Why I love Changi Airport

I love this book, if not because of the subject matter then for its beautiful photos.

You won't find this book anywhere in KL.

Hint: For more of this and other similar books, take a step into Singapore’s Changi Airport. Take a browse through Times Newslink right after you pass immigration into the departure lounge. Head towards the back and to the right of the store. If not, when you pay at the checkout counter, you will notice small bright little books strategically placed. Pick one up, pick a few up. That’ll probably be the best place you’ll find books of the sort.

Note: You will not find these books anywhere else on the island or in Malaysia. So make good use of your transit time in Changi. I always do.

Shooting the rich

At a photo shoot recently, I discovered that:

• I really am a klutz. Let me illustrate why. The shoot was at some big-shot’s daughter’s wedding. Needless to say, the house was huge; it had a gazebo, guardhouse and even proper bathroom facilities behind the guardhouse, right off the gazebo. I needed the loo before the main shoot began. I used the “outdoor” toilet. We’re not talking outhouse here, we’re talking full-blown toilet with proper wall-to-wall mirror and lotions, sink, the works. I was washing my hands at the sink when I turned the tap to shut the water. One turn was all it took when the tap head came off in my hands and water started gushing out. Panicked, I stuck the tap head back on and managed to get it screwed back. Unfortunately, when I turned the tap to shut the water, nothing happened. The water would not stop flowing. Great! It could only happen to me. So I had to holler out to Ivan, get him to get his friend, the organizer, who in turn got the guards to look at the problem. In that time, we snuck out of the area and disappeared from sight. Like I said, it could only happen to me, klutz that I am.

• You really can do almost anything if you are rich. Like, have the wedding of your dreams, if you so wanted. The bride was young: 21. She’s apparently crazy over lomo which explains why Ivan had dragged Aisha and me to shoot our hearts out at the wedding. The house and garden were done up in style: orange and dragonflies, apparently the bride’s favourites. The house was carpeted in orange; the hantaran was in orange decked out with bejeweled dragonflies; dragonfly lights hung from the ceiling; orange posies hung from the ceiling; orange lollipops were stuffed into baskets, ready to be given out to guests. Orange spots were stuck on the backs of the dinner chairs. Orange gauze was strewn around the tables; the pelamin sported orange cushions. The road in front of the house was blocked up; flat-screen TVs were strategically placed so dinner guests could view the akad nikah taking place inside the house. It was elaborate, it was quite grand and reeked of money. Time and effort too, of course. There were a slew of professional photographers buzzing around. Like I said, if you’re rich, you can have the wedding of your dreams. This was just the akad nikah. The actual dinner reception was to be held at a hotel the next night and another dinner/reception in Penang as well.

• I have no sense of propriety. My timing for inappropriateness is immaculate. It was evident that I was the only underdressed person in the whole ceremony during the akad nikah. I was dressed for comfort; it was a hot day and I knew it’d be crowded. So I was the only female there with no sleeves on her arms. It felt a bit awkward but I’ve been in worse situations.

• If you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything. Before the night was over, all the orange swirly lollipops had been given out to the guests. Even as Ivan scoured the house and its surroundings, he couldn’t get his hands on any for Aisha nor myself. I decided to take things into my own hands. First, of course, I did as Ivan: scoured the house and kitchen for any leftover lollipops. Only when it was clear there were none did I go to Plan B. I spied on the dinner tables. There were guests who looked like they were leaving and they had left their lollipops behind. I snuck up behind one table and as unobtrusive a manner as possible, swiped the two lollipops left on the table. Mission accomplished.

• Some people are just too emotional for words. What is it with some people? When the groom was reciting the words to confirm that he wanted to wed the bride, the bride’s sisters started sniffling and then outright  gushing. I was baffled. It’s just words. What’s the big deal?

That said, the shoot was fun in itself, mainly because I got the chance to whip out my lca and put it to good use. I’d just about abandoned it into a corner of the closet for lack of inspiration for shooting.

I hope the photos turn out.

Throwing caution to the wind

Someone forgot to tell our orange friend about the ground rules…

The view from here

You can’t see it, but Pixel’s cushion is actually on my lap and I’m on the beanbag. Needless to say, he’s not light.

If I were stranded...

The few things that I’d really need in life if I was stranded on an island: a book (several would be better) and my ipod.

The Works minister should kiss all our arses

Did I mention that Rizal and I hate Samy Vellu with a vengeance? Especially after going through the mayhem and chaos that is now that part of the MRR2 is closed. At 10pm, all alternative routes to the LDP and Sg Buloh are jammed. It doesn't matter which one you take, you get blurdy stuck.

Coming out of Metro Prima in Kepong, we followed the traffic only to find ourselves stuck in a snake of a jam in a residential area (somewhere along or in front of Jln Kuang Cermin) so the smart me that I am decided to avoid the jam by going in the opposite direction. Which brought me right around to Metro Prima again.

Did I mention Samy Vellu is an asshole?

Not wanting to be stymied, I tried detouring. Let's just say that we ended up on the way to Ampang and headed back home via KL, through Jaln Genting Klang.

Can someone explain to me why I had to go all the way around and into town just to get home to my place, which is only 15 minutes away from Metro Prima Kepong? By the time we reached home at around 11.45pm, CSI was way past over and we'd missed the repeat of the Italy-Germany game.

Did I mention Samy Vellu has nil brains? He's also bald and is not fit to hold his government post. And that anyone in his position in any other country would have resigned but he's still here! Blaming everyone and everything except himself for the cracks in the MRR2.

When will the players in our political arena ever learn to own up to their mistakes and take responsibilty for them? My guess is: not in my lifetime.

Don't we all look like we're related?

Taken sometime about a month ago, it strikes me that the three of us look so much alike, it's as if we're all sisters.

There goes my career

So much for a career in predictions. Now let's see if my latest one will hold true:

Italy to win the Cup.

They are not unbeatable

I didn't watch the game. But I am surprised at the results. Germany lost its chance at a shot for the Cup. Who would have thought? I predicted they'd win. Judging by the winning streak that they were on, home ground and all.

Looks like nothing is set in stone.

But then again, the game of football has an element of luck in it. The Brazilians lost it, so did the Germans.

My final prediction? An Italy-Portugal game.

This is what happens when you assume the world is your oyster

I almost went to Japan tomorrow. I don't know if that is even possible but the key word here is "almost". I made the decision today, got a confirmed flight to and fro, ETA Tokyo 7 July and back to KL 9 July.

I called my Japan counterpart to help out with hotel accommodations, which they willingly agreed.

And then I remembered the crucial element: my entry visa. It takes 3 days to get one.

I ended up scrambling for the phone to get the office ot cancel the flight booking and apologising profusely to the Japanese for giving them a heart attack.

So much for global travel.