musical friday, jalan strachan and short of cash

I went with Tamyiz to KL PAC for the KL Sing Song on Friday 20th July.
There were two parts, separated by an intermission.

Mesmerized by the performances, I grabbed a couple of CDs on sale at the counter during the break. One from Mei Chern, and another from Reza Salleh. Well, Reza was yet to perform on the 2nd part, but I'm convinced that he's good. Indeed, he is.

The organizer planned the performance sequence quite well. Saving the very best for last. Too bad, I didn't have any more cash to buy Mia Palencia's single CD 'Sayang'.
Well, sayang sekali....

The show ended around 11.00pm. Tamyiz let me drive the car, and so we cruised along the colonial buildings around KL PAC area. They were painted with memories of my childhood. A lot have changed, though. The memories remain, vividly. There used to be an oval field in front of an office building. I used to play football with my friends there, although it is not a playable field -
its existence was pretty much for creating a green landscape. Imagine playing football on a golf course - pretty much like that.

There were numerous KTMB office buildings at the end of Jalan Strachan - I used to play skateboard with Mike over there, and rode our bicycles around the buildings. Heck, we also did have a '100 meter' dash around the oval field. Complete with relay runs with batons. There were also hide and seek, and police and thieves, and tag - on bicycles.

Jalan Strachan used to be lined with KTMB quarters. I used to live at No 40 Jalan Strachan. Kids used to play everything along and on that road. BMX freestyle, tag, tennis, badminton, skateboard, roller skate, football, relay runs, marathons, bicycle race, police & thieves, kites, slippers & cards, rounders, chop (where you aim a running target - your friend - and shoot him with the tennis ball). It was not that busy, except during the morning, lunchtime and evening. It was the main road KTMB workers used to get to their offices and workshops, and go back home. It was a peaceful area, with lots of trees and many neighbours.

Now that most of the houses are brought down, the long stretch of road seems short. I couldn't locate the tree in front of my former dwelling. Thankfully, they still preserve the big trees lining the road. I hope that big old tree that provided shade for our house is still there.

Perhaps one day I could stroll along Jalan Strachan, and soak in the memories of my adolescence. Personally, I learnt how to ride a bicycle on Jalan Strachan. I had a fight with Devan on Jalan Strachan. We go to our neighbours houses during festives along Jalan Strachan. And I lost a cat on Jalan Strachan. I grew up with my friends on Jalan Strachan.

That night, as soon as we turned into Jalan Ipoh, and my memories of Jalan Strachan left something for me to smile, my stomach grumbled. Tamyiz and I were famish. We wandered to find a place to eat, and eventually brought us to an eatery in Gombak (yes, we wandered very far...). The food was quite good, and that is not because we were hungry and could eat anything.
It was a little bit after midnight, when the unthinkable happened. We were simply short of cash. Well, 3 ringgit short for our meals. I stayed at the eatery while Tamyiz went off to find an ATM to withdraw some cash.

Before going to the show, Tamyiz was from Shah Alam to fetch his car from his sister, and thought that he would withdraw cash on the way to KL PAC. As for me, I had some cash enough to pay for my ticket and dinner, and left much of my cash at home. Well, it was past midnight, and it didn't occur to us that all the ATMs are out of service.

Tamyiz drove to Setapak, even as far as Jalan TAR to look for an ATM that would churn cash. To no avail, he went back to Forum to get the cash. I was at the eatery in Gombak, until they are closing up. I went to the counter and paid for the meals, asking for an IOU of RM3 to be paid later ASAP. The man said ok, and they are closed for the day.
Damn.
If I had used my charm earlier, I wouldn't end up stranded here in Gombak.

I waited for another 15 minutes, and Tamyiz finally arrived - with the'hard earned' 3 ringgit. Lesson learnt - pride could make you suffer, while other people aren't that interested in your pride, anyway. If you want to keep your pride (stupid ego) still, be well prepared, and have lots of cash to back it up!
;)

There you go.

