Feeling : Excited, Grateful & Blessed

As things slowly but surely fall in place for me, I can't help but feel totally excited!

I am also very Grateful & Blessed.

Grateful for the people who came into my life to give me that little push I needed.

It's a long time dream and I always thought it would remain that way.

But thanks to the people who came into my life at the right time, the dream will come through.

And with the help and support of those who are already apart of my life, I will get to see my dream come alive.

Truely Blessed.

Rainforest World Music Festival 2008, Sarawak Cultural Village

We're going to the Fest!
I was as excited as a little kid would be going to the Fun Fair.
The RWMF is a yearly event that goes on for 3 days Officially.
This being the 1st time for the Entire Gang of 10, Anita arranged for us to be there for Day 2.




Tickets to the Show





We Travelled via the Shuttle from the Holiday Inn to the Cultural Village, piggy and I.
So here's 2 words to describe Kuching and whatever parts of Sarawak I've seen :
CLEAN & GREEN!

I have not seen so much Green in my live and SO CLEAN!
Clean by Asian Standards (Not Including Singapore).
Oh, what am I talking about?!

Damn clean by Malaysian Standards!
Penang just seemed like a Junkyard Island at that point of time.
Unless there is a not so clean part of Sarawak Hiding somewhere.
But hey, this is what I saw and I liked it.

For a good 15 minutes or so, I didn't see any houses, housing areas etc.
Then I saw a row of old houses.
Reminded me of the kind of Houses you see here (peninsular), and you know your grandparents were still young the time those houses were built!

The cars, the traffic, the laidbackness, all reminded me of how it was 10 - 15 years back.
And 80% or more of the cars on the road were Malaysian Cars.

After almost an hour we finally got there.
And the crowd! My, oh my.

At the entrance we were greeted by some traditional Sarawakian Music and some traditional dance going on.





The Entrance to the Fest










The Celcom X Pack Dancers







As we took our little map to the Cultural village and moved on, there were many many stalls.
The 1st stall had accessories. At the counter was a Camera dude, and I heard some guy with an accent talking to the camera while interviewing the girls who were incharge of the stall.

Piggy and I were looking around, when the Camera dude walked towards her! Yes, she was being Interviewed by that VJ from that Channel V. Ok, since I've got no TV at home, it's been ages since I watched any Programmes on V.
SO who was this DJ? No Clue.
And if I didn't have a clue who he was, I know Piggy was way off !
But that Lucky Devil!

(I later found out he was VJ Dom)
Oh my gosh! Those arms and his chest!
Slurrp! (Control yourself G)

Piggy was just too obvious with her Deer caught in the Head Light Look everytime he asked her something. WHY NOT ME!! :)
Though I tried to help her out from where I was (and staying out of camera range).





Piggy and VJ Dom








After that we moved on.
An arts and craft bazaar was going on as well. Items from various coutries.
There was this stall selling Scarfs from India. Price ranged from RM200 - RM 400!
Seriously people! By 2 years of Deepavali Suits don't come up to that much!

I figured I'd just stroll through the place and not get anything.
We came to this huge eating area with Food and Bev tents and a whole tent selling - - HEINEKEN!

I mean, wow!





One of the traditional houses turned to workshops for the Fest.









This place you see right now, became the site of the crime later that night!
On the left is the Main Stage and the Tree Stage.
Performances would alternate between the 2 stages.





1st performance my a Bunch of Kelabit Youths - Kan'id.
These kids really rocked it!
Playing the Kealbit Blues and one of the traditional songs! Man, we were moving it and shakin it!





So the 1st performance was at the main stage.
Piggy, Kavi, Anita, Kalpana and I plopped ourselves at a corner.
Later we realised it was a bad idea, since the crowd decided to stand right in front of the stage despite the fact that it was covered with soggy sand, about to turn to mud all over again thanks to the rain on the 1st Night.

We decided to heck it and stood up as well.
The next performance was by another Sarawakian band at the Tree Stage.
We walked about 20 metres to that Stage with our slippers sinking and getting stuck each time we took a step.
That's it!
KAKI AYAM it will be!!



Let's play, guess whose butt?
At some point some left their slippers in the mid while piggy kavi and me decided to leave it at some corner so we could go get it later. (which didn't happen by the way)

Best part was Anita taking her slippers all the way back to the hotel and threw it away there!


Thanen was already at the tree stage high on Booze, music, and erm whatever else he can be high on just pulled us girls towards the crowd and the stage!
The music was awesome, the crowd just moving to the music!
Who needs booze?! The music was good enough!







Thanen high on Coke? or Tuak?






And if the 2 local bands didn't rock it enough. . .
The next group sure did it for me.

Beltaine from Poland.













They played Irish and Scottish Tunes.The crowd went wild!I had half a mind to throw my bag away so I could do the River Dance!Oh wait, I don't know how!Basically the crowd just went with it. . . Jumping and Dancing anyway they could!It was ELECTRIC!

