3 but 1.. wilayah

au revoir!

2010-01-21T15:04:00.002+08:00

Well it was a sheer pleasure to be in diminutive part of blog4ft. It took me where I have never been, or open me to things I have never seen. Some remain idly the same – an old same FT – some are changing faster than the eyes would follow. Some are 1st class facilities, but treated with 3rd country mentality. Well we choose who we would become, kan?

But foremost, Congrats to all talented and lovely frens in blog4ft, winners or not, and the Ministry. I hope more blogging thingy would take place this yr. Well 2010 has started; and I’d be concentrating on my other stuff: backyard-charity.blogspot, first novel and book, and in furthering study in further country, I wish. Au revoir!

Penulis Dunia di KL: Di Mana Mereka Lepak Ya?

2009-12-18T14:12:00.023+08:00

Episod 1: Pushkin Datang ke KL?

Kota KL saban hari menerima sekelian pelancong luar dan dalam, dan November lalu menyaksikan penulis tersohor Russia, ‘W. A. Pushkin’ hadir ke Kuala Lumpur, membawa bersama bait-bait indah zaman aristokrat Russia era 1800-an.

[Pushkin (1799-1837) terkenal sebagai Bapa Sastera Moden Rusia, dengan bait puisi indah dan radikal. Jika mata pena lebih tajam dari mata pedang, Pushkin membuktikan benar kata tersebut. Karya utamanya termasuk The Bronze Horsemen dll]

Bertempat di banglo lama Inggeris di Bukit Petaling di hujung jalan DBP, markas persatuan Penulis Nasional malam itu meriah dengan kehadiran wajah tempatan dan asing. Pushkin hadir dalam banyak wajah dan suara, bila sebenarnya puisi beliau diucapkan bersemangat dalam dua bahasa. Pusat Sains dan Budaya Kedutaan Russia (beralamat di Jalan Ampang) memang aktif berprogram, dan Pesta Filem Rusia 2008 adalah antara yang masih diperkata, dan kali ini berkerjasama dengan PENA untuk malam Puisi 2 Negara. Selain bait Pushkin, diperdengar juga baris dari Dostoevsky dan lainnya. Saya selalu merasakan Bahasa Rusia kasar bunyinya – bukan melodi-dramatik seperti Tagalong, Urdu, Melayu dan Thai – tetapi bila dijelmakan dalam syair ritmanya amat berlainan.

[Nota: Rumah Pena seringkali dilintasi, tetapi kerap tidak diendahkan. Hanya berjiran dengan Rumah GAPENA dan juga Restoran Tupai-Tupai, awasi tempat ini jika anda teringin menikmati aksi sastera/Penulisan secara langsung!]

[kusyuk mendengar cerita Dr Pogadev]

Malam itu meyaksikan Prof Madya Dr Pogadev, akademis UM yang terkenal kerana banyak menyemarakkan Bahasa Melayu termasuk terjemahan ke Bahasa Russia, hadir dengan angkatan muda dan lama – termasuk Pegawai Khas Duta Russia membacakan karya-karya Russia dalam Bahasa asli, sementara karya penyair Malaysia diterjemah secara spontan tapi masih bermakna. Malam itu juga pelancaran Buku Sastera Rusia Berjaya dijayakan sederhana tetapi meriah.

[Pak Samad, bersahaja, tapi penuh erti]

Membuat kemunculan istimewa malam itu pastinya Pak Samad Said, penyair nasionalis Malaysia yang rajin, tenang membacakan sajak-sajaknya tersendiri. Pak Aripin Said, mendapat tepukan gemuruh dengan gaya kompangnya, begitu juga penyair-penyair ternama tanahair lain.

[suasana majlis dan kerusi yang sesak]

[Pak Aripin dan Kompangnya]

Ada juga ketika tayangan foto desa, tempat asal Pushkin disiar, membawa audien ke dunia lain, dan menyelamai saat getir perjuangan rakyat Russia kala reformasi.

KL malam itu sekali lagi berjaya menghimpunkan penulis/penyair dan pengkarya agung di satu tempat yang sama, kalaupun di alam yang berlainan. Apapun, malam itu adalah bukti kota ini terus menjadi tempat hubungan dua negara terjalin dalam caranya sendiri!

[hadirin sehingga ke luar ruang]

[editor Pentas tekun mendengar]

[Pushkin diabadikan di Stalingard]

Episod 2: Jalan Maugham atau Jalan TAR?

Selalu kota-kota besar menjadi ilham para pengkarya, khasnya bagi penulis dunia. Mereka mengembara dan cuba menikmati suasana asing, sambil mengilhamkan karya melalui pengalaman baru itu. Di majlis daerah atau Arrondisement ke-Empat Belas di kota Paris contohnya, ramai penulis ternama memilih café masing-masing sehinggakan zon itu bergelar ‘literary cafes’ termasuk yang terkenal iaitu La Coupole. Antara yang menyenanginya termasuk Elliot, Hawthorne, Hemingway, dan Fitzgerald. Di ‘kedai kopi’ itulah mereka menikmati kota, warga dan cuba berkarya.

[papantanda antik]

[tenang, sederhana tapi penuh sejarah]

Kembali ke Malaysia, siapa lagi penulis besar yang pernah melepak di KL? Kalau diselidik karya terdahulu, muncul nama A. Burgess dan W.Somerset Maugham yang menulis kisah Nusantara dan Malaya sekitar 1930-an. Soalan seterusnya, di mana mereka melepak di KL waktu itu? Dulu KLCC belum ada, dan belum dijadikan bangsal kuda pun, dan para pelancong ini tidak juga melepak di Jalan P Ramlee atau Chow Kit. Rupanya penulis terkemuka bernama Maugham itu ada tempat lepaknya sendiri di Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

[Nota: W. Somerset Maugham (1874- 1965) dilahirkan di Peranchis sebenarnya, merupakan penulis agung British dalam multi- genre Skrip, Novel dan Cerita Pendek. Terkenal dengan karya seperti Rain, Of Human Bondage, dll, beliau mengembara ke seluruh dunia termasuk di Asia Pasifik sekitar 1920 dan 30-an dan banyak karya diilham sekitar hidup orang British di sini. Burgess pula, pernah mengajar di MCKK 1954-55, popular dengan The Malayan Trilogy/The Long Day Wanes].

[berseberang dengan Kamdar, berjiran panggung Tamil]

Mungkin sekitar 1930-an, Jalan TAR antara jalan yang tersibuk di Asia Tenggara selain Jalan Orchad Road Singapura dan Jln McCalister, Penang. Dan terselit di deretan kedai itu, ada sebuah bangunan lama sepesen hasil kerja tangan AB Hubback , arkitek yang banyak menempa rupa KL satu waktu dulu. Café Colesium (1921) rupanya sarang Maugham berlabuh, dan mungkin di situlah beliau mencari ilham sambil bertukar cerita dengan rakan kolonial.

[chinaware trademark, dari tahun bila agaknya?]

Apakah tarikan café itu? Café antara tertua di Malaysia ini nama penuhnya ialah Colesium café & Hotel. Dibina berkemabr dengan Panggung Colesium bersebelahan. Dari luar, tempat itu tidaklah mencerminkan tarikan hebat. Kedai dua tingkat berkembar itu nampak biasa, selain font ala-koboi atas tingkap cermin besar yang mengesahkan keklasikannya, berbingkai kayu berat warna merah. Di atasnya masih hotel [ayam??] yang usang, dengan harga serendah RM30-50 semalam. Ini ikon KL satu waktu dulu?, tanya hati saya.

[Mr Ho, antara pewaris ikon Jalan TAR]

Dalamnya kedai kopi klasik yang biasa; bar disebelah kiri dan sejurus hampir 20 meja yang dihiasa ala kadar, dinding asal bertiang bagak, meja bar bervarnish berlatar botol-botol minuman, juga perabot lama dengan upholstery koyak. Ada meja pelik spiral yang anda tidak akan jumpa di mana-mana cawangan Cavenzi pun. Ada kerja kayu pada pintu dengan simbol CC jelas, penyangkut kot (pengaruh Eropah) gaya lama melekap di dinding, dan ada juga penyaman udara yang kini tidak berfungsi. Saya tidak fikir banyak renovasi berlaku sepanjang usia café ini langsung!

Paling ketara ialah senarai menunya yang panjang – lengkap hidangan Barat atau Oriental – semuanya ada di situ. Saya duduk menyelami apa agaknya hidangan yang dipesan Maugham satu waktu dulu. Mungkin beliau sekadar menghisap curut, atau memesan Teh Earl Grey di samping scone [peliknya tiada dalam menu!]. Kata ramai, tempat itu terkenal dengan sizzling steaknya. Apa pilihan saya?

[set roti saya, dengan menu sarat]

Saya memesan kopi pekat dan set roti mentega. Atas meja, saya terfikir disitulah Maugham berkarya, dengan kertas dan pen, menulis cerita pengetua Victoria Institution yang menjadi ilham antara karya kala itu. Atau kelakarnya, di situlah dia menilik ‘anak-anak ikan tempatan’ kerana diketahui beliau mempunyai nilai hidup yang berlainan!

[catatan kenangan dari jauh, dan nostalgik]

Di balik kaunter bar, Mr Ho generasi keempat penjaga duduk diam mengira sesuatu, dibantu kapten-kapten (waiter) yang ada berkerja secara bergenerasi. Di sini semuanya klasik, termasuk pekerjanya. Di dinding ada catatan dan poskad dari benua jauh, meninggalkan nostalgia kepada yang di sini dan di sana. Terkejut saya bila melihat ada sesuatu yang menarik – karikatur berbingkai – melekap antara bahan pamer tadi!

