Kuala Lumpur - A global survey that placed Kuala Lumpur as the third rudest city is disputable.
Deputy Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak says the basis and tests used in the survey are questionable.
Dato' Seri Najib said, Malaysia said one of the attractions to foreign tourists is the friendliness of Malaysians.
He said, the survey of 35 of the world’s capitals by Reader’s Digest magazine gave a negative image of the country especially after it was aired repeatedly by CNN.
The magazine had sent reporters to the 35 cities in which it publishes to conduct a survey of local politeness.
Three tests were employed: dropping papers in a busy street to see if anyone would help, checking how often shop assistants said, "thank you" and counting how often someone held a door open.
The uproar caused by the above issue was not surprising.
We Malaysians are generally very concerned with how the ‘foreigners’ view us. Sensitivity is heightened whenever criticism is made by ‘foreigners’. Complaints and criticisms by fellow Malaysians rarely get such overt reactions.
I’m not going to comment much on the survey or its findings. I think my blog has been more than sufficiently peppered with my own experience and observations throughout the years for anyone to safely conclude my opinion on this issue.
But I have to say that it’s really amusing to me that the people who condemn the survey came up with their own findings that Malaysians are such ‘friendly, courteous, warm people’.
What do they base their findings on?
Questionnaires and interviews with people on the street.
What people on the street?
Tourists.
Give me a break. Judging our rudeness by the views of our esteemed guests is hardly logical. You don’t need me to tell you that there’s a blatant double-standard with the way we treat our countrymen and the way we treat our visitors.
Ask my husband. I’ve asked so many rude salespeople I’ve encountered whether they’d treat a ‘mat salleh’ the way they just treated me. More often than not, that question will be met with averted eyes and sullen silence.
Don’t get me wrong.
I LOVE the way we treat our visitors.
I LOVE the way tourists always say such lovely things about our country and our people.
I LOVE the way Malaysians are renowned for our ‘friendly, courteous and warm’ personality.
But all that good does not right the wrong of treating our own people with rudeness, discourtesy and indifference.
I think all of us must have experienced at least ONE incident involving rude Malaysians. It's everywhere!
Khairy Jamaluddin wrote in his column in a local newspaper, narrating to us a story about how he and his friends helped a car stuck in a drain whilst getting drenched in the rain and how the car's driver sped off without a word of thanks.
A friend of mine shared the story of how she offered to help a woman carry her shopping bags and was warded off with a stern "F*ck off!"
Honestly, there’s so much I have to say about this subject but I’m sick and tired of it, really. I’ll just be rehashing most of the things I’ve already said time and again in this blog. Allow me to just regale you with one of my recent experiences with our ‘polite Malaysians’.
Wan and I went to Mid-Valley Megamall yesterday.
Upon entering the parking lot, we saw a fellow trying valiantly to reverse his car out of his parking spot. He was having a tough time because his was a big car and there were also two cars double-parked behind his car, making it almost impossible for him to reverse easily.
1st Rudeness:
The two cars selfishly double-parking behind a legally-parked car.
After seeing him go in and back out of the parking spot a gazillion times, my husband took pity on the guy and decided to help. So he parked our car nearby and got out to lend a hand to the obviously helpless fellow.
I stayed in the car and watched the following incident via the side-mirror. Being Ms. Observer (as Halian would call it), I also rolled-down my windows a bit to hear what was going on.
While Wan gave the necessary hand gestures to help the fellow reverse safely, the dude fixed his face with a stubborn I-Need-No-Help look. He was seen muttering through the corner of his mouth to his girlfriend seated next to him.
2nd Rudeness: Pretending that a person who’s helping you is invisible.
The fellow was an idiot. I say this because (a) he had spent so much time trying to reverse his car out with NO visible progress (b) even after a person gives him directions; he STILL made no visible progress.
3rd Rudeness: Me bestowing idiocy-status to a stranger.
After several painful minutes of seeing Wan trying to help an idiot, I was rewarded with seeing the fellow swing his door open, bolt out of his car, completely ignore Wan, stride towards the back of his car and make a great, big show of aggressively kicking one of the double-parked cars while cursing in abandon.
