Haven't sat in this room in a long time. Feel guilty of sorts. Feel lost of sorts. Feel lonely of sorts. All sorts of feelings. This place has collected dust, memories of a life has skimmed by without record nor recollection.
A random article from a months-ago TIME magazine I picked up for my toilet reading yesterday afternoon has lingered in my mind all day yesterday and today on my morning drive to work.
It was the "10 Questions" interview section which I love to read first every time I get my hands on TIME. They posed questions to actor Maggie Gyllenhaal, who talked about a character she was playing (and I have to type this out now from that TIME article, so that I don't miss a word):
"One of the things that's happening to Nessa is that she's going from somebody who performs all the time and feels that she has to be extraordinary to somebody who is actually a human being...
"...I think it's something all human beings can relate to -- performing themselves, thinking they're supposed to be what they imagined they were going to be when they were 20. Look, I'm 36. That performance is just not working anymore. The humanity, the places where we're terrified or weak or flawed or wrong -- and Nessa has all of that, and so do I -- that's where you're in the game."
Being human. I guess that's the theme of the week for me, and hopefully for the rest of my life. That there is no need to perform, over-achieve, to be perfect.
This comes in the light of someone I know who is struggling with friendships in college. Oh, I remember the cruelty of social relationships. There is such pressure to conform to group dynamics, to be part of a clique, to belong. At least, I had the privacy of my own room, my cave, my haven, my net, my hole, to release those tears of depression. But at the end of the day, I got tired of sulking, tired of being depressed, tired of balancing expectations. I chucked it all out, eff-ed it, opened the door big and wide, and went along my own way.
And that way led me to volunteering, to fencing, to wheelchair basketball with a bunch of cool people, to journaling, to cycling along the old roads on my own, to Brad Jacobson, to Byron my personal music-maker, to Dawn Eisner...and always, always, always, to writing (which eventually brought me to my Zane now...)
I feel sorry that this someone has to go through the pains of friendships without a room to hole up in. I hope that she will eventually find the courage to walk down her own little path, maybe alone at first, but there is no need to fear setting foot down that road. In this world, there are plenty other travelers we meet down those roads less traveled by.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Friday, August 8, 2014
Monday, August 12, 2013
How to survive long road trips with kids without an iPad
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| Taking a break from the journey to run, jump and swim! Endau beach. |
We travel in a second-hand 7-seater van roti (as my friends have kindly christened my beloved Renault Kangoo Famille in apple green with leather seat interiors). And our car is not fitted with DVD players, but just your standard stereo system and two car seats for the kids. We don't have smart phones, tablets, PSP, Wii, or any of those stuff.
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| For short distances, we go really low-tech! |
The boot area is cramped with our luggage bags, travel mattresses, blankets and pillows. And yes, we also travel with Buzz Lightyear, several versions of Ultraman and Baby Alive, and at least one ukulele. If there's extra space, my husband squeezes in his painting materials -- brushes, colours, canvas. Me? I only need a small space to cram my one novel in.
The floor space at our feet is littered with slippers and shoes and more baskets filled with snacks and other stuff. Sometimes, if I remember, I bring a small pail for those emergency nature calls by the young ones. Then there are five types of tissue that we must stock up for every trip -- wet wipes, toilet paper, facial tissue, pocket tissue and kitchen rolls. Don't ask me why I need them all but it's a mom thing, okay.So ok the whole situation is not ideal -- it's not business class on Malaysia Airlines -- but we make do. Bob Dylan on the radio lifts our spirits up.
We've traveled like this on several occasions to Parit in Perak most recently for the Hari Raya holidays, to Lumut as well for a weekend holiday when we drove up from KL along the coastal road. We've traveled to Melaka, Penang, and to Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu on the old trunk roads on our way to Pulau Perhentian, and also to Mersing and southwards to Johor Bahru to visit Legoland.
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| Great driver, great father, great husband! |
It helps that I have a great husband at the wheel and he is a responsible, capable and patient driver (not to mention, a really fun dad!), and two well-traveled and cooperative children with me whom I can reason with and whom I deeply respect as mini versions of adults.
Every journey starts out daunting in my mind, but we survive and more than survive, we enjoy every minute of it along the way!
Here's how we've done it:
1. Oral Story-telling
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| Good behavior gets rewarded! |
But honestly, oral storytelling is an art. I remember primary school days when my teacher used to tell me aesop fable stories and how fascinated we all were, clinging to her every word.
When I try to do it with my kids, it's really an exercise in spontaneous entertainment and a test of memory (none of which I'm blessed with -- I have the most horrible long-term memory bank ever that I believe I must have gotten a bad concussion somewhere along my childhood years).
Most times, I just embellish the truth to make the stories interesting and more dramatic even though Musa will warn me, "Tell me a true story."
I think it's a great way for kids to connect with their family members and also for you as a storyteller to remember the past.
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| Licence to eat anything when kids are on holiday! |
Although I don't listen to the radio and prefer driving in silence (call me boring, I know), sometimes, I'll indulge the kids with the occasional rock songs. We love Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and those hard guitar riffs and drumbeats. I also find Yusuf Islam's "I Look I See" music very nice and I love it when the kids sing along.
3. Lots of snacks
When we're on holiday, the kids have a special licence to eat. They know that they can eat anything they want -- meaning: junk food -- and somehow, they're forever hungry in the car! During the journey, there's always a balance of good and not-so-good stuff stashed in the car -- crackers, fruits, nuts, buns, pasta or fried rice, keropok, etc. -- mostly crunchy stuff which they love. While stuff like Cocoa Crunch, chips and chocolates are for them to have as snacks at the holiday destination.
4. Books
Reading in a moving vehicle usually gives me a headache but picture books or books with few and large type are still ok. We'll look at the picture on the page and I'll ask the kids questions about what they think is the story behind the pictures, or what will happen next in the following pages. Maryam, coz she's younger, loves "lift the flap" type books while Musa is a bit more discerning and enjoys a good story.
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| Definitely not a stud car. |
We pack a few favourite toys during our journey. Musa is happy to have an action figure which he can act out some fantasy scene in his head. One of the toy brands I love is the Leapfrog which has a whole range of fun and educational toys. We always bring the Leapfrog books and the reader pen in the car for their independent exploration and learning.
6. Toilet stops
And that's the reason for a simple 3-hour journey to stretch to six hours. In a convoy, we're usually the first to leave and the last to arrive. RnR stops along the way are frequent and last 40-60 minutes each with trips to the toilet and patiently waiting for the kids to finish their meals. When we're traveling along old trunk roads, we love stopping at the local warung or just making impromptu stops at any beautiful locations or interesting attraction. It's a chance for all of us to stretch our legs and jump about!
7. SleepI will tell my kids that we would reach there in two hour's time, say, and that if they took a nap in the car, by the time they woke up, we would have reached our destination. So encourage your children to nap in the car and you'll have a far peaceful ride.
8. Conversations
I remember as a kid that I always wanted to join in my parents' conversations. I didn't want to be left out of all the stuff they were talking about. And it's the same with my kids. When I'm talking to my husband, my kids will interrupt and say, "What? What did you say to Ayah?" Instead of berating them for interrupting, I try to explain to them in simple terms about the topic of conversation. Sometimes, they will give their opinion or feedback about it and I'm always surprised at the mature insights they share with me!
9. Lots of cuddles
Being in such close quarters with each other, you just can't help but give each other kisses, hugs and cuddles every now and then. My kids are, for the most part, great traveling companions. They have no issues about staying strapped in their car seats for hours on end and physical endearments are freely given out just to let them know we appreciate their patience and tolerance on these road trips.
Having said all that, I do have to add that my kids whine a fair share -- are we there yet? can i have another story? i'm bored, etc. It can be distressing but I try to minimise it by giving them a pep talk about the trip and expected behaviours even days or weeks before we go on the actual trip. Frequent reminders about the trip -- both the challenges of the journey and the excitement of reaching our final destination -- usually help the kids to know what to expect and mentally prepare for it.
With that, good luck on the next low-tech journey you embark with your kids!
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| Yay, we made it. Kuala Besut, Terengganu |
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Some new poems
Love, part one
Yesterday evening
sitting in mozzie-infested garden
green with lush leaves tended to by your loving hands,
we talked as we always do.
How was your day
Were the kids ok
What did you have for lunch?
By the way, I'm doing up my will today;
When I die, you can have my Kenari.
You laughed -- at the thought of the beat-up gift,
not at me dying. I don't want you to die. I'd be depressed.
Me, too, I said.
And then, it was awkward for a while. A long silence
as we contemplated our mortal, vulnerable lives
and living one without the other.
Love, part two
You impress me
with your socio-politico-speak
well-thought observations about
Tun, Najib, DSAI.
I would not envy to be
your debating punching bag, dear,
you have an answer to everything.
I am contented to be your bedroom partner.
Yesterday evening
sitting in mozzie-infested garden
green with lush leaves tended to by your loving hands,
we talked as we always do.
How was your day
Were the kids ok
What did you have for lunch?
By the way, I'm doing up my will today;
When I die, you can have my Kenari.
You laughed -- at the thought of the beat-up gift,
not at me dying. I don't want you to die. I'd be depressed.
Me, too, I said.
And then, it was awkward for a while. A long silence
as we contemplated our mortal, vulnerable lives
and living one without the other.
Love, part two
You impress me
with your socio-politico-speak
well-thought observations about
Tun, Najib, DSAI.