[karikatur dato Lat tentang tetamu yang pernah hadir dan melepak di situ]

Rupanya pasti di sini juga tempat Dato’ Lat melepak dan mungkin mencari ilham. Ada hasil karyanya – dibuat khas untuk café ini – menceritakan warisan. Mungkinjuga visual ibu dan anak ke Kamdar di bangunan depan, anak muda beratur di pawagam Hindi di panggung sebelah, dan lapisan generasi yang melewati Jalan TAR – seperti juga kepada Maugham – jelas memberikan ilham dan rasa kepada para artisan dan karyawan ini, agaknya…

Kopi saya pekat sungguh. Saya menghirup perlahan, dan kejutan juga bila meja sebelah didatangi dua anak gadis belia yang pakaiannya sungguh tidak kena untuk melepak di café tua ini. Ini bukan Starbuck, dik, ujar saya di dalam hati. Lama kemudian saya mengetahui bahawa mereka adalah warga asal KL, dan semasa kecil dibawa ibubapa ke situ. Jadi mereka bukanlah salah tempat atau pelancong jauh. Oh, memang tempat ini penuh nostalgia kata saya, dan mereka berdua menjadi saksi bahawa generasi seterusnya masih menghargai café usang itu.

“Cubalah mee basah, atau juga hidangan Barat. Sedap!” kata mereka lagi.

Set sarapan saya hanya sekitar RM6, dibanding nilai sejarah dan pengalaman yang saya hirup pagi itu. Bertukar sapa dengan orang di kaunter, saya pergi dengan janji untuk cuba mencari peta KL yang baru untuk café itu. Di dinding ada peta KL lama – sungguh lama – terpampang di mana KLCC masih bangsal kuda, dan Bukit Nenas berada di kemuncaknya. Antik!

Mungkin Maugham juga melalui saat-saat seperti itu. Melihat KL dari dekat, dan menikmati satu dunia lain yang menarik untuk diperhati!

[jam antik, kerusi antik, botol antik, orangnya pun antik!]

Episod 3: Kelasi Kemudinya ke Melaka, Penulis Tempatnya di KL!

Lima ratus tahun dahulu, sebenarnya sudah banyak penulis atau pencatat datang ke Malaysia – atau Suvarnabumi - tetapi tempatnya di Melaka. Ibn Batuta antara penulis travelog paling ternama menikmati kota dagang itu. Kini, sekurangnya, ada seorang penulis dunia yang saya tahu masih menikmati Kuala Lumpur, dan juga Melaka. Pelaut yang kini menulis. Saya mengejarnya – untuk autograf - sewaktu beliau berbicara di MPH Mid Valey tahun lalu, dan dia mengakui sudah dua kali ke Melaka atas rujuk bukunya. Sekali pandang, beliau hanyalah orang putih veteran biasa, kecuali otot kelasinya masih jelas kelihatan. Saya memujanya kerana dua perkara, dia menulis dan dia menyukai kapal dan laut – kebetulan yang kami kongsi.

[kulit buku judul pertama]

Dipandang remeh kerana kebenaran, Gavin Menzies penulis buku 1424 The Year China Discovered The World - antara buku penting dunia abad ini kalau ditanya pendapat peribadi saya - kalau tidak kerana kevokalan (kebenaran) menyanggah penemuan Columbus, Magellan atau Henry the Navigator, dan percaya bahawa Chinalah yang pertama meneroka benua-benua dunia . “Apa perasaan tuan menulis semula sejarah,” tanya saya. Dia senyum dan berkata, “Go figure!” menyebabkan saya tersengih. Entah mengapa, saya dapat merasakan Saudara Manzes akan datang lagi ke Malaysia, menikmati KL dan Melaka selagi hayatnya ada…

[Gavin Manzes (1937) http://www.gavinmenzies.net/ berkhidmat dengan Angkatan Laut DiRaja dan pernah menjadi kepala kapal HMS Rorqual, dan rujukan buku tulisan 1421 membawanya lebih dari 120 negara, 900 buah muzium dan pustaka. Dua buah bukunya 1421 dan 1434 amat menarik, sebenci manapun anda pada sejarah. Umat Melayu akan ketawa berguling-guling kalau membaca muka surat 103 dalam judul 1421 tentang aristokrat Melaka. Dapatkan segera buku itu ya!]

[peta Melaka 1854]

[Dewan di Stockholm mana Hadiah Nobel diadakan]

Dan, mungkin semestinya Stockholm paling banyak menerima penulis dunia lantaran Hadiah Nobel didadakan di Dewan Majlis Kota saban tahun [*percaya tak ada menu Nasi Goreng di kafeterianya?]. Kota lain juga ada yang meletakkan penulis dalam tahap tinggi, seperti Amsterdam yang biasa menjemput penulis terkemuka datang bertamu selama seminggu contohnya, dan menulis sesuatu tentang kota mereka. Mungkin KL juga boleh mengundang waris Burgess dan Maugham, atau mana-mana Nobel-lis untuk menikmati KL dan diabadikan dalam karya mereka, atau setepatnya mengundang saudara Tash Aw [membesar di KL/penulis Harmony Silk Factory dan pemenang kedua-dua Whitbread dan Hadiah Komanwel] bagi meletakkan kota ini abadi dalam kata dan rasa yang indah!

(gambar Tash Aw hakcipta A Seth/tash-aw.com)

Undi?

http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=3093]

KL in Motion: We Wanna Mov’it! Mov’it!

2009-12-04T18:38:00.027+08:00

[Episode 1: An Idiot’s Guide to Latino Salseros in KL]

Hola!! Puerto Rican? Cuban? Latinos in FT?? In KL there's no stranger nor home-sick, only a correct place to find. You must be joking, buddy, but yes I knew abot tachos and peri-peri chicken in FT – the hot and spicy ones! But this one is BLAZING hottt[er], my fren. So move away, chiken wings! Make way for our own-bred Salseros!

A friend – a full-time choreographer – invited me for a peep to his dancing class – Salsa A Playa. What?? I know a ‘dance’ when people move awkwardly, make fool of themselves to the music, and err the crowd. I know ‘dancing’ when I smirked to ‘So you Think You Can Dance’*, or local-styled ‘Mari Berdansa’ that were on air. I love music, well-passed my time in Zouk and all, but dance isn’t my thing. Full-stop!

Somehow I was lured. I got nothing to do last Wednesday’s nite, and why not I gave a bit of support. Bukit Bintang was packed as usual. The place was Bossanova. Hidden one floor down the lobby of Park Royal BB, it was like an ordinary eatery – Western buffet or ala carte, or selection of drinks – plus a diminutive 8 x 5 ft stage with a nice-layered dance floor and disco-ball hung steadily – accompanied with terrific moving lighting and a sound system and Marshall speaker. Nice!

Mr Latinoshylitoz – a shy guy as he claimed – introduced me to his student that nite, Ms A – an expatriate wife. That weekly/by appointment class was normally attended by a long-time registered student/s whom needed to keep their balancing right from time to time, and Ms A was one of few. With just a minimal charge, Mr Latinos was looking for new students as well, as I agreed that the floor should be filled by KL citizens – simply because it’s a nice activity in a nice and cozy surrounding, better than the echoed-mirrored studios I have been to, and you wouldn’t be much embarrassed in this place as your body relax…

A well-known activist in the circle, represented Malaysia during the Salsa congress the earliest, the man looked like a pure Havana immigrant if not by a clear lighting. His love to Salsa was built in years, sweat and many adventures. And his previous students consisted of many nationalities, but it was the local talents whom inspired him most. “Malaysian ‘bodies’ were made to dance,” he whispered. He dressed up occasionally, but it was Ms A whom my eyes err, glued. Stiletto-ed, scantily dressed with bling and neck-line deeper than Sg Klang’s bottom, her dark-tone flesh was obvious in many parts. Came 9.30 so he put a CD, and off they darted the central arena. I hold my breath – an analogy to watching a matador Saturday’s fight …

“It’s showtime, Salsaros!!” I yelled. The music started in harmony. I heard beats. More beats. Then slowly Bukit Bintang I knew of was disappearing, replaced by a scene in any Latinos film or Bond movies. Without alarm, they moved in rhythm.

The feet were quick. The hands were fast. Up. Down. Left. Right. So many spins. So many sins- aha! One couldn’t look at the hands, or the feet simultaneously, as they were everywhere. The dancers moved anywhere they liked. Like nobody cared to watched. They had the world to themselves. At one moment they smiled, only later be serious at another. Waist to waist. Hand to hand.

He added his silky moves with a humour, and the lady danced well to his unprecedented break. “I had to guess quickly, you see..” later she told me. Well a pop-quiz was a good teacher would do to his students, rite? And many time I saw so many sexy moves – not off that flashing clothes – but merely because the two-second intimate touching or stares, and even a simple smile look soo, err inviting! But deep inside a cultured man would know between pornography and art, and by that I started to fall in love with the dance …

I was alone. Salsa is a duo act. So I just watched and admired. My dinner was left untouched. Four dances and they arrived at the seats. Sweat. But Happy. The air still filled with Mi Terra by Gloria Estefan. Between breathes he said that he taught his students ‘to feel’ as a prerequisite – not just move -, and any KAYU or KENGKANG would do wonders after a few personal classes...

When the lady left, I had a chance to preview the solo maestro alone on the dance floor - an on1 masterpiece-; giving out 20-min live lesson entitled An Idiot Guide to Salsa. Simply awesome and supercool…

Up until midnite we sat and talked off many things, later I learnt a lot about that piece of ‘foreign art’; a bit of history in form of pure kinetics entertainment, escapism, nationalism, sense of belonging or a walk down in memory lane. As I left BossaNova, the road was quiet to its standard – surprisingly listening to my hymn of the tempo. Definitely KL people – Malaysian or foreigners – should flock this place next time around!, I murmured to myself later…

[Episod 2: Between Nachos and Cigar or Marihua**, I choose Salsa!]

“Come to LunaBar on Saturday’s nite,” Ms A left with an invitation to both of us. “And mind that new Salsa Havana is launching on the 25th this month. They acquired a bigger lot in Star Hill, next to Zouk,” she said it seriously. Suddenly it came to my senses the evergreen household names like El Nino, Q-Bar and Rouge, with SalsaHavana in Federal Hotel was a mecca to the converts. I figured that KL is no less Latin in her soul, rite?

Where to learn? Yes BossaNova wasn’t alone in offering a touch of Cuban in Kuala Lumpur, there are many other established classes to choose from – in KL proper or TTDI or Hartamas - he said, mentioning that he didn’t mind of giving extra free hours though...

