I just couldn't help but smile to myself when I read the article in a local paper. It reminded me of 6 years back where I was in a debate with my SIF-fellows during our stint in Singapore on which country Bata came from. Bata can be seen, well, almost every major supermarket in Malaysia. It is quite clear that I should assume that Bata belonged to Malaysia! My Singapore friend thought otherwise, where Bata should be a Singaporean brand because they too has many Bata shops. Thai friends seemed to think Bata belonged to the Thais. No evidence, no research done, everybody just claimed Bata's theirs as it has always been an established name in many ASEAN countries.

So, a Thai friend decided to do the smart thing: Research (....hmmphhh...i think wiki didn't exist yet, so I think she googled). Found out it was a Czech man who found Bata. So, the credit goes to Czech Republic. Ohh, which didn't made it thru' Euro top 8.

I know Bata has been trying to built it's brand but it has always been relayed to as a cheap brand. Or a school shoe brand. I have always wore Bata school shoes in my schooling years as Pallas was always a strap-on. Hated strape-ons as you always wanna show off your shoe string-tying skills.

I am proud of my new Bata.

Oh, I had a birthday preview. June 6th, 2008. I realised that Dominos pizzas had a good combo deal if booked online, so I taked-away 6 pizzas and some side dishes for my labmates. We brunched at our lab - the lab largely known for storage of pesticides, used of toxic chemicals, foul fumes of glacial acetic acid, HCl, methanol, chloroform and fungal spores (that's mine). It's such an obscure place to dine, but we had no choice because we had limited food and not everybody was invited (lab also got office politics marrr).

Anyway, nobody sang any birthday song for me because we turned on Youtube and let the computer sing Juno's 'Happy Birthday'. Now, that was what I call 'modern civilization' + 'lazyness' (even to sing) to the max!

I had a great party. It's different! I made sure my lab assistants were not around because they would have been furious for feasting in the most toxic lab in the whole faculty.

I once drank distilled water from a used beaker. That was desperate times. Now too. 'Thank you', Pak Lah *hugs*.

That's us in Red. My birthday theme. Just maybe, everyone knows I love ManUtd.

Clockwise from left: Arshia, Aishah, Me, Dahlia, Mogeret, Sek Yee, Ina (middle).

A short note here: ManUtd won the UEFA Champions League! My heart skipped a beat tooo many (penalties after penalties); my eyes are puffy; my tongue is bland because of the alternating coffee and tea. But it's worth all the insomnia: ManUtd did it again!!

Viva ManUtd! Best team ever.

I can't stomach him at all. Arhuleta. Maybe he's too 'nice' as he smiles too often. Archuleta. His facial features reminded me of the typical creepy ventriloquist's puppet doll. Archuleta. He doesn't answer any question properly and shrugs them off by blurping 'I don't know'. Arhuleta. He sang only emo songs. Arhuleta. I am saying this not because I'm jealous of talented people, because anyway, Arhuleta is too short for my liking. Arhuleta - the annoying David.

There was never doubt that he was the most talented singer of all 12 finalists. He could impress any music-deaf person with his rendition of Lennon's 'Imagine'. I realised that his voice has not crack a bit nor has he hit a wrong note ever before. Never a pitch problem. They called him a singing prodigy. But is he Idol material? Well, not that I care because I'm not in America; I can't vote. To me, Archuleta is not Idol material as he does not have the package. He just sings well but this boy Archuleta, does not perform.

David Cook is Idol material. He made mistakes (Archuleta made a blunder too- forgetting his lyrics during his Top 10 performance (ooooOOOO..). Cook is a soul rocker. My genre! He is calm. He PERFORMS and when he sang Phantom Of The Opera's Music Of The Night, I was moved and charmed. I love his rock rendition of 'Billie Jean', 'Always Be my Baby' and 'Hello'. Cook never intended to audition for Idol which made him even special as he was found! He's 25 and he is by the way, my type. It's pure personal preference anyway.

Cook is also a talent. He's more versatile than Arhuleta and can even sing the whole phonebook (quoted by Randy). Simon told Leno that he wanted Cook to win American Idol 7 as he deserves it. Well, after soo many seasons of American Idol, I realised that you don't have to win to be famous or successful in this competitive industry. I believe more people will buy Cook's album compared to David even if the former doesn't win (who ever bought Taylor Hicks' album!?). American Idol is, however, a popularity contest. Arhuleta takes the popularity, but the real talent belongs to Cook.

(watching AI7 finale now. Archuleta did well. Annoyingly expected!)

IVY OUT..!

...continuation from previous post...

