Trying to write in a nutshell, but failing. by non
- Subscribe

It works both ways when you think about it. Time will either cause you to forget or remember stronger the things that happened. Mundane and boring things would be discarded, while happy or horrible events, may even be amplified greater or worse than its original state.

When it comes to writing a journal, time usually erodes my thoughts or wants or need to write. I'm less than thrilled to start on Part 2 of my recent escapade to the region of Selangor. But considering I better humour my sister who reads this (and lest she herself comes and pull my hair for not keeping to the bargained promise of 'sama-sama kena blog), I might as well continue. A warning though. It is going to be long (well, depending on my mood lah), and pretty average.

Part 2

The apartment that we got at the Commonwealth Forest and Park Resort, was a bit eerie-looking when we arrived. It was almost 630 pm and we were pretty tired. We did not pay heed to the sign saying "Please take off your shoes" not because we were too knackered, but because the floor and stairs going to our room, despite being well-polished, was a bit too out in the open. Our princessy selves were very reluctant to get our feet blackened (if the floor turned to be not as clean as it looked), or accidentally step on the taik cicak littered at the sides. We made sure we wiped our shoes lah.

As I had said before, the room we had (and yes, we took off our shoes before entering), was mighty clean, and very fresh smelling. Considering it was just below RM100 per night, I sort of expected a less maintained quarters, dark and dank-smelling (I may have been so used to associating cheap with bad service...), so the nice change was indeed very much welcomed. But of course, with a hundred ringgit, you can't expect much frills. In fact, it was kept to a minimum. I would consider that they had been very generous with installing air conditioner (they also had ceiling fans, and this was in a forest where the air is very cool mind you), and also hot water. I couldn't have been a happier lodger.

Called Ibu, but the line kept getting cut off because of the low signal we got there. When Ibu found out where we were at and that we were the only ones there, she worried to bits about us. Not that anything else could have been done. Sleeping in the car (which I imagine would be very uncomfortable), is far more dangerous than going up a steep slope and sleeping with 3 other girls in the middle of the forest. I ended up sleeping soundly throughout the night. Shared the queen bed with Alang and Dik Yoh.

Woke up early the next day. Gotten ready and had roti krim for breakfast. Felt like having a hot coffee (even if I don't even drink coffee) but there was no kettle (should have brought that traveling one with us). Got caught in a traffic jam. We had to do a U-turn because there was no through right turn from where we were. That caused us to be about 15 minutes late to data collection. The traffic light at Sg. Choh was a bit less hectic in terms of size of junction. But there were a lot of lorries and trailers. And the location is just as dangerous as Ampang had been. But because it was a three-legged junction, I was at the sidelines just monitoring the girls. I don't think I can do the site-boss thing all that often. I normally end up feeling sorry and pitying the girls (and even guys at times) if they had to stand in the heat and for long hours. They apparently don't really mind, they even enjoyed it they said. Still, can't help feeling kesian la. (nampak sangat kita semua ni tak used to hard work, for although we can endure it, but we feel like others, especially yang adik-adik, cannot...underestimate sangat kan?)

It was pretty boring though. Until it was approaching the rest period between shifts. I was in the car (Alang and I had waited at this stall by the road side, prior, but I'd gone back to the car to get some stuff), when kakell called and then asked for some data. I got out from the back, and closed the door, to go to the front, when I realised I had locked the car, with the keys and whatnots still inside the car. Haha. Oh yes, its funny now, but it was so worrying back then. I mean, we had the spare key at home, but ask Ibu to send it to us? Now thats funny. Imagine how much of a klutz I had felt I was at the time. Was calling up everyone (and probably had them wondering how much silliness I had in me to have locked my keys inside the car). Ibu relented and said that she'd come, when I had the idea (a brilliant one at that), to call upon the second team to retrieve the spare keys from Ibu.

Cut the story short, we waited patiently (drinking one iced tea after the other) and got the keys, finished our data collection, prayed zuhur and zoomed off to Kuala Selangor. In between that, some stall keepers had bought my sisters cool drink. They probably felt like the girls have been under the sun far too long. Kes kesian lagi la tu.

From getting lost the other day, I became an expert at finding my way back out to E1 and drive into Guthrie. We 'escorted' police van to Sg Buloh jail. Heheh. The way to Kuala Selangor was quite straight forward. There were scarcely any cars on the road, so I didn't have to potong any kereta or snailed behind some lori balak. Alang was a good navigator mind you. Not that I would have needed on on such a straight road. But hearing her confirm one kampung after the other as we passed them, gave a sense of relief to know, yes, positively we are on the right track.

