor

c__k: i know a very good one

c__k: wait let me give u his number

c__k: 013630xxxx

kotakkosong: ah

kotakkosong: i got that one already

kotakkosong: no good

c__k: haha

c__k: issit?

c__k: u sure?

kotakkosong: he has all these wierd ideas

kotakkosong: and he always telss us his very weird dreams

c__k: thats y he's so good... he's unconventional

kotakkosong: hehhe

c__k: well, if u wan an old school doc

c__k: i have the number here... 013363xxxx

kotakkosong: ah

c__k: u can try calling.. but she's a little slow so speak clearly

kotakkosong: aah

kotakkosong: i...

kotakkosong: see....

c__k: uh huh... and she has rheumatoids and arthritis and haerrmorhoids... so well,... u get the idea

kotakkosong: maybe........

kotakkosong: not..........

kotakkosong: i heard she can do triple somersaults pretty well

kotakkosong: :)

c__k: but that was in her younger days

kotakkosong: ahah

kotakkosong: but u dont know her like i do

c__k: she's pretty much in the wheelchair now... with those baywatch hunks as her assistants

kotakkosong: she has a secret double life

c__k: sigh, u should hear the gossip

c__k: double life? u mean she has even 1?

kotakkosong: yeah

kotakkosong: and one of them she calls affectionately 'abang hensem'

kotakkosong: hehehe

c__k: ouch

c__k: touche

kotakkosong: hahahh

kotakkosong: eh.. i wanna keep this conversation

kotakkosong: save it!!

c__k: haha

kotakkosong: really

c__k: weird conversation of the week

kotakkosong: i closed the window

c__k: i havent

kotakkosong: send to me u hear

kotakkosong: :)

Erm...

Well, thanks to Saw, I feel compelled to do my bid to ensure the continuity of the 'tag' so here goes!

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Dan
2. Teacher Daniel
3. Sir

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My voice (helps command attention)
2. My height (I like towering over most people, hehe)
3. My eternally serious expression

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My receding hairline (woe!)
2. My weight (I need less of it)
3. My eyes (it's too tiny)

THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. Chinese
2. Peranakan
3. Malaysian

THREE THINGS YOU CAN'T STAND:
1. People who like to complain but don't do anything about it
2. Racism
3. People who cannot seem to be on time

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. Going blind.
2. Seeing a ghost
3. Losing my family

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS:
1. Star Trek
2. Simpsons
3. Charmed

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE JAPANESE ANIMES:
1. Gatekeepers
2. Digimon
3. Pokemon

THREE OF YOUR CURRENT FAVORITE SONGS:
1. Think of Me (Phantom of the Opera) - Sarah Brightman
2. Breathless - The Corrs
3. Walking After You - Foo Fighters

THREE MOVIES YOU CAN WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN:
1. Digimon The Movie
2. Bring It On
3. Finding Nemo

THREE MOVIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH:
1. X Men 3
2. Da Vinci Code
3. Harry Potter

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. Torchlight
2. Cellphone
3. Credit Cards

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. Shorts
2. T-Shirt
3. Spectacles

THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP:
1. Trust
2. Great sex
3. Someone who's happy to drive (I hate driving)

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITE GENDER THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. Great body (I'm shallow)
2. Spiky hair
3. Nice lips

THREE BAD HABITS:
1. Am a control freak
2. I'm always right
3. Always playing Devil's advocate

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Reading
2. Watching TV
3. Eating out

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Buy a house
2. Fire some colleagues
3. Jump in bed

THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING OR CURRENTLY PURSUING:
1. Educator
2. Educator
3. Educator

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. Australia
2. Holland
3. New Zealand

THREE KIDS' NAMES YOU LIKE:
1. I don't want children...
2. really...
3. never ever.

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. Get a PhD
2. Earn enough so my parents can quit working and live with me
3. Get a job in another country

THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A GUY
1. Am always thinking about sex
2. Electronic gadgets fascinate me
3. I don't clean very well

INITIALS OF THREE CRUSHES:
1. S
2. E
3. R

THREE PEOPLE YOU TAG TO DO THE SURVEY:
1. MENG!
2. Zeke!
3. Aimo!

Graduation Showcase 2006

Sands of time

I'm getting older and the fact of it is really dawning on me in a big way.

I'm going to be 27 this year and although by many standards, that's still young, but there's a certain ominous feeling about age and how the years seem to be really zooming by.

