Friday, January 30, 2009

Nostalgic Friday 63

Chumma Talk: Help needed! I am unable to differentiate friends from foes.*sigh

***
One week of holiday will be gone in another 48 hours! Then it will be back-to-campus time. Well, can't run away from the reality for a long time right? This week's Nostalgic Friday post featuring a song from a movie which will teach you the exact lesson - you can run away from your life for a while but at one point, you will have to take that U-turn and get back to it.

Movie: Puthu Puthu Arthangal
Song: Keladi Kanmani

On another note, I spent my break by either sleeping, watching movie, driving around, catching up with studies or staring at the computer screen (read: doing nothing). Just took an hour (or was it two?) off from my boring routine and headed to Putrajaya with cousins and niece. The weather was sombre but we did take few shots.

An evening in Putrajaya
I have to shed a lot of weight if I ever wish to jump like this :-|

Tomorrow will be a busy day - it's MINDSBLOG's first gathering of the year and I will be attending a cultural programme in the night. At least, my Chinese New Year break will end with an upbeat mood! Have a blast everyone! :-)

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

-untitled-

Some times I am left speechless
Puzzled at people's reaction
When I speak my mind
And express my thoughts & feelings
In the most respectable way possible


Now I wish
I laughed & giggled
Showed fake expression
Pretended anything ever happened
And kept the heart ache at bay


Yes, I am regretting it now
Maybe it was best left unsaid
I am sorry.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Kugan: A death in custody

Chumma Talk: Nostalgic Friday will be back next week onwards.

***

Yea, I am supposed to be taking 2 weeks off from blogs to concentrate on my work. But I really have to cut short my 'sabbatical' to post this news - a news that is making headlines in most Malaysian blogs and online news portals. It is the death of a 22-year old Malaysian Indian in police custody.

I am one proud Malaysian. Those who have been following my blog for the past 4 years would know how much I love my country. Occasionally I do highlight the flaws and issues concerning the politics and people of Malaysia but I never hate the fact that I am born here. Yes, I feel blessed to be born here, going to bed every night knowing I will still have a home and life the next day. But I am not getting proper sleep for the past 2 nights. the gruesome images and video of A.Kugan (warning: not for the faint-hearted), who died during interrogation keep flashing in my mind. Quoting a newspaper report, it is an irony that despite the injuries on his body, the post-mortem merely mentioned "liquid in lungs". I came across a post in Malaysian Medical Resources (MMR) which discussed (briefly) about this.

While it is still a mystery why we can only hear news about Indian youths dying in lock-ups, I don't think sufficient investigation has been carried out in any of the cases. I don't know how members of the public and the political parties picked up Kugan's news but right now the entire blogworld is buzzing with updates, photos and videos of him. My mind is all saturated with blog posts dedicated to the boy. May God bless his soul!

The latest video I watched was of a group of concerned Malaysian Indians staging a protest and lodging a report against the police. At least I am seeing politicians and people from different political background coming together for the same cause. That's a way to go. I hope next I would see this taken as a Malaysian issue and not only something to be fought by one single community. What happen to Kugan might happen to anyone from any race if those responsible are left of the hook! Can Kugan trigger another mass protest?

Stay united!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Can I clone myself?

For now I need 4 clones of myself:

1. The original me - Study.. Study.. Study.. (my PhD project has started).

2. Clone # 1 - Bear the pain (I'm diagnosed with gastric pain & suspected to have ulcer - pending examination by the specialist).

3. Clone # 2 - Blogging and other online activities.

4. Clone # 3 - Conduct my tuition classes and complete all my freelance work.

5. Clone # 4 - Attend all my yoga classes and work out consistently.

Unfortunately, this is not gonna happen. So I need to prioritise whatever I need to do and this may mean I need to be away from blogs for at least 2 weeks. Not a decision that would be welcomed by everyone but I got to do whatever I am going to do. LOL.

I might still be available in online messengers (my only window to the world :P) but no promises though. And I certainly don't mind if anyone wanna meet up for smoothie (coffee is banned for now) once a while.

Between, I will be there for MIB's first gathering of the year 2009. Malaysian Indian bloggers and the readers residing in M'sia (I don't mind if you wanna fly in from Canada or Australia or India or anywhere) are most welcome. If you have facebook, you may join the event page.

See you guys there!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Nostalgic Friday 62

I was thinking of posting a video today for my Nostalgic Friday series and VBR's comment in my previous post came right at the time when I was searching youtube for this song:

Song: Anal Mele Panithuli
Movie: Varanam Ayiram

I don't know why, of all the wonderful songs in the superhit movie, I tend to favour this song more. Always.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Happy Ponggal everyone!

This must be the most happening and tiring Ponggal I ever had. Been driving around like crazy *sigh.

Anyway, last Saturday we had a Ponggal photoshoot at home. It's for a newspaper coverage and the article can be found here. Thanks to Padma who arranged it ;-). We did take some photos of our own and here are some of them:
1

1. The earthen pot to cook Ponggal, decorated with mango leaves and turmeric.
2. Fruits for prayers.
3. Prayer items.
4. The items you need to cook Ponggal - Brown sugar, milk, rice, ghee, cashew nuts and raisins.


2

5. Lighting up the Villaku.
6. Starting the fire.
7. Lalitha, my cousin is putting the pot on it's position.
8. We poured the milk into the pot and waited for it to boil.


3

9. Thivya, my neighbour is pouring in the rice once the milk has boiled.
10. My sis was stirring the rice + milk, while I was putting in cashewnuts and raisins into the pot.
11. The next item to go in is ghee.
12. The final product before the prayers.

