Because you're my Best Friend

I turned 30 a fortnight ago... Come tomorrow it will be the first of three of my wedding dinners...

WHAT??!!!

Yeah... You read that right. Tomorrow, Friday 17th October, will be the first of my 3 wedding dinners. Why three? Long story... Anyways, I had always had a thing with no. 3. My birthday is on 3rd October 1978 and come 3rd of every month it is always a lucky or good day for me. In fact, anything with 3 spells LUCKY!

On 18th October 2008, this Saturday, I will be officially married.

Somehow, it had already occured to me that by the time I hit 30, I would get married. This was when I was a kid. I knew that I would find the right person by then and just hit it off. Needless to say, my deja vu did come true and I am seriously happy about it because not only am I getting married at 30 years old but also marrying to the woman I truly love. In her eyes, I can already see the future and it does look very bright and promising at this point of time. They say, you marry the person who is not only your lover but also your best friend. And it is in Amanda that I found one of my very best friend. Someone whom I can relate to and be truthful with everything.

With this, I enclose a poetry written by an anonymous person which I will use for my wedding vow come this Saturday. It is simply entitled : "Because you're my best friend". Enjoy...

Because you're my Best Friend

When you are sad,
I will dry your tears.
When you are scared,
I will comfort your fears.
When you are worried,
I will give you hope.
When you are confused,
I will help you cope.
And when you are lost,
And can't see the light.
I shall be your beacon,
Ever shining so bright.
This is my oath,
I pledge to the end.
"Why?" you may ask,
Because you're my best friend...

Updates

Wow! Looks like I have not been here for a long time... Last was in March and now already nearing September! Must shoot myself...

Anyways, just some quick updates to anybody who is reading my blog (not that I know of except one or two). I had sold my beloved Proton Satria GTi and am now driving a Mitsubishi Triton 2.5l Hyper Common Rail Diesel turbo charged. First time driving a truck and am loving every bit of it. Would post some pics soon. P.S. did I mention that it is also going to be used as the wedding car?

This leads to the next update. I have been busy with my soon-to-be wife had been busy arranging the wedding details as well as to move to our temporary new condo. Reason why I say new is that the unit actually belongs to her mother and we are house-sitting for the moment while I scout for a new project.

I have already received my first birthday present from my wife-to-be last week. Something that I had wanted to have for a long time but kept holding back due to one reason or the other. Finally after 3 years, I have finally managed to get my hands on a PS3! The graphic is awesome and gameplay is very realistic as PS3 games are all on Bluray discs. The difference is so drastic compared to DVDs. I am currently playing it on a normal 27" tv and with all honesty, I am REALLY contemplating to get a 42" full HD LCD tv together with HDMI cable just to enjoy the realistic gaming experience even more. I also found out that the PS3 is wifi capable and I can also surf the Net on it. Imagine surfing the Net on a 42" tv. Facebook and whatever applications that you use would be TOTALLY different and kick-a**!

The wedding is actually about a month away. I am looking forward to it but at the same time nervous. Guess anyone and everyone would be if they were in the same scenario. This is one of the biggest days and most eventful in their lives and to not be in such a state would be something else no?

Honeymoon destination if you were going to ask would be Gold Coast, Australia. "Why? Why of all places, Gold Coast and not Paris for arguments sake?" Here is your answer. I have been to Paris myself 5 times already. I DO LOVE the city and I did make a promise to myself the last time that when I come back for the 6th time, I am coming back with someone I truly love. BUT... we all know that the Euro now is so strong against our currency. What is more with the cost of wedding and the money we both had already spent, it would not justify to me at all that we go Paris for honeymoon but only on a budget althought I quite know Paris almost inside out.

I would go to Paris for the 6th time with my wife, I promise; but I am going to go there with style and money. So, that is something I would have to work on for maybe next year or in a few years to come.

This is all the updates I have for now. Would try to write more as the big day approaches and to post pictures of my wedding here to eventhough it is going to be on my Facebook. Catch y'all soon...

Post 12th General Election 2008

Wow!!! What an exciting weekend... Most of us had stayed up almost to the wee hours of Sunday morning trying to get the most up to date results by surfing on various channels that were telecasting live since 2100hrs on Saturday night.

We all know the results by now. Many are still in shock and surprise and not many expected that the results would be so drastic.

Well, the winds of change has blown and the Political tsunami had already settled down. What do we really see? The Rakyat (public) had spoken and voiced their dissatisfaction at the government. The voice was so loud, so much so that the state of Kelantan was still retained by PAS, and 4 more states were captured by the opposition who had decided not to contest against each other but to go head on with the ruling party. We saw that states like Kedah being won over by both PAS and PKR, Pulau Pinang or Penang falling to DAP and PKR and states of Perak and Selangor falling to the opposition.

Many of the young voters whom are educated and know what had been going on in the local political scene had come out to fulfill their civil duty this time. Those who had previously voted for the coalition had decided to vote for the Oppostion as all of us would like to see changes happening and not just promises or the tax payers money being squandered aimlessly. This is partly why 4 of these developed and developing states had fallen.

