Sanity...saved by the plane

Several days before my long awaited flight to HK, i experienced something for the first time - xtreme "tight" headaches that naggingly lasted an entire day even, cloudiness in thoughts, desensitized in emotions i "should" be feeling, slowness in actions, fatigue and less energy for road rage =P wuahahah, the last point should be more beneficial actually. though all the while, staying upbeat and keeping positive thoughts on exploration of a different country and culture becomes MORE important than ever...to keep my sanity!

Arrived in HK (Finally!), stepping into this blasting windy city had literally swept my headaches away, well suspected it could be migranes which i reaaaally hope NOT!
lugging that golfbag and luggage around proved to be quite a workout in a supremely crowded joint, kudos to Vee who's does this on a regular basis!

First night of arrival i managed to sweat like a pig in this cold weather (i know, soooo attractive right! =P ) testing out 3 octopus stages in a small room while chugging down some good ol' orange juice. Next night was first exposure to HK's club scene at the "Libre De Danser" event Viva Vertical had sponsored, pole performance by Sky Tao. Caught up with HK's "pole goddess" Symone and met quite a gang of polers around







Thursday was spent with lots of walking...and i mean, LOTS! constantly refueling with bananas, apples, PB & J sandwich, egg tart, tou fu fa and our food splurge of the day "won ton mee" (yes we're on a budget!)
Ladies Night (almost EVERYWHERE) - in a nutshell, there was bar/club hopping, champagne, tequila, cosmos, magherita and more champagne, live band, pole, DJ equipement exploration and McDonalds. needless to say i woke with my first ever,yes first EVER!! "hangover" about noontime.





Have some time now to upload photos, especially the ones from weeks before (sorry for delay!) so please do check them out on Facebook and join Viva Vertical group.

Oddly, things seem calmer in this bustling joint...but of course thats because Malaysia is constantly bustling with Viva Activity! =) regardless of the busy-ness, i still miss it...i'm sure Vee does too ;)

the calming times includes walks out of the main city, like when we went in search of rock walls to climb! =P



also time in those MTR trains and the occasional coffee breaks at our newly discovered FREE and unlimited wifi joing called H-TEA-O. good soup! =P
i do miss my brothers...
i do wonder how they are doing while im away for 2 weeks...
the simple things like lunch packing and organizing daily schedules..
good thing andrew's independant enough to at least cooks his own meals...
(no Adam, Maggie Mee is NOT cooking =P )
i do wonder if i "mother" too much, now that im away, i can see how it drives my mom crazy with her babies being on the other side of the world

I miss you brothers!

random past midnight

its almost 1AM and i have no idea why im actually on blogger blogging instead of laying my heavy head on that pillow next to me.

perhaps its because i feel that i should finally somehow explain my sense of "absence", both in blogging and of course, in person. those who know me close had been able to tell

all in a nutshell, things that run through randomly in my mind and things that often stick in my mind and never lets me go....for now...

(remember! its random and in no particular order!)

- i miss my chilli con carne

- will i survive more mask clearing tasks in my next scuba lessons

- im so tired though very happy to be able to make my cheese my way

- Andrew...

- Adam...

- i'm THIS close to giving up on him (its not andrew or adam)

- more plates to feed? shoulda though of that!

- playing pool brings back such good memories

- i miss mom

- my cheese! who moved my cheese! (well i know that one....)

- ugh...the negativity...must fight it!

- think happy thoughts...think happy thoughts...

- i wonder if i get to sleep throughout the night tonight...

- ok.i should stop the attempt to blog now and snooooze....

- no wait, havent finished my to-do list....

- baaaaaaaaaaaaaah

.....


randomness...you may expect that from me at the moment....

Hong Kong here i come!!! =D

GONG HEY!!

Yes finally decided it should be "OK" to take one night off of PC work and blog!

First let's welcome a house guest of ours! lil Piper! JonO's sugarglider while he's away...so we're pet-sitting!