4th Rudeness: Repeat of 2nd Rudeness, shouting expletives in a public area and taking out your frustrations on an inanimate object that doesn’t even belong to you.
He then stomped back to his car, slammed the door and started his whole go-in-back-out samba.
I could see the look on my husband’s face. A comical mixture of amusement, frustration and annoyance. I was already sending him psychic messages “Leave the idiot and come back to the car, sayang. I’m hungry”.
But Wan being Wan, he persevered. He again directed the fellow on the best way to reverse. When he was younger, Wan used to work as an Operations Officer at a company that rented-out cars. Among his many skills include parking in miniscule spaces and reversing out of impossible enclosures. I could see him struggling to get this dude to listen to him and eventually, I heard his voice rise.
The fellow seemed to struggle between his supreme ego (save face in front of girlfriend mahhh...) and his desire to escape the hell-hole that was Mid-Valley carpark. He grudgingly followed Wan’s instructions and all seemed to be going well.
Then Wan told him to stop, straighten the tires and reverse slowly. The fellow seemed to be perfectly ignorant as to how to use his steering-wheel to straighten the tires. I could see the front tires screech to the left...then to the right. By that time, even my Man-of-Infinite-Patience reached his limit. The crazy fellow had not even ONCE acknowledge Wan's existence although Wan had been walking back and forth to make sure that the fellow didn't scratch his precious car.
After being ignored and upon seeing the fellow foolishly wasting time playing with his steering-wheel, Wan sauntered back towards me and enter the car with a sigh. As we drove off, I kept my eyes on the side-mirror and saw the fellow doing his samba routine again.
Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)
All through lunch, Wan and I kept shaking our heads in amused annoyance while discussing the incident.
5th Rudeness: Talking about people behind their backs.
Though if the fellow was around, we’d probably offer to buy him lunch. NOT.
“That’s why it’s getting so much easier for people NOT to help people,” I observed.
“I tolong sebab I pikir, kalau I sendiri dalam situasi macam tu, I pun nak ada orang tolong,” said my matter-of-fact husband.
“I know, I know. It’s not like I’m saying we should stop helping people. I’m just pointing out to you that not only do people NOT say thank you anymore, they’ve decided to even stop acknowledging our existence as some sort of bizarre defensive mode,” said the over-analytical wife.
“Ahhh... Well, budak tu jaga ego depan girlfren dia la tu,” Wan said while eating the last of his noodles.
“How do you know it’s not his wife?” I asked.
“Sebab dia punya ego, dia punya pride and dia punya drama tadi tak macam husband depan wife. More like boyfriend nak impress girlfriend,” said the wise-wan.
“Whaaaaaat??? What kind of woman would be impressed with THAT behavior?” I exclaimed.
“Perempuan bodoh la,” he replied with a perfectly straight face and a mischievous glint in his eye.
6th Rudeness: Assuming that there are women stupid enough to be impressed with a modern-Neanderthal.
But then again, maybe there are.
All legislation, all government, all society is founded upon the principle of mutual concession, politeness, comity, courtesy; upon these everything is based...Let him who elevates himself above humanity, above its weaknesses, its infirmities, its wants, its necessities, say, if he pleases, I will never compromise; but let no one who is not above the frailties of our common nature disdain compromises.
Henry Clay (1777 - 1852)
Monday, June 26, 2006
A man's feet should be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world.George Santayana (1863 - 1952)
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
A Different Pond of Fish
A few days ago, I was invited as a delegate at the In-House Congress KL 2006. Was my first time at a gathering of in-house lawyers and it was quite an eye-opener.
During the time I was a practicing lawyer, I attended a lot of similar events. Congress, conventions, conferences etc. And though it was all quite enjoyable, it was worlds apart from my new experience at the congregation of non-practicing, in-house lawyers.
The elements were basically the same.
Posh hotel, superb feast, eager-to-please organizers, spiffily-dressed delegates, brilliant guest speakers etc.
But it was different.
How do I illustrate the difference?
Well, one was like a huge pond filled with a lot of sharks, all with the same interests and the same determined-obsession, swimming along with one eye on the competition and the other on potential prey- sorry, I mean clients.
