A new plaything

Still learning the trade.

Jinn

You're an escape

I love it when its a thunderstorm, and you know that gloom to come.

I'm an overnight success story. I'm a size 36 to size 32. Remember how I confessed about wanting skinnies? I bought two pairs and lost more weight since.

I'm a dysfunctional body. Working against the natural process.

I'm on a deserved break, culminating from nights of thinking and working. But yet I'm adamant that my real break lies away from where I sit now. I feel heavy to motion. Hesitant still to make moves.

I'm hoping for rain, so I have a plausible reason to stay in.

I'm disgusted of the jail food I make to stay alive. But I know I'm hungry.

I'm glad to have found people I could share a common interest with at my institution. But doubtful still that anything substantial could me made out from it.

I'm missing home. But silently searching for signs that home misses me.

I'm in a position where cancer sticks are what keeps my blood flowing. But aware enough to know its what buries me.

I'm one to enjoy spontaneity. But when the opportunity becomes scarce, I wish things were planned out beforehand.

I'm enjoying the progression of things. But sceptical about the prospect.

I'm satisfied with wind in my face. But longing for it to blow me away.

I'm assuming its a placebo effect. But its too realistic to dispel that notion.

I love it when its marred by imperfections. But beautiful still.

I'm in a mire. But funny enough, I'm contented in here.

Jinn

Everytime you download music, a kitten dies

Here's a confession, I've always longed for one of those black skinny jeans that hugs you lovingly in the best places. But I cant fit into any. Either that or it bear hugs me.

The Man behind my door.

We're on extreme weather alert now apparently because Victoria Police texted everyone yesterday informing us of another possible bushfire due to escalating temperatures and strong winds today. Well they probably got the strong winds part correct because when I go out, my hair is struggling to hold in one style and I think the boxers I left out to dry last night turned out coated with dust, like a dust cushion somewhere around my scrotal regions now. It rained this morning as well, and the sky does not look like clearing up anytime soon, so chances are you wont be seeing another heartwarming picture of a fireman feeding a scalded koala bear in the papers.

This is the Edward Cullen your mother warned you about.

And with that, I hope this turns out to be the anti-climax to the end of summer.

Melissa Pong in the kitchen, only when the stars are aligned.

In an unrelated but equally interesting note, my university is on strike. Our vice-chancellor came out with a considerate idea to extend facilities by prospectively wanting to construct new campuses. This, in return, has required the university to slash expenses to as much as 30 million dollars. Thus, resulting in the inevitable sacking of 270 staff members and shutting down two other campuses in the outer suburbs. This incredible act of infamy increased student numbers in my campus by about 20 percent, some courses and subjects are in the works of being removed, and we now hold the honorable title of the institution with the 'Worst Teacher-Student Ratio' in Australia. Sigh.

I'm accustomed to sitting alone in uni. Its not easy mingling around.

So to oppose this modern form of hierarchal tyranny, the lecturers and tutors have decided to go on a boycott for about 6 days in 3 weeks. Which undoubtedly means NO NEED TO WAKE UP EARLY NEXT WEEK!

No lah, I'm really serious with my education. I'm dismayed, I really am.

Jinny

Feist-y

I'll Try Anything Once - The Strokes

Hey, if you have an iPhone, get Shazam from the applications store, because if you hear a song somewhere, and it pisses the shit out of you because you dont know what it is or anything, turn Shazam on and record a snippet of it, it will then search its database of 9 million songs (haha!) and provide you with the answers you seek. Its S.H.A.Z.A.M.

Oh wait, its only available in anywhere but Malaysia.

I've shifted in. Yes. I'm finally inhabiting my own space. Space I duly paid for with a hefty price. And because my room is small and claustrophobic, it undoubtedly looks fifty times cosier now that it is clustered. Tomorrow I'm poised to blu-tack my wall with printed pictures so I get to see everyone's pretty faces before I doze off every now and then.

And maybe take a nice little photo for everyone to admire. Heh.

Its quite a feeling finally living alone. Albeit my cousin's soundly asleep in the room beside. The responsiblities of signing contracts and paying bills on my own, retrieving my own mail, having my name printed on official envelopes. No to mention the overwhelming sense of freedom. Its like finally, a new chapter in life, not in a pseudo context anymore, a real new experience. Although I still loathe the idea of housework.

