A slow talk with my Bumblebee790

Dear Bumblebee790,

I hope you did not get any trauma from your first outing with me yesterday.

Well you can actually 'consult' two of your seniors, Nick'a Devil and Blu'Elf, on how I treated them right after they joined my life -- Nick was brought up to the ever terrifying Mt. Ophir a.k.a Gunung Ledang after his 1st assignment snapping an abandoned train station; while Blu'Elf got into an intensive training and he's now looked 10 years seasoned and worn-out more that he should be looked like in less than 1 month time. -- Exactly, what I'm trying to say here, and what your seniors would probably tell you is, DO NOT expect to enjoy any privileges or luxuries by thinking that you're expensive.

Being with me, you guys just have to be tough.

Anyway, your amazing performance yesterday really impressed me.

The start of the race was nothing. I mean any running shoe definitely could do better than you, but I totally understand that as you were not chosen for running purposes, or else I would have taken the one with cushion, not you.

I expect your highlights when I was in the forest, and you actually showed me what you got! Firm grip, sharp break, heel stop, toe hold -- you performed more perfect than I expected. Plus your incredible light-weight, I went up hill like a monkey, and run down hill like, erm, Bear Grylls.

However, you did not act as cool as you were in the jungle when we reached a water fall. To be frank, I was kinda shocked as I thought this would be another spot where you would impress me. But you didn't. In fact, I fell for the very first time after I started off the race. 'Fell' here means, both my legs was in the air and I fell on my right shoulder.

The three tiles (60m) waterfall was breathtaking -- both you and me agreed I guess. But to proceed with our race, we just needed to get up there and then get down back through a thick forest. I won't comment more on the downhill part -- I think you did perfectly in forest, but not on steeping on those big granite rocks of the waterfall. Yeah, I found that I just need to put some pressure on my steps to make sure I won't fall of slippery.

I started to have doubt on you when we're in canyon. You know what, the ENTIRE canyon trail was just a fun pool for a monkey like me to enjoy, but I did not, at least for the beginning part. I was so unsure about steeping on the slippery rocks after a few times of near-fall situation.

I thought my choice of to not have cushion between you and my foot palm would have given me a direct grip of my foot arch to the rocks, but I wasn't feeling it. I still prefer walking and jumping from one rock to another, barefooted, like I always did. But to think back about it, I believe it's wise to have you protecting my foot, and when I saw my teammate Zana and Big Brother Fariz suffered from their leg cramps due to tiredness when we were in the canyon, I realized that I might get even more tired if I did not trust you.

Yeah, you're right, I'll still fall from a slippery rock too even if I'm barefooted, after all. So I just shouldn't be blaming you. I think I was plain tired.

The 2nd time we abseiled down into a 3 meters deep pool where we had to swim through, I was thankful. You did not become a burden for me while swimming, I appreciate it.

Anyway, so what do you think of the abseiling? Did you notice that there was such a great view of Abang Fariz hanging in the air with the background of the vertical white pile of water rushing down? The pile of water was like pouring right from heaven, and the view, gosh, the surrounding turned mute when I saw it, no kidding! -- well I'm not exaggerating here, I might be harsh on using my stuff like Nick'a, Blu'Elf and you, but, follow me then you'll see the great sights that you'd never get from some other masters.

I needed to take you off when we came to inline skating part. I think you'd have already felt that the condition of my legs was not anymore good. My thighs and calves were in pain. You were kept in Fariz's big bag hence you did not see me fell off road, twice, after loosing control on my wheel.

..but I think you saw me being scolded by my two teammates, for being too pushy and inconsiderate, when we left our skate behind and moved forward to the starting point of bamboo rafting.

Yeah, you might have agreed with them, that I'm the kind of person that sometimes will loose my cool when come to stretching. I thank you so much for protecting my foot when I was pushing myself too hard, like I thank them very much for protecting me and our team when I was loosing my cool.

