Loy Krathong

November full moon shines,
Loy Krathong, Loy Krathong,
and the water's high in the river and local klong,
Loy Loy Krathong, Loy Loy Krathong,
Loy Krathong is here and everybody's full of cheer,
We're together at the klong,
Each one with his krathong,
As we push away we pray,
We can see a better day.

'Loy Krathong' - To float a lotus shaped vessel. It is a tradition for thais to celebrate this festivity by placing a candle, three joss-sticks, some flowers and coins in the vessel before saying a wish and a prayer, and setting it onto the water. We believe that it wads away sins and bad luck. Time to start the coming new year to be joyful, and happy as the sufferings are floated away.

I always attended Loy Krathong while living in Bangkok, and I must say its a really amazing celebration. Its one of those festivities one has to be present to witness and understand its true beauty. I remember since my university days on the occasion, prior plans would be made amongst friends and we'd be on our way to float them straight after classes.

It is popular to float them with your significant other. Both holding onto the lotus vessel, making a wish before setting it free. It made me feel good after saying my prayers and seeing my Krathong slowly float out to the river. Imagine the vessels being floated down the river, under a clear night's sky with the full moon shinning brightly making the waters bounce with its reflections - Makes me miss it especially this time of year. I'm just glad my time there did not go to waste as I learned so much and experienced the culture so rich I'm sure others will be envious of.

To all readers, wishing you a Happy Loy Krathong. Hoping all your bad luck will be cast away and ushering in a new era of positive notes. May you achieve success in your career, a blossoming love and a fulfilment of goals to the highest standard.

Happy Loy Krathong to my Thai friends & family -May, Dump, Kie, Tarn, N'Orn, Wa, Boy, Aey, Emma, Toto, Neung, Teddy, Jung, Joe, and O.

A traditional Krathong

Amazing treat

Happy 25th Birthday

After an absence of 8 years, I finally celebrated my birthday back home. I would say it was the best birthday party I've ever had back here in Penang. The venue was Glo, our usual clubbing fare. VIP spot.

I had many close and distant friends on the guest list, but some missing were my KL-based mates, Bill and Varian. The notable absentee would have to be..my princess of smiles. She did, however made her presence felt.

My best mate, Garrick arrived late (what's new?) as he was supposed to be my cameraman for the night. Mysteriously, a cake appeared from nowhere. Turning to him, all he could muster was "open it and find out".

I was a bit puzzled, was the person actually gonna write "Happy Birthday Jeremy, from xxx"? By midnight, everyone had gathered around me and the cake was opened to reveal "To my dearest quater egg"! (Michelle's been calling me that coz she thinks I'm a lot older than her. Is 5 years that much?) I instantly knew that came from my princess and I searched the crowd franctically for a familiar face.

As I searched, I noticed a grin from Garrick and knew he had a hand in it (Garrick's significant other and my princess had become close as they pursue their degrees in London).

Apparently she had called up Secret Recipe from London to make sure they wrote exactly just that for me to laugh about. It certainly made my night as I recalled our conversation during the day when I said I wished she could be here on this special day and she said she would.

As the birthday song was nearing an end, I closed my eyes, made a wish and blew out the candles. Then the party went back to full swing.

I had invited my brother and his friends whom I occasionally have a drink with, and they just clobbered me drink after drink. The pictures will attest, that how decent and well behaved I was at the beginning of the night, became a total wreck after copious amounts of a man's second best friend!

Although I did reminisce about how much wilder it'll be back in my adopted city of Bangkok, I couldn't help but think, this tiny island rocks too.

My mates deserve a pat on the back for making this a very very successful birthday bash. Last but not least, my princess of smiles for 'being there' and making it, a more meaningful birthday joy!

Here's to thanking them for a memorable 25th birthday. I really love you guys!

"To my dearest quater egg!"

Thank you, princess! *muaks*

Dave & I sharing a light moment

The 3-seconds rule

All out in full force, thanks guys!

My best mate, Garrick

Some brotherly lovin from Desmond & Sean

My mates' lovely lass, Ally

Not good..

By the end of the night - Mates, Pokkeroos & Krish

Emergency hotline?

I'm truly appalled by the emergency service we have here in this state. I don't know whether its the fact that this week is the Deepavali/Raya festivities but celebration or no celebration, emergencies do occur. My neighbor had fallen off the ladder while trimming the hedges from a high place and his forehead was bleeding profusely from the impact.

Why do they call it an emergency hotline when nobody picks up? I had to dial the operator to transfer me, or the only other alternative was to wait till someone picks up at the other end. It took about twenty long minutes before the call was responded but the dispatcher didn't know the location.. How difficult could Tanjung Bunga be?? Came up with an alternative to wait at Fatty Loh chicken rice to greet them but it took them an hour and twenty minutes (I timed them) to reach the destination. How could it take an hour and twenty minutes from General Hospital to Tanjung Bunga with the sirens on?? We'd told the operator he was bleeding profusely and needed quick medical attention. It was appalling! I was left to think, what if this was my Mum? Dad? Brother? Princess of smiles? A loved one? I was furious with their conduct and they showed no signs of hurrying any attention to my bleeding neighbor.. Emergencies are serious, otherwise there'd be no hotline or a number to reach for nothing.

