A Tribute to Penang

As we all may know by now, Georgetown was recently awarded the UNESCO heritage city listing. Essentially, this listing clarifies the fact that Georgetown is a recognised city in the world (as stated in the city act of 1st January 1957), instead of being a municipality (under the local government act 1976). Next, Georgetown, and the periphery boundaries, is an amalgation of culture and heritage which deserves to be preserved. The two words, culture and heritage, is slowly eroding in this new era. The younger generation is more engrossed with technology and leading the high-life...hence, i believe this listing is a catalyst to reintroduce the rich culture and heritage of Georgetown and Penang to the youth, the region, and finally, the world.

Anyway, I did go for the tree planting ceremony, and here is the poem dedicated to this event. It's in Malay, and i do not attempt to translate it. Let's enjoy poetry as it is..

Sebatang Penaga di Tanjung

Kami memotong kulit tanah,
buat ruang dan daerah wujudmu,
anak penaga
dan anak kepada hasrat kami,
di tanjung nyaman ini.

sebatang penaga laut
kami serahkan pada seri hari
supaya kau berdiri
lurus,
menyaring angin pagi
dan asin laut.

saksikanlah
pekan menjalar,
bangsa-bangsa belayar di depan bayangmu,
kapal memunggah muatan
dan manusia sibuk urusan.

hulurlah sejukmu
kepada budaya
yang berbaur bagai
dan nilai yang tegak
di depan masyarakat.

lindungilah rumah dan balai tua
yang dibina waktu
dan sejarah di bawah bukit
kerana sejarahlah
yang melukis wajah kami
di depan kampung
kota dan dunia.

serahkanlah buahmu
kepada langit dan hujan,
kepada tanjung
dan alir zamannya,
semoga pulau ini
aman di tepi selat
yang beriak tenang.

-muhammad haji salleh-
19 Juy 2008

Controversial Stand

I normally try my best not to get involved in politics, but i guess here's just one piece of interesting news to share..from a very respected ex-politician (aka my boss)!!

Call on the Federal Government to Disclose Quickly the Findings of the Medical Examination on the Man who Alleged that He was Sodomised by Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim
By
Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon
Former State Executive Councillor, Penang

The electronic media have divulged the contents of the first medical examination conducted on the person who alleged that he was sodomised by Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. This report found no evidence of sodomy by Dato’ Seri Anwar. On the basis of this report, Dato’ Seri Anwar should therefore be exonerated of this charge of having committed sodomy. The police have, however, till today still not revealed the contents of this first medical examination.

I call upon them to do so as quickly as possible in order to clear the air over the case. But the contents of the first medical examination to be revealed must be as originally written by the doctor who conducted the investigation. I also urge the mainstream media to get access to this report and to give it prominent coverage. There is no reason for any more delay as justice delayed is justice denied

seafood

Where can you get 8 dishes of good seafood for 3 people, low price, and an ultimate view of the sea in Penang? well, i have the solution for you....it's a little place at the other part of the island...in teluk tempoyak. believe me, the drive is a little long... and it's at an 'ulu' spot (even spooky at times), but the food is great.

anyway, did go for the tree planting ceremony. will be posting up the poem as promised soon (that'll be when i get back to the office). it was a simple ceremony, but i feel so good as part of penang. heck, i'm a true blue penangite.

inspiration dawned upon me to draft a few plans to attract tourist to Penang. anyhow, i'll leave that thought to myself, until it materialises.. (hopefully)

am rather distracted now, hence i'll give a proper blog soon...

ciao
je t'aime
ben

Moments

There are many moments in life, when we are to make decisions. From deciding what to eat for breakfast, what to wear to work, to decisions such as which piece of property to purchase, or whom do we chose to sleep with tonight, we are constantly reminded to make a choice.

I dare say, there are many moments when i regret certain desicions that i've made.
For one, i'm not proud to say that i regret the day i gave up my scholarship to further my studies in Australia, just to stay in Penang.
I'm also not proud to say that i've chosen biology, instead of going mainstream like accountancy of management.

Sometimes, i may regret it. sometimes, i enjoy it. In fact, more often than not, i just ignore it. But then, there are times when such decisions come back into our minds to kick us in the ass.

I'm also not proud to say that there were moments when i feel like ramming my car into the tree...
Nor am i proud to say that i fear so much of not hurting myself that i've forgotten how to love.
But sometimes i wonder, is this the reality, or just some pretty illusions conjured just to ruin me.
I'm also not proud to admit that i am slightly depressed. Perhaps i've suppressed it so much that it had made the diva out of me..

But last night, i had one of the greatest moment in my life. i chose to walk away. it's hard, but i think it's right. perhaps it was one of the proudest moments that i have had in days. getting good reviews from my teacher for my training was great, but the moment when i chose to walk away instead of saying goodbye, i think it was wonderful.

