Slow Bicycle (a twenty seven recap)

2007, a transition year. Everytime I look back, I'm amazed at how much I've grown over the past years. Last year was no different, because everything turned out to be so different. January was supposed to be the beginning of the end. Post Boxing Day sales, firework-less new year @ Manchester Albert Square, missed a train ride and Velazquez expo because of strong winds, Roma Brilliant Roma, farewells hugs + kisses, and POOF! I'm sitting alone on the floor of Doha airport, headphones plugged into laptop, living (leaving) my Sigur Rós existence. Leaving study life again, to work + strive for a living, the next chapter. After CNY in Johor and a couple weeks' lazing, my final interview breezed by, and I received a call whilst in Gotong Jaya enjoying cheap food, that I was to go Miri on the day after. Plain bizarre, as I've set myself to be caught up in KL traffic and taking LRT and working late nights etc. So off I go to Miri the city, spent a week in Labuan, conduct classroom trainings, eat ais kacang with my new friends. Things got even more interesting after 3 days of safety training, putting out fires, getting stuck in a smoke-filled room, jumping off 8 metres into a swirling pool and escaping from an overturned, capsized helicopter.

3 months later, and there was still no regrets coming to this place. It is as good as staying in a foreign country. People speak in different languages, Chinese + Malay get along well, the townsfolk can't drive... Yes I was not living the KL party life, hangin' out with chicks and all, but still, I'm getting paid more to work less. Along the way, I also scaled Kinabalu, nearly peaking. Despite everybody's objections, I still don't think peaking was such a great deal, considering I was just 100m away from it. Just enjoying the sublimely beautiful sunrise, having the clouds gather below you, surrounded by people you love, to me that will always be more memorable than gungho-ing myself and reach the peak, to enjoy the view alone. Poor Feng.

By the time September came around, the frustration has started to build up. I missed a Jiuzhaigou family trip because of offshore commitments (which were changed in the end). My colleague had planned to utilise his offshore leave to visit Bali, Cambodia, Thailand + Singapore. I have planned to do nothing in those 2-week breaks. I have missed a good deal of friends' birthdays and starting to feel tired. Tired of letting people know I'm back. Tired to be the one to always contact people. My spiritual life was falling apart, with the lack of Sunday missals and involvement in youth activities. My bunch of best church friends attended a 12-day course spread across 4-mths. And I was at home all those times. Deep down, I knew life was good, I had great friends in Miri, work was more change management, less tedious work that most analysts are doing. And I earned more and spent less. Why do I have to compare myself with KL folks? They spend their weekdays working till 10pm anyways. ARGH! quarter life crisis struck.

Insya-allah, then came the amazingly refreshing CHOICE camp, had a calm + insightful time, recharged my batteries. Even managed to know some wonderful karaoke kakis. My 2nd platform assignment was hugely fulfilling, because of the great people onboard, and that I actually could suggest improvements for my dear team. My contributions were being recognised and I was seeing things from a bigger picture. Returned to KL mid-December and had a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas in Kulai orchid farm. By the time I was on the 30th floor of the lavish apartment, staring at KLCC, and fireworks bloom beautifully in front of Trader's, I realised, it was a good year after all. Different, transitional, plenty of learnings, discovering lost loves.

Like 2006 was my movie madness run, I enjoyed a reading renaissance in 2007. Traveling time is best spent with a book in hand. Read some thoroughly enjoyable and insightful literature. Bhagavad Gita, 逍遥游, classics like Swift & Dostoevsky, plenty of Murakami... also caught up with many artists' biographies from Dad's collection, and have new-found love for French artists (which I previously despised) Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Rousseau etc. Thanks to IU forums, I also managed to download a large amount of Asian movies, forcing myself to buy a 160 GB external HDD, and I still have 40+ outstanding movies!! Not much new music in 2007, except for múm, rediscovering classic Pink Floyd & Beatles, and karaoke faves 侧田 & 曹格。

What does 2008 hold? I really am not sure, project is ending in May and there is no telling where I could go, even though I know for sure Miri would have a place for me. The thing I'm sure I need/must do - go Incubus concert in S'pore (bought tickets liao), go Cambodia, and hopefully can make it for World Youth Day @ Sydney. Cheerios , 2007, you've been good to my pig year, time to get the rat running and spinning its wheels!!