The other was like a huge pond filled with a lot of different types of fishes, just swimming around and getting along with one another as each already have their own interests taken care of.
Both have their pros and cons.
To be honest, I enjoyed both equally.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost (1874 - 1963), The Road Not Taken
I’m not much of a sociable person.
I like people, I do. Well, most people lah. You know, the non-annoying ones. But though I am interested in people, I’m not the type of person who seeks out parties and thrive in a crowd. That’s my husband. He’s the gregarious one. He’s the people-person. I’m the more introverted one.
I know some of my friends are now spouting out coffee from their noses and spluttering “Diha? Introvert? Merepek lah pompuan ni!”
But they don’t count.
I’m different with my friends, the ones I’m comfortable with. When I’m with THEM, okaylah, I’m equally gregarious. But that’s different. Those are FRIENDS... I’m talking about strangers. I’m not very good with strangers.
So, the modern necessity of networking is quite a chore for me.
But after so many years of practice, I think I’ve improved somewhat. I no longer just nurse a cup of coffee while silently observing people at these assemblies.
I have learned the art of fixing a pleasant smile on my face that breaks into a sincere grin upon introduction to a person, putting out my hand in a firm but friendly handshake and fluidly producing a business card when the time is right.
But I still do observe people while I do all this.
These are some of the many creatures that are found in such professional-based assemblies.
Mr. Setahun-Tak-Makan (Mr. STM)
The meals at these events are usually a lavish spread of sumptuous food. There are snacks at every break consisting of tasty finger-foods and scrumptious cakes and for meals like lunch or dinner; it’s usually a 5-course feast of excellent cuisine.
Mr. STM is a connoisseur of congress-food. He slips out of the congress rooms 10 minutes before the end of the talk to be first in line at the buffet table. He builds Mount Kinabalu-like mounds of food on his plate. If there’s an exceptionally good item (e.g. lobster rolls, salmon pate, calamari or prawn tempura), he gets an extra plate to pile on heaps of it for his own culinary indulgence. He surreptitiously pockets mini-pastries and cream cakes wrapped in napkins. At mealtime, he picks the table with the least number of people or the least number of men, to ensure that there’s a chance of him getting extra helpings of each course. Mr. STM only comes to such assemblies for the food.
Mr. STM at the congress was a big fan of cream puffs. I know this is so mean of me but I kept an eye on him during the tea-break and counted him consuming 13 cream-puffs and pocketing at least 6. I know, I know, Diha macam takder keje lain.
Ms. Freebie Fetish (Ms. FF)
At conferences and congresses, there are usually booths of each organizer. Each booth would give out pamphlets, brochures and other items as a form of marketing and publicity. Some also give out special items like paper-bags filled with the company’s goods like mugs, pens and notebooks. Some also give extra-special items like a tiny box of chocolate pralines, an engraved business card-holder or a funky penskin.
Ms. FF has an unhealthy obsession for these items, coupled with a severe case of kiasu’ism.
I met Ms. FF at the congress. Both her hands were straining under the weight of so many paper bags of freebies. We thought she had taken them for her colleagues, but she brazenly revealed that it was for her family and boyfriend.
While she was talking to me and a few others, her eyes kept darting to all the booths aligning the corridors. Suddenly, she interrupted our conversation with a very sudden “Eh, you all know or not what the Hughes-Castell booth is giving out?” When we all responded by shaking our heads, she gave us a look of disbelief and blurted “You all haven’t gone there yet ah??” A gentleman then responded “Actually, if I’m not mistaken, they’re giving out compasses”.
Ms. FF abruptly left our company and made a beeline for the booth. The FF family is one family whose members will always know which way points North.
Mr. Business-Card-Collector (Mr. BCC)
I don’t know why, but I really don’t like people who immediately ask for my business card upon introduction. And I’m also not too fond of people who thrust out their business card to me and then immediately disappear to do the same to others. I don’t think its proper etiquette. It’s best to engage in a proper conversation first and THEN exchange business cards. A rectangle piece of cardboard should not be a replacement for well-mannered introductions. Honestly, 2 weeks from now, I will not be able to remember you by just looking at your card. But if I had a proper conversation with you, I would.
