Klue university interview & singapore

“If the world needed one less stupid person, I’d shoot you.”
-Zain HD

For the moment:
American Boy – Estelle f/ Kanye West

First of all, I am glad to say that the two previous posts made no mention of Freeze.

I am, to a certain extent, sick of talking about it. Especially here. I now will only make mention of it when a circumstance warrants me to. I miss posting about other things. You know, stuff like….Warna Kegemaran Saya. I have over 24 drafts saved in my hard disk on Windows Notepad waiting to be furnished and published.

Thursday till Sunday I will be in Singapore for a number of things, namely the Organising Committee meeting for The REAL Singapore Freeze. It will also be good time off from KL to spend valuable time with valuable people I know there. I receive word from the winds of change that my 21 month old nephew there has been crying blood because he misses his favourite super cool power gempakz uncle.

Tomorrow I have an interview tomorrow with KLue magazine thanks to Sarah Chan.

I saw her last Wednesday at the Heritage Mansion for the Cat Got Your Tongue party and thought of saying hello because I want to know more cool people and ditch my old friends but I didn’t. Not because I love my friends but because I shy and scared wait paiseh. However, somewhere in my subconscious hollow mind, I had a suspicion that I’ve seen her before someplace.

The following day, as fate had it, she messaged me on Facebook to request for an interview. After I went for 3 celebratory dinners I went on my own, I browsed through her FB pics, because I am keypoh like that and that helps me to become cool one day. There I saw a group pic of me and her in Port Dickson.

In 2005, we worked together in Starbucks Carrefour Subang Jaya. The month she started was my last month there. The same month the employees of S029 outlet made a trip to PD. Sarah now works for KLue.

Besides that, 4 university students have asked questions or interviewed to write a piece for a course they’re doing. I am not sure if that’s a malas move or a creative initiative. Latter I hope. Nevertheless it’s brilliant to see something expand in ways you never thought it could. 2 other university students have also approached for an interview for a piece they want to pitch to the editor of their uni magazine.

Being the slut that I am, I attend to all of them.

Albeit, I sincerely hope more good will come of what happened that Sunday, and any other things in life. If hurt people hurt people, then I hope it works vice versa for good people.

Just to be, just to snap

“You wasted $150,000 on an education when you coulda got it for fifty bucks in late charges at the public library”
-Will Hunting

For the moment:
Beautiful Occupation – Travis
Give Me One Reason – Tracy Chapman
Talkin Bout A Revolution – Tracy Chapman

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MSN Travel recently posted, in their view, 11 World’s Worst Tourist Traps. I have either been to or can relate to 5 of it. Below are my commentary.

Before that….last year, during a BBQ my brother had at his place for his friends and our cousins, one asked ‘where’s your brother?’ another interrupted and said, ‘if he’s not giving tuition, he’s travelling.’

I was not, but the essence of the statement is true. I have missed enough weddings and social gatherings because of what I do. Working part time throughout 4 years of Uni and travelling almost every holiday you had (and skipping the first 2 weeks of every single semester), is fun but you also miss out a number of things. Everyone goes through this balance of will and sacrifice.

I avoid doing typical things, especially when I travel. Besides not having much money to do much, such as tourist attractions and sometimes food, I avoid even snapping a typical picture. I want to snap a frame that captivates me. Personifies that moment. The way I see it, only I can make the best out of this moment. In fact, you don’t have to be in a different place to do something different. The first AND only obstacle, is yourself.

However, that’s my view. If you feel it’s best for you to stand infront of anything, plaster a smile for 3 seconds when to snap a photo only takes less than 1/3 of second, go ahead. Really. Each to his own. Horses for courses my friend.

 

“Leaning Tower of Pisa: The bell tower of the Cattedrale on the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa, Italy, may be architecturally interesting, but does it justify a half-day of travel from Florence in order to see it? Yes, the tower really does slant (it wasn’t built that way), but do you really need to jockey through the crowds surrounding it in order to obtain a photograph of you “holding” it up? Instead, spend your time enjoying a leisurely lunch or meeting some locals at the corner coffee bar.”

