A New Chapter

Einstein was just about right after all. The pace of the passage of time is, all said and done, very relative. But I'm not referring to phenomena in space-time under conditions of extreme velocity and gravity, but the curious ability of the human consciousness to perceive certain slices of our lives going past faster, or slower, depending on what we are doing, or waiting for.

Looking back, my life at the beginning of the year now seems very different, not because there have been some fundamental changes in the conditions around me or the things that I do, but rather because of a gradual but steady change in outlook, direction and what I regard as important. Sure, there were pivotal moments, such as fiscal disasters every few months. There was a close brush with a job-change which was eventually put on hold in favour of doing an MBA. My best friend switched from a regular office job to a more dynamic, fluid position in an American MNC (which meant that I could no longer pick up the phone in the middle of the day to whine - hence the relativity of time passing yet slower) and then worst of all, decided to get married.

All the same however, it seems that the difference in disposition is more due to internal causes, as I found myself thinking more and more, as the year progressed, about what I wanted to do with my life once I passed the dreaded '35', even as I battled in my daily struggle to maintain an adequate level of enthusiasm in my work, fighting the drudgery, monotony and inertia which had taken firm root in my worklife. There is, indeed, something subtle that happens when one keeps performing way within one's limits for a prolonged period of time. Unlike the case with challenging tasks when repeated repetition (tautology intended) results in one getting familiar and competent in carrying them out, a prolonged period of time undertaking a role which is far simpler than that to which one was used results in a dulling of the senses, a loss of 'edge' - ask any footballer who has moved from a world-class league to a less competitive one (ask David Beckham how comfortable he would feel playing for Real Madrid, Man United or AC Milan right now).

Now, I'm not David Beckham and I was never in the Premier League, but in my day I think I have performed competently in situations far more intense than what my present job calls for nowadays. Which is why, while on one hand, time seems to have flown since the beginning of the year (I feel that January was only a short while ago), I seem to have waited a long time for August to come (I feel time could have passed faster from April to August). A contradiction, I know, but then isn't much of life?

In not trying to explain any apparent paradoxes, I would just like to say that in August at least, I'll be onto something different, a change in routine. I don't know what that bodes for in the wider scheme of things but for now, not knowing what happens next is a welcome and refreshing change.

'Post' Traumatic Stress Disorder

July has been a bad month. Both for myself and as well as my opportunities for posting. Being the modest person I am, I shall not bother you with my problems, nor shall I dwell too much on how miffed I am that despite being possessed of long stretches of free-time during work, my company somehow sees fit to block Blogger.com.

I have just completed the orientation for MBA studies at NUS however. Hopefully, I am on my way to another fulfilling adventure. Hopefully, I can resolve what ails me these days.

All Quiet On Malaysia's Western Front

Wow... Finally got to my room at Bukit Bintang... A hole in the wall more like it, which I hope to write more about at a more convenient time.

Hard to believe that there were more than 1,400 arrests however, as this place, although quieter than normal, seems all geared up for business as usual....

Quite a day. Capital.

Intrigue In KL

Remember at the end of my last post I said the only thing I knew last night was that I was headed for KL?

Well, it turns out that the one place in Malaysia to which I am not permitted to go today is KL! That is because all major roads and transportation arteries to the capital have been blocked in anticipation of rallies and/or demonstrations by 3 different factions.

Turns out my bus had actually been slotted to stop somewhere in the city centre but had been diverted to Bandar Tasik Selatan and arrived there at 5.30am. Caught a cab with a young, rather inexperienced Singaporean chap who was headed for the mid-Valley Cititel and insisted on leaving straight away even though I told him the Eksecutif Teksi would set him back a bomb. He persisted and the fare, complete with midnight charges, was close to RM100...

Well, at least I was able to relive some memories here. It seems just like yesterday when Jac and I were strolling around this place (Bangsai in Bangsar!), which looks exactly the same!





(Bangsai in Bangsar)



Guess it's a far better place to wait out the complications in the city centre than Bandar Tasik... though I wonder what I'll do for the rest of the day, as the blockade will officially only end at around 10pm (I've got a hotel booked at Bukit Bintang!)

Looks like its going to be an exciting day for our neighbours... The Star's headline screams "Stay Away" while the New Straits Times's reads "Breaking the Law"....



Will try to post updates of anything interesting later....

A Journey For Thought

It has been one of the worst weeks of the year. So much so that I thought I might get away for the weekend...

To all of you who read Jac's blog (www.theslogreviews.blogspot.com, like she needs more readers), learning about her complaints about how cold it is on her fully paid business trip to South Africa and how the Business Class conditions and amenities she experienced on this occasion were not up to the usual high standards, how's this for a comparison?

I'm now stuck in a non-airconditioned internet cafe near Meldrum Walk, an alley in Johor Bahru just past the Causeway which serves cheap and good food and which, nonetheless, because of the surrounding environs and the slightly over-sized cockroaches scurrying across the floor, once caused Jac to ask me if I wanted her to get cholera.

