Dreams... Desires... Dungeons...

Monday, January 14, 2008

FUN DAY AT FRIM

January 12th was a memorable day for Sime Solution Centre. What could be sweeter than to start the first month of the New Year 2008 with an event outside of the office?

Staff members from Payroll, Procurement and Finance Division were treated to a Fun Day at the Malaysian Forestry Research Institute (FRIM) in Bukit Lagong, Kepong. Joining in the excitement were selected employees of Land Rover Malaysia, who were thrilled to participating in the joyous event.

Departing from Wisma Sime Darby, KL at 7.45am by two bus loads, everyone was treated to a hearty breakfast upon arrival the FRIM grounds.

The sun was shinning bright all day long and not a single dull cloud was sighted. Everyone donned their bright tangerine collared T-shirts, giving the impression of a

bright mass of orange on the field.

To begin the fun events, Head Executive of Shared Services, Mr. TK Wong gave words of encouragements and called out the strong motto of the new Sime Darby to everyone: to go ‘Ahead as One’.

“Let us build stronger ties and work together to make this a success. But most of all, let’s have fun!” he cried out, “and hopefully, this will not be the first time such an event is held, nor will it be the last.”

The Telematch event saw participants formed into five teams, where each were named after a car proudly distributed by the SD Motor Group: Alfa, BMW, Suzuki, Hyundai and Ford. All five teams saw the women overshadowing the men by numbers.

Led by the FRIM telematch crew, games were played out with the utmost cries of encouragement, support and competitiveness. Everybody was eyeing the large winner’s hampers!

From picking ping-pong balls with chopsticks to

the kampong-style Daun Pinang run, from the unbreakable chain of hula-hoops passing to imitating gorillas, the field was full of laughter, racing, and even a few eccentric moments of mortification.

Nobody was left out of the races, including top management officers and the organizing committee members. Team Hyundai emerged as the overall telematch winners, followed by team Alpha Romeo, with a 1-point score difference. But in the true spirit of competition and team building, everyone was a winner!

And every team was awarded a gift hamper each. More than 25 names were picked from the lucky draws, each attached with unique gifts and souvenirs.

After lunch, the Fun Day event at FRIM continued with the highlight of the day: the Canopy Walk. Suspended at 1,000 feet above sea level, the canopy bridge spanned 200meters long. Getting up to the canopy bridge was an entirely different adventure on its own.

Split into two groups and led by expert trail-guides, it was close to an hour’s walk to hike 1,000 meters uphill. Huffing and puffing and pushing to the limits, the hike upwards was exhilaratingly exhausting!

It was that moment

truth that each and everyone realized just how fit (or unfit) they were.

At the 1,000 meter mark, all pains and exhaustion were completely forgotten. It was time to walk in the air, on the suspended bridge. One by one, each person took the leap of faith to pace among century-old trees, accompanied by the twittering of birds, overlooking panoramic views of KL city.

Energized by the wonderful experience and fresh air, everyone cheerfully hiked downhill for another 1,000 meters. Jokes were shared and smiles were on everyone’s faces.

Waterfalls were heard and seen flowing freely and cleanly right next to the hiking trails. As most of the crowd continued to return to the main field to rest, some decided to take a dip in the cool, rushing waterfalls. Truly, it was nature’s Jacuzzi.

As 5.00pm drew closer, everyone was ready head back home. The team building event was hailed as a success, considering that everybody had a good time, built stronger ties, and returned with happy memories. And not forgetting lots of snapshots. The events carried on without any mishaps.

It was indeed, a fun day.

OUR SOLEMN HOUR - W.T.

" Sanctus Espiritus
Redeem us from Our Solemn Hour
Sanctus Espiritus
Insanity is all around Us "

--Within Temptation

Sunday, January 13, 2008

FIREFLY SERENITY

I am officially hooked to the sci-fi series, Firefly. It’s got everything appealing; energetic cast, suspense and drama within the adventures, great storyline (!), some humor, great effects, and most of all, the ability to keep me glued to the TV.