And classes have started. Having successfully scraping through week 1, I have 2 assignments due in week 3 and a huge one about an interview with a real-life manager. I've also added into 'the people I met' tally, three and quarter Australians, one quarter Indian, one quarter German and one Serbian. Going out to play has been rather tough for me but hopefully it works in my favour.

Its the comfort of having people I know that are willing to do shit with me that's waning.

Today I've been shooting a repertoire of rhetorical questions to myself about my apparent weight-loss. 6 of my kilograms have mysteriously vanished. My waist feels bare at the thought of my size 36 pants that no longer hugs it. Even with the diligent help of the belt.

To add salt to injury, my shirts have all shrunk because of some dryer.

I'm torn between shopping for new clothes or extra feeding myself so I can fit into old clothes. Both requiring to stretch my budget a little tighter. I never knew losing weight had such repercussions.

Jinny

On The Other Side Of The World

Integrity is a full basin, shame is the spiral down the sinkhole.

I can't remember the last time I've started an institution without knowing anyone at all. After three days of orientations and 2 days of classes, I've only come to introduce myself to one and a half Malaysian(s), two british lads and five and a half Australian(s).

Victoria University has decided to start a week earlier than every other higher education institution in Australia, which has condemned me to a 6.30am wake up call, and a 45 minute tram-train-tram ride much sooner than anyone else.

But three days of classes, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and I have the long weekend ahead. Sounds too appealing to make up for it.

I'm very aware of the idealogy of cramming classes into as few days in a week as possible.

Mental block because Gossip Girl is on tv. The bitchful sounds are very very distracting.

Jinny

Lets go see Raoul, lets make a stand

I have finally stumbled upon one greatest flaw of the magnificent iphone. I cant bloody upload the photos I took into my computer. And then another just popped into my head, you cant take videos with it.

Then I found this application that allows you to post pictures onto facebook from the iphone. I just have to go to facebook and save image. So inconvenient.

Anyway, a photo of Seasons, the apartment I'll be shifting into maybe by next week.


This is Pelham Street, where the apartment is. Beautiful evening today.

And I was scrolling through Chi Khan's blog today and I came across this other photo. Sometimes being a boy and being dumb does put smiles on people's faces.

Classic us.

Jinny

Binman to Hitman

As of now, I've been in this land almost a week. Still struggling to shake off that habit of thinking too much about home and the stupid things I do when I have the freedom of being behind the wheel of my life.

And today, I've conveniently heard tragic stories of how some people require a whole year's of bawling over the phone to come to a stage where they cant wait to come back here. I'm further doubting myself now.

Its astonishing, the weather really. How temperatures can fluctuate by 20 degrees in a day. Last Saturday, Melbourne had the worst heatwave in history, contributing to bushfires in the suburbs and killing almost 130 people as of now. Right now, its 15 degrees celcius. Complimenting a day of a constant 19 degrees. You never make it a priority to trust the weather forecasts.

Since I got here, I've been moving about, getting alot of distance in my daily walking exercises. I refuse to take the tram because the weather is good. When the weather is bad, I refuse to go out. So far I've been running around to banks, getting bank cheques done, and gallavanting to and fro to the city and to the real estate agent's office.

After the day, its just staying home, watching The Biggest Loser and So You Think You Can Dance and playing pro evolution soccer. Which I suspect is the causing my right arrow button on the keyboard to be a little knackered up. A little bit of facebooking would be an understatement on the largest scale.

But I'll get over it soon.

Sometimes I feel slightly limited for things to do, but I actually have an Australian Tenancy Booklet to read and pages of rules to memorise in abiding to the law of renting property. Oh, I finally have an apartment.

Now that just leaves me with furniture shopping, utensils, internet connection, paperworks, more bank visits.............

I've also come to realise that I really need to mind my language on facebook. Seems like my dad's my most avid fan.

I'd like to think that I could work part-time, given the salary paid to students here is astoundingly high(say RM5/5 minutes), and finance my return ticket back home during the winter. But sub-consciously I also know that I can finance part of my huge rent. However I prefer to stay oblivious.

I know I lack the pictures to justify the amount of words I write sometimes. I apologize. I will post some, soon.

