Thursday, August 27, 2009

Floating Book Fair

Yes! So happy that the MV Doulos, the floating book fair I called it, is revisiting Kota Kinabalu from 29 Aug - 20 Sept. Looking forward to buy some children books for CJ and of course some nice books for me too...just hope they have some cute notebooks as well cos I go nuts on notebooks.

Anyways, I'm taking leave tomorrow to accompany my sister, Chrissie to go for 3D scan her baby - I'm so excited! She's about 6 months pregnant and pity her that her policeman hubby is not around to be with her cos he's based in Bukit Aman, KL. Hopefully his transfer to Sabah next year will be materialised cos Chrissie and the soon to be born baby needs him. I heard its a boy!

And another plan this weekend...might go family outing to the mountain side, jalan-jalan around Kinabalu National Park, Mesilau and Kundasang. Can't wait to have fun with the family. You too - have a blast weekend.

So lets rock our weekend!

Movie: The Little Ashes

Watched this movie 'The Little Ashes' last weekend. Any movie/documentary about an artiste/painter's life is a MUST watch thing for me because anything about the arts fascinates and inspires me. I have a few of this kind of movie in my collection such as Surviving Picasso, Pollock and Frida. Honestly, I don't really understand this movie...I mean I can't feel the story...dead boring and lil disgusting. I thought it will feature more on the life of the eccentric Spanish painter, Salvador Dali. Another reason why I watched this movie again because it starred Robert Pattinson (you know...the Twilight heartrob?) who potrays Dali.

If this movie interest you, check out the synopsis & trailer here. I think this movie is as stupid as Sacha Baron Cohen's 'Bruno' (remember the 'Borat' guy?) - so gay! (sorry!)


Read synopsis of the movie here:
Madrid in 1922 is a city wavering on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of jazz, Freud and the avant-garde. Salvador Dalí arrives at university at the age of 18 years old, determined to become a great artist. His bizarre blend of shyness and rampant exhibitionism attracts the attention of two of the university’s social elite — Federico García Lorca and Luis Buñuel.
Salvador is absorbed into their decadent group and for a time he, Luis and Federico become a formidable trio, the most ultra-modern group in Madrid. However, as time passes, Salvador feels an increasingly strong pull toward the charismatic Federico — who is oblivious to the attention he is getting from his beautiful writer friend, Magdalena. Finally, in the face of his friends’ preoccupations — and Federico’s growing renown as a poet — Luis sets off for Paris in search of his own artistic success.
Alone in Madrid, Federico struggles against his psyche, tortured by the damning implications of his own religious beliefs and the undeniable voice of his flesh. He is haunted by news of Salvador, who is collaborating on a Surrealist film with Luis and has embarked on an affair with Gala, a married woman.
By 1936 Spain is teetering on the precipice of civil war, and Federico, now a highly acclaimed and controversial playwright, receives an invitation to dinner from Salvador and Gala. But the hosts have a rather unusual agenda and the evening is a disaster. A week later, Salvador is hosting a party when he discovers that Federico has been assassinated in the outbreak of war. The walls of self-denial that surround the artist come crashing down as he realizes, too late, the depth of his love for Federico.




Here's photos of the real Salvador Dali (younger & older):



And here are 3 of Salvador Dali's famous paintings. I find his paintings creatively strange, unique and super erotic but yet amazing...I like!

The Madonna of Port Iligat


Christ of St John of the Cross


The Persistence of Memory (one of the most famous of Dali's paintings)

I also liked some of Dali's quotes:

'When I paint, the sea roars, the others splash about in the bath'

Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating. It is either good or bad.

People love mystery, and that is why they love my paintings.

Have no fear of perfection, you'll never reach it.

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.

One interesting trivia - do you know the Chupa Chups lollipop? Dali actually designed its logo and the logo is still used on the famous Chupa Chups lolly wrappers until today.


Now I understand what 'surrealism' (A 20th-century literary and artistic movement that attempts to express the workings of the subconscious and is characterized by fantastic imagery and incongruous juxtaposition of subject matter) movement is. Here's an example of what surrealist painting looks like. Interesting right?!