Chinese New Year has arrived again, this time not so much of a BIG BANG but perhaps its due to economy? I aint much of a celebrator myself, it wasn't til am back in KL experiencing CNY again in 2005 that i learned more about this traditional celebration. Every year i learn something new about this celebration, like you are to wear certain colors on certain days of CNY depending on your chinese sign! Though the process is ALWAYS the SAME! you go house hopping, see relatives you hardly ever see except during CNY, so every year its the same conversations going on. I do wonder if this is the only time most of us get to relieve the guilt of not visiting the peeps whom you should be seeing more, by spending at least half a day at their crib eating, drinking, gambling and talking about the same thing they did last year.
then you have the closer families whom this is the only time of the year where everyone's able to get off work to gather with the rest of the fam for some good ol' quality catch up.
from the 4 years of house hoppin and relatives visiting (i skipped one when i worked thru cny =P ), i feel perhaps this year is most rewarding with the relative visiting...
Role of mom was played today and took the bros out,Got to rekindle with my Aunt from mom's side and her big family on the first day of CNY (i know i know, traditionally you are to go to dad's side on first day bla bla bla...but wit a what you may call "dysfunctional" one, things are to change =P ). she welcomed us with such sincerity that i felt really guilty for not having taken more time visiting them throughout the past 2 years =/
going back to her place brought back so many memories for the bros and i, as we pretty much used to camp out there when mom was living here.





the only thing that sucks about me and cny is that i dont usually get to enjoy all the food!!!

example was cny eve dinner! 2 small servings of Yee Sang and half a bowl of sharksfin soup and i was already full!! =( ended up with one piece of every dish for the dinner only , but hey thats good enough! had hit the gym the next day...felt like a real blubber! Yee Sang is definately something i look forward to every year, the only time where everyone's chopsticks get together for some food tossing! (which really is what it seems like =P )




VEE is finally back from her long absence! made a house call (which so happenes to be like 5min away from my Aunt!), stared at the food cause we couldnt eat no more so tried to make some dough instead =P


played..well..made some "Dong Dong Chiang"sounds on the drum set...


then off for some drinks with the SIS and the BROinLaw @ Quattro




I SOOOO LOOKED FORWARD TO THIS FUN FUN WEEK WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

SHANGHAI NIGHT FOR VIVA POLE OUT ON JAN 30TH YA'LL! see the Facebook page for Details!


CATCH YA'LL THERE!!

How i spent christmas in 08...

Went back to church for Christmas Eve Candlelight service after what seem like aaaagggeeessssss.....
and i was reminded again why i hardly go...
I CANT SIT STILL =/
attempted to sing my way thru the service with those awfully high church songs notes..(u dont wanna hear it...)
then came "the offering"...
i could see people around STIFFEN up while the ushers make their way to their row
then the covered fists come in...
i mean come on, if you're not gonna make an offering, DONT PRETEND!
This cat sittin next to me had his hands on the pamphlet the whole time and when the offerin bag came, the empty palm transformed to a fist with an offering?
"offering my heart"....yeah whatever... more like "no lose face" =/
sickening.....

Finally the lights go out, the lighting of the candles are about to begin when...
an old gentlemen sittin in front of me start shakin his head uncontrollably, his son tried to gain control of the movement by holding the man's chin as he makes out that the man was about to pass out....
"DOCTOR! WE NEED A DOCTOR!"
thankfully a doctor was in the house and came to the man
as the man laid on his back on the church bench, doctor checks his pulse, people crowd around to "kepok", wonderin what the ruckus was about...
the wife explained that the man had previous heart problems and fainted before...
as the man struggle to regain control...
the singing of "silent night" began to fill the church
standing there,holding my lit candle looking down right at the man, i was feeling helpless and completely eeeked out with the song in tune with the situation
as the man suddenly turns and vomits...
singing of "joy to the world" filled the church... (irony...)

he was still on the bench when the service was over and the crowd started clearing out
999 was called but the dispatch and hospitals asked if he can be transported by car instead..
i'm like, DUDE! if they were able to wouldnt you think they would've done so already???
*thought to myself, what kinda f***** place am i livin in????*
took 3 people to call 999 and different hospitals..finally the miraculous words "they're coming" was uttered

hope the man's ok....


At Trinity Methodist Church




enjoyed a simple dinner with La Familia after the service

Delicious! I love chinese meals like this!



it was a treeless christmas again this year, just seem sad to put up a tree shy of beautiful ornaments and pressies at the bottom (yes i blame the f******* economy that can kill traditions!!!) so instead of gettin up early for the tree-rush, i got up early to make some fluffy pancakes instead. Seems very simple yes but its the simple things that brings me joy =) sharing the love of pancakes!!




Adam was peacefully snoring while i was slaying away at the mosquito filled wet kitchen making those pancakes!



Andrew entertaining us with his P skillz!




and also cupcakes galore! with the help of cuzzie Pauline in baking these and the help of the boys making poop shapes with icing when decorating them...






managed to mall-hop from midvalley to 1u that day without much time consumed in traffic, which was miraculous! Midvalley had a whole carnival themed christmas going on and i felt like a kid again, hopping from cart to cart awing at Ginormous lollipos =)



went with the bros to watch Bolt and lil angela came on last min, the line was RiDONculous!(i love that new word i've adapted) BUT...miraculously marcus was already in line for tickets and helped got ours so we were lucky to have skipped waiting prob an hour in line! Aaaaawesomeness!!!!



