For a single three day notice, the turnout was surprisingly good with nearly a dozen of us; not including a table of smoking kek-kuan stealth bloggers(?)

There was yours truly protected from Mavis (and her noisy samseng sanguine gang) by the bodies amour of Georgette (and her ducky), Wilson, Ben, Felicity, Desmond, Juliana, Arlyne, Kenny and non-bloggers and dear old friends Edmund (see-me-if-u-need-supplements) and Phillip (see-me-if-u-need-medicines).

We had a chilling (literally) fun time and here are the photos for you to figure what nonsense antics we were up to last night! kekeke!

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I felt a pull on my back at lunchtime wednesday; and the pain got gradually worst and by time I was about to leave the office for home, I was 'standing' like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

My children called me an “Immortal” as I am one of those people who hardly ever fall sick (touch wood). But being human, and as tall people are commonly afflicted with, my Achilles’ heel is my lower back. My poor posture (I tend to slump when I sit) certainly does not help. So before it gets worst, I decided to go for a full body massage at one of the ‘blind center’ massages place; to give them some business as that’s their main source of income. I had previously been massaged by Stewart Renggie (hp 013-8168799) of FortuneLand Health Services Centre (082-241741) and so I called him for an appointment and he was only available at 6pm. So I went straight there from the office. At R$25/- for an hour’s worth, it’s very good value for money in a modest but clean surroundings on the first floor of a row of shophouses just off Rock Road. As Stewart massaged me we chatted between my moaning and groaning when he pressed (shiatsu style) on a tender spot. Stewart is a competent masseur and a relaxed and cheerful person; and I felt grateful for his care and attention.

I walked out feeling much better and relieved that my backache is on the mend. A backache is a gentle (but painful) reminder not to take my back or anything or anyone for granted and to count my blessings; and also to sit upright when typing this blog! Be Well !

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"We cannot tell what may happen to us in the strange medley of life. But we can decide what happens in us...how we can take it, what we can do with it...and that is what really counts in the end."

Joseph Fort Newton
Author

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But I’m digressing. Anyway I rang Mavis while on the way home yesterday evening and I got an earful, when I told her that I had “blogged Chilax”, that I would be skewered alive by angie, lynnette and pheys! Oh dear ... But since I am already a dead man that had gone past the point of no return; I might as well up the ante! So, let’s have a Blogger’s Meet and bearing in mind the ‘lurkers’ on my site; let’s also make it a Meet the Bloggers Meet at Chilax at 7.30pm this Thursday, 23^rd February 2006! Ta da! Thanks to 9lives and gette for the brilliant suggestion (I need to rope in others to share the blame!).

This is strictly an informal and casual gathering, so don’t expect anything – just turn up to chillout and relax lah!

Have your dinner first and bear in mind that Chilax is strictly a non-alcohol and non-smoking venue. Looking forward to meeting you folks there and remember that I need you as body amour to protect me from mavis, lynnette, angie and pheys!

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I don’t normally do reviews of food and beverage outlets and hangout places but (there’s always a 'but' in life) because it is such a unique and original concept and in a class of its own (I love originality); I’m going to make an exception for Chilax located along Jalan Song around the corner from Upwell Supermarket, away from the normal hangout places in Kuching. What is so unique about this place that impresses me last night? For starters, they don’t want (or need) any publicity (I am not supposed to even blog this! Um, sorry gals! But I should really share this) and they are only opened from Thursdays to Sundays only; and opening hours are from 7 pm till late. Although Chilax has not ‘officially’ opened; they had already catered to several private functions already. Run by mavis, lynnette, angie and pheys, four of the nicest and most enthusiastic and creative (they designed all the interiors) individuals I had the pleasure to meet; Chilax is unique in what it does not offer – alcoholic drinks, cigarettes (sorry no smoking), TV and food. You can get these at all the other places. What it offers are great drinks, snacks, ambience, music (great CDs selections - just ask), tatami mats, comfortable sofas, latest magazines, comics, books, board games and wait for this, toys!. The décor is modern, tasteful chic and you should check out the toilets!

You must be thinking that this place must cost an arm and a leg; good news is that it doesn't cost anymore than comparable (although there's no comparison really) joints. I had a mango smoothie (no sugar added) for RM8/- and it was great with real mango taste and flavour.

Mavis (head honco) would kill me for saying this (but she'll have to catch me first and I've got longer legs!); but for the discerning, you owe it to yourself to check out this very special place – sorry but you’ll have to wait till Thursday and only after 7 pm! Go chillout and relax at the coolest (best kept secret) place in Kuching by far. Wait till they get their coffee act together and this'll be where I'll chillout often! Oh! And don't tell mavis, lynnette, angie and pheys that you saw it here!