            Well there’s an exhausted list of webs adds, but I must say the cyberworld is still the best way for any beginners. A quick stop at Borders MV yesterday enlightened me to few limited titles, but I found my fav book ‘Social Dance Guide’, as it combines all popular dances in brief, but so comprehensive in basic – PLUS a Cd. [I put it back on the shelf for the price of RM91!] but I will check out Kino or popular later. Mr Latinos laughed at me, and sms’ed that he’d show me the best place to find a guide CDs or books - I’d tell you then. For now, just started to memorize the rhythm, take few foot-courses and fantasize about, err latinos singer you knew! hehe.


                                 [Episode 3 : Projet UNImmobilise KL]

Coincidently, it’s a dancing time for people of FT. Why? Yes we have Latin clubs, we have local tv features a nice program – and for charity! – but I guess this is the first time a govt body endorsing a DANCE in a big way!

           Have you heard of Tarian 1Malaysia? Well Ministry of Tourism now have popularized their much anticipated All-in-1 national-multicultural activity in a form of a DANCE, and not only it portrays the best of Malaysian multi-races’ elements in an approachable manner, people now would have choices instead the passé poco-poco moves that took the country by storm. A subtle-good way to avoid another clash of heritage among nations! hehe

Well, the dancing class [KL Sunday Family Fair] started back in months in MATIC, Jalan Ampang, and was well-received to some quarters. But noworries, if you think you wanna have a peek, logon to http://www.motour.gov.my/ or simply GO to dataran Merdeka TOMORROW [Sunday 6 Dec @ 7.30 am]. A good exercise for health, a fun time for each individual-self, a unique way to immortalize our heritage, and MORE, an activity for the whole family especially for this season of long-lazy-cuti sekolah! Bring along yo kids, okay! Bailamoss!

* http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=1907

Aidul Adha Kampung dan Kota

2009-11-29T11:22:00.004+08:00

Fakta: Hari dalam Islam bermula terbenam matahari, bukan selepas ‘tengah malam’ atau ‘esok pagi’ seperti difikirkan. Jadi takbir dan tahmid bergema selepas Maghrib, dan baju raya yakni baju yang bersih dan tidak semestinya baru, elok juga dipakai kala itu.

Fakta: Bagi bahagian Qurban, seekor lembu bersamaan dengan 7 ekor kambing, manakala Aqiqah dibahagi 7 bahagian.

Fakta: Saya kembali ke SP di Kedah, dan kariah ini menumbangkan 3 ekor lembu. Awal pagi, kami dikejutkan bila seekor kejang berbuih - terkorban awal - bila lehernya terbelit tali lewat malam. Binatang yang cacat, apatah lagi mati, tidak boleh dibuat korban. Alhamduliilah peniaga yang baik tadi menggantikan seekor lembu baru, dan semoga Allah merahmati semuanya. Tiada kerugian bagi manusia yang tahu nilai qurban sebenar…

Di Putrajaya semalam, saya meninggalkan kota awal pagi dan melihat 24 ekor lembu berlegar di padang tapak surau P8 - dan surau p8E juga tidak ketinggalan dengan 7 ekor - sedang tidak seekorpun mengetahui apa bakal terjadi kepada mereka hehe. Inilah kumpulan haiwan qurban terbesar pernah saya lihat, dan terima kasih pada YB Putrajaya yang bermurah hati. Dapat juga semua masyarakat membanting tulang melapah- tanpa darjat 54 atau 17, JUSA atau biasa, korporat tinggi atau kerja sendiri demi untuk yang memerlukan. Dapat juga kanak-kanak di sini - yang jarang-jarang melihat daging dalam bentuk 'hidup' dan 'asal' kecuali di ruangbeku Carrefour Alamanda - melihat sendiri cerita abahemak tentang hidup kampung berjiran haiwan ternakan waktu lama dulu...

Banyak yang saya kira boleh diperhalusi - amalan gotong royong, serentak dengan kehendak agama, lantas menerap sisi mulia Pengorbanan bagi masyarakat. Ritual pasti bukan untuk orang kampung saja, atau yang berada, tapi di kota juga masih kekal berbudaya. Dalam hati saya memikirkan tiada kurangnya amalan gotong royong di kota dengan kampung, dan mungkin di kota juga lebih meriah jika bilangan dan suasana dijadi ukuran. Yang penting, habuan qurban tadi akan sampai kepada warga yang memerlukan, dan moga diterima amalan yang tidak sedikit ini nilainya di sisi Tuhan..

[pic: my all time fav cow! hehe]

{undi?}

Review: Antara Besi KL dan Belulang Verona

2009-11-26T11:27:00.017+08:00

Soalan saya, apa hubungan ‘Venusian Man’ da Vinci dan ‘hulubalang’ Raja Shariman??

Dikatakan, seni catan da Vinci sangat indah dan sempurna kerana dia mendalami anatomi setepatnya. Dikatakan juga da Vinci membedah mayat bagi mengurai rahsia tubuh dan rahsia pergerakan. Jadi susunatur urat, liuk gemalai, reflek dan rutin tubuh – dalam aksi bukan kaku - termasuk soal saiz selalu benar dan jelas, dan itulah kelebihan artis Itali tersohor itu.

Kembali ke galeri Petronas KLCC – antara galeri terajin dan terbaik di FT - saya baru menikmati karya artis tanahair tersohor dalam sesi ‘Rentak Abad ke 21-Monolog Raja Shariman ‘. Pengamal dan penempa besi berbakat – juga genre lain sebenarnya – kali ini menyerlahkan koleksi arca diiring lukisan studies yang cermat dan cantik. Melihat besi yang ditempa dan dirupa demikian, saya teringat soalan awal tadi, dan mungkin ia menjawab bahawa RS juga sangat meneliti anatomi [harapnya dia tidak membedah sesiapa!] berdasarkan ketekunan dan cermat yang terpampang.

Keseluruhan 88 karya memang pelbagai dalam tema dan ceritanya sendiri, tapi saya temukan keseragaman juga dalam setiapnya. Mungkin unsur paling jelas mendekatkan karya artis dengan audien ialah saiz benar arca sendiri, yang rata-rata tinggi separuh manusia, dan jelas pula belikat atau otot tangan dan selirat urat, menambahkan realistik dan kegerunan. Itulah yang saya maksudkan tadi bila bercerita tentang proportionate dan postur tubuh manusia oleh da Vinci. Dan mungkin efek sama tidak akan didapati jika arca ini dibuat sangat besar, atau siapa tahu mungkin pula efeknya berganda?!

Warna hitam besi menakluk semua batang arca, tapi diterangkan pula pada sisi khas contohnya kelongsong PELURU dengan warna perak atau asing – cuba memberitahu apa ya? Mungkin sisi perang nan jahat, busuk kesumat dan juga alat saat gasak dan menduga cuba diterangkan simbolik. Sedang, dalam keseragaman bentuk berpaksi horizontal dan menirus ke atas, muncul pula bentuk lain dari yang lain seperti terlihat pada beberapa.

Entah mengapa saya terus jatuh cinta dengan Cengkaman Penakluk *gambar [Besi tempa, diwarna 2008] - hening dinaung cahaya lampu, hebat dilihat dekat dan jauh! Tapi utamanya ialah ia lain bersahaja, berlutut dalam keadaan meminta, tapi sebenarnya berlagak, angkuh dengan penangan takhta! Memang Sang Penguasa hampas punya wajah berbeza - sampai ke khalayak. Lagi, pengkarya juga tidak terhad di batas latar nusantara, tapi turut membawa isu global dengan karya kait Bosnia, Gaza, hatta Karbala.

Apa yang membeza? Amati penyataan ini. Tidak pernah saya terjengah mana-mana karya keperkasaan Melayu – contohnya karya orang berpesak silat dalam mana catan – digambarkan sangat jelas SENJATA seperti yang dibuat oleh RS. Selalunya bertangan kosong atau secara subtle senjata dihunus. Sedang di sini – tanpa darah pun – jahat, tajam, gerigi, konteks tusuk dan rabit juga ngeri tergambar jelas di mata saya sebagai audien.

Apa masalah saya? Awal lagi saya terbayangkan Aliens dan Susan Alexander aka Sigourney Pengayam setiap kali melihat arca-arca ini, dan hilang ‘ketulenan lubuk hati’ seorang audien kerana asiosasi tersebut [memang dipengaruhi pencipta mahkluk dari Peranchis itu] – tapi itu saja. Selainnya, saya menikmati semua karya dengan penuh minat terhadap segala yang seni juga robotik yang manusiawi...

Oh, sebelum noktah, ada kredit untuk galeri ini. Saya terperasan yang ada sesi khas Artescape penuh aktiviti direka [03-2331 1228]. Ada banyak program untuk warga FT, termasuk kanak 7-11 thn juga 13+, jadi cuti sekolah akan lebih menarik!

[ Nota KL2FT] Pameran dari 29.10.09 – 24.01.10. Catatan dibuat tanpa didikan formal seni, dan berdasarkan sukahati penulis hehe

{undi?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=1516

Out of Sight, Out of Mind [O2SO2M]

2009-11-19T22:32:00.004+08:00

Time     : 7pm/1900hrs
Location:   PLUS TollBooth Jln Duta heading North
Speed    :   ~~160~~/110km/j

Visibility: Good

Lyrics : ..Leave This Town .. [Daughtry]

Take 1: “I can see Solaris in my rear mirror - and slowly it disappears. So does KL. The traffic looks smooth. I’ll be in Bukit Merah in few hours, as this journey confirmed that my coming weekend belongs to Taiping territory. Paused. I hit the pedal hard, but it’s harder to leave the city this very weekend.”

Why? Well I’m gonna miss many things, but maybe you’d be able to replace me and cherish some hot spots:

1. EPL Masters*22 Nov* Bukit Jalil Arena becomes Wembley as EPL old-boys will be flocking the ground. Must see! Ticket starts @RM18

2. Bukit Jalil County Club Golf Sale*18-22 Nov*

3. Art Expo Malaysia*19-23 Nov*MATRADE*Oh, I already missed RA FineArt on 17th!

4. Anthology Launching: 50 Young ASEAN Writers*DBP*20 Nov*bravo sdr. SM Zakir!

5. CM Annexe Meekly*19-23 Nov*CY Chia’s 2nd 7 Years looks interesting.

6. KLIA Inaugural Air Zimbabwe*9am 21st*Mr Edy, mcm mane rupe stewardess die ek??

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=1066

3G. 4G. Which Spot Do You Prefer, FT?