I think I'll attempt to paint a surrealist art sometime soon. Wish me luck and be my 1st critic.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Whitney is Back!


I grew up listening to Whitney Houston's songs and she's one of my musical influences and inspiration - a very strong one! And just recently in July, I jumped with joy after hearing she's releasing a brand new album "I Look To You" this September. She came out with her last album "Just Whitney" in 2002 before going into oblivion (e.g. substance misuse, her trouble marriage with Bobby Brown and all).

Anyways, her voice still sounds amazing in the album (check out Youtube) and her looks are still classy and glamorously beautiful! Read that she also collaborated with a few famous artiste in her songs with the likes of R.Kelly, Akon and even Alicia Keys. So, I'm looking forward to grab this album soon - just can't wait! For more info, also check out Whitney's official website 'WhitneyHouston.com'






Life is meaningless without Music!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Coping Up

It's been more than two weeks now since I started my new job. And I'm coping up but unfortunately feeling a lil d-motivated at first...well I thought I'll be happy but what do you expect...1st day of work in a totally new environment is always not the happiest moment of all. But like I say I'm coping up, being patient, having cool attitude and everything will be okay....(I pray and hope). Talking about enjoying what you do (from my last post)...I'm trying to shoo out those negative thoughts and try to enjoy my work now. I'm doing extreme self-motivation right now! Ya..I do need some moral support from you friends/readers too!

So after this, I'll be feeding my soul with this free art project! Feel free to join me in Feed Your Soul. Remember, art can free your soul!

Enjoy What You Do

To me, these words sounds magical. If you enjoy what you do, you'll get what you want or where you want to be. So true (well it all depends on his/her attitude)! Most of the time I want to or (at least) try to enjoy what I do (at work, at home, activities etc) and be thankful. And I should also be truthful to myself and the most important thing is that I still believe in my dreams.

I found a wonderful site of Carla Kay White ( I found Carla via decor8, my daily inspiration). It's about health, wealth, happiness, peace, dreams and many lovely inspirational words. One of her post I liked is on Listening to your Inner Voice.

Carla shares: 7 Habits to Listening to Your Inner Voice

1. Visualize your ideal lifestyle. A vision board is extremely powerful tool. You can write letters to yourself describing your ideal day. The more details the better. This lets the universe know what to bring into your life.

2. Give thanks daily. Having a Gratitude Journal can changed your life. Writing down everything you're grateful for is a message to the universe to bring more of it into your life.

3. Meditate as much as you can. Clearing the mind allows for new thoughts to come in. Even just a few minutes a day makes all the difference. Sit in silence, go for a walk, or just take a deep breath and repeat a mantra.

4. Give away the exact thing you want to receive.This might sound silly. How are you suppose to give away what you don’t have. The good news is that we all have plenty to offer. If you’re looking for a new job, help a friend with an introduction. If you want to lose weight, donate your Twinkies to the food panty and a few hours of your time to a community garden. Giving is the currency of the universe.

5. Take care of your health. You can change your diet and lost over 20lbs. It also can clear your head and calm your soul. Exercise daily, try to get plenty of rest, and take vitamins. Your physical body is the temple of your gift, so nurture and pamper it. A long, hot bath works too!

6. Be the real you as much as possible. As Carla wrote this: there is a girl sitting across from me in the coffee shop with a big pink flower in her hair. It’s a bold display of individuality and true spirit. Once you start letting your true self out, you’ll discover that life is far easier and far, far richer.

7. Go with the flow. Carla again wrote "Last spring I wasn’t selected for a very cool job. Of course I was crushed. But I just found out that role was made redundant, so I would have been out of a job anyway". Everything works out as it should. And the more I accept life rather than resist it, the more creativity and innovation blossom.


Illustration by Aimee Sicuro

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Awesome talent

Another awesome talent in the family. This girl could be the next Amy Winehouse (minus the booze and drugs though). She's Nahneen Kula (Charlene Kula-Gibbs, mixed of Black-American, Native (Red Indian) American and Dusun parentage..if I'm not wrong) and she's my 2nd cousin. Her vocal is amazing and I'm proud of her. You go girl! She has a few videos on Youtube and here's one that I liked.