Jinny

Melbourne, 2009 - ?

Right now its just 2009 - 2009, because I cant wait to go back to my glorious homeland at the end of the year.

Hello hello, this is me again, I think I'm undergoing an initial bout of homesickness, bound to get worse and worse.

I do wonder sometimes what everyone else is doing back home. And the fact that the sun sets at 8.30pm, uncannily, stimulates that thought even more.

Yes, I did cry, albeit having my man-ego torn to shreds, I admit. Like a 5 year old child leaving mummy for the first time in many people's context. But it is hard not to bawl, okay maybe not bawl. It is hard not to tear after the past month of bonding with everyone I know back home. Its a very warm fuzzy feeling knowing everyone acknowledges you and when you depart, and that its not just a sad affair for yourself. Ah, I miss you guys already.

The weather here is awesome, sarcasm not applied. The air is chilly, which is really quite apparent when night falls. Its just the sun thats scorching. The news here predicts that this Saturday comes another bout of heatwaves, pushing the mercury to about 43 degrees. Thats much more than any Malaysian can handle. And the apartment I'm living in now, thegirlfriend's apartment, has no air-cond. Just 2 stand fans in service for combat.

I've been internet deprived since I got here and now that I have it, we just realised that the maximum bandwith is just 200mb. Which means it might just run out by say, tomorrow. With 15cents per mb after limit. Not to mention I spent 13 dollars on wifi at Gloria Jeans this afternoon.

Anyway, I'm yet to acquire my Australian number but in the meantime, I have my usual one and another M'sian number at +6017-3388815. I'll give you my Australian account number on request if any of you are feeling generous. Say, donate to the BradJinn fund. Heh.

And I've gotten myself another email address because I've realised embaressment while filling up official documents with my current address.

chiaeujinn@gmail.com

There, a slightly more matured one. Anyone wants to snail-mail me, I'd be happy to entertain.

Oh, okay, bye!

Leong, Hann, Mel, I'm waiting for you!

Jinny

Time to shape it and make it

Its a little too soon to be taking off don't you think?

The chinese new year is in approximately 10 minutes and I've already collected today a fair share of support funds for abroad. In about a week, I know I'll be terribly homesick, sick missing the new year buzz, gatherings and those late-night marauding to bars with the people I'll equally miss. 

One box of belongings has already found its way to Melbourne. And thats it, nothing else seems to be going just yet. I really thought It'd be easy, this whole packing up and leaving, leave out all the rest and start afresh. I really thought my persistence and determination to move on was impenetrable. Now I lay, emotionally even more attached to lets just say 'home'.

I bet thegirlfriend feels almost the same way too. Comfortingly, I have her with me until hann, melpong and that cousin of mine arrives later on in the month.

So far, work hasn't really been all too enjoyable without kelvin around anymore. But whoever's left makes attending to unscrupulous customers a little less of a hassle. Most of them customers aren't even worth as much as the clothes on their backs judging by the way they are. Its a common problem in Malaysian society. Staggering amounts of people who feel shop assistants of any sort are a rung below customers, or that because we serve therefore we are without ambition, direction or a future. Shame on you. 

I know my colleagues will be missed. 

6 days until I leave and BradJinn productions might be in the works again. I hope I've the capabilities to have 2 farewells, another day's work and one more night out. 

Then I'll put my head to rest.

Jinny

Swab but swap

"Love makes me stronger, hate makes me unstoppable."

First off, I apologize to those who still has no clue when I got back. I've delved straight back into my job and I've been overly occupied with some extra-curricular activities. At times I find myself lacking the time or patience for the computer.

The past week on an island was really refreshing. Like a much deserved break. Perfect for recharging and realigning principles in life. It made me realise how foggy yet bright the future is. Figuring this thin, feint, glimmer out with brad, what I plan to undertake does not necessarily guarantee a high-paying job or me masterminding something extraordinary. I'd dare take a step away from the stereotype. This prospect is quite self-consuming I must admit.

I'd open a reggae bar somewhere on a pristine beach and live out my life there if I must. I've been thinking actually about nomad-ing after obtaining a degree. After graduation, possibly with a business-partner, brad? We'll have a one-way ticket to any exotic location anywhere in the world, and take off. With the clothes on our backs and some extra undies in a knapsack. Rough it out and get a job and see what happens. 