2009-11-19T11:28:00.012+08:00

My colleague – based in Moscow - was back in Malaysia for good and complained that the cyber traffic here was too slow. I told him that the task was being taken by the authority and he would be able to download films in minutes next few months. But MONTH was not enuf for him, I guessed. I cheered him up with an insider info – this was way back in months – that TM was conducting tests on all-new broadband brand, as Celcom’s departure instilled a vacuum. “We will see a faster KL,” I promised like a ~~politician~~ concerned fren hehe.

With all the fuss and whispers, only last nite I managed to get myself ‘introduced’ to Wireless KL – after months first saw the brochure . I was waiting - and killing time for a fren that ended up to be a lengthy discussion at Restaurant Kg Pandan, Jln Yap Kwan Seng. Brought my other broadband, but the automatic page lured me to look into it, only later it failed me. No SMS. Personally I didn’t intend to spend another 15 mins of my precious time to register again, so maybe some other time. Well hopefully that was an isolated case of mine, as this morning I was so exited to know that yesterday YTLCorp - to run 2.3Ghz wireless bb network - has teamed-up with TM to look into 4G services and upgrading HSSB – meaning that FT people are looking at another good deal and will be blessed with better 24/7 [and novel] connection!

[pic : hsupa? hsdpa? by gone??]

According to the statement, YTL “intends to use this privilege to provide affordable, world-class services that improve the lives of people across Malaysia.” Well with that, FT definitely has the privilege to be the test-bed and for other more reason to cheer up my fren – and why he should and would be proud to be back in FT!

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=1045

Beringat Sebelum Kena, Berjimat Ketika Ada

2009-11-18T11:43:00.010+08:00

Ini bukanlah berita hari ini yang menggembirakan sangat bagi para lelaki, bila Burberry menyatakan mereka akan meluaskan jenama dengan memasar produk Kasut, Beg Tangan dan Barangan Kanak-kanak. Jadi ada banyak lagi sebab untuk kita berbelanja kali ini – dengan harapan jenama petak-petak ini akan membuka cawangan paling besar di Pavilion KL!

Bicara tentang beli dan belah, anda perlu tahu bahawa M-YES! [Malaysia Year End Sale] akan muncul minggu depan pada 21 Nov – 3 Jan 2010. Selama 44 hari KL akan dipenuhi barangan - dan pelancong! Untuk rekod, pelancong asing berbelanja banyak bagi penginapan, dengan kos membelibelah jatuh ke tempat kedua dengan pulangan kepada negara RM13,282.4 juta [2008] – dengan nilai retail industry negara sebanyak RM70b*. Resessi apa ya??

Ok, jangan lupa membeli tingkap [window shopping dulu kan?] minggu depan, tapi warga KL juga jangan lupa menyimpan. Banyak main listed companies pun khabarnya sedang melakukan penyusunan semula [restructuring] sekarang – termasuk O&G!

*info Shopping Malaysia Secretariat at tel: +603 2615 8188

{undi?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=1010

Hari Yang Cerah

2009-11-18T11:32:00.004+08:00

Jam       :   8 am
Lokasi    :   Lebuh Sg Besi hala Istana Negara
Laju       :   70km/j

Kejelasan: Ok [KLCC sedikit kabur]

Lirik : ..hari yang cerah.. [album Hujan]

Hari yang cerah. KL sungguh indah pagi-pagi begini. Matahari malu-malu, tapi tiada gerimis. Apa yang boleh dibuat kalau hari cerah? Berkelah?? Pantai Dalam tak ada Pantai pulak..hehe

Hari yang cerah selalunya trafik lancar. Itu penting bagi semua orang KL. Ibubapa. Pekerja. Kontraktor. Penjual di Chow Kit. Pemandu. Kalau hujan semua orang akan lebih berhati-hati - sehingga menyerlahkan ketidakcekapan sesetengah – tapi terowong SMART sangat banyak membantu. Saya tidak pasti unjuran trafik KL berasaskan Model Graviti Batas Tunggal*, tapi pihak berwajib sentiasa menjadikan jalan di KL lancar, dan khabarnya tahap trafik di Puduraya telah berubah dari F kepada D**. Tahun depan akan lebih baik. Jadi kesimpulannya, hari yang cerah bagus untuk Puduraya juga…

*harap tanya JKR terdekat **lagi bagus laa

{undi?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=1009

Dialog IT di FT

2009-11-17T15:53:00.003+08:00

Dalam tahun 2006, saya hampir pengsan terkejut apes melihat thumb-drive 10G di Russian Market, Beijing, sedang di Malaysia selesa dengan disket dan kad 256mb. Saya diberitakan situasi masih sama dengan PR China masih mendahului dunia IT, tetapi KL mengekor rapat di belakang. Dan ramai warga Eropah dan jiran Asia ada yang bersetuju harga barangan IT dan kehadiran model terbaru sangat menarik di Malaysia.

Di FT di mana lagi IT kalau bukan di kawasan Bukit Bintang, atau setepatnya di Low Yatt - berkembang dari bangunan Imbi. Bila teman En Jimi mencari laptop HP 12" baru, saya mengekor ke dua bangunan itu tapi akhirnya selesa di Galeri Cash & Carry IT, di Bangunan AMODA. Tiba-tiba lain pula yang terjadi, tidak disangka-sangka saya yang membeli-belah card-reader MS [RM3], Bluetooth Adaptor [RM10] dan Beg Laptop 10" [RM50] - hanya kerana label CLEAR ITEMS hehe

Banyak pengetahuan 'tech transfer' dan ilmu niaga saya kutip dalam dialog bersama penjual. Diperturunkan dialog dengan Modul Satu Soalan, tapi diikuti dua jawapan di dua kedai berlainan [nota: Bahasa slanga asal dikekalkan] Ada banyak nilai majmuk, ilmu bantu dan nota kaki jika anda perhatikan...

1. [Soalan] Saya mau cari bateri tambahan bagi EE PC. Berapa harga? [Jawapan 1] Harga bateri ori RM400, tapi awak boleh dapat bukan ori cuma RM250 - Jaminan sebulan [Jawapan 2] Tapi bateri tak ori kalau meletup awak jugak yang rugi!

2. [Soalan] Kalau saya guna anti-virus copy ok tak? [Jawapan 1] Ini monthly jugak ada update. Kalau awak guna tiruan, ada sites mesti block punya! [Jawapan 2] Awak bole masuk ABG maa, itu free saja. Kapersky pun sudah murah untuk 3 users cuma RM89.

3. [Soalan] Apa model paling lama bateri dia tahan? [Jawapan 1] Ini versi EE baru tahan 10.5 jam, mahal seratus dari model lain. Itu Sony 9 jam [Jawapan 2] Mana orang berapa lama mau taip, lima jam sudah sakit pinggang mau tidor kan? Ini model pun ok...isksik

{undi?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=976

Hip Hop Huraayyyyy

2009-11-17T09:33:00.006+08:00

Mari kita raikan Malaysia hari ini! Dalam penerbitan tahunan terbaru kelima Lonely Planet berjudul World's Top Ten Country for 2010 telah mengiktiraf Malaysia bagi sekurangnya dalam 3 kategori utamanya - satu dalam senarai Top Ten menyertai El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Portugal, Surinam dan USA. Negara ini juga dimuatkan bagi Best Value Destinations for 2010 - termasuk fakta USD7.5 bagi harga 3-course meal dan aksesibiliti AirAsia - selain dalam kategori Top Spots for Medical Adventures dengan ulasan kelakar tapi fakta "Mix procedures with pleasure in Malaysia, another leading destination ... are popular for *reast enhancement surgery that comes with packaged-tour ..". [rumour: Pam Anderson was Made in Malaysia?]

Dalam ulasan Top ten Country, disebut bahawa "Diversity is what Malaysia is all about. From chaotic and modern Kuala Lumpur to near mystical wilds ..". Saya tidak menyelami ayat 'chaotic' itu, tetapi percaya akan kemodenan KL dalam sisi negara membangun serta nilai diversity Malaysia yang sungguh indah. KL masih menjadi pemangkin dan tali pengikat kepada nilai-nilai majmuk Malaysia, rasa saya. Sebab itu apa-apa peristiwa dan sejarah besar akan berlaku dulu di kota ini, diikuti yang lain.

Syabas kepada Malaysia dan Lonely Planet [www.lonelyplanet.com], walau sesekali terkesan bahawa mereka memang jarang mengenengahkan negara ini - pernah diberitakan ada bad blood oleh media UK - tapi segala yang benar itu pasti ada tempatnya, bukan?

{undi?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=971

FT Breakfast Club: Dapur Sarawak

2009-11-16T15:00:00.007+08:00

“..Mun sik bleh masak padah awal-awal”

Well you have to find a Sarawakian fren to know the meaning, but those uttered words were taken somewhere in Diamond Square in Setapak – off Jalan Gombak near the Bank Rakyat’s traffic light. Actually my Sarawakians frens and I just had a long luncheon, at a themed-restaurant Dapur Sarawak owned by the ex-talent-actor M Ali Basha. The setting was modest but nice, sat strategically at the corner lot of the block.

There were many lauk and dishes available but we ordered the signature Mee Kolok Daging [RM5.5] and Laksa Sarawak [RM6.5]. Some misunderstanding inside the kitchen led to a bit of ‘delay’ but the Kakak explained nicely about the incident, and added, “Come again on Saturdays, it’s a special day for this restaurant and we are serving more Sarawakians cuisines.” I’d be glad to come again, and try the unique Nasi Goreng Dabai [pronounced: Dabey] next time around.

{Vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=941

Miss+ed and Missing in KL

2009-11-16T11:35:00.010+08:00

“Di KL ni, semua ada. Mak bapak jer tak der!”

