Friday, August 29, 2008

Impak Maksima The Musical

Yes, that's right.. Impak Maksima - the movie/tv series is turning to... a MUSICAL THEATRE! I attended the launch yesterday at Istana Budaya and since the theatre is set to be staged on Nov 11 to 22, the scenes are still under discussion.. so I have no insights on it.

If you've watched the movie/tv series, the first thing you would think of, "How the heck do you drift on stage?" I personally have never watched the movie nor the series but I know from the title and poster itself, it's about racing. Like The Fast & The Furious. Am I right?
So Ahmad Idham (director) said that Istana Budaya will be sponsoring the special floor that will be suitable for the drifting. And if you're wondering whether the stage is big enough to drive a car around and not a mock truck or train like in Ibu Zain and P.Ramlee, the answer is, "yes, it's big." According to him, you can even do one of the stunts that you do an 8 around two boards. I have no idea what it is called.. but you know.. the 8... one loop around a board and the other loop around another - forming the number 8. You get the drift..
Don't worry about the safety of the audience though cause he said that he's still discussing on the safety measures and he promised that everything will be safe.
Who are the actors? Since it's a musical theatre and it involves in music and singing especially, who are the lucky ones that are selected? Well, they are still the main characters in the movie/tv series - Awal, Jue Aziz and Dynaz.
You may think "What?? They are not singers!"
Idham answered that they don't need to have a good voice for the theatre as long as their voices are good enough to listen, then all will be good.
The songs are specially made by the talented musician, Cat Farish. According to Cat, 70 per cent of the musics are finished.

If the theatre becomes a success, Ahmad Idham will be the first to bring such theatre on stage. I have no doubts of him.. I'm sure his young and fresh ideas will definitely be a success. I know that it'll be a huge task for him to think about how he wants to create the drifting scenes, the dancing and singing altogether but whatever it is, we have to wait till November.
The tickets are priced at RM30 to RM100 by the way.
I'm not here to promote the theatre but I think this rather wild idea is something that everyone should come and see. Imagine racing cars on stage... drifting away... wow! I wonder if they have any crash scenes.. how do they create that? Do they cut the car into half?
A lot of questions are yet to be answered.. but it will when the theatre starts..

So go on, support our local theatres. :)

working on a MILLION ringgit watch

NST's compaq computer indicates it's 11.05am right now and the other journalists are busy typing away their assignments. I'm supposed to work on the latest Dior watches that they had 'previewed' to me and the rest who attended the Dior Luncheon at Modesto's recently but, I'm having a hard time to give it a good lead.
To use quotes or no quotes...
This is probably by far one of the hardest task I've ever encountered because it involves a RM1million limited edition watch. Yes one bloody million ringgit.... holy cow!
And there are only 25 of them available throughout the world. I wonder whether bringing a few of them to Malaysia this coming October is a great idea?
Well, according to one of the CD PR, she said that a man in Singapore recently popped in CD's boutique there and asked for a watch to buy for his wife's birthday. The salesgirl then showed the Dior Christal watch and the guy actually immediately loved it and bought it right a way! WOW! Lucky woman!
So one sold... does that mean there's 24 left?

I did get to touch the watch.. very heavy indeed.. An evil part of me told me, "Elena, run away with the watch! Go on.. there's a staircase outside."
Haha.. yeah right!
If I was one of the millionaires in Malaysia.. no wait.. scribble millionaire.. If I was one of the billionaires in Malaysia, would I actually go for the watch? With all the claims.. shock-proof, scratch-proof, water-proof... the watch went through 300 tests..(normal watch are only tested 80 times.. and when I say normal, it means other watches like Tag Heuer, Rolex.. <- normal huh?) and the list goes on and on.. I think I may splurge a million ringgit on just a single watch that tells us just the TIME. Afterall, I am a billionaire.. I still have loads of money left. I wish!
So what would I do when I have it? Of course like any other overly rich and high class people out there, - show it off to your girl friends..
Minutes after purchasing it.. I would speed dial all of my friends and go "Hey girl, let's go out for coffee. Let's chit-chat!"

Even if I just saw them yesterday.

