*The Perennial Sale Of Malaysia*

Has anyone realized how Malaysia seems to be on sale throughout the entire year? It was something that was highlighted to me by the wife while we were down in one of the shopping centers over the weekend.

While I tried to find reasoning for such bad business practice (you are supposedly selling it below the actual price) the wife came with a brilliant idea to explain it all. Her brilliant explanation was simple;

“It goes to show that prices in Malaysia are expensive to start of with!”

What brilliance, simple yet straight to the point. Like I said earlier, it makes no business sense to sell goods at low prices unless you’re clearing stocks for the arrival of new ones. One can’t be clearing stocks every single day of the year right?

So stuff in Malaysia is expensive, period. In fact I believe the discounted price that we pay for is actually the correct price we should be purchasing in the first place. Imagine how many people have been stripped of their hard earned shringgit.

Such high prices coupled with the relatively low earning ability of 90% of Malaysians mean that most of us do not have the purchasing power that some of our neighbors have. Most of the goods that we purchase if they’re imported would mean an additional percentage on top of the actual price. The local producers meanwhile take this advantage to hike up the prices too.

We need to look no further than our cars for an example. Non Malaysian made cars would have to pay a minimum of about 300% extra compared to our friends around the region. The local car manufacturers would of course make a killing in pricing because they are at an advantage. Come on, a Perodua Myvi for more them RM40k+? No way.

In Malaysia, being the first to get something is a waste of money. The ability to show off and be proud of your new purchase is far outweighed by the extra money that you paid for it. One is better off waiting for the price to be knocked down by half in a couple of months to get their money’s worth.

So there’s our simple reasoning for why this beloved country of ours is on a perennial holiday all through the year.

Cheers!!! :D

*I Have Moved On*

I find it sickening that people still think that I’m the same person I was 6 or 7 years ago. I am not. My life is different today than it was back in the day. It is not easy for me to adjust so if you cannot understand than I couldn’t care less.

I can no longer respond to your requests on a whim. There are things in life that takes precedence that I did not have previously. I don’t envy you nor do I feel left out if I no longer fit in into your scheme of things.

Maybe it is hard for you to understand because you’re not in my shoes but I don’t expect you to understand in the first place. I thank you for including me at the beginning but if I cant make it for one reason or another, there’s no need for you to alienate me because I wasn’t there.

To be honest it is a blessing in disguise that I didn’t join in. I’ve left that life a long time ago and I’m not going to relapse back into it just to fit in. I don’t have to and I don’t want to. I’ve got enough on my plate than to expand any more energy trying to plead or justify my actions.

So piss off and take the sarcasm somewhere else because I don’t really care. I’m surviving just fine without it and I’m going to continue have faith in Him that the whole thing that had happened was in the best interest for me. If you had understood the person I am today you would have just said thanks.

You have done so much for me and I can’t thank you enough. However that does not mean that you can use that and hold me to ransom. I believe I have done just as much for you too although I’m not one to start calling on the favors that I have given you in the past.

I have moved on so live with it. If you can’t accept that than maybe our paths will no longer be the same from now on.

Cheers!!! :D

*Music Is Not Easy*

With all due respect, I do not claim to be a musician or an artiste for that matter. I don’t have a voice to be proud of, I hate musical notes (the tauge as what I call it) and I’m limited in terms of musical instruments to the guitar and the drums.

But He has granted me a good ear and an understanding for musical arrangements. That of course can be quite a burden to carry at times especially when music is made or performed poorly.

One of my biggest peeves is actually out of tune musical instruments. Despite sounding very basic and fundamental, so many still fail to resolve this most rudimentary of things. Now most of the time this happens during a “live” performance but more worryingly in music demos by hopeful bands and musicians.

If you’re a new band and hoping to impress people with your music, at least get your instruments to be in tune. Most people may not realize it but when I hear the guitars out of tune and the bass on an altogether different key, it stands out like a sore thumb to me. You don’t need to have a multi-million dollar studio and a rather nifty electric tuner device; all you need is some time and effort to get your stuff right.

The other is of course vocals, may it be the lead singer or a group trying to harmonize their voices. I understand that harmony is not an easy thing. Getting 4 guys or girls who can sing individually does not mean a group can harmonize well. It takes a blend of vocal characteristics to make a great sounding group. A prime example? Why Boyz II Men of course.

Solo vocalists need to understand what they can and cannot do. Not everyone is as gifted as Mariah Carey. Despite not having the persona that I feel is the best there are very, very few that can match her vocal range. She is one of the few people I know that can sing all the keys on the entire piano.

I have seen far too many cases where people take on vocals that they know they can’t handle. Not everyone can do a Bocelli, Bono, Tyler or Mariah for that matter. If one does a cover choose one that shows your strength and shines your talent the most. Vocal exercises, no matter how boring or stupid they are helps.

The worst thing for me is when both of the above are combined together. I cringe and my ears bleed when the musical instruments are tuned down (most of the time) so that the vocalist can struggle to carry the song.

Music is my dream job; make no bones about it. One day I hope to be able to run my own record company and find real talent instead of the crap on our TV’s lately. Until then, I’d have to learn to find the volume knob when something bad hits my ears.

Cheers!!! :D

*My Turn Next Please*

When will it be my turn? I’m not being ungrateful or anything. In fact, the whole reason that I’m able to type this is thanks to the kindness and forgiveness that You have shown to me.

I am thankful that I’m still alive and healthy. Thankful that I still have all that is required to be a servant to You on this earth. I do my best to do the things that are required by You and try to avoid the things that would incur Your wrath.

I understand that You understand and know everything that has, is and will happen in the future. My belief in You although steadfast can be on shaky ground at times and I know that is such a sin. I hope that as the Most Forgiving You would understand that I am human with faults and weaknesses.