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I was on my timber deck yesterday afternoon when I saw the above big fat cloud in the sky and I quickly snapped it before it dissipated as I noticed that the clouds were moving. Being big or small and fat is not a joke in this glamorized world brainwashed by the mass media adverts and shows predominantly carrying images of the beautiful people with impossible good looks. Impossible in the sense of being plastic surgically enhanced or constituting less than 0.00001% of the human race actually looking like that. Someone who came back from South Korea recently remarked to me that he wondered where are all the beautiful korean ladies he saw on the korean movies and TV series were; as he was (foolishly) expecting to see all the ladies there looking like that! Duh!

Sad but true that a lot of us judge people by their looks, fame and money rather than their integrity, values or character or what they carry inside. Lucky are those who have less than perfect looks but keep their inner flame alive with high self-esteem and self worth. We are who we are; a worthy human being regardless of how we look and who you think we are. It doesn’t really matter and we don’t really care. We are our own truths.

Haven't you ever come across simple-looking, down-to-earth people who impress upon, and look good to you, in the very first instance? They are the ones who carry an inner, positive glow on their faces. Beauty is nothing but an outlook, and whether you are actually a positive or a negative person will determine whether you look beautiful, or do not; regardless of your looks.

Being out on the waters and at the mercy of nature; I had learned that we are not our name, title or possessions. The water, wind and currents does not care. What will get me safely back to shore are my inner flame of faith, knowledge, skills and experience. Your looks, fame, money and ego will not. Who cares what car you drive and what brands you are using in the eye of the storm? And in the overall scheme of things, have we ever wondered what are the things that truly mattered in life? You haven’t? But you will or in time; should.

And if you, like me, are born less than perfect physically; you shouldn't worry too much about it. The big fat cloud doesn't – it just is, and it changes. And it's part of and belong to that perfect and beautiful cosmic order. Forget about my rantings and just enjoy looking at the big fat clouds! Have A Nice Day! Be well!

"Go confidently into the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve
imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler."
– Henry David Thoreau

"Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music
– the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself."
– Henry Miller

"Often people attempt to live their lives backward: they try to have
more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want
so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the
reverse. You must first be who your really are, then, do what
you need to do, in order to have what you want."
– Margaret Young.

"Life shrinks and expands in proportion to one's courage."
-Anais Nin

"Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous. That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor."
-Paul Hawken

"He who knows others is wise; he who know himself is enlightened."
-Lao-tzu

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After the CNY feastings and even more gobblings until Cap Goh Mei; which mark the end of the CNY (and any excusable gluttony); I was feeling positively sluggish with an increased waistline to match. Although I had no plans to kayak after a fouled-up arrangement, the rising tide, gentle breeze and overcast skies was more than I could bear; after all our dinner invitation was still more than 3 hours away.

With Ying-Yang watching me, I shoved off from my jetty and I entered a liquid realm of serenity, gliding away from the world of offensive cartoons (and even more repulsive reactions) and free police CNY hair cuts. What bliss these waters offer to the soul. But before I got too carried away in my perfect world, the dumping of unsuitable fill materials by the bastards people who lived next to the river at the resettlement scheme was appalling and I wondered about the mentality of these people. It was depressing so I paddled on so as not to dwell on it. Around the bend of the river I saw some fishermen and although they were not getting a good catch this afternoon, they still manage a smile. The pollution to the river is certainly not helping them in this regards.

Remembering that happysurfer from KL was curious about the fruits of the mangrove apple trees growing by the banks of Sg Stutong, I took some photos of them. Before too long I reach Sg Kuap and I amuse myself by trying to take some self-portraits which was a fruitless exercise as I don’t think I’m going to look any better from whichever angle I took(!); before turning my kayak around to head back.

On the way back I saw some kids playing by the river bank and seeing me, they hollered at me to paddle over, which I gladly did. I took some snaps of these carefree kids and wondered when it would be before the end of their innocence of their carefree days by the river. I hope I belong to part of that memories.

As I got on my jetty, I marvel that the same river would reveal something new to me each time I get on it; or is it that the river helps us to unravel the true nature about ourselves. Somehow I don’t think that the people around me would be wondering about things like this at the dinner party we would be attending tonight! *sigh*

11th February 2006

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Happy Valentine Day to everyone; a day that is so globalized and commercialized that it is practically unromantic! But it’s a material world out there and so no occasion is spared; and at the risk of being accused as unromantic (in addition to being pushy and a royal pain!); I really do not like Valentine Day as I’m pretty sure that the majority of the morons people out there do not know the history nor reason for the celebration of this day apart from the vague notion of it being a lover’s day. Do they know that it originated in 5^th Century Rome as a tribute to St Valentine, a Catholic Bishop? Or its sordid history? For eight hundred years prior to the establishment of Valentine's Day, the Romans had practiced a pagan celebration in mid-February commemorating young men's rite of passage to the god Lupercus. The celebration featured a lottery in which young men would draw the names of teenage girls from a box. The girl assigned to each young man in that manner would be his sexual companion during the remaining year. How you wished!