Oblivious to the fact that we might have just wasted precious education funds. 

Thegirlfriend's coming home at noon tomorrow, and apparently she has more plans than I have. 

My room's a mess because of the process of mass packing, I'm leaving on the 2nd of February. Less than 3 weeks or so. I'm not ready to leave home just yet.

Jinny

Existence without existing

"Nothing stays the same."

I think I've adopted the new phrase as somewhat a philosophy for the new year. A personal outlook, no matter how general it sounds.

My only resolution for the new year is the exact same resolution I made to myself the year before, and the year before, and years and years before. 

Make this year different from the last.

In relation to that, I thought I did pretty awfully well with 2008. Undoubtedly, that means I stuck to my resolutions with distinctions. 

Its almost less than a period of a month before I'm leaving, and i've got to say this anticipation and hype is waning. Suddenly the prospect of leaving isn't so much so appealing. As much as I'm desperate to further my life on greener pastures by mere assumption. I dont think I'm ready just yet to bid farewell.

Oh, happy new year everyone. Especially to thegirlfriend, who's all the way over the arab side. With much love. 

Jinn

Let die and live on

There is no place like home. 

Then why is it I feel like I left a big part of me back there in Abu Dhabi?

Staggeringly, 2 months seemed like 2 weeks. I cant think back of my time there and the things that I did, or experienced, however significant or minute without an increasing sense of peculiarity. Its startling how it ended so quickly, and how I came home and everything felt so familiar, like the dust had only just settled.

This isn't really a good time to write. While my body clock is desperately trying to adapt to jet-lag. I'm worried about passport renewal and Australian student visa, not to mention the compulsory medical check-ups, and the upcoming gush of public holidays. 

Doesn't matter if its the 3rd time already, I miss thegirlfriend. Crazy much.

Boo?

Jinny

The rich wage war, its the poor who dies

Hi, I'm back home already. No, not really. Back in Abu Dhabi.

The past week in Istanbul has been, well, mixed. On one hand I'm eternally grateful for the trip, expenses, extra pocket money that is almost more than enough. Not to mention my first time ever on the European continent. The location is beautiful, magnificent I would say.

But its been a hard struggle trying to cope with the difference in culture. I wouldn't say it to be very much different from situations that I have complained about before. But I tried very hard to put the glaring eyes and racial discrimination to a certain extent at the back of my head. Frankly, I'm a weakling for things like that. A little too supersensitive. The fact that most caucasians see us asians in a different light is demoralizing enough. Something I shan't complain anymore. 

Leave that aside, most Turkish people in the hospitality business do surprise me with spontaneous warmth and welcoming. These are the people I really thoroughly enjoyed conversing most even though none of us speak the common language. Breaking small words and piecing them into hardly comprehensible sentences were their forte, but it was never an issue. The receptionist in which I spoke to every night about all things Turkish football, and the warm gestures of the restaurant host just at the end of our hotel street, always clutching a small glass of turkish tea. My friend Cem who works at nike in Taksim Square convincing the mercurial vapor boots purchase to me an his female Albanian co-worker who wants to go to Malaysia just to look for me, apparently out of sign language, thegirlfriend interpreted it as because I was handsome. Much to her distaste. 

But according to thegirlfriend, Turkey is crawling with physically gifted men. Referring to the half-naked hairy men who Turkish bathed us, and the guy at one of many restaurants, and the policemen and everything else with two balls, or one.

Photos, I'll let photos tell the rest of the story later.

View from the upper balcony of the hotel in Sultanahmet, where we eat breakfast every morning.

Street along the side of the hotel. View from the room. Streets like these are awfully common around Istanbul.

This is the Haghia Sophia. One of the many sightseeing destinations within a short walking distance from our hotel.

Tram lines and cafes along the streets of Sultanahmet.

Istanbul is divided into 2 different sides. Both different continents. The European side is the one in which we stayed in, on the other side, separated by the Golden Horn, or Marmara Sea, is the Anatolian side, or better known as the Asian side. In which 99% of Turkey is situated in the Asian continent.

Dinner on the rooftop of one many cafes in Taksim Square. A insanely packed shopping district.

Thegirlfriend and I. Something she insisted. Hah.