Then we came to the final part of the race: bamboo rafting. To be very frank I had some kind of bad feeling when the station master advised us to be careful and don't get hurt in this very last challenge. However, my excitement overwhelmed my caution. Like later on my exhaustion overwhelmed my excitement.

Bamboo rafting was my childhood, I would say. But not sailing on THIS TYPE river course -- OK, let's face it, you saw it too, it was not A RIVER or STREAM, it was a 3km rocky path with minor flood of water.

I almost forgot about you when three of us were stuck for the n-th time with our bamboo raft. If you could recall, I cursed the most in this part throughout the whole race. An undeniable fact is, you showed the most royal support under my foot regardless of how many time I pressed you on the river bed rocks when I pushed the stuck raft. As I said, you always got my foot protected, and gave my zero worry along the rafting course.

By the way, you were soaked in the water and I'm not sure whether you could feel my fright when Fariz's finger was cut open. I still remember my hand was shaking when his blood dyed my fingers red, and I saw guilt on my hand.

Bumblebee790,

Here you go, a master who's still an immature kiddo. Demanding, and yet needed to be reminded and protected. I think you'd have terribly hard time following me in the rest of my journey. Muahahahah!!!! (sounds scary? you bet!)

...and no, you're not the one who I wanted to kiss and hug when Wasabi Koma team finaly finished our race, with all tasks completed successfully. The ones I wanted to kiss and hug were my teammates -- Zana and my big brother, although they were as dirty and muddy as you were at the finishing line.

.... but you're already listed as my favorite gadget since then. I thank you.

Love,
Your master,
Spider(ai)man
19th March 2008

Ps.. read Fariz's and CK's story bout the same race..

3 books.

There are 3 books that I really wish to share with my friends. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Wolf Totem by Jiang-Rong, and A Thousand Splendid Suns by, again, Khaled Hosseini.

Hold on..

Disclaimer: If this post is finally published, that doesn't mean:

1. that THESE are the ONLY BOOKS that I've read so far;
2. that I'm going to open up a whole new genre of my blog content which will be introducing bookss.

OK now let's turn to 1st page 1st chapter...

1. How did/will I introduce these 3 books to my friends?

• The Kite Runner: The 1st and only book so far, that almost made me cry;
• Wolf Totem: The book that speaks out for me on how I see my backyard community. The book that explains why I'm called a maverick in my backyard. (Further reading: "Crowded, but silent..")
• A Thousand Splendid Suns: The book that further confirmed my respect to Khaled Hosseini, and further deepened my understanding to Afghanistan, and Taliban.

2. Using not more than 5 elements, introduce the story of the books, please.

• The Kite Runner: Racial discrimination. Friendship. Afghanistan. Islam.
• Wolf Totem: Gengkhis Khan vs Confucious. Wolf vs Lamb. Great Chinese vs Cowardly Chinese.
• A Thousand Splendid Suns: Afghan women. Afghan chauvinism. Despair. Hopes. Taliban.

3. How would I recommend you to read?

• The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns:

If you're an English reader, here you go. Khaled Hosseini is an Afghan, but he writes in English.
If you're a Chinese reader, go and get a translated version of the book. Translation from Taiwan is much better than of China Mainland in my opinion. The Chinese translator obviously showing her lack of thorough study in Islamic cultural when she translate 'fasting' as 'not eating non-vege'.
If you're a Malay reader, .. we just need to wait for our local translation industry to grow..

• Wolf Totem:

If you're a Chinese reader, then the original version of the book is there for you, you just have to be ready to be challenged, traditionally and self-value concern. Or else, just take it as a plain novel.
If you're an English reader, GOOD NEWS! An English version of the master-piece is (surprisingly) in the market. I found it in Times KLCC, on the 'Hot Of The Month' rack.
If you're a Malay reader, BAD NEWS.. I don't think the book is commercial enough to be translated unless it created controversy.
.......