I would not envy to be
your debating punching bag, dear,
you have an answer to everything.
I am contented to be your bedroom partner.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Home-Made Volcano Experiment
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| This ugly thing right here is supposed to be spectacular volcano about to erupt and create havoc on all mankind! |
This year, I decided to buy more learning books for my kids, as opposed to story books and picture books (which I love, by the way!).
One of the things I wanted to teach my kids is about the world, the different people and cultures around us, their food, their festivals, their beliefs, etc. Other stuff I immediately wanted them to know are about Egyptians and dinosaurs, simply because these are quite popular topics and there are lots of references on them.
We now have a huge National Geographic book at home which takes a look at world maps, and analyses different continents, countries and peoples -- it's our reference book every few nights (or when Mama has the energy after work to "teach"!).
Maryam immediately took to wanting to learn about Egyptians while Musa was keen about the volcanoes. From looking at pictures of volcanoes in the book, we went online to youtube to see some pictures of eruptions and the flow of red lava. There are many great visuals there to hold a child's interest.
From there, we went on to see other videos of home-made volcanoes. It was Musa who clicked on the tutorials on volcano-making and insisted that his Mama and Ayah watched together. He's been insisting that we buy the "ingredients" to make the volcano experiment at home since.
So last night, that's exactly what we did. Very easy to do actually. Total cost was less than RM40 to make 2 volcanoes -- one for Musa and one for Maryam. And we did the project in about an hour and a half.
I wanted it to be a re-usable volcano, so decided to build the volcano on a styrofoam board -- something water-proof that could be washed over and over again.
For the cavity of the mountain, we used plastic cups. We then plastered the clay around it to make it look like a mountain. Clay used was the cheap plasticine which costs about RM1.20 a pack. We bought 11 packs to make two mountains.
Tip: to make it easy to build your mountain, work by putting clay on the rim of the cup and work your way down from there, finally "pasting" the bottom of the cup to the styrofoam board.
The styrofoam board was pre-cut to fit into a plastic basin so that later when the lava spills out of the mountain, it is all contained in the basin and you won't have so much mess to clean up.
We decorated the styrofoam board to make it look like a village at the bottom of the mountain -- there were houses, a sheep and a tree, etc. You can use real leaves, stones and wooden bark to make it more realistic.
When the "scene" was ready, we dunked in a whole tub of baking powder into the cavity of the mountain, added some orange food colouring for effect, and the kids poured in the vinegar to start the eruption process. (Apparently, you can also create the same effect with diet Coke which is less sticky than Coke and mentos original flavour).
Because the whole thing was water-proof, we could do it over and over again. We'll probably do it again tonight! So excuse us, we've got some villages to destroy with our red hot lava!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Meeting Mr. Robert Frobisher (hopping with joy!)
Many years ago, I read one of the most difficult books I've ever had to read in my life. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. It took me more than a month to finish it because the story was complicated, the presentation of the story was different like those Matryoshka dolls from Russia, the words were awfully difficult for me in some parts, especially during the story set in the 19th century and the future...
But, I stuck with it because I simply loved the characters that Mitchell created and the premise of the story that souls travel across centuries and places to be together again. He rides on that feeling of deja vu that you get when you meet someone new, as though you've met them before in another time and place...the only memory that ties you to this person is a familiar song (the Cloud Atlas Sextet) that keeps haunting you day and night as you try to remember the connection you have with this other person.
OMG, they've made this book into a movie! This just came out of the blue to hit me this morning on the news...Where was I all this while? How come I had no idea about this? Maybe it's better this way...not knowing means that I never had to wait with torture for the move to finish!
Now, let me pick up the book and dust the cover again. I'll be meeting Mr. Robert Frobisher next month and I've got to look my best!
(Below, my two entries about the book from my now-defunct blog)
Saturday, May
21, 2005
Am reading David
Mitchell's Cloud Atlas which I got for a bargain RM8 at the recent Times
Bookstore Warehouse Sale recently. Thanks to the
self-confessed bookaholic for the recommendation.
It's actually 6 short stories in one (or the way Mitchell frames it, inside each other) and starts out with the journal writings of Adam Ewing from the 19th century detailing his passage on a ship travelling from Sydney to California.
The print in the book is very tiny and the 19th century English language (in The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing) was a little difficult for me to wade through -- these made me doubt if I could ever complete my reading of this book. To borrow a line from Mitchell himself, "After ten pages I felt (Mitchell) was reading me, not I him..."! Heheh!
But, A.S. Byatt's review of the novel in Guardian said, "David Mitchell entices his readers on to a rollercoaster, and at first they wonder if they want to get off. Then - at least in my case - they can't bear the journey to end." Yes, I was thinking of getting off and chucking the book in my ever-growing pile of half-read novels (keeping him company would be Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, Kathy Reich's Deja Dead and Peter Mayle's Tojours Provence).
Being in a ring, wrestling with difficult authors was not my idea of a lazy weekend. But I wasn't going to give up, I guess, probably because I wanted to possess that feeling again, the one Byatt described...not being able to bear the end of the journey! I was curious -- how good was this book that it made someone say that?
I'm now happily into the second story in the collection, Letters from Zedelghem, and already in love with the protagonist, Robert Frobisher -- wily, supremely talented (in music), kind-hearted (he charmed me with his croissant-dispensing act), and suspiciously bisexual! Yummy character!
Somewhere in the middle of this, Frobisher writes to his friend, "A half-read book is a half-finished love affair." Looks like the man himself has spoken to me!
Okay, David, I hear ya.
It's actually 6 short stories in one (or the way Mitchell frames it, inside each other) and starts out with the journal writings of Adam Ewing from the 19th century detailing his passage on a ship travelling from Sydney to California.
The print in the book is very tiny and the 19th century English language (in The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing) was a little difficult for me to wade through -- these made me doubt if I could ever complete my reading of this book. To borrow a line from Mitchell himself, "After ten pages I felt (Mitchell) was reading me, not I him..."! Heheh!
But, A.S. Byatt's review of the novel in Guardian said, "David Mitchell entices his readers on to a rollercoaster, and at first they wonder if they want to get off. Then - at least in my case - they can't bear the journey to end." Yes, I was thinking of getting off and chucking the book in my ever-growing pile of half-read novels (keeping him company would be Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, Kathy Reich's Deja Dead and Peter Mayle's Tojours Provence).
Being in a ring, wrestling with difficult authors was not my idea of a lazy weekend. But I wasn't going to give up, I guess, probably because I wanted to possess that feeling again, the one Byatt described...not being able to bear the end of the journey! I was curious -- how good was this book that it made someone say that?
I'm now happily into the second story in the collection, Letters from Zedelghem, and already in love with the protagonist, Robert Frobisher -- wily, supremely talented (in music), kind-hearted (he charmed me with his croissant-dispensing act), and suspiciously bisexual! Yummy character!
Somewhere in the middle of this, Frobisher writes to his friend, "A half-read book is a half-finished love affair." Looks like the man himself has spoken to me!
Okay, David, I hear ya.
Monday, July
04, 2005
Some stories make
you wish that they were true. That the people really existed. That the things
they accomplished were real. That the stories were not just fiction, made-up
tales in the heads of genius writers.
If I had a wish right now, I would ask to be taken back in time, into a make-believe world, to meet Robert Frobisher playing his composition of Cloud Atlas Sextet for an intimate audience of eight -- Rufus Sixsmith from 1931; Vyvyan Ayrs; Timothy Cavendish and Veronica Costello; the fabricant Sonmi 451; Eva, Empress of Bruges; the Prescient Meronym; and me.
Yes, this is still about David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas. Just arrived at the final line in the final page. It took me a month to get here. Reading it was like scaling a gruelling 10,000 steps and then, past the halfway-point, was like zipping down effortlessly on a mountain bike. After getting past Sloosha's Crossin' an Ev'rythin' After, the stories simply told themselves to me like I deserved it for sticking with it through those pages of tiny font.
Sloosha's Crossin' took forever to finish but when Sharon (who introduced the book in her blog) told me to just skip some parts, I didn't have the heart to do that. I wanted to read every word, understand every slang, picture the almost barren world that Mitchell created after "The Fall" of Civilisation. I can be quite a determined reader when I put my heart to it, and quite a lazy one when I don't.
I must confess, one of the reasons I stayed the course was the thought of meeting Robert Frobisher again in the later pages of the book. I just fell madly in love with the deliciously naughty, cheeky, Robert Frobisher from his croissant-dispensing moment, and was enchanted by his character and demeanor (and yes, his adoration for Sixsmith peaked my interests too) -- maybe because he was the artistic type, a talented musician and composer, maybe because he had a streak of the devil in him, maybe because he could be charming and acerbic in turns.
Oooh, and that music -- his music -- which Luisa Rey describes as "riverlike, spectral, hypnotic" and in which she could not help but stand "entranced, as if living in a stream of time." Like Luisa Rey, I feel that I "have to own this music too. I have to. You know what it's like..." With a title like Cloud Atlas Sextet -- a beautiful, ethereal name -- it just begs to be listened... and I so wish that it was real.
I have absolutely no idea how Cloud Atlas Sextet sounds like...its time signature, its timbre and tempo, its chords, its rhythm, its sentiments and feelings. I just know that it evokes feelings in people, it shakes loose memories of the past, and conjures visions of the future. To my ear, it begins with a crescendo of chords that mirrors Frobisher's own ecstasy for the beginnings of his musical inspirations, and ends as despairingly, with long-drawn bars of largo pianissimo, as his final moments in life.