The rest of the photos can be viewed in my Ponggal 2009 set

It took us more than 3 hours to get everything done. It was a tiring but exciting photoshoot. Thanks to everyone who were involved.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Girls' Bollywood Day Out 2009

Chumma Talk: Goodness! I'm so excited about Golden Globe Award 2009! Slumdog Millionnaire has just won awards for the Best Motion Picture (Drama), Best Director (Motion Picture), Best Screenplay and Best Original Score (hail ARR)!!!! The full list of winners here.

***

Yesterday was a fun-filled Girls' Day Out (Theme: Bollywood) - attended by Mala, Sundra & I. Been a long long time since I get an opportunity to have girl talk! I think we clicked and were in ease with each other. Some photos to describe the day:

GBDO 2009
Passage Thru' India - one of the best restaurant that serves authentic Indian food in Kuala Lumpur.

GBDO 2009
Our meal.

GBDO 2009
One of my fav shot of Sundra - taken as we are leaving PTI.
GBDO 2009
Yours truly with an elephant at the entry. It was kinda dusty but turned out to be nice in the photo.
GBDO 2009
Sundra & Mala trying to act sweet.

GBDO 2009
We then moved to the Lake Garden, Kuala Lumpur for more shots.

GBDO 2009
I don't know what Sundra & Mala trying to do here.

GBDO 2009
Three of us before we left the Lake Garden.


The rest of it in GBDO 2009 set.
Can't wait for the next Girls' Day Out! :-)

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Wife of today - Forwarded

Chumma Talk: It is sad when someone dump you after a long-term relationship, but you experience the worst when you never get to tell a person how much you love him/her.

*****

This is something I got from a forwarded e-mail (Thanks Sundra). It's rare for me to post something forwarded but I think this one worth a read:


Here is a girl, who is as much educated as you are - who is earning almost as much as you do.

One, who has dreams and aspirations just as you have because she is as human as you are.
One, who has never entered the kitchen in her life just like you or your Sister haven't, as she was busy in studies and competing in a system that gives no special concession to girls for their culinary achievements.

One, who has lived and loved her parents & brothers & sisters, almost as much as you do for 20-25 years of her life.

One, who has bravely agreed to leave behind all that, her home, people who love her, to adopt your home, your family, your ways and even your family name.

One, who is somehow expected to be a master-chef from day #1, while you sleep oblivious to her predicament in her new circumstances, environment and that kitchen.

One, who is expected to make the tea, first thing in the morning and cook food at the end of the day, even if she is as tired as you are, maybe more, and yet never ever expected to complain;
to be a servant, a cook, a mother, a wife, even if she doesn't want to;
and is learning just like you are as to what you want from her;
and is clumsy and sloppy at times and knows that you won't like it if she is too demanding, or if she learns faster than you.

One, who has her own set of friends, and that includes boys and even men at her workplace too, those, who she knows from school days and yet is willing to put all that on the back-burners to avoid your irrational jealousy, unnecessary competition and your inherent insecurities.

Yes, she can drink and dance just as well as you can, but won't, simply
Because you won't like it, even though you say otherwise.

One, who can be late from work once in a while when deadlines, just like yours, are to be met.

One, who is doing her level best and wants to make this most important, relationship in her entire life a grand success, if you just help her some and trust her.

One, who just wants one thing from you, as you are the only one she knows in your entire house - your support, your sensitivities and most importantly - your understanding, or love, if you may call it.

Treating her with respect, caring about her well-being and happiness, showing her that she matters. It means being faithful to her, honest with her, being there for her. It means going the extra mile to show her that
you're thinking about her.Treat the woman in your life with respect. It means putting her in high regard no matter who she is and where she came from.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Why I'm not a SOPO blogger

Chumma Talk: I may look like I have taken my decision based on my judgement on people's characteristics, mannerism and what others' say about them. But, that is not the case - I rather make a decision after having a real chat with them. Some things are better left to take it's own shape over the time. I will wait.


 *****
This is such a commonly asked question whenever I mention that I blog. It's no secret that many non-bloggers in Malaysia perceive that all bloggers write about social and political issues (SOPO bloggers for short), thanks to the wide publicity given to SOPO bloggers like RPK and Kickdafella. Mention photo- or travel blog, they will give you a weird look. I have discussed this issue in MINDSBLOG somewhere around last year.

To say I don't write politics may not be 100% true. I do write about some social and politics issues which bother me from time to time but this is not entirely a SOPO blog. I can't imagine tulipspeaks turning into one. This blog has always been an outlet for me to express myself, let out my anger, cry out my sadness and of course discuss problems that are bugging me. Although lately I have cut down posts that discuss (directly) my personal life, I still blog about my personal stuff in a private blog, away from and unknown to the mass. Some so-called pro-bloggers may argue that this blog doesn't have niche of its own. Simply put in Malaysian style, tulipspeaks is a rojak.

Do I care about it? Obviously no. While Page Rank, number of hits, niche etc matter for some, for most bloggers especially those who have been blogging for a long time, it's all about individuality and expression of ideas. That is one of the reasons why nowadays, I rarely took up tags or meme or whatever you call it unless it's unique. I blog whenever I have something to blabber about.

While my political stand is an open secret, politics can be a funny thing at times. Some many not agree and some may even get angry with me if I say most politicians are into politics to gain something out of it. Gone are the days when politics is seen as a mode to help people. Now it's mostly about money or power. As days pass, I also learned that you need not be in politics in order to help the needy. There will be always some other way of doing things. Besides, nothing is permanent in politics. One day you will see them in opposite camps and the very next day, they might be 'sharing a bed' together. You gain nothing supporting either camps.

Having said that, I still enjoy writing about anything under the Sun as long as it interest me. How about you?

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Happy 2009!

Happy 2009