Mr. BCC collects business cards like a kid collects stamps. He barely listens to you introducing yourself as he fumbles in his pocket for his business card and offers his hand for yours. He goes around the room giving a perfunctory “Hello” to people and do his whole business-card-barter routine.
I saw Mr. BCC at the hotel lobby after the congress and he was methodically arranging a substantial pile of business cards into a business-card holder. Amazing.
Ms. Ponteng-Kerja (Ms. PK)
Some people go to congress and conventions to get out of the office. Ms. PK will come in and register, get her name tag and her paper-bag of congress materials and then she’ll promptly leave. More often than not, to go shopping. Or catch a movie. Or go home and sleep. Some come back at the end of the day to make sure that there are no details that she has missed (e.g. hotel burnt down… would be difficult to explain to the boss how you ‘completely enjoyed the congress’ when all other delegates are being treated for smoke inhalation).
I met a friend of mine at the congress. She is a veteran Ms. PK. She came, she registered, she left and she went to watch X-Men III. At 17:30, she called me to ask whether there was anything she needed to know in order to give a convincing report to her boss the next day. Cis!
Mr. Banyak-Soal (Mr. BS)
The guest speakers at congress and conventions are often esteemed professionals in their field. The talks are habitually peppered with brilliant grafts and comprehensive slide-shows. And at the end of the talk, they will always have the requisite Q&A session. And this is where Mr. BS thrives.
He is often a man with a booming, solemn voice and he will gravely introduce himself with an introduction to rival that of the guest speakers. Then he will tediously voice out his opinion of the talk, offer ‘constructive criticism’ of the slide-show, bestow a patronizing compliment upon ‘the good effort made by the speakers’ and finally, he’ll come to his questions. Yes, questions... plural.
The worst thing about Mr. BS is that his questions are mostly B.S. And it pains me to see the speakers patiently listen to him and attempt to answer the questions with as much graciousness as they can muster.
And it really really REALLY pains me to see Mr. BS acknowledge the answer by slowly shaking his head and leisurely get up from his seat, walk back to the microphone and ‘disagree with the answer’ while giving his own. Mr. BS just uses the forum to flaunt his own ‘expertise’ and display subtle disdain towards the guest speakers. Honestly, ALL Mr. BS’s should be assembled and given their own congress with their own opportunity to talk. Would be lovely to see the Q&A session of THAT forum.
But back to the In-House Congress thingy I went to. I had a good time. It was informative and entertaining. An Infotainment, if you like. And despite being a self-proclaimed introvert, it was nice to be sociable and meet new people.
Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.
Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)
It was also nice to congregate among lawyers who were not hungry for new clients nor antsy at the billable hours spent wasted at a forum. And it was a nice change to be one of the ‘potential clients’ being schmoozed and flattered by the few practicing lawyers around.
So THAT’S how it feels like to be on the other end of the spectrum.
I can get used to that.
Baloney is the lie laid on so thick you hate it. Blarney is flattery laid on so thin you love it.
Fulton J. Sheen
During the time I was a practicing lawyer, I attended a lot of similar events. Congress, conventions, conferences etc. And though it was all quite enjoyable, it was worlds apart from my new experience at the congregation of non-practicing, in-house lawyers.
The elements were basically the same.
Posh hotel, superb feast, eager-to-please organizers, spiffily-dressed delegates, brilliant guest speakers etc.
But it was different.
How do I illustrate the difference?
Well, one was like a huge pond filled with a lot of sharks, all with the same interests and the same determined-obsession, swimming along with one eye on the competition and the other on potential prey- sorry, I mean clients.
The other was like a huge pond filled with a lot of different types of fishes, just swimming around and getting along with one another as each already have their own interests taken care of.
Both have their pros and cons.
To be honest, I enjoyed both equally.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost (1874 - 1963), The Road Not Taken
I’m not much of a sociable person.
I like people, I do. Well, most people lah. You know, the non-annoying ones. But though I am interested in people, I’m not the type of person who seeks out parties and thrive in a crowd. That’s my husband. He’s the gregarious one. He’s the people-person. I’m the more introverted one.
