Tuesday, September 30, 2008
R.a.Y.a!!
But I do have a fair share of consternation which transpired in the few days leading to today.It'll be blithering idiot to divulge anything here.Nor that I have any energy to do so.
PBL was fun in the beginning but I found myself frustrated over the minimal contributions I made to the group.This is particularly selfish but it seems clearer to me that our education system has failed in preparing students to think for themselves.More often than not,I fail to see the bigger picture.Aggravating this further is the difficulty in understanding their accent.
This is depressing.Anyways,
SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI DAN MAAF ZAHIR BATIN!!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Pasca Laserquest...
Amalina the EMSA Banker: Mine is 4 times larger.
Azmi the Garnet Senior: "Nice" carpet.
Random comments on the state of my attic room after an impromptu mini EMSA meeting regarding the upcoming Hari Raya Open House.
Donna's the Best!
My PBL session was initiated not in the stuffy seminar room but a bar.While other groups tended to skip the pleasantries and dived headlong into the topic prescribed,we took the first meeting as a social call instead.Which is great coz I don't have to pore over thick and musty literature and crack my head to solve the problems given in the booklet over the weekend.
I hazarded her early in the meeting that a) I don't drink and b) I'm fasting. Illustrating how considerate she is, she quickly mentioned Ramadhan and advised me to sign up for the Islamic Society here so that I won't feel all alone on the Eidul Fitri.She even went to the extent of posing a question to everyone in my group on how they'd feel if they were to celebrate Xmas thousands of miles away from their families.
PBL had a rather pleasant start despite the fact that it's me in a corner, not engaging in the general conversation (they were talking about parties, pubs, and lagers most of the time, fields that remotely interest me).
Oh oh oh,I've got a super kiasu member which me thinks, will dominate all future discussions. The joy of having a Mr. Know-It-All on board...Nah!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Lelaki Atas
Topman has relocated to a new premise.As far as predatory advertising is concerned,the company is very successful in transmitting the news to unsuspecting students with dough to spend by erecting a massive advert in the uni compound.Not one to be left out of the excitement,I braved the afternoon crowd at Princes Street only to discover that good bargain was indeed inexhaustable here.They're generous enough to churn out GBP10 rebate card to anyone who strayed in front of their store.And there were also crazy deals on innumerable items inside.On top of that,I also got student's price slash (15% off the total).I'm now retail therapy happy.
I'll still have GBP10 worth of rebate,obtained from an SMS.This place is good.Really good.
Stunted desire...Or,it's global warming really!
I miss KL and all its idiosyncrasies even though I wasn't a KL-ite...
Oh,I need to get this blardy Voip Stunt working.And all the sciencey lectures start today!Gah!Gah!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
A Random One...
My first day was marred by an accident. A shaving accident to be precise. It had never occurred to me before but I was rather careless in the algid coldness of the bathroom so I lacerated the upper left corner of my lips. It's nothing serious really but the bleeding, which was close to being copious, was really irritating. I had to lie down and stem the flowing using a roll of toilet paper, all the same trying to contact Wan who, for some reasons, was unavailable. It kinda ruin my first lecture because the bleeding only properly stopped when it was about to begin. Panic must have gotten the better of me so I forgot to get a Band-It to cover the cut so it was tissue all the way until the flow was finally breached. Through the lecture, I began to imagine things. Improper care of the cut left me wondering of what kind of dire sickness will I contract. Have all the virulent pathogenic microorganisms exist on this God's green Earth invaded my body? In the end, I lost much of my focus on the day's lecture.
Anyways,I'd like to share a few little things about my current whereabouts that you should know about (and perhaps clear away the misconceptions that most of you uphold)...
#1. If you think that their city is squeaky clean without rubbish littering the pavement, then you're fatally wrong! The people DO litter liberally on the street. Although it's relatively clean at touristy spots, the same can't be said to most of the avenues or pavements. So, stop condemning fellow Malaysians for being irresponsible. However, the cleaning system here is really efficient. So, most of the rubbish end up at proper places...I think this makes all the difference. Otherwise, it's just like home...
#2. High street labels like Zara, Topman, Marks and Spencer are considerably cheaper here. And it's frequented by almost everyone so you don't have to brace yourself for high class,stiff lipped treatment when entering these stores. I got a hoodie from Zara for GBP29. A good bargain methinks. Even the seniors agreed. I doubt that you'll get such item at anything below than RM200 in Malaysia. Topman gives student's discount and at some outlets, they accept your university card and you'll get student's price cut on top of the available discount, if any. A sling bag from Adidas only cost GBP17. At prevailing exchange rate, that's RM 103. The same type might cost you more than RM150 back home.