Just us four after theparents and cassie left. Backpacking as we would like to call it. But undeservingly.

At the best shisha place in Istanbul. Water pipe or narghile as it is called in Turkey. Apparently a place where only the locals go to situated deep inside a small alleyway. So you can imagine the curious eyes on us 4 the whole time. Smoothest shisha so far though. So smooth, Manda finally graduated from shisha school and barfed later on for the whole hotel lobby to hear.

Earlier today thegirlfriend was scrolling through the videos on her old laptop with me beside and we came across our moral project video which we did last year. Its an interview with Alvin, a proud gay who was allegedly involved in a hit and run accident. Only to be discovered later on that he was actually drunk and tried to get his fat ass from the rear window into the front window of a speeding car and he fell out. But the catchline in our video struck a chord in me.

"Life is fragile."

It frighteningly is. Just over a week ago, I received news that someone I have grown quite close with working at Topman had passed away in an accident. For someone so young and so much future ahead, I was deeply saddened and disturbed by this. For that week I was away in Istanbul, inside of me, I refused to believe such an outcome for someone I was looking forward to meeting when I get home. I was living with my head in the clouds. Then today, another colleague, and also his cousin, sent another message, more of an assurance that he has already passed on. Recalling he once said to me, hoping I wouldn't take long here in Abu Dhabi because when I get back I might not see him anymore. In that context he meant he would've found another job somewhere, maybe not realising that life has other plans. 

A drink for you my friend, when I get back, and a tattoo with your name on it, outlining my ankh. The symbol of life. To signify your continuance in these days even though you're not around anymore. You'll be sorely missed. 

Jinny

Istanbul, Türkiye

Hi, I'm typing with a turkish keyboard, so before I piss myself off..

Its cold here in Istanbul, and even colder when it rains. Somehow I'm not enjoying myself very much because I cant seem to shake off the culture shock. Its a terrible terrible, miserable feeling.

However, I am extending my stay in Abu Dhabi for a couple days to a week more otherwise it will be a little too hectic when I get back from here.

I know I shouldnt feel this way, but I really want to go back to Abu Dhabi.

Jinny

Gotta love the turkey!

I'm writing this over breakfast on a beautiful breezy morning in Abu Dhabi. The epitome of this beautiful morning is the magnificent weather, bright sun rays but still chilly. Spanish jazz is playing on the home stereos and the dogs and cats are just lazing about.

And I still have yet to finish packing. We're leaving for Dubai airport at 2 which leaves me ample time to settle phone credits, ipod updates and a short round of Call of Duty. 

And for the next 8 days, I'll be sort of MIA because I cant be too sure if the hotels around Istanbul has any computers let alone internet connection. Yep, I'm going to Istanbul, Turkey!

We're going there today for a holiday for about 4 days, while thegirlfriend's parents are with us. They're leaving on the 9th, so after that, we're on our own to backpack around until the 13th. 

Okay then. Bye, see you!

Jinny

Video 1

The Dubai Desert Safari video. Another one soon.

Those who do not remember the past, are condemned to repeat it

The girlfriend's showing off her new laptop she just proudly bought with her very own savings. Which also works to my advantage because I just started hogging the internet bandwith with game downloads.

My spending has significantly decreased in a sort of staggering way. I'm now being urged to purchase some pyjama pants to reward myself for some notable of good money saving behavior.

I reckon it something positive. Because come sunday, I'm most most probably heading over to Istanbul, Turkey for a week long backpacking trip! 

Gotta love the Turkey! :)

Jinny

Go top up your love

Singapore expats paddle their own canoe

My first time significantly appearing in the papers. Okay fine, its just a name, age, "the youngest in the team" and a simple 'intention comparison'(?). 

Ahoy, so i just spent a whole weekend in Dubai. Just so you know, the week ends on a thursday, so the weekend spans out to the duration of a friday and saturday. 

The dogs are really getting along with the cats, although sometimes it really ticks me off to see the stupid haggard baby the shih-tzu picking sides where it favours him most. His allegiance to the cats is apparent when they embark on an irritating goldie the retriever frenzy when she's outside and they know they're protected by half an inch of reinforced glass. And then bark in unison with goldie at the cats when the situation arises in which the cats are inferior. Also knowing that he once murdered a star tortoise out of jealousy fuels my annoyance a mile longer.