Anyway you can read more about it here. And here are some photos I took this morning of the roses I bought for my valentine and as if by magic the water hyacinths decided to bloom in unison as well.

I’m talking too much here and this hypocritical moron is taking his beautiful half for a Valentine as well as Birthday dinner tonight! No, I'm not being a cheapskate here as her birthday really falls on Valentine Day as well! Some of us are luckier than others ... kekeke

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We had a dinner function to attend but at the last minute, the missus suggested that 'Chinese Valentine Day' or 'Chap Goh Mei' (which literally means 15th night in the 'Hokkien' dialect) should be better spent together with the family. I agreed and we decided on “My Restaurant”, a western steak restaurant at the SamaJaya Roundabout (operated by the ex-chef from ‘Carvery’), as it was highly recommended by one of our friends who eat out a lot (and have the size to show for it!). On the drive there, the skies put on a spectacular display of fiery crimson reds and I could not persuade my family that we stop while I take a couple of quick snaps with threats that they will drive off I get out of the car - nice huh? I drove faster hoping that the light holds when we reached the restaurant; which fortunately it did. And while my family went into the restaurant; I rushed to take as many photos as I could of the fire in the sky. Here are the snaps and am I the only crazy person in Kuching excited by beautiful skies, clouds and water?

So how was the food at “My Restaurant”? We stick with the pork dishes as recommended by our friend and we were not disappointed. Vegans are advised to steer well clear of this joint unless they are happy with salads only. Over porky-indulgence and you are likely to end up with a fire in the belly! Better to just enjoy the fiery skies; I think they are simply AMAZING! Don't you?

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"Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions."

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Qualities of My Perfect Partner

1. Great body – sleek, streamlined and sexy! And must be absolutely beautiful; no doubt about it!
   
   
2. Adventurous and fearless. (Beautiful and brave! What a combination!)
   
   
3. Strong, tough and reliable. (Am I asking too much here? It's a game right?)
   
   
4. Can weather all storms with me. (And not abandon me when the going gets tough!)
   
   
5. Accept me totally for what I am regardless of my many flaws. (And there are many!)
   
   
6. Always be there for me and never complains whenever I needed/ wanted her at anytime! (I can dream, can't I?)
   
   
7. Little or no maintenance required (!!! I'll get killed if someone reads this!)
   
   
8. Let me love her like crazy! (I can be a little suffocating at times!)
   

A picture is worth a thousand words – so here’s my perfect partner!

...

Gotcha Bonnie!
And what were you people thinking about?

I can be sporting but folks; no more tags please, thank you kindly! (And I'll 'spare' others the tag too!)

Stumble It!

We reached Kg Sijingkat and unloaded our kayaks under dark sky and the curious watchful stares of the local kampung kids.

The overcast sky turned dark suddenly and we took the chance (excuse!) to head back.

We had been out for nearly an hour and half by then.

Halfway back, it started to rain and we were well, paddling and just paddling in the rain!

Then we reached the part where we have to cross the shipping lanes but fortunately the course was clear but the currents and wind were not! There were small whitecaps and crosscurrents and I had to put away my camera to concentrate on the paddling. I tried to avoid an area where the water was particularly turbulent and guess what - we were carried by the strong currents straight into it! We nearly capsized as KS did a 'dance' up at the bow and I leaned furiously for us to stay upright! From then on I paddled non-stop until the houses on stilts at Kp Sijingkat was in sight! PHEW!

I don't think Joe, Dayang and myself would be paddling Loba Batu Blat again anytime soon! So who was it that was saying that I painted an overly unrealistic rosy picture about kayaking in Kuching? Certainly not KS the trouper as he was all smiles and in high spirits over our saturday morning kayaking adventure despite the meandearing and the mean currents!

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Later that evening we went to Tom’s and were ushered to the first floor where Edmund has made a special reservation for a table of 10. The sparse but spacious (not including the back balcony, there was only one table on the entire first floor!), tastefully decorated interior and the quiet surroundings truly make for a pampered and luxurious atmosphere. I ordered the lamb shanks with brown sauce as recommended by Edmund and it was truly the best lamb shank I had for a long time (washed down with fine australian red wine) and the preceding French onion soup was also outstanding. To top it off we had the most delicious durian, yes you read it right, ice cream! Our kudos to Thomas, the owner and chef, of this outstanding restaurant in Kuching; and of course Edmund for his company and treating us there. Now I am well fortified to face the dreaded coming work week after the Chinese New Year!

5th February 2006

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