I’ve never been there and had little interest in going because Weewee told me the only thing there, is the tower. Nothing else. However, I did think of making a short trip somewhere enroute, to the old town of San Remo to visit IIHL in March 2007. But that too, was far. We did Rome-Florence-Padova-Venice-Milan. Regardless of me being a person who prefers walking, I vouch for Venice. Hands down. Legs moving.

And yes. For years I’ve been annoyed with people exploring their photographic+humour creativity with the tower. No one has done a pic of them sitting on it. That, would not be a Tourist Trap.

 

“Times Square: New York’s neon-lit, iconic intersection is certainly a symbol of the city, but gone are the days of glitz, glamour and grime. Its new face is one of corporate megastores and digitally animated advertisements.”

We took quite a few pics in NYTS, but I don’t think we did any of the iconic intersection. Like the ones most do, that the moment you see it, you knew it was NYTS. I think we were all too preoccupied taking pics with the NYPD in front of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant. Friendly chaps the Officers.

They stopped being friendly when I asked them if they were in the same class as Cadet Carey Mahoney in the Academy.

 

“Madame Tussaud’s: The (in)famous wax museum in London has opened branches in New York, Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Amsterdam, which may help relieve the congestion of packed-in visitors — but is unlikely to ease the exorbitant entry fee.”

I saw it once when I was kid. December 1991. Enough. The next trip I did, the rest went in and I just roamed London on my own like Ray Keeley, Terry Warboys & Leon Peck. Unless you have a coupon voucher to get half off or something, this place is not worth it. As it is you see enough mannequins in shopping centers. I hate passive stuff. It’s like a ripped off version of a moden day museum with little room for appreciation.

They still can’t decide which Nose does Michael Jackson have.

 

“Fisherman’s Wharf: This crowded stretch of San Francisco waterfront from Ghirardelli Square to Pier 39 is dominated by tacky souvenir shops, chain restaurants and street hawkers. On top of that, dozens and dozens of loud, belching and flatulating sea lions make some tourists long for a one-way ticket to Alcatraz, the prison just across the bay.”

Ya. I think I did this in 1995. But I was kid, what do I know. At that age, if you like a girl, you hit her.

 

“Faneuil Hall: Despite being a popular stop on Boston’s historic Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a predictable conglomeration of chain stores and gaudy souvenir shops. Quincy Market, the main building, is dominated by an overpriced food court, and the two market buildings to its side feel like an outdoor mall. At least, now that Boston’s Big Dig project is finally complete, you don’t have to dodge construction trailers on your way there.”

Yes. The meals were expensive. Lovely architecture though. Had character.

 

When two friends decided to pay USD 40 to watch huge whales swim about (because you know, they usually walk), me and another friend took the metro to Harvard & MIT. It was gratifying to walk around the campus to remind us how unintelligent we were.

Landscape wise, I think University of Malaya is much nicer. Honestly.

I sometimes wish I attended UM but I’m too intelligent they say. Honestly.

 

When I saw the cart and the donkey during our visit to the City of the Dead in Cairo, I knew it. We were meant to be. But I didn’t have roses or a My Life Is Perfect Because I Met You card. So while I hastily dolled up, I asked my brother to snap this and that child got it perfectly without saying ‘eh one more. One more ah.’

Of all the self proclaim cool stuff I delusionally think I do when I travel, nothing to me beats what Casey Fenton did. The Founder of CouchSurfing climbed the great Pyramid (in Sunway) at 4am, stood on top and surveyed the desert (and saw USJ Taipan).

Best friend

“I once said that I don’t like to label people as my best friends only because I don’t want to prioritise one friend before the other but since like 5 months ago, I think I’ve found a best friend in you.”
-the Fuschia Card

For the moment:
Passenger Seat – Stephen Speaks
Ordinary People – John Legend

I once read somewhere that, when you feel like letting go, remember why you held on for so long. But it happens still.

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Except on this end, it hasn’t been much fun. None at all.

Mansion cowboy barrier

“Me Julie!”
-Ali G

For the moment:
Check The Rhime – A Tribe Called Quest

*Above are photos from Juana Jaafar (Freeze Point C), an appointed photographer from the team. So are below from colleague Prakash Daniel (Freeze Point A & B). Before Prakash’s, middle batch, are photos I took from Shazeea Banu (Freeze Point C).