Ultimately let me tell you that I was a believer to this , but somehow my deriaperut tells me differently, especially during my recent Tour de West Coast – Melaka-Penang-Sg Petani-T Intan-Klang-Putrajaya. I picked the last route as I was looking for something that FT is missing – MENTARANG. Definitely FT doesn’t have this, and definitely some of us never see the thing itself! Actually the rare kepah/siput – bigger in size, is very rare crustacean that only Perlis and K Selangor to Sabak Bernam radius said to have it. I got 3 kg [for RM5 per kg] but you must know how to cook it. Maybe the closest taste to it is the one they have in Uptown Damansara [Siput Buluh?].

Well you win some and lose some, right? Righfully few things are trademarks to FT, that you won’t find it somewhere else. I think I missed FT a lot when I was away, and here’s the list of some:

1. Bernama Radio Morning News – really missed the morning updates by Kam, Rina & Geng

2. Jln TAR & Putrajaya P2 Night Markets – it’s like having the best dishes of Malaysia under one roof! Bufetism salutes you!

3. Golf shops – well FT still offers the best golfing accessories, even though you end up buying nothing!

4. LRT and Monorel – it makes a city so city – and futuristic. Star Trek to Captain Kirk, Hellooo?!

5. Mamak Happy Hours – personally the best mamaks are stil in KL. Err, Penang comes second.

6. Traffic Jam?? Hmmm

[KL2FT Tips] Crustaceans have their own minerals, so better avoid extra salt!

{Vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=867

KL still Rocks!

2009-11-14T09:37:00.004+08:00

Gosh! Let me share what I saw this morning, and why KL people should make a fuss bout this. I just darted to the new Casuarina Penang, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Ms Cawen was kind to show me around, and she could easily sense my jealousy indeed. The place - now known as Hard Rock Cafe Penang - looked fab and zippy, blings and zazz, and personally it was just awesome! - the same feeling I got for my first time inside London's HRC dungeon! The place, offers 200 plus rooms [Promo Rate RM366+ single or double RIB*] has the longest pool in Penang, the chic lobby that filled with memorabilia of Bon Jovi’s, Aerosmith’s, Madonna’s etc - but my personal best is the Lounge Rooms that connect to the pool itself. You can watch Astro in bed, suddenly to take a dip in seconds just outside your balcony!

The HRC shop is just next to the parking area, and I’d be coming back to the Café for my evening snack to tell you more about the service - or the life band. But the foremost point is, this is a doomed conspiracy at the highest level! How come KL - with the existing HRC - couldn’t have all this? We must fight to have a big-plus outlet like this one, and reclaim our reputation as the ORIGINAL Batu Keras in Malaysia. But who cares about sizes, when it boils down to good music and good times, right?

The urban rumour has it that it will be one single HRC outlet in each country - PR of China and Japan knew this alright - but hopefully I don’t have to drive 400km just to buy collectible glass next year. Well no matter how big or how long the pool in HRC Penang is, I still prefer the good-old KL outlet. Ok, Penang’s is furnished with a life-size white statue of MJ [yeah, Abraham Lincon’s look-alike] but NO they don’t have the trademarked Harvey. And it doesn’t rotate as well! KL still Rules!

*room incl breakfast [pic: ammar's many firsts]

{vote?}

Tales of Two Cities

2009-11-14T09:16:00.007+08:00

Like FT, Penang is an island of strangers, and I met two of them today. It was a discovery to share what they actually saw that therefore captured their heart so much. I don’t believe much to what the tourists were saying sometimes, as they often said the sweetest things out of courtesy, but these two gentlemen were different. Mr Anthony looked like a Pinoy to me, but actually he was from Holland with Javanese blood. The humble, soft spoken 65-yr old would spend a week in Bandung, and later to Malaysia for 14-20 days a year. It has been a life routine for him. We shared many things, eg. development between continents, the reality of being Asian - off Amsterdam, Utrecht and the new regime of immigration in Europe. He said he likes Penang, and has been to KL many times. “It is safe in KL and Malaysia,“ on why he like it here. And why not KL? “Well Langkawi is too sunyi, and KL is too modern - so I choose the in between,“ he clarified. Point no 1: Older tourists prefer the laid-back atmosphere.

Later, my sis asked me to join her for a dinner at Ferenghi Seafood accompanied by a fren from Baghdad. The charming lad - post grad student in USM - was happy to share many things about Malaysia and his war-torn country. Mr Ali looked forward to settle down in Malaysia, but he reserved his comment about Penang. “This island sleeps too early. I prefer KL!” Point no 2: Not necessarily you are a clubbing guy, but a metro mustn’t sleep!

Now I knew the meaning of generation-gap very well, and how different age saw my KL in different ways. The point is both agreed that KL embraces the ideas of good-living and good-people, and with the hard life that they have been enduring back-home, it was a honest comment to say that KL - and Malaysia - is one of the wonderful places to live in the world!

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=790

FT Breakfast Club: Kepala Ikan Sentul

2009-11-11T14:10:00.012+08:00

My KL myth elucidates that you can have “many Mamaks in one-single area, but it would be only one famous Kari Kepala Ikan in the neighbourhood”. Weird, isn’t it? Well there are few Kari Kepala Ikan restaurants in KL that stand out in times, but my fav lunch - and breakfast - restaurant would be Sentul Kari Kepala Ikan off Jln Ipoh, just behind the under-renovation Caltex and the police station.

I like the ample parking and seating, the air-cond. area and the adjacent duty-free-cum money changer shop [no joke, man - it’s DUTY-free]. I found it funny after a good curry time, you could then indulge into happy-hour shopping the branded perfumes and bags etc. At one time you’d feel like in any mamak outlet, and one time you’d feel like at the airport!

So what’s the price? Well looking at the Bimmers and Mercs with single-digit registration no. parked outside, you would easily know the drill. Kepala Ikan starts from RM40+ [any lucky day it’d be RM60], and Briyani Kambing is RM12 with Teh Ais RM1.5. Most of the items at the shop next-door have a 25% off, so you’d be thinking hard whether to order Kepala Ikan or the discounted Dunhill’s Desire Red. Both smell good!!

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=660

Forgotten, but Shouldn’t!

2009-11-06T22:26:00.009+08:00

Finally, it was a ‘retired’ architect whom helped me out. I was zooming every inch of KL to get the thing – perplex see-tru box a.k.a Kotak Derma for my last minute charity game tomorrow. Few calls failed, as I need a nearest shop available. “There’s a shop near Hentian Pekeliling next to the big bike workshop! We use them for our scale-house casing.“ I went and was lucky to get an existing order, and luckier to convinced the tokay to sell it for RM50, a less of RM15. “This is for charity, and you’ll be the first person to be honoured to donate!”. He was kind to accept the offer. I lost count how much did I fork out my fortune so far, but I knew well it is not easy to start a charity, especially in a new concept and perspective. To convince people to accept & donate, is now my next gigantic task…

Coming back to the place, it’s secluded area but alive and kicking in its own rhythm. There is even a DBKL Medan Selera Damai – an alien to many - behind those old-70’s buildings, and any lucky night there’s a karaoke session coming out loud. A normal scene of a car wash-next-to-gerai-bawah-pokok stands lazily like any other part of KL; walled by a run-down low-rise blocks facing one of KL’s busiest streets – Jalan Ipoh .

The fact is somehow you usually missed this part – or any part of the KL as you never saw the need in them. Sometimes our skeptical thinking distanced us from some specific areas, because we tend to ignore the people whom we thought wouldn’t do us good. That proved me wrong. Well somehow the first philanthropist came from the area, and it made me realize how a place shouldn’t be ignored, or forgotten at all!

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=602

Sharing is Caring - FT Lesson 101

2009-11-06T11:46:00.006+08:00

I was late this morning, and I blamed it on Discovery Channel. I just watched in horror that Tel Aviv has developed a new killing machine known as Tuvlar. Shorter, lighter than M-16, it’s engineered without compromise and supposed to replace the former in the market. It’s a military development (read: misdevelopment) specifically for URBAN combat, so user-friendly (read: killer-friendly) that even fellow civilian-young-illiterate are ready to engage!

I don’t want to step far, but my idea of URBAN survival is surely 180° in adverse. Yes, sometimes we want the world to ourselves, not to a foreign face or stranger at all. Sometimes it’s hard to share, and it’s harder to let go. But FT has taught me that even I prefer more familiar-coloured-Malaysian faces in the city, I love tourists and expect expatriates to come hence develop this country. Mat Bangla or Minah Indon do have their place in this city as well. Or that I noticed more and more cars with Yellow-SPxx registration on the road, I shouldn’t be rude or disrespect to others. Even the illegal has to be dealt accordingly with respect and honour. What I learn from Tuvlar this morning, is not what I learnt from FT – that’s SHARING is CARING- and vice-versa!

{vote?} censored

SALE! SALE! SALE!! Part 1

2009-11-04T12:30:00.008+08:00

She got the most blings and zazz in my office. Addicted to branded goods, her first name is Tiena but her middlename is Prada. Well I bet back at home she got a DKNY toothbrush and Gucci toothpaste. I will elaborate more about her in Part 2, but somehow we share a same passion for these four letter words: SALE!

Well FT is still the best place in Malaysia to get anything, and I really mean anything! But when it comes to the premium goods and branded stuff, I only buy them when it comes to sales. My paycheck and my upbringing wont allow me much to buy the NAMES. But here are some of my secret of SALE! in FT:

1. I will get my Guess thingy – including wristwatch – as well as the white French-cuffed Raul shirt from the one and only FJ Benjamin Sale. Still my no.1 list of all, yet somehow it’s hard to know the exact date or the venue - but a hard-asking shopper would eventually find her/his way! This year I went all the way to Klang for the sale. Hopefully they get it back in Parkroyal BB lah next year.
2. The other best place in FT must be the Melium Outlet (MO) Taman Shamelin Perkasa, Jalan 8/91. Aigner, Hugo Boss, Furla, Tod’s are some names paraded with an interesting discount. My advise, check out the place regularly, who knows your fav belt or suit are for 50% less in the very next week!
3. Petaling Street?? Last time lah dolu-dolu hehe

{vote} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=545

FT Breakfast Club: Kg Bharu Ikan Bakar

2009-11-03T14:11:00.016+08:00

Believe it or not, this very morning somehow my pancaindera perut (refer previous entry) tracked a familiar smell all the way from Kg Bharu to my office in central area. A smell that aroused an insan lemah like me. On the dot at lunchtime, I hunted it down with frens from SME and T, and obviously the ikans were all there waiting for me, but I wasn’t looking for Pari or terubuk, because Pajeri Nenas, Kerabu Mangga and Ulams were all I need. Somehow the price is hiked few cents more than usual – maybe harga barang dah naik agaknya. Normally they charged at minimal price regardless whatever you consumed.