Where should I be going depends on also the politics in Malaysia. I am glad that after BN lost 2/3 majority in parliament and they STILL DO NOT KNOW WHY they lost badly after 50 years kemerdekaan. I, as a non-political scientist also can give you an answer. BN has been setting up committees after committees saying that they lost because they never blog (duh!) and never get to influence web users (silly! because even if they blog, no one wants to listen to them except their cronies); or because Anwar's a threat; or because their own BN ppl sabo them (ask your own UMNO ppl why laa!?!); and even after March 8, BN still have never think for the rakyat because they tarik-balik all memorandum signed between the federal government and the previous BN-state rule now won by opposition (eg. Penang); even removed the mega projects that has to do with Opp. ruled-states. I know why. I really know why: UMNO only thinks about money. If opposition continues the Penang bridge project, UMNO will have no money to pocket-in. Everything is about money. But money has failed the government entirely. Why would a screwdriver cost RM400 when my hardware guy across the street says it's only RM50 to the most! I've experienced this myself form the purchase of my granulating machine from China. A RM12000 barang became RM20,000. Hmmphh....RM8,000 marked-up. Suspicious.

Another I know why: our PM is a problem. See, if a soccer club fails to deliver, who is the one who gets the boot?? - the manager. He's responsible for the whole team despite his players having injuries or failed to score goals. So, pandai-pandai lah...after this March 8, our PM still fails to acknowledge that he's the MAIN problem and still gave OTHER non-relevant reasons to why they lost badly. Not that I like our deputy PM, but at least, I think Pak Lah is irrelevant already. Again, let me emphasize: The whole BN is irrelevant at this stage. The people fear to vote the opposition previously because they are afriad of riots and curfews (i.e. 13 May 1969), but hey(!), the rakyat realised that even after this March 8 results, there's no chaos! Hmmph....I believe the people will continue to support the opposition because now they know they have AN OPTION (and realised that nothing will happen even if Opposition forms the government). My point is, even if opposition states do not deliver after 4 years there's no doubt that the people has no fear anymore to choose WHATEVER THEY THINK IS GOOD FOR MALAYSIA (which is NOT BN).

God bless Malaysia.

I went to see YP off at KLIA the other day. She was on her trip to Hawaii to see Bun. Hope the flight was great and being her first time on a plane (I think...), wow, it is a distant place to start with! Good luck and have fun there! If you're reading this from Hawaii or California or losing money in Vegas, please buzz me and tell us all about it. Blog!!

My younger brother has been received by Iowa State University and Kansas State Uni. He's leaving in August this year but he's still undecided between which uni to go. I was forcing him to take Iowa because I know KSU has no Entomology courses there (in case I wanna work as a post-doc there marr..). He dreaded me tagging along with him to US as he knows how temperament and clean-freak (I can beat you to this, Bun) her sister can be :P Plus, Kansas sounds more ulu than Iowa, but is it?!? I want to be in America to...as Yvonne said...have sex in the truck :P

My dad wants me to go London. My dad says that he'll pay for all my expenses (WOW!). But he's not in London anymore by the time I get there because he should be in wherever the Ph.D. interview gets him. He's begging me to go, but where should I stay??

Then, there's Australia. I heard they are opening several agriculture post-doc's places to work in Uni of Melbourne. It's a paid job, but my own professor in UPM is countering that offer and offered me to work as his post-doc (which includes lecturing too). He'll pay me high! I said I wanna work for him, but honestly I told him : I am sick of UPM. My Prof. just smiled.

Ms. SJMC was the name given to me by my aikido instructor due to my frequent apperance in Subang Jaya Medical Centre. I worked there for 3 months in 2003, but I still think I don't deserve this nickname!

This time I was warded due to a mild fits. My body was overstressed though my mind was basically 'normal'. (No worries, I still am pH.D. material :) I don't know how to define my disease but basically my bones and joins all got numb and my heartbeat was so quick i thought I had a heart attack. I just couldn't move and my body starts to ache like crazy (esp. my neck)!! Plus, my legs were wobbly. And I broke out in cold sweats. I thought it was denggi fever or some viral fever, but I don't even have a temperature to start with. Both the SJMC doctor and my doctor uncle added that it could be a panic attack or stress-related disorder. Maybe a nervous breakdown.

So, here I was in SJMC. Results showed that my white blood count was extremely high that I thought it was leukemia (doc didn't think so, but I'm soo 'proud' to query him about leukemia). Touchwood, hope it's not. Just my immune system went to its lowest of low. Got some bacteria infection in blood and urine (could be due to low immunity) but still....weirdest thing....no fever!!!! Drink loads of water (coffee can ahh?) and rest (sleep) more was the advice. Hey, but I thought I slept a lot in Redang!??!?! Damn.