Namun, cerita sesat kami did not stop at that. Just when I thought things were getting along smoothly, I arrived at a junction, one that I did not know which turn to make. We ended up driving up Bukit Melawati, on a very narrow tarred road, going up and up and up. Impossible that the hotel was up there, I told myself. And sure as sure is, I took the wrong turn. Tetapi! Ada hikmah disebaliknya! We got to walk around atop the hill, viewing the shore far off (kuala selangor), visit the museum, took photos with the lotongs (a species of monkey) and the lighthouse (I forgot the name). Had ice creams. It was a relaxing time because that was the last location for this run of data collection. I suppose it gave the girls a bit of a fun time, and it didn't cost a thing (cept for the ice creams lah).

There were lots of lotongs dropping up there. But at least they didn't do it on your hear when they dangled from the trees. Baby lotongs were orange. A stark difference from the older lotongs, black in colour. The babies looked like baby orangutans or an orange teddy bear. Observing them, you get to see a softer side to the animals (which was welcoming, seeing that a couple of days before that I was watching a documentary on how wild chimpanzees went around massacring other chimp clans for territorial gain...gruesome man). At one point, this male (I'm just guessing) lotong gently took the baby from its mother, so the mother could hop to some tourists who were giving breads to these prancing cooing creatures. They do look a whole lot softer than the kera behind our house. They didn't snarl at you. Nor do they snatch food from your hands. I don't know whether that is because they've become somewhat tamed, or because they are naturally so.

I was a tad bit disappointed that I didn't bring my d40. It would have been a great place to take really nice pictures. At least I had Ayah's dc cannon. That helped a bit. There were at least some photographic memories. The girls took dozens of photos. Claiming that they want to put it on their friendster. I can never understand the craze people have over such networking programmes. It seems far too....childish? And very voyeuristic.

I was able to observe the girls socialising. I can't say I actually approve of how they carry themselves. In fact, I reprimanded them a few times with a slight "ei, behave yourself". Too bad if they think its like treating them like children. You travel with me, you follow my rules. They ought to have learnt that when I had had everyone in the car buckle up before I drove (they managed to strap up every time now, without having to be told. It was nice to hear the click click of the buckles being fastened. Kind of like a happy sound, crazy as that may seem). This part continued on the next travel we had. Some nasty episodes there, but I may not even write them, for this have seem to be going on far too long already.

Anyway.

We got down the hill and drove finally on the right track to the hotel. It was an ok hotel I suppose. I preferred the one in the forest. It was cooler there, and way cleaner. Not to mention cheaper. Granted that they didn't have water kettle, but it certainly was a whole lot better in my opinion. I have this tendency to scrutinize every corner of the room I am staying in. A bit too sensitive when there is too much dust and dirt. I'd be sneezing and coughing a lot. Scratches are common when a room is dirty and dusty. There are five star hotels that do not give that much concerns to corners and nooks. It irks me really. We pay the service tax, they should at least get 5/5 for cleanliness, in fact, there shouldn't be a rating in the survey form for cleanliness, it should be a given. Dream on girl? Bleh.

Everything else was uneventful. It rained the next day. We started late because of the rain.

I ate at this Malay restaurant, kampung something, which was horrible. It was hot in there, despite being air conditioned. And then, when I asked for fruit juice : mangga susu, they brought me this sickly yellow drink with milk curdles in it. Eeewwwwwness. I really didn't know what to say. I knew it wasn't bad milk, terangtangtang it was just mango cordial, with a dash (lots of dashes) of milk in it. I really could not drink it. I asked the waitress three times, to confirm that it was blended mango (which I knew it wasn't), and she said, "Ye, tu buah mangga la tu". My inner Sakura was raving like a lunatic at her. Budak tu buat dono jer. Hish.

So guys, don't eat there. It's way too expensive for a place like that, and they certainly don't have quality control. Euggghhh.

Wrapped up early and went home. The girls slept at the back while I drove, uneventful.

The end (or if I find the time, I'll story mory pasal Gemencheh pulak ye?)

I certify myself a good route finder (who squirms when she find that shes lost, but has her head intact despite being at wits end on finding the right road back).

I also certify that I bite peoples head off when I am trying to concentrate on finding the right direction. Especially when said people makes too much noise which does not help me in the least bit.

Another thing, I sympathise with people too much. Yet at the same time, I am capable of holding a stony face when strangers approach me during data collection. Derang nak kata garang ke ape ke, tak kesah, talking to strangers in this age and time is dangerous.