I know some of my friends are now spouting out coffee from their noses and spluttering “Diha? Introvert? Merepek lah pompuan ni!”
But they don’t count.
I’m different with my friends, the ones I’m comfortable with. When I’m with THEM, okaylah, I’m equally gregarious. But that’s different. Those are FRIENDS... I’m talking about strangers. I’m not very good with strangers.
So, the modern necessity of networking is quite a chore for me.
But after so many years of practice, I think I’ve improved somewhat. I no longer just nurse a cup of coffee while silently observing people at these assemblies.
I have learned the art of fixing a pleasant smile on my face that breaks into a sincere grin upon introduction to a person, putting out my hand in a firm but friendly handshake and fluidly producing a business card when the time is right.
But I still do observe people while I do all this.
These are some of the many creatures that are found in such professional-based assemblies.
Mr. Setahun-Tak-Makan (Mr. STM)
The meals at these events are usually a lavish spread of sumptuous food. There are snacks at every break consisting of tasty finger-foods and scrumptious cakes and for meals like lunch or dinner; it’s usually a 5-course feast of excellent cuisine.
Mr. STM is a connoisseur of congress-food. He slips out of the congress rooms 10 minutes before the end of the talk to be first in line at the buffet table. He builds Mount Kinabalu-like mounds of food on his plate. If there’s an exceptionally good item (e.g. lobster rolls, salmon pate, calamari or prawn tempura), he gets an extra plate to pile on heaps of it for his own culinary indulgence. He surreptitiously pockets mini-pastries and cream cakes wrapped in napkins. At mealtime, he picks the table with the least number of people or the least number of men, to ensure that there’s a chance of him getting extra helpings of each course. Mr. STM only comes to such assemblies for the food.
Mr. STM at the congress was a big fan of cream puffs. I know this is so mean of me but I kept an eye on him during the tea-break and counted him consuming 13 cream-puffs and pocketing at least 6. I know, I know, Diha macam takder keje lain.
Ms. Freebie Fetish (Ms. FF)
At conferences and congresses, there are usually booths of each organizer. Each booth would give out pamphlets, brochures and other items as a form of marketing and publicity. Some also give out special items like paper-bags filled with the company’s goods like mugs, pens and notebooks. Some also give extra-special items like a tiny box of chocolate pralines, an engraved business card-holder or a funky penskin.
Ms. FF has an unhealthy obsession for these items, coupled with a severe case of kiasu’ism.
I met Ms. FF at the congress. Both her hands were straining under the weight of so many paper bags of freebies. We thought she had taken them for her colleagues, but she brazenly revealed that it was for her family and boyfriend.
While she was talking to me and a few others, her eyes kept darting to all the booths aligning the corridors. Suddenly, she interrupted our conversation with a very sudden “Eh, you all know or not what the Hughes-Castell booth is giving out?” When we all responded by shaking our heads, she gave us a look of disbelief and blurted “You all haven’t gone there yet ah??” A gentleman then responded “Actually, if I’m not mistaken, they’re giving out compasses”.
Ms. FF abruptly left our company and made a beeline for the booth. The FF family is one family whose members will always know which way points North.
Mr. Business-Card-Collector (Mr. BCC)
I don’t know why, but I really don’t like people who immediately ask for my business card upon introduction. And I’m also not too fond of people who thrust out their business card to me and then immediately disappear to do the same to others. I don’t think its proper etiquette. It’s best to engage in a proper conversation first and THEN exchange business cards. A rectangle piece of cardboard should not be a replacement for well-mannered introductions. Honestly, 2 weeks from now, I will not be able to remember you by just looking at your card. But if I had a proper conversation with you, I would.
Mr. BCC collects business cards like a kid collects stamps. He barely listens to you introducing yourself as he fumbles in his pocket for his business card and offers his hand for yours. He goes around the room giving a perfunctory “Hello” to people and do his whole business-card-barter routine.
I saw Mr. BCC at the hotel lobby after the congress and he was methodically arranging a substantial pile of business cards into a business-card holder. Amazing.