Tonight I got a warm gesture from a random cowboy.

I was invited to go to Cat Got Your Tongue at Heritage Mansion by Biresh Vrajlal, a stranger who came across my profile prior to the Freeze. I’m not going to drop names about “who was there” because, this is not that kind of website and also because fck it. You don’t impress me. Not that way you don’t.

When I was walking out though, I saw this guy with a cowboy hat and t-shirt saying It’s Not Your Day Today. He was looking at me and I have always felt that, if you take notice of someone looking at you, don’t ignore it. Acknowledge it. Do whatever. But don’t pretend it didn’t happen because both of you know it did.

So I smile at him and he gave me a wide smile back, shook my hand and did the manly semi-hug and told me how much he loved the KL Freeze (in Unison) at Pavillion.

I think that made my night. Not because of what he said, but the simple idea of a smile followed by a handshake, a semi-hug and a brief conversation between two strangers. It’s about breaking down the barriers of unfamiliarity between strangers. A perspective Pravin was sharing with me just the previous night.

Roadblock

“Awak bawak laju. 18 kilometer lebih.”
-Police Officer

For the moment:
Please Don’t Turn Me On – Artful Dodger

Have you ever approached a roadblock, knowing that you’re going to get flagged, on top of knowing that you don’t have a valid license?

I have almost never avoided a roadblock. I normally go in smiling, knowing that I got all my papers sorted and mostly going in to see how they do things or who got stopped and speculate why them.

In October 2006, I got stopped in a roadblock on the way to campus. I was already late and it was fantastic that on this occasion, I had a valid reason to be ‘late’. As the officer looked through my documents, I looked around to notice that they were ending their operations making me the last person to check.

My heart leaped through my head and speared through my helmet when I discovered that my road tax had expired.

11 months ago!

I got the summon, with little objection and was instructed to go to Court. Being a law student at that time, you tend not to take it seriously.

Last week when my license expired 10th April 2008, I couldn’t renew it because I did not appear in Court in 2006. So ever since the 10th, I’ve been riding and driving without a valid license. And I can only renew it after my Court hearing on 28th April. Here’s the breakdown for last Wednesday,

9pm: Drove to Bangsar Village for 2 meetings, then to Taman Tun to meet two people very briefly at two different locations then off to Heritage Row where I’m in training to be a resident MC. I’m exhausted and in a hurry.

12.30am: Already late, I took the wrong turn and ended up speeding on the National Museum road heading towards city centre.

Badabing. Roadblock.

At the speed I was doing, I knew I was gonna get flagged. The police officer then tells me I did 18km/h above the limit. As I fidget with my wallet trying to locate the invalid drivers license, he asks me if I should be summoned. I couldn’t answer and he said, ‘bagi IC. IC je.’

As he takes my identification card, he asks me again. I just threw my hands up and placed it on my cheeks (not the hair cause that’s the mojo), and said ‘I deserve it. I don’t know what else.’ He then passes the IC back to me and says, it’s ok, go. It happened so quick that I found myself asking over and over again, wtf just happened?

Or could it have been the mojo?

Do not request a mythical freeze celeb

“Men. It is a shame to us women that we make them.”
-From Whom The Bell Tolls

For the moment:
Nutcracker Suite, Arabian Dance – Tchaikovsky
Nutcracker Suite, Dance Of The Reed Pipes – Tchaikovsky

*Below are two videos I think you should watch. The former recorded sometime in the 90′s. The latter is the Official Video for FWED hitz.fm’s version. Ours will be released on 4th May.

Of late I’ve been getting an immense amount of Friend Requests on Facebook. I do not know 95% of them. I suppose it’s because of all the Freeze buzz and putting myself somewhat out there. Not something I had time to think or plan about considering how things have been.

I like to get to know more people and make more friends. But I take the term ‘friend’ somewhat seriously and I avoid adding strangers on Facebook. Yes I do over analyse things and can be hard up the ass. I like things to mean what they’re suppose to or what I think it means.

I’m not sure how much of me they know, but allow me to share bits and pieces. I’m doing so because I am beginning to get this impression that some of you/them think that I’m this celebrity and all is well. A natural misconception due to the Freeze buzz.