Our Yummmyyyyy treat before the movie





christmas night was spent camming with mother back in Knox. she never fails to bring me smiles... We miss her so much...


our beautiful mother!!





Boys and i been playing christmas music during the road trip to and from penang and im still Loving It! so im still gonna "WISH you a merry christmas....we wish you a merry christmas.....we WISH you a merry christmas...and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

The lights...those flasing lights

i still stare in awe at the pretty christmas lights...
something about them blinking the night away...
brings peace to me...

i still admire the ornaments decorating the tree in so many different forms...
trumpets, santas, elves, tiny prezzies, music notes....
pretty soon we'll see ornaments of Pole Dancers perhaps? lil figurine doing the B Hook... =D

i still enjoy the many versions of christmas jingles...
the many remixes by modern popular artists...
and the sensual voices of christmas songs our dancers slow jam to...

i still go "yippie" for christmas treats...
love the peppermint candy cane, love the peppermint latte(which they dont have in msia! *sobs*), love the choc-christmas-storybook(where u find a piece of choc as you read along the story days leading to christmas), love the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and dippin them in milk, love the warmth from hot chocolate with marshmellows, love that luscious texture and taste of red velvet cake...
then i noticed that not once did i mention actual nutritious food....*hmmmm*

i still jump in delight at wrapped christmas gifts...
the excitement and anticipation of your rewards after working hard at being a "good girl" for your mom and dad...
which makes me look forward to my own family in the future...


yeah yeah i know...its a lil early for all this christmas talk
but hell, christmas means the whole of dec to me =P

i was asked: "what would you like for christmas?"
my answer: "......."
*i actually started choking up then so needed to change subject superman-quick,sorry buddy*

since what i really want for christmas is an impossible wish for Santa to fulfill, i thought i'd give it a go at tangible objects instead. Never made a christmas wishlist so...why not...? =)

* New Phone * "hah! of course LAH =P "
* Toffee Nut Latte and Hazelnut Nut Latte OR IF CAN BE FOUND- PEPPERMINT LATTE!!* "*shrugs* what do ya expect from a coffee enthusiast?"
* Book on study and exploration of World Politics * "yes i DO read..."
* Personal on call cookie baker * "not maker! BAKER!'
* Massage treats * "oh dont we love massages!"
* Shopping spree on lingerie * "fussy in lingerie shopping, though love Xixili!"

thats it off the top of my head! now lets see if Santa will be visiting me this year for once...


"What do you think lil elf?"

i LOVE Christmas!

I love Christmas! There always something about the colors, the lights, the tree, the ornaments, the people’s joy, the songs, the carols, the cooking & baking, the presents..ooh don’t we loooove the presents when we were kids, the only morning of the year where you CANT wait to get up as early as you’re allowed to just to rush down to that overly-decorated tree and go on a rip-wrapper-rampage, hug your parents after they watch you squeal in presents-joy with happy glistening eyes, enjoy some hot chocolate before they hustle you out the door in your best looking outfits for church…

As we age, Christmas hits us a lil differently. It aint just about presents anymore, it aint just about decorating that tree til its on the verge of ornament explosion, it aint just about singing that Rudolf song while stuffing your face with Christmas cookies… As we age, people we love and care for may not always be by our side very often until this very holiday brings us back together…the whole year filled with negatives of bickering somehow seems to vanish on a magically forgiving day…but what happens when you have distance preventing you from seeing your loved ones when they are the ones you would give anything to share with the most?...

The tradition of putting up the tree seem less meaningful…The songs aint bringing joy to the ears no more but more of tears to the eyes…putting your heart out cooking and baking and it being received with a local mentality pretty much kills any spirit you have left in you…Christmas shopping seems more like a chore than the joyous act of giving…

Is it because of the lack of enthusiasm you’re surrounded with out here during this holiday, where its just another day you get outta work? Is it because of our teachings and our ways out here that just kills the meaning of Christmas as the years go by where we only celebrate to impress others?

Perhaps im going thru this….phase? No… a reality check? No…. emo-ing? Maybe…perhaps….