3 books, 3 points. I think that's more than enough for me to do the publicity for the books, before I run out of point to shout.

No, I'm NOT going to say the slogan like "Jadikanlah amalan membaca budaya kita". No way. But there's a new catchy phrase which I think is cool enough to shout here:

"Lu pikiiiiiiiiiiir lah sendiri!"

Sekian terima kasih.

It's time to learn standing up when falling down..

Today is the 3rd day after I bought my blue RollerBlade Crossfire, I called this cool guy 'Blu'Elf', How to pronounce it? Make it similar to 'Bluff' , why not?

Because he is so tricky and so confusing. Like a bluff.

He gives you all the excitements like flying , then he caused you fall. He wakes you up with all the pain and embarrassments, from all sorts of day-dream and fantasy.

I think I already fell in love with Blu'Elf, fell in love with sk8ing.. because Blu'Elf, and sk8ing, teaches me, at least at this particular moment, that I just need to stand up when fall down, again and again.

Picture at left: 'Wasabi Koma' sk8ers group.. Zana, Salmi, Rina, Fariz, Aiman. Sorry guys I made up the group name, it's like .. erm.. whatever.. hehehe..

Of course I'm disappointed for initially being offered a field trip in Argentina, then the opportunity was ripped off from me , only because of a less convincing reason. But, I just need to stand up and sk8 on. Life this is... and I'm entering the 27th year of mine, tomorrow.

Mind those tiny moves: Earth Day 2008.

When so many alarming signals but yet we still don't wake up and do something for the sake of our mother nature, then we're not deaf we're not blind,but we are fools!

I call this voting poll as a 'despair poll', as I'm accepting the fact that, we human being, is so selfish and so ignorance and so malas, to do these simple tiny moves that might have eventually changed the whole crisis of our mother earth.

If you care to vote, click on your choice and then think about this simple question: "Why?"

Thank you.


Get your own Poll!

Adrift. -- Blum lupo Blom

I'm still wondering what should I put down into words to say anything about my recent outdoor trip to Royal Blom Forest. I'm out of any idea nor words..

The whole 'wordless' experience is actually carried forward from Royal Blom Forest (Hutan Blom) itself. I found myself not thinking of anything when I was trekking in the virgin forest of Royal Blom -- and that was pretty unusual to me as I always find myself sunk into deep self-reflection when I'm embraced by the essence of mother nature...

..but, not this time.

This time, I only had a song in my head. 'Adrift' by Jack Johnson.





... and I do know why. First of all, the whole Hutan Blom outing was a leisure one, which I'd rather call it an 'outing' than an 'adventure'. And the whole leisure concept brought back all the relaxing moments and plain chilled-out stuff that we've left behind all these days struggling in the big city like KL. Hence the song came, replacing all my serious self-reflection thoughts.

Secondly, it was of course about the boat trips we had during our stay in Royal Blom. To the matter of fact, boat trips consumed 1/3 of our time in this outing. Another two 1/3's were jungle trekking and of course resting in our campsite.

..hence the song came, I thought, because we were adrift, I thought...

..until I realized what Blom had truly offered me.

Blom offered me a song. Blom offered me what I had before, and what I've forgotten.

Since when I've lost my soundtracks and lost all my interest to soundtracks? I still remember well how each moment in my life could relate to certain beats and rhythms, but what happened then?

Blom offered me a reminder -- the soundtracks to my moments, the river, the bamboo rafting, the ultimate bamboo stick drift I made with my big brother, the afternoon nap on boat swaying by the rhythmic wave, the starry starry night, etc etc etc -- it's a wake up call to my little kid inside me..

The little kid that have been abandoned so long long ago, when I fell into the struggle to survive in the big city like KL.

5W1H on our BIGGIE

I call it a BIGGIE. Look it up in your dictionary in case you don't know what a BIGGIE means, and this post will help you to relate what I'm about to say.