I would purposely come a few minutes late so that everyone would be at the table.. And try to get the coffeehouse's lights to help flash the luxurious watch..

*flash...flash..* or *sparkle..sparkle*

Like any other supportive and jealous friends, they would go:
"Oh my God! You bought the new Dior watch! It must be expensive!"
"I've been dying to get the watch!"
"My hubby only bought me this Chopard watch"

And trying to pretend that you have forgotten all about the watch cause afterall, you're there to chitchat so I'll go:
"Oh yeah! I just bought it not too long ago (today actually). Nah, it's nothing.."

So voila, the agenda and topic of the day at the coffee house would be the Dior Christal watch. They'll try it on.. inspect it.. and come back home and bug their husbands to buy them one too. Even if it only lasts a couple of hours, afterall, that IS my intention. To show it off.

Wow what a bi*ch!


Of course, I'm nothing like that. Har har.

FRIENDS... Time for me to hit the RESET button

I've been thinking about the people around me for quite some time.. whether they are loyal to me because they are comfortable being friends with me or are they sticking around so that they can dig in the negative stuff that I say or do and spread the news to others? I wonder...

Just give me a small piece of paper to list down the names that I trust and cherish as a friend, and voila! You get the whole lot in.

Yes, they are not many.

I remember back in the school days, in my old high school in section 2 Shah Alam.. I had a couple of friends that I hung out during recess. I was a prefect at the time so all the prefects would go for lunch at a different time (we had the whole canteen for ourselves). At times a few of them would go to me and say "Elena boleh tak pinjam (a certain amount of money)?" At times it would be RM1 or RM2... or a few cents.. I was cool with people borrowing things. But then it got over the line.. The word pinjam.. never meant = to borrow and to return back. I never got the money back and I'm not sure what is the total..
Ok I don't want to go pointing fingers cause i'm not sure whether they don't remember that they borrowed the money or... worse, whether they 'pow-ed' me. I'm not familiar with the 'pow' term. But people once told me that it was a trend for these so called hot shots to take money from another and not returning it back. It was part of their satisfaction as though they were bigger than the rest.

After being a complete dunce, I decided to become stingy.. and selective.

So that's the type of friends who are just with me for the sake of borrowing my money..

Next type is the ones that only text me when they have an important question to ask.. Oh trust me.. I'm famous during exams or when there are projects to pass up. I'm cool with the ones that I do strike conversations now and then.. but for the ones that I hardly even talk to then suddenly they come knocking on my door for help, is really weird.. Of course, I do help them and yes, dengan tulus ikhlas.. But it's just weird that they appear and then disappear.. and when the season comes again, they'll reappear and *poof* vanish.

I'm tired of being the one who text people and go "hey, how are you? I haven't heard from you for quite some time." How much does friendships worth? Spending 15cents or 20cents just to keep the knot isn't that much right? Even a litre of petrol costs us RM2.55. That's like equivalent to let me see.. 17 texts? That's a lot you know..and a lot of information gained. Trust me... I hardly get those kind of texts..

I wonder if I hit the reset button, how many people will still be loyal to me?

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Stop fighting and vote ME to become the next Prime Minister

Like I previously mentioned in my post, "Politics, Schmolitics"

Stop fighting and start acting. Malaysia is no where near Canada, Japan, US, UK or other big hot shot countries. But of course, we are ahead of other countries like Indonesia, Iraq, Afghanistan and all that.
Why should we compare?

If I was to become the next PM (dream on Elena... dream on..)
What would the changes be?

1) Immediately I would give all the poor people 10k to help them build a better life
2) I would build apartments for these people so that they too can live a modern life
3) Next to the apartment are shoplots and offices so that they can work and earn money to have a stable life
4) I want to build more shelter for the poor stray animals. Free weekly grooming and yearly vaccinating available
5) More local schools will be built and a few more International schools to diversify the young generations' choice
6) Higher payment for teachers, lecturers..
7) Petrol prices shall remain RM2. Period.
8) More cheap vacation packages to Malaysia shall be available
9) Rebuild the hotels that are in poor condition
10) Fill the pot-holes on the road
11) More broadway theatres shall be available
12) Only top artists, singers, bands..whatever can come to Malaysia. The rest are a waste of money. So try harder for the rest..
13) More sports centres shall be available to the public.. yachting, skateboarding, jet skiing.. wow..
14) The price of text book shall be lowered by 20%
15) No demonstration allowed.. please leave your comments or queries in the comment box or hotline.
16) No drinking, no clubbing, smoking in public (like Australia.. bravo Australia!) and other negative stuff.. Too bad. I'm the PM!

