Friday, May 25, 2007

I'm Free!

I had no problem getting out of bed this morning. In fact, I bloody got up at 8:00am!

Drove out to buy the day's papers and I was soon home putting on the kettle for my morning cuppa.

Hello. My name is Doreen and I am unemployed.

Tee hee hee. Well, for the next 3 weeks that is.

Packed my belongings and carted them home from the office yesterday, from my office for the last 4 years and 9 months.

I can't say that I didn't feel sad, cos I did tear up on one occassion while saying my goodbyes to some colleagues. But I took a deep breath and then it was OK. But needless to say, the exhiliration of walking to my car with a box of my belongings was a kick-ass high. I guess a part of me is glad that the recent drama is now over - for good.

I have enjoyed my time there. You know, the works - the laughter, the tears, the successes, the failures, the stress and the satisfaction - the memories and experience I walk away with. Not to mention the people I know I will be lifelong friends with.

I welcome this period of unemployment, this 3-week break before I report for duty at the new workplace. It's my first real break since I dived into the workforce some 5 years ago.

I'll be home, catching up on some R & R (yes! even after Perhentian!) and have already got some broadcasting and writing stints lined up. Hey, a girl's gotta eat too! In the mean time, if you know of any fun stuff I should check out or get involved in, lemme know!

Posted by Doreen at 2:58 pm



    

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Heaven in Terengganu

And Pulau Perhentian was amazing!

I have made up my mind - striking off "rearing sheep on a farm" as an occupation when I retire. Now, only "retire by the beach" still remains, and it will be the one thing for which I will slog my arse off for the next 3 decades or so.

Yes, retiring by the beach. I will build a cosy little hut there. And until that day comes, I will continue making my island pilgrimage on an annual basis, like how I have been doing for the past 3 years.

It being our virgin trip to Perhentian, I booked flights to Kuala Terengganu instead of Kota Bahru. How would I know the jetty was closer to the next state? So it took us about 70 minutes to get from the airport in KT to Kuala Besut, whereas if I had landed in KB, it would only require about 45 minutes. Thankfully the boyfriend didn't whine too much about this.

With help from
Perhentian Sunny Travel, we booked our holiday package with ease. I wanted something whereby everything was arranged and provided for. We stayed at the New Cocohut Chalet, and despite it being nothing to shout about, it had the basic comforts which I need - a clean airconditioned room with attached bathroom.

With half a day left upon our arrival, we immediately hit the beach and spent the day lazing away under the sun and in the water.

That first night itself, we went to bed at 10pm. Fatigue and the sun contributed to it. But well, everything closes by 10pm, so there wasn't really much to do. We were picked up at 9:00am the next morning by a skinny Malay dude who took us out snorkeling.

We expected food to be crap because that's what you get when you book packages. On the contrary. We were well fed with at least 3 dishes for lunch and dinners!

Like all island resorts, the entire place exudes laziness.

I mean, there isn't really much to do, and you can't hit the mall or watch a movie. So we eat, swim, snorkel, laze on the beach, and sleep. Heck, even cats have an easy life here!

The next day, we opted for an afternoon snorkeling excursion and Skinny Malay dude came to pick us up again, and this time we saw plenty!

I saw 4 huge-ass bumper heads swimming in a row towards me and I got scared for a moment. They looked like ugly italiano mafias. I saw a trigger fish and quickly swam as far from it as possible because they are nasty and they bite. Fins are good for kicking away jellyfish. Sharks were harder to spot but we saw 2 lurking around under the corals. They were about a metre long and absolutely beautiful. Turtles are aplenty this time of the year and we easily saw about 5-6 of them. They were BIG! And clown fish are just so damn cute! Skinny Malay dude went between the anemone and caught a clown fish between his palms. Dammit. I need an underwater camera.

We had a very windy ride back all the way to the airport in Kuala Terengganu. Yes, all the way. Wind was slapping our faces and messing up our hair during the speedboat ride back to the mainland.

Then, because we arrived back at the jetty at close to 5pm, apparently, most cabbies are now getting ready to go home (what?!) and so it was harder to get a cab. We had to settle for a really, really old car. With no aircon. For like an hour's plus ride. More wind.

Like always, when we woke up on our last morning there, I told him, "You go ahead back to KL without me. I'm staying on."

As always, he layan-ed and said, "Sure, lemme know when to pick you up from the airport".

Holidays are never enough aren't they?

Perhentian 17-20 May 2007 on Multiply

Posted by Doreen at 10:57 am



    

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Goodbye

The time is now.

I'm leaving.

Going off.


Going on a journey, to a faraway place.

Just pack, leave and forget everything.

Will you miss me?

Will you think of me?

Will you remember me?

But it's OK even if you don't.

Cos I'll be the one swimming in clear, blue waters and lazing on soft beaches at Perhentian.

Nyek nyek.

See you when I get back.

Posted by Doreen at 5:12 pm



    

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

I Not Stupid

"The tupperware is wet ah!" he hollered from the living room.

It was 7:30am. I was in the kitchen preparing PBJ sandwiches for us to bring along to work, for breakfast.

"You think I'll pack bread in a wet box is it?" I yelled back, mildly frustrated.

Think I'm stupid is it?


Roar.

Posted by Doreen at 4:03 pm



    

Monday, May 14, 2007

When Is It?

Do all couples have an anniversary?

Well, it's like this you see.

Him and me, we did not start off on a right note.


