Movie(s) of the Year:
No Country For Old Man
So so dark. I like.
Pineapple Express
Can't ever remember laughing so hard. Worth every penny. I still haven't seen Milk, Revolutionary Road, Changeling,The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The band's visit, etc
Song of the Year: I'm Yours by Jason Mraz
The new version is better than the old one definately. The perfect summer song.
Book of the Year: White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Indian writes are geniuses.
Drama of the Year: Nodame Cantabile
Well the drama came out a couple of years back but I just recently watched it. Let's all enter Hentai Mori!
Best Trend: Leather jackets? Brogues? Can't decide.
Best (re)discovery: Jdorama
Now I'm addicted. I sleep at 5am just to khatam 10/11 episodes. Shame.....
Learnt a lot in 2008. Here's a list-
1-Learnt how to make ikan goreng
2-Learnt how to make nasi lemak
3-Learnt how to make kuey teow goreng...cekodok pisang(selalu hangus)...mung bean drink...
My cooking may not be great I've gotta admit, but at least I'm learning?
4-Learnt how to remain calm when customers ask incredibly stooo....
Farewell 2008, hello 2009!
Oya sumi...zzzz
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Happiness is...
Watching Coldplay performing Yellow...LIVE.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!I'll finally see them right before my eyes.
Tears.Of.Joy.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!I'll finally see them right before my eyes.
Tears.Of.Joy.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Cut and Paste
Feel a wee bit guilty about abandoning my blog for the past 2 months but I really don't have anything innneresting to say so I've decided to just 'cut and paste'.
Kauthar had given me some Japanese drama series to watch over the next couple of days since I ain't gonna work. Did a marathon of One Litre of Tears last night (cried buckets) and now I'm hooked on the song 'Konayuki'. And possibly the main actor. Maybe.
Some inspirational stuff to keep in mind when you're down?
It's okay if you fall.
You can just get up again.
Why don't you look up at the sky, while you're down there.
The blue sky spreads across above you.
Can you see it smiling at you?
You are alive.
I want to be like the air. The good-hearted person whose kindness overflows and people realize how important she was to them, once she is gone.
I want to be that kind of person.
I wonder where happiness is.
I wonder what happiness is.
Why did the illness choose me?
The word fate isn't a good enough explanation!
I don't have the right to pick my options. I can never go onto the same path as my friends.If I make myself feel better by thinking that I'm going to walk the same paths as my friends, my own path will disappear...
I wanna go somewhere...I wanna hit something really hard, yell and scream like crazy, fall down laughing...
I really don’t want to say things such as “I want to go back as how things were before” . I recognize how I am right now, and I will continue to live on. Just being alive is such a lovely and wonderful thing.
From Kitou Aya's diary
Kauthar had given me some Japanese drama series to watch over the next couple of days since I ain't gonna work. Did a marathon of One Litre of Tears last night (cried buckets) and now I'm hooked on the song 'Konayuki'. And possibly the main actor. Maybe.
Some inspirational stuff to keep in mind when you're down?
It's okay if you fall.
You can just get up again.
Why don't you look up at the sky, while you're down there.
The blue sky spreads across above you.
Can you see it smiling at you?
You are alive.
I want to be like the air. The good-hearted person whose kindness overflows and people realize how important she was to them, once she is gone.
I want to be that kind of person.
I wonder where happiness is.
I wonder what happiness is.
Why did the illness choose me?
The word fate isn't a good enough explanation!
I don't have the right to pick my options. I can never go onto the same path as my friends.If I make myself feel better by thinking that I'm going to walk the same paths as my friends, my own path will disappear...
I wanna go somewhere...I wanna hit something really hard, yell and scream like crazy, fall down laughing...
I really don’t want to say things such as “I want to go back as how things were before” . I recognize how I am right now, and I will continue to live on. Just being alive is such a lovely and wonderful thing.
From Kitou Aya's diary
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Short Entry Part Uno
I plead with all my heart...DO NOT WATCH The day the earth stood still.
Unless you like cringing.
Unless you like cringing.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Raya in Auckland
This year saw a much more festive Aidilfitri celebration for me.
On the eve of Eid, I made some Honey Joys (a success!)while Kak Zaidah cooked up a storm. Lontong, nasi impit, rendang daging, kuah kacang, and sambal udang...Our apartment smelt like a proper malam raya.
Last year, my apartment had smelt of multi-purpose cleaner and bleach. I was living alone, had nothing else to do but to go on a cleaning frenzy.
Back to this year-Right before I went to bed, I realized I hadn't changed my sheets! The horror! This is a ritual of mine. My room HAS to be spick and span for Hari Raya. So even though I was mighty sleepy, I managed to replace the sheets and tidied up the whole room.
Early in the morning Kak Zaidah and I took the bus to Ponsonby Mosque. I managed to get myself a source for my news story. Sweet.
Unfortunately for me though, I had a tutorial at 3. No one else in class knew it was a special day for moi and millions around the world, except for my tutor. Good on him.
Neway, Kak Zaidah's open house was due to start around 6. So we waited for people to come over.