Now, don't get me wrong, I've never had a problem with going old. Am dealing with a receding hairline and a growing paunch in good stead but there's just no helping the feeling that things will change, and in a big way.

Firstly, students now are really 'kids', not slightly younger peers. I am not as glued to the TV as much and current news affect me! I have to pay tax for the first time ever and worse still, there is a growing realisation that people around me will eventually not be around. It's an upsetting thought.

Age is definitely a concept that needs adjusting to. Too bad there isn't all that much time!

Malaysia is finally noticed... groan...

Noticed in Wired:

The World Record-Breaking Capital
The strongest hair! The youngest sumo wrestler! The longest pencil! In Malaysia, making your mark - any mark - is a matter of national pride.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.04/capital.html

National pride? Err... yeah... ok...

I have graduated!

Sunday was my graduation for my Masters degree and finally, there's closure after 2 years of incredibly exhausting studying. It's a great feeling to be finish something and finish it well, moreso when you can share it with family and friends.

I was also honoured in being asked to give a speech on behalf of the 100 or so graduates. It was nerve wrecking, considering that most of the post-graduate degree recipients were quite senior but it went well and I'm pleased.

I'm going to enjoy the rest of the year but I do plan to continue studying again before 2007. The itch is hard to resist :)

M! The Opera

I went to watch a special screening of M! The Opera last night, courtesy of CIMB. RM120 tickets were going for only RM15 so it's a great bargain!

Anyways, M! The Opera is definitely, for the lack of a better word, interesting. It didn't leave me breathless nor was I wow'ed over but I was pleasantly entertained and there were some really great scenes.

Overall, I really wished the songs were easier to understand. Most times the vocals were quite muffled or lacked good intonation so trying to figure out what they were singing about can be challenging. And the story, my gosh... convulated and probably over-dramatic? Though then again, it's an opera.

For Malaysia's 'first' opera... not too bad. I wished it had a signature song though. Left the place with no tune to hum.

Just sooooo funny!

Children are the best medicine

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't eat children. What happened was that I was feeling really under the weather yesterday, with a scratchy throat and throbbing headache but after a 2 hour class with the CreativeKids kids, I felt immensely better. It's amazing really.

Though it could be an exceptional situation. I had a great class, great here meaning a well prepared well timed class with wonderful kids. The Tuesday bunch are highly intelligent and so naively funny that it makes you want to have kids. Then Thursday comes along and I'm reminded why I don't want kids. But I digress, being with children is theraupeutic, at least in keeping your mind off yourself and giving a more sensible perspective to life.

It's not always that you sing the Barney song, chant lines like "Leonard the table destroyer!" and run around in circles. I honestly wonder at times what these kids go home and tell their parents. And I wonder what the parents must think of me. If I were a parent, I think I'd worry when my kids teacher is insinuating ideas about how exams are stupid.

It's a great feeling being with them, and in some ways (I'm being hopeful), teaching them. So next time you're sick, don't waste time with the doctor. Drop by my place for two hours of drug free remedy to whatever ails you :) Just leave your adult sensibilities at the door.

The Itch

It's that time again... I'm restless, itching for something but can't quite place what it is that I'm itching for. There's a persistent gnawing thought that leads to restless sleep and fluctuating energy levels but can't quite place my finger on what is it that's bothering me, although there are many candidates. It's an incredibly annoying feeling, especially when it really shouldn't be there in the first place.

Work is work, and though it in many ways could be better, there really is little to complain. CreativeKids is doing good, and I have much to look forward to this year including my graduation coming up soon in which I have been honoured to give a speech on behalf of the graduates. So I suspect the gnawing irritation is something deeper and perhaps sinister. What I do know is that I really really want to get it out of my system!

Perhaps it's the thought that news of my scholarship application will be out soon. Though soon is a good 3 months away. I'm really torn about it, part of me wants it badly yet the other part is quite content to stay where I'm at.

There's also the possibility of wanderlust. I really would like to travel again though my family is keeping me quite anchored down. Don't know whether I could leave them for too long.

Or could it be something as simple as my car. I want a new one. It's as simple as that :)

Whatever it is, I hope the itching stops cause it really is getting to me! Maybe I need to learn to meditate. Hmm...

They're back!

The first three baby bunnies that were adopted are back! Adopted family couldn't cope so they asked if I would take them back and of course I would. They are after all, family.

