pray for pax (peace) the dog please.

This is pax (french word for peace), a friend valerie's dog...he is also footstool's friend and has went for walks with footstool. He is a very hyperactive dog...and alot of fun always seeking attention...and played a great game of fetch....

he is a lovable jack russell terrier but now he is very very ill....he has got scrotia hernia that lead to an internal infection.

He has been in the vet now for 3 weeks now...and has undergone three surgeries...he has also been on the drip...he is not eating...he is very weak now and hence only lie still not playing his ball anymore...but when his owner came to the vet...he loyally stood up to greet her with what little energy he had...

...tommorow, my friend valerie is taking pax home.He will be off the drip.If his stomach continues not to accept food he will die...

I am asking all you you my friends and strangers who pray to a God to please pray for dear pax...for he is still alive and has a chance at a miracle....

there's always a chance for a miracle...pray now as you read this...u can spare 10 minutes.

dog biscuits, milk and what? no santa???

When I came back to church yesterday...footstool didn't greet me as usual like his pleasant self...he always is at the gate ready to greet me when I come home at night because he knows it's the best form of bribery he has...greet me...wag tail a little and I am helpless to his charm so I will bring him out to pee everywhere...to mark his presence...

Actually, I think something has been on his one track mind the whole month...he seems to be waiting for something....

Then yesterday...i found dog biscuits and milk under the christmas tree i knew what's the problem...so I sat down next to footstool...who was lying and waiting on the couch under the christmas tree...and gently told him...

"Footstool...there is no santa..." I said being as gentle and as consoling as I could....at that his eye became bigger...as if he had just had a shocking revelation and his heart was broken!!!! I can't believe footstool didn't know there's no santa!!! He's three years old for goodness sake...
The wide eyes...quickly turned to an almost sad depressed look...I continued to explain to him that Santa was a product of mass commercialism....and it's not what christmas is about...christmas is about more than that...it's the celebration of the love our God has for us, and the coming of our Lord Jesus who is born in a manger to save all of us...it's God made man!!! Emmanuel!!! God is with us!!!!!


My explaination though...was somewhat lost on footstool... he doesn't care for words too much...just food,walks(actually more like peeing) and laying around lazily while his staff runs his film production company he shares with me...

Ah well he jumped up and finished the milk and dog biscuits...There's nothing more horrible than seeing a sad dog....luckily I quickly thot of something...I bought something that was meant for footstool but I never gave him...so this is a great time to do that...everyone deserves a gift for christmas!!! especially footstool...."footstool i have something for you" i yell and I ran upstairs to grab a miniture basset hound toy i bought for him...it was from hush puppy...i know he will like it...but well...i guess i was more enthusiastic about it than footstool...who gave me this look of discontent...that's it??? knowing footstool he probably expected a ferrari...to all of you from me and footstool....Merry Christmas....and remember Christmas is from the heart you guys... cheers =)

reflections of the year that was

Well...i have been silent lately because I have been trying to finish up everything for the year 2008, to start 2009 anew.

So have you written your resolutions? When I talk about resolutions, some people may passively say well...2009 is just another day and a new numeral in the calendar year...nothing much...on the other hand...i kind of like the new year as a marker point if you will to change things...it's always nice to have some time to sit back and reflect before kicking off again....

so before i share my resolutions...I like to reflect...2008 has been both good and bad for me...

on the good side...

- i had a momentous year and visited the grand canyon to mexico

- my dog footstool came into my life

- i had a wonderful time jungle trekking throughout the year with my trail trekking group

- i had continuous work that kept me going and work brought me from an oil palm estate to salsa fest in johor

-I met Rebecca.

on the bad side...

- I badly sprained my ankle in march, unable to work for quite a while and when i began work i had a backlog that needed alot of overtime work catching up meaning bad sleep patterns

- My relationship was shaky so my focus on life and work was at times off. I lost zhiling =(

- My dog footstool took to shitting and peeing where it annoys me most...

- I had a client from hell that even swore on my church...when i delivered to her lousy instructions, ah well she's a bitter divorced woman,I should be understanding

-I lost Rebecca =(

In hindsight...I didn't start the year 2008 very well and spent the year adjusting...