If I had a wish right now, I would ask to be taken back in time, into a make-believe world, to meet Robert Frobisher playing his composition of Cloud Atlas Sextet for an intimate audience of eight -- Rufus Sixsmith from 1931; Vyvyan Ayrs; Timothy Cavendish and Veronica Costello; the fabricant Sonmi 451; Eva, Empress of Bruges; the Prescient Meronym; and me.
Yes, this is still about David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas. Just arrived at the final line in the final page. It took me a month to get here. Reading it was like scaling a gruelling 10,000 steps and then, past the halfway-point, was like zipping down effortlessly on a mountain bike. After getting past Sloosha's Crossin' an Ev'rythin' After, the stories simply told themselves to me like I deserved it for sticking with it through those pages of tiny font.
Sloosha's Crossin' took forever to finish but when Sharon (who introduced the book in her blog) told me to just skip some parts, I didn't have the heart to do that. I wanted to read every word, understand every slang, picture the almost barren world that Mitchell created after "The Fall" of Civilisation. I can be quite a determined reader when I put my heart to it, and quite a lazy one when I don't.
I must confess, one of the reasons I stayed the course was the thought of meeting Robert Frobisher again in the later pages of the book. I just fell madly in love with the deliciously naughty, cheeky, Robert Frobisher from his croissant-dispensing moment, and was enchanted by his character and demeanor (and yes, his adoration for Sixsmith peaked my interests too) -- maybe because he was the artistic type, a talented musician and composer, maybe because he had a streak of the devil in him, maybe because he could be charming and acerbic in turns.
Oooh, and that music -- his music -- which Luisa Rey describes as "riverlike, spectral, hypnotic" and in which she could not help but stand "entranced, as if living in a stream of time." Like Luisa Rey, I feel that I "have to own this music too. I have to. You know what it's like..." With a title like Cloud Atlas Sextet -- a beautiful, ethereal name -- it just begs to be listened... and I so wish that it was real.
I have absolutely no idea how Cloud Atlas Sextet sounds like...its time signature, its timbre and tempo, its chords, its rhythm, its sentiments and feelings. I just know that it evokes feelings in people, it shakes loose memories of the past, and conjures visions of the future. To my ear, it begins with a crescendo of chords that mirrors Frobisher's own ecstasy for the beginnings of his musical inspirations, and ends as despairingly, with long-drawn bars of largo pianissimo, as his final moments in life.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
The Road to Old Terengganu
The deep seas off Terengganu may be rich in oil and gas reserves, making the east coast state among the region’s leaders in the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, but some argue that its real treasures are all found on the mainland.
With a documented history reaching as far back as the 2nd century, Terengganu certainly has accumulated a wealth of heritage influenced by the Langkasuka and Srivijaya kingdoms it was part of, and the Majapahit, Khmer and Chinese empires it traded with. Despite modern developments, the old Terengganu still remains – and the best way to explore it? Via Federal Route 3 – approaching a hundred years old, but still one of Malaysia’s most scenic highways.
At 739km long, Route 3 runs alongside the coast of four Malaysian states from Johor Bahru, Johor, in the south of the peninsula, through Pahang and Terengganu before ending in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan. From here, it goes on as part of the Asian Highway Network that connects Asia to the upper reaches of Europe.
It’s ironic that 20 years after it was built by the British for economic reasons, Route 3 would bring the ultimate fall of the Allied Forces when, in 1941, Japanese troops used it to swiftly advance south on bicycles during the Battle of Malaya.
Having served for economic and political purposes in the past, it must be said that Route 3 today is best suited for more leisurely pursuits. The relatively flat and straight two-lane single carriageway road provides an easy, scenic drive. Traveling northwards, the South China Sea with its glittering blue waves in the midday sun would be your constant companion – and distraction – on the east. Some sections of the highway run alongside lush pockets of mangrove forests along the coastal estuaries.
There’s no escaping the countryside charm of Terengganu, even as the bigger towns try to shed its pastoral image with concrete buildings and foreign franchise retailers. Fishing villages just on the outskirts of towns speak of the population’s time-honoured source of income; fishermen bring their boats ashore on public beaches; chickens and cows roam about freely along main thoroughfares; while many of the wooden homes here are still built on stilts in a compound of coconut trees.
Even the stretch of road from Kerteh to Paka – where Malaysia’s oil and gas refinery activities are based – makes for excellent night driving. As the sun sets, the huge complex of pipes, steel tanks, smoke stacks and gas flutes lights up spectacularly like a space station about to launch a rocket ship.
Chukai
A great way to get to know Terengganu is through its food and what better place to start than in Chukai (in the district of Kemaman), among the first towns you encounter along the Terengganu section of Route 3 northwards. Kim Wah (also known as Kin To Wah) Restaurant is a spartan corner establishment on Jalan Masjid with an even simpler menu, selling nothing else but chicken rice. It opens daily from 11 am to 2:30 pm, but its plates of roast chicken over rice with a side of soy sauce and chili dip often run out by 1pm.
One of the enduring legacies of the Chinese community in Malaysia is the kopitiam. Usually established in smaller towns, but increasingly franchised in urban centres, these old-style cafés are famous for their Asian coffee (usually thicker and more bitter than its European version) and charcoal-toasted bread generously slathered with butter and kaya, a coconut cream-based jam. Kemaman’s very own – Hai Peng Kopitiam on Jalan Sulaimani – has been enjoying a good reputation since the 1930s. Besides the toast, their other specialty is the typical Terengganu dish nasi dagang – beautifully steamed rice with a serving of rich tuna curry wrapped in banana leaf parcels.
In the evenings, join the locals at Pantai Geliga beach for traditional east coast tea-time treats of satar (fish cakes wrapped in banana leaves, skewered in threes, and grilled over red-hot charcoal), keropok lekor (fish crackers) and sotong celup tepung (deep fried squid). Down it all with fresh coconut juice, served straight from the husk!
Kuala Dungun
About an hour’s drive north of Chukai is Kuala Dungun, a town that once enjoyed the wealth of its iron ore mining activities. Nothing much of its glorious past remains except for the nondescript concrete pillar in the sea that some say was part of the railway line that transported iron from Bukit Besi to Kuala Dungun. About 30 km inland, in Bukit Besi, are a few more of these legacies – the stockpile buildings, tunnels and chimneys used during the tin-mining days – left by the Japanese who first discovered the riches within the area.
Seemingly bereft of any tourist attractions, Kuala Dungun is an unlikely stop for those passing through Terengganu if not for Tanjong Jara Resort. Despite its modest kampung location, the resort, part of the luxury YTL property chain, has gained a worldwide reputation for its unique architecture and welcome. Taking a cue from its east coast residents, Tanjong Jara Resort has adopted the spirit of gentle and humble Malay service and hospitality. Its “Unmistakably Malay” tagline is reflected throughout the resort – the Malay palace-like architecture, the local menu which features the region’s unique cuisine, and the age-old Malay treatments at its award-winning spa.
The district of Dungun, especially the beaches at Rantau Abang, used to be the calling place of giant leatherback turtles who return yearly to the beaches here to lay their eggs. In the 1970s, as many as 1,000 leatherback landings were reported but these nesting giants are a rare sight these days due to modern developments and human interference; however it is still possible to view green turtle landings in other parts of Dungun. Tanjong Jara Resort has a turtle watching programme exclusively for guests at Kerteh. The oil-refinery town of Terengganu may be an unlikely port of call for these nesting turtles, but the midnight trips arranged with the local fisheries department are highly recommended. Complement the experience beforehand with a trip to the Turtle Information Centre in Rantau Abang just 15 km north of Tanjong Jara Resort to learn about the miraculous journey made by these gentle marine creatures to nest and the subsequent fight for survival by their young hatchlings.
Kuala Terengganu
After the tranquil panoramas of Kemaman, Dungun and Marang, the bustle of capital city Kuala Terengganu takes a while to get used to. Pasar Payang is the central market where all manner of trade is conducted. It’s the place to get your fish and chicken, fruits and veggies, dried fish crackers, some fashionable wear, souvenirs, even your gold jewellery. It would almost be a sin to leave town without at least purchasing the signature east coast fabric, the batik, here. Or indulge in the Terengganu brocade – a textile of royal origins made using fine gold and silk threads.
Spend a quick afternoon on the Terengganu River Cruise, from the Islamic Civilisation Park jetty, to learn about the history and development of the area. Then, hop over to Pulau Duyong to walk within the walls of an old fortress. Built in the 1920s, Kota Lama Duyong is a traditional Terengganu house with Greek Corinthian elements in its columns and Islamic influences in the decorative woodcarvings.
Penarik
Continue northwards from Kuala Terengganu and you will soon reach Penarik in the district of Setiu. This serene fishing village has a unique geographical landscape – a narrow isthmus of casuarinas and coconut groves flanked by the Setiu River on the west and the South China Sea on the east. It is the setting of Terrapuri Heritage Village, part conservation project, part boutique guest house, and on-going 20-year labour of love by local entrepreneur, Alex Lee, to preserve the authentic traditions of the Malay Terengganu house.
Here, guests are accommodated in hundred-year old dwellings, each one personally sourced by Lee from various parts of Terengganu, dismantled, carefully restored and assembled again on this piece of beach-front land in Kampung Mangkuk. Rich in history and displaying the refined carpentry and design skills of highly-respected master craftsmen, each of these 29 houses may be the last legacies of a fast-diminishing Terengganu culture and heritage. The hospitality by locals employed from nearby villages is genuine and unpretentious – at the end of your stay, you’ll be bidding goodbye to friends and family instead of service staff.
