Of Having a Kit-Kat

I reckon I have to do something to my blog sooner or later. And I pick sooner.

I thereby declare a name change – What Matters.

That is for a start.

Next, I would like to impose an official hiatus on it.

But mind you, hiatus can be defined as:

A gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity; a break

Or/and also:

An interruption in the intensity or amount of something

Either one, it does NOT mean close-down.

I think I could use a bit of both the definitions.

I do not want to start thanking readers for being faithful to my blog all this while (although I really do appreciate that and would like to express my gratitude in some ways), and make it all sounds like I have won a Nobel Prize or Grammy’s. Neither do I want it appear like this is the last entry of my blog, because I am entirely sure it is not going to be the end of my blogging activity just yet.

I reassure you there will still be updates occasionally. You know how random I can be.

For now though, end of story.


P/S: The title reads taking a break.


A Jot by A Sot

Super Mario Bros

It has been a while. I know.

I have been well. There is so much to tell I do not know where to begin.

So instead of just saying I am doing fine over here, I would like to share with you a tiny discovery of mine.

Mario can actually fly!

The trick is to press the equivalent SELECT button on your keyboard (on mine, it's RIGHT SHIFT) and then JUMP numerous times. And you will see your Mario slowly rising to the sky, spreading and flapping his arms while kicking his way through above all the mushrooms and turtles. That is probably another glitch of the game. But I find Mario really cute when he is flying/swimming in the air. It made me laugh my tears out.

I know this post is pretty random. But hey, Mario can fly! I just have to tell the whole world about it.

Edit: Recently, CK got so carried away with flying he flew beyond the flag pole (where you complete a level). And there's no return! (You know how you can't go the reverse direction after a certain point.) In times like these, you are left to go on and on and on in a blissful (but lonely) world without enemies where there's no turning back nor an end to it - till the timer ticks down to zero. Oh well, for some, re-setting the game at this point might be a better option.

A Jot by A Sot

Hatyai

In posts like these, I often have to crack my head thinking of a post title.

Sometimes, I prefer not naming my entry although doing it normally helps me focus in my writing.

But when a story comes with a few unrelated side notes which I do not want to post separately, I find naming it a headache.

Like this one, it is more than just Hatyai.

---

My dad’s friends can be my friends too. Some of you might have heard tales about them.

This time round, they came visit because I am about to leave for Melbourne.

As Alor Star has nothing much to offer, Dad drove us all to Hatyai.

Hatyai has nothing much to offer too, to me. But for those who are up for traditional massage services, you can find some really worthwhile providers there. Doesn’t RM 24 for 2 hours of whole-body massage sound like a great deal?

I wanted to go for massage (instead of window shopping) too, at first.

But my imagination brought me to think of cracks and moans. And to think of being wrapped uncomfortably in a towel that can give way anytime had me give up even before trying.

Dad always goes there for the sake of having a place to sleep, not so much on needing the massage anyway.

---

So as I’ve said, I went for window shopping instead of massage.

Guess what I found.

A bag.

Never once had a bag attracted my attention this much to actually stop, look and flip it around.

The bag is a versatile one. You can carry it to lectures/tutorials, outings and use it as a handbag too if you like. It just won’t misfit.

(It comes with a “but” though.)

It costs 9000 baht. Oh dear. So dear!

I looked again. Hoping there is 1 zero less. But it IS 9000 baht, which is equivalent to RM 900. That is like super a lot for a bag.

Hell no am I buying it. I cannot indulge in such extravagancy. Such luxury, what do I have to treat myself to it?

But seriously, I love it. It is not too girly. Not too exquisite. Not too ostentatious. Simplicity stands out most of all.

---

Enough about the bag.

We then had Thai seafood for dinner.

After we foot the bill, we were given a business card. Apparently they wanted us to be returning customers. But the card spoilt it all because we found out something about the restaurant.

Kui in Hokkien and Mandarin means expensive!

No wonder it cost us so much. Lol.

Better check the name of the restaurant before anything else next time. It might bear hints about the charges.

---

On our way back, a bus overtook us.