Because I have more questions to answer.

1. WHAT?
- If you're asking what's it all about or what's the big deal? click here.
- If you're asking what does it mean to me? Hey that's a stupid question I guess.
- If you're asking what is this post about? Well you just need to read on.

2. WHEN?
- At the beginning of this year I received 'the calling';
- Few days before Chinese New Year I determined;
- Mid of March I'm already in;
- August to realize.

3. WHO?
- I used to talk to FLO the ULAM panel about this as she's already there;
- Then Tuhox Hassan wanted to join. I believe we can be a good team to work the plan out because he cooks well (?)
- .... whatever it is, Hassan pulled out from the plan.
- I felt like I'm Frodo Baggins in LOTR, and when I was about to embark my journey alone, I've been joined by three knights (well I don't want to decide who's which..and you knw why..)..
- And I think this is the best team I've never expected to work this dream out..
- .. the three knights are: Fariz my big brother and his wife Shahrina, plus Amir another cool guy with 'adventure' and 'lame joker' as his middle name..

4. WHERE?
- Lets be straight up. Here's the initially planned route: Germany - Austria - Czech Republic - Italy.
- However the route had been changed to: Italy - Czech Republic - Austria - Germany. Reason? Cheaper and good timing.

5. WHY?
- Why Germany? I just couldn't resist her mysterious history of Nazi. Besides Hitler, I was so much attracted by my 2nd favourite manga: MONSTERS by Naoki Urasawa.
- Why Austria? Because Vienna. Why Vienna? No, not because of Euro 2008, but the song Vienna sang by The Fray, and also, of course, The Sound Of Music.
- Why Czech Republic? C'mon dude, never heard of Prague?
- Why Italy? Hmm... to make it a four-stops tour, boleh tak?
- Why not the rest nations of Western Europe? Because I prefer Eastern Europe. Western Europe is for ladies. (.. but I'll go too, one day, God willing..)

6. HOW?
Two words: Our way.
I mean, hey, just look at the team! It's exactly the same band of brothers (Kak Rina is definitely tougher than some of my male friends out there!) which we'll hang out together in jungles, mountains, outskirts, doing camping, rafting, hiking and all stuff like that.
So I guess it's your call to define what 'OUR WAY' here means.

Wish us luck!

24 hours with a homo sapiens

Today
0755hrs: I'm still thrilled. Yes I am. Even though I think I'm safe now, with Ana lying beside me, weeping out of happiness. My antenna senses, that I'm back to my familiar ditch, that I'm safe, that my last terrifying yet confusing 24 hours, is gone.

Yesterday
0643hrs: I was on my way to meet Ana, my sweetheart, when he stood beside me and tackled my antenna with a cardboard. I know this a typical Homo Sapiens' behavior, they just love to tease us as a slow and stupid crawling creatures.

0655hrs: I hate Homo Sapiens. We were taught to stay away from them, or we'll die. Hiding inside my shell I just missed my family and Ana, I know I'm not going to see them anymore, cuz' I knew I'm taken away by this Homo Sapiens. I felt my whole body was moving, I didn't think it was just because of my shiver.

0714hrs: I peep from my shell. I feel the mushy ground I was touching, I know that's the container he uses to keep me in, and I see a little plant which I know it was plucked from my ditch, because I can sense the smell. It's the smell of home, and it makes me feel lot more comfortable..

0717hrs: ...wait... is this the feeling called 'fly'? I feel I'm accelerated ahead in an extreme high speed.

0721hrs: The 'flying' stops. But in a very short moment after that I feel I'm 'raising'. I caught a glance where I was brought into a little room and then the raise starts. I try to crawl out from the mushy container but again, I'm touched on my antenna. It makes me shrinks. This Homo Spiens knows very well what I'm sensitive of.