Well you won’t miss this restaurant kayu as it is at the very junction of Kg Bharu. Some call it Gerai Bapak, but it’s known to my circle of frens as Pintu Gerbang - my no.1 gerai in KL! On Sundays, I would advise an early visit [11am] for at mid-day, the foods are all gone for good.

[KL2FT Tips] Park, Eat and Snowtime! Get your car snow-washed for RM6 – last time only RM4 – while you eat, plus it’s the fastest way to get the parking in the area

{vote} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=531

Why I Let KL To be Our Capital (or KL Myth Part I)

2009-11-02T18:16:00.021+08:00

For many reasons, I would put a fiery debate just to get my so called hometown Taiping, Perak, to be the capital of Malaysia. The town would perfectly uphold current KL - as Port Weld to Port Sweetenham. With so many firsts in Malaysia Book of Records that have been acknowledged, I live in solitude of puzzlement and the cauldron of jealousy shouldn't Taiping take the recognition . Tepen - as fondly pronounced - had a fair share in global tin mining, Queen’s moments, and mind you that her Museum, Zoo and many more still are second to none at this very moment - hour, second! The spirit of Gee Hin and Hai San would agree with me on that!

But somehow I’d cordially let KL to take the bling and zazz [new word in akakPaedia] - for I don’t want to loose the historical-eccentric side of the town. And for that reason alone I’d rest my case. I love Tepen as the way it should be, and the way it would. I couldn’t imagine to bump into an old Malay datuk cycling around in pelikat in KL, yet I still able to view this classic scene on any given Sundays in my town.

So be it. KL would take the responsibilities and spearhead our economy. KL has proven herself that she could compete not only with Taiping, but any other cosmo cities in the world. Surely Kapitan Yap Ah Loy would be proud of the progress, and salutes the mayors for prosperity that shines the sky. Well KL, you can take all the skyscrapers and high-ways or bi-ways that you want, and I would try to love you as time goes fly. But surely for now, your zoo can’t match mine hehe.

[KL2FT Grrrr!] Apologies tendered for this id-driven entry that resulted for being stuck in this overvalued event listening to nonsensical odes. Oh!

{vote} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=505

Guest in the City - Alliance Francaise

2009-11-02T15:40:00.005+08:00

My fav local band but you might never heard of - Dewangga Sakti [DS] - used to get invitations by the Alliance Francaise [AF] to perform Zapin and gambus. Well music is a universal language, so it wasn’t any fuss I guess, for the Frenchmen to understand Ala Canggung?

I want to introduce AF - not DS this time - and not as another counterpart of British Council etc, but more as our honourable Guest whom should be applauded for bringing France to our city, and I must say they are so active in many aspects of cultural xtvties. Nevermind if you “j'ai mis parle du français!”, just try to take a peek of a house in Lorong Gurney in time you are in need of a rejuvenating alternative entertainment incl free wayang! [http://kl.alliancefrancaise.org.my/]

{vote} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=501

Lazy Sunday Diary

2009-11-01T14:42:00.007+08:00

Gosh, my Sunday would look exactly like any other given weekdays, the only thing is, today I need not to don my tie and jacket (well honestly I don’t think Khatulistiwa climate countries need that!) Alas, I still have to do some runnings here and there…

1. Dusk. KLIA. Bonda Ani DBP confirmed that she’ll be leaving early to Beijing at 8am. 2 hours pre-boarding time for all international flights, that means I have to set off 5am ‘wake-up call’. Wallawe! 5am for Sunday?? Hmm, well an sms would be sufficient, kot..
2. Morning. Early breakfast or brunch?? Depends on no 1
3. Lunch or not? Depends on no 2.. hehe [but Sunday is always a cholesterol-day]
4. Afternoon. Will head to Melawati for an overdue Open House by a close family friend. Heard they are preparing Char Kuew Teaw. Yummy!
5. Later, Futsal time in Wangsa Maju. Skipped the session last week to be in SIGC in Ampangan, so this time around I’d be motivated to run more. Well, it depends on how much [4] would I indulge hehe
6. Later-later. The adjacent Market is the only place in FT [that I knew of] which sells Water-Crest, a very rare vegi which was introduced to me when I was in Cameron. You should try – crunchy!

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=485

Selamat Tinggal Oktober

2009-11-01T04:12:00.008+08:00

Penjaga malam KL atas nama global menyambut Holloween akhir Oktober, sedang warga Jerman terkenangkan buih sepanjang Octoberfest. Bagi saya - menulis multi-lingual tapi sangat meminati sastera Melayu - Oktober melabuh tirai menandakan Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan sudah tiba ke penghujungnya. Dan seperti Holloween dan Octoberfest, setiap usaha promosi dan aktiviti perlu sampai ke khalayak dan disambut masyarakat, hasil kerjasama banyak pihak berwajib dan tidak - walaupun nampak ringkas dan remeh!

Contoh kecil yang besar bagi saya, ketika lazat menjamu hidangan di Medan Selera P8, Putrajaya, terkesan sekali bahawa Perbadanan Putrajaya dengan kerjasama DBP telah menekap sekeping kad serangkap Pantun pada kebanyakan meja makan - sempena Bulan Bahasa - yang saya rasakan amat cantik sekali - walaupun nampak ringkas dan remeh! Syabas!

{vote} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=486

FT Breakfast Club: TWP Putrajaya

2009-10-31T17:12:00.008+08:00

Truly 3-in-1: Food. Event. Park. That’s the reason why I love Taman Warisan Pertanian [P6 near the DPM’s residence]. Its open-air, gazebo-like concept and the famous Sate Sahmuri, Unan Roti John along with other distinctive gerais are complementing each other perfectly. And trust me that TWP are quite active in organising events and anything ‘hijau’, i.e for one lucky day you could eat as many durians you like for only RM10!

My usual breakfast here would be Nasi Kerabu [RM4] with Air Suam [sometimes RM FOC if you are good-looking hehe], or Roti John [RM3.5] and Sahmuri famous sate [RM.60] for evening munch. It is a mystery to me that the ambience for the morning breakfast is quite different from an early dinner outing. Is it because of the crowds? or simply of the romantic-lighting setting and the wooden-effect that embraces the arena? Well I will let you to find out…

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=478

The Biggest Gasing in Putrajaya!

2009-10-31T16:59:00.007+08:00

The latest in array of landmarks of Putrajaya is being built now sandwiched between KPDNHEP P2 and the less-popular Taman Pancarona P16. The 8-storey building has been much the talk of the town, as the glass panel-building appears to take shape of a gasing or diamond. Its inverted-bottom up-pyramid structure look weird yet elegant, and it is said it would save up to 30% energy compared to normal building.

The building belongs to the Ministry of Energy and Resource, and soon will house the Communication Commission. Bloggers should take note as now they have bigger and proper archiving system to monitor any slanders and malice, aha!

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=477

Mat'aam Series: An Nafurah

2009-10-31T02:08:00.004+08:00

[KL Retro] Woow! My 6- and 8-yr old nieces’ eyes were almost blown out off their sockets! For me, my tongue was almost out of its place, for a simple reason that I yet to make peace with the menu. Both situations put all of us at unease. I tried to relax, and gradually gained my focus and eventually my appetite. What a show!!

Well an-Nafurah in Le Meridien, KL Sentral was the only place then to have an exclusive fine-dining in Moroccan or Middle Eastern’ styles, in addition to live belly-dancing performance – next to dinner your table! I was there to honour an invitation, but to eat was hard enuf, and it was super harder to eat and to focus and not to blink! Hehe

Last week, I came back to the place only to bid for some discarded stuff and furniture, as they are officially closing down the venue and replacing it with a new outlet. I recognised some of the friendly staff, but unfortunately the dancers were all gone...

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=465

Mat'aam Series: Raushah

2009-10-31T01:09:00.009+08:00

To : Where @?
From : Raushah Jln Damai. Join?
Reply : Gr8! In 15

It was half past seven, and I was still stuck doing paperwork. I somehow skipped my lunch today, and my stomach called for a dutiful revenge. So I got a reason to eat more: 1 for the lunch and 1 for the dinner. And after 15 min I arrived at Jalan Damai famous joint ‘ar Raushah’. By the way, you would easily find many good Arabs restaurants in any part of KL, if you already an addict like me…

I browsed through the menu, and found nothing new. The great distinctive part was they served teh tarik [RM3] as well. Then I looked around and found few Malay families and couples having a real dinner. “Did you notice that there are more locals than Mid Easterners?” I asked. My friend nodded. ”It’s too early for them to have dinner lah..” Well he got a point, but surely our last meeting there was like having a dinner in Marrakesh or Dubai, though!

My Chicken Mandey Rice [RM17] was excellent, and it is still a secret how they grilled(?) the chicken so tender yet so juicy. For my friend and me, updating local news and gossips was a great therapy, but the Mandey Rice was almost like a multiple err, pleasure hehe.

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=464

OKU [Special Citizen] Tribute: Part 1

2009-10-30T18:43:00.008+08:00

”The fact that we do not see much of handicapped people in the city, might be a result of lack of infra/facilities provided (sic)..”

Frankly, I think I got it wrong for the exact word to word extraction, but at least, that was the focal point of discussion in one of the Musings by Mdm Marina Mahathir (the Star) a long long time ago. I believe much have changed in times, and we are now embracing more OKU-friendly approach and better facilities in the city - but I hope my eyes are not deceiving. Only Special Citizens could answer whether what I saw is indeed a polished policy that had transpired and reached their needy hands. Well let’s share some of the palpable good signs:

1. Istana Budaya and our train stations certainly have dedicated wheelchair routes and helpful staff to assist you, and I think we must agree that all new buildings in Putrajaya have that facilities.
2. I saw an OKU sign at the back of some of the rapidKL buses, but yet to encounter the real situation. I remember clearly my London double-decker used a hydraulic deck for people with wheelchairs.
3. DBKL has built many Gents/Ladies with proper facilities for the Special Citizen at the Public area, and one needs not to look for the nearest KFC or mamak anymore!