Beaches
With a coastline that runs for 244 km, Terengganu’s beaches are some of the best and prove to be a great distraction to those driving along Route 3. There’s no point resisting its allure; turn off from the main road anywhere and cherish the serendipitous discoveries not marked in any tourist map.
Teluk Bidara in Dungun is a bay near Tanjong Jara Resort where one can explore the cave and lighthouse on Tanjung Api Hill at low tide. Kuala Abang and Kemasik beaches have some interesting sea-side rock formations on which to perch and enjoy the miles of blue, while Penarik tears you in two with the river wetlands on one side and gorgeous beach on the other, and the shade of casuarinas and coconut palms in between the two.
The long Terengganu coastline may be inviting but beware of the strong under-currents in certain places. Instead, pull a chair beach-side and munch on keropok lekor as you take in the views of the nearby islands, listen to the waves breaking on the shore and fantasise of owning a beach-front property here.
When to go:
The state of Terengganu observes Sunday to Thursday as working days while Friday and Saturday are public holidays. Banks, government offices and most businesses in Terengganu operate from Sunday to Thursday.
Also, it’s worth checking out the weather before going. Terengganu experiences heavier rainfall and flooding in certain areas during the monsoon season when the north-east winds blow between November and January. Although the perception is that it rains every day during this period, there are perfectly sunny days, too, in between wet spells. Still, trips to the islands are not advised during this period due to uncertain sea conditions. On the bright side, the monsoon season is considered low season, and travellers get better deals on hotels.
Driving tips:
Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu (approx. 455 km): Take the Karak Highway, then the East Coast Expressway, and exit at Jabor toll. Continue towards Kuala Terengganu on Federal Route 3 via Chukai town in Kemaman.
Singapore/Johor Bahru to Kuala Terengganu (approx. 562 km): Take Federal Route 3 to Kota Tinggi, Mersing, Kuala Rompin, Pekan, Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu.
Penang to Kuala Terengganu (approx. 460 km): Take Federal Route 4 via Grik to Jertih, then turn into Federal Route 3 to Kuala Terengganu.
Flights:
Fly to Kuala Terengganu Airport from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) via Malaysia Airlines or AirAsia; or from Subang Airport (Kuala Lumpur) via Firefly.
More info:
Check out an online brochure on Terengganu (and the east coast region) here: http://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my/intl_en/ebrochure/pdf/8c26ea7d
With a documented history reaching as far back as the 2nd century, Terengganu certainly has accumulated a wealth of heritage influenced by the Langkasuka and Srivijaya kingdoms it was part of, and the Majapahit, Khmer and Chinese empires it traded with. Despite modern developments, the old Terengganu still remains – and the best way to explore it? Via Federal Route 3 – approaching a hundred years old, but still one of Malaysia’s most scenic highways.
At 739km long, Route 3 runs alongside the coast of four Malaysian states from Johor Bahru, Johor, in the south of the peninsula, through Pahang and Terengganu before ending in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan. From here, it goes on as part of the Asian Highway Network that connects Asia to the upper reaches of Europe.
It’s ironic that 20 years after it was built by the British for economic reasons, Route 3 would bring the ultimate fall of the Allied Forces when, in 1941, Japanese troops used it to swiftly advance south on bicycles during the Battle of Malaya.
Having served for economic and political purposes in the past, it must be said that Route 3 today is best suited for more leisurely pursuits. The relatively flat and straight two-lane single carriageway road provides an easy, scenic drive. Traveling northwards, the South China Sea with its glittering blue waves in the midday sun would be your constant companion – and distraction – on the east. Some sections of the highway run alongside lush pockets of mangrove forests along the coastal estuaries.
There’s no escaping the countryside charm of Terengganu, even as the bigger towns try to shed its pastoral image with concrete buildings and foreign franchise retailers. Fishing villages just on the outskirts of towns speak of the population’s time-honoured source of income; fishermen bring their boats ashore on public beaches; chickens and cows roam about freely along main thoroughfares; while many of the wooden homes here are still built on stilts in a compound of coconut trees.
Even the stretch of road from Kerteh to Paka – where Malaysia’s oil and gas refinery activities are based – makes for excellent night driving. As the sun sets, the huge complex of pipes, steel tanks, smoke stacks and gas flutes lights up spectacularly like a space station about to launch a rocket ship.
Chukai
A great way to get to know Terengganu is through its food and what better place to start than in Chukai (in the district of Kemaman), among the first towns you encounter along the Terengganu section of Route 3 northwards. Kim Wah (also known as Kin To Wah) Restaurant is a spartan corner establishment on Jalan Masjid with an even simpler menu, selling nothing else but chicken rice. It opens daily from 11 am to 2:30 pm, but its plates of roast chicken over rice with a side of soy sauce and chili dip often run out by 1pm.
One of the enduring legacies of the Chinese community in Malaysia is the kopitiam. Usually established in smaller towns, but increasingly franchised in urban centres, these old-style cafés are famous for their Asian coffee (usually thicker and more bitter than its European version) and charcoal-toasted bread generously slathered with butter and kaya, a coconut cream-based jam. Kemaman’s very own – Hai Peng Kopitiam on Jalan Sulaimani – has been enjoying a good reputation since the 1930s. Besides the toast, their other specialty is the typical Terengganu dish nasi dagang – beautifully steamed rice with a serving of rich tuna curry wrapped in banana leaf parcels.
In the evenings, join the locals at Pantai Geliga beach for traditional east coast tea-time treats of satar (fish cakes wrapped in banana leaves, skewered in threes, and grilled over red-hot charcoal), keropok lekor (fish crackers) and sotong celup tepung (deep fried squid). Down it all with fresh coconut juice, served straight from the husk!
Kuala Dungun
About an hour’s drive north of Chukai is Kuala Dungun, a town that once enjoyed the wealth of its iron ore mining activities. Nothing much of its glorious past remains except for the nondescript concrete pillar in the sea that some say was part of the railway line that transported iron from Bukit Besi to Kuala Dungun. About 30 km inland, in Bukit Besi, are a few more of these legacies – the stockpile buildings, tunnels and chimneys used during the tin-mining days – left by the Japanese who first discovered the riches within the area.
Seemingly bereft of any tourist attractions, Kuala Dungun is an unlikely stop for those passing through Terengganu if not for Tanjong Jara Resort. Despite its modest kampung location, the resort, part of the luxury YTL property chain, has gained a worldwide reputation for its unique architecture and welcome. Taking a cue from its east coast residents, Tanjong Jara Resort has adopted the spirit of gentle and humble Malay service and hospitality. Its “Unmistakably Malay” tagline is reflected throughout the resort – the Malay palace-like architecture, the local menu which features the region’s unique cuisine, and the age-old Malay treatments at its award-winning spa.
The district of Dungun, especially the beaches at Rantau Abang, used to be the calling place of giant leatherback turtles who return yearly to the beaches here to lay their eggs. In the 1970s, as many as 1,000 leatherback landings were reported but these nesting giants are a rare sight these days due to modern developments and human interference; however it is still possible to view green turtle landings in other parts of Dungun. Tanjong Jara Resort has a turtle watching programme exclusively for guests at Kerteh. The oil-refinery town of Terengganu may be an unlikely port of call for these nesting turtles, but the midnight trips arranged with the local fisheries department are highly recommended. Complement the experience beforehand with a trip to the Turtle Information Centre in Rantau Abang just 15 km north of Tanjong Jara Resort to learn about the miraculous journey made by these gentle marine creatures to nest and the subsequent fight for survival by their young hatchlings.
Kuala Terengganu
After the tranquil panoramas of Kemaman, Dungun and Marang, the bustle of capital city Kuala Terengganu takes a while to get used to. Pasar Payang is the central market where all manner of trade is conducted. It’s the place to get your fish and chicken, fruits and veggies, dried fish crackers, some fashionable wear, souvenirs, even your gold jewellery. It would almost be a sin to leave town without at least purchasing the signature east coast fabric, the batik, here. Or indulge in the Terengganu brocade – a textile of royal origins made using fine gold and silk threads.
Spend a quick afternoon on the Terengganu River Cruise, from the Islamic Civilisation Park jetty, to learn about the history and development of the area. Then, hop over to Pulau Duyong to walk within the walls of an old fortress. Built in the 1920s, Kota Lama Duyong is a traditional Terengganu house with Greek Corinthian elements in its columns and Islamic influences in the decorative woodcarvings.
Penarik
Continue northwards from Kuala Terengganu and you will soon reach Penarik in the district of Setiu. This serene fishing village has a unique geographical landscape – a narrow isthmus of casuarinas and coconut groves flanked by the Setiu River on the west and the South China Sea on the east. It is the setting of Terrapuri Heritage Village, part conservation project, part boutique guest house, and on-going 20-year labour of love by local entrepreneur, Alex Lee, to preserve the authentic traditions of the Malay Terengganu house.
Here, guests are accommodated in hundred-year old dwellings, each one personally sourced by Lee from various parts of Terengganu, dismantled, carefully restored and assembled again on this piece of beach-front land in Kampung Mangkuk. Rich in history and displaying the refined carpentry and design skills of highly-respected master craftsmen, each of these 29 houses may be the last legacies of a fast-diminishing Terengganu culture and heritage. The hospitality by locals employed from nearby villages is genuine and unpretentious – at the end of your stay, you’ll be bidding goodbye to friends and family instead of service staff.