Anyhows, I'm glad to hear he's recovering just fine..

My Princess of Smiles

It was 9ish in the morning and I had just slept a little over an hour before my cell rang. It was always my unconscious habit to lunge for anything that made noises in the mornings -cellular phones, house phones, alarm clocks, knocks on the doors.. I was however happy to hear a familiar voice. Michelle had just gotten back from the weekend in Amsterdam and I was glad she called to tell me all about it. Slumbering out of my one hour sleep for a two hour conversation, I had been thinking of my Princess of Smiles. Our relationship, although long distance was actually gaining depth and we're counting the days till December. She's one of a kind. The fun we have together was just spot on natural and eventhough simple fashioned, we enjoyed ourselves immensedly. We went thru a rough patch before but we've managed to put it aside and make this relationship stronger.

This was probably how I'd sum it up -The Royal London Circus. Our first major date. Never in a million years would I have brought a date to the circus.. Not especially someone who I was just in awe with standing beside to. Our dinner was a combo of greasy burgers with flat and diluted coke, followed by her request of cotton candy. From there we were all laughs and smiles watching the performance. It was just so comfortable, I didn't need to worry if she was ok, bored or embarrassed because she had the glow of satisfaction being there. I still couldn't believe I had brought her to the circus. To the modern day ultra-hip dating scene, that would probably have gone down as a flop but she gave me the thumbs up and impressed to be brought on a first date -packed with a whole load of major first impressions.. To the circus.

Princess of Smiles

A toast to long lost friends

Writing this blog with a thumping headache, I had gone out for drinks with a long lost friend back in my tennis playing days last night. Ming Tong, now known as Kenneth was a close friend during my teen years. Although we were buddies and coached by the same legend, we were adversaries on court. It was difficult having to play him in tournaments coz he was the type to take things personally and I dreaded at one tournament during the summer in '96. The first few games were tight with each of us holding serve, then he began to crumble under his own anger..He lost his head and the match. Difficult part? Shaking hands. The six footer looked away in disgust when approached to shake mine and didn't speak a word in the changing room.
This was a guy well known for his temperament and I hadn't seen him in years. Of all places, I bumped into him at KLCC's Burberry while holidaying with Michelle! After turning him down a number of times, I decided to take up Kenneth's offer. The night began slowly as we reminisce our younger days over a few beers. After that we headed over to Glo and had a bottle of hard liquor. Went unannounced and I had to meet other long lost friends, and so did Kenneth. A brother's friend was having his birthday party there and we ended up with a triumvirate drinking bash! I could vaguely remember what happened, but I remembered jumping, dancing, flirting with friends hahaha..But by 3am, Kenneth had to 'assist' me out of the club and into his car. Along the way, I definitely remember leaving a trail of various concocted alcoholic drinks while hanging out the passenger seat.
Even as I now suffer from last nights escapade, I'm glad I decided to take up Kenneth's offer. The memories of the 'Handshake' was all but a distant memory and nothing but a friendship renewed.

"The Grudge"

I was convinced to go watch 'The Grudge' by Garrick together with Krish and Ally. I wasn't a big fan of ghost movies and I'd heard this was really scary. Not wanting to let them know I'd squeal like a little girl, I kept my composure by putting the palm of my hand to my cheek and every horror scene that came along I'd put my index finger to my eye and wince the other.
'The Grudge' is the english version of 'Ju On', the Japanese ghost story that became a hit or should I say hair raiser around Asia. I'd seen..Ok, with the index finger in one eye and wincing the other, of the first and second part of this horror epic. I remember my date having to hold up her hand for me with every heart stopping moment. Its like me being the girl screaming and leaning my head over on her shoulder as she comforts me. Incidentally, she found it 'cute'...
The movie was originally about a man who murders his wife and son before taking his own life after he found out she had a major obsession for an American lecturer at a Japanese university. Those who had a direct contact with the house would either disappear, or die mysteriously.
As I winced through the movie, I felt the scary bits were actually the sound effects more than the optical effects. This time I didn't need to lean on anyone's shoulders *grin*

I'm having this overwhelming feeling of taking a sabbatical and going on a photography expedition but surely it won't go down too well with the upper echelons of the management. Haven't had the time to use the film camera to take exquisite pictures and moreover Shanne has taken the digital with him to Europe, so am unable to take my candid shots to visiting places. I'm seriously considering getting a digital camera that's powerful yet convenient. Been reading up the reviews in Stuff magazine and I'm still pondering which to get. Nikon? Canon? Pentax? Birthday around the corner, Christmas looming, Michelle's impending arrival, new year's celebrations..Lots to be taken. Alright, short one tonight. Early start tomorrow..*Click*

Reflections