Tada

Forest by non
2nd May 2008 @ 8:31 am - Subscribe

Months ago, I was triggered by my time at M3ru camp for my BiTieN to write about forest. It wasn't something particularly witty or funny, or anything like that. It was more of an observation I had. During the camp, we had this 'Kembara' time (which I think would translate into 'Adventure'), whereby teams are sent out to go through a course and come back alive (ok, so it wasn't that dangerous, but muck, thorns and leeches are kind of in that eww zone for some people).

My group went along fine. We were counting ourselves (shouting ONE! TWO! and so on until the last member, 16!), or some of the guys were singing (badly) a Hawaiian song (one of the facilitator taught us during the 'ragging' session).

Thing is, as I was walking, or climbing rather, I couldn't really help but think that I have very different ideas and ideals about forests in Malaysia and forest elsewhere (elsewhere would likely be some western countries), and it isn't the temperature mind you.

It made me think about how I would picture forest when someone says the word 'forest'. Malaysian forest in my head would be dark green, dark, wet, scary, full of stuff you have to be careful about (be it physical or spiritual...yes, we have a lot of that being shoved in our minds don't we?), and generally not a place I would say romantic. That Commonwealth forest and park resort thing, that gave me the same vibe. I didn't feel a touch of fond romanticism in that place at all. Duk baca ayat kursi banyak-banyak ade la.

Now then, western forest to me has joy and skip stamped all over it. I know its a skewed image of it all, but that is how strong childhood images have carved its way inside my head. I have been reading books after books since I was a child about fun things that happen in forest. And when you watch some old movies where they have it in the forest, they're bound to show really pretty scenes, with the sun shining between the leaves and the birds gaily chirping. Its like watching Bambi. Haha.

I blame the bad stereotype on television. I don't think I ever saw a Malaysian story or movie that features the forest in a good way. There is always some sort of bad things lurking when they use wild green areas to shoot movies. Be it ghost stories in pitch darkness, or people getting killed or taken hostages, or people running around scared and wild eyed from some bad men. Its all negative. Orang kena tangkap berduaduan pun dalam hutan. Mana tak nya kita nak kaitkan hutan dengan shadiness?

I think it is a bit too late to change my mindset on thinking about forests this way. Malaysians should have more stories like The Magic Faraway Tree.


Going through swamps

Hehe.

Saturdays are fun. Perfect for house overhaul by non
3rd May 2008 @ 7:26 am - Subscribe

Minat pulak dekat Jason Mraz ni. Walaupun memang dari dulu la suka lagu dia, start-start dengan wordplay tu. His current one "I'm Yours" is such a feel-goodyish tune that its gotten me in a smile-to-myself kind of moments many a times. I am already working on (in my head that is) on what slideshows I'll be making using that song. Sukanya.

Ibu and Ayah have been gone since Thursday morning. It has been a while since we've been left to fend ourselves by our own. Whats difficult is when these kids have gotten it into their heads that they are already big boys and girls. In terms of age, yes, but certainly not in the sensible department. Then again, maybe it is because I am seeing through the eyes of a 'grownup' that I don't see them have sense (at times). Tapi memang betul lah, kalau orang tu ada sense (eh, rasa macam cerita hana kimi pulak...cakap sense sense ni), ader ke dia biar jer baju yang orang dah penat-penat basuh terperap je dalam besen, or would a person with enough common sense, just leave a sink full of dirty smelly dishes, as if there is some servant to do them?

Tak kan?

I think it is probably in their heads that they have older sisters (me and alang, kakngah is too far away to be counted) to do these things just like ibu does them at times. And that is the sole reason why they don't pull their own weight and get things done as well. You'd have thought that the older they get, the easier the chores will be delegated around. I couldn't have been wrong-er.

Tapi, nasib baik la buat gak bila suruh.

Cooked nasi goreng yesterday, and today penne in tomato sauce for breakfast (oh who cares of pasta is not a morning menu), and then some stir fry beef strips in tikka for lunch (with nasi putih lembik and sup sayur). I was watching a Korean movie a while back and they had this yummy looking beef thingamajig with steaming hot rice. Well, I'd imagined that (the one I cooked) is what it tasted like. I'm sure mine tastes way better.

Korean food have never been all that appealing to me. Not even their barbeque restaurants which some says is a must place to eat at when you're there. The kimchi they so often eat (in the many Korean dramas I have watched) needs more convincing for me to actually eat it. It looks a tad bit like nasi campur, with everything tossed in and mixed around. The only thing that I liked, that I've recently acquired a taste for is the Yogurberry icecream that is said to be from there. Thing is, the outlet over at my place has lousy service and lousy staff and they're so stingy with their swirls of yogurberry. I just wish that they'd been more nice and more accommodating. I don't think I'd be going there again, never mind if I do like it.

