Spread My Wings And Fly?

Doubt it!!!! First and foremost I am still afraid of flying. Luckily most flights that I've taken are short hauls so halfway through the in-flight magazine or newspaper it is already time for landing...

I have been neglecting my blog these last few weeks but honestly ... I am truly busy. Launching this launching that ... meeting here meeting there .... course there course here ... event here event there, settling and facing one issue after another. Guess those who have been following the news would understand what I meant. Penang is "sooooo the juicy story now".

After Bangkok, Chiengmai and Solo trips ... I truly want to prove myself worthy of the post. Despite hot issues facing my the Pearl of the Orient office ... I take it to my advantage. Which mean many trips to KL and long working hours that sometime took up my nights and weekends. For that I salute my Mem Besar ... one time she didn't sleep and I was accompanying her. Next morning she still had to leave for J.B to chair a meeting. As for me ... I had hard time standing hehehe!

Anyway, back to these flights thing ... I truly had no choice as my driver had burnt out after frequent trips to KL-Penang which mean we had to depart early in the morning (4 a.m) and return to Penang in the evening (usually between 4-5 pm). Then next day he had to sent me or sometimes other officers for meetings or enforcement. This week alone, 4 different divisions in the Ministry organised programs in Penang back to back. Pheww....

Every time I took a flight to KL or Penang I had to make sure I was given the window seat. It reduced my fear if the flight was bumpy as I could see the plane was hitting a cloud, or the weather was bad. I don't like to be taken off-guard. However, there were times when I saw the weather was clear but the plane was shaking so bad. So must be air pockets or strong wind.

There was a funny moment when the plane was shaking and coincidentally I was reading the news of 30 United Airlines passengers were hurt after the plane was hit by severe turbulence in The Star. Gulp!!!

Now that I fly too often, I could identify a good or bad landing by the sound of the plane engine ... hahaha

Then there is this problem getting a seat especially if last minute meeting notification from HQ. Like today, I couldn't get any afternoon flight back to Penang ... evening flight is BIG NO NO as that was when the plane face lots of turbulence. Anyway, had no choice but to get the last seat on 6.05 pm flight! Thank God.

However deep down I am smiling as I know Penang routes on both our local airlines are selling well. Provided that not all tourists have flight phobia like me! Imagine how I dreaded to fly back to Kuching. Even most of my trips had to be scheduled between January-June ... during the dry season! Christmas ... I rather stay in KL or Penang. Last year if not because of Niejah's wedding ... I will not fly to KK.

As I was stranded for 6 hours in KLIA today, taking my chances to catch the 1.55 pm flight on Standby ... I had the chance to tour the World Best Airport, checking out the facilities, shops and eateries. Even testing some of ground staff and operators knowledge on the airport. I was looking for a suitable place to wait and with power point for my laptop so that I can do my work. One person to another refer me to one fast food restaurant to another just because they usually see people of their lappie there. Gosh! I couldn't find any power points. My laptop battery can't last for 6 hours!

Then I saw a lounge, just like in Starbucks or Coffee Beans Cafe on a mezzanine floor between departure and arrival floor. Curiously I took the escalators and voila ... there is a restaurant with comfortable table and chairs plus power points for guests to sit, dine, do their work while waiting for the flight. How come not many airport staff know of this place!

Next time I should try the all-ladies train coach to KL. Who knows ... the ride may have something worth blogging hehehe

The Tale of Three Cities - Genesis

It is quite a challenge finding time for blogging lately. Once I am already free of my "responsibilities" and "duties" ... I found myself having writers' block (and bouts of laziness) hehehe. That's why you see me active on FB ... uploading photos, making comments on friends' photos and updating my status ...

Anyway, after my trip to Jakarta, I knew that I had to go for more vacations overseas. Europe and USA maybe too ambitious at the moment so I decided to move on to other ASEAN cities. Macam-macam laa plan ... sekejap Bali, sekejap Ho Chi Minh and Seam Reap. However, I stumbled upon the "chance" one day during a chat with Jett about his trip to Bangkok when he mentioned something about wanting to go there again because "best Bangkok Mie".

And then throughout the chat he kept mentioning a Thai lady friend named Aey ... so out of curiosity I asked him "How many times have you been to Bangkok?"

"Two."