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=456

Golfing Inspired by err, Stomach!

2009-10-30T16:55:00.005+08:00

On one lazy Sunday morning, I was standing in front of a mirror, and suddenly an alarming writing appeared out of no where on my bulging boroi-er stomach, “You can run no more”. Suddenly I realised my futsal days are numbered, and I need a new territory. Well that’s how the way it started…

Golfing is anywhere in FT especially KLP. You will always bump into Clubs wherever you head in this part of the world. Any avid golfer is pampered with choices of greens, from signature course to championship courses just around the block. We got one in front of a nose of KLCC, one in Titiwangsa, not to mention a friend in Jalan Duta ends his office-hour at 5 and still manages to get a round of 9-hole at the KGPA or KLGCC afterwards. Apart from that, we must also acknowledge that these padang rumput not only the place to get sweat, but also play role as tourism attraction. And I’m not joking when I said that some of our ASEAN neighbours fly down in the morning to KL and gone back after 18-hole in the afternoon!

The fact is I love to associate Federal Territory golfing with lush greenery, and I believe somehow these ‘small forest’ added much to our FT landscapes. At least I prefer that in comparison to some tasteless concrete blocks in form of apartments and condos. I believe you will agree with me, rite?

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=455

Kl Series: why do you like KL _____ ?

2009-10-30T13:24:00.003+08:00

It’s Friday and let’s put the word MOSQUES. Well at the heart of this city, muslims have a lot of choices, depending best on what they're looking for selain keredhaan Tuhan…

1. Masjid Negara. Relax with cooling-effect. Tan Sri Albukhary has done wonders. And the Jumaat’s gerais are the best: Briyani, Popia Beratur and Soup are second to none. Pakcik aphrodisiac pun ada. Only distanced parking area.
2. Masjid Bukit Aman. Small but accommodative. I like the ambience.
3. Masjid Wilayah. Gigantic. Ample parking. Air-cond. Need more? Aha, briyani at Duta Food Court is another best option!
4. Masjid Pulapol. A well-known secret, and a venue if you wanna know who’s who’s driving what - resembles a NAZA showroom.
5. Masjid Jamek? I’d end up praying under hot scorching sun on the pavement.
6. Masjid Pakistan Chowkit? Hmm, tak faham la pulak..

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=448

Teppan-Yaki, not Daki!!

2009-10-30T09:46:00.007+08:00

If you are happened to be in Japan, mind that the Kanji brings a different connotation, as Teppan-Yaki means ‘the flat pan-stove’-‘anything fried or grilled’. So what Malaysians perceive as a household menu, might be in slightly different meaning to the Samurais.

Well my last encounter with teppan-yaki - and it became my fav outlet - was at the Mid Valley’s upper food court back in years, but my crave reclined since they moved somewhere. But last weekend, I happened to wonder around the trendy up-market Pavilion Mall in my empty stomach. My pancaindera perut (err, no translation for this) brought me to the very end of the food court, and there was a minimalist yet cosy teppan-yaki outlet.

The usual setting appeared simple yet fulfilling. The teppan was long enough to fill 20-30 pax with extra seats, and the well-kimonoed chef looked eager to please his customers. I relaxed and admired. How I love so much the art of potong sayur in orderly manner! A silver/copper paper was put on and I was ready to eat, suddenly a devilish thought slowly sneaked in my mind, “Hmm, what if a rat had a marathon session ON the stove last nite??“ Hmm, as long as it doesn’t happen right in front of my eyes, and as long as the sauce and spices tasted great!! Nyum nyum!

[KL2FT Tips] Better taste? Seek for an outlet that prepares Sawi Putih (Silver-beat mustard or Brassica Rugosa or Pakchoy hehe) instead of Green ones.

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=442

KL Series : Why do you like KL ____ ?

2009-10-29T09:41:00.009+08:00

First let’s put the word FOOD in the missing link. Second let’s think of your favorite kuih or lauk AND stay focus! Third, start counting-down to the lunch time and nevermind the dropping saliva hehe..

1. It is almost anywhere, everywhere! You won't die because of hunger in KL as the food outlets are almost everywhere – you can find them under the tree, next to the junctions, inside any Malls, or any entrance of 4D kiosks. The best seats are always by the roadside - open-air!
2. It’s cheap, if you know where to. You’ll be surprise to find some famous outlets just charge minimally as they make fortune in volume, not per pax.
3. It’s timeless. You can have breakfast’s menu at night, and you can switch your evening tea for supper. I mean, you can have Nasi Lemak at midday, or you can have it later at nite. You can also have Sate for breakfast if you’d like to!
4. Spoilt by choices. Mamak for dinner? Chinese Halal? Or Bak Kut Teh? Southern Indian? Melayu?? You’ll get pening to choose. Masakan Kelate or Utara? Sarawakians’ or Johor Selatan or Minang for luncheon? [Argghhhh!!!]

[KL2FT Tips] A simple clue to find a reasonably affordable gerai is to find one that fixed a standard price for all drinks RM1!!

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=441

Review: Cuci The Musical, Istana Budaya, 23-8 Nov

2009-10-28T09:55:00.016+08:00

Parkir di KL memang ada misteri sendiri. Macam malam ini. Pastinya ia bukan malam pertama tayangan, tapi saya melihat parkir Istana Budaya penuh ke belakang. Selalu penanda aras saya ialah parkir panggung antara paling maju dan indah di dunia itu. Kalau penuh bererti sambutan hebat. Tapi tayangan juga hebatkah?

Malam ini (27 Okt) Cuci The Musical (CTM) bermula dengan prolog intro ringkas padat, dan sampai tamat saya dikesan dengan penggunaan kesan dan program khas latar pentas – bangunan dan awan menjalin mood ‘ketinggian’ yang diceritakan, tata cahaya siang malam yang dirasai harmoni, reka opis yang hebat disederhanakan tanpa menghilangkan pelakon. Sistem tukar set yang tenang dan hidrulik pentas nyata minima tidak menggganggu lancar. Babak dialih dari café atau opis elegan ke ceruk gerai Kg Baru dengan bersahaja, dan fizikal van (selalu saya persoalkan kehadiran kenderaan dalam teater!) tidak menjelikkan langsung kali ini. Keseluruhan, prop kerja, bangunan cakar langit dan kota cosmopolitan ditimbulkan ketara dalam setiap babak sangat kena, sedang sut karier atau santai yang tidak menonjol, tapi tidak pula tenggelam dalam warna-warna tanah yang ketara. Plot suspens atau tenang-joli juga selingan dibina dan diolah baik lambang skrip/arahan yang jitu.

Pelakon? Malas saya perkenalkan. Mungkin ramai kurang bersetuju, tapi peribadi ini adalah himpunan pelakon terhebat sepanjang tahun ini yang mata saksikan. Musikal, pasti jatuh kembali ke aksi penyanyi, tapi kali ini bukan soal Penyanyi Diberi Peluang Berlakon (kategori baru Cannes!). Ia barisan pelakon hebat dengan vokal mantap, dan setiapnya seperti diperkenan watak. Citra kanda-dinda, adik-abang, staf-bos, anak-ayah, sekutu-seteru tidak sekalipun membuatkan mana-mana pelakon terkebelakang dari yang lain. Mungkin ini berbalik kerana mereka sendiri mempunyai kekuatan masing-masing agaknya…

Cerita ini sangat KL sebenarnya, tetapi universal dan bukan terhad ditatap warga kota. Ia limpahan isu paling remeh sepusar kebersihan, IMPIAN dan USAHA, tapi diakhir itu kita boleh menatapnya sebagai hiburan saja, atau pergi jauh sedikit menilai erti sebenar persaudaraan, cinta, tekad, hatta nilai kuasa, rasuah dan wang dibalas karma. Ada sedikit kritik social terpercik, dan ada juga satira disengajakan atas nama humor (Eh tulisannyer Khairy??). Apa-apalah!

CTM agak panjang - bukan meleret – dan ia biasa berlaku jika pelakon kreatif beraksi. Saya hilang kiraan babak bila Vanida dan Hans bergantungan disinar bulan - menjadikan ia dua kali romantik. Tiada celanya? Kritikal saya mahukan dialog yang lebih pendek, dan bukan melebihi 10 patah disebut laju-laju dan menapisi slapstik jika ada. Kareografi okay walau dicabar babak dengan lebih 20 penari, dibuat tempo pantas selari mood tapi ada juga boleh dipersoal. Tata cahaya kadang-kadang tersasar, dan alangkah indahnya kalau tatamuziknya lebih baik dari yang sudah baik malam ini. Hon sederhana dan pekik kota jika ditambah jadi bagaimana ya?

Amanat saya, jika tiket sudah habis pergi curi atau apa saja kerana ia berbaloi (err, terima kasih Hot FM!). Orang KL kena menikmati hiburan sekitar, selain berada di depan tv atau mamak di malam hari. Malam ini saya dihiburkan, dan saya terhibur. Saya sungguh sungguh terhibur!

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=392

Da Vinci & Lasagna were Lovers??

2009-10-26T17:45:00.014+08:00

“.. sdrawkcab etorw eh yas yehT..”

Mystery code?? Well they say da Vinci loved to write backwards, and people use mirror in order to read them. And they also say Monalisa is subtly a man. And soon I started a rumour that Siti Lasagna was an unknown Sicilian Princess, later immortalised in form of food by him!

Honestly, the closest I could get to Da Vinci was the Da Vinci’s Code by Dan Brown, but now the legend is coming to town. Bigger than upcoming Beyonce’s or Mawi’s concerts, Pusat Sains Negara is now holding months-long international event of this wonderguy from Verocchio's workshop. Well you need to fly to Florence or the Lourve in Paris no more, as Bukit Damansara brings them down at our backyard. A truly world-class occasion in KL not to be missed!

