http://impressions.com.my/Tahan/gunung_tahan.htm

Just got sms from my teacher that he would like to cancel the piano class which was supposed to take place in 15 minutes time. **sigh** Wasted my crunch practice this whole morning. I’m contemplating to fire him. This must have been his umpteenth time (I’ve lost count) canceling class. Haven’t had class since 3 weeks ago and last week I got a call from him saying that the year end Trinity practical exam is canceled. **sigh** Wasted my whole year practice. I didn’t agree on Trinity at the first place but he said the Trinity exam pieces for this year are easier than ABRSM (Royal), the one that most people, including me usually take. The call brought utter disappointment tainted with some delight. The lazy genes in me rejoice to the temporarily relief. So, to drown my sorrow and celebrate the relief, I lazed at Starbuck last Saturday afternoon, with ~RM100 purchase of books from Borders, all frictions and magazines. Nothing too heavy for my “holidaying” brain.

For the rest of the week, I buried myself into “The Kite Runner” and the drama “Prison Break”. The formal is thumbs up, but the latter is thumbs down. The “Prison Break” is nothing but lots of digging and series of co-incidences to magnify that the world is really small, senseless killings, and not to mention the anti-climax ending to season 1. I think the director just oversold the suspense.

The kite runner by Khaled Hosseini is an unusually eloquent story about fragile relationship between fathers and sons, humans and their gods, men and their countries. Kite-fighting tournament was an old winter tradition in Afghanistan, where the streets filled with kite fighters, jerking and tugging on their lines, squinting up to the sky, trying to gain position to cut the opponent’s line. The author said the real fun began when a kite was cut and the kite runners come in, those kids who chased the windblown kite drifting through the neighborhoods until it come spiraling down in a field, dropping in someone’s yard, on a tree or a rooftop. I don’t remember there is kite running back then in my hometown. We simply will run for our own kite, if it’s been cut off. No touching other people’s kite lest to be beaten.

When the school reopens in the spring, the Afghanistan kids will compare the battle scars with fellow classmate; the horizontal gashes on their fingers from the glass coated cutting line. However, the author didn’t mention how they make the glass coated string. I remember vaguely, a quarter of decade back, my brother and I used to sneak into our kitchen when mum and grandma were taking their afternoon nap, around 3pm. With gasoline stove, we boiled 20 cents worth of starch where we bought from sundry shop nearby. When it was dissolved, it turned into glue which we dipped the string into before coating it with pounded glass. To crush the coca-cola glass bottle, we “borrowed” the mortar and pestle from the kitchen again. Did lots of sneaking when we were young, huh?

A couple of months ago, I was told by a friend of mine that there is this custom where the relatives will "inspect" the couple's bridal bedroom, so his wife had to borrow Bobby Brown makeup set to "show off". There is a long, long list of what must be in the room, in the wardrobe, on the dressing table, etc. I never saw it first hand until my cousin's wedding 2 weeks ago.

My very first reaction was "OMG.... she must be damn free!" :p

These photos do not justified the real atmosphere of the room. I wasn't prepare for it, so didn't bring a digital camera. Hope it's clear enough for you to count how many type of combs she has and how many ribbons she used to beautify the beauty products.

The only thing I did to my room was the small sticker on the dressing table... and that also won't be there if not of the nagging from mum and mum-in-law. (coz i don't want to taint the mirror)

After 4 months of ditching hiking and badminton to be a full time running bore, I made a surprise comeback with an improved PR (stands for “personal record”, a new term that I learnt from the marathoners) for hiking. Managed a 50 minutes round trip hike up to 84, Penang Hill opposed to the usual 60 minutes. I must admit that the improvement sprouted from MH, who hiked like nobody's business and thus I’d to trail along diligently. It used to be the other way round.

Same does not speak for badminton. For sure, my stagnant skill won’t be improved by merely jogging and more jogging and lots of jogging. But, at least I didn’t kena eat much smashes from the guys yesterday…. those guys whom I had it easy before are fairing much better now so, I’ve to buck up. Well, that provided I can be trained. I guess as you get older your learning ability dropped to virtually zero. Ask MH about it. I bet he will tell you how my footwork sucks, inaccurate placement, no killer drop, half baked smash, half court lift, weak net play and how I stubbornly resist the drills (boring necessary evil) training courtesy from him.

Went to this Restaurant Hand Noodles, with very colorful ramen which they claimed to be free from coloring. Spinach Ramen, Chili Ramen, Wheat Flour Ramen, Black Sesame Ramen, Beetroot Ramen, Green Tea Ramen, Radix Angelicae Sinensis Ramen and Radix Polygoni Multiflori Ramen. Also checked out their stewed duck tongue!