I guess I just miss HOME…

Debating on putting up a tree...even though it will be empty of pressies and ppl sitting around it...i'd still love a tree.....hmmmmm

Seems to get harder every year, going thru Christmas without Mother and the family gathering I miss so much back Home…

But life goes on, grin and bear, make the best out of it…

Yes…That is the spirit I WILL have….and Share with my boys

I still Love Christmas and the joyful sights, the joyful songs and the joyful faces of my loved ones...

Ya cant kill my Christmas spirit!!!

Very Late Update II

Ready for some real randomness? =P

Been sick for over a week now, thanks to that killer virus that's been spreading around to all mankind (no Jon not directly towards you, just the evil cat that passed it to you). Not too bad as its only the 2nd time this year, still considered to have a little stronger immune system right? o.O
So 3 of us would be hacking away, asthmatic-like coughing fits, feeling like the world's biggest poop...and what do we do for remedy?

I Had this looooovely Mint Coffee at Winter Warmers, which gave me the jolt i needed to listen to what the Dive instructor has to say. Maybe its ONLY when im sick that i actually FEEL the caffeine then...





and what do the boys have when they're sick?


awww...puppy face said...can?




2 weeks of late nights and work and pole and gym had worked them good...
Yes the boys are working now! Where at ya ask?


"Welcome to Darabif!"




Late nights consisting of? well got to check out several places, one of them be RAW. Before that i had to wait at Modestos with the boys, WHAT A SCENE! It was a joint filled with 15year olds drinking and grinding on each other(well maybe just the foreign kids, the asian ones were attempting to it seemed)! YES! these kids were SERVED bottles of Hard liquor! All i could think of was "shoot i had to use fake IDs and risk gettin busted! these kids havin it served to them!"

Joined Vee and her Bro-In-Law @ RAW after and the cocktail Sampling began! i loved my Coffee-licious one =D what was in it again? Chocolate, coffee, baileys...more chocolate and coffee...yyuuuuummmmm.






October has been a month of TOO MUCH Food Sampling! =P tried Bamboo Rice for the 1st time. it was alright, nothing to shout about. Done with Rice!


Outside Damansara Kim




Did some catching up with the Irish Aunt, pet loving with the 3 dogs 2 cats in the house and met lil Joshua (who's mom is renting a room at her house). Such an adorable energizer bunny! the 18mth old be dancing and chasing dogs around the house, sneaking over to my purse to look for the cell phone he loves throwing around and started mimicking the hump motion on my leg! Aunty and i agree, that needs to be fixed...







Caught up with Sue Yoong again for her Birthday @ the Gardens. Same day as DAD! also means --> a Day full of Sinful treats



at YO Sushi...food aint THAT great tho


Her lit birthday Ice Cream Treat. hahaha





DAD's Dinner was at Tony Romas. OK food, ginormous salad portion though!


Needless to say i did NOT finish this...


Stared at the "men" food while they gorged on these


>





Lotsa birthdays this month!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KYETHERINE/AWESOME/MELONS/WOOOWOOO!


Doin our thang at Euphoria MOS






HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MR-duriYEN!


Mr "i dont do photos" =P





HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FIONA-JANE GOMEZ/FI FI/PRINCESS FI/MISS SK II


Night of cam-whoring @ Palate Palette




Aite Aite..this is a WHOLELOTTA Cake and Food and Alcohol... What do we do to burn and shed some guilt?

Other than some club dancing......


The Gang @ RAW Liquid Launch




The Duo invaded the DJ booth





And Club POLE dancing.....


Lita & Ophelia leadin the night @ ZanziBar





They prepped us with "tools"!





Performance and Practices...


SAMSUNG Cream Launch at BAR Club.(btw its body art on my thigh,aint no real tatt!)





The Launch in Penang's QE II Restaurant & Bar





How could we resist cam-whoring with this?





Body Art on The arms Now






Attempting this cam-in-mirror shot






POLE workshop @ Jaya One PJ,in Aid of raising funds for Assunta's Breast cancer research...


Nana, Baby G & Porche leadin it @ Jaya One




One of our volunteers who couldnt get enough






Chase our mascot MISA around the studio....







Teach Men pole til they drop...


"Desiree"'s buddies...






Give Fi Fi a cheerleading chant to use the gym in the studio...


"Go Go! off your butt!!"







Join Wade Robson's workshop....


Wade Robson Workshop @ Celebrity Fitness 1Utama







Play some late night Wii Boxing and Tennis...







Was all that worth just to eat a plate of this...?


Mee Goreng







RESPONSE:

The Boys....


"dude we eat anything that moves..."



The Girls...





*sigh* let's just capture the Evil Lead Monkey who brought us donuts...!