Followed my a very mellow Palestine group.I was restless. That was more of a lullaby and Kavi was groaning.
Kalps and Anita went to get us some. . . . . TUAK!Oh ya! that famous Rice Wine.Damn!
Half a cup was enough to get you somewhere . . . It had a slight alcohol / sweetness to it.

After downing the Tuak, we decided No band was going to put us to sleep yet and went to get more Tuak.
Piggy and I bought a 600 ml bottle for RM10.
Darn cheap considering the fact the Cups we had earlier cost RM15 each.
We then realised ours was watered down.

I dont want to imagine what would have happend to Piggy if it wasn't watered down.
I was at a level, but managed to hold it all the way till I got to the hotel! Phew!
Piggy was going on and on and on talking!

We hung out at one of the Rumah Panjang with a huge croud and TV so we could see the next performing band.

All in all, twas a good trip.
And we're sure as hell going next year! :)

All 3 nights!

Why I Miss Home

I miss Home. . .

I've Always convinced myself That it's comfortable beeing away from home, so I get all the attention when I go back once in a while.

End of June, I took a week off so I can spend time at home and be with Amma for her birthday.

Things are a little different now. Papa's retired. Has more time to prepare healthy food..
Gives me more lecture about healthy living, and Unlike before, I actually listen to him.

The more I go home and the Longer I stay home, the more I don't want to come back to Penang.

Such a drag living in a house with strangers.

I have a lovely bed at home, not sure what the heck I come back to Penang for!

To sleep on that awful mattress?

Oh yea, to work and get paid. . . sigh...

Dragon Fruit Juice - Blended by Papa at 6 am when I got back fr Penang.

Breakfast for Papa Cini and Me - Prepared by Papa. Love the colours.

April 19 2008, 10.15 pm

April 19 2008, 10.15 pm

So here I am sitting in my room, 3 frozen chapattis, G’s Tuna Special, and an Unsweetened Knudsen’s Grapefruit later.

Had dinner while watching Scarlett Johansen’s The Nanny Diaries.I’ve watched that movie for the umpteenth time, and still don’t get bored. That took me back to the early part of today.Had lunch with a friend whom I’ve not met up with in a while, Mindy as I affectionately call her.

As usual, we ladies started talking. Talking about life. Among others we started talking about marriage. Love and Arranged.She’s married to Deeps, also a friend of mine. Theirs is a love marriage. She was telling me about how she can’t imagine people at this day and age getting into an arranged marriage.

And about having kids. How ready are you? Will you ever be ready? And when they come, what will you have to do to make sure they have the best? What will you sacrifice? Your career, your freedom, your relationship with your husband.

Not that I am totally qualified on the topic, considering the fact that I am not in a relationship, and neither is there any arrangements pending as yet. And as for having kids, I have my own opinion all together. But still, I have observed other people. My friends, friends of my mom’s, colleagues and so on.

*There is no conclusion to this blog. Only opinions and thoughts.

Marriage.
Love vs Arranged. What would you go for? Is one better than the other? If yes, which is it? If no, what the heck?

Arranged marriage. Leaving your past for a new future. Of course we have this future planning and what not. But when your future is with someone completely new, how do you do it? For the women, it completely changes your life. In Asia at least. The guy would have bought a house (in most cases), and you move in with him, or low and behold, his family. If they are nice, well and fine. If they are not… You just have to live with it.
In Malaysia at least, arranged marriage is not as rigid as before (that’s what I hear). There is a short period of time where you meet and get to know the guy / girl. If all clicks.. Ta Daa!

Reminds me of a college friend. She was totally the outspoken, in your face type. Who’s had an arranged marriage to a doctor. And today is a home maker and mother of 1. She was doing well as an Accountant. But decided to leave all that behind after marriage. Though she hasn’t said it, I can’t help but wonder. At any point of time, did she ever regret leaving her job? Does she ever feel tied down staying home and waiting for the husband to come back, at the beginning of the month, waiting for the husband to give her pocket money. Spending 24/7 with her child, does she ever get worn out? Or is she really, truly contented with all this?What happens when parents arrange for you to be married to some guy overseas?

What happens when you leave your homeland for someplace new to be with someone new? Though this doesn’t happen as much here, more like something people back in the motherland would do, doesn’t it? Parents just go ahead and arrange the marriage without consulting the son or daughter, and fix a date. Has happened to someone I used to know.

Love Marriage. Depending on when the relationship started. Sometimes, some people are lucky enough to meet someone in school or college, and have a relationship that lasts all the way. They build every step of their life together. Whether it’s buying a home, or a car, you’ve known him/her long enough to know everything.

Having Kids. How do you bring them up giving them everything they need or want and not spoil them? And if you need to work, would leaving them with the maid be an option? Or Day care? Or leave them with his / her parents while you stick to your travelling job? How well will that child know you? How could you live, not seeing your own child grow up? With the high cost of living nowadays, what is the right thing to do when one of you cannot afford to be the stay at home parent?

What is the right thing to do?