Well, well, well .... Jethro Henry Adams, lecturer UNIMAS, single and available in early thirties and been to Bangkok twice to meet a friend name Aey .... PANAS!

And so the following weeks saw Mie being the good follower and let Jett do all the hard work of planning the Bangkok trip. Besides I was too exhausted with my "old office" works and lab discussions. But I did put some conditions though ... I want to see the Grand Palace, tried the Tuk Tuk and cruise the Menam Chao Phraya. Plus watch some "educational show" on "human anatomy" .... if boleh. Hehehe

Then Aey suggested we go to Chieng Mai, which to her is more interesting than Bangkok. Coincidentally, that time I already got the offer to join MOTOUR and my gut feeling said, I should go to Chiengmai too. Of course little did I know that supporters of Thaksin in Northern Thai, who were mostly from Chiengmai will create chaos in central Bangkok. Oh! Darn it ... I have a lot of red T-shirts. So weeks before the trip I could only hope and pray that the Red Shirt protest in Bangkok will end soon. Again as usual, I relied on Jett and Aey to update me about the situation in Bangkok ... I love playing the princess!

Though a week before the trip the Red Shirt crisis was over, I still hesitated to pack red shirts ... but other colours didn't do justice to my prosperous tummy so I packed all dark coloured t-shirts. My mum was still a bit concern about the trip , even my new boss said ... "make sure you come back in one piece". Gulp!!

Then the day arrive ....

Sawadee Ka ...

It's good to be back and the first thing I did upon reaching KL was to satisfy my cravings for a good bowl of wantan mee. Thai food was great but after a week of spicy food, my "prospereous" tummy need light Malaysian comfort food huhuhu.

I am so happy that I decided to go on with this Bangkok trip, within months after the trip to Jakarta and of course despite the political unrest in the city centre. Of course, I didn't know that I will join MOTOUR then ... however after the Jakarta trip, my gut feelings told me that I should go to Bangkok by hook or by crook. Eventhough I had to sacrifice Gawai holidays. Chieng Mai was like the icing on the cake. An eye opener, spiritual enlightenment and educational.

I felt very much at ease and more confident in carrying out my duties in Penang now after visiting these 3 cities. A lot of questions in my head had been answered. Like why are they such great tourist attractions, and how we can compete with them. Especially our heritage buildings over Thailand ancient cities. In fact I think that my trip to Bangkok and Chiengmai was like an "umrah" in ASEAN tourism. Concidently, Jett and Aey planned the trip in line with new MOTOUR tourism products like rail tourism, educational tourism and quite recently ... Parks and Gardens.

I am so so so grateful! You don't know how miserable I was not knowing where to start and who my competitors are! Furthermore, during my first week in Penang ... I received a comment from one former industry player ... "Why do they get a non-tourism person to head the office in Penang?" ... Itu tak termasuk the stress I get from Penang NGOs on tourism development projects in Penang Botanical Gardens and Penang Hill.

It's going to be a long entry if I cramped everything in one single entry. So I will take Norzah's advice to discuss it in few entries. One thing I can assure you is that my Thailand trip is quite different and perhaps some of places you might heard of but not widely promoted. So each entry deserve special attention.

Will update you later coz I am going to Solo on the 16th. Adios.

"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"

Wednesday ... is my Glee day and today's episode is about Funk. Unfortunately after a very hype episode on GaGa last week (till now I still can't get over the Glee Cast version of Bad Romance) ... this week's is a so-so. Sigh! Anyway, I am not going to elaborate on the plot or spill some spoilers especially to Jett who hasn't watched it yet (agik Begawai).

However one particular song hit me to the core. Coincidentally, something just happened recently and that song somehow explained to me what that "lady" was going through. Before I carry on further, let me explained that this song was performed by Quinn to vent her frustration of being an unwed teenage mother.