Besides what is stated here, I ride a bike. And yes it is often cars don’t take our presence seriously. It looks like a normal 100-125cc bike but with an automatic transmission. I don’t own a car because it is not practical and I can’t afford it. Organising 3 projects in 3 Sundays made my handphone bill go up by at least 300%. My source of income comes from my parents even though I made it a point to stop asking for it years ago, I won’t ask them to stop giving just as yet either. Another part of my income is from teaching PMR & SPM students tuition and doing MC jobs.

All in all, it’s not much but I pull through and I am contented with what I have (beyond the monetary sense) and what I make (beyond the monetary sense). The best times of my life are when I’m with my little sisters. Despite them describing it as a nightmare in broad daylight with their eyes open and their ears covered.

Just like everyone, I rely and am close to my relatives. Except that compared to the average person, I have alot of cousins. They’re everywhere like roaches. They are the people I trust and surround myself with.

Moving along, a few days before Freeze For World Earth Day, I was already talking about the next project in May but that kind of mellowed down because FWED took up too much of my capacity. However, about 90 minutes after FWED ended, I splurge massacre like on the next project when I was having a post-mortem supper with 2 of my Right Hand Men: Hassan SGF & Nasir SHB.

At 3 am, another splurge came and I opened Microsoft Notepad (because I’m old school like that), and typed everything down and expanded the idea even more.

Official video kl freeze in unison

“…really wished that I could join the other day. The whole thing was beautiful. CONGRATULATIONS WELL DONE ;)”
-Erina Zahara Ellias

“Thought I should write you personally instead of ticking the RSVP box “Not Attending” that is so cold for such a warm and loving initiative in the spirit of humanity. Love and God bless you abundantly always and all ways.”
-Pat Lu

“For the sleepless nights and countless hours put into this! Was really great :)”
-Christopher Tock

For 2 weeks now, Chantek has been the number 1 song on the charts of the number radio station in the country.

The Official Video KLFU was meant to be released on Sunday 20th April, and when it was, I told the editor, to take it down and edit it again according to my notes because of a few unexpected glitches. Despite his present success and hectic schedule, the video was worked on again promptly. Neither him nor others involved were paid for any part of their commitment. These are the kind of people I look for to work with on projects I am part of.

• Sunday 6th April: Free Hugs at Tugu Negara with some fantastic friends.

• Sunday 13th April: KL Freeze in Unison with an amazing team of volunteers.

• Sunday 20th April: Freeze For World Earth Day (an event initiated and headed by hitz.fm), with a team of brilliant beings.

I once mentioned online and during a radio station interview that for KLFU I spent an immense amount of time in front of the computer, lost a lot of my appetite for food and went many hours without sleep.

I’m sure others from the team of volunteers went through something similar, and also organising committees of other projects around the world. But simple messages like the ones above from (strangers whom I may just never meet in my life,) Christopher Tock, Erina Zahara & Pat Lu, goes a really long way.

God willing, we all have made it great. From the organising committee, to the 1000 over people who made it, to the others who supported it.

Now that I am done going all Oprah on you, let’s watch the video.

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“Zain, it’s ok babe. No matter what, you got my support.”
-Jennie Yang, before me & Pravin left for our first meeting with hitz.fm

Freeze clicks

Since things are somewhat cluttered at the moment, please click your area of interest. If not, you could just scroll down to where the dinosaurs laid.

*KLFU is KL Freeze in Unison, FWED is Freeze For World Earth Day, RA is either RandomAlphabets.com or RandomActs, UCM is United Colours of Malaysia, WTVR is WhateveRRR.

**FWED is not a Flash Mob. That is not the nature, cause and/or objective of FWED. KLFU and others held around the world, may have been so. Not this one. Facebook: 1102 Attending, 1759 Maybe Attending, 11653 Awaiting Reply.

Kota Kinabalu, their own FWED.

Click here for time synchronisation.

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Freeze For World Earth Day. 8pm. Sunday 20th April.

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Simple guidelines for those coming to FWED
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KLFU pictures from the official photographer
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Frequently asked questions: freeze
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Commentary pictures post KLFU
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With pictures, thank you kl freeze in unison
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Gathering Point for KL Freeze in Unison revealed!

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