Oh Grandma

In my previous post, I mentioned that I love weddings, absolutely adore them. On the contrary, I hate funerals or deaths. Not that I'm afraid of dying but it's just the vibe you get from people around. It's so saddening that some people break down and cry, some remains emotionless, some are just normal while a minority would probably be happy about it.

I wouldn't say I'm going through a rough patch, because I'm not. Just on Monday, my great grandmother passed away. Through 3 days of wake, I didn't feel like I've missed someone. Well, probably I never really had like a close relationship with her. But right on the day of the funeral, all immediate family cried, including my manly cousins. I've never seen them cry for such a long time. Nope, I didn't cry but there was a feeling of someone missing. The situation worsen when my granduncle pressed the button to send the coffin down at the crematorium, her sons and daughters really cried very badly. So I've concluded that, no matter how not-close you are to a certain someone, having them to leave your life forever would evoke the sad emotion within you.

I was reminded of the time when I secretly disliked her for the things she said and the things she did to her sons and daughters of which I find them really selfish. But I'm reminded even more of the good things she has done for me. I remember the times when I was sleeping and she covered me with a blanket, times when she would give me extra pocket money to buy food and times when she taught me how to fold paper birds (which I've forgotten). I would miss her for sure.

And what's more creepy is chinese funerals. From past experiences, I've seen bohmohs swallow fire, spitting fire, running around fire, chanting like tomorrow's doom's day. Then there's the endless burning of paper money, houses, maids and anything you can imagine. Nowadays, it's more relaxed and I don't feel the creepy vibe anymore. I guess they are more civic minded nowadays because burning all these would cause pollution.

Right after the funeral yesterday, I was told this morning that my grandmother fell down from the stairs and is going to the emergency unit. My heart just fell. For a moment, I thought to myself, "What, I'm gonna lose my grandmother whom I loved a lot too?". I prayed instantly. Thanks God she's fine now.

"Oh Lord, please continue to cover my grandmother with your mighty hands. I pray that You'll protect her from any danger seen and unseen and help her to recover fast. Amen!"

27 Doors

B: Kelvin, you'll be opening the door for my husband tomorrow yea?
K: Oh okay, sure!
B: You can totally bargain for your angpow. If it's not satisfying, don't open the door.
K: Haha! I will.

This is the umpteenth time I'm asked to be the door-opener for the groom to pick up his bride on their special day. It's some sort of custom or practice that the Chinese has. I've always thought that only kids could do it and the kid has to be the cousin to the bride. Well, I'm the cousin but I'm definitely not the youngest. And throughout my years of experience in door-opening, I wasn't the cousin to many of my relatives but still I was given the "task". I guess it's a good business after all because I can get money from it. If Katherin Heigl can star in 27 Dresses, I would probably be a great star in 27 Doors.

Anyway, I love weddings, especially weddings in hotels. Well, apart from the waking-up early, withstanding the enormous smoke from their joss stick, drunk cousings and the lousy make-fun-of-the-groom games that the sisters planned (and this time, the head of the sisters was a guy...hmm). I absolutely can't stand weddings in Chinese restaurants because the place sucks though the food is awesome. Hotel on the other hand, has great ambience but poor food. Can't they hire good chefs in hotels? It's like they can't even cook better than hawker stallks and they call themselves chefs.

Not forgetting, I get to see my cousins and other relatives from my dad's side of the family. I think the last time I saw them was probably 4 years ago. I literally can't recognize my cousins and their children. Neither do they recognize me and my sister, given the fact that I'm already much thinner. Haha! And of course, having a wedding dinner in a hotel can totally prohibit people with bad singing enter the stage and start singing songs from a million years ago. If they could sing well, it's ok, but with their toad voices, it's really disturbing.

And of course, you get to camwhore with nice backgrounds. Imagine yourself in a Chinese restaurant, it looks so awful that I don't even feel like going into it, what more taking pictures. Once again, I shall stress the point that Chinese restaurants have awesome food. Even the toilets in Chinese restuarants have bad lightings.

It's really funny today to observe certain things. I saw this old couple walking into the ball room. They look like they were going into some Latino dance competition. It was so over the top that I almost laughed out loud. Also, there were moments of Partners-Showdown. Aunties and uncles were taking turns introducing their children's boyfriends and girlfriends. Luckily I didn't bring mine to save the hassle of walking around.

I so love weddings because they are so dramatic. From the decorations to the entrance song of the bride to the entrance song of the food, oh it's so dramatic. It fits my theme so super well. This is why I love weddings in hotels. You can be as dramatic as you want it to be, as long as you have money. I would probably want my wife's entrance to be from the top of the building slow escalating down and reach the stage, like some concert. I would probably need to be filthy rich to fulfil dramatic weddings like this.

Maybe I should discuss with her. Wait, you mean there's a her?

Congrats Robbie and Sam!
May this be a happy and everlasting marriage to the both of you~

"God Knows Kelvin Doesn't Cry Often..."

It's my first movie since my November holidays started. Can you believe it? When the trailer of 2012 came out, I knew I need to watch this film at that point of time.

So was it good? Or was it bad? I would say neither. I believed the film did justice to what the film was about. I know Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 5 out of 10 stars and only 39% of its sample gave positive feedbacks. But who cares?

Right from the beginning, I've expected it to be really cliche, in a way. And I know the only thing there is to be appreciated is the visual effects. They were really fantastic. Maybe I'm not some graphics experts but to get me to feel like I'm in the aeroplane while they wer crashing is good enough for me to give them a thumbs up. I know it's the typical apocalypse film where every part of the world will fall apart, everyone dying and as usual, the White House would always be wiped out. Can't they show Malaysian's Parliament being wiped out instead.? It'd be so much more appealing.