Office View

Yes, these are the views I get outside my workplace. Be jealous.

Vintage Satire

Recently I bought a bunch of books from Kinokuniya - Random House's Vintage Classic Twins series. The publisher released a pair of books, one established classic, one modern classic, packaged together and sold for the price of one. This "thought-provoking"/marketing gimmick series has various themes, and I purchased Vintage 'Crime', 'Fantasy', 'Fear' & 'Satire'. The reason behind the impulsive splurge was that they had stylish covers, I wanted to read a Murakami in english, and most importantly, I'm a cheapskate (RM39.90 for TWO books wor!!) I probably won't review all, but the first book I picked up had already blown me away.

Gulliver's Travels (Jonathan Swift, 1735 rev. ed.)
I remembered reading this when I was a kid, complete with illustrations, of giant Gulliver being pinned down on the ground, by the mini-race of Liliput. Little did I know it was only the first part of a world-famous satire. Damn I've been bowdler-ised. The synopsis on the back cover:

In the course of his extraordinary travels, Gulliver is captured by miniature people who wage war on each other because of a religious disagreement over how to crack eggs, is sexually assaulted by giants, visits a floating island, and decides that the society of horses is better than that of his fellow men. Swift's tough, filthy and incisive satire has much to say about the state of the world today and is presented here in its unexpurgated entirety.

The book is divided into 4 parts, whereby the way he ends up in a foreign land gets worse each time - shipwrecked, abandoned, attacked, betrayed. Each country he 'visits' symbolises a certain form of government, be it the 6-inch Liliputians, 72-feet Brobdingnags, over-curious & speculative Laputans, Glubbdubdrib sorcerers, or the much revered, but dreary Houyhnhnms. Swift pokes and parodies various institutions - the Royal Court, the Whig-dominant English Government, the European colonists, the Church, the Royal Society of scientists, and many more. Gulliver's Travels brilliance lies at its keen observations and passionate diatribes aimed at government, republican or totalitarian, and the cynical depiction of the degenerate human.

Gulliver starts out as a typical gung-ho 18th century seafarer, but he eventually evolves into a misanthrope, thanks to his experiences. Believing himself to be from a more cultured society, Gulliver's ideals clash with the local inhabitants, and he bemoans at their lack of change. As he experiences more different governments throughout his travels, it becomes apparent that no ideal government exists, because government is a product of man, and man is inherently corrupt and reactionary. Even in his Utopia, the incorruptible land inhabited by horses, where government is an abundance of reason and a lack of science, one feels it is just but a cycle of life/death. In the end, Gulliver yearns from an escape of mankind, but to where is he running off to? In Orwell's essay, "(Gulliver)'s attitude is in effect the Christian attitude, minus the bribe of a 'next world'."

Gulliver's Travels is a pessimistic novel, and I thought it was a children's adventure. But I really really enjoyed it. Anybody who has the slightest concept or opinion about governments should read it, and you'll see how relevant it is, even in today's world.

An insightful piece of literary criticism can be found here, by George Orwell.

"I remember it was with extreme Difficulty that I could bring my Master to understand the Meaning of the Word Opinion, or how a Point could be disputable; because Reason taught us to affirm or deny only where we are certain, and beyond our Knowledge we cannot do either." (IV: 8)

Silhouette

I peered out the window, and see your silhouette underneath the Angsana tree, from the second floor of my first home.

Amongst the strong winds and pouring rain, I see your silhouette with an umbrella. I was standing outside the classroom on the fourth floor. I had just been informed I was second in the whole form.

My pulse racing, I quickened my steps, striding towards the Borobudur. Under the glaring sun, I turn back to see your silhouette. My first trip overseas will forever change my perception of culture and cultivate my love for traveling.

From the condominium balcony of the fourteenth floor, I chat silently on the cordless, all the while noticing your silhouette at the computer corner.

The month I thought I died, I saw the silhouette of your heart, which was actually a reflection of mine. Thank God the familiar shine and luster was recovered.

Inside Opal Gardens KC1A, clad in three layers, I see the silhouette of dry branches underneath the murky sky. I wanted your warmth so badly then.

Sitting on the bench, I looked ahead at the silhouette of swaying trees. I look back and regret every single moment I had doubts about you.

Love you.

Who needs to be an apprentice?