After burst appendicitis and my initial Bell's palsy scare, I always know what to do first thing I feel ANY pain - GO TO SJMC! (because got insurance already marrr).

t I was suprised by my own quick thinking, a spell of good lucks (only in this case, you'll see), my sole rapid decisions, and a sequence of saddening events that led to my get-away trip to Pulau Perhentian-Redang this week. First hint of things to come was that -he was suddenly gone. And what hurt me most was that he HAD the right excuse. It's the most relevant of excuses that even I, a very defensive (stubborn!) person, could not deter him. As fast as he came, he left. I wanted a week off from (lab)work to figure what does ALL of these meant, what my future holds, and what is required of me to do henceforth. I needed time and his trip gave me ample time. Thanks to Perhentian, the sharks, the turtles, the snorkellings, the weather, the sunsets and the bestest friend called Chris, I am now more confident in making a decision. Risky, but I want a decision that reflects me and yet not regretting it later.

I wanted to go Phuket, but my swimming boss told me one morning that he scratched his own Redang trip at the last minute (with deposit already paid) and beg me to replace him. So, I did. It was just 6 days before the intended trip! I needed a quick decision. Who the hell could actually ask for a leave from work that quick??!??!?!?! And the trip starts on a weekday - a Wednesday!

I actually wanted to go for the trip all ALONE, but yeah... that was the silliest thought even to start with. I knew Chris quit his previous job, so I called him first and he agreed on the spot!! He's not started his new job til next Monday. What a coinidence..

I kau-tim (settled) every piece of the packaged trip in 4hours..well..sans the itinerary. Booked the plane tickets on the same day too.

I don't want to blog about the whole trip to these pretty island paradise. It's not about the adventures, but the time off from everything - love, work, money, family, food, friends, KL. All I can say is that I had both heated conversations and friendly, crazy chatters with Chris. It was the most interesting conversation I had in years!

Chris has a brand new, unofficiated NIKON SLR camera and he snaps most of the photos. I've not gotten many photos with me as I was just armed with my camera phone. My photos can be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/cchivy/VacationPulauPerhentianTrip912April2008

Wait up for Chris' blog.

And there was I with a bikini. My first one. If you didn't know what peer-pressure was: my bikini was the product of that. I was pressured by several girls to get myself a bikini. And the first one I picked and tried out was the ONE I bought. Needless to say, my reputation as the most modest and highly-regarded swimming teacher in town has gone down the drain! What I didn't understand was my choice of colour and pattern for my bikini. I think it was innately present in my subconcious mind to choose a hyperly kiddie bikini (in short: cheesy). My bikini had colourful hearts all over (my hairs are standing on ends now). I could have chosen a blank pink piece, but NOoo, I had to choose that hideous un-sophisticated one. WHAT A CRIME!

What was really uncomfortable besides THAT being my first bikini and my first time wearing it was that I had this large scar over my belly from a surgery due to a burst appendicitis. And there were these colourful hearts....... (sigh).

What did make me feel sexy, however, was my voice. I had literally NO VOICE (or I would say: husky) on the day of my (kinda) huge Ph.d. presentation. I was glad that it went on quite well, and even a dirty-old professor said I was very sexy during presentation. And he literally added that it's not the voice, but my whole presentation was 'SEXY'. Ooooo ...WHAT DOES THAT IMPLY??

And nope, I'm never gonna wear that bikini. Maybe only for someone (you know who you are!!). For now, I'll stick to my Speedos. Girls, this time you can't pressure me! See you girls at my apartment.

anI took a difficult break from labwork despite having more piling up in weeks to come. Still I was glad to have took it.

My parents and I made a trip to Kuantan town and then all the way up to Kemaman where we drank the more-famous-than-Ipoh-white coffee's Hai Peng's original coffee at its original shop. The only thing about this coffee is that it's not 'white-coffee' like the Ipoh one, however, still creamier and had a better aroma and taste! (Hey, I still love Ipoh Old Kopitiam, ok?!). While 'Oldtown Kopitiam' had too many franchises around KL with Bangladeshies, Vietnamese or Filipino people serving me, the only Kemaman Hai Peng shop I know of is in IOI Mall next to Popular Bookstore. Not promoting here, but I think Hai Peng's coffee is sooo superb and my dad had to say this: I'll go all the way to Kemaman to taste it again! (later I reminded him that IOI had it too) In fact, the Kemaman original shop is very small and had a 'very old-feel' to it (older than the Ipoh original one); you can see his generation still living there and still living their (grand)father's dream of not-over-expanding the business and kept it original by grinding coffee beans right behind their shop. I think it's older than the Ipoh one. It's like since 1920s. I dunno, man...wiki/google it! HERE

Awana Kijal about 15 min from Kemaman was a thrilling sight. The beach was beautiful but the waves were a huge horror! You could surf in there! I had a great time at their olympic size pool and had steamboat buffet at night. My parents left me alone in the room while I work on my laptop, while they took strolled along the beach. Finished every sachet of the hotel's free supply of Nescafe 3in1 and conciously dreamt of Kemaman's coffee and also ximut tea (from Oldtown Kopitiam) after.