Oh, not forgettingt he typical moments in the ship where something goes wrong with the doors, the main hero would swim down trying to get it fixed while his stupid son would think he's so smart and starts bringing more trouble. Thank goodness, this time, the son really contributed to saving everyone. Don't get me started on how they are about to die, knowing that he can save others, but waste 10 seconds of the show kissing each other. I know I'm supposed to be sensitive but there were like tonnes of people in the ark in your hands, and you're kissing there. Uggh...typical.

Other than that, I think there's something to learn from it. Ok, I always believe that as crappy a movie should be, there will somehow be moral values in it. I guess I'm not that concerned or afraid that the world will end in 2012 but I'm more worried about my loved ones, my close friends and family members. There were several occasions where people were totally wiped out by the Tsunami. Before Satnam's family died, holding on to each other was such a magnificent scene of love portrayed in it. I can't imagine what I'll do if I'm ever in that situation. Don't you think we should appreciate our loved ones more now. Whether or not the world will come to an end by 2012, nobody knows and nobody can tell. What's more important now, I believe is, to start thinking of your loved ones and get them saved. I know I'm thinking about it now. Just the thought of losing them, basing on the context of the movie, makes me really sad. I had moments that my eyes had tears and God knows Kelvin doesn't cry often and for no apparent reasons.

I enjoyed the film. Not like I'm jumping all over it but it's worth watching if you're a graphics fan and an avid chaser for lessons in a film. So I do recommend this film.

And for that, it's gonna be 3 out of 5 stars. Enjoy!

My First Time...

...writing a script
...directing a drama
...acting on stage
...editing a video (so it's kinda bad)
...uploading videos on Youtube.

This stage production is written by Melalyn and me. It's for UCSI CF Easter Rally. I strongly believed that the message in this play has impacted the crowd at large. It has been a great time working together with the cast. They were all such a good sport, going all out for Jesus.

I hope next year's musical will be even better. Oh how I love acting...

In case you don't know, I have my Youtube page where I'll be working on something in it, in days to come. So do subscribe and check it out whenever you can. Don't forget to leave comments!

The New Add(ict)ition

After months of climbing, and calculations show that having a pair of climbing shoes are way more worthy than to rent it every time I go, I finally made the decision.

Since I ain't no awesome professional rock climber, I just went for the lower range so that I can practise and train my techniques using it (while saving cost). It's not that cheap after all but it's just RM180. Though I would really love a pair of Evolve or La Sportiva, I don't have enough cash or rather I'm not willing to invest in these Rm300 and above climbing shoes YET. Yes mark my words, it's just YET. I will get one of those one day.

So here it is, my new addition to my shoe collection - Cragsdance.

I so love climbing. It's not just a sport but it's a sport that I can actually be dignified in considering I totally suck at all the other sports. Plus, I don't even have to compete with anyone but myself. All I'll break is my own barriers...probably hands and legs if I'm not careful. But I've got insurance, so I'm not worried. Haha!

I really really treasure this pair of shoes now. Climbing using it for the first time today was really fun but superbly painful. You know why? Apparently it hasn't got into your foot's shape yet. Give it a few more rounds, it should be fine. And millions of thanks to my most beloved mum who is willing to sponsor me partially. It makes this pair of shoes more valuable.

Love you mum!

Lost and Climbed

Being the extremely adventurous us, we decided to try out the Putrajaya Challenge Park's rock climbing. Even Mel isn't clear of the place, what more me - a total road idiot. Anyway, we didn't really get lost but....the roads and sign boards in Putrajaya are just simply amazing. It took us about an hour before we found the place.

This is how it should be when you are lost somewhere, especially when roads look like they are leading you to some God forsaken place.

Look for Pelan Lokasi~

We thought that we shouldn't be too kiasu, so we stopped by Pollman hotel in hope of finding directions. Just sidetrack a little, Pollman hotel is one of the most marvelous hotels I've ever seen in Malaysia. When you walk in, it's like royalty meets exquisiteness. We aren't the guest of the hotel but the people there were so fantastically friendly and helpful to show us the way to Putrajaya Challenge Park. Two thumbs up to the people there!

Long story short, apparently, Google map put it as Presint 5 because it's more obvious but the actual place is in Presint 20 which is more secluded. And after a journey of visiting dead people along the way, we saw it and it was Presint 5. Isn't it amazing, like serendipity?...NOT! When we arrived, it was like we found the Promise Land. We were actually finally there. Such momentous event can't happen without penning it down via camera ala camwhore.

Such serendipity~

Forgive me. I only had 10seconds to run from one end to another~

Okay, basically, the place is amazingly huge. And I mean HUGE! It was quite jaw-dropping to see the high walls but no one inside. We didn't even know where to register ourselves and all. Finally, we found people. The price is so crazy cheap. As a student, I only paid RM15 (which includes harness, belaying device, shoes, and chalk). As for Mel and Carmen, it's practically free for them because they have their own shoes. I so need to get my own shoes already.

Isn't it just huge?
By the way, we thought that the little table was the registration counter!

The walls there are so high and new that it was so challenging. Bouldering at the bouldering area wasn't even easy. It's either it's really difficult or we kinda lost touch because we haven't been climbing for awhile now. I would say, there are walls that I don't even dare to think of climbing. But it was a fun experience though, apart from the fact that it's so darn hot in there and also the non-men and non-women friendly harness. The girls were complaining that the harness could help them get abs.

This is the wall we tried~

We didn't even touch this except for Carmen. Go my Twin!

Anyway, it's too far to go there often but I don't mind going there again. What's fun is, you get to experience different walls, climb differently and of course with good company. And, getting lost on the road is even more fun when you've got Mel and Carmen in the car. Can't wait for our steamboat and shopping session. Set a date alright?