0530 Fall out from bunk bed
0550 One half-boiled egg
0600 Meeting with all staff
0700 Presentation & discussion with team leaders
0740 Update management about progress and issues
0815 Finish & send handover report
0820 Provide short demonstration on key process to personnel
0830 Safety briefing
0845 Pack bag
0855 Nasi lemak
0925 Board helicopter
1040 Arrive at helibase, immediate transfer to hotel
1100 Relax on sofa in air-cond room
1230 KFC burger
1240 Cab ride to office
1315 Answer e-mails
1400 Telecon with colleague 200km away
1500 Meet and brief client management about 'way forward'
1615 Unable to complete list by today, start asking others for help
1645 Depart office and drive to airport
1715 Checked-in and waiting, book in hand
1800 Airport announce 40-minute flight delay
2000 Transit and immigration clearance
2040 Seated beside a student from Dubai, start chatting about movies and Arabic food
2100 Curry chicken with rice
2220 Arrive at KLIA
2230 Board airport taxi, chat with driver about KL tourism. Did you know there's a scorpion farm in Gombak? Or the best place to take picture of Twin Towers is called Jalan STONOR?!
2330 Back home, embrace parents
0010 Hot shower
0045 Finish typing blog entry

Forsaken

I guess my 'blog' phase is over. I hardly even read blogs now. However it still is a potent outlet of expresssion, and I do hope to write here more.

Since the last update, I've had a wonderful 6-dy trip in Rome. Accompanied by Phing for less than 24 hrs of travel, my traversting alone resulted in a richly art-influenced pilgramage around churches and museums. Not to forget the feeling of throwing on a toga and yelling "Hail, Giulio Cesare!", whilst walking along Via Sacra in the splendid ruins of the Roman Forum. I went to the Vatican 3 times, and could now name all the prominent sculptures inside St. Peter's. My mouth still waters when I think of the expresso, eggplant paninis, artichokes, and the 20-Euro pasta I had on the last day. All these happiness greatly erased the horrible experience of putting up with the transport problems in England prior to my trip, which meant I missed Velazquez AND Spamalot.

Since the last update, I am now back home - Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Taman Tun, Kiara Park. Spent the whole of first week cleaning out my room, which was turned into a store room in my absence. Realised my appetite has severely diminished, meaning I don't order more than a dish in coffeeshops no more. Have to get a job soon, since ALL my friends are working now. Been to Neway Karaoke once, and couldn't rmb how to operate the controller. Been hooked on Justin, Eason and Mayday new songs. And I prob will remain single for quite another while, since I totally forgotten Valentine's is coming up. Sweat gila.

My 16-mth stay in Manchester has been a wonderful experience, something that I'll nvr forget in my lifetime. Of course, most ppl will think otherwise, since I condemn the UK so viciously all the time. Then again, it really IS not a nice place to live in, for too many reasons I won't even go into. However, the positivity in me decided to list out what I do miss (in no particular order):

- Friends: Rich Eng-Ed Malaysians (hoho!) that have to put up with my eccentricities and yet make me feel warm and *ahem* 'respected'; jolly ex-flatmates Julian the Columbian and smoky Pambos the Cypriot; pretty + nice Taiwanese chicks; the Mainland malat-lous in Opal Gardens, who were so shocked that I dunno what the term 'A-片' is, and me being so shocked they dunno how to play card games.

- Mahjong, bridge & poker sessions: Yes, I usually win.

- Basketball sessions: marking Aaron in itself is already a joy.

- Broadband: the insanely fast connection make for countless hrs of streaming movies, thus transforming me into a movie freak. Say NO to serials!!

- Traveling: French Alps, Amsterdam, Spain & Rome can't be too bad in a 16-mth span. Not to mention UK coach trip with family.

- Ben & Jerry's: Tried all the flavours. Best ice-cream in the world. Period.

- Times Killer Sudoku: THE most unhealthy obsession. You won't even want to do normal Sudoku ever.

The end of student life. Again. Woohoo, looking forward to working for the next 30 yrs!!

ROMA

Going off in 2 hrs to London for Velazquez exhibition and Spamalot. Then 5 days in Rome!!! Ala continuation to Phing's remarks:

Roma roma bulu roma
Mimpi bagai Maximus dalam Gladiator
Tengok Rafaello dalam Museo Vaticano
Minum expresso makan gelato
Jalan-jalan di Pantheon macam Caesar
Roma roma bulu roma