Beaches
With a coastline that runs for 244 km, Terengganu’s beaches are some of the best and prove to be a great distraction to those driving along Route 3. There’s no point resisting its allure; turn off from the main road anywhere and cherish the serendipitous discoveries not marked in any tourist map.
Teluk Bidara in Dungun is a bay near Tanjong Jara Resort where one can explore the cave and lighthouse on Tanjung Api Hill at low tide. Kuala Abang and Kemasik beaches have some interesting sea-side rock formations on which to perch and enjoy the miles of blue, while Penarik tears you in two with the river wetlands on one side and gorgeous beach on the other, and the shade of casuarinas and coconut palms in between the two.
The long Terengganu coastline may be inviting but beware of the strong under-currents in certain places. Instead, pull a chair beach-side and munch on keropok lekor as you take in the views of the nearby islands, listen to the waves breaking on the shore and fantasise of owning a beach-front property here.
When to go:
The state of Terengganu observes Sunday to Thursday as working days while Friday and Saturday are public holidays. Banks, government offices and most businesses in Terengganu operate from Sunday to Thursday.
Also, it’s worth checking out the weather before going. Terengganu experiences heavier rainfall and flooding in certain areas during the monsoon season when the north-east winds blow between November and January. Although the perception is that it rains every day during this period, there are perfectly sunny days, too, in between wet spells. Still, trips to the islands are not advised during this period due to uncertain sea conditions. On the bright side, the monsoon season is considered low season, and travellers get better deals on hotels.
Driving tips:
Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu (approx. 455 km): Take the Karak Highway, then the East Coast Expressway, and exit at Jabor toll. Continue towards Kuala Terengganu on Federal Route 3 via Chukai town in Kemaman.
Singapore/Johor Bahru to Kuala Terengganu (approx. 562 km): Take Federal Route 3 to Kota Tinggi, Mersing, Kuala Rompin, Pekan, Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu.
Penang to Kuala Terengganu (approx. 460 km): Take Federal Route 4 via Grik to Jertih, then turn into Federal Route 3 to Kuala Terengganu.
Flights:
Fly to Kuala Terengganu Airport from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) via Malaysia Airlines or AirAsia; or from Subang Airport (Kuala Lumpur) via Firefly.
More info:
Check out an online brochure on Terengganu (and the east coast region) here: http://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my/intl_en/ebrochure/pdf/8c26ea7d
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Low Tech Weekend
That's how I would describe our experience at Bukit Tinggi last weekend. No TV, no internet, no computer from Friday evening to Sunday noon. I think Zane, Moses and Mary survived it well. So did I.
In fact, it was quite blissful and peaceful. We had a great view of the jungle and the pure sky, weather was cool and pleasant. We swam in the Janda Baik river, had meals at small huts, home-cooked foods of delicious masak tempoyak and asam pedas rebus. Admired the beauty of jungle ginger flowers and metallic green dragonflies (yes, they exist!).
At night, we sat out on the balcony of our little apartment and enjoyed the fresh air and the sounds of nature -- crickets and nocturnal birds. In the shadows of the night, we made out some stars, overhead planes and bungalows within the jungle.
We let the kids snack on their favourites -- cocoa crunch, crisps and other not-so-healthy stuff...it was a holiday, so we gave 'em a break...heheh...
Wishing for another round of this bliss.
In fact, it was quite blissful and peaceful. We had a great view of the jungle and the pure sky, weather was cool and pleasant. We swam in the Janda Baik river, had meals at small huts, home-cooked foods of delicious masak tempoyak and asam pedas rebus. Admired the beauty of jungle ginger flowers and metallic green dragonflies (yes, they exist!).
At night, we sat out on the balcony of our little apartment and enjoyed the fresh air and the sounds of nature -- crickets and nocturnal birds. In the shadows of the night, we made out some stars, overhead planes and bungalows within the jungle.
We let the kids snack on their favourites -- cocoa crunch, crisps and other not-so-healthy stuff...it was a holiday, so we gave 'em a break...heheh...
Wishing for another round of this bliss.
Monday, May 7, 2012
The Letter Writer
Work sucks at the moment. I was driving home last Friday evening and all the accumulated frustrations and disappointments of doing ad-hoc writing assignments hit me as I was making the turn into my housing area.
I can honestly get lost -- in a nice, addictive kind of way -- in my writings. I enjoy crafting a sentence, finding just the right word to embody a feeling, reflecting on the subtle nuances that each word lends to the entire sentence. Nobody else cares though. People at the office just want the work done as proof to the Big Boss up there that "Hey, look...see...this is proof that we have done our job to publicise your megalomaniacal dreams!"...Next!
I wish I could say that I derive great satisfaction from my job. Sadly that's not the case. I am Miss Emergency...whenever there's a last minute job to be done, I am called to the scene. Maybe I am getting good at doing things fast. Credit that to being a woman, a wife, a mom, a writer and everything else in between. With all these roles, you just gotta learn to make full use of your time and breeze through everything.
I've always been a conscientious worker so for me to be callous about my job these days is pretty unsettling. It's just not me. But then, I think of all the other roles that I am, as a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, and I am reminded that I am appreciated more in those roles and within those social and family spheres. I'm better off investing my heart and soul in those people than at work.
I hate to make this place as a ranting hole. So I'll just stop here. Yup, this is just to say that I wish I could spend my time doing meaningful writing work...I still harbour that dream of being the Letter Writer in a modern age of truncated text messages.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Letters: Risau
"Risau
melekat di hati
enggan melayang
pergi.
Dahi berkerutan
melayan kerisauan.
Bagai sepucuk surat
dilipat-lipat
diselitkan di celah
hati."
From 12 Oct 2005.
Accompanying note: Feeling worried and scared for Zane. Suddenly feeling this way. Thought about how I felt when Dad had his heart attack. The prospect of loss. I don't want to lose Zane to his cigarettes. Feel so afraid that our lives together might not be long.
melekat di hati
enggan melayang
pergi.
Dahi berkerutan
melayan kerisauan.
Bagai sepucuk surat
dilipat-lipat
diselitkan di celah
hati."
From 12 Oct 2005.
Accompanying note: Feeling worried and scared for Zane. Suddenly feeling this way. Thought about how I felt when Dad had his heart attack. The prospect of loss. I don't want to lose Zane to his cigarettes. Feel so afraid that our lives together might not be long.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Letters series
Thinking of starting a "Letters" series of writings where I post the letters, sms-es, words, etc. exchanged between me and people in my life.
Here's a first, because it's short:
"Semoga kita dapat bersua kembali. Di pulau atau bukit biarlah...asalkan ada mangsa untuk diburu! He!He."
-- by Ravi Varma a/l Nambiar aka Ravina, a woman in a man's body. My dear Editor friend from Karangkraf who is now MIA in my life. She wrote this in my journal as we were making our way by boat from Pulau Redang to Terengganu. It was the end of our 2 night holiday with a bunch of other friends, during which Ravina went "a-hunting" in her wig and mini skirt and all! Haha!
Here's a first, because it's short:
"Semoga kita dapat bersua kembali. Di pulau atau bukit biarlah...asalkan ada mangsa untuk diburu! He!He."
-- by Ravi Varma a/l Nambiar aka Ravina, a woman in a man's body. My dear Editor friend from Karangkraf who is now MIA in my life. She wrote this in my journal as we were making our way by boat from Pulau Redang to Terengganu. It was the end of our 2 night holiday with a bunch of other friends, during which Ravina went "a-hunting" in her wig and mini skirt and all! Haha!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Beautiful Kundasang
The Sabah trip was to pay some kind of homage to the black granite, Mount Kinabalu. What else is there to write about an iconic summit that's made of legendary stuff, admired and conquered by people from near and far?
It's been several nights now that I've been troubled with this in my mind. A quick Google search makes all the usual kind of information about it readily available. There's no need to repeat that here.
Except for one thing...that what they say about the mighty mountain is true...it is very shy, elusive, perhaps even a tad snooty. I suppose that's to be expected, given its reputation and popularity. A giant diva on the slopes!
Our two nights in Kundasang was absolutely beautiful. For most, a day trip would have been enough; one night would have been plenty, but for us, two nights was too short. The entire area brought to mind images from my childhood "Heidi" book. It was the Swiss Alps of Asia.
We booked rooms at the Kinabalu Pine Resort, a clean yet modest resort that exceeded our expectations for the amount we paid (RM190 per room per night with breakfast and dinner). The website promised views of the Mount Kinabalu from every room, and it was a promise they delivered. The mountain's presence was huge. I don't mean it's size. Just the thought of it being there, wherever you looked. It had some kind of omnipresence.
The pines around the resort, the chill, and our little "river" right next to our room, made us feel like we were in Salem High Country! Hubs and I just loved the whole place. We would sit out by the balcony till late at night, sipping our already cold coffees, watching the moon, listening to the river, chatting. With two small kids, sometimes, the late nights after their bedtime, are all we have to be together. Truly something I cherish.
The weather in Kundasang wasn't ideal for viewing the mountain, though. Erratic weather had brought about showers during the time we were there when it should have been clear skies by March.
But hours of rain and heavy mist in Kundasang finally gave way to clear weather in the afternoon and the clouds floated away to reveal the black, jagged edges of the summit. It was a Godly sight and a moment of divine revelation for me and hubs.