As a whole....I don't think I was productive in 2008 but was just surviving it through with enough work to get by but not really growing.

But looking on the bright side....i did survive... i did enjoy life and all of life's flavours...it's bitterness, it's sweetness...reflecting on it...i both want to laugh and cry...

hope you guys are taking the time off to reflect too...

=)

For a Dog named Carpet.

“A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, big or small, young or old. He doesn't care if you're not smart, not popular, not a good joke-teller, not the best athlete, nor the best-looking person. To your dog, you are the greatest, the smartest, the nicest human being who was ever born. You are his friend and protector.”
Louis Sabin

I got this picture and the accompanying poem from this flickr member here. And immediately it made me feel warm all over...and then suddenly sad all at the same time.

Why you may ask? Well recently...I got a call from a friend who asked if I'd like to have a cocker spaniel.It's black, about a year old and has been abandoned by a buyer who bought him and another dog from the pet shop only to leave it there in a cage for between 6 months to a year. The pet shop was frustrated and put the dogs out for adoption and hence both landed in my friend's hand who passed one to my hands as she lived in an apartment and couldn't keep two dogs.It was a gorgeous dog...and it was easy to fall in love with him...here's his picture...and as much as I loved him from the first hug...I almost hesitant at taking him trying to convince my friend to keep both by asking if she's sure she don't want to try and keep it almost repeatedly.I was hesitant because I know I couldn't manage the time to properly care for the dog as it is one that required much grooming...and I already had a dog named footstool.

Footstool is also a dog that I wrote about numerous times on his blog...as I said...I think he's intelligent but he often like to tease me until I am pissed at him. Here I am ironing a curtain...
so much of thinking well of his intelligence...that he so kindly marked his territory on. Peeing for him took 20 seconds...washing , drying and ironing the curtain took hours...footstool, if you secretly know how to read and are reading this know one thing...it's not funny. As much as my assistant Dennis love footstool, he doesn't think much of his intelligence, he likes to knock footstool head then look at me and say "see...it's hollow...see it's hollow"

As much as I hate to admit it....I question dennis's intelligence sometimes too...only an idiot would get into a wrestling match with a dog...

Yeah...keeping a dog is a big commitment. But I proceeded to say yes to the black cocker spaniel that I named carpet because I know he had no other home...and so I took him in.

Carpet was a warm and friendly dog and followed me wherever I went. So it was all good.

Problem only arose when Footstool began to get jealous that he had to fight for affections....
I wanted to let carpet sleep indoors while footstool outdoors. Because Footstool has obviously lost the privilege since the curtain incidence repeated twice...and footstool is quite a big fella so he can topple things.However, footstool gave me this look of "hey...you're being unfair"

I ignored it painfully with a broken heart...

That night, Carpet came with me to my workroom and sat on the floor. It was so cute...after a while he ran off. Suddenly, he came back with a durian shell...I was like ??? Upon going downstairs for inspection, I found my rubbish bin torn open and garbage everywhere...there was also there was land mines everywhere...With a sigh I walked out and came back armed with a box of tissue to clean up.

That night carpet slept in my room.All's good until he woke up at 3am and started scratching the door barking wanting to be let out...I had to claw myself up to let him out...go back to sleep...after half an hour, he was again barking and scratching the door wanting back in...I opened the floor to find that he didn't shit n the box I prepared for him and has instead shit everywhere...at that point i had it...and carried him to the toilet downstairs far from my room and locked him in. Finally I get to sleep.

A few days later...carpet got a slight running nose(a trip to the vet reassured that it was nothing really chronice but just that it was kept in a cage for so long it's resistance was probably low) and I worried for him too...

After two weeks...I finally said that I cannot manage carpet but the good news is my friend did find a new home for him...as he walked out of my house...I was at first relieved...but then he looked back with almost a puppy like smile and a nod of thank you...and I actually felt sad that he's going...in fact I am tearing and missing him dearly as I write this...

But to end this all...I just wanna say that...keeping a dog is a joy and I highly recommend it....you can immediately fall in love with one...but do not just make a decision on that impulse... dog ownership like any other thing is something that come with a commitment. And as dog owners, we are responsible for our dogs...so really don't get a dog unless you are really up to caring for it.
And don't buy a dog...go to your local RSPCA and give one a home...also ensure your dog don't get or give unwanted pregnancy...

