LETTER FROM PAPA

Dear lovely children,

Do you have a clue how happy you could be when your pals remember your Birthday just when you think they will not? Extremely out- of- this- world-overwhelming-indescribable-undeniably-Happy of course! And that’s why i just want to express my BIG BIG THANK YOU to all of you young people- whether you are biologically young or amazingly young at heart; i care not because YOU ROCKS!

I must confess that these days might not be a ride in an ocean without waves for many of you and being so, it is even more surprising seeing those of you garnering your strength and will to be standing among thousands jam packed just to witness the PARADE of marching people first hand when you could have a good Sunday morning sleep, buying FLAGS to stick on cars when you have getting absorbed to think deep whether buying their petrol is still mortally possible, when our Prime Minister is delivering his SPEECH without minding it means your favourite television series are to be given a compulsory temporary pause and still going to school when you know singing my Birthday SONGS is the only thing you will be doing- i’m wondering just how sweet could YOU be?

Your textbooks are prone in vivid description of your forefathers who fought till their very last breath defending what they love with all their souls and you homosapiens actually memorized every word of it and yet you are going to tell me it makes no sense, right? First and foremost, i will not put the blame on you and join the finger pointing activity that you all enjoy doing so much and instead i have decided to share with you my genuine contemplation (as our National Day is today and Malaysia Day is on 16th next month) on what creature ‘Merdeka’ really is.

‘Merdeka’ is not about my birthday, it is about your birthday- the day when Ahmad, Ariel and Arun gulping our local teh tarik in a crowded mamak stall cheering for Lee Chong Wei in his attempt against Lin Dan, the moment when the adorable Petronas advertisement of three friends with the message ‘rambut sama hitam, hati lain- lain’ brought tears to your being as you recalled the watercolour days and when its schoolboy love video was being featured in Cannes simultaneously bagging the Gold, the minute when we look at another of different colour, creed and culture and speak to ourselves that they are family and smile with such sincerity that it is too obvious to be doubted, the second we believe our hearts could just take flight and we could live out all our dreams- no longer the ignorant savage who got pushed around and looked down as nothing more than some organisms living on trees.

Standing in the eyes of the world you are. No mount too high, no seas too wide, no stars too far- all these are made possible when you finally found yourself after being colonized by various military superpowers for nearly half a century and that’s mathematically speaking approximately 500 years. At last, you are freed, you are independent and you are united; so as to why some of you are so keen in being divided again is such a mystery to me because this issue should be history. This should not be a nation of accomplishments judging by your vast diversity as reflected by numerous other similar nations but the impossible has been done and it is done incredibly. Dear children, this is indeed the greatest story ever told. Happy Merdeka!

Your ever faithful papa,
Malaysia

MIDST OF OLYMPIAN CRAZE III

WELCOME TO BEIJING (ALL STARZ)



100- DAY COUNTDOWN SONG


WE ARE READY


JAY CHOU'S SPECIAL


A MEI'S FOREVER FRIENDS


JANG NARA'S OUR DREAM (it's in mandarin!)

***Dear ardent readers, these are something for you to immerse, indulge and include in your Olympian festivities, dont you think so? =D***

SMiLE=D

Smile. a truth so simple yet so true. all great truths are simple; an individual i personally considered a mentor said that although never have i met him; because if they aren't simple they aren't great=)


This poem is for and by a friend; a brother since days of primary school, a leader, an exceptional artist, a Starbucks barrista, a techno- sapien and a soulful singer all along the way who has gone back to where he begun (the states).

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Be Happy

Cheer up!
Dont give up!



When there are clouds in the sky you'll get by
If you smile
And maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Ryan: Do you know who wrote this poem?
me : Ryan Chong Tet Wai
Ryan: nope
Ryan: Charlie Chaplin

***Smile and you're not alone my friend. you might be away but never alone- all boys and girls you have always known have always remember- 'Ryan is our friend' and you shall see your smile is not alone either=D***

MIDST OF OLYMPIAN CRAZE II

I believe anyone who just indulged in a rollercoaster of free delicacies from cultured milk of vitagen to walls strawberry 'bin chi-ling' after being totally immersed in an exhilarating and downright refreshing run of the lifetime- will have a sudden spark of inspiration between two diversely extreme conditions. Hiperbole you say? Embarking on a journey back home- where sitting in a silent bus while the drizzling rain outside complements the serenity- Eureka!!!- it just inspired a poem- so here is how it goes:

I'M OLYMPIC

McD at a mall
I pick a mag and see a form
The form call me to run
And my heart starts to take form
And says come lets run!

So i train for days
But not in time
My mind says let it be
For it commands lets just run!