I am sweating in my work clothes (sleeves rolled up of course) because I had chosen this course on the spur of the moment right after work. Well, its not really the spur of the moment, because I anticipated that I might make a spur of the moment decision and so brought my passport and partly packed haversack but you get what I mean.

I have just come off a half-an-hour wait and 200m long queue at Bugis for the express Causeway Link buses which ply travellers to our fine neighbours up North, followed by another half-an-hour wait in the bus a mere 500m from the drop-off point at the Singapore checkpoint because a fine complication in the road slightly ahead meant the vehicle stood rooted to the spot, gridlocked. And no, we were not allowed to alight.

That was followed by the usual hurried and harried rush across both immigration checkpoints, which to be fair, was less painful than usual. For those of you who know what I mean, I did not have to grace the scanner with both my index fingers. And neither did the rest of the French tourists in front of me (surprising!), which meant the queue at the Malaysian side was at least bearable.

But the damage was done at Bugis and on the road near the Singapore checkpoint, which meant that by the time I reached the train station, all seats for Kuala Lumpur, never mind the comfortable sleepers, were all sold out.

So here I am, waiting for the 11.30pm bus to KL, in an internet cafe which smells funny and has Indian music blaring out loud.

Yup, to KL is where I am going, that much I know. What I'm going to do there, where I'm going to go next, I do not know. Maybe there is a perverse beauty about this - not knowing what comes next. But where once, during my younger years, this filled me with exhilaration and epitomized the endless possibilities that awaited us in life, this same circumstance now rather evokes a kind of helplessnes, a feeling of directionless in me. It seems very much like... my life in general...

But I knew I wanted to get away. I didn't have to, but I chose to. Maybe I will learn something new in the few days to come...

And maybe Jac will stop whining and listen to me complain for a change when she comes back (after the tearful reunion with her CCB, that is)...

Spot The Cat

A few days ago, I was eating some cod strips when the phone rang... I picked it up and turned to find my cat nicking a few of those... I pointed my finger at him and he ran off into my sister's room.

After finishing the call, I went into her room to chide him and found him amongst the stuffed toys. I mean, he wasn't really trying camouflage, was he?



Ok... To those of you who he successfully managed to con, here's some help... Which animal has moved?

Privilege

Some are lucky enough to be entitled to have their heart's desires fulfilled. On the other hand, you, my friend, have the privilege of having to fight for that right. Go out and earn it.

The Slug

Malacca Trip - Part 6

Lunch on the final day was not so much of a surprise, for the past two days had thought us that it would be ample and satisfying, and so it was as we downed nonya fare for one last time over the weekend.









There was also dessert and other standard stuff but I shan't bore you with those...

While that was the last of our nonya meals, it was not the last of our brush with nonya gastronomy as we were then taken to a household which manufactured nonya delights. Pity most of the good stuff had been sold by then though...





And that, I hoped (being a little tired and sated with food), would have signalled our return to Singapore but no, we had to stop along the way for durians, from which I abstained....



And at some shop selling local produce. Well, I guess you can't blame the organisers. After all, the whole trip only cost $188 and it had been very satisfactory so we cannot begrudge them the commission they probably would get for bringing us to various outlets. But boy was it crowded...






And then just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in! Apologies to Godfather afficionados, but at least this time it was to some place good, a seafood joint at a very, very ulu part of Johor next to the sea. The food was ok, slightly above average, but hey, what could we complain about? We didn't even expect dinner - remember this trip was only $188... Instead we got plentiful portions, of which one comprised black pepper crabs!











And that was that!!! A very fulfilling, satisfactory trip at, on pain of repeating, S$188!!!

Malacca Trip - Part 5

After a good night's sleep, made better by the fact that Man U won and Arsenal drew, I woke up to quite a nice view of the sea. Looks like a but of reclamation works, however...





No matter, we were soon whisked of to the city centre for some OT2 again (own time own target), which meant that we were free to explore the historical monuments which dotted Malaysia's most historic town...




These were apparently reconstructions of old fort ramparts and/or remains... They were found quite prominently smack in the city centre amidst many modern buildings...




For some reason, my affinity with water that weekend was strong and I found myself buying a ticket for a boat ride down the Malacca River...








One sure could tell the cruise was popular. Careful....



And then we were off on our journey, which saw us go past many bridges...






And the now famous riverside windmill.



And then the sky began looking ominous again...



And it started to rain!!



What the-!!!




Everybody started huddling in the relative safety of the centre of the boat, leaving me one of the few stranded on the outside (I mean, I couldn't in good conscience and chivalry compete for space with women and kids right?). As the heretofore placid waters became just a tad more choppy, I got a fair dose of Malacca River all over my face as the boat bobbed rocked, causing more than the occasional big splash.

But no matter, for after gathering at the designated meeting point, we were soon off for lunch...