#3. You can get two tubs of Haagen Dazs ice cream for GBP5. That's roughly RM30. A tub in Malaysia costs RM28. You can get two here.
#4. Classes DO start on time. Back in KY, it's only applicable to the Foords, Mr. Vroege or Mr. Hanson. I know that Mr. Highton would start at a much later time than the slated one.
#5. Cold tap water is perfectly potable. But DO NOT drink the hot water straight from the tap as it contains dissolved materials which can be harmful. There's a reason why you get a heater in your flats/halls.
#6. Don't convert everything to RM. You'll end up buying nothing.
I think this is all for now. So much for a short post eh?
To those who are still waiting (fidgeted-ly!) for their Visa or packing up stuff coz everything's confirmed, good luck and happy flying!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Hopes and Fears.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
7/4
It finally dawned on me that the flat I'm sharing with Martin and Justin is actually an attic.Or maybe it isn't.I'm on the fourth floor.The topmost level.And a winding spiral staircase that's bound to make people dizzy.The heater is working overtime;it's chilly outside but not as severe.Yet.Although I have to walk around the block to dispense my laundry at the laundry room which happens to be located on the ground floor but we don't have the key to the door that leads straight to the room so that we have to take the unnecessary trip,I'm thankful that Tesco is a few steps away from the door,the mosque is at my backyard, and Halal food halls scatter in the vicinity.The Med School is around the corner too.
In my flat,I'm known as Da.Firdaus proves to be pretty mouthful for Martin.In return,I find his Scottish accent unbearably difficult to decipher at times.Justin's from China but has had the privilege to study in the UK.Thus,his strong accent.That aside,they're all very nice people.
Another Iftar with the Seniors.Hopefully,Wan won't be left behind again.I really feel bad.I do.Even though he slept through Iftar...
Friday, September 19, 2008
Testing...Testing...1,2,3!
It's 5 and very blustery outdoor.
I'm spent.Like hell.
P.S:I.Heart.This.Place!!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Get Set.Ready.Go!!
An important date indeed. Will there be a titanic shift in the way the country is managed? Looking at the current situation, I doubt that it's gonna happen. But the future is bleaker still. The collapse of Merrill Lynch (I still remember gawking at its office in Singapore which seemed so high and mighty) and Lehman Brothers could only spell financial uncertainties. The backlash can be felt the whole world over but I pray hard that the economic health isn't suddenly going to plunge to a critical level. Well, it will certainly take a dive but hopefully, it doesn't come crashing coz in many ways, this can affect us as students.
Speaking of money, Wan and I collected our stipend which is meant to last for 6 months. The amount = plenty. But given my confirmed prognosis as a compulsive shopper and a reckless traveller, I'm not sure that I'll have much left by the end of the period.
16th September.
An important date indeed. Oh Allah, give Wan an easy passage to obtaining his Visa. If he gets it today, we'll leave for Edinburgh later tonight. If he doesn't, we're gonna delay our departure. I think the uni will understand. It's not our fault but the Visa people's. The pointing fingers game is officially open...
On a related tangent, Monday saw me scrambling from a place to another, arguing with the guard at the embassy, getting testy with the difficult receptionist, plagiarizing other sponsor's letter to urge them to expedite the process, and begging to the embassy people to let me collect the Visa with Wan loyally trailing along. Finally, I got mine which made me feel somewhat bad coz Wan still hadn't got his...
Enough with sentences that drip with drama and sarcasm.
Anyways, if all goes well, I'll leave at Hours 2340, on Wednesday the 17th (which loosely translates to today!).
Irrespective to my flying out later tonight or not, I would like to
THANK
&
APOLOGIZE TO
EVERYONE WHOSE PATHS HAPPEN TO TRANSECT WITH MINE.
I'm gonna miss you all, the Malaysian rhetorical maladies, the food, the bus rides, the sun, and all the trivial stuff that makes this place really great.
This is probably the last post from here. My feelings? Chuffed, psyched, morose, nervous all form a mixed bag of emotions...
Adieu. Will update if time and circumstances permit.
16th September.
Happy Malaysia Day, fellow Malaysians!!! Let's pray for a better future...
A Bus with A View III
In the struggled sobriety of the morning, having roused from a scanty sleep, I scanned the sun-kissed valley, looking for the building that has long been a landmark of sort. Disappointingly, I couldn't locate it. Two years worth of stay didn't necessarily mark the site as a beacon...