And waited.
And dozed off.
When our very first guests rang the intercom thingy, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Hahah.
By 8 our apartment was jam packed with people. Having heaps of people around, even though I had no idea who most of them were, certainly made me feel like I was at home. Good food and good company equals great fun. It really did feel like the first day of raya this year in Auckland :)
Reading mokciknab's blog reminded me very much of beraya kat kampung. So I've decided to go down memory's lane.
Every year from when I was 1 til about 17, we would make our way back to Bota Kiri for Eid. The drive there, depending on where we were living at the time, could be very very long indeed. Long and WINDING before PLUS highway was built. Bless you PLUS.
Then petang before raya, nenek would get her api ready. Yup she made her own lemang. Aunty Ayang and Mama would start preparing all the dishes. Usually Mama would work on her laksa Sarawak and rendang while Aunty Ayang would be making her special ketupat.
My siblings and I would be in front of the TV of course. The older I got though, the more I was in charge of cleaning the dining and living room. I was also in charge of filling up the glass jars with biscuits. And ah yes, changing the cushion covers. Then we'd wait patiently for my cousins to arrive from Ipoh.
At night, we would main bunga api and mercun. Man I miss bunga api.
Nenek would crank up her radio to hear takbir raya right about this time.
Sometimes late at night, she would put inai on our lil' fingers and we'd hold our hands over burning candles to make it dry faster. But that stopped as soon as I turned 13...I think. Inai is not something I miss to tell you the truth. I find it terribly ugly. On my fingers at least.
On Eid morning, we'd have breakfast/brunch together. Then the usual salam salam stuff, which I dread. Guests would start coming over with pesky lil' kids (only there for the money and fizzy drinks). Later on, we'd make our way to relatives' houses. Pak Din, Pak Lah..and ntah siapa siapa lagi. Most of them were really poor and I remember they'd always say stuff like, "mintak maaf le takde apa nak hidang". And yet they still managed to serve us awesome teas and biscuits.
I would say the thing I miss most is not hari raya itself but malam raya instead. I think the whole atmosphere-mom cooking all night long and frantically decorating the house, Aunty Ayang on the floor still weaving her ketupat,neighbours coming over to see what mom's cooking, crappy Malay movies playing on TV...I miss the whole chaotic air about it.
Being in an actual kampung for Aidilfitri is a unique experience.
I miss it teribly. But now, my kampung dah jadi kampung orang lain. Haha. So I shall not dwell on it any longer.
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf Zahir dan Batin all the way from Aotearoa.
On the eve of Eid, I made some Honey Joys (a success!)while Kak Zaidah cooked up a storm. Lontong, nasi impit, rendang daging, kuah kacang, and sambal udang...Our apartment smelt like a proper malam raya.
Last year, my apartment had smelt of multi-purpose cleaner and bleach. I was living alone, had nothing else to do but to go on a cleaning frenzy.
Back to this year-Right before I went to bed, I realized I hadn't changed my sheets! The horror! This is a ritual of mine. My room HAS to be spick and span for Hari Raya. So even though I was mighty sleepy, I managed to replace the sheets and tidied up the whole room.
Early in the morning Kak Zaidah and I took the bus to Ponsonby Mosque. I managed to get myself a source for my news story. Sweet.
Unfortunately for me though, I had a tutorial at 3. No one else in class knew it was a special day for moi and millions around the world, except for my tutor. Good on him.
Neway, Kak Zaidah's open house was due to start around 6. So we waited for people to come over.
And waited.
And dozed off.
When our very first guests rang the intercom thingy, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Hahah.
By 8 our apartment was jam packed with people. Having heaps of people around, even though I had no idea who most of them were, certainly made me feel like I was at home. Good food and good company equals great fun. It really did feel like the first day of raya this year in Auckland :)
Reading mokciknab's blog reminded me very much of beraya kat kampung. So I've decided to go down memory's lane.
Every year from when I was 1 til about 17, we would make our way back to Bota Kiri for Eid. The drive there, depending on where we were living at the time, could be very very long indeed. Long and WINDING before PLUS highway was built. Bless you PLUS.
Then petang before raya, nenek would get her api ready. Yup she made her own lemang. Aunty Ayang and Mama would start preparing all the dishes. Usually Mama would work on her laksa Sarawak and rendang while Aunty Ayang would be making her special ketupat.
My siblings and I would be in front of the TV of course. The older I got though, the more I was in charge of cleaning the dining and living room. I was also in charge of filling up the glass jars with biscuits. And ah yes, changing the cushion covers. Then we'd wait patiently for my cousins to arrive from Ipoh.
At night, we would main bunga api and mercun. Man I miss bunga api.
Nenek would crank up her radio to hear takbir raya right about this time.
Sometimes late at night, she would put inai on our lil' fingers and we'd hold our hands over burning candles to make it dry faster. But that stopped as soon as I turned 13...I think. Inai is not something I miss to tell you the truth. I find it terribly ugly. On my fingers at least.