I can’t help but wonder why the lesser of your servants seem to be accorded with such good things when others who devote their life and energy to You aren’t so lucky. Again, let me be the first to apologize for having such thoughts but I can’t help it.

I pray everyday and every time I do I ask that You do not test your humble servant with anything that I can’t handle and that my sins would be forgiven. That Abah’s grave would be wide and bright and that Mama’s life will be long, happy and healthy. That my wife will be happy and my family be safe.

You would know what is in my heart without me having to tell it and I can only hope that it will be granted. I dare not say that it is just reward for my loyalty to You as I; as a humble and weak being owe nothing to You.

*Show Their Faces*

Have you seen the front page of the NST today? It's a common sight in our cities lately and the cops don't seem to have a clue on how to handle this so called menace. However that's not the point that I'm trying to raise here actually.

My only question is, why are their faces blurred and/or censored? I mean it is as blatant as it gets when it comes to the law so why provide these scumbags such dignity of having their identity be hidden from the everyone?

I'm no lawyer but what could be the reason for such confirmed law-breaking wankers be afforded such anonymity? Let everyone look at their faces. Let everyone know that this is the son or the daughter of the parents down the street who doesn't give a care if their kids are growing up to be c**ts?

The best way to stop these useless rubbish is to shame them but not the "oh so nice" methods proposed that I've read so far. Take it from me people, those caught breaking the law like these "sampah" should have their photo's front and center.

Let's not stop at that either. Have their parents and/or guardians names and pictures in it too. Their IC number, house address and their employers identity boldly displayed on every media channel available. Do not allow any of them to hide behind sun-glasses either.

Have public canning too with their parents standing right beside them. Once that is done, send these punks off to 3rd world countries as social workers. Get them to break their backs to build houses, roads or schools. Punish them for taking things for granted what we have in this country that others don't have.

And for those younger one's starting to practice the behaviors of these "sampah masyarakat", have them go through the same thing. If one does not catch them young then it will all be too late.

Forget about wasting money buying puncture-strips for roads or spend money trying to "talk" to these mentally disturbed bigots. They don't deserve it. Take up my options and suggestions above and believe all will be well again in no time.

Cheers!!! :D

*Human Nature*

It is always shocking to see how people continue to be enthralled in watching commotion, chaos and seeing other people’s dirty linen in the open. It is as if that it is built-in into the human flesh that we crave what other people are doing, good or bad.

I guess that must be the reason why celebrities are hounded by the paparazzo’s all day long until some have said that if they don’t hound you anymore, it means that you’re not the it thing anymore.

Like so many of us, we’ll never really understand what these people go through. To read about yourself or your family in not the best of light is never a good thing. Worrying that every little mistake that you do will be amplified and magnified makes like walking on a melting ice lake look like a breeze.

If the economic principles are applied would such celebrities and politicians have more peaceful lives? When we stop caring or buying the newspapers, watch the news or read the blogs would it mean that bloggers, journo’s and paparazzo’s be out of work. What if we wake up tomorrow and just don’t care what people do in their lives anymore.

I guess there is certainly weight behind the notion that nothing sells news than bad news. The fact of the matter is that we humans are flawed; no one can claim to be otherwise. No one is an angel that has done no wrong because we all erred at least once in our lives.

I’m honestly struggling to not care anymore really but in today’s world that is almost impossible unless you’re a hermit living in a cave 10 miles underground. If the TV doesn’t get you the radio will. If the newspaper doesn’t hit you with rubbish than the blogs will. I’m at a lost to find a solution for it.

We poke fun, we take sides. We support and at the same heckle. We call for respect but at the same time we disrespect people who deserve it. We put so much into this temporary life on earth but so little on the eternal after life.

Cheers!!! :D

*Pariwisata*

The wife and I became pariwisata's for a couple of days in Bali last week. Pariwisata is of course the local term used in Bali to identify tourists.

People have said that if you visit Bali, it is as good as visiting the entire Indonesia. White sandy beaches, nice corals, majestic scenery, awe-inspiring volcano's, classic and beautiful temples and great handicraft by the locals can all be found in Bali.

I've been privileged to travel to various tourist hot-spots around Asia and I must say that Malaysia still ranks way behind Thailand and Indonesia. If these countries had as much funding as we Malaysian's have to spend just on our tourism billboards, Malaysia won't even stand a chance in the tourism business.

With little or no help from the government, tourist attractions in Bali are in much better shape than most of the tourism spots in Malaysia. A bitter pill to swallow but it is the truth. They don't depend on the local authorities to clean up the place and are much better at treating tourists than we do.

Someone asked me which had the better beaches between Bali and Koh Samui or Koh Phangan. I would say it is an almost tie between the two. As for what Malaysia has that would even come close to competing with these two, I would say Redang Island (Lang Tengah specifically) would have a chance in my view.

Sadly we found out that 4 days in Bali was not enough. If you're photography freak like me, the scenery available in Bali alone would made you cringe and wished that you had bought that semi-SLR or for SLR camera that you had been yearning for.

Places to go in Bali besides the beach? There's just too many but one of my highlights during the trip was actually Kintamani. Having lunch on a ledge overlooking the valley with an active volcano in front of you just takes your breath away.

If you're a Muslim, halal food is not impossible to find as some have suggested in the past. Some tour operators have specific requirements that are offered for Muslim travelers or if you're looking for fast food restaurants, look for the "Majlis Ulama Indonesia" logo that would be similar to the "Halal" logo found in Malaysia.

We're already planning to go again to Bali, this time with a less hectic schedule and definitely a better camera. Until then, we'll have Bali fresh in our memories for sure :)

Cheers!!! :D