Spoilt he-bitch.

I finally went for the Dubai desert safari yesterday! Right now i'm uploading a few videos of us slipping and sliding around the sand dunes(i just accidentally blurted out the word "treats" and the first thing i saw was the stupid haggard baby trotting over by the door and started staring at me with THAT face, greedy, spoilt he-bitch)of Dubai. I'll probably post it up later because youtube is taking a very long time. 

I was just trying to recall the other night, of all the things that i've bought here. Its quite staggering yet amazing how i bought so many things and yet i've still got a quite hefty amount left. Alright, i bought a football on my first day here which is quite used up and soft already now that i'm looking at it, new perfume, futsal shoes, ipod, okay, i got an ipod from thegirlfriend as a present so it doesn't count. Few plain t-shirts and a shirt, a new watch, new sunnies, new ipod speakers, a pricy body compression suit called skins, and a few other petty things. Somehow, i can safely assume that my buys are more of what i need that what i want because i use almost everything i buy at any given time everyday while i'm here. 

Nope, no souvenirs so far. 

I'm so bored of the malls here. Basically its because i already have everything i need. I've seldom had the feeling of walking around not having anything to buy in particular. Which i find quite good in a way because i need to start saving. 

I'm probably going to Morocco, if there are tickets, for about a week early next month. Unless there aren't, then maybe Cairo. Or Spain?

Jinny

And the dragon falters

They say tattoos are meant for certain identification for your peers to recognize you beyond any reasonable doubt when you are tattered and your time is up.

Taken when i did it almost 1/half months back. Pardon the pit bush. :)

And so it ends, the dark horse run. Amidst a substantial amount of controversy. Its a rather incomprehensible feeling of disappointment losing out because of an organizing error. Capitala Dragons, has earned many plaudits for earning a spot in the finals. Despite only coming together 2 weeks prior to the competition and a combined total of 4 hours of training. Beating a respectable number of 29 teams to deservedly earn a place in the finals.

And to lose out to a false start. Maybe not really a false start, see a dragon boat race, by rules or rather sportsmanship should only start when every boat is in an orderly line at the start before any starter should have the green light to flag off.

To shorten this extra long story of reasoning and blame, in a 6 boat final, our boat was initially in starting position before it slowly began to deviate from its original position and turn sideways. To be precise, our boat was in a perpendicular position while every other was in parallel. Our coxswain, a steerer of the boat provided by the organizers, supposedly a professional dragon boater was probably the only one to blame. See, a coxswain is probably the most important person on the boat to control and steer a boat in the right direction. Its not easy, controlling a dragon boat with 20 people inside. Its even harder/stupider to control a dragon boat with 20 people inside while sitting down. Frankly, his actions suggested that he wasn't really sure of what he's doing.

Due to him sitting and not making himself visible, the starter assumed everyone was in position and flagged off. Leaving us stranded and confused, frantically protesting with only sideways to go. The same thing happened during the semi-finals in which another team was not ready when they started the race. But the officials pulled everyone back and restarted. I ts a sick-to-the-stomach feeling really. Making it thus far and without being given a fighting chance for some well-deserved, possible glory and its over.

Some of our team members were protesting to the officials furiously only to be brushed aside, citing "these things happen" and aptly blaming strong winds. By this, of course igniting more tension, fighting fire with fire. Its unfortunate really, judging by the scale of the competition and the professionalism involved, there should've been some action taken from the start. But what can i say? Getting to the finals was already more than we asked for.

Despite all that, I was asked to do a phone interview for the national press . Haha. For being the youngest in the team and possibly the whole competition(because teams were either corporate based or professional dragon boat racers). And also a team interview article on our run to the finals. So it might be published in the papers sometime soon.

As for now, i scoured the internet and only found this one article so far. Published a week before the festival.

CapitalaSpirit Rides The Waves

With a small team photo which doesn't enable you to zoom. But if you count the heads from the left, i might be the 6th one. The small speck with sunnies.

Oh, it finally rained here this morning. It only does about twice a year here, and the papers reported it like it was something huge. 25 road accidents this morning due to rain. Imagine that. This place is awesome.