Many of the Ministers and head of parties which are part of the coalition lost heavily and were removed. Only a few managed to retain their seats and perhaps their positions. Ministers and party leaders who had long been in power saw their positions and party topple immediately overnight.

The ruling coalition only managed to form a government with a simple majority (53%). Not even by 2/3 compared to their previous landslide victory back in 2004. By denying the coalition a 2/3 victory in the polls, it means that the government would not be able to simply disolve the constituency and have things simply done their way.

When the PM was asked whether the results show a vote of no-confidence, those of us watching the telecast simply saw that he avoided answering the question.

The winds had blown and the dust is now settling. Many of us would be looking forward to see what the government has to offer us for the next 4 years. We would also be looking to the states which had been taken over by the Opposition to see how things are run on a state level especially Penang.

I hope the rulling coalition party had taken the results of this polls very seriously and have been given a strong jolt for them to sit up and pay attention for once. Otherwise, it would not be surprising at all to see more states falling to the Opposition in the next general elections come 4 years time. Also, with the strong rumoured return of de-facto leader and party advisor of PKR Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, things are starting to heat up and get exciting. I also hope that members of the coalition party would not jump ship but to continue to fight for the Rakyat and for things they strongly believe in how a nation should be.

I for one had never been interested in politics but to think of it as a dirty game. However, after following this election very closely, I am starting to pick up a new interest and this game seems to be one of excitement and lessons. I am looking forward to the next 4 years.

Heartiest congratulations to all over the election results. Thank you Opposition for your ever willing to stand up for us, the minority and the Rakyat. Thanks!!!

12th General Elections - 8th March 2008

So, the general population here is headed for the polls tomorrow to cast their votes for their representatives. I am sure by now, everyone of you had already know the who-ha's about this and that, the ruling Government trying to squash the Opposition and vice-versa and whatever that has been reported in the media, forwarded thru emails and word of mouth from family, relatives, friends or even strangers.

I know who to cast my vote on BUT unfortunately, I did not register this time. I know, I know... I should be taken to the firing squad to be shot to death or have stones pelted on me till I die but I promise you that I will do so that in the next election, my vote would make a minor difference to the standings.

Generally, we are now divided into 3 camps. What 3 camps? Well, one would be those that would still support the present ruling coalition and government and the other would be those that feels that they have had enough with just sitting back and keeping quiet over the governance of the country and politics and demand a change and new blood through the government and the final group would be the fence sitters.

Are we ready for changes? Here again, we are split into two camps. One who really wants it and the other who is not too sure. See, the ruling party had been around for ages. Very much since our independence dating back to 31st August 1957. They had been sitting there being way too comfortable to even move a muscle. They and their people had enjoyed tremendous good times; so much so that the rest are not able to just sit around and keep their silence anymore.

There are people complaining that they had been marginalised. Thanks to a certain group of people who had decided to take the risk and voice out their dissatisfaction that we can now have a little more space to breathe in.

So, what are we waiting for? This Saturday would be THE day... Come all and unite for changes that we want to see happening...

Of age and health...

I have realised of late that I had been concious of my body shape and weight alot.

I enjoy eating. Meat and noodles especially. In addition to that, I smoke alot too; almost a pack a day on a normal daily routine. If I am out for coffee or drinks, it is a disaster then as I can easily finish a pack of cigarettes in a matter of hours.


Only way to get fit then is to work out. I have started to go to the gym at my condo on a daily basis with each workout session ranging from an hour to two each. Cardio and weights are crammed into each session. I know that experts say that it is not the right way to workout and instead, these two workouts should be separated. However, I believe that different workout suits different people and I am seeing the results coming in slowly now.

Just after Chinese New Year this year, I was at 90kgs. As of Monday this week, I am at 85kgs and I can see outlines of muscles being toned on my body already. I am targetting to hit roughly 75kgs by end April. I am also about to start a weekly basketball session (my favourite court sport) on Thursday nights and I hope that it would be on a regular weekly basis. I am also planning to start back my MTB riding sessions on either Saturday or Sunday mornings weekly. Of course with the rain these days, it is going to be a very technical and gruelling workout.

Why do I push myself so hard you might ask. Well, I am hitting 30 this year and also getting married in October too. I want to look my best in a suit and while my body can still take the physical punishment, I might as well go all out to achieve a good body and try stay healthy.

I can see that giving up smoking is going to be a very tough thing for me but I would need to do it soon. In the meantime, I shall make sure that I stick to my regular workout routine.

Bali

Amanda and I went to Bali, Indonesia for a 6 days retreat from 12th - 17th January 2008. We stayed at 2 towns. Kuta and Ubud each with it's own charm and magic. Here are some shots.

Engaged?

I know... I have not been here for the longest time... Been busy with things lately...