17) What else does Malaysia want?

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

an interesting event

It's 3.30pm right now and I just got back from the Dior luncheon event at Modesto's at Tao. The foods served were scrumptious! I had lamb shank for the main course and they served tiramisu for dessert... I wonder whether they made it with alcohol? Cause I do feel a bit weird... Does alcohol consumption give you a headache?
Ok I'm not going to talk about the foods and the lunch. The interesting part about the event was that there were only a few people invited.. and well, i was very excited that of all people in NST, the PR invited me instead!
Of course, I felt like an outcast at first cause everyone was either an editor of a magazine or, a journalist over 10 years.. But nevertheless, they all included me in all of their conversations.

So here I'm going to talk about the interesting conversation that they all brought up..
The highlight of the day was about politics! How Anwar won double than Arif Shah. So they talked about how high his votes were than his wife and all that... Then the editor of Magazine World, Margaret, turned her head towards me and asked,
"Elena, since you're younger, what do you think about politics?"

Hah! Politics schmolitics! I wish I had said...

But I said, "I'm actually confused"

She agreed, and said "I'm confused too. I don't know who is telling the truth."
So the people who were following the conversation, gave a little nod to agree with it.

Just to do a bit of a rewind on other topics that were brought up, Margaret asked me why I chose to do a degree in Journalism.. "Do you like writing?"
I replied, "yes." I paused. "I did a diploma in Mass Communication and decided to do journalism right after." Then one of the PR for Christian Dior said "I did a degree in Journalism abroad as well."
Then they started to talk about the pay.. How journalist gets paid very little. (True *shrugs*)
And the PR said "My lecturer used to tell me that! If you're thinking of getting a high pay. Leave now."
When they mentioned about that, I didn't say a word. Cause I'm not even done with my degree yet.. But they don't know that... I kind of told them that I've just graduated. I had to do that to certain events cause I don't want them to feel that NST sent someone who's merely a journalist. So yeah, I'm going to have to repent for this sin.

Oh Margaret gave me her card and told me to ask my friends who wants to work with her. Not as a journalist though. Managing the company and all that... Sounds interesting... I wonder how much will they pay?

Becoming a journalist is all about passion for writing and not to expect high pay. Remember Elena! Remember! D'oh!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The BIG day is here

Aug 26 marks a big day for BN and their opposition, PKR. The voting session in Permatang Pauh is scheduled to commence at 8am and end at 5pm. Now it's 5.30pm, I'm sure those who are in charge of counting the votes, are busy doing what they have to do..
Who will win? I ask myself.
To be honest, I don't support anyone. Should I? Indeed I should but since the mainstream newspaper and the opposition newspaper are disseminating their side of a certain story, I refuse to choose sides.
It's confusing for goodness sake!
I read Harakah during the weekend. Yes Harakah. My dad is the type of person who buys all sorts of newspaper when he doesn't play golf during the weekend. For the first time, I managed to flip through the whole paper. What is published in Berita Harian and New Straits Times, is written oppositely in the paper. For instance, the swearing on the Quran. I was first convinced that the sodomy thingy is true because of Saiful taking an oath in the mosque. A mufti (or was it Imam?) said that the swearing was wrong... then another said it was right. Harakah published articles on the event and said that it was wrong. Another article, on the claim who wins during the election. BN and PKR candidates are both confident in winning. You know what? I think that PKR wins... I mean.. actually I'm comfortable with BN ruling the country and all.. but the claims on the guy becoming the PM on Sept 16, I think is true.....
Well actually, I like thinking negatively so that if it turns out that way, I wouldn't get too upset.

I hate politics to be honest.