P/S: Ya, gotta thank Leong for the buy one free one Starbucks vouchers. You spoil me. And ultimately killed my NY's resolution. Thanks...

On Monday 12.30am to 2.00am, my place at Bandar Puchong Jaya faced a power failure! I've stayed in Puchong for 5 years, and this is the FIRST time this has happened! Maybe 2nd time, but rare!

(Previous) government a.k.a. BN retaliating silently? Woooo...I wonder what's next. This is getting exciting and HOT. Didn't get to save the report I was typing halfway before my computer blanks out. SWEAT!

I was so into our Malaysia GE that I forgot to continue my story. Oh, before I continue, I woke up a happier person today :) There will be changes in my life and my Malaysia.

I would continue my story by replacing 'the girl'/'she' with 'I'/'me' because it's is very obvious the silly girl in my previous post was me.

So, I sat on the stairs about to swear out loud, scolding myself. I knew I will be able to survive the ordeal because my lab is quite self-sufficient by itself. And I have access to many other labs as I bodek almost every lab assistant in my faculty. Suddenly I heard a door knob of some room above me opening and a door squeaking. I leaped and ran up 20 flights of stairs to see who was it. It was this horticulture professor (who looks like Mohinder Suresh from Heroes without the curly hair bit) and his not-so heroic-looking Ph.D. student! I shout out to them "Hey, you guys!! (literrally calling them 'guys') I think we are ALL trap lahhh!!!). They loooked at me and say "What do you mean..?" Heh, they sounded blurrer than me and immediately thought: if I were to stay in the lab, at least I have some cute company.

So, Mr. 'Mohinder Suresh' called all those emergency numbers and couldn't get throughtoo. I suggested (che...it was me who suggested!!) to climb over the faculty's window. And jump. However, peering over the window gave me the chills because it was freaking HIGH. And being vertically challenged, I thought I could never make it because there wasn't any where to support my dangling legs before I jump. First, the graduate student jumped down, and I could see he was quite frightened too and had a hard time feeling the ground. Then, it was me. The graduate student hold my legs from below, then I realised, hey Mohinder - Do something from above. I was sooo shocked when this Mohinder asked me: "Can I touch you?"

In my mind I was like: WHAT??!!! I'm dying here! Touch me wherever you want of my body!!! OMG, sooo modest.

I finally got to my car and rushed to the ulu swimming area. My Heroes performed below expectations. Anyway, I did felt like Prison Break in a Heroes movie. What an act. I didn't wiki MY mohinder, but found out that he used to be in the reserved army. Whatever it is, if it does happen again...just call the 999 number. Thanks Fipink for this advise :P Hahahahaa.

Once upon a time, this lovely, cute, enthusiastic girl was driving to the Faculty of Agriculture on a fine Saturday evening where the birds where chirping and the rambutan, jambu tree branches were dancing away to the gush of wind. It was 4.55pm (significant information!). She parked her car, careful not to park directly under the rambutan tree as to avoid those chirping bird's sh*#. She entered the main entrance of the faculty, quickly to realised that the faculty was way to quiet for her liking, opened the four locks of the lab doors (this takes significant amount of time), trying not to remind herself of creepy lab-ghost stories and then enter quickly. She went on to search for her spectacles, because that was btw the main reason she came all the way here. She soon believes that her "tai-tau-har"-ness is still very prevalent in her life. Well, since she's already there - what the heck - switch on the computer, began to chat and check her mails. Sweet.

Ooooo....5.30pm approaches, she packs up, lock those lab doors, getting ready to drive to another ulu area to do her charity (charity because of low pay) work of teaching kids swimming. She ran quickly down the dark quiet corridor, down stairs, towards the entrance. LOCK. Well, let's try the other 4 entrances door: ALL FOUR ENTRANCES ARE GRILL and PADLOCKED too!! She told herself: you are quickly to panic; calm down for goodness' sake! She phone some in-case-of emergency numbers writen on the notice board. Mr. N is in Rawang! Mr. S was not picking up his phones and Mr. M's phone had this lady nagging "tiada dalam perkhidmatan". Damnit.

Only then did she see the clear notice bluetagged to the door. She slap her forehead hard with her palm and started banging her heads to the wall. PINTU FAKULTI DITUTUP PUKUL 5.00pm. (But why??!!!!) She sat on the stairs with tears feeling up her eyes. Worst case scenario - stay in the lab for the next two days 'til Monday, drink double-distilled (!) water, switch on the computers and chat whole day & night, start breaking into my lab-mates' lockers for junk food. Or just eat her cute little pet-insect away for proteins. Oh... plus having a resident ghost accompanying her for the next 2 days.

To be continue......this is where the fun part starts: a miracle, a hero.