Ms. Ponteng-Kerja (Ms. PK)
Some people go to congress and conventions to get out of the office. Ms. PK will come in and register, get her name tag and her paper-bag of congress materials and then she’ll promptly leave. More often than not, to go shopping. Or catch a movie. Or go home and sleep. Some come back at the end of the day to make sure that there are no details that she has missed (e.g. hotel burnt down… would be difficult to explain to the boss how you ‘completely enjoyed the congress’ when all other delegates are being treated for smoke inhalation).
I met a friend of mine at the congress. She is a veteran Ms. PK. She came, she registered, she left and she went to watch X-Men III. At 17:30, she called me to ask whether there was anything she needed to know in order to give a convincing report to her boss the next day. Cis!
Mr. Banyak-Soal (Mr. BS)
The guest speakers at congress and conventions are often esteemed professionals in their field. The talks are habitually peppered with brilliant grafts and comprehensive slide-shows. And at the end of the talk, they will always have the requisite Q&A session. And this is where Mr. BS thrives.
He is often a man with a booming, solemn voice and he will gravely introduce himself with an introduction to rival that of the guest speakers. Then he will tediously voice out his opinion of the talk, offer ‘constructive criticism’ of the slide-show, bestow a patronizing compliment upon ‘the good effort made by the speakers’ and finally, he’ll come to his questions. Yes, questions... plural.
The worst thing about Mr. BS is that his questions are mostly B.S. And it pains me to see the speakers patiently listen to him and attempt to answer the questions with as much graciousness as they can muster.
And it really really REALLY pains me to see Mr. BS acknowledge the answer by slowly shaking his head and leisurely get up from his seat, walk back to the microphone and ‘disagree with the answer’ while giving his own. Mr. BS just uses the forum to flaunt his own ‘expertise’ and display subtle disdain towards the guest speakers. Honestly, ALL Mr. BS’s should be assembled and given their own congress with their own opportunity to talk. Would be lovely to see the Q&A session of THAT forum.
But back to the In-House Congress thingy I went to. I had a good time. It was informative and entertaining. An Infotainment, if you like. And despite being a self-proclaimed introvert, it was nice to be sociable and meet new people.
Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.
Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)
It was also nice to congregate among lawyers who were not hungry for new clients nor antsy at the billable hours spent wasted at a forum. And it was a nice change to be one of the ‘potential clients’ being schmoozed and flattered by the few practicing lawyers around.
So THAT’S how it feels like to be on the other end of the spectrum.
I can get used to that.
Baloney is the lie laid on so thick you hate it. Blarney is flattery laid on so thin you love it.
Fulton J. Sheen
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Still The One or the corny version... Still The Wan... heheh
3rd June 2006 was our 1st Wedding Anniversary.
It’s amazing how fast a year can fly by! It feels like just yesterday I was blogging about wedding jitters and the bliss of being newlyweds.
Now it’s BABY jitters and the bliss of being not-so-newlyweds.
I took a week off from work to celebrate the occasion. The family took us on a trip to Pulau Redang and we spent a wonderful time relaxing, eating and snorkeling.
It was gorgeous in Redang!
White sandy beaches, wispy clouds blowing in the breeze, unbelievably clear blue-green waters... We swam with swordfish and rainbow trouts, along with other amazing aqua life.
We had dinner on the beach, barbecues, buffets etc. I’m so glad I regained my pre-pregnancy appetite!
After a few days in Redang, we returned to KL and promptly checked into the Concorde Hotel Premier Suite. Spent a romantic weekend there just lounging about and ‘connecting’.
I’m really thankful to have a husband I can actually TALK to and discuss all issues under the sun. I don’t know how I would’ve coped with one who only grunted once in awhile between football commercials or murmur incoherent sentences behind the newspapers.
I love my husband. I love our marriage.
It amazes some people how we maintain our relationship so well, for so long.
Some of our friends are still waiting for the day we strangle each other in frustration.
We’re so different yet remarkably compatible.
I am thoroughly amused by his jesting clowning and he laughs uproariously at my sarcastic one-liners.
He can enjoy my occasional fine-dining dinners and I have learned to take pleasure in eating at obscure backwoods stalls that serve delicious food (with zero presentation).