Firefly was created in 2002 but was doomed to last only one season. Which is a real pity because it had won an Emmy and numerous SyFy awards. Until today, fans around the world are hopping for Firefly to be resurrected. I would too.

Joss Whedon, the creator of Firefly, when faced with the reality that FOX Network would not continue his ingenuity, decided to give the fans one last shot. He wrote and directed, together with Tim Minear, the movie entitled Serenity. That was actually the ship’s name. It summarized the story and gave the closure that Firefly deserved. But even Serenity could not lay the ship and crew to rest.

By the way, Joss Whedon was the same person who created Buffy:The Vampire Slayer and

Angel. I used to be addict to these two shows. Boy, that was a lonnnnggg time ago.

Having watched Serenity when it was released in 2005 (which, in my opinion, was breath-taking), I find that watching the series is much more enjoyable. Each episode has more to tell and to inspire without being subjected to time constraint.

Despite being creator, writer and director of Firefly, Joss Whedon also wrote the theme song for the opening credits. It aired under 52-seconds in length.

As I searched for Firefly in YouTube, imagine my surprise when I found something precious! A fan, by the name of Michelle Dockrey, had taken the ordinary short theme and wrote an ENTIRE song. She christened it as Mal’s Song, after the Captain of Serenity, Malcolm Reynolds and sang it while playing her guitar. Now that’s pure genius! And she’s got such a lovely voice. I think I like her theme way better than the original! Listen to it!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

TAMAHANA

One day, someone wrote a story to the Reader's Digest magazine. It was a story set on some Polynesian Island, like Tahiti. It tells of a girl who was of no beauty. Only wit, courage and loyalty.

Everyone only saw an ugly girl, until a prince came to her island. He offered her drunk & ungrateful father, eight cows for her hand in marriage. He saw beauty within her. To offer one cow was the sum on of kingly price, yet he offered seven cows for a common lady.

As she grew to love the prince, she also grew to love herself. And as she loved more, so did her beauty grow.

Next, a movie producer was inspired by the story, that he brought the story to life. He called it, The Legend of Johnny Lingo. It centres on the lives of two child misfits on a Polynesian Island. Tama, the orphan boy who was swept into the island by a fierce storm, and was moved from home to home after branded as "bad luck" and "ill-fated". Then, there was Mahana, the ugly girl who can only do wrong in her father's eyes. She convinces her drunken father to take in Tama, to help with the chores.

Tama runs away by sailing to other islands, before promising Mahana that he will return someday to marry her. He says, "Look for me on the horizon, each day when the sun touches the seas". They part in their childhood, with Mahana presenting him an arm-band, which she had woven.

Lost in the storm, Tama ends on a more beautiful and bountiful island, governed by the generous Johnny Lingo. Tama steals from Johnny Lingo but is caught. As punishment, he has to serve on Johnny Lingo's island for 8 years. As the years past, Johnny teaches Tama everything from farming to governing, to sailing, navigating, and negotiating. Tama becomes the son and heir to Johnny Lingo's estates and legacy, when the elder dies. As heir, Tama becomes the next Johnny Lingo, by wealth and name.

He yearns to keep his promise to Mahana, whom he misses as the 8 years went by. Mahana, on the other hand, does not receive any respect from the young men and women. She keeps her wits and sharp tongue to fight for herself. But she acknowledges her ugliness and adheres to her father's critism.

When the villagers hear of a prince who is coming to seek a bride from their daughters, everyone is busy preparing a grand welcome. Little do they know that it is Tama, whom they rejected as a child. Tama is only interested to see Mahana, but she rejects every invitation to be brought to the great, proud and rich prince, thinking that he is cocky. She shuns at the idea of being shown off as the ugliest girl in the island.

What Tama learns later, is that Mahana goes to the cliffs everyday to scan the horizons, at sunrise and sunset. "Look for me on the horizon, each day when the sun touches the seas", he remembers saying to her. He realizes that Mahana is waiting for Tama to return, and not the famous Johnny Lingo.