That said...I need to go scoop up footstool's shit...

with a smile of course...

I LOVE MY JOB

smile when you work

My friend recently ask me to upload my qualifications up on jobstreet. She said that there a chance of getting me a better job or something to that effect. I don't understand why...does she not know that I work and I love my job? Gee...

It becomes a scary trend nowadays it seems that everyone wants to keep leaving their jobs for a better job. What really is a better job really? Maybe it's because I've never suffered job trauma but I really can't tell what's a better job as that's an illusive term. Does better pay means better job? Well then why can't people just be specific and say that they are after better pay.

Are you happy with your job? If you are...congratulations!!!! I am too...

But to alot of people who are not happy...well I think the problem comes down to...

How do you define your job?

Alot of people it seems...define job as something they do just for money...security...well I guess you get what you want...they get money and security...hardly any happiness...

For me..I define a good job as something I can do smiling and that is a job that you constantly see new things, don't spend your time slaving over a computer all day and that you do silly things...and hence that is my job and I love my job...

What's my job you may ask?

Well occasionally when I get a chance to act...I act...
I am no great actor...and I am very much learning on the job so I appreciate all the great directors who's given me a chance to be in their film...thank you.

Acting is really hard work...for any idiot who think tom cruise is just a pretty face...try turn a video camera on yourself and feel how hard it is...see what it looks like on screen...it's hard...you know what you have to do and yet when you do it...you want to do it without the pretension that you are consciously doing it....be natural...2 words...but damn hard...I think sharifah amani is a great actress.

That aside...I write...for the fun of writing....because I can write without thinking and words flow easily....

But as for my main job...I am a filmmaker. I make films as in I produce them from raising the funds to getting the team together and executing the film.I am also a corporate video/commercial filmmaker in that I produce a corporate film for a company wishing to showcase what their company strengths and history or to increase market visibility and win market share. I will advise on the idea, organise the shoot and get it shot for you....anyone of us need my services...email me at aelea.films@gmail.com

hehehe...sorry for the brief advertorial...but anyway...yeah...back to i love my job.

I get to see different things everyday...recently on a shoot at an oil palm estate....I met a buffalo so well trained he can walk when you say "JALAN!" and stop when you say "DIAM!" I was like wow...it's better trained than my dog footstool! actually i suspect footstool is intelligent...he just wish to tease me often...
Honestly there are times when I am super frustrated at work...tell me who doesn't get frustrated at work? Even Paris Hilton gets hard time being just the blonde...so yeah...I love my job...I think I smile alot doing it....

Dennis, my friend, partner in crime and good assistant will attest to that...

Dennis...you do love your job don't you? I mean how often in a job, your daily work include kicking an owl box so that the owl will fly out and the camera man can film it... =P


Yeah...alot of people say a job in the arts...you can't earn much...good...nobody fights for my job I get to keep it more secure...hehehe...but if you do like my job, you're welcome....it's always nice to have new blood adding to the fray...but before you do my job...don't just love it because I love it...ask yourself...do you love this job.

I'll end my blabber saying this....you'll spend half your life at your job...better love it...

KING OF TENNIS AND THE ISA

Maybe there is a use for the ISA...

I wonder is the organisers of the king of tennis tournament is going to be captured by the ISA?

Why for you may ask?

Well...they ruined the name of the country and penang for alot of people.Alot of people are going to be scared of buying tickets to a tennis event in malaysia again thinking...will it be cancelled. Any foreign tourist who has made travel plans and spent money to come to Malaysia for the event will probably not think very much of malaysia now.

I wonder...just wonder how many contractors were not paid or were half paid for their effort.

I wonder how many people will get their ticket refunded.

I wonder how many of us will have our tax money taken out by the government as a bailout to pay for the field that in a picture from the sun newspaper here looks like crap. I doubt the organisers can pay to repair that.

Raja Petra in this case was caught by the ISA for 'much less'...actually what did he get caught for?

maybe the ISA can finally do something useful...

arrest an over ambitious event producer who promised but never delivered and created a big loss for all...well...we all make mistakes...but seriously...

we pay for it...