Speaking about food, I do have to say that me working have had me eating lots of different outlets. Truth be told, there is nothing all that fascinating about the places I do go and eat at. To most people, it is places that they have been frequenting for ages. Tapi ye lah, kita dulu jalan ngan ibu ayah, makan pun ikut ngan ape ibu ayah makan. We've never even eaten at Pizza Hut pun sangat dulu kan. But I do have a feeling that this is because Ibu keeps saying "Ala, pizza kaklong pun boleh masak". True...tapi sekarang ni, sungguh la ku tak terlayan nak buat pizza schmizza ni.

Since I started working, all the normal food places that I had seen people in, I've managed to step my foot into. The other day, I went grocery shopping with Ibu. We both ended up hungry. And although I had just had my wisdom tooth pulled out, I was adamant to eat. Brought Ibu to the Chicken Rice Shop. Ibu wrinkled her nose when I said I'm treating her there. She never did like the smell of Chinese food. But I told her to trust me and that I know she'd like it. When our orders came, she said "Only this much rice??". I was fooled by that ages ago. The rice portion is just enough to be able to fit with all the other side dishes that were to come, I told her. Sure enough, Ibu was bloated by the end of it. What was a testimonial to it all is that she said, "Nanti boleh lah bawa Ayah sini, mesti Ayah suka Assam Fish tu". See, told you.

Keluarga kita ni, bukan nye rajin makan tempat-tempat yang orang selalu makan. But I don't think we are any different from a lot of other families. Sure, we see a ton of families and people dining, lunching at eateries, but the ones we see there, is just a small percentage of the whole population of Malaysia. I'm sure there are many other people that would be all batak over things like....Secret Recipe? Haha. I'm still afraid to step into Chillies. Mahal sangat. Plus, they serve non halal food as well kan? Places like those are off limits. If I were to write about this up till the letter Z, it would be endless. But I just have to state, there is no reason to be going to such places when there are other places to go to. That is just my opinion lah.

Tikka Stir-fry Beef by non
3rd May 2008 @ 9:09 am - Subscribe

Makes for 6 adults

Ingredients
0.5kg beef cut into thin strips.
1 medium onion, sliced.
1 large tomato, seeded and sliced.
3 red chillies, seeded and sliced into halves.
1 inch ginger, thinly sliced.
1 heap tablespoon tikka paste (or 2 spoon tikka spice)
Salt and sugar to taste

Method :
Saute onions, chillies, and ginger in a saucepan, till onions browns.
Mix in beef, add in tikka paste, stir well and cover with lid.
Cook for 20 minutes, stirring at 10 minutes intervals, keep lid on otherwise.
Add sliced tomatoes, stir, cover for another 10 minutes, until mixture is semi-dry.
Add salt and sugar to taste, stir for a few minutes.
Lift from stove and serve.

Serving suggestion :
Serve with steamed white rice and vegetable soup. Yums.

Left overs (if any):
Eat with bread.
Make fried rice

Cheats :
Cook with pressure cooker. It is faster and meat becomes more tender.
If you don’t have tikka, normal curry powder will work too. Mix it with a bit of korma powder though.

An island I am not by non
4th May 2008 @ 9:34 am - Subscribe

snapped this on the way to @l@m@nd@

Because I don't know whether aeonity has a subscription mechanism, I just added the blogs I found worth reading here on my friends list. So I hope those I added would not mind (some people do mind, especially when the word there is 'friend', and I'm just a stranger to them).

I was folding laundry earlier on. Mountains of it. And when I fold the laundry, its like when you're on the throne in the loo, my mind starts to wander around and think about things. Lots of things. To a point that I got a headache just from cramming too much, jumping from one topic to another. But what stuck was something on friendship.

I am not the type of person that has tonnes of friends. I have a few close friends, and I get along with everyone else, but that is about it. Keeping friendships and taking care of one, is a whole lot of work. The problem is when I feel I cannot give as much as the other person does. This is for the most why I tend to be friends, but not the kind that has to meet up and talk all the time (with exception to a few that is). It would exhaust and drain me. Plus the frequency of it may even induce boredom. Oh the horror.

Friends are important, but is so self-quality time. I find that if I try to devote more time to friends that I have less time for myself, I'd have this bleak sorry cloud over my head that I would end up being bored.

I think it is like relationships. You have to create some sort of space and not be suffocated. It doesn't mean you love your friends any less. Or that you care for them any less. And I think this is the point where having the same wavelength is an ideal characteristic. Less misunderstanding, less of having to plan too much, expect too much and be disappointed.

That being said, I am grateful for the people around me today.