So the result will be out at 9.30 or so... i wonder.... i wonder.... i have a couple of friends who are fanatics of PKR. I wonder why they believe that they can bring changes? I don't know anything.. if PKR wins and does change Malaysia into a better country, then Alhamdulillah... otherwise, keep it as it is. Malaysia has improved a lot compared to previous years and other countries. We are just a little land but this little land has developed more than countries twice the size.

All the best to whoever who wins. Hope it does give great changes to our country and not otherwise.

Friday, August 22, 2008

a month to go

Today is August 27... In a month I'll be leaving the NST - Life & Times desk. The past 3 month has been a wonderful experience for me. I had a negative perception towards it before I started. I always thought that internship - honestly, sucks. That was BEFORE. Before I stepped into the L&T world. Now I'm loving it so much that I'm wishing that I can ask for an extend... I want to work... I want to write... I just love it! It's rather unfair for the 'old syllabus' students have to do their practical training during the 5th semester while the new ones get to do during their last semester. I often hear that they get to work there permenantly right after the internship. How about me and the rest 'oldies'? We have to study for another semester and reapply for work. By then, would the newspaper industry remember us? Yes, maybe... but then again, we have to reapply again. Darn..

The positive thing about this though is that I can think thoroughly what I want to be. I wanted to be SO MANY things eversince I was little. Perhaps everything! I'll list down just a few top ones..
1) archaeologist 2) scientist 3) gymnastic coach (yeah..) 4) even wanita UMNO (i don't know how that came up) 5) english teacher 6) kindergarten teacher 7) businesswoman.... and the list goes on and on up to university. The latest are : 1) Diplomat/Ambassador 2) Lecturer 3) Journalist (specifically: Life & Times). No wonder my dad used to call me "hangat-hangat tahi ayam"..

The clock indicates that it is 5.30pm. In half an hour, I can leave back home. My editor has been very busy this whole week. The other journalists are working their head's off on the Merdeka section. I was asked to give out ideas as well.. but I couldn't think of any during the meeting. But of course, interns didn't have to be involve in it so I chose not to and gave some space to the experts. I definitely admire my editor. She's.... actually it's hard to describe her character but she's kind. If I do minor screw-ups in my writings such as not elaborating enough on a particular thing, she would call me very nicely and speak to me in a low and soft tone. She's not the kind of editor who yells and embarrasses you in front of the others. Sometimes, you can't even hear her speak to other journalists when she calls them for correction although she sits just behind me. She's gone for a meeting by the way, that explains me babbling nonsense in this blog.

Oh wait... the other L&T journalists are all gone. I think they've gone off home. Hmm...shall I make a move? Besides, I've finished writing the 2 articles that I was supposed to pass up next week. Maybe in another 10 minutes...

Oh, the airconditioning is off by the way. For the first time, it went off just a few minutes ago. There was a fire alarm (not a loud one though) and me and a new journalist from 3 rows in front of me exchanged glances and quizzed on the alarm. Kindly, Santha - the editor for the political features, explained to me that after the alarm, there will be a large sound (like the sound of a fan) and followed by the off-ing of the aircond.

I'm going to go read dailymail.co.uk a bit more and go back home.. I was asked to enterntain a step cousin of mine from London. I promised her yesterday over BBQ that I would bring her out tonight.. she hasn't watched batman so maybe i'll just bring her for that. The only show that is available though is at 12.30am... damn. But nevermind... :-)

Sunday, August 17, 2008

High School Musical: Ice Tour

What can I say about the HSM: Ice Tour besides SPECTACULAR?

I managed to go watch the show as I was asked by the entertainment editor to cover the event. It wasn't my job at first. She gave it to my friend, Umie who was more under her during our internship but due to Umie receiving 2 free tickets to watch the show when she covered the pre-publicity for the tour, she told the editor that she already has the tickets and told her to give it to me. Of course I was DYING to watch the show at the time. When I saw the editor holding the fax which had the logo of the ice tour, i kind of made an obvious shriek. I was so excited! I wanted to watch it so bad but my sister didn't purchase the tickets early so the CIMB offer ended so we end up not buying any.