That also means that winter is here. The climate change is drastic, just over 2 days ago it was still quite warm and yesterday morning, it all shifted to a different temperature. Now all the sliding doors are left open and it feels like the room is air-conditioned. I even put 2 foldable chairs on my balcony already. For the winter. :)

Some pictures of us before our first heat. More when I get more.

Jinny

Burn to ash the ash to burn

I like celebrating my birthday here. As much as it is over back home, I'd still have 4 hours more.

Happy birthday to me anyway.

My dragon boat race is in 3 days and this jittery feeling is suddenly feeling all too familiar. The reason why i'm nervous is over the prospect of physical suffering that i had already experienced during training. This is a big event, no, its a huge mega-super-monolithic event. Its on every spread of newspaper, advertisements on every channel. (Adrenaline Sports Live 2008 Abu Dhabi)

Capitala, our multi-million dollar corporate sponsor for the dragon boat team. In which we were given a cap and an extra-large-only t-shirt to do publicity shots.

Not just a mere friendly race after all. In the build-up leading to that day, the seriousness of it is suddenly immense. The ongoing rumour of us possibly ranking amongst the top 5, Team Singapore Dragons, is undoubtedly doing more harm than good. Even the more reason why Murphy's Law would state that we'd fuck up.

Oh, i have a hookah. Not hooker. A hookah. We all have a misconception about the device we use to shisha with. Some call it the shisha tube, the bong, the shisha pot, every other junkie name known to existence. But it is in fact, called a hookah. The concept of inhaling smoke from a hookah is better known to us as shisha, or rather the tobacco used is also known by the same name.

Today, i bought a hookah for 119 AED from our favourite hypermarket carrefour. With a box of al-fakher apple tobacco, 100 plastic mouthpieces, quick-burning charcoal and a cleaning device all at the same time. After briefly educating myself on the fundamentals of a hookah and how to prepare shisha on the net last night, I'm ready for one trial run later.

I'm going to dubai tomorrow again for some retail therapy. At least thegirlfriend's mother needs some i think. Maybe the girlfriend too. Ah, how can it not be? Dubai is really just an hour away from where I am, aptly speaking, the distance would cost you 200 AED by taxi. Having experienced that, sharing a cab with an american and australian architect who talks buildings buildings and then more.

It is a very very nice place I have to admit. A very very nice perfect place minus the emiratis and their arabian counterparts. The whole place, seen from certain sociological and architectural angles is stunningly complexed and fascinating. Capable of making Abu Dhabi, despite being the capital look inferior, Singapore, like a marshland, and dear Malaysia, a quagmire. Dubai might just be the inspiration for the term 'megastructures'.

The Atlantis Hotel, a fascination on the Palm Jumeirah.

Even Dubai has the largest garoupa in its underwater world, The Lost City of Atlantis. Better known for being the fried thai sauce fish.

The land is cramped with high-rised buildings, and every high-rise building has their very own distinct design from the ground floor to the pinnacle. No, i'm not exaggerating when i say every building. The biggest, the tallest, the largest, the fastest, the people who develops the city are thrown into a pool of pressure having to fulfill these obligations. And the outcome, though I may not know more than an architect, or an engineer, but to the lay-man's eyes, is a marvel.

The Palm Jumeirah, The Palm Jebel Ali, Atlantis Hotel, Aquaventure, The Burj-Al-Arab, Mall of Emirates, Ibn Battutta Mall(The biggest mall in the world, think 4 Mid Valley Megamalls), The World Island, what the hell, The Bloody World Islands. A man-made island made into the shape of all the continents of mother earth. Mainly prime estates, Malaysia is a bungalow and Singapore is the owner's dog's kennel.

Ha *exhales*, I need to catch my breath.

Bloody arab kids on a school trip to the ice rink. Thegirlfriend couldn't be more right when she said that this generation of arabs are better off learning about discipline first, real education should only be implied to the next generation.

Me, thegirlfriend and thegirlfriend's sister manda and baby the handsome princess in distress.

Kids around our neighbourhood at Al Raha Gardens trick-or-treating during halloween. Not recieving any candy before i made them scream "trick-or-treat" with their scariest faces.

*Edit* The shisha went well. Now going to burn more charcoal on the stove and prepare for round 2.

Jinn