Scorned am i, but what choices have i got. I've lowered all my defences, and tried to gain acceptance, but i guess it will not work. others may get a second chance, but not me. i don't have the heart to wait for a second chance.

anyhow, let's rejoice that i have found one of the greatest moments in this week of mine.

oh, in any case, i felt that i had one of the best moments teaching sun salutations last night. it was complete, perfect, and i even chuckled during my teaching. gosh, it was so powerful, energetic, yet calm... fitness magic, here i come!!! haha

ciao
je t'aime
ben

Penang, Heritage city

Amazingly, it's only been 4 days since the last time i wrote a post here. and apparently, my readers are lost, confused and do not know how to comment anymore. fret not, as i long not for your comments, nor your thoughts. the fact that i still have my readers are comforting enough.

so, i've watched the dark knight. it was amazing. simply amazing. and the joker, gosh.. heath ledger surely put on a stellar performance before his life was extinguished. ever wondered if his death was a result from his manical portrayal of the joker? hey, i still believe in some truth to the freudian theory!! but that aside, the rest of the cast did a pretty good job too. as much as a wallflower that she could be, maggie g did put on a good performance (i think she's better than katie holmes)..and now we know why he's called the dark knight. the misunderstood one. protector of the night.

there seems to be a faint sliver of hope at the edge of the dark cloud.. but is this for me? or is it just an illusion? it's amazing that i could still stay sane and not freak out at this moment. gosh.. how can i slip and fall so badly this time..

georgetown is listed as one of the heritage sites in the latest UNESCO heritage listing.. rejoice, people. i am so happy for this. even though i may represent the last generation of the 'living' georgetown, i can't help but be so proud of the city. there'll be celebrations during the weekend, and various events held to commemorate this prestigious moment. tree planting ceremony, heritage trail, performance etc. and for once, i am so proud as i will be part of it.. (very minor role, but i am proud as i am in the same mailing list for all the decision makers and who's who of penang)...viva la Georgetown!!
(may try to get my hands on the poem which will be read during the tree planting ceremony and will put it up here if the opportunity is right)

ok, am going off now.
happy reading

ciao
ben

the return..

hola ppl, how's life?
am stealing some time off now to blog. besides, there's hardly anyone here in the office, and i am about to leave for another meeting in a couple of minutes.

anyway, just some random thoughts for the day:
1. Malaysia's political scene is getting more and more dramatic. everyday, we hear headlines about political rivalry (mind u, it's been more than 3 months since the last elections), yet nothing is done to serve the people. seriously, the opposition should take a reality check! had the people really wanted you, you will be the new government already. many voted for you because we are left with no other options.

2. my mood swings are getting from bad to worse. thankfully, i'm not a women, for with the type of mood swings that i am getting, people may think that i'm pregnant.

3. chocolate can do wonders to ur mood.. or at least this is something that happened to me. it was amazing how a bar of kit kat could lift up my mood and got me to gym.. haha.

4. even in this age, and in this developing country, discrimination is still rife. and what's worse? discrimination generate hate, and refusing a chance for people to understand the people who are being discriminated. and to think that i am always in the minority of groups....haih

5. anyway, i'm happy to say that the diva is finally back in me.. yes, this b***h is finally back and taking over. after many months of destroying the walls and the platform for this person, it's back... with a vengence. therefore, from now, i'll only speak and listen when i feel like it...

6. speaking of walls, i think it's time to rebuild the walls of isolation in me again. vulnerabilty is not my forte. i must take charge and take control again.

7. there is nothing more truthful than seeing the eyes of a person sparkle when meeting it's beloved. that's what i witnessed yesterday, and i think the signs are clear enough for me to leave this person. thank you so much for being in my life, now it's time to leave..

ok, enough for now. am leaving for my meeting

ciao
je t'aime
ben

Quickie 2

Here's another quickie for the blog. don't really have the time to write long long posts anymore as i have to work hard!! seriously, there are just so many things to do...probably this is the reason why i am not feeling well (in fact, i am down with a flu, again and again).. and there's always the tightness in my neck!!

anyway, here are a few interesting things since the last blog.. firstly, bought myself a pair of nike shoes.. yay!! i know, after all this while, i finally managed to get myself a pair of nikes. but then, it's also because of the fact that my other shoe broke...haih.

watched 2 movies over the weekend. get smart, and hellboy 2. and trust me, both are really really nice movies to watch! get smart is just so funny and witty. and with anne hathaway in it, it was a superb watch. seriously, i think this role suits steve carell more than being evan almighty!! and again, they had masi oka as the nerd/geek in it. amazing how a small screen hero manage to leap into the silver screen... haih, such luck for such ppl.