So as I reached there, I had to register early for the media pass. It got me all pumped up even more when they gave me this musical programme book. If you flip the first page, you'll hear one of the HSM song and of course they have wonderful pictures of the movie and the skaters as well. The price of the book is actually RM45 but they gave it for free! Lucky! And another, I got the HSM media tag. Of course it is just printed out and laminated. But the main thing is that it showed that I was there! Teehee. Gosh I sound so pathetic and childish (but who cares!).
After I registered, I went into the stadium and the organizer opened quite a number of stalls selling HSM merchandises. "Crap! I only have RM50" I told myself. I looked at the stuff from afar.. scanning through them to see the cheapest prices. Then I saw the lanyard which cost RM20. "Hmm.. shall I or shall I not buy it?" my heart whispered again. They had this rather funky diary which cost RM40. I wanted it but I would be left with RM10 to go back home and who knows what would happen on the way back? So I backed away.

The show went on for 90minutes. Of course there was one break to change the scene from HSM 1 to HSM 2. All of the skaters were world-class skaters and I must say, they were good actors/actesses as well! They perfectly 'sang' and acted in every scene of the HSM and of course, they skated away gracefully that wowed the crowd.

During every song, you could here children and of course some adults singing-a-long to the songs. I definitely sang some of the songs. I was craving to sing all of them but since i was there alone, i felt like a fool singing alone. Of course there were other medias who sat a seat away from me. Some were in front.. some were at the back.. they weren't singing. They were busy snapping pictures.

Ok ok about the show, i will give you just some insights as the show ends on the August 20 so you have much time to go purchase the tickets.. So the show featured songs such as "Breaking Free", "Stick to the status quo", "You're the music in me" (my fave! *Shriek!*), "We're all in this together" and the list goes on and on.. The show is no different than the movie itself. It features similar scenes.. such as for the HSM 1, you still can witness the Wild Cats in action in the basketball court, the audition scene.. for HSM 2, you have the Evan's club scene, the kitchen.. of course there are cool surprises that awaits for the audience! I love their wardrobe.. similar! :-D

Right after the show ended, I headed to the stall to purchase the lanyard that i was eyeing earlier.. there were so many kids and mothers trying to purchase the goodies. I did wait for a few minutes but since the crowd grew bigger (although they have many stalls that sell the same thing), I decided to leave and give the kiddies a chance to buy them.


P/S: High School Musical is not just for kids. Disney rocks!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

whatever

It's 12.05pm right now and i'm at work. I have quite a number of articles to write but my mood is not supporting me to finish them up. So what do I want to do instead? Blab in this blog. I'm quite surprised that I've already posted 3 blogs. Yes they are gibberish but heck, i managed to keep them flowing as i have a history of posting a few blogs in numerous blog accounts and leaving them to collect the dust. The blogs are (to name a few) diaryland, blog (i think), friendster's blog, myspace's blog, wordpress...etc. I love writing by the way, hence my degree in Journalism and internship at New Straits Times but it's just that writing features must be under a good and 'flowery' mood. Why flowery? Cause you need to write it to really grab the reader's attention. They are not like the other news where you have to attract them with the 5 w's & 1 h. Features are something different.. you can start up with quotes.. or questions.. Before i decided to post this blog, i was writing an article on lacquered butterfly clips by Van Cleef & Arpels. The assignment was a week ago (or perhaps was it more?) but due to my piled assignments that i decided to delay, i ended up having tons! I listed them down and gosh I have 10.
Luckily features are not needed pronto! The first few months I did everything in fast pace. I was still fresh in ideas but now it's my 3rd month, my brain is not functioning well.. it's going about 10km/h. Crap..

Ok Min is scheduled to fly off to Sabah at 3pm. I think he'll be going to the airport anytime soon. The positive thing that i like that he's going is that it'll be his first time going on the plane. I'm happy for him. If we get married (inshaAllah..), i'm going to invite him to go to Hong Kong. Why Hong Kong? I've been living there for 2 years ('96-'98) and besides finding the place very fascinating, it was the place my mother passed away. So i've been itching and dying to go back there just to walk around and see the old places that my late mother brought me. My old school, shopping malls, apartment.. everything and anything to remind me back of my mother. :) And of course, i didn't get the chance to go to Hong Kong's disneyland. When I was there, i think they were just about to plan it.. damn.