See, I have recently proposed and gotten engaged. Well, not too recent actually, as it was back in January when Amanda and I went to Bali for a 6 days retreat. That was where I proposed and here is a picture of the engagement ring.




What do you think?

I never did imagine that it would only take me a year to date someone and find out that they would be the right person. Actually, I did know that Amanda and I were on the right track after the second month of dating. However, being Asians, we did not want to put our parents into shock by saying that we wanted to tie the knot then.

So there it is, slightly after a year. We are now engaged with the wedding happening in October.

This is the reason why I had not stepped in here for so long with the planning and arrangement of the wedding all underway.

Would provide more details as the plans gets firmed up.

New Year's Eve BBQ countdown 2007

I recently welcomed 2008 with a group of close friends at my condo in Mont Kiara. We had a BBQ on the car park roof garden at my place. It was a small gathering with around 20 people including my parents and family friends from Manchester, England.

The food was almost finished. There were Lamb, Chicken and steak with potatoes that I ordered. Thanks to Lola and Cynthia who also prepared some extra food too. Here are the pictures... With this, I shall bid farewell to 2007 and look forward to a good 2008. Enjoy...

New interest

I have recently developed a new interest. Digital photography. Not your normal point and shoot digicams with a big lcd screen and simple functions of just focusing and zooming in onto the subject and shoot but Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) photography.

I find it fun and interesting. At least it allows me to experiment with things here and there where you try adjusting either the shutter speed or one thing or the other.

It is a fairly simple camera which I had bought for myself sometime back in October last year as a birthday gift to myself. It is a Cannon EOS 350D with D denoting digital. I had always been interested in photography just that I find the old school SLRs to be way too expensive and back then you have to use films. Imagine the amount of rolls you have to go through just to experiment with a subject. As though that is not time consuming enough, you then need to develop the pictures and then get to see the quality and beauty (if any) of the shots taken.

With DSLRs however, you still adjust and shoot BUT the picture is then displayed onto the little LCD screen on the camera and whatever picture saved, is stored onto the memory card. I am sure everyone knows by now how these digicams work so I shall not go into details. So there you go, time and cost saved.

Here are some sample shots of some pictures I have taken so far. Hope you all enjoy it.

an expensive seafood dinner...

Over on Saturday 7th April, Amanda and I together with some of her close friends headed to Telok Gong which is somewhere near Klang for some seafood dinner... The drive there was quite exhilarating since traffic was fairly smooth all the way on both the NKVE and KESAS highway... Dinner was excellent with the eight of us ordering nine dishes which included crabs, prawns, crayfish, oysters etc. We even had todhi (Indian fermented coconut-based alcoholic drink) mixed initially with Guiness, white wine and Coke... Nice mixers I must say... Everybody had fun and the conversation around the table was very interesting... From food to our jobs and gradually moved on to bras and porns... Interesting huh???

We left somewhere after 9 as we planned to carry on with some drinks at some other place in PJ... However, Amanda was not feeling well and I was rather tired so we decided not to go... What's more we both had planned to go to church the following day for Easter service... Halfway through on the highway however, I suffered a puncture on the rear right tire...

Managed to pulled up along an emergency lane on the highway although I was trying to push Sharky (name of my car) a little further where there was a petrol kiosk some 2km away... However the puncture was really bad and the tire was already starting to shread... So I guess I had no choice but to pull up along the highway...

Blinkers on and came out of the car... Luckily my spare tire was well inflated though it was past 2 months since I had last inflated it... Managed to jack Sharky up and loosen one of the nuts when I realised that the other three lug nuts were of a different size... Silly that I forgot that I had already changed my rims and therefore the lug nuts size were different... Great!!! No crossbar of the right size to unlock the nuts... Had to call another of Amanda's friend Wijay whom was with us earlier on to turn his Toyota MRS around to come help us... We were having a mini race earlier on...

While we were waiting, the highway operator's emergency vehicle pulled up... Thank God they were kind enough to help out since they had the right and not to mention BETTER tools... Just as they were about to start unlocking the nuts, Wijay (the friend we had called to turn back earlier) arrived... He started to joke just to cheer us up a little since the damage to the tire was quite bad and I was worried about the rims... After the highway guys replaced the punctured tire with the spare, we analysed the blown tire and realised that a nail almost 2 inches long caused the puncture and because I had 3 people in the car and was going at quite a high speed caused the tire to rip...

Wijay then decided that my baby should name the nail since it caused us so much trouble... My darling ridiculed it of course saying that we only name our soft toys and not other objects... Wijay then decided to name the nail Poky-Poky since it poked into my tire and causing it to puncture and blow...

So after Easter service yesterday, I took my car to have the tire replaced... I was previously rolling on Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres but that stupid shop had ran out of stock despite being a Goodyear flagship store... Instead of having mixed tires, I then decided to changed to all four and now Sharky is rolling on Michelin Pilot Preceda... So... one heck of an expensive dinner huh???

Anyways, another experience in life as it is my first time suffering a flat and changing tires... COOL!!!