On Eid morning, we'd have breakfast/brunch together. Then the usual salam salam stuff, which I dread. Guests would start coming over with pesky lil' kids (only there for the money and fizzy drinks). Later on, we'd make our way to relatives' houses. Pak Din, Pak Lah..and ntah siapa siapa lagi. Most of them were really poor and I remember they'd always say stuff like, "mintak maaf le takde apa nak hidang". And yet they still managed to serve us awesome teas and biscuits.
I would say the thing I miss most is not hari raya itself but malam raya instead. I think the whole atmosphere-mom cooking all night long and frantically decorating the house, Aunty Ayang on the floor still weaving her ketupat,neighbours coming over to see what mom's cooking, crappy Malay movies playing on TV...I miss the whole chaotic air about it.
Being in an actual kampung for Aidilfitri is a unique experience.
I miss it teribly. But now, my kampung dah jadi kampung orang lain. Haha. So I shall not dwell on it any longer.
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf Zahir dan Batin all the way from Aotearoa.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Things I heart
Movies movies movies
I can't explain it. The big screen, the undivided attention, the smell of a cinema, the moment the curtains are raised...By the way I've just got to quote a line from Wanted (All hail Queen Angie. She can do anything!)and some stuff I've seen recently.
From Wanted
Wesley: This is me taking back control of my life. What the f**k have you done lately?
From Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Matthew: I have a question for you real quick. What did you think of my demo? Did you get it?
Aldous Snow: I was gonna listen to that, but then, um, I just carried on living my life.
From Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Gary: Shotguns? What, like guns that fire shot?
Barry the Baptist: Oh, you must be the brains of the operation. Yes, guns that fire shot.
From Atonement
Fiona Maguire: It says in the newspaper the army are making "strategic withdrawals."
Briony - 18 years old: Yes, I saw that. It's a euphemism for "retreat."
Ramadan
I'm dreading life without coffee. Its times like these (really, are there any other times?) that my addiction to coffee is fully realised by others. I think crankiness is an understatement.
That being said however, I've always (secretly) looked forward to Ramadan. Maybe it's the family dinners with Donkey cracking his (lame!) jokes? Maybe it's the cincau? Maybe it's the whole spiritual side to it?
Ramadan al Mubarak :)
Merdeka
I miss the days when I had to go shoot Merdeka parades for my assignments. I miss spending the night on the streets of KL, being chased off by police, haha. I miss my former housemates who are all now either married or in the process of marrying loved ones. Guess it's just me, Mish and Ina now.
Gosh I miss all of 'em.
Selamat Hari Merdeka to all Malaysians and for that matter, anyone who values freedom.
Gossip Girl
Finally I can see what the big fuss was all about and I haven't been let down yet. TVNZ is currently playing the show's first season. A big hurrah for TVNZ!
My 'spotted' section
Spotted on Friday-Samantha Hayes, newspresenter on TV3's Nightline. Oh my list is growing...Can't wait to bump into Jaquie Brown.
Garfield
He passed away last week after being sick for so long. I cried. Bunny cried. I bet Donkey did as well. Hope you're in cat heaven, precious.
Muaks.
I can't explain it. The big screen, the undivided attention, the smell of a cinema, the moment the curtains are raised...By the way I've just got to quote a line from Wanted (All hail Queen Angie. She can do anything!)and some stuff I've seen recently.
From Wanted
Wesley: This is me taking back control of my life. What the f**k have you done lately?
From Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Matthew: I have a question for you real quick. What did you think of my demo? Did you get it?
Aldous Snow: I was gonna listen to that, but then, um, I just carried on living my life.
From Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Gary: Shotguns? What, like guns that fire shot?
Barry the Baptist: Oh, you must be the brains of the operation. Yes, guns that fire shot.
From Atonement
Fiona Maguire: It says in the newspaper the army are making "strategic withdrawals."
Briony - 18 years old: Yes, I saw that. It's a euphemism for "retreat."
Ramadan
I'm dreading life without coffee. Its times like these (really, are there any other times?) that my addiction to coffee is fully realised by others. I think crankiness is an understatement.
That being said however, I've always (secretly) looked forward to Ramadan. Maybe it's the family dinners with Donkey cracking his (lame!) jokes? Maybe it's the cincau? Maybe it's the whole spiritual side to it?
Ramadan al Mubarak :)
Merdeka
I miss the days when I had to go shoot Merdeka parades for my assignments. I miss spending the night on the streets of KL, being chased off by police, haha. I miss my former housemates who are all now either married or in the process of marrying loved ones. Guess it's just me, Mish and Ina now.
Gosh I miss all of 'em.
Selamat Hari Merdeka to all Malaysians and for that matter, anyone who values freedom.
Gossip Girl
Finally I can see what the big fuss was all about and I haven't been let down yet. TVNZ is currently playing the show's first season. A big hurrah for TVNZ!
My 'spotted' section
Spotted on Friday-Samantha Hayes, newspresenter on TV3's Nightline. Oh my list is growing...Can't wait to bump into Jaquie Brown.
Garfield
He passed away last week after being sick for so long. I cried. Bunny cried. I bet Donkey did as well. Hope you're in cat heaven, precious.
Muaks.
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