Wait...not all of us pay for it....

It seems like the people up there and the people in politics can sometimes to borrow the english phrase 'get away with murder' =P pardon the pun...or at least get away with a mismanaged tennis tournament that tarnish an image of a country

Let's see how the government acts over this matter...

maybe there will finally be a use for the ISA =P

Linus

ISA

Father Paulino was picked up by police during a candlelight rally against the I.S.A.
Please pray for him.

Please place this on your blog so others may also pray for him.

Gua Batu Maloi

As soon as we arrived at Gua Batu Maloi, Aurelius jumped up of the car and immediately started cutting bamboo with his brand new parang like the consumate parang junkie that he is..." why you need such a long parang" a voice is heard a stone throw away. It is the voice of Mr. Nazri, our guide for the day.

He immediately explains our journey...

1)The cave is part of a living natural world.So if the weather changes,the river in the cave would quickly swell.Should that happen, he would need to evacuate us fast so do try to remain atentive and keep safe.

2)The caves are about a kilometer long and some parts of the caves dip down as far as 25 feet (about 2 storeys underground).

3)Believe it or not, these caves are occasionally the dwelling of orang bunians or orang halus(jungle spirit) and once we did lost a trekker. It took 70 policemen a few days to find her when she was just right there all along. Everyone believes that she was in another dimension.She claimed she had tea with some short people. So please keep respectful and aware.With that...on we go with our journey.There were three trekkers with us. Two of them were form four students on a school break but as Mr. Nazri assured us, they been trained by Jabatan perhutanan. The three trekkers would serve the following purpose. A leader to show us the way. A sweeper to ensure nobody gets left behind. A watchout above(Mr.Nazri himself) to ensure should any weather change occur he will signal for an evacuation.

Knowing there was such precautionary measures in place, I just set out to have fun...and straight upon the first stream...I jumped straight in immersing myself entirely...we are going to get wet anyway so might as well be wet from the start.There was a small jungle trek to start off the journey.It was quite a fun trek and wasn't a flat out walk. We had to negotiate terrain where we were required to jump in small pools, climb up on roots, hang alongside a root system on the side of a rockwall,cross sand pits which we took the opportuinity to wrestle and 'sand' each other, climb up slanted rocks, slide down slanted rocks. Within minutes, I realised my slippers were useless as they kept getting caught in rocks so I did the barefoot thingy. I advice anyone to do this trail barefoot. our blonde ai ling pole dancing....

The terrain consist of mostly sand and pretty well rounded rock that if anything prove to be a nice reflexology and free to boot.As we negotiate boulders after boulder...we suddenly became enveloped by darkness and that's where our cave journey began.Gua Batu Maloi is not so much a cave as in a carved out tavern in a monolith or mountain with thousand year old stalagmites but more like boulders falling on top of a river system that created this passage where you had to climb, duck,crawl and at some bit swim to cross. The water was cold and fresh. At some points we had really small crevices to squeeze through which gave us loads of hamster like fun while other pints small waterfall formation that stirred the water into natural jacuzzi formations that were just so nice to sit and relax or indulge in the real hobby of the trekking group - cam whoring.The group this time comprises of perpetually happy faces like eddie, legally blonde ai ling =P , the damsel in occasional distress audrey (who made us more experienced trekkers feel a little macho trying to help her) the sturdily built chow pinn, the lady li chiang and her man maxx, ken and chelsina our good organisers, aurelius our camwhoring kungfu panda wannabe, crazy cave vixen valerie, dennis our order shouting commando wannabe, myself the crazy loud frog, yet another dennis, moon, boyfriend and the rest of the gang.

After we finished the cave and everyone feeling fresh and elated...Gua batu Maloi had one more thing to please...a big rock...the batu maloi...it was fun as some of the more adventurous raced one another scaling up the rockface clinging to wines and roots...

But alas...it was finally time to go back...