Uh oh.. my stomach is growling and i'm fasting. Steady stomach...steady... i had a stomach ache and a very bad wind this morning. I almost didn't want to go to work and wanted to break fast but since Ramadhan is just around the corner and i have a couple of days to 'make up' the puasa that i missed, i have to put down my feet and say "No to break fast. Not until 7.30pm."

Occay, back to work before i get caught doing something else! Hehe.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

anything

Another half an hour i'm leaving back home.. my stomach is growling badly but i have to ignore it.. as i am fasting. I'm 'making up' for the several days that i did not fast during Ramadhan (it's a girl thing). I did make up yesterday.. but since i only ate during the break fast the previous day, i couldn't stand but to break fast at 1pm. I should've stood firm and ignore my hungerness but the growling was bad so i ate char kuey teow. One of my friends were surprised that i ate and said (translated) "you have to fast an additional day to make up for it". I didn't know that I had to do extra.. but oh well, i am going to fast another 10 days just to make up any other days that i missed.

Tomorrow Min (my bf) will be flying off to Sabah under his production house. He's helping out with the tv programme called Mistik. A true ghostly event where they go and shoot people who are being treated Islamically to remove ghosts and under black magic stuff. When I was young, I believed the existance of ghosts but never realised that someone close to me would die of black magic years later. Eversince, I grew interest on the topic.. When people say that they don't believe that ghosts exists, I would always talk about the tragedy that occurred to a member of my family years back that caused her death. (May she rest in peace and placed among all the good people).
Anyway, he's going there for 10 days.. yes 10 days.. some may think 10 days may not be long but if you're in my place, then you'll realize that it feels like a lifetime. Everyday my agenda is always with him. It's either we go out for dinner.. or to the movies.. shopping.. sometimes he comes over to my house and play with my little brother Eshan. The 4 year old boy is very cheeky! And he definitely loves Min. Yesterday my sister and I asked him who he loves... and he answered "abang min". My sister narrowed down the question and said "just girls". It did took him quite sometime to choose either me or my sister. First he said me then my sister.. Haha. But after being shy about the question, he then replied "dua dua.." (both). Good boy. Oh by the way, Eshan is hooked up with his new playstation. Yes a 4 year old boy who already has his own playstation. It's ps2 by the way. My dad didn't buy him ps3 as my brother already has it but in my own opinion, ps2 is much 'friendlier' to use for kids like him. Eversince he got the playstation, he's been playing the Indiana Jones and Star Wars lego game. I did enjoy playing Indiana Jones but just during the first week.. after that I grew bored. Star Wars is much boring as I hardly follow star wars. I'm not so into sci-fi movies. Most of his time is spent playing playstation. He refuses to go to school or even shops (except toys r us) the first few weeks. Then gradually he went back to school and followed us out. But of course, he still wails if nobody wants to play the game with him. Both games needs 2 players. So yeah, almost everyday he cries..
My little cute baby brother :-)

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

I wish someone would understand..

I wish that someone can read my mind.. and hold me tight and tell me that "I know what you're going through...".
It's not easy to live a life knowing that you cannot turn back the clock and hug and kiss your mum and tell her that you love her. Slowly I'm forgetting what it feels like holding her hand when crossing the road in Hong Kong.. I can't remember how it feels like touching her cheeks..
Every night I pray to God to grant me just one wish. Just one. That I can dream about her. Not those lousy dreams that you go for a holiday with your mum or anything. One that she really comes to visit me and tell me to be strong.
I miss her touch.. I miss her cook.. I miss her advices... I miss her love... I miss a mother's love...
I am jealous for those who gets to hug and kiss their mother...
I am disgusted for those who treats their mother like shit..

I wish I could sell my soul to bring back my mother. Just anything to have a glimpse of her... Anything...

The haunting past

It has been 10 years since I last saw her.. yes 10 years..
10 years of not seeing my mama...
10 years of trying to accept the fact that she passed away..
10 years of trying to stop thinking about her when I'm alone..
10 years of trying to move on..
10 years of trying to be the best daughter although she is not here to see me..

It's insane that everyday feels like 'yesterday'.
No one knows how hard i'm trying to cope with this..