Back
Whose funny (or rather, foolish) idea to arrange the seats in a fashion of a lounge?? Far from being comfortable, the cabin ended up imitating a stinking belly of a junk. Stuffy, sweltering, and cramped, I would have considered other options but I was too drained to think let alone acting. Ended up dozing for the major part of the journey...
Commuting by bus has been my main means of travelling since I entered ASiS. I decided against taking the train yesterday so as to pay tribute to the journeys I've taken on any number of occasions before. By bus of course.
Friday, September 12, 2008
People From The Sun,People To The Sea
There was a deluge of people of some fashion at the surau tonight. Many unfamiliar faces were present. Most of them were boys at early teen. Probably it's a long weekend at most boarding schools which explained their presence. A refreshing change since only the pakciks and the really nuisance boys are the main frequenters of the place.
Akak left for the UK tonight. He's probably on the plane now, waiting in great agitation for the flight to take off and whisk him to a faraway place. A whole new dimension is going to open before him after this. I wish you all the luck in finding your footing there. Tyra and Hay-Z will join you shortly. So, fret not 'cause you're not the only AKY there though you'll be the first!
Which leads me to my latest dilemma. My Visa application hasn't gotten through. So is Wan's. Inevitably, we have to delay our departure to an indefinite date. Which means that we're gonna miss the first few days of the Fresher's Week. We do not know the magnitude of damage caused by not attending the 'compulsory' (yes,they plainly stated it in our offer letters) programme but we sure as hell know that VFS has failed to keep their policy. Although it's understandable that this is a peak season when many apply for Visa, it's close to unprofessional to exceed the deadline promised. Heck, this is the seventh working day after we submitted our applications yet, there's still no decision from them! We're praying hard for an answer to be made latest by Monday.
The extra days at home can be considered as a boon for me. I've got additional time to spend with my beloved family. Heck, I haven't even started ringing people to inform them of my departure. With this extra time, I hope I can let my extended family members know of my leaving the country.
Of course, this also means that I have more chances to start learning how to cook. Yes peeps, I haven't so much braved into the kitchen than to get food from the fridge or to do the morning ritual of washing the dishes. Learning the culinary art is actually as hard as comprehending NMR in a stuffy lab to me. Oh well, I think I can list down the reasons why I'm still tangled in the ropes of cooking. Speaking of list, I notice that, of late, I've taken to posting my blog in this form. List is convenient to refer to. It also eliminates the need to write in long paragraphs which can be a tedium to readers. I still remember this Mercedes commercial (or was it BMW?) which explains why we make lists on a myriad of things.
Again, a digression. Here are a few reasons why I don't feel like venturing to the kitchen:
#1: My flat is at the mosque's kitchen doorsteps where Halal food is available and it's dirt cheap. So did Aqtar tell me. This is an excuse to eat out. Tesco is a stone's throw away too.
#2: I have this phobia of knives. It still marvels me to see people chopping onions or vegetables at a furious speed with the knife barely a hair away from their fingers. I always have this vision of me losing the tip of my fingers while handling a knife. Remember the Raja Bersiong tale? Say, I eat the vegetable smeared with trickles of my blood. Then, I'll develop an insatiable liking for human blood. How many people will I kill to keep me satiated? Hahaha. WTH! Anyways, I can't, for the life of me, understand why I have this fear since I'll be handling scalpels to cut people up. Please pretty please let it be a different experience!
#3: DoE has taught me more than how not to cuss or bite people's heads off when walking under the unforgiving Sun. It introduced me to Brahims and the wonders of express food. Although it's a hopeless plan to cling to this invention throughout the course of my stay there, it is nonetheless invaluable in helping me to settle down. I've been so ensnared by the promises of convenience conferred by it that 4 kg of my baggage comes from any number of instant food packets.
#4: Let it be known that it's not that I can't cook for peanuts. My proudest accomplishment is cooking chicken sauteed in oyster sauce (ah crap,the name isn't that fancy!). Although the meat went 3/4 cooked, it was still delectable. I didn't get an upset stomach after consuming it so I guess it's safe to consume not properly cooked chicken. Hey, the Japs do it on daily basis! Also, I can boil water, cook rice, fry eggs (with bits of sausage and cheese),boil eggs,and make French toast. Oh oh, I can prepare spaghetti provided that I have a can of Prego! Lol.
Cook-A-Rama, do hire me as a guest chef, ASAP.