So i run miles and miles
Only to see many smiles
Because when men run not to overtake
But to overcome
All men smiles and more is to come

This is not just another run
For fake medals and white papers
But this is a run
To test one's heart
The wise phrase 'Know Thyself'

Miles has passed but miles not yet
Hearts has sunk but not the will
As men ceases to whine and revile
The spirit ascends and a man begins

A glance at the world is a gaze at the lake
All you see is only you
Wise or fool is only you
What you claim unknown is always known
Isnt that the kid you were
Running free and dreaming big
Isnt that the boy you are
Confused and shaken up
Isnt that the man you become
Beaten down and never rise
After all that's your hidden dreams and frequent thoughts

I thanked the boy
Who argued 'i'm not small'
I thanked the girl
Who indulges in Ipod on the run
I thanked the teen
Now a friend who shows colour is no bind
I thanked the man
Who took photos and send to me (thank you, mr. donald goh)
I thanked the woman
Who says 'I'm not inferior- see, i work daily yet i play
I thanked the gal
Who defines beauty comes with having brain to keep going on
I thanked my pal
Who demonstrate doctors do run and walk the talk
And i thanked the elder
Who shouts 'you are oldman but not me'

'i' went for a cert
But received a medal
With a phrase carved deep
And a message crystal clear
If life is a run
Then let this be a marathon of joy
For all get one
Only if you want=)
'I'm Olympic!


When McDonald's gets philosophical; and when Coke actually replaced 100 Plus as official drink: we certainly get the message- nothing could be possibly wrong except our personal attitude- it's only what i eat and what i do. Feel the Breath of Brilliance, Welcome the Light of Illumination. It has been a Good Day. All is Well. Terima Kasih=)

MIDST OF OLYMPIAN CRAZE

To denizens of Kay- El and citizens of Earth,

"This few weeks are like no other weeks of your life; humanity is finding inspiration for a packaged solution for political, economical, socio-cultural and technological happenings; humanity is reevaluating who they were, who they are and who they will be; humanity is devoting attention on how to continue surviving much more if they aspire to actually live but doubts are whether they ever learn- history is one subject we have yet to acknowledge as popular."- author

Nevertheless, as life goes on in the town with all its glittering events, wild parties and enlightening conventions which i'm fortunate to participate- as you readers are perusing- i shall share with you one of them- Olympic Day Run 2008; as i'm certainly not that jobless to write all of them=)

FAST FACTS:

*The run is held at Dataran Merdeka on 29 Jun 2008.

*Presented by the likes of McD, Olympic Council, Coke, Milo, Times Square, Genting, Spritzer and many other generous hosts.

*There are eight categories- all are compelled to run 7km in 70 min unless you are primary school which will be 3km no time limit instead.

*Runners will receive freebies such as T- shirt, Cap, McD redeemable coupon and your own number (i purposely did not reveal the four digits- i know what you are thinking.....)

The map on the right serves as the runners' guide with colour- coded precision for your category and the tee and cap on the left are the runners' equipments with brand- printed clarity.

Mascot Mania: Ronald McDonald's Five Minutes of Fame is only mortally possible when the Beijing Famous Five (Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni) is absent.

Certificate only for those who complete 7km in 70min (for those who thinks this is psycho; it is really logical); complete with Olympic Council President signature- one brilliant testimonial as Olympic isnt a every day thing=)

*****The 'sacred truce' beginning the first known Games read: "May the world be delivered from crime and killing and freed from the clash of arms."

when the going get tough, we run not away, we charge forward; and hence the tough gets going. Shall we keep this in mind?*****

I NEED TO WAKE UP

Year 2005 is the HOTTEST YEAR in recorded human history.

That is an inconvenient truth.

"You look at that river gently flowing by. You notice the leaves rustling with the wind. You hear the birds; you hear the tree frogs. In the distance you hear a cow. You feel the grass. The mud gives a little bit on the river bank. It’s quiet; it’s peaceful. And all of a sudden, it’s a gear shift inside you. And it’s like taking a deep breath and going... 'Oh yeah, I forgot about this'."
— Al Gore; former US Vice- President; in the opening monologue of An Inconvenient Truth

Melissa Etheridge- I Need to Wake Up (Academy Awards' Best Original Song)

Is it Global Warming? Is it mere Temperature Fluctuation like what has occured in the past? or is it only a Transition Period? We cant say for sure. But there is one thing we can acknowledge with ultimate certainty- and that is SAVE THE PLANET. Our endearing planetary environment is for us to Love, not to Harm. If we love it, we dont have to waste time saving it.

**Somehow, we can sense that all is going to be well, hale and hearty. It is only a part of human-planet evolutionary development towards the perfection of beauty and wonder. Be Happy. And that's the Promise!**

MYKAD MYKISAH

Mega plans to maximize our new-little-bluey-identification-card certainly are a buzz few years back- commencing with its utilization in airports, governments are definitely looking into benchmarking it as smart, multipurpose, multipossiblities, multi...multi....Nissan (though not very influential in the market nowadays) said it best SHIFT_ the future.

***The future??? is like Futurama??? The nation is our home. The world is our playground. And 'Pisars' are still around =p***

HERE IN MY HOME

Pete (project producer) was juggling tomatoes.

bored. so he telephoned a few friends. “how about getting together to make an anti-racism national unity song and music video?”

The three lines above are being reposted verbatim.