0740hrs: I'm lifted up and separated from the plants while I am hiding in my shell. He takes me out from the mushy container and for the first time I can see clearly what's surrounding me. I see more Homo Sapiens, I see them smiling with weird face expression, that makes me terrified. And I see him. He looks slightly different from the other Homo Sapiens.

I think he got antenna as well.

0800hrs: Few minutes ago I was transfered from the mushy container into the solid this one. Now I'm lying beside the little plant. It is the only thing that assures me. From time to time I feel water dropping on me and the little plant. I just love the moist and the temperature, but I think that the whole environment is too bright for me.

0900hrs: I'm falling asleep. The brightness is simply eye-piercing. I need to hide deep inside my shell.

1330hrs: I shouldn't be so careless! I fell asleep!! Damn it. Anything could happen to me since then! ..and where am I now? The temperature is still cold, the moist is still there, but it's a lot more darker here. Where am I? Where am I?

1547hrs: I can feel the ground is stomping, and I can see his leg coming in and out from my eyesight. But I dun care anymore. I'm so sleepy.

1745hrs: I hear the grumbling sound of 'flying' again. That wakes me up, and I'm in the 'flying' mode again, I remember that. I started to understand the 'flying' is actually a method of moving for Home Sapiens. I think it's the best time for me to escape. I try to crawl out of the solid container, but again, I fail. The Antenna Homo Sapiens seems to be very alert to my every movement. I can even hear him say something to me.. not clear, but sounds like ".. hey Mr Chanel, you're active now...."

Mr Chanel? Who? Me?

2105hrs: Argh I just hate this Antenna Homo Sapiens!! I don't care anymore whether I'm going to die or not.. I just want to have my dinner quietly!! Shit damn it he forces me to be separated from the leaf I'm chewing. I hate him I hate him I hate him!

2115hrs: I'm transferred again. This time on a slippery surface with a big word 'MAP' on it. ..but I just don't care, I need to find my food. I crawl on the slippery surface. Suddenly I see him aiming at me with a big black hole!!

Shit! This is it, this is it!!! This is the tool he's going to use to kill me! God please help me!!

2142hrs: I heard a few times the clicking sound comes from the big black hole of the Antenna Homo Sapiens, I thought I'll die every time the thing clicks. But the fact is, I'm still alive... I'm so frightened as well as confused. When he drag me out of the slippery surface and put me back to the container with the plant, I have no comment. I started to think what's the main purpose of him? I'm confused, I'm confused...

2200hrs: I poo. Shit this is the most embarrassing moment in my life!! I poo in front of a Homo Sapiens!! And I even see him clicking his big black hole on me!! I don't care what's about the big black hole anymore, cuz the fact here is, HEY FUCK OFF!! Don't you see I'm doing something very private?!!??? ..

2300hrs: The light of the world of this Antenna Homo Sapiens turns off. And I kinda feel that this Antenna Homo Sapiens is harmless to me.. although it has been the weirdest experience to me in my life..

0630hrs the next morning: A tremendous quake wakes me up!! I'm shocked and terrified! My world is up-side-down, little plant falls off of the container, I'm still sucking very hard on the surface of the container.. What is this what is this??!!?! The quake is still shaking, hardly and harshly.. I don't think I can hold anymore. Quick enough, I shrink my self into my protective shell, although I'm not sure whether can my shell stand the huge quake...

0640hrs: Ouch!! I fall. I can feel the impact of the falling even though I'm protected by my shell. But almost immediately I sense something familiar. I stretch my antenna slightly out of my shell and try to sense for anything to assure. The moist, the chill, the smell.... I think I'm back.. I get out from the shell and have a quick peep.. I see Ana's ditch across the trail... and..

I see Ana standing right in front of her ditch. Waiting for me.


Note from Spidey aka Antenna Homo Sapiens: pardon me for talking on bahalf of Mr Chanel, the celebrity snail who will carry one of the main role in my upcoming montage project... will tell y'all later if the thing is successfully produced.