Here's the sour note...As we started on the walk back,I actually asked the group to pick up any rubbish that they see on the way out... It was sad to say that while I was sweeping behind the whole group, there were still rubbish...and I actually saw some members of our party just conveniently walked pass it as if too good to clean up our jungle... one of them was dennis khing. I felt so sad as I thought more of him as a friend. Sorry dennis, you sorely disappointed and pissed me off...I actually had to call him to pick it up...What pride is there not to pick up rubbish and have things dirty....How shameful if we have the nerve to dirty but not the grace to pick up rubbish... malaysians and our damn third world mentality.

In the Presence of a Master

When I was young, a man who died a good seven years before i was even born was a great influence to me...

His believe in the potential of each of us, the importance of self expression and of non conformity....

He changed the American stereotype that the chinese man was a meek man in a thin moustache saying in a high pitched voice 'you want fortune cookie?'

He had a million people lining the streets when his movie came out...

His film is still a cult bestseller in video stores today

He has a video game, a biography movie about his life and countless book after his name

and his call will echoes through time....as what you'd say when delivering a good kick...

He was my inspiration...to always live my dreams.

His name was Bruce Lee.

Me, marcus and my brother were avid fan of his...and not just of his martial arts but his philosophy as well. Not many of you would think of Bruce Lee more than a kicking killing machine...but the man is wiser than his macho outlook. Here are a few sample of his quotes...

on love
Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.

on learning
Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own

“A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.”

and of course...on kicks
I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.

so as I walked through the cemetery, it was like a homage of sort...and when I sat there...reverence.

All the time I was there...cars come and go to take picture with the grave...there were Filipinos, Japanese, English, Americans...all coming and going one after another...one Japanese remarked...he's glad he's made it after 30 years and clicked so many photos...now 35 years after his passing... this attest to the height of his popularity. The cemetery even prepared a map for any tourist at the gate.

After an hour...I stood up...cleaned the grave with my hands...as I stupidly didn't have a cloth....i scratched off candle wax...and brush off some debris...I wished he gave me some profound revelation...but there was none...

I just looked at the grave and thought...I didn't feel his presence...I didn't cry...I was just staring at a grave...silent...unmoving...peering at the man....but then I smile....I guess the man has one thing to teach me yet...that in death we may be revered...but life is what matters and I should make the most of mine...

The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering...

With that I bowed...and walked off...

NOTE: Bruce Lee Grave is situated in Lakeview Cemetery Seattle. about 20 mins from downtown Seattle or take bus no.10

SEQUOIA

I used to think really proudly that we have really big trees in malaysia...so when my tour guide said that we are going to see the sequoia and it was one of the biggest trees I'll ever see...my ignorant and arrogant 'malaysian kiasu' side was like yeah rite...it be nothing next to one of our big MALAYSIAN rainforest trees...

Then as we arrive and I jumped down from the van I was like okay...so these trees are pretty big and tall....

Then my tour guide brought me to see this monster...and I was like awe-struck....

yes, I ate my words....And that tree wasn't the sole tree in the park that size....there were many other gigantic trees in the park and there were some that even had a hole cut in the middle of it that you can walk through and it is still surviving....

Some of the facts of the trees were dumbfounding...

Some of the trees are 3000 years old, they were here before the pyramids, the birth of christ and before the mayans.

One single gigantic sequioa equates to as much lumber as an acre of oak....luckilly for the sequoia, it is very fragile and undurable wood...the wood can only be used for things like pencils and minor stuff.

The tree has a 1 foot thick bark that can withstand forest fires.

Yeah...it's a awesome sight to behold....so if you have the opportunity to travel and feel like seeing some awesome trees...look up the sequoia at yosemite national park.

SHAMU SHAMU

I was initially hesitant to go to Seaworld because at USD 71 for a day pass including an backstage tour...it was a tad pricey after our 3.3 currency conversion which brings it up to RM234. I think you'll agree it's a tad dear especially for us poor Malaysian traveller...however in terms of USD, I think it's a reasonable price. So off I go to Seaworld. Off to see SHAMU!

Shamu is actually the original whale that performed at Seaworld until she died in August 1971 however Seaworld maintained the name Shamu as a stage name for all performing orcas. As I stepped into Seaworld, I rushed immediately to the Shamu show. Yes, I came all the way to see the killer whales.

The show was called 'Believe' and for me that word was a very powerful word that encapsulate passions and dreams. This show better be good. So as I sat down in anticipation...I could only expect to be moved...