Simply magnificent, magical and absolutely unforgettable. Now I know its allure. So, there we stood, on the balcony of our room, like two grinning idiots, feeling too stupendous for words and action. All we could do was gaze and gaze and gaze at the mountain. Seconds later, the very same clouds that had given way to the magnificent sight earlier, floated right back in to block the view like the curtain call at the end of a great performance. Our standing ovation wasn't enough to bring about an encore appearance from the diva.
It was so amazing, I fell in love all over again.
It's been several nights now that I've been troubled with this in my mind. A quick Google search makes all the usual kind of information about it readily available. There's no need to repeat that here.
Except for one thing...that what they say about the mighty mountain is true...it is very shy, elusive, perhaps even a tad snooty. I suppose that's to be expected, given its reputation and popularity. A giant diva on the slopes!
Our two nights in Kundasang was absolutely beautiful. For most, a day trip would have been enough; one night would have been plenty, but for us, two nights was too short. The entire area brought to mind images from my childhood "Heidi" book. It was the Swiss Alps of Asia.
We booked rooms at the Kinabalu Pine Resort, a clean yet modest resort that exceeded our expectations for the amount we paid (RM190 per room per night with breakfast and dinner). The website promised views of the Mount Kinabalu from every room, and it was a promise they delivered. The mountain's presence was huge. I don't mean it's size. Just the thought of it being there, wherever you looked. It had some kind of omnipresence.
The pines around the resort, the chill, and our little "river" right next to our room, made us feel like we were in Salem High Country! Hubs and I just loved the whole place. We would sit out by the balcony till late at night, sipping our already cold coffees, watching the moon, listening to the river, chatting. With two small kids, sometimes, the late nights after their bedtime, are all we have to be together. Truly something I cherish.
The weather in Kundasang wasn't ideal for viewing the mountain, though. Erratic weather had brought about showers during the time we were there when it should have been clear skies by March.
But hours of rain and heavy mist in Kundasang finally gave way to clear weather in the afternoon and the clouds floated away to reveal the black, jagged edges of the summit. It was a Godly sight and a moment of divine revelation for me and hubs.
Simply magnificent, magical and absolutely unforgettable. Now I know its allure. So, there we stood, on the balcony of our room, like two grinning idiots, feeling too stupendous for words and action. All we could do was gaze and gaze and gaze at the mountain. Seconds later, the very same clouds that had given way to the magnificent sight earlier, floated right back in to block the view like the curtain call at the end of a great performance. Our standing ovation wasn't enough to bring about an encore appearance from the diva.
It was so amazing, I fell in love all over again.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New year happiness
Every time Zainal comes back from the east coast, I feel so jealous of all the things he gets to up there -- the people he meets, the places, the food. And now that I finally got to go with him, I can understand why he's so smitten with the place and the east coast in general.
After four days of being in Kuantan -- the wet weather, the gloomy skies -- I just want to uproot and make my home there, by the sea, close to the jungle, the fishing villages, the great vibe, the fresh-fresh seafood. The rain was wet and put a damper on many of our plans, but in the end, it became a friend and we loved the whole grey and gloomy atmosphere.
We celebrated both Musa's birthday and the new year there, made new friendships with Atord, Erica, Kieran and Inez. Ice cream was shared, beautiful paper lanterns were released into the air at midnight, there was fireworks, a sentimental auld lang syne...
The new year started out great and I hope that we will be blessed again.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The spirit of woman
"What would men be without women?
Scarce, Sir...mighty scarce."
Mark Twain
I came across this quote in Hannah Pakula's "The Last Empress," a biography of Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, and liked it so much. I thought it was appropriate that it was revealed to me at a women's conference!
A few weeks ago, I had the fortunate chance to be part of the Women's Summit seminar organised by the Women's Ministry. When I entered the Sime Darby Convention hall, I was just awe-struck by the number of women there. The "hebat-hebat" ones -- all dressed in their power suits, coiffed hair, and generating an unmistakable aura of confidence -- were all seated in the first few rows. They greeted each other with kisses on the cheeks and seemed to know one another very well.
The lesser mortals like moi occupied rows further along the back, shrinking away from the limelight but...hoping the scent of success from further up would waft over and rub off on me as well!
Nevertheless, the air was filled with a great vibe -- woman power! Actually, I loathe to use that phrase because it comes with some negative connotations to it. Perhaps "the spirit of woman" or "a womanly aura" would be much better expressions!
Attending the conference made me think back to my college days when my friend Liza and I would agonise over our career paths and how we would take the corporate world by storm. Heh! I still remember that street-side cafe chat we had about how we were going to make it in a man's world! Those days, it seemed like you had to be "one of the guys" to succeed. Hence, training courses for women to assert themselves were the trend, as were seminars, coaching sessions and mentoring programmes to make a woman become or think more like a "man."
Women consumerism
However, this year's women's summit (the 8th edition) gave some refreshing views on the whole issue. Women no longer need to be "a man in a skirt" to succeed to the top rungs. Given that women these days have purchasing power and make many consumer decisions (for themselves and for their husbands/families), more and more organisations are recognising the fact that they need women on board -- and in top decision-making posts at that -- in order to reach out to this increasingly strong consumer group.
Here's one for the guys: think about the times when it was your wife/girlfriend/sister who made the decision over where to eat, what clothes you should wear, which school to send the kids to, where to go for holidays -- and you'll probably agree that your female half has quite a huge influence in your life. In fact, some studies have shown that women make 80% of the decisions when it comes to consumer goods purchases, i.e. food, cars, computers, electronices, real estate, etc.
Multinational companies, especially, are eager to engage with women in the boardroom because they understand that the consumer demographics are changing drastically. They realise that having female managers on board with them enable them to have the female perspective for the creation of better products and services for this growing target market.
(I look forward to the day when cars would be made with a special compartment just for our handbags and restaurants would have tables with handbag hooks on them!)
Feminine leadership
But beyond creating consumer relationships, gender equality in the workplace, especially in senior posts, are important for the health of the organisation as well. Study after study have shown that organisations with female representation at the top have emerged more successful than those without. When the Lehman Brothers, an investment firm in the US, filed for bankruptcy (the biggest in US history), triggering a global financial panic, the joke that went around later in certain circles was that the Lehman Brothers wouldn't have failed if it had been the Lehman Sisters!
Women have better communications skills and are better at relationship management, demonstrating a strong interpersonal skill. Women leaders take on a more nurturing role, are more likely to promote personal and professional development among staff and are generally more creative.
Gender-balancing
But what's better than a female-only leadership is the gender-balanced management where skills sets of both men and women contribute to make a more effective whole.
Although it's easy enough to say that women are better at this and men are better at that, some quarters are refraining from making it a gender issue. Their argument is that these skill traits cannot be compartmentalised based on sex. Instead, they believe that it's a matter of identifying feminine and masculine traits which both men and women display to varying degrees.
Changing roles of men and women
I'd like to agree with this, too. There shouldn't be such a gender-based argument in the corporate world...or in any other "world" for that matter. I believe both genders need to complement each other -- at work and in the home.
Like what one of the presenters Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, CEO of 20-First, a company focused on achieving gender-balance at the corporate level, said, "It's not a women's issue but an economic issue to help facilitate the current realities of our world of both parents working."
Because here's the current reality: there are women out there who are raising families but also crave the fulfilment that comes from having a healthy career. And let's not forget the men either. There are men who would much rather be home with the children, taking on an active role in the nurturing of their families, and who would be content with their wives being the breadwinner of the family.
The view that men should work and women should stay home is being challenged even more these days. It's time we fought less on this matter and fight more for the support of the choices we want to make, regardless of our gender.
Perhaps then, when companies develop flexi time, work-from-home or job-sharing work options, these should be offered to the men, too.
Perhaps then, when it comes time for a promotion at work, women can be equally considered for the job.
Perhaps then, the Women's Summit can be renamed the Women and Men's Summit and its focus changed to meeting the needs of the new man and woman at work and at home.
So, to end, and to reflect that we both do need each other, perhaps Mr. Twain would want to make a slight addition to his earlier quote:
"And what would women be without men? Just as scarce, Sir!"
Scarce, Sir...mighty scarce."
Mark Twain
I came across this quote in Hannah Pakula's "The Last Empress," a biography of Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, and liked it so much. I thought it was appropriate that it was revealed to me at a women's conference!
A few weeks ago, I had the fortunate chance to be part of the Women's Summit seminar organised by the Women's Ministry. When I entered the Sime Darby Convention hall, I was just awe-struck by the number of women there. The "hebat-hebat" ones -- all dressed in their power suits, coiffed hair, and generating an unmistakable aura of confidence -- were all seated in the first few rows. They greeted each other with kisses on the cheeks and seemed to know one another very well.
The lesser mortals like moi occupied rows further along the back, shrinking away from the limelight but...hoping the scent of success from further up would waft over and rub off on me as well!
Nevertheless, the air was filled with a great vibe -- woman power! Actually, I loathe to use that phrase because it comes with some negative connotations to it. Perhaps "the spirit of woman" or "a womanly aura" would be much better expressions!
Attending the conference made me think back to my college days when my friend Liza and I would agonise over our career paths and how we would take the corporate world by storm. Heh! I still remember that street-side cafe chat we had about how we were going to make it in a man's world! Those days, it seemed like you had to be "one of the guys" to succeed. Hence, training courses for women to assert themselves were the trend, as were seminars, coaching sessions and mentoring programmes to make a woman become or think more like a "man."