But the raison d'etre of my reluctance to learn cooking is the fact that I'm lazy. It's as simple as that. If anyone plans to visit me, don't expect me to whip a gastronomical blowout. Wan, I'm counting on you to provide me with sustenance. Lol.
The idea of traipsing around the continent has already been conceived. Initial plans, although sketchy, are starting to take shape. Pretty ambitious for someone who hasn't got his Visa...
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Talking is Fun!
Discussing freedom of speech might be considered passé by some while others think it’s a vanity. It is a vanity because in-depth knowledge is prerequisite to postulate substantial arguments either to go against or for the ideology. My ineptitude on this matter might not satisfy all readers and the very fact that I’m taking side in discussing it influences the magnitude this two-cent worth bears. I must apologise for that.
A few months ago...
Of late, the blogosphere in KYUEM has expanded at an exponential rate. It’s like a fad; people find it fashionable to project themselves on to the Net and preach ideas, which are hoped that others can scavenge for a hasty bushel of mealy details from their drop-fruit posts. Otherwise, people have matured enough after two years in college that they feel compelled to let others know that they, too, are opinionated.
But this piece is not about the trend that is engulfing the community nowadays. It’s the freedom of speech and how I feel that the phrase is oxymoron in its conviction that I want to talk about. Recently, someone’s blog came under fire when a person, claiming that he/she is an advocate of freedom of speech blithely left comments that show little, if any, respect to the owner of the blog particularly and the community in general. Disregarding the sensitivity of others’ religion, the same person mocked Allah in his/her comment. For easier reference, let’s name the person as PM. Although it’s not news that Islam suffers considerable beatings after 9/11 (the caricature, Fitna, and others), this inconsiderate person has shattered the illusion of harmony and integrity among the members of the community which is fiercely sponsored by our government. Beneath the placid surface of homogeneity, there lies a dormant grudging, that the idea of colluding is a blithering hope and superiority is inevitable. The event clearly underscored this.
It was clear that PM’s comments were meant to provoke. Eliciting hatred from others and instigating a war with the blog owner, the culprit was poised to use his/her ultimate weapon. PM was cloaked in the seemingly impregnable freedom of speech and was not afraid to wield it against an army of disgruntled readers. For PM, victory was righteously his/hers. The ideology conferred invincibility and PM was going to exploit it in any way possible. But the battle was not a lost cause. Someone called MFK, who I believe possessed boundless energy and wit to emerge victorious in this crusade left a comment that was directed at the person, meant to irk PM. As expected, PM quickly recoiled and lashed out at this clever person. Irascible PM defiantly defended his/her ally, denouncing MFK for being irrational and dismissing MFK’s comment as irrelevant. MFK didn’t fumble like PM and was set to deliver his/her final blow. To put it simply, the very weapon that PM vigorously used backfired. In the name of freedom of speech, MFK pointedly reasoned that his/her action was completely acceptable. Were FM to emulate his/her ideology fully, he/she wouldn’t have snapped.
Nowadays...
Although this incident isn't directly linked to the notion, I can't help but to think that this person's refusal to apologize to the nation for what had been said illuminates every trait of somebody defending his right to speak. His failure to filter his thoughts and reckless drive to win triggered a small series of sparks within a certain political outfit. I have stated before that I hate politics and this issue is indeed a political one but I'm looking at a bigger picture. Unhindered sentiments flagging is a not-so-far cousin of the freedom of speech. Things can spiral out of control and I can't imagine the consequences if it happens. Is an apology hard enough to elicit?
What is appalling from these skirmishes is the nature of some freedom of speech supporters. It’s innate for a person who dislikes another person to make comments to degrade that other party even though it’s morally wrong. But to make it justified and accepted by everyone, the person hides behind the propaganda. Nobody will raise an issue if the expression is made in the spirit of freedom of speech. Everybody can express whatever they think regardless of the repercussions. IMHO, freedom of speech is expression of condescending repackaged. In the liberal world that we live in, sins can be disguised as long as one has the means to fashion and label it in an acceptable way. We tend to consider the superficial nature of things hence the staunchest ally of this culture is able to promote and propagate their repackaged belief easily. Greed is justified by evolution; the latter proposes that only the best can survive. Power hungry people lurk in the shadows of equality. We put on cosmetics to ensure that the hidden motives, however reeking with self-centered agenda, will remain, well, hidden. No one is going to look deeply enough to penetrate through the smokescreen. Everyone is contented if the packaging is glossy enough and readily accepts it as a norm.