So Biscotto, Biscotti, and Fudge are back in the backyard but this time in a cage. Am not going to risk death by exposure to the elements again. So playtime will be limited but at least they will be safe.

Here's a picture of Biscotti, the most glamorous of the lot!

Moving on

Colby has died, in my hands actually. It was quick and sudden and ends the bunny legacy in my backyard. Won't be finding new company anytime soon as I'm not quite sure available I will be throughout the year but I definitely will miss my rabbit company... Wallaby Wallace the Fourth, King Wombat, Biscuit, Dominose, Mocha, Caramel, Colby and the babies...

.................................................................................................................................

I attended my first ever formal Western dinner in Shangri La over the weekend. It was the Queen's University's alumni and college sponsored a table. It was a somewhat interesting though uncomfortable event (for me anyways). Eating with such formal etiquette can be unnerving for someone who likes finger foods. Luckily, I learned that one should use cutlery from the outside coming in from Princess Diaries (yes, I watched it). There was a slight argument among older colleagues regarding which water glass is yours to use. Googled and it's the right one, which makes perfect sense.

New experiences are always invigorating.

Hope lost...

It has been a tragic week in my backyard. Mocha, my beautiful she-bunny has passed away in her burrow, likely due to birthing complications leaving behind not just woeful Caramel but three babies, now sadly undernourished and unkept. I've brought the babies in for some tlc and hopefully, they will be able to start eating solids and build some strength. Caramel however is taking it real badly.

He has been refusing to eat, choosing to sit in the rain and tragically seeming to choose to die. And he will likely pass on by morning, as he now lies in the throes of final minutes. It is sad watching him go, eyes all teary and body limp with lost. But Mocha was his one true friend and in the bunny backyard, good friends are but one.

I will be sad for him and I hope that through the night, when he breathes his final breath, he will be all good. At least I got to say goodbye. Never had the same opportunity with Mocha, who just disappeared to the earth.

At least I have the babies to live on their memories. God bless Mocha, Caramel, and may the three new lives find strength amidst absence.

Accept or Except? Hmm...

Try it out, an English word quiz:

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=14457200288064322170

My score:

English Genius
You scored 92% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 93% Advanced, and 80% Expert!
You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!

Post CNY Blues

Chinese New Year 2006 was great! It was a tad rushed to go back only a day before the eve but everything worked out beautifully. And the celebrations are more pronounced and festive when the extended family are united in full force. This time round, the roll call included:

Grandmothers: 2
Aunties: 9
Uncles: 9
First Cousins: 35
Cousin's kids: 10

Plus my immediate family, for the first 2 days there were about 70 people in my grandmother's house. The noise, chaos, and the whole communal experience is something I always miss and long for. And the best part, this is not even the whole family. Missing from the group will be about a few aunties and uncles and about 20 more cousins. It's a great feeling to be part of a huge family!



Didn't find much time to visit friends (too occupied with family and when push comes to shove, family comes first anyways). Did manage to visit Meng and HL a bit more though and of course their dogs! Temperamental but beautifully golden Bobbie is shown above and below, my favourite, Bandit the patch-eyed mongrel.



I so love Chinese New Year!

Gong Xi Gong Xi

It's that time of the year again :) and I tell you, I'm about to break into giggle'y fits any time! It's amazing how this time of year turns me into a slobbering wide-eyed shopaholic kid. Must be the red.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

The first ever hamper I've won

I join contests somewhat regularly and I have had won quite a bit of prizes, including the whopper of a trip to LA for the Charlie's Angels II premiere. A few days ago, I received news of having won another contest, albeit the consolation. :) I got myself a hamper worth RM188 full of Pilsbury products, all for buying one cake mix. I'm in sweet-tooth heaven!

CreativeKids studio version 3

The touched up learning studio in mood lighting.



The resource centre with the new pink castle motif.

Kids say the darnest things...

Overheard in CreativeKids:

7 yr old boy: Boys don't cry, except when they're being scolded by their boss. Then they can cry.

Shamelessly in Celebration

Every year, after Chinese New Year, I promise myself to not be taken in by the commercial pull of the celebrations and spend like crazy on red plastic junk. But every year, come Chinese New Year, I willingly enter myself into credit card hell to deck my house shamelessly red with lanterns hanging everywhere. I have at last count 30+ lanterns in varying sizes to fit in a tiny single storey home. But oh, I so love it!