Date 1 Oct – 17 Jan ‘10. Group Purchase and Family Price are also available [from RM13, RM20 and RM25] [http://www.totalsportsasia.com/TSA_Events/davinci_malaysia/]

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=361

Review: Via Lens of KL 24/7

2009-10-26T12:33:00.008+08:00

I love to collect coffee table books – a good excuse not to read but to glimpse. A great gift from/to frens, but how I hate to check-in them and pay for the excess baggage tax. Most of the time I had to hand-carry them, and it was a pretty hard work, I tell you.

Off the dusty shelf, I found a ‘coffee table book’ that quarter of its normal size, yet maintains its exclusivity. KL 24/7 captures the cultural diversity and archaic architectural of Kuala Lumpur in its jubilance. I honestly seen ‘foto-foto KL yang lebih cantik’, but it appears to be a great ‘time photo album’ in fairly attractive presentation and comprehensive in themes and moods.

The book gathered the works of the talented photographer Mr Rizal Zainudin, teamed up with Ida Rahim & Shireen Zainudin (Bowwow Visuals/Lollipop Publishing, 90 pgs, 2007 ) states,” .. this is our pictorial tribute to our city...rooted in tradition, embracing its modern-day tribes..” simply said it all. Its mini-ness (6 inch x 6.5inch) is catchy to the eye, and far far away from my excess baggage intricacy.

{vote} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=355

FT Weekend Updates

2009-10-24T22:54:00.010+08:00

1. While you are still mourning about Beyonce’s disappearance act, mind that KL and surrounding have few more to offer. Yes nothing beats the singer’s curvy assets at any angle, but those curves at Sepang Moto GP [malaysiagp.com.my] are worth watching too! Blast for full-throttle actions, and greeting “cheese’ to those beautiful paddock’s girls are recommended activities. Sunday will see a decisive championship maneuvers - not to mention our locally-bred wildcard riders Mr Elly Idzlianizar and Md Zulfahmi will be locking helmet to helmet with Mr. Rossi and Capirrosi. Malaysia Boleh!

2. My list of happening in KL also includes the ’nenek’ of all extreme sports - BASE [Building, Antennae, Span, Earth] JUMP. The lively KL Tower [menarakl.com.my & kltowerjump.com] is holding a free-fall activity this week, but I felt sorry for their ’info-less’ online promotion. So kindly observe the chronological orders: No 1> First, parachuteers are to sign the statutory letter, in case they leap to their death. No 2> They will climb to the top of the Menara, then jump and scream simultaneously, “Haiiii Kak Loonggggg!!”. No 3> Mid-down in the air, they must release the pin fast - any delay even a second would fall back to the reason why they do No 1! Enuf said…

3. The last 24 hours’ buzz in town is totally about the Budget 2010, and how it will transcend the landscapes of FT in the next years. This last budget for 9th MP also marked a new era as the Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan has been tasked with a new name and portfolio ‘Kesejahteraan Bandar’. Mind you SEJAHTERA is a big word, and it carries weight. The welfare of the community, safety as well as the extension of LRT line, Puduraya revivalism and Rapid KL upgrades - in all 3 territories - are vital affairs on any given day. By the way, DBKL were given money to erect covered walkways in many major parts of the city, and soon we’ll be leaving our umbrella behind!

{vote} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=353

Ikan di Laut Asam di Darat: 2 Wilayah 1 Jodoh

2009-10-22T09:44:00.012+08:00

Dibawa orang si pohon Serai
Dari Labuan ke Ibukota,
Majlis dirai tersipu Mempelai
Doa kami ke akhir Usia

Dipisahkan laut, dijarakkan tempat, tapi Jodoh masih kerja Tuhan. Teman baik, En Mali warga asli Ampang dengan latar St. John, dipaut hati oleh gadis manis dari wilayah jauh Labuan baru-baru ini. Rupanya kota Kuala Lumpur ini memang kota jodoh, agaknya...

Kata orang, tinggi hajat tinggilah ujiannya. Tiga hari Aidilfitri berlalu, sekeluarga terbang dari Semenanjung, dan dari Labuan mereka berbot ke Pulau Penyu, meredah ombak sambil menghirup bayu China Selatan yang damai dalam percik buih bermutiara. Indah!

Saya cuma berkesempatan ke majlis sebelah lelaki baru-baru ini. Kelakar juga bila dicerita pengapit setia En Puwe bahawa saat bertandang semua tetamu sudah pulang. Rupanya budaya setempat makan awal pagi hari, dan bukan seperti Semenanjung menjelang Zuhur!

{Ucapkata} Tahniah Kawan, dan Kekalkan Persaudaraan Semenanjung-Labuan!

{vote} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=300

Lempeng Hangat Titiwangsa

2009-10-21T11:23:00.016+08:00

“I don’t know whether we should copyright Rumah Terbuka, but (it’s) definitely Malaysian..”

Here’s the catch. If you frequent and a fan to TDM’s blog [chedet.com – under spam?], you would surely come across those phrases and its subtle message, and personally I could not agree more. In that spirit, last Sunday I briefly went to another Rumah Terbuka – a truly 1-Malaysia’s aspiration as it combined both the Aidilfitri and Deepavali – at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa organised by Ministry of FT & DBKL.

20,000 citizens packed the scene, including foreign Excellencies as well as Jamal Abdillah etc but I was looking for only 1 specific person – my favorite chef! Eventually I found my way to gerai serving Laksa and Lempeng. Well I’m not much [very very subjective if in hunger] a Laksa-guy, but Chef Liza’s Lempeng was par excellence, and better than any Lempeng from this part of the world [from Java to Maluku]. I might exaggerate a bit, but like M&M, it did not melt in my hand…

{KL2FT Ponder} Kudos! Honestly that was the first time I saw any Minister’s parents would join the rakyat's event and how I was touched…

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=287

KL Revisited: Part I

2009-10-20T14:00:00.013+08:00

My personal collection of past images of this Capital city, back in mid-80’s and 90’s were blurry images of many places and faces. As an outsider - a village boy hailed from Taiping and Parit Buntar and was stepping into the ‘black-hole of freedom’ of university life – vivid memories from my past-subconscious mind are strictly about these stuff:

1. Puduraya was a big Chimney, and busier than Heathrow and Changi combined!
2. Notoriety of Bas Mini 22 and the zippiness of Bangkok Bank
3. Kotaraya , Bus Stand Klang and coverage area were the centre of the Universe, and not KLCC or the Solar System
4. Bangsar Hawker Centre and Uptown Damansara were the best places to be seen - after nite out at Modesto’s or Bum2 etc
5. Central Markets was a little Sicily to me, yet a melting pot for old friends’ Underground Music scene and the ONLY place to order your Campus’ tees.
6. Gadgets and football boots from Pertama vs Jeans and T-shirts from BB – or both from Petaling St. aka PS
7. The Mall was ‘the first Asian’s Disneyland’ before Hong Kong! [yeaaahh!]
8. Pavillion was a School back then! [who says Education can not sell??]
9. Let me think more lah…

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=277

How International is Your Nasi??

2009-10-19T10:19:00.012+08:00

“You ARE what you EAT.” Well that makes me a man of tomyam-cholestrol-fat ridden-lemak flavor, rite? I am firm believer of buffetism, that is obviously we should eat whatever we can, as long as we can [hola!]. And as a tukang makan and maitree dee of this Federal Territory, let’s share what this city has to offer.. .

If you an addict of an ‘international cuisine’, but can not hold the heat of atap zink Kg. Baru and the crowd, I will give a clue and free promotion though! Last nite I happened to stroll down the ground floor of AU2 Jusco Setiawangsa, and there was a latest addition of Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa’s posh-designed and fresh new-look of the gerai [they have other 8 outlets]. Certainly a look that matches its delicious menu.

A price of normal nasi lemak is just RM2.90++. I ordered a combo set of nasi lemak, with Perut Rendang plus a Drumstik and Drink for RM9.90++. A pure-reminsiscene taste of the original venue [I bet they use deep fry machine for the crunchy drumstick]. Felt like licking the plate!

{KL2FT Tips} Dry to Fry : Anchovies are crunchier if you don’t wash them!

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=265

Putrajaya Menunggu Malam Likur Ramadhan 1430

2009-10-13T11:59:00.024+08:00

[Retro] Siang berkilau. Malam bercahaya. Bertiang keluli bagak. Berlubang-lubang. Aneh tapi cantik. Namanya Masjid Sultan Mizan di Presint 2, Putrajaya dan kalau siapa yang perasan tentu sedar masjid itu sebenarnya berjambatan terus ke pejabat Perbadanan Putrajaya. Dalam senibinanya saya temui erti ibadah; kerja dan sujud bersatu. Indah dan agama itu bukankah seiringan?

Sepuluh malam terakhir Ramadhan, mengikut rutin Muslim, perlu digandakan amalan dan seharusnya saya mencari sedikit ruang pahala di antara sibuk duniawi. Hanya 5 minit berjarak dari rumah di P8. Parkir luas bertingkat menyenangkan. Sekeliling dewan utama ditandai ‘infinity pool’ melantun cahaya ke tasik jauh. Khat bersegi dipanggil murabba’ sejenis musattar berselirat menyalut tubuh . Terkesan saat ruku’ memandang karpet yang berbaur geometri serupa - indah dalam nyaring suara imam.

Nampak sangat minimalis berbanding awan larat Masjid Besar Putrajaya, tapi yang penting saya temui harmoni selesai salam solat sunat...

{Pascakata KL2FT} Sistem penyejuknya masih kurang berfungsi, nyata menitis peluh! Atau mungkin bahana nafsu kolestrol ditambah perut sarat berbuka?!

{vote?} http://www.blog4ft.com/index.php?page=systems/voting&eid=217

Prakata Wilayah

2009-10-13T10:57:00.008+08:00

my daily routine of traveling 80km forth and back between putrajaya-kl, and few times in labuan for kerja and saudara, put me in notion of thinking. admiring. or neither.. soon that the blog4ft put me in writing!

so, this piece of humble narrative in bilingual accents would enlighten us how SATU these three places are ...