Tama finally has a moment to talk to Mahana. She finally expresses her feelings and sorrows, and the reason of rejecting any marriage proposals. "Do you know," she says, "how much it hurts to wait? To have your hopes rise with each dawn, and crushed with each setting of the sun?!"

At last, Tama cannot hide his true identity any longer. In front of the entire Village and the Council of Elders, he announces that he, Johhny Lingo will take Mahana for a wife, and offers eight cows as dowry. "Why the eight cows?" she asks. He replies, "It's one for every year". She is stunned and confused. He then shows the arm-band that she had woven as a little girl. She recognizes it immediately, and sees Tama for the first time.

She slaps him sharply on the cheek, "THAT was for the eight years!" and then, goes into the arms of her beloved. Her Tama, who has returned and stayed true to his word.

What followed from the movie, was a beautiful song written by Te Vaka.

THESE KIDS ROCK

Last year, I decided to help out at the local parish's Children Drama club. They had started preparing for their Christmas Concert... since Oct'07! They had good teachers and very active (and wild) minds.

This is their dance practice for the Jingle Bell Rock. Zoey was partnered with John Adrian. Jus look how cute they are!

Sorry the quality isn't the best of the best. I used my handphone camera to capture it, which is only as good as it gets. I love seeing these kids rock and roll with the dance moves, and yet still looking lost as they're firguring out the next steps.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

A TRIP DOWN SOUTH

Before the year 2007 ended, I thought it was time again to visit Aunt Rosita and cousin Keith in Singapore... and do some SHOPPING!!! So, I packed my bag, got my passport ready, and ensured I had enough cash. Most importantly, I made sure my two goods friends were with me, namely : Visa and MasterCard... accepted anywhere!

Nice Singapore Airlines plane, huh? Yeah, that was my ride... not! Hheheeh, I so wished that I could fly into Changi Airport, for once. Now, that would have been "travel-with-style"! And a great way to end the old year.

And, no. I did not take a ferry into Singapore, nor into Sentosa Island. If I did, I only fear the authorities would think, "Alamak, orang Indonesia! Mana pasport?!"

Just kidding ;P

I decided the best, practical, and cheaper way (other than bus) was the train. And to save travel time, I took the Night Train which departed from Seremban at 11.30pm. It was alright. My sleeping berth was, unfortunately, right next to the coach door. But the bed was comfortable! And clean too. Enough room for a person to sit, sleep and relax.

It was past midnight, and everyone else was fast asleep. These were the passangers who boarded the train from KL Sentral. Check out the curtains on every sleeping berths. Curtains fully drawn shut!

By morning, we had passed Tampin, Gemas, Kluang, Segamat, and all those other main stations which names I can't remember.

Someone permanently parked this old Steam Engine at Kluang. I only wished that Malaysia had a Train Museum. That's where this ol' timer should be placed. Not out in the open to rust and deteorate!

At last, in JB station, the Malaysian Customs officers boarded the train coaches for proper documentations check. That way, the passangers did not have to disembark.

At Singapore station, I arrived an hour later than scheduled. Thank you, KTM. The Railway Service provider really needs to improve on their service! No matter how many times we depart on time, the train (almost) always arrive late at the final destinantion.

The thing that always fascinate me, is the fact that the Railway Lines in Singapore is owned by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), Malaysia. So, on whatever piece of tiny land where the rail tracks lie on... that's owned by KTM... or rather, by Malaysia. And that, more or less, explains why the tracks are poorly maintained. Even the insides of the Singapore Train Station looks dim, cold and unfriendly. But the moment you stand outside on Singapore soil, everthing changes! It's better, brighter and cleaner world.

I've always admired the four marble statues that looks upon visitors and citizens. It is a reminder of a time when Malaya and Singapore was united as one. The initials "FMSR" stands for the Federation of Malaya-Singapore Railway. The four massive marble columns portray the essence that brought the two countries into greatness : labour, commerce, industry and agriculture.