This year, I've went a tad overboard with peach curtains laced with bamboo motifs, striped yellow table cloths, bright orange table runner, more lanterns, dingly dangly stuff, and a whole bunch of plastic cherry blossoms. It's so much fun!

SEGI College, now open!

The past few weeks have been hectic, the past few days have been tumultuous but finally, things have settled enough and our doors are now open! I have to say, after being in dank and dingy Summit the past 2 years, a new building is really refreshing, even with the 'work in progress' status.

Here are some snapshots of the Faculty of Creative Arts and Design :)



Our Theatre.



One of two gallerias.



The performing arts studio.

I like new things. :)

New Year... again?

It's 2006 and it almost felt like yesterday that 2005 came into the picture. With the new year though come fresh expectations and renewed vigour... a strange affliction we all seem to have considering nothing has changed except our calendars. And on the topic of calendars, I really miss my old ones. Getting a new calendar is like going on a first date... there's some chemistry but you just don't know what to expect. Especially when you're like me and you scribble all over the calendar making it highly indispensable!

I had my first Digitalia themed CreativeKids class yesterday and it was not too bad. Kids were all hyped up and I foresee a good 4-5 months of on-time homework before the hype sizzles out. It's good fun though and we're having a photo-shoot next week so I can hang their potraits up on the wall. I also have been getting a steady stream of calls from parents out of USJ2 so it's a good sign. Maybe next year CreativeKids can go fulltime :)



College is a hive of busy'ness... moving campus is more complicated than expected. It's a great big mess but it should be over by this week. And Meng has joined the team so it's nice having friends on board. Will take photos of the actual campus and post them once things have settled down.

To everyone, all the best this new year and may dreams and ambitions be in closer reach!

From The Star:

LONG QUEUE: Hundreds of Mykad applicants forming a beeline as they wait their turn at the National Registration Department in Jalan Sultan on Thursday.

I just cannot figure out these people. You miss a three year grace period... then you are willing to queue from 5am for literally hours just to save some RM20... then you hurl abuses at the people working for being too slow. It's just embarrasing...

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Insurance

An old friend called out of the blue, needless to say, there's a hidden agenda. He has decided to venture into the ill-perceived world of insurance selling and needs me to help meet his sales goals for the month.

I know there are many insurance agents out there and many claim to have your interests in mind but I think it's such a false illusion. I would be so happy to meet an agent that can just say that this is their job, their interests are financial, and all they want to do is explain the product to you and leave you to decide. The hard sell is not as bad as phrases such as,

"As your friend, you can trust me."

"I want to help you."

"I'm only doing this for you, since you're my friend."

Come on. Just be real and say it as it is. Maybe there should be a life insurance showroom, where all the products are stacked up and compared side by side, like cars. But I suspect, the oligopolistic nature of the insurance companies work to prevent this. As it is, agents can only commit to one company. Where is the impartiality, given how difficult it is to get detailed product information without having to go through a smooth talking agent oozing all the niceties of a Care Bear.

I honestly feel sad that people use friendship as a leverage for self benefit. Even worse is that I buy into it. My friend will likely get his sale and as much as I don't like it, at the end of the day, I do need insurance. Darn the irony.

Visit to Kuching

I was in Kuching for the first time the last 3 days attending a convention on Applied and Creative Arts organised by UNIMAS. Overall, it was quite an enjoyable trip, meeting new people from the academic side of design and basking in the history and culture of the city.



Overall, UNIMAS has an interesting array of programs with a diverse academic body. We were even treated to a fashion show by the Department of Textile and Fashion. Although I stereotypically enjoyed the papers by the foreign academics a little more, it was a good convention all in all and hope to be able to attend more in the future. Learned quite a bit and hope to put it to use in the college.



Kuching is quite laidback city and although highly colourful at night, leaves much to be desired in terms of activity. Being quite spread out, although in a manageable area, the city seems to be in a perpetual lull. No one here seems rushed, even the service staff of the hotels and restaurants, and it can be quite disconcerting at times!



The river is in many ways the heart of the city. This is where the tourists and locals gather and it's a wonderful place to walk and relax. The river is beautiful both during the night and day and it's a wonderful sight.



Just by the riverside is a row of shops, mostly selling tourist'y stuff. My colleagues and I spent a good half day here shopping for souvenirs. As usual, I got the decorated and ceremonial Pua Kumbu cloth, bead necklaces for mom and sis, and ethnically decorated batik print shirts.