hellboy is superb. some may want to compare it with pan's labyrinth, but seriously, they are products of a very very nice director. my fav character, liz, is really really nice. oh, besides, check out the angel of death. it somehow reminds me of the character from pan's labyrinth with the eyes on it's palms. haha. anyway, it was a really good watch. especially with the golden army.. (and to think that the person who destroyed the army is liz and not hellboy..haha). really cool. and check out johann krauss...

anyway, finally moved my office after 1 and a half months in the ceo's chair. seriously, that place had bad fengshui. but then, i also need to enhance the fengshui of my present seat.. haha. but i have more space now as i managed to grab the other table.. haha. so much space for such a small person.

my graduation is round the corner..yay!! actually, it's still quite far away. exactly one month away from now. but i am considering buying myself a jacket. i actually spent the whole weekend browsing for a suitable jacket.. haha. sadly, i purchased none. but then, i really love the professional look that i carry. the only thing left now is to get my hair done. am to drop by the hairdresser come this weekend!!

am now busy planning a workshop to be run at the end of the month. it is one of the greatest workshop, and will be attended by loads of hotshots. hehe. let's just hope that i will get noticed in the workshop. anyway, am also really happy that penang got listed in the unesco heritage listing. finally, due recognition is given to the lovely island of penang!!

i think i did mention about determining my 'non-existant' love life by the past weekend. somehow, the signals are still unclear, and it is driving me mad. i had never invested so much time and energy into it, yet i think it is falling into pieces. actually, when i was driving home after work yesterday, i had one of the weirdest feeling. for the first time, i am scared. i was suddenly taken aback by a sense of fear that i will lose this person. and i will be torn apart. i guess it is finally consuming me. like a moth, i perish in the flames.

ok, enough for this quickie. have to get back to work...before my internal snoop squad finds out what i am doing.. haha. yes, u would be surprised that even such a small organization have an internal snoop squad (in other words: kaypo)..haha

ciao
je t'aime
ben

10 days

it's been 10 days since i last blogged. this time, it's not because i am not in the mood to blog, but i just don't have the time to sit in front of the comp and blog. i guess working life is very different from what i used to be. even though i am not handling any major projects yet, there is still so much to do, and so many meetings to attend. but anyhow, i guess i can't complaint much as i love this job, and the people around me.

so, watched hancock over the weekend. nice, but i still think that the best superhero for the season (until today) will be the hulk. there is just so much emotion in the movie that i was moved (almost to tears) a few times. as for hancock, too much of an american dream there (look out for the bald headed eagles). am now waiting for the dark knight, the mummy, and also hellboy 2. from the trailer, it looks really really interesting.

finally got my first bottle of edt. don't get me wrong, i've been using Lauren by Ralf Lauren for so long, that i decided that i need some changes in the scent department. and guess what....i finally settled down with a bottle of Boss, by Hugo Boss. the scent is simply beautiful, and i can still smell the middle note now. citrusy, woody and spicy at the same time... (and also, i think i was affected by their advert in the media and also in the gym..haha). but then, i did try issey miyaki, ck and bulgari before settling for hugo boss. but ultimately, i still want my celine dion's belong!! it's the must have perfume for me!!

oh, least i forget, the flu bug is in, so readers, take heed and care for your health. i was so sick for the past few days that things just didn't turn right for me. and for the first time, i was close to having a blackout in the gym (thank goodness it didn't happen). i guess doing the cross-trainer at break-neck speed, having a cold, and not having lunch prior to workout is not a good combination!!

i miss my yoga sessions... even though i am teaching balance (in a way) now, i still miss my regular yoga classes, as well as the lovely 90 minutes yoga class. gosh.. if only i could work from home, and then go for all the classes as i wish. anyhow, a certain friend of mine is taking her yoga journey to the next level. i guess the most that i can do is just wish her luck..

lastly, for my pathetic love life.. i guess i should take a bow and leave the stage. as much as i thought it was possible, i guess it's still beyond reach. all the signs and signals... i just don't know how to interpret them anymore, and i just don't know how to tackle it with tact. i think i should take my leave....or probably let the weekend decide for me..

speaking of taking leave...i guess i should also take my leave from the world of body jam. i can't really explain the reason, but i have this hunch that i should back down and probably do something else. somehow, i'm torn apart in this decision. there is still heart in me to do jam...but there is this other person telling me that bodyjam today is no longer what it was anymore...i can't explain what, how or when, but i think i should...haih.

guess this little update is enough to satisfy my readers until the next time.
am going out for lunch now before i pass out from hunger

ciao
je t'aime
ben

p.s.: if u do notice, the title for this post is a song from celine too..haha