For the record, Tamyiz went to the eatery the next day for lunch - and paid the 3 ringgit.

eventful weekend

Last Friday (20 July), i had a chat with Alwie during breakfast in the
office pantry.
I gave a remark, asking if he had been to Dewan Filharmonik Petronas. He
was mildly surprised as to how I knew that he's been there.
Well, it was rather obvious, as he has his beverage in a mug that says
'Dewan Filharmonik Petronas'.
He is actually a subscriber of DFP. So, he frequented the hall.
It came to my knowledge that depending on the performances, the ticket
price is not that expensive. It could start from RM10.
For international series, that would be pricey. Starts around RM50.
Well, Alwie said I'm not the only who has that perception. Most people
think that events and happenings in DFP are expensive.
It is already end of July, and the season is coming to its end. The new
season will start in August.
I tried to look for more info on the net. Unfortunately, their site
requires latest Flash player, and the pc in library is not updated. And I
would need admin privilige to be able to install the latest player.

But, there's a silver lining.
I found another happening at KL Performing Arts Center (KL PAC).
Only for Friday and Saturday, they're hosting KL Sing Song 2007. Showcasing
Malaysian singer songwriters.
Live performance in acoustic setting (see http://troubadourskl.blogspot.com
, or search in www.klpac.com.my)
8.30pm, RM25 free seating. Well that's great, provided I could confide
someone with a car to go with me.
And someone who loves music.

[ Musical Friday ]
I have long lamented about how 'artistes' in Malaysia are not really
artistes.
They would only sing songs penned by famous writers, and would be
considered 'wow' if they could pen the lyrics.
An achievement if they could include a self-written song or two in their
upcoming fourth album (fourth being arbitrary number - those artistes in
Malaysia learn to be an artiste while making few albums).
Then they would learn how to play musical instruments. Master the English
language, as well.
I often compare them with musicians from the States. Billy Joel, Gary
Moore, Axl Rose (of G N' R), Diana Krall, Eminem, Alanis Morrissette,
Counting Crows, and many more to mention.
These guys are good and accepted because of who they are. They write the
music and lyrics about what they feel, and their ideologies.
And people love them. Their personality, and their stories.
In Malaysia, singers sing for the demand of listeners. If this year they
think dangdut is in, they'll sing dangdut.
Switch to R&B for the next album if the chart shows the demographic demand
has switched (and/or if the money is in certain genre).
Anyway, it is not quite a fair comparison. US music market is second to
none, for they have millions of listeners for any genre that their artistes
wish to explore. They could always have their share of audiences.

Strictly musical, I found it refreshing to know that we have talented
musicians in our land.
I have a certain degree of respect for them because of their talent, weaved
with their own personalities, expressed in their own style of musical art.
And they master it very well.

So, I went to KL PAC at Jalan Strachan last Friday night for the show.
It served two things for me.
One, to savour the live acoustic performance by talented Malaysian true
artistes.
Two, to go back and see what Jalan Strachan is like after all these years.
Down the memory lane. The memory of Jalan Strachan (more of this, later).
Well, I could say I killed two birds with one stone.

There were 5 solos and 1 duo that night, over 2 parts.
First was Mili'z (singer & keyboard duo), Jerome Kugan and Mei Chern
(www.myspace.com/meichern).
Mei Chern's sultry rendering is particularly pleasing to my ears, reminisce
of Lisa Loeb. Plus her stringing on the guitar is excellent.
After the intermission, the second part featured Reza Salleh
(www.myspace.com/rezasalleh), Melinda William and Mia Palencia.
Reza's relaxed but complex stringing, with his soulful voice was very
entertaining. Mia's jazzy voice and excellent guitar playing was the top of
the night.
Truly, RM25 was well worth it. Oh, and another RM9 for Mei Chern's 3 songs
CD, RM10 for Reza's 6 songs EP. Well, the live performances are better.
If Friday's were that good, I'm pretty sure that Saturday's show would be
better. It features Pete Teo, and I'd like to know how the other 5 would
fare - Meor, Tan Sei Hon, Estrella, Shanon Shah & Azmyl Yunor.
Too bad, I couldn't go for Saturday's show. Was in JB by then.

[ Futsal on Saturday ]
Saturday morning, I took part in Technip Futsal Tournament 2007.
Sports Planet in Ampang. Played for Mechanical Engineering Department team.
That morning, only 6/8 of us were there, and we went on playing for the
group matches.
First game against Instrumentation B team, we lost 0-1.
Second game against Free Stars, we were reduced to only 5 as one of the
players need to go back to attend to his ill wife.
We forged on, and lost 1-3. Half the time we played with 4 men. One pulled
out due to injury.
2 more matches to go, we decided to pull out of the tourney. It would be
too taxing for the 4 of us left.
Personally, I think that's enough for my teamwork. At least I was there,
and to my own satisfaction, I scored Mech's only goal in the tourney this
year.
Well, at least....