Women consumerism
However, this year's women's summit (the 8th edition) gave some refreshing views on the whole issue. Women no longer need to be "a man in a skirt" to succeed to the top rungs. Given that women these days have purchasing power and make many consumer decisions (for themselves and for their husbands/families), more and more organisations are recognising the fact that they need women on board -- and in top decision-making posts at that -- in order to reach out to this increasingly strong consumer group.
Here's one for the guys: think about the times when it was your wife/girlfriend/sister who made the decision over where to eat, what clothes you should wear, which school to send the kids to, where to go for holidays -- and you'll probably agree that your female half has quite a huge influence in your life. In fact, some studies have shown that women make 80% of the decisions when it comes to consumer goods purchases, i.e. food, cars, computers, electronices, real estate, etc.
Multinational companies, especially, are eager to engage with women in the boardroom because they understand that the consumer demographics are changing drastically. They realise that having female managers on board with them enable them to have the female perspective for the creation of better products and services for this growing target market.
(I look forward to the day when cars would be made with a special compartment just for our handbags and restaurants would have tables with handbag hooks on them!)
Feminine leadership
But beyond creating consumer relationships, gender equality in the workplace, especially in senior posts, are important for the health of the organisation as well. Study after study have shown that organisations with female representation at the top have emerged more successful than those without. When the Lehman Brothers, an investment firm in the US, filed for bankruptcy (the biggest in US history), triggering a global financial panic, the joke that went around later in certain circles was that the Lehman Brothers wouldn't have failed if it had been the Lehman Sisters!
Women have better communications skills and are better at relationship management, demonstrating a strong interpersonal skill. Women leaders take on a more nurturing role, are more likely to promote personal and professional development among staff and are generally more creative.
Gender-balancing
But what's better than a female-only leadership is the gender-balanced management where skills sets of both men and women contribute to make a more effective whole.
Although it's easy enough to say that women are better at this and men are better at that, some quarters are refraining from making it a gender issue. Their argument is that these skill traits cannot be compartmentalised based on sex. Instead, they believe that it's a matter of identifying feminine and masculine traits which both men and women display to varying degrees.
Changing roles of men and women
I'd like to agree with this, too. There shouldn't be such a gender-based argument in the corporate world...or in any other "world" for that matter. I believe both genders need to complement each other -- at work and in the home.
Like what one of the presenters Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, CEO of 20-First, a company focused on achieving gender-balance at the corporate level, said, "It's not a women's issue but an economic issue to help facilitate the current realities of our world of both parents working."
Because here's the current reality: there are women out there who are raising families but also crave the fulfilment that comes from having a healthy career. And let's not forget the men either. There are men who would much rather be home with the children, taking on an active role in the nurturing of their families, and who would be content with their wives being the breadwinner of the family.
The view that men should work and women should stay home is being challenged even more these days. It's time we fought less on this matter and fight more for the support of the choices we want to make, regardless of our gender.
Perhaps then, when companies develop flexi time, work-from-home or job-sharing work options, these should be offered to the men, too.
Perhaps then, when it comes time for a promotion at work, women can be equally considered for the job.
Perhaps then, the Women's Summit can be renamed the Women and Men's Summit and its focus changed to meeting the needs of the new man and woman at work and at home.
So, to end, and to reflect that we both do need each other, perhaps Mr. Twain would want to make a slight addition to his earlier quote:
"And what would women be without men? Just as scarce, Sir!"
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
My little boy
my little boy
spills
over in my lap.
his tears
spill
over his cheeks.
i try to catch them.
but
my arms
are not so big
anymore.
i wrap him up
tight
as always.
but this time
the embrace seems
inadequate
insufficient
in its size.
but i hold onto
whichever part i can
spills
over in my lap.
his tears
spill
over his cheeks.
i try to catch them.
but
my arms
are not so big
anymore.
i wrap him up
tight
as always.
but this time
the embrace seems
inadequate
insufficient
in its size.
but i hold onto
whichever part i can
for now.
because soon,
because soon,
he, too, will know.
that i am not
as big
as he once thought
i was.
my little boy
is
not little
anymore.
as big
as he once thought
i was.
my little boy
is
not little
anymore.
These verses were inspired by last night's un-blissfull sleep. Musa woke up twice in the night, probably due to some nightmare, and I wasn't able to console him. Patting him in my lap, I realised that his legs literally "spilled over" my own, and that my arms couldn't reach round him as securely as before. He is growing up so fast. :-(
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A post on breastfeeding
Well, come this 31 December, I would have been BF-ing my son, Musa Hashim, for exactly two years -- exclusively for the first six months and supplemented by other nutritious mama-prepared meals for the following 18 months.
Although I wasn't strictly following a no-formula-milk plan, I did have to rely on a particular soy-based brand for those few occasions when my milk supply wasn't enough.
I believe this exercise in BF provided several good outcomes to both me and my son. But one of the most noticeable benefits is that over the past two years, he rarely got sick, and even when he did, it was only for one day and one night at the most. I, too, haven't visited the doctor much since I gave birth to Musa. We both were blessed with good health during this period. My husband, too, has been the beneficiary of much appreciation and gratitude from me, for his constant support, understanding and encouragement.
Due to my experiment in BF, of course, I'm very much interested in the experience of others who have also chosen this path. My research brought me to this great website.
WABA goes to great lengths to ensure that women who BF are protected of their rights. And in their minds, women have the right to BF. It's just that Governments, society, employers, etc. see maternity protection at the workplace -- extended maternity leave, childcare days, breastfeeding breaks, flexible work options -- as a costly burden to them.
In a 2005 speech by our Women's Minister (Shahrizat at the time), she said that her Ministry had conducted a study and found that by just extending maternity leave from the current 60 to 90 days would incur a cost of RM2.7 billion to employers. I was disappointed when she continued by saying, "While the Ministry believe wholeheartedly on the importance of the bonding and nurturing of mothers and newborn babies, we have also to bear in mind that the contribution of women in the labour market is indispensable. Therefore any recommendations to the Government should take into consideration attractive terms for both employers and employees." With those words, she just crumbled down every single effort that her Ministry had previously made in promoting women's maternity benefits, it seems to me.
I think a working mom's contribution to the labour market cannot only be seen by her active participation or early re-entry into the workforce. You've got to consider also that she is nurturing the country's future labour market -- and if she is breastfeeding her infant, she is actually taking steps to ensure that the future workforce is populated by healthy men and women. Isn't that the basis for our 1Malaysia brand and its tagline of "People First, Performance Now"? I mean, how can we perform and be productive if we are not healthy and companies have to face huge absenteeism numbers every day?
Anyway, back to WABA, they've got this great table with a comparative listing of the maternity benefits offered by some 176 countries worldwide. Please click on the image below or the link above.
More helpful resources on breastfeeding in Malaysia:
SusuIbu.com
http://www.breastfeeding.com/
http://www.susuanibu-pk.gov.my/
Something on the Women's Summit which advocates Work-Life Balance for working moms -- a great website and if you trawl it, you'll come to know of some of Malaysia's best employers offering family-friendly work policies to working moms, i.e. extended maternity leave, flexible working options, etc. -- Digi, Accenture, Shell Malaysia.
Although I wasn't strictly following a no-formula-milk plan, I did have to rely on a particular soy-based brand for those few occasions when my milk supply wasn't enough.
I believe this exercise in BF provided several good outcomes to both me and my son. But one of the most noticeable benefits is that over the past two years, he rarely got sick, and even when he did, it was only for one day and one night at the most. I, too, haven't visited the doctor much since I gave birth to Musa. We both were blessed with good health during this period. My husband, too, has been the beneficiary of much appreciation and gratitude from me, for his constant support, understanding and encouragement.
Due to my experiment in BF, of course, I'm very much interested in the experience of others who have also chosen this path. My research brought me to this great website.
WABA goes to great lengths to ensure that women who BF are protected of their rights. And in their minds, women have the right to BF. It's just that Governments, society, employers, etc. see maternity protection at the workplace -- extended maternity leave, childcare days, breastfeeding breaks, flexible work options -- as a costly burden to them.
In a 2005 speech by our Women's Minister (Shahrizat at the time), she said that her Ministry had conducted a study and found that by just extending maternity leave from the current 60 to 90 days would incur a cost of RM2.7 billion to employers. I was disappointed when she continued by saying, "While the Ministry believe wholeheartedly on the importance of the bonding and nurturing of mothers and newborn babies, we have also to bear in mind that the contribution of women in the labour market is indispensable. Therefore any recommendations to the Government should take into consideration attractive terms for both employers and employees." With those words, she just crumbled down every single effort that her Ministry had previously made in promoting women's maternity benefits, it seems to me.
I think a working mom's contribution to the labour market cannot only be seen by her active participation or early re-entry into the workforce. You've got to consider also that she is nurturing the country's future labour market -- and if she is breastfeeding her infant, she is actually taking steps to ensure that the future workforce is populated by healthy men and women. Isn't that the basis for our 1Malaysia brand and its tagline of "People First, Performance Now"? I mean, how can we perform and be productive if we are not healthy and companies have to face huge absenteeism numbers every day?
Anyway, back to WABA, they've got this great table with a comparative listing of the maternity benefits offered by some 176 countries worldwide. Please click on the image below or the link above.