We both understand each others need for ‘me-time’. He endures my many hours of ‘being lost in a book’ and I endure his ‘DVD marathons’ (It’s amazing how that man never gets bored of Italian Job and Oceans 11).
He’s so patient with my unpredictable moodiness and knows exactly how much time I need to sulk-on-my-own and when exactly he should appear and amuse me. I’m equally patient with his fickle ‘artistic moods’ and just go with the flow, wherever it goes.
I am, by nature, a bit anal and plan everything to the dot. I can’t stand surprises or unscheduled activities. Wan is the absolute and complete opposite. He actually HATES planning. He’s more impulsive in his activities and is Mr. Impetuous. But with God’s help, we have managed to avoid driving each other crazy. He goes along with my pedantic planning and I put up with his madcap activities. I think it helps strike a balance in both of us. Two extremes meet up and become a nice neutral.
A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.
Dave Meurer, "Daze of Our Wives"
Next year, we’ll be celebrating our Anniversary with a 6-month old Little Wan in our midst, insyaALLAH. Seems like it’s ages away but time flies and it’ll be here soon enough. I think I should start p.l.a.n.n.i.n.g.
Hehehe...
Happy Anniversary, B!
I Love You, very very much.
I hope and pray that we'll live happily ever after.
Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong
(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night
Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'
I'm so glad we made it...
Look how far we've come my baby
It’s amazing how fast a year can fly by! It feels like just yesterday I was blogging about wedding jitters and the bliss of being newlyweds.
Now it’s BABY jitters and the bliss of being not-so-newlyweds.
I took a week off from work to celebrate the occasion. The family took us on a trip to Pulau Redang and we spent a wonderful time relaxing, eating and snorkeling.
It was gorgeous in Redang!
White sandy beaches, wispy clouds blowing in the breeze, unbelievably clear blue-green waters... We swam with swordfish and rainbow trouts, along with other amazing aqua life.
We had dinner on the beach, barbecues, buffets etc. I’m so glad I regained my pre-pregnancy appetite!
After a few days in Redang, we returned to KL and promptly checked into the Concorde Hotel Premier Suite. Spent a romantic weekend there just lounging about and ‘connecting’.
I’m really thankful to have a husband I can actually TALK to and discuss all issues under the sun. I don’t know how I would’ve coped with one who only grunted once in awhile between football commercials or murmur incoherent sentences behind the newspapers.
I love my husband. I love our marriage.
It amazes some people how we maintain our relationship so well, for so long.
Some of our friends are still waiting for the day we strangle each other in frustration.
We’re so different yet remarkably compatible.
I am thoroughly amused by his jesting clowning and he laughs uproariously at my sarcastic one-liners.
He can enjoy my occasional fine-dining dinners and I have learned to take pleasure in eating at obscure backwoods stalls that serve delicious food (with zero presentation).
We both understand each others need for ‘me-time’. He endures my many hours of ‘being lost in a book’ and I endure his ‘DVD marathons’ (It’s amazing how that man never gets bored of Italian Job and Oceans 11).
He’s so patient with my unpredictable moodiness and knows exactly how much time I need to sulk-on-my-own and when exactly he should appear and amuse me. I’m equally patient with his fickle ‘artistic moods’ and just go with the flow, wherever it goes.
I am, by nature, a bit anal and plan everything to the dot. I can’t stand surprises or unscheduled activities. Wan is the absolute and complete opposite. He actually HATES planning. He’s more impulsive in his activities and is Mr. Impetuous. But with God’s help, we have managed to avoid driving each other crazy. He goes along with my pedantic planning and I put up with his madcap activities. I think it helps strike a balance in both of us. Two extremes meet up and become a nice neutral.
A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.
Dave Meurer, "Daze of Our Wives"
Next year, we’ll be celebrating our Anniversary with a 6-month old Little Wan in our midst, insyaALLAH. Seems like it’s ages away but time flies and it’ll be here soon enough. I think I should start p.l.a.n.n.i.n.g.
Hehehe...
Happy Anniversary, B!
I Love You, very very much.
I hope and pray that we'll live happily ever after.
Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong
(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night
Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'
I'm so glad we made it...
Look how far we've come my baby
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