There was no act of courtship which had him wine and dine me. There were no bouquet of roses (or even a single stalk!) presented to me. Nor were there any "confession" about how he "likes" me and would thus like us to start dating seriously. Nope, nothing of that sort.

We were casual daters. Can I say that - casual daters?

Well, we were doing this whole on-and-off thing for years. In between he dated other people, I went to Australia, I dated other people too. When I was back for in Malaysia for holidays, we'd catch up and have lots of fun. Even upon my return to Malaysia for good, there was no concrete direction as to where we were heading, so we ended up casually dating again. For a while at least.

Anyways. To date, it has been 10 long years. But officially a couple only in the last 4.

"Where are we going?" has been discussed so many a times, and we have more often than not, failed to provide each other with an answer. Maybe I was scared. Maybe he was scared. Maybe we were scared. To commit. To say, "Yes, let's start doing this seriously". To say, "I am yours and you are mine".

Along the way, I realized that I liked him more than what I can afford. Dare I even say love? Nay, love is too big a word.

Along the way, I realized that I want to go out with him exclusively and that it rips my heart when he goes out with other girls.

Along the way, I wished I could call him "my boyfriend".

Along the way, I fell for him.

I don't know if fear ever evaporated, but it came to a point where I put my foot down and demanded an answer to "where are we going?". And, I gave us an ultimatum. It's either we start dating seriously and exclusively, or we stop seeing each other. Fortunately, we both agreed that we should give us a chance, a decent chance.

I remember that afternoon well enough. It was like any afternoon, a typical weekday in Kuala Lumpur, and we were supposed to be at work, at our respective offices. Instead, we were tucked away in a corner in Chili's at Midvalley. I remembered ordering a beer.

It's been 4 years since that afternoon in Chili's, since we became official. It's been 4 years, and we've never looked back. It's been 4 years, and we've never been happier.

So when is our anniversary?

That fateful afternoon in Chili's I hear you say?

Fuck me. I don't remember the date.

Posted by Doreen at 1:35 pm



    

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Visually Me

Read my VisualDNA Get your own VisualDNA™


MOOD: Easy Rider
You are drawn to the drama of a big spectacle and appreciate the unpredictability of nature. You like life rugged and rough round the edges. When it comes to art, you're definitely unconventional. You like to think differently, always from another perspective. You have a good sense of humour. As for music, you love the festival vibe - open air and a heap of people on your level. You love the buzz you get from watching music live - there's nothing like it! Your choice of treat reveals that simple pleasures make your day. You love relaxing, unwinding, and pampering.

FUN: Escape Artist
Life is exhausting and you never seem to get enough rest - poor thing! Working hard or playing hard, you just have to get some rest... For kicks, you like to indulge in your great passions. You are happy to live life's highs and lows; you are fiercely loyal and passionate. You like to be part of something big. When it comes to holidays, you reckon they should always be indulgent - a very special treat and chance to recharge your batteries in luxurious surroundings as well as spending quality time with family and friends. What grosses you out? You like people to be well groomed, with a tight bod and heaps of sex appeal. Wobbly bits and hairy areas are a complete turn off.

HABITS: Junkie Monkey
Even if you have a healthy approach to life, you still have your vices and a craving hunger drives your needs! So you'll super-size it, you love convenience and that taste. Your choice of drink reflects your love of the stability and comfort of the routine. As for the home, you have very cool and contemporary tastes and see yourself as a bit of trend setter. You like your surroundings to be simple and as stylish as you.

LOVE: Love Bug
You're a real romantic and a bit of a dreamer. For you, love is about devotion and tenderness. You try to show your feelings in simple ways everyday. Your heart is right there on your sleeve. When you think of freedom, nature takes over. Getting back, out into the wilderness is a big draw.

Posted by Doreen at 9:41 am



    

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Closing Time

I'm back! Penang, as it always is, was relaxing. But I've missed KL. It's good to be home lah!

5 days in Penang with The Oral Stage and it's been a crazy adventure.


The show was staged, but I thought our opening in Greenhall sucked. Well, maybe just me. But it was hard being stressed about the show... and I'm blaming it all on the Penang air. It was permeated with fun, laze and greasy char kueh teow. The subsequent shows were better, although I felt that we could have been better if we weren't trapped in a horrible backstage.

Backstage at Greenhall was small, dark, dusty and without ventilation. It was, in a simple four-letter word - crap. Maybe because we have been pampered by being at KLPAC where there were sufficient lighting, dressing rooms came with showers and there was enough room to accommodate all of us; the smokers had a place to smoke, those who had to do character preparation before their time on stage found their little corner, and we had to be on our own cue-masters because we didn't have a Stage Manager for the shows at Greenhall.

With the exception of the odd prostitute roaming the halls, Cathay Hotel was home for the 4 nights we were there. I love the ancient feeling of this 100-year old building on Leith Street.

And no trip to Penang is complete without the customary visit to the beach.

In Penang, eating is a sport they do at the State level. Tourists are often encouraged to partake in the local tournament.


Over bottles of red wine and jokes about the male reproductive organ, Chelsea was held to a draw by Wenger's boys, and ladies and gentlemen... let's sing along now- Rule, rule, United... Rule, rule, United...

And eventually, it was time to leave the island.. and we took the ferry back to the mainland.

And with that, Screwed officially comes to a close.

It's been a hectic and crazy 4 months working on this production.. and I am once again pleased at how much we've achieved as a group.

You crazy bunch of retards at TOS - Leave me aloneeeeee!

Full compilation of my pictures from Penang (in case any of you want it), can be found here.

Posted by Doreen at 11:06 am