Not surprisingly, Malaysia is among the several countries offering maternity benefits in the lower brackets -- only about 8.5 weeks (60 days) of paid maternity leave, compared to our nearest island neighbour which provides 16 weeks off to their female staff. At the other end of the scale, we have Norway offering more than 26 weeks of maternity leave paid for by the Government, and fathers entitled to 4 weeks of that.
And studying the chart jolted me into realising that there is such a thing as breastfeeding breaks -- which employers also pay for in most countries! In fact, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, are some of our nearest neighbours that offer these initiatives to their female staff.
In Malaysia, well, from my experience, at least, I felt like I had to sneak around at work feeling guilty about taking a BF break to express some milk. However, a thick skin and understanding and supportive supervisor and colleagues made my BF adventures in the office bearable, if not, amusing at times!
Well, I've nearly come to the end of my BF journey...after 2 years, we'll see how it goes. I'm inclined to baby-led weaning actually...but again, we'll see.More helpful resources on breastfeeding in Malaysia:
SusuIbu.com
http://www.breastfeeding.com/
http://www.susuanibu-pk.gov.my/
Something on the Women's Summit which advocates Work-Life Balance for working moms -- a great website and if you trawl it, you'll come to know of some of Malaysia's best employers offering family-friendly work policies to working moms, i.e. extended maternity leave, flexible working options, etc. -- Digi, Accenture, Shell Malaysia.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Three artists, three journeys, one show
Travel * NST Online
The article above appeared in the New Straits Times' Travel Times on 1 Dec 2009. Thank you, Kak Putri, for inserting it in!!!
The article above appeared in the New Straits Times' Travel Times on 1 Dec 2009. Thank you, Kak Putri, for inserting it in!!!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Some fine examples of 1Malaysia
Everyone's been talking about the 1Malaysia concept. It's a pretty clever branding stunt to supposedly reflect the united front of Malaysians. And perhaps deflect attention from other more important or critical things happening in this beloved country.
Here's another look at the 1Malaysia concept. The "1" there doesn't really stand for "unity." Forget what the advocates say. Look closely. It's just an apt description of the "me first" attitude/mentality of many Malaysians, politicians and mere citizens alike.
It's the me-first attitude in practise when someone drives straight into a parking spot you've been patiently waiting for and gives you a pretend-blur look as though he really hadn't seen you with your blinking lights on!
Or when someone cuts the queue in front of you as you're standing in line to pay for petrol. And when you tell that person off, he turns to you and blames you for leaving a gap in the queue!
Or the countless examples of road bullies loose on our highways.
1Malaysia is just a superficial branding meant to create warm and fuzzy feelings deep in our hearts about Malaysian pride. It's not gonna happen by slapping on a label, and coming up with a logo and a song about it! (Although, Faizal Tahir does a good job of rocking up a patriotic song!)
Here's another look at the 1Malaysia concept. The "1" there doesn't really stand for "unity." Forget what the advocates say. Look closely. It's just an apt description of the "me first" attitude/mentality of many Malaysians, politicians and mere citizens alike.
It's the me-first attitude in practise when someone drives straight into a parking spot you've been patiently waiting for and gives you a pretend-blur look as though he really hadn't seen you with your blinking lights on!
Or when someone cuts the queue in front of you as you're standing in line to pay for petrol. And when you tell that person off, he turns to you and blames you for leaving a gap in the queue!
Or the countless examples of road bullies loose on our highways.
1Malaysia is just a superficial branding meant to create warm and fuzzy feelings deep in our hearts about Malaysian pride. It's not gonna happen by slapping on a label, and coming up with a logo and a song about it! (Although, Faizal Tahir does a good job of rocking up a patriotic song!)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Book of memories
The past few weeks have seen me pretty busy on this Book of Memories project. Gosh, it's been a long while since I ever did something like this...I don't even have my Magic Box anymore...it used to be stashed with all kinds of crap...errr, I mean, scrap like papers, ribbons, fancy stickers, magic pens, etc. The box is hidden deep in the ever-growing pile of junk in the store-room, and I fear venturing in there to dig it up because I did that once and came face to face with the most humongous piece of roach there was...ugh!
Anyway, this Book of Memories is a labour of love for me and hubby because it's a gift I'm doing for our 3rd anniversary, which is today. It's 95% complete because I haven't put in the paper-cuts that I did of cute little animals. It was supposed to be ready, but Zane came to my office earlier than expected, so I couldn't finish it. I showed it to him anyway, over lunch today, and he was really surprised. I think he almost teared up, too!
I think he liked this present better than the other one I gave him -- a French Connection shirt which I got on sale yesterday. That one was pretty, too, candy coloured checked shirt. This description makes it sound hideous, but, believe me, it's not as Bangla as it sounds. It's a real nice shirt and the material's really good, too.
Anyway, the Book of Memories documents photos of the special people in our lives, some blog entries I wrote about Zane, some cheesy poems I got off the internet, some very intellectual quotes on love, love letters from the old (and new) days, and other barf-inducing romantic stuff that only a *loving* spouse can ever tolerate.
I really enjoyed going through the old photos we had and selecting the ones I wanted, turning them into black and white, adjusting the brightness and contrast, etc. I was so afraid that the people at the photo shop would ruin the effect I had in mind, but Aunty Florence, to whom I've been going to for photo prints since I was a kid, did a lovely job! She actually went through each photo to make sure they turned out the way I wanted, with shadows, and mood effect, etc.
For the photo album, I went to Cziplee + over at Bangsar and got this handsome chocolate-coloured scrap-book / photo album with beautiful pages in cream. It was from Kolo and cost me about RM95. At the time, gaji belum masuk lagi, so I just closed my eyes and charged it to my card! :P
One of the things I wanted to put in the book was a print of Musa's palm but I was too lazy to get messy with paints, and anyway, how was I gonna explain to Zane about borrowing his acrylics in the middle of the night? Instead, I waited for Musa to fall asleep last night and traced the outline of his left hand. Heheh.
The last thing I need to do now is paste the paper cuts on some of the pages...I found some nice silhouette pictures of animals on the internet, drew them out on some card stock and cut them out with a blade. I think they look adorable, these tiny menagerie of mine. Which is your favourite?So, do you like my Book of Memories? Bouquets and brickbats welcomed...but please be gentle with the latter! :P
Anyway, Sayang, thank you for loving me so patiently.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Love anthem
I'm going through this spell where I'm feeling very receptive and open to many things. It's not a conscious effort, just that a lot of things seem to be leaving a lasting impression on me -- making me feel things with greater depth, ponder more (some thoughts don't leave me at night), and just...I dunno...can't really describe it.
Feels like the whole universe is holding me even closer these days than before, and I'm just welcoming it all in.
I mean just in this two weeks, I've been smitten by the charmingly acidic Anthony Bourdain, can't seem to get enough of grapefruits and its bitter after-taste (take one each day!), and loving this song.
It just blows my mind, I can't even describe it! I've heard of the Dave Matthews Band before...especially the song Crash Into Me. But this one, Crush, the Radio City acoustic version, is something else, man!
I love the lyrics, the way DM mouths the words, his tenderness, the urgency in his voice, his little grin, the sensual everything. It's so intoxicating, and he just got all the feelings, all the sensations for love right.
The song's about love, about falling in love, about the fixation with a person, the admiration, the never-wanna-leave-you-for-a-second feeling, etc.
Every line in the song is just amazing. When you were in love, didn't you feel that every thing in the world was amazing? Just like Dave says, "It's crazy, I'm thinking, just knowing that the world is round."
And when you love somebody, you're just "dancing on the ground, am I right side up or upside down? And is this real, or am I dreaming?"
"And I wonder this: could tomorrow be so wondrous as you there sleeping."
And right at the end of the song, it ends with this: "Oh my love, many now hold you, but please, please, just let me, always..."
Wow.
And to think that the song almost didn't make it into their album, Before These Crowded Streets!
My love anthem for hubby and me from now on. Just because the song so reminds me of us.
Thank you, bfm 89.9 for playing this brilliant song for me this very first time today.
And just because I love it so much, here's another version of it.
Feels like the whole universe is holding me even closer these days than before, and I'm just welcoming it all in.
I mean just in this two weeks, I've been smitten by the charmingly acidic Anthony Bourdain, can't seem to get enough of grapefruits and its bitter after-taste (take one each day!), and loving this song.
It just blows my mind, I can't even describe it! I've heard of the Dave Matthews Band before...especially the song Crash Into Me. But this one, Crush, the Radio City acoustic version, is something else, man!
I love the lyrics, the way DM mouths the words, his tenderness, the urgency in his voice, his little grin, the sensual everything. It's so intoxicating, and he just got all the feelings, all the sensations for love right.
The song's about love, about falling in love, about the fixation with a person, the admiration, the never-wanna-leave-you-for-a-second feeling, etc.
Every line in the song is just amazing. When you were in love, didn't you feel that every thing in the world was amazing? Just like Dave says, "It's crazy, I'm thinking, just knowing that the world is round."
And when you love somebody, you're just "dancing on the ground, am I right side up or upside down? And is this real, or am I dreaming?"
"And I wonder this: could tomorrow be so wondrous as you there sleeping."
And right at the end of the song, it ends with this: "Oh my love, many now hold you, but please, please, just let me, always..."
Wow.
And to think that the song almost didn't make it into their album, Before These Crowded Streets!
My love anthem for hubby and me from now on. Just because the song so reminds me of us.
Thank you, bfm 89.9 for playing this brilliant song for me this very first time today.
And just because I love it so much, here's another version of it.
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