To limit freedom of speech will only render the phrase to being oxymoron. But what can we do about it? Dissent is vital in keeping an organization in order. This is not the era when the superiors have the power in everything. Its presence keeps a tyrannical government out of the office. But a complete freedom is dangerous. Should we change the phrase to rational-freedom-of-speech? Long enough to put people off from using it. Do we need to eradicate it completely? No, we shouldn’t. What we can do is to revamp it so that everyone can feel comfortable to use it regardless of circumstances.
Apropos the incident, some advocates clearly cannot accept critics from pounding on them. They should answer this question, why bother to use the phrase in the first place? Me, I’m a stickler. I make some leeway here and there but to uphold a principle strongly but later abandoning it because it hurts me, I’d rather not. Voltaire may have said that he might disagree with someone but he’ll die for that someone to say it. But will we really?
You might think that I'm a conservative with a closeted mind but I still think that there should be a line drawn somewhere when discussing contentious ethos. If you really believe in it, so be it. It's your every right to do so. But it's also others' right for you to adhere to it completely and not lapsing easily once it affects you.
I must stress that I don’t totally oppose freedom of speech. I’m just disgusted at the failure of the so-called associates of the ideology to really stick to their belief…
Monday, September 8, 2008
A twisted tale of shrunken people...
This funny idea struck me when I was contemplating on taking or leaving one of the favourite Tees. It's not my original. Oh no, it's not. Josephine wanted to do this to me before. Well L&G, I wish that I possess a technique to shrink people so that they can fit in a jar. I wanna bring them with me to Edinburgh where I'll line all the jars on a shelf by my bed. They'll keep me company in their jars of suspension of suspicious shades of green, day in and day out. I wanna put
Mom.Dad.Adik.Lawi.Waa.Pidah.Fiqry.Syazwan.Fer.Anwar.Hajar.Jo Tan.Naomi.Kak Pah.Pam.Ikram.Naim.Dio.Lyla.Tyra.OB.Dilah.Ariz.Cikgu Rohaiza.Teacher Wan.Kak Ton.Cikgu Hazilah.Cikgu Rose.Miss Yati.Madam Madeline.Puan Kas.Zoul.Ali.Jan.
in my little devices.
How I wish that this is possible...
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Being Beautiful...
I digressed.
the oh-so-gay cover!Well, the novel was about a gay Oxford grad named Nick who had the opportunity to stay at his friend’s place. The man of the house was an MP in Thatcher’s government and the family consisted of the wife, the son (Nick’s friend), and the daughter who was plagued with manic depression. Basically, it told the story of Nick and how he maintained the secrecy of his highly contentious sexuality, his relationship with the family, and of course, his exhaustless pursuit of all things beautiful.
If previously I thought that the Booker committee had wrongly picked the winner, I now reserve little doubt that this book is different. Firstly, there’s a direction in the way the story is presented, unlike the two books that I mentioned earlier. The whole point of finishing a novel is to find and follow the vein of the story so as to reach its heart of hearts, not to simply get lost in random mini narratives that when accumulated, amounted to nothing. Then again, most award-winning books are destined to confuse readers with any number of side tales before closing abruptly. On to the second reason. Well, the language used is just beautiful. On this point, I won’t argue that all three books excel admirably in language.
The novel isn’t pretentious. One might argue that it’s overtly scattered with unimaginable riches and power (underscored by its ceaseless dictations on fine arts, sprawling mansions, powerful acquaintances, and lavish parties). But don’t they make the novel really British? Them people are absurdly prim if not pompous. And yeah, the title clearly suggests that it mainly concerns beautiful stuff. Money permits one to obtain beauty even though most of the time it is underappreciated which results in a continuous hunt for it. In short, it has successfully portrayed the life of British aristocrats and doesn’t make it cloying. However, this quality has the danger of pushing the novel to being highly tedium especially in the middle of the story.
But the high point is the ending. Profound and affecting, I was moved to the point that I nearly cried! Finally, a satisfying ending to a well written story. I’ve been disappointed for too many times already.
I have to hazard you though; be prepared to skip a few passages, or even pages if you think the carnality of the novel gets on your nerves... And do read it with an open mind. I know that this novel isn’t really for everyone. But I still highly recommend this book to anyone, homophobic or not.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
You Brightened up My Day like a Multicoloured Parasol!


BUT THE BEST REASON OF ALL IS ...
THE TIME I SPENT TOGETHER WITH LAWI AND IKRAM!!!
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!!!
Adieu, great friends. May our paths intertwine again.

