You Lucky Lucky KIds!

You betcha!

When I was growing up a teenager in Kuala Lumpur, there were not many places to go shopping.

We had Robinson's at Jalan Mountbatten (now Jalan Tun Perak), The Weld and a few boutiques here and there.

Then when I was in college, we had Ampang Shopping Complex, Wisma Central, Pertama and Campbell and much much later, Yow Chuan Plaza.

The thing is, these were nowhere near what teenagers have today! Just look at the choices now!

And the cinemas! Love what we have today!

I loved going to the movies those days. Especially with my sisters and girlfriends. How odd to say this. But I avoid going dating to the movies. Difficult to focus and concentrate.

I traveled abroad for holidays regularly as a teenager. So let me tell you that Malaysia has come a long way!

You kids just don't know how lucky you are!

(Please note that this posting is about a very light subject.)

Another Year, Another Day!

Me and Antonio -- oh you know him...the love of my life -- just celebrated our anniversary. We've been together like over a decade. Like, that long? Yeah, baby, that long.

Seems like just yesterday that we started out. Ours was intense from the start. Just as intense, now? Well. yeah.....sometimes.

The fire still there? Er...I'm sure it's there somewhere. But do you really need to have that fire? I mean, let's face it....the fire is not as hot but it does not mean that the relationship is cold and dead. Does it?

Don't think so.

I'm gonna just overturn all that psycho crap about what a relationship must have for it to survive till eternity.....

It's not true that sex is everything in a relationship. It is important....I think that's when you know whether the fire is still burning.

Physical intimacy is important.

Communication is not the engine that drives the relationship. Don't believe it that when you're together you're supposed to talk and talk and talk to each other. NAAAH....So not true.

And yes yes yes.....you have to keep fit and healthy so that you can cope with everything that's important to you. And you will not want to die - pffft -- before him. Or do you?

Ok...that's enough.

You know that I don't trust Antonio 100 per cent. My mama ( God bless her soul/May she rest in peace) told me never ever give your man 100 per cent -- not yourself, and not your trust.
She said that because you do not want to be disillusioned, disappointed that can lead to you being either homicidal or suicidal. Ok...the last bit is mine.

But, you know what, mama. It still doesn't work. I don't give Antonio 100 per cent and I can still feel a depth of disillusionment, disappointment and oooh.....betrayal. But I am not homicidal nor suicidal.

Heck. And hell. I still love the bastard!

Trying To Be A Mat Salleh

I'm going to sound like a real bitch. Can't help thinking aloud about how Malaysian women -- be they Chinese, Malay or Indian -- try hard to be so Mat Salleh when they have a Mat Salleh as their partner, hubby or whatever.

I'm going to generalise here but I do believe I have some basis for drawing such a conclusion.

I have been people-watching lately which is something I happen to do when I'm just with my latte for company.

Do you have any idea how mixed the next generation of Malaysians will be. Ok, I am exaggerating. At least, if these campur kids whose parents decide to stay put in the Klang Valley, are any indication.

I counted in one hour I was at Coffee Bean in Bangsar, more than 10 mixed couples -- local women and Mat Salleh partners -- some of whom were with children.

What really caught my eye was how these women either had their hair dyed blonde or shade of that, might as well have been naked or have that "exotic" look.

I swear one of the Mat Salleh guys must have married his maid. Please, I'm not being judgmental or mean. I have no opinion of anyone marrying their maid, unless of course he is already married which means that he was screwing the maid behind his wife's back before dumping his wife to marry the maid. But, that is another story.

Now, this guy's partner really looked like a maid --- my maid, my sister's maid, my other sister's maid, my brother's maid, my mom's maid.....

But, no. She was neither Indonesian nor Filipina. Overheard their conversation, She was Malay.

But oh you know what I mean.

So why do these women all try to be whiter than white. As though it's part of the deal. You have to look like a Mat Salleh...or their idea of a Mat Salleh.

But ok. Here's the thing. The Mat Salleh guys with these women? Ummm.....Naaah...I think these guys (to these women) must be really nice people with great personality, rich (that's, of course, subjective), or simply great in bed.

Or just that their skin is white.

I know of Malaysian women who'd fall for a Mat Salleh. Any Mat Salleh as long as he is a Mat Salleh.

Orang putih.

Sex Education For Young Malaysians...

I've always been receptive to the idea of sex education in school but I am realistic because I have little faith and confidence in our teachers to carry out this task.

Look around you. For a very long time, our school education system has not been conducive for this kind of subject.

So, I have long forgotten about the need to educate our young on sex and issues relating to it.

I learnt about sex by myself through a lot of reading.

Now, I see that the government will be including sex education in the national service programme.

I read about it here and here.

I think it's good. But I am still skeptical about the efficiency, capability and ability of the NS instructors.

My question is -- why in the national service programme?

You know what? I'll give them a fair chance but I am doubtful that they can pull this one off.

When It's Time To Discard Your "Best Friend"(s)...

I know that diamonds are not my best friends since I'm not particularly crazy about these stones. But I know that they are for many women.

And they are usually given as presents from one's boyfriend, husband or partner.

When the relationship breaks up, I suppose those precious stones don't mean nothing no more, huh? It's really over when the stones are "out the window", eh?

Now, that's why -- except for that ONE rock given by Antonio -- I don't have no precious memory in no precious stone. I buy my own, thank you very much.

Here's an interesting article, "When Diamonds Become Girls' Worst Friends" :

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Diamonds may be forever. But what's a girl to do when she gets dumped or divorced and those rings, necklaces and love gifts lose their emotional sparkle?

Help is just a click away on new Web sites that provide an outlet for selling jewelry from past relationships, sharing break-up stories and helping broken hearts heal.

"You go through a divorce. What do you do with that ring? Maybe you have a child you can pass it on to. Maybe you don't. It just sits there," said Marie Perry, who with her stepdaughter Megahn Perry runs www.exboyfriendjewelry.com.

"We wanted to create a platform in the community where people can get in contact with others with similar needs," Perry told Reuters.

more.......

Widespread Baby-Selling In Vietnam?

True or an exaggeration?

According to the Associated Press, weaknesses in Vietnam's adoption system has allowed corruption, fraud and baby-selling to flourish.

AP, in a nine-page document describes brokers scouring villages for babies, hospitals selling infants whose mothers cannot pay their bills, and a grandmother giving away her grandchild — without telling the child's mother.

Read the full story here.

Say What?

I thought I'd not be touching on post-elections chatter anymore.

But, the headlines today caught me.

Prime Minister Pak Lah is blaming Umno saboteurs for the Barisan Nasional's humiliating performance in the general election! ??

What's the matter with him? What an idiot! Did someone make him say that?

I must have been mistaken when I heard him say that he was listening to the voices of the people! That he'd try to right whatever that was wrong that caused the rakyat to despise the Barisan Nasional.

Have we all been had by this poor excuse of a leader?

Pathetic! He's going to go down so hard, he wouldn't know what hit him.

Oh...go to sleep, Pak Lah!