I am very happy to say that the people at Seaworld really know how to put on a show...with a combination of storytelling, animal training, music and showmanship...the show Believe was in short, 'awe-inspiring'. They cleverly showed a video of conservation effort with uplifting music and that totally set the mood while bringing out the theme of the rest of the show which was about the meeting and the bonding of two worlds...that of the animal kingdom and us.

And maybe I have a soft spot for animals but i really think that it is beautiful almost miraculous
show with a good underlying message of bond between two worlds... What was being presented was a combination of skill, hard-work and incredible music/whale/performer coordination. More importantly, it was also a testament to how moving it is emotionally when you see the height of greatness passion and love can go...

It was a great reminder...to always be passionate and follow your dreams and as in the title of the show...believe...

Fu*king at the Zoo

When I was about eight years old,I really love animals(I still do)...but I never had a glossy picture book of animals. I lived in Kuching, Sarawak and back then in 1988, we had only small bookshops with not much variety of choices, much less good animal books. So when a canadian uncle on holiday gave me a catalog book of the san diego zoo...I kept it as a treasured prize and often looked into it and drew pictures from it and trying my best to read it...

So it was kind of a homecoming for me today...when I was walking up the pavement to the sign that says...SAN DIEGO ZOO....I was smilling so so wide...And the zoo didn't disappoint....for the first time in my life...within inches of my face I saw a polar bear....it was beautiful...I felt so much like a kid again
I hate narrow minded people(who don't even like animals) that criticize petkeeping and zoological gardens.I mean...I am against irresponsible petkeeping and our very own zoo negara at home in kuala lumpur; but a well managed zoo is a beautiful place and plays an important role in educating the public as well as conservation.

and to anyone who thinks a zoo is uncondusive environment and are hell for animals should tell these two....they are obviously not suffering...but enjoying their leisurely afternoon mating, fornicating,copulating,pro-creating,having sex fu*king at the zoo...

Teotihuacan : Mexico Part 1

This blog entry dates back about two weeks because when you are traveling around little towns in mexico and internet connection is haphazard at best and expensive to boot you do not try to resize images and write blogs etc but anyway here it is...

And so here I am here in Teotihuacan, 30 miles north of Mexico city or about an hour's drive. Teotihuacan is an Aztech word to mean a Place of Gods or A City of God and it has long been a pilgrimage destination for the faithful and merchants who want to prey on them.

Well...anyway as I arrive on the bumpy roads and I can see the pyramids in the distance I was eagerly jumping about like a puppy! To be in the presence of such an archeological site was simply wow....but as soon as you entered the gates and walking towards the pyramids the first thing you'll seen is a massive long queue stretching from close to the entrance all the pyramid. The queue was due to an imposed restriction on how many people can be on the pyramid at one time which was reasonable as the steps were rather steep and to not have an organised system with a quota would be rather dangerous.

It took about 45 minutes to an hour in the queue, before I made it to the steps. Then on... at every level there is still a small queue to the next level. However, the view from atop was spectacular and well worth the queue. To see the remains of an entire civilization that dates back to the times before christ.

At the top of the pyramid, everyone crowds around the centre trying their very best to put their finger in a little silver circle supposedly the center of the entire pyramid and the pinnacle of all it's power...I had to push my way in too...and I felt the power all right...my finger was suddenly warm and then I felt a sudden pressure...then my body shook to the left and the right...

But the power wasn't from the pyramid but the crazy crowd that shove me and their finger fighting mine for that little space in the center...from the look in their eyes, some of them really believed in the power of the center...I was just being the camwhoring tourist....


Anyway...after getting to the summit of the sun pyramid and descending it...there is still the pyramid of the moon a distance away...I had to rush there as I was running out of time traveling with a tour group...

I had about 3 hours at the pyramid...I wished I had more...because I wished I had more time to just be there just take it all in...but as is I had just enough to ascend the two pyramids, walk around at a quick pace, take a couple of pictures and pop by the tourist information centre and that's about it. But still it was quite an awesome place to be...even though I'd say it's very touristy...but a note to my friend aurelious(kung fu panda)..."wei...you could get cool picture here..."