Food in Sarawak isn't as good as Melaka or Penang. Shown here is the Kolo Mee which tastes to me very much like Indomie. It's very savoury and a tad oily but not too bad. I can't say the same though for the dish below.



This is the Belacan Beehoon that a local colleague was raving over. It's a strange concoction of rice noodles, squid and vegetables in watery liquid topped with belacan and this gelatinous sweet brown glob. My colleague aptly describes it as eating noodles with seawater.



I've also heard lots of SugarBun's dominance in Kuching. I think it's a weird franchise concept and it has obviously not done well in the Peninsular. It's quite thriving here but I have to say, the food, at relatively high prices is just not worth it.



Kuching is a beautiful city, with obvious signs of metropolitan modernity yet holding strong to its deep seated culture and heritage. It's as slow moving as the river in many ways but there's an appeal to the city that's difficult to describe. The whole 3 days there felt home'y... I can never say the same when I visit other places like Penang.



It would be nice to come again and this time, I'll be prepared with loads of empty luggage. Souvenir shopping in Kuching can be very theraupeutic and delightful!

Additions to the family!

After 4 weeks of being deep in their burrows, Mocha's and Caramel's babies finally came out and romped about the backyard. Almost identical in appearance to their parents, these baby Angora rabbits are cute beyond cuteness!

They're still nursing from Mocha so once weaning is complete, the gang will begin their house-training sessions and hopefully, be able to acclimatise to living indoors until they're big enough to go out to the backyard.

Here's introducing the gang:



This is gentle and lovable Biscotti, the adorable, tame baby of the litter.



On the left is Biscotto, and on the right is the big burly Fudge!

These are probably the only baby bunnies I've ever had that was born in a burrow and raised as natural as it could get for rabbits!

Day 3: Surprise!

Day 3 is a little calmer and way lots more fun for Teacher Dan. Only 5 kids turned up but I'm not complaining. Gave me the opportunity to relax a little and joined in the games and the surprise Birthday Party!

A parent called and gave me 30 minute notice to prepare the 'party'. Luckily I have lots of snacks about the house and managed to muster a decent spread for 20. With only 5, and a whole cake, needless to say we had a lot of fun stuffing ourselves silly. :)

After food and birthday song singing, we started a really fun game of Pokemon Master Trainer: The Board Game. Days like this creates such a feel good buzz!

Day 2: Pokemania!

It's Day 2 of 12 of the CreativeKids Games Month and attendance is still high and will likely get higher! I've just about maximised all the chairs I have in the house so looks like some will just have to contend with the floor.

Pokemon Challenge saw a little more guys than gals turning up but that's quite expected. Not as noisy as Day 1 considering the card game required a little more thinking and less shouting! Very fun nevertheless and my once unbeatable deck has been beaten by one guy's tournament quality deck. Apparently, his deck managed a top 10 placing in the country's Pokemon league.

Games Month has been great though in the sense that I've managed to increase recruitment by an estimated 5 kids! 2006 has yet to kick off but classes, including the new ones are already almost full! From 2 kids in May 2004, it's now over 30 in November 2005!

It's BACK!

The Popular Clearance Sale is back in The Summit USJ! Huge bargains, great buys! It's on from now till 11 December. I've already added 55 books to my collection and I now need a new book shelf.

Day 1 of Game Month at CreativeKids

It's the end of year and breaking tradition, CreativeKids is not taking a break but celebrating with a month of games, games and more games! And Day One was over yesterday with Rollercoaster Tycoon the Board Game and Pictionary.

With 18 kids over, all under the ages of 12, it's Kids:1, Daniel:0. I half expected the police to come for disturbing the peace. I seriously owe my neighbours something for their patience. Thank goodness both sides have kids, so they must understand or at least relate to how wild kids can get.

As I'm typing this, I'm reeling slightly from the sonic shockwaves that has left me half deaf, as well as trying to figure out where am I going to muster the energy for Days 2 through 12. If anyone wants to come and help, I will forever be in your gratitude.



It was fun though but gawd... any adult who thinks that they're in control are just misleading themselves.

Digitalia: the dawn of adventure

I am currently preparing a themed learning approach to Creative Writing for 2006 and would like feedback from you guys. Basically, students find themselves in the new world of Digitalia. They will each begin by colonising one plot of land from the world map.