This is a man's world, this is a man's world
But it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl

You see, man made the cars to take us over the road
Man made the trains to carry heavy loads
Man made electric light to take us out of the dark
Man made the boat for the water, like Noah made the ark

This is a man's, a man's, a man's world
But it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl

Man thinks about a little baby girls and a baby boys
Man makes then happy 'cause man makes them toys
And after man has made everything, everything he can
You know that man makes money to buy from other man

This is a man's world
But it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl

He's lost in the wilderness
He's lost in bitterness

Tersentuh jiwa seni dan kewanitaan akak masa mendengar lagu ni. But deep down I really want to urge that lady to move on with life. Recently divorced at the age of 50++, and her ex find replacement dengan kadar yang segera, not worth hanging on to. Plus, I sensed that the marriage was already on the rocks when she kept complaining that her ex couldn't provide this, give that and don't care about her. Pendek kata takde yang sempurna lah di mata dia pasal laki dia nie. But when her ex filed for divorce, suddenly she find her world turned upside down.

I felt for her, honestly I do. But like the song said ... it's a man's world. No matter how right or how much a woman sacrifice in a relationship or how hard they work to bring bread to the table, when we start demanding our rights and did something that we think fair ... we still end up losing. Even if the man is cheating or being unfaithful ... due to so called "family" or "age" reasons, many women decided to save the marriage when we know it's like signing your death certificate.

Paling I tak puas hati lah ... this common statement ... kena "bagi" apa and bila suami nak, so jangan terkejut bila suami cari lain. Gosh!

Other than that women life or outlook in life are very much affected by age factor! Kawin lambat susah, beranak lambat susah and divorce at late age pun susah. I also found out that some wealthy Chinese patriarch in the olden days let some of their daughters remained unwed so that they can take care of them in their older days


I am not a feminist, and I do believe in second chance. However, I have to agree with an article in a magazine that said women tend to revolve their life around a man or someone that means dearly to them like children. Like ... I must look good for this man so that he is happy. I must be like this or like that for this man so that he is please. I need to work hard so that I can pay for children education. I love this idea better ... look good not to please but to make yourself feel good. When you feel good, you make people around you and in your life also feel good. Of course productivity (in financial and sexual sense) will look good. And finally ... Life's Good (LG tagline).

This entry has nothing to do with the FEEL GOOD channel hehehe!

Selamat Ngintu Ari Gawai 2010

To all my Dayak friends, family and relatives ... selamat ari gawai (Iban) and seramat andu gawai (Bidayuh). Although we import rice from Vietnam or Thailand nowadays ... I think it is still relevant to wish everyone "a bountiful harvest" that will last for many generations to come.

These past few years, I seldom celebrate Gawai. Less appealing compared to my teenage years. That time .... Gawai was "THE" festive season to look forward to. BTW, my brother, Jason, sent me these photos via MMS.

"Terkejut" I saw my little Gina has grown fatter. Last time I saw her was during CNY. Dunno what they have been feeding her with. As usual, she is a very BAD poser. I am sure she was doing her trademark "porky face" to Jason.

She is very close to my mum and love babies as shown in the picture above. "Sibuk" jak follow her Grandma visiting the latest addition to the family ... Broery's daughter. I called her just now and she complained that she didn't have new dress for Gawai, when in fact my sister Joan bought a gown for her. Only that she wore it for Jason's engagement yesterday. Hehehe

Gawai won't be meaningful and "rami" (meriah/exciting) without a catchy Gawai song. So I searched for Mike Rantai song entitle Nyaboh (La La Hey) on YouTube but found his other song Sonia instead. Frust nyer. So I remembered Jethro posted the link for Joget Gawai Dayak (Iban song) on FB.

And of course another of my favourite Iban songs for Gawai ...

As for Bidayuh songs ... I think the Serian or Bukar-Sadong dialect songs are catchy. I don't really understand the dialect (just like a Hokkien doesn't understand Cantonese or Tamil to a Telegu) but I love the diction, or pronunciation of the words while singing. Just like I love an Indonesian Malay singing to a Malay song. Last year I featured the song Kampung Love by Acid Rain. This year it's Geram Si Maih by Sniper. Also a great Gawai song.

As I was looking for more Gawai songs just to create the festive mood, I stumbled upon a video clip of an old friend in school, Brother Lembat or nama glamer Embat Lala. I knew from friends that he has became an Iban artist but dunno how "feymes". Coincidently we chatted and caught up on each other through FB yesterday. Bro Lembat ... numpang glamer nuan semadi hari Gawai tok OK hehehe

Fuhh ... I checked on YouTube and banyak peminat nampak Bro Lembat. But my personal favourite ... lagu Mali. Sesuai with your voice.