I took the 3.30pm bus from Puduraya to JB. The PLUS highway was smooth, and
reach Larkin at 8pm.
Three reasons for getting back to JB even only for a short while - a little
more that 24 hours:
1. to see my family
2. to attend Naza's cousin (Bud) wedding on Sunday
3. to collect my claim cheque from Rawani

Naza, mak and the kids fetch me that night. Oh, how wonderful it was when
the kids are happy to see me. Felt like a superdad.
Sent mak to Mummy's (Bud's mom) place for her to 'rewang' while the 4 of us
went for our family dinner at an eatery nearby.
11 pm and we were back in Plentong.

We went for the wedding on Sunday, and I collected my cheque in the
evening.

It was a rainy Sunday, and it poured throughout the evening until night. To
my surprise, my bathroom ceiling was trickling with water.
the floor is flooded. Luckily, it was flooding the bathroom (wet, anyway),
and a bit of outside the bathroom area.
It could be from either leaking roof, or overflowing tank.
Bought a tochlight at giant (and went for a haircut with Adam), climbed up
the ceiling, and discovered the cause of it.
It was the tank PVC piping - the glue holding the tee gave away and the
pipe disconnected.
Quick solution - connected back the pipe to the tee.
Picture paints a thousand words. So, took few photos of the leakage and
printed them.
Mak could use them to explain to Mr. Foo (renovator contractor) on Monday
for repair.

10.30pm and raced down to Larkin bus station. Reached just in time for my
bus to Puduraya.
Well, it was an eventful weekend, and I feel exhausted.

PIBG (PTA) AGM 2007

Naza and I attended Marsya's school's PIBG annual general meeting end of
last month.
Well, it's the first for us.
I have forgotten how it was, PIBG meetings.
The meeitng proper started only at 11am. after a bruch. and before that, a
parade of performances from the school pupils and award presentation.
Marsya took part in the fashion show segment. I was quite reluctant with
it, but it was okay for year 1. Actually, I'd rather her to be involved in
music/orchestra/choir if she really needed (and want) to participate.

Guest of honor: Dato' Nur Jazlan Mohamad. he's the parliamentary member for
Kulai, and a chartered accountant (apparently in the dewan rakyat, there
are only 2 members who are chartered accountants). His father is the late
Tok Mat (Tan Sri Mohamad Rahmat), and the mother used to be a teacher in
that very school.

Sekolah Kebangsaan Infant Jesus Convent Johor Bahru (SKIJC) is Malaysia's
NUMBER ONE school for last year.
and this was evident with the long line of award recipients for 5As UPSR
achievers. 62 of them. i remembered my school having 10 or so students
scoring straight As during our Peperiksaan Penilaian Darjah Lima. Well done
to the students, and here's praying for more achievements for the school.

SKIJC herself is selected as a Cluster School (there's another one school
in Johor. By that, it is quite a privilege to be a part of the school.
And, hard work for the pupils, teachers, and parents. Moving forward: to be
a Gemilang School by 2009. Whatever that means, I have to find out.

Oh, and for the newly elected committee, they're good with relevant
backgrounds.
Together we work towards a Gemilang School.

The Prisoner of Zenda

We went for a school play in Naza's school.
To be honest, i've never watched a school play, and it is quite
interesting.
Naza bought tickets for all four of us - RM15 each. It's a bit expensive
for 7 and 5 year olds. But hey, it's for charity.
The play was an adaptation of a classic literature - The Prisoner of Zenda.
I had never read the book, so it is quite interesting to find out what the
story is all about, through a play.

The cast are entirely girls, so they have to put on costumes and make-ups
for male characters. and the costumes, they are nice and perfect. although,
i am quite reserved about young girls wearing barebacks and low necks. Naza
mentioned that they got those cinderella dresses and male suits from bridal
boutique. how befitting.

I enjoyed the play, and at times it felt quite touching and mesmerizing. i
felt the regret of not taking Naza to a play or panto while in Manchester
(and London West End).
Apparently the play is quite different from the plots in the novel. And it
was not actually about the prisoner in the place called Zenda in Ruritania.
More of the story of a doppelganger taking over the role of the king of
Ruritania, and going through a series of misfortunes. and the real king is
hidden in a prison in Zenda. and kept hidden in the play. so, for me, the
title is misleading.
Alas, it was quite a good experience. Perhaps i'll get to go to a play in
Istana Budaya while in KL one of these days.