I saw with my sleepy eyes that it was a Konsortium bus.

Enraged, I actually scolded angrily in my heart for it to slow down.

Good enough. Soon after that, it did slow down.

---

This morning, my dad’s friends commented that I spoke Mandarin with an accent different from before. They are not the first to make such remark.

Seriously though, I have not noticed any difference.

They also said it’s probably because I mingle too much with Chinese (from China) friends, or maybe Singaporean friends. If there really is such an acquired accent, I believe it’s from the latter.

---

Today while driving out alone, I seated a Barney soft toy on the passenger seat.

But no, I did not talk with it (like how SCY would talk with her teddy :P).

---

I feel like changing the name of this blog.

But that will mean those who link to me with my old blog name will have to do some editing. Troublesome.

Anyway, the new name on my mind is nothing fancy.

It is called “What Matters”.

I like it only because it is shorter.

Just a tentative plan. Just maybe.

A Jot by A Sot

Dealing With CNY

I have always liked watching Deal or No Deal. I find it amusing. I laugh when the meanest thing happens to the players. Mum says I am wicked. But I tell her most players are well-to-do. They are seeking for excitement (for some, rewards!), and by doing so providing entertainment for the viewers. That is why they dare to reject some pretty good offers from the banker and play till the end of the game.

Can you imagine a dare-not-take-risk player on the game? After opening the first few cases, the player accepts the banker’s offer without even giving it a second thought. That will be so not fun. If that episode does exist, I am sure we will have much longer commercials throughout the 30-minute to compensate for the show’s length.

But I digressed.

This is supposed to be about my Deal or No Deal experience this Chinese New Year.

Mum gave us red packet Deal-or-No-Deal way. A shorter version though.

We were given a choice of either taking the red packet or selling it for a price of RM XXX.

Isn't the red packet big?

I for one did not dare to take risk, so I accepted the offer of RM XXX right away. It turned out that was RM 20 less than what was in the red packet. All my siblings made the right choice though. Good for them. Anyway, rat luck was on my side as the banker suddenly decided to be nice and refused transaction with me. And so I was given the red packet as well. Just like my siblings. :P

P.S.: This Chinese New Year also marks the first time my family went for movie together in GSC. We watched Kung Fu Dunk, much to my surprise, for my parents are not fans of nonsensical movies. We wanted to watch CJ7 initially, seeing more people were going for that. But tickets for the time slot we wanted were sold out and so we settled for Kung Fu Dunk instead.

P.P.S.: I had red wine at night. Uncle offered me ice wine for a change. He said the latter is for ladies. Oh well, anyhow, I still prefer RED WINE. You know why? Ice wine is so sweet I can die of diabetes. Low alcohol level is good. But high sugar level is definitely not good. And it does not taste (and feel) like you are drinking wine at all – more like drinking grape juice. Mum said I had pink cheeks after drinking wine.

P.M.S.: Nah..just playing around with the letters. :P

"HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR"

A Jot by A Sot

Mount Kinabalu

As promised.







Edit: Mouse-over pictures to view photo credits. None of the pictures was taken by me.


A Jot by A Sot

Confusing Road Signs

While travelling in Sabah, I came across this.

Is there a place called Japan in Sabah?

It turned out to be this, when I came to the next sign.

Quick note:
I kicked start my 2008 climbing Mount Kinabalu. I doubt I have enough a range of words to describe what met my eyes there. It was downright magnificent! Even photos cannot capture fully the splendour. I should therefore save the trouble of blogging about it here, I guess. Anyhow, I shall pick a few better pictures to post here later (once I get hold of them).

A Jot by A Sot

Confusing Symbols

When you have an urgent nature call to answer, in such desperation, you might not be able to tell things apart.


Apparently you are looking for the symbol above.

But once you see something similar, like the following one, you rush your way there.


Anyway, being civilized, you won't have your business done where you have gone wrong. You will turn away and curse the unfriendly look-alike symbols while you make your way to the real toilet.

That happened to me yesterday in Island Plaza, minus the part on cursing though. :P

"HAPPY 2008"

A Jot by A Sot