As the year progresses, students will follow lessons that are linked to the world covering topics such as state building, governance, diplomacy, war, ecology, society, culture, symbols of state, festivals, race and more. Through completed lessons, games, and homework, students will earn gold coins that they can use to:

1. Exchange for prizes
2. Build cities
3. Build defenses
4. Build offenses

These are important depending on the student's approach to the game. They can focus on:

1. Development: Build their cities to the rank of a megalopolis of which they will be able to earn a weekly stipend of a goal coin.

2. Defense: Protect their colonies from invasion. Every five colony plots will earn a weekly stipend of a goal coin.

3. Offense: Build their armies to include mythical beasts and to arm themselves with a relic charged with a superpower depending on the land type (plains, mountains, seas). Every colony plot taken over will earn one goal coin but defeat will mean sacrificing the attacking unit.

Basically, students uninterested to pursue this concept will exchange gold coins for prizes. But more adventurous students can expedite their gold coin earnings through strategising. There will be a mechanism for attacking, defending, and building, all designed as incentives for learning participation and involvement.

If this works out well, teaching will suddenly be so much more easier although the initial set up is a little daunting. Will see what the year foretells :) but in the meantime, tell me what you think.

New Management

College group is undergoing some massive restructuring and rebranding, and with the move to the new campus next month, it's been crazy. I have my bosses changed and although the new ones are more approachable, they are also, for a lack of a better word... chinese. With all the extra work and meetings, I've almost had to run home in time for CreativeKids, which incidentally is doing very well. For the first time, most of my classes are almost full! Adding a new one next year :)

Anyways, these new bosses seem to enjoy meetings immensely. I don't know about anyone else but I think that overdrawn meetings are counter productive, especially when they are in the guise of discussion when in actual fact, it's just a venue for the boss to tell you what to do, albeit highly tactfully. If that's not bad enough, my current boss has a tendency to repeat anything he say at least 5 times. He probably thinks that designers can't figure out managerial stuff. This week alone, I've attended 10 meetings, with today alone having FOUR! And with each meeting averaging 2-3 hours, it has been excruciatingly excruciating.

On the plus side, I have come to realise that I enjoy pencil pushing. I am such a bureaucrat...

Happiness is being able to watch TV guilt-free...

After slogging through 16 months of sheer agony, having sacrificed many forms of entertainment and relaxation, it's finally over! I've completed my Masters! Although I've missed my target of a perfect score by 5.4%, I am still very much overjoyed and relieved. Was it worth it? Definitely... will I do it again? Err...

I'm now looking forward to December when CreativeKids will be having a month-long board game fest! And next year will be rocking with 2 new classes bringing the total to 5 in all. It's going to be hectic but fun!

I am such a workaholic...

Now all together... say 'KONICA'!

I've been mulling over getting a digital camera for years, literally. Being a techno-enthusiast, I've always been fascinated by all things digital. And photography is really an enjoyable hobby. Not so much for artsy-fartsy indulgence but to stockpile on memories.

I got my first digital camera when I was doing my industrial training in Seattle. It was called 'CoolCam', a transparent blue plastic camera with the ability to take pictures at 320x240 and record short bursts of 10 seconds of video. At USD20, it was fairly cheap at that time but obviously, with such low resolution and no flash, there were severe deficiencies.

After about a month or so, I got a Samsung Digimax that had a resolution of 640x480 (this at a time when 1.3megapixels was the highest and most expensive), AND it could play MP3 as well as double up as a webcam. At USD100, it was a steal since it was retailing then in Malaysia for about RM1200. This lasted me quite a good deal though pictures were still exclusive to emails and sites. You can barely print a decent photo at 640x480.

Now this was all 4 years ago. Ever since then, I've moved studying to working and the realities of adulthood caught up. Bills, setting up homes, and other costs has always inhibited buying a better digital camera... until now that is! Finally decided to get one, and with the nifty 0% instalment plan available, it's definitely affordable.

And after weeks of contemplating and reading tonnes of reviews, I've settled on the Konica Minolta Dimage Z20 because it's just cool looking :) Placed my order at the shop and now patiently waiting for it to arrive!

Dream bliss...

