The beauty of nature

I'm suddenly having the urge to share with you some of the photos that I've taken over the past year. Thought of starting a photoblog at first but too lazy to go through the setting up process. So, here they are...


This is one of my favourite photos of all-time, taken at one of the temples that I visited during a Bangkok trip last year.  


Sunset at Burau bay in Langkawi. It was the most beautiful sunset experience that I've ever had. I shared this photo at webshots.com last year and it has been viewed and downloaded constantly since. Glad that someone out there like it too! 


Another photo from Langkawi. This was taken at a jetty overlooking Pulau Dayang Bunting.  


A photo of a blue fern taken during one of my many FRIM trips last year. I'm sure I've put up this photo here before but am just going to share it again...it's so unique! 


Whenever I showed my creative photo collections to other people, the feedback that I always get is that I spent too much time on still nature and should venture out more on photos of living creatures. So, this was my first attempt at combining nature (can't get away from it, it's my passion!) and human. Special thanks to one of my sisters who kindly enough to pose for me! It was taken during our recent PD trip. What do you think? 

I have more unique photos that I've taken with my SLR camera over the years like a photo of the crab community in Pulau Besar and one of a weird plant in Cameron Highland but unfortunately, I have no scanner to upload them. One day perhaps..

~The music of the night~

My obsession with Andrew Lloyd Webber (he's a true music genius!) has resurfaced after watching The phantom of the opera on the big screen a couple of weeks ago. I have now replaced my long-lost 'The best of ALW' CD with 'The premier collection of ALW' and have been listening to it almost every night since. Here is one of my favourites!


Night time sharpens
heightens each sensation...
Darkness wakes and stirs imagination
Silently the senses
abandon their defences
Helpless to resist
the notes I write
For I compose the music of the night...

Slowly, gently
night unfurls its splendour.
Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender
Hearing is believing music is deceiving
Hard as lightning soft as candlelight
dare you trust the music of the night...

Close your eyes
for your eyes will only tell the truth
And the truth isn't what you want to see.
In the dark it is easy to pretend
that the truth is what it ought to be.

Softly, deftly
music shall caress you...
Hear it, feel it
secretly possess you...

Open up your mind
let your fantasies unwind
in this darkness which
you know you cannot fight -
the darkness of the music of the night...

Close your eyes
start a journey through a strange new world!
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before!

Close your eyes
and let music set you free...
Only then can you belong to me...

Floating, falling
sweet intoxication!
Touch me, trust me
savour each sensation...

Let the dream begin
let your darker side give in
to the power of the music that I write -
the power of the music of the night...

You alone
can make my song take flight -
help me make
the music of the night...

Come we must return -
those two fools who run my theatre
will be missing you...

Farewell 2004, Hello 2005

Today is a day to bid goodbye to another year yet again. 2004 has been a year full of colours, laughters and tears as well as drastic changes. But whatever that happened, already happened and there's nothing that you or I can do to change them. The only decent thing to do now is just to take those events as lessons well-learnt and to work hard to make 2005 a better year.

Anyway, I hope it's not too late to express my deepest sympathy to all victims of the recent tsunami tragedy. My sincere condolence also goes to one of our pharmacy staff who has lost a couple of loved ones due to the natural disaster. I am glad that she survived the ordeal (although with some injuries) and hope that she will recover fully soon.

As for me, I was lucky enough that the beach that my sisters and I went to on that very day was not affected by the big waves. I was oblivious of the sad news until later of the day when I was already back in KL. Watching the news of the event that night made me feel so vulnerable yet relieved at the same time. Relieved because I was safe and sound back at home with the whole family but vulnerable to think that life can be so fragile that it can be taken away from you in a blink of an eye.

I am glad to see the compassion shown by our dear PM who announced on wednesday that all new year celebrations tonight are to be cancelled or postponed. Yup, he is true to say that now is not the appropriate time to be merry. We should take this opportunity to reflect,to mourn and most importantly to help the people in need. So.. have you done your part?

If not yet, here is what you can do:
Send your contributions to the New Straits Times/Berita Harian at:
Balai Berita, 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.
Cheques should be made out to New Straits Times Press Berhad. On the reverse side of the cheque, please write "NST-BH Malaysian Tsunami Disaster Fund."

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

*Happy Christmas!*

Since this is my last post before the Christmas holidays, I would like to wish Helen, Gaby (who is now somewhere in Brisbane but returning to the UK soon!), Michelle, Yin Key, Kiew Bing, Chee Lan and Yean Suan a merry christmas. Have fun and and enjoy the celebrations to the max ok!