Malaysian Artistes for Unity hence begun. Only in a couple of days. But 52 had already said 'Yes!!!'. That's all that's needed to be said.

song features:
afdlin shauki (Show Me The Money) . awie . ning baizura (just married). atilia . jaclyn victor (Malaysian Idol 1). reshmonu . pete teo . jason lo (Rock The World concerts). klg sqwad . altimet . suki (oiam) . daniel lee (Malaysian Idol 2) . nikki palikat . melina william

video features:
tony fernandes (Air Asia boss). maya karin (doesnt need an intro...). harith iskander (Thursday Night Live) . singletrackmind . stephen chua . izzy mohamed . shebby singh (football commentator/ my team coach who challenged Malaysian national squad). nell ng . mak wai hoo . mak wai hoo . badri ibrahim . chan fong . mark teh . kamal sabran . sharifah amani (Sepet, Gubra, Cinta). ng choo seong . pang khee teik . jerome kugan . january low . amber chia (Malaysian top model). nick lee . liang you cheng . muid latif . chong ji ann . ida nerina (you should know her). muhamad safwan . anissa abd aziz . fadly sabran . danny one . nurhanim khairudin . joe loy . ho yuhang . yasmin ahmad (Sepet, Gubra, Mukhsin and Petronas Ads Director). all the singers & project volunteers

Afdlin i'm strong and you aint heavy
Awie Oh there is a misspoken truth that lies
Colours dont bind, oh no
What do they know? They speak falsely
Ida Here in my home
i'll tell you what it's all about
There is just one hope here in my heart

**Love Malaysia. Love the World.**

THE TALENT WITHIN

The current tv programme of Britain Got Talent reveals unmistakable talents just like the boy in the video- Andrew Johnston. Judged by a remarkable panel of judges ranging from Simon Cowell (Got Talent creator, American Idol commentor and Il Divo manager), Piers Morgan (America Got Talent judge) and Amanda Holden (Replacing Cheryl Cole); Andrew finished third as announced on 24th May 2008.

A simple viewing of this video (headphone recommended) narrates the story of a boy far from being a man; fighting against the internal conflict of external violence in school implications and the resultant inferiority complex. A story of a human though debated by Daily Mail; who is being pushed around by circumstances and came out victorious with unparallel talent- a voice of confidence.

Just like Aunt May of Spiderman franchise fame notably states, "He knows a hero when he sees one. Too few characters out there, flying around like that, saving old girls like me. And Lord knows, kids like Henry need a hero. Courageous, self-sacrificing people. Setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them, cheer them, scream their names. And years later, they'll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them how to hold on a second longer."

**The last lines of her thought are, "I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams. "**

BALIK KAMPUNG = RAN AWAY FROM CIVILIZATION

It is undeniable that i have been on a familial mission to Johor- not the usual annual 'balik kampung at new year for angpaus quest' but rather i personally believe this to be more significant- my Ah Gong's 80th Birthday Celebration=)

The entire trip utilizing Malaysian functional highway has always been taking us about 3-hour which is acceptably comfortable with the likes of un-KL scenery to see and Hitz.fm to hear; of course the generality of this statement excludes the perspective of the one driving =p


Just as the journey cannot get any better, a Kancil being proud of its historical feat of kicking two Parameswara's hunting dogs into the river began to reminisce its days of glory.....

and traffic lights are fascinated by the countdown pop culture; hence incorporating countdown in a system of green, yellow and red lights

AGRICULTURE 101:

Pokok Kelapa/ Coconut Palm Tree

The Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family). It is the only species in the genus Cocos, and is a large palm, growing to 30 m tall, with pinnate leaves 4-6 m long, pinnae 60-90 cm long; old leaves break away cleanly leaving the trunk smooth. The term coconut refers to the fruit of the coconut palm. An alternate spelling is cocoanut.




Pokok Kelapa Sawit/ Oil Palm Tree

The oil palms (Elaeis) comprise two species of the Arecaceae, or palm family. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis is native to west Africa, occurring between Angola and Gambia, while the American Oil Palm Elaeis oleifera is native to tropical Central America and South America. The generic name is derived from the Greek for oil, elaion, while the species name refers to its country of origin.



And a considerable amount of oil palms are...
KO

because of the flood that hit Johor....
in case you treat the newspaper as a distant alien

Q: Where the Ketua Kampung resides?
A: the one on the right.
















The wetland a.k.a water park with swan rides and people attempting fishing....
















The biscuits factories of Hup Seng and Munchy=p















Q: Ever wondered what happen to celebrities out of business (singing)?
A: They get into business (cooking).














It is always so 'Inteligen' to advertise your centre as an 'Inteligen' institution to make school- going children who have yet to learn how to spell 'Inteligen'; more 'Inteligen'

Well, most of the places here remained undisturbed just like the one below:


i ate one of these and took home ten of these...

finally, i laid my specs (as if i'm wearing! =)

and stare at the sparkling stars...and said 'Ohh! is that saturn?'

Tomorrow, i will have to think what i should do with this....

Meanwhile, i'm bueno-ing!

**oh, oH, OH Balik Kampung.....oh, oH, OH.......**