My old mattress has became uncomfortably bumpy with its springs protuding painfully from within. After almost 3 years of use, I guess it has served me well enough, especially considering the amount of time I spend in it (t doubles up as a sofa in my room). Also, at a cheapo price of aboutRM200+ from Giant, it's not exactly a long term investment. Anyways, all clues points towards a new mattress and with my birthday just around the corner, my parents decided to help get me one by paying half the costs.

I had a whole day of mattress shopping planned for with the shops and models plotted out. However, on an impulse, I dropped by a nearby shop during lunch and within 10 minutes, I had made my purchase.

I bought this King Koil mattress with all sorts of fancy medical claims from orthopaedics and sales pitches like double spring coils and reinforced side springs. It was much better than my old one in any case and at a hefty discount, can't complain. Since I saved some cash from the discount, I decided to get myself a bed frame instead and progress from sleeping on the floor. Got a wood one at also a heavily discounted price. The shop must be very generous, going out of business, or have all their products heavily hiked in prices. Hmm...

Anyways, when the stuff arrived, I struggled to install the bed (only 2 hours, groan) and dragged the mattress upstairs (I think it was at least 50kg and huge and took me only 30 minutes), I am now in seventh heaven in sleep comfort! Bliss...

How on earth is this news worthy?

Pet Monkey Escapes, Bites Boy on Buttocks

A monkey, apparently a pet, escaped, then chased a 12-year-old boy into his house and bit him on the buttocks in the western Malaysian state of Pahang, a news report said Friday.

The monkey, which was believed to be a pet animal because there was a chain around its neck, ran up and down the street in the housing area in Kuantan town as it appeared just after dusk Wednesday, scaring people into their homes, the Bernama news agency reported.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Also, read a proposal by students who wanted to plan a day trip to the 'KL TOWEL'. Sounds like something out of a Sam and Max game. And considering how far away the 'L' and 'R' keys are located on the keyboard, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Oh September, How I Adore Thee

It's finally September, my most favourite'st month :) There's something about September that conjures up a whole lot of anticipation. First up, at this time, you could almost feel the year wrapping up. August is still too close to 'mid-year' to be counted but come September, and the year end is almost just round the bend.

Furthermore, September is very celebratory. So many of my dear family and friends have September birthdays so it's immensely rewarding. Just last weekend, I had an excellent trip back home to surprise my mom with a birthday dinner. Had to coordinate 3 aunts, siblings, and my grandmother to effectively keep the secret in force but it was well worth the 50 or so SMS'es and down-to-the-wire timing. I told my brother that I would pick him up at 5:55, arrive to surprise my Mom at 6:20 and proceeded to dinner at 7:00. I did it at 5:57, 6:21 and 7:00! And considering that I could only leave USJ after picking up my cousins, then my aunt at the KTM Komuter of which they boarded the 2:47 train from Sentral. It was just great and everything just fell into place. Must be good karma from good intentions :)

Also, there's the Melaka trip to look forward to although I'm still short of my needed 40 students. I have till Friday to wrap things up so hopefully numbers will pick up.

And joy of all joys, I am about 8 weeks away to finally completing my Masters... hopefully with a good finish! Juggling fulltime studies with work and part-time work has been an incredibly hell'ish 14 months but with the end so close, it feels just great!

Acting on Impulses

I imagine that come mid-life crisis, I would likely be the sort to drain savings (if I had any in the first place) to buy a flashy red sports car. Why do you ask? Because it seems that I am ruled by impulsive actions that I don't quite have much control over.

I was mulling about a thought, just before sleep one night, and it was quite a fanciful thoughts. With hindsight, most can agree that almost all thoughts in sleep/awakeness limbo is fanciful but then hindsight is 20/20. Anyways, I was mulling about how nice it would be to wake up in the morning and instead of going to work to classes, I can go on a trip instead.

So the next day, with the fanciful thought still dominating and hindsight nowhere to be found, I ran a small poll online, found 5 students who had some interest and then proceeded the very next day (still without hindsight) to prepare a proposal for a 2D1N educational excursion to Melaka at the end of the month. And in a record of sort, the bureaucratic multi-layered levels of authority seemed to align in singular thought this once and gave me permission, and a small budget, in a span of one day.

And with that permission, finally came hindsight. And hindsight spoke, 'You will be responsible for up to 40 students in bringing them across 150km and guide them through place after place from 8 in the morning to 10 at night for 2 days and how on earth is this preferable to comfortable office work from 9 to 5?'.

I have to say, I don't like hindsight very much, especially belated ones.