Creative posts!

I just had a laugh reading Baine's *Cuba try test tengok see* and would recommend you guys to read it too. I must admit that writing in full Bahasa Melayu (or is it called bahasa malaysia now?) is not my specialty and whenever the need arises, I would take twice as much of the time and resources to finish the task. Frankly, I do feel ashamed of my language status now given the fact that I AM a malay and that my bahasa melayu was really good when I was at school (ok..that was more than 10 years ago!). What went wrong?

Another post that I would like to mention here is one of Idlan's. Lonely was written a few weeks ago but reading it now (yup, I'm a bit behind with my usual blog hopping!) is like reading my own thoughts. Although I'm all alone in the confinement of my office now (I'm supposed to clear of my work since I'm on leave tomorrow), I don't feel lonely. In fact, the loneliness that crushed me down for a number of weeks before has suddenly left me without prior notice. What made it leave? I don't know for sure... but I'm glad with this latest development and I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family and friends for standing by me even when I was at my lowest. Love you all!

Rediscovering..

It's a quiet sunday afternoon and yet, I suddenly felt inspired. Inspired to find my true self again.. inspired to rediscover my likes and dislikes and those things that make me ticks.

I remember enjoying taking photos since I was small, mainly photos of beautiful nature. I would love to do more of that again.

I remember enjoying reading a lot... I could spend a whole night being awake just to finish up my favourite book. It's like the pringles advert, once you pop you just can't stop! I think it's time to visit the bookstore again.

I remember enjoying theatres but I don't remember going to any plays in the last one year. I guess I should start going to the theatre house again.

I remember that I used to be a diehard fan of Liverpool and England but I don't remember watching much of football lately. I think I should start paying more attention to ESPN again.

Finally, I remember that my best vacations were always those involving beaches but my last beach experience was months ago and that was only because I was attending a conference. I think I should now start searching for holiday offers for next year. Would love to go to Perhentian or Bali and spend the days just lazing around on the beach. That would be heaven isn't it?

Phantom of the opera

My all-time favourite play and song is now made (or remade to be precise) into a movie. Can't wait to go and watch it!

 

Broken Promises

'Till death do us part..'
'For better for worse..'

Today is just a day for breaking promises. Both of the above were officially broken today in a very calm and composed manner...no visible hesitations, atleast not on his part anyway.

I was guilty of breaking a promise too today. I promised previously not to cry anymore over the matter but I failed miserably. I tried my best to keep up a straight face in the courtroom but when the judge asked me whether I agree to go ahead with the proceedings, I crumbled. I don't understand why they need to ask me the same question again and again when the power to decide was never mine. Had I actually disagree, what difference would it make? Would they halt the proceedings? I don't think so.. Then why bother asking?

Surprisingly, I'm feeling much better now. As sad as it was, I'm now relieved that it's over and that the huge burden on my shoulder has finally been lifted. I can now move on at my own pace. I wish I don't have to go back there ever again but I was asked to revisit in a month's time (which is going to be on my birthday) to collect the final report. What a 'great' birthday gift eh? :)

Final countdown

Less than 48 hours to go...

Am I..

..anxious? Yes.. for all the uncertainties.. for not knowing what to expect and what is expected from me on the day..

..worried? Maybe.. Just hope that the process will be smooth and quick with no complications..

..sad? Don't know.. don't think so.. As difficult as it is, I have beginning to accept that there is no turning back and the decision is here to stay. But having to hear it announced in the court of law is probably a different story.. But I have promised myself that there won't be any more tears. I have cried enough to last for a lifetime, so no more.. Not a single drop..

Wish me luck!

***Blushed!***

Have you ever felt so embarrassed that all you wanted to do was just bury your face in the sand like an ostrich? That's how I felt this afternoon. How I wished I had a face mask in hand to cover my embarrassment!

The worst part is, I have to face the person again tomorrow. How am I supposed to react? And what's the odd of him having amnesia by tomorrow morning? Isk...

Congratulation!

I don't normally read Utusan, but last sunday was an exception and here is the reason why.. It's not everyday that somebody I know get a MBE from the British government. Congratulation Acu! Bila nak belanja? :)

p/s Emmm,Prince Andrew looked quite handsome in this picture...or is it time for me to have my eyes checked?