To add something before I go off layan-ing my lil rascal (CJ), here's a beautiful music quote from Martin Luther which goes:
"Next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world. It controls our thoughts, minds, hearts, and spirit. A person who does not regard music as a marvelous creation of God, does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and the grunting of hogs"

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Carmen's Song/Obsessed with Coraline



This was accidently posted a few days ago before I even finish bla bla-ing what's it all about cos CJ was playing the computer keys at that time. Oh well, just to say something about CJ's current obsession. She's so into the animated movie 'Coraline' and she's crazy about this particular song. She even memorized a few of those weird lyrics already. But I think this song and the movie are both cool too - artistically weird and unique. Have you watched it? It's worth watching if you haven't. Reminds of me some similar and old creative/weird animated movies such as Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride.



This is one of Coraline's movie soundtrack:
"End Credits" by Bruno Coulais and beautifully sung by the Children Choir of Nice.

Here's a rougly written lyrics taken from the creator of this video:

Creaking Van Iddli Fla Lu Va
Pretty Sah Lu Feh Iddli Twu Ki Padi
Trelly Goilly Doilly Seli Pretty Chedi
Emi Swalin Gwoh

Seri Ferin Dorin Greh
Fairy Seiry Don
Sweedes Machin Twinky Doo
Fweeden Soreti*

Oosi An Tweeban Retiso
Neh-Neh Fehreeden
Sindwee Bin Doh

Swin Ting Lan Twenty Some Dring Doli
Sweet Lan Bih City Tran Dolinda
Pretty Leheleni Switi Kull
Meli Swimmin So

(repeat until *)


These might be the translation in English, they seem right but who knows:

Creaking is the door so gently,
Side to side calling your name.
Never ever ever ever open that door,
Things won't be the same.
Crawling is the spiders hand,
Seaching for it's prey.
Soon You'll be caught next,
Traped in the spiders web!

(the ghost children) RUUUUN!
SAAAAVE US
PLEASE SAVE OUR SOULS!!!!

(ghost boy)
Find our eyes before the full moon,
Make sure other mother dosn't find you,
A button in the eye will surely curse you.
The witch will eat you too!

(all of the choir)
Find our eyes before the full moon,
Make sure other mother dosn't find you,
A button in the eye will surely curse you.
The witch will eat you too!

Crawling is the spiders hand,
Seaching for it's prey.
Soon You'll be caught next,
Traped in the spiders web!


Since CJ is obsessed with Coraline, I made her a Coraline Scrapbook to make her happy. She often brings the scapbook and DVD cover to bed. My funny & weird lil girl.



Wanna know more about this movie - check out the trailer & synopsis here:

Coraline Jones is a girl of 11 who is feisty, curious, and adventurous beyond her years. She and her parents have just relocated from Michigan to Oregon. Missing her friends and finding her parents to be distracted by their work, Coraline tries to find some excitement in her new environment. She is befriended–or, as she sees it, is annoyed–by a local boy close to her age, Wybie Lovat and visits her older neighbors, eccentric British actresses Miss Spink and Forcible as well as the arguably even more eccentric Russian Mr. Bobinsky. After these encounters, Coraline seriously doubts that her new home can provide anything truly intriguing to her, but it does; she uncovers a secret door in the house. Walking through the door and then venturing through an eerie passageway, she discovers an alternate version of her life and existence. On the surface, this parallel reality is similar to her real life–only much better. The adults, including the solicitous Other Mother, seem much more welcoming to her. Coraline is more the center of attention there–even from the mysterious Cat. She begins to think that this Other World might be where she belongs. But when her wondrously off-kilter, fantastical visit turns dangerous and Other Mother schemes to keep her there, Coraline musters all of her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home–and save her family.

Genre: Kids/Family, Fantasy, Animation, Adaptation
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Ian McShane, Jennifer Saunders, Keith David and John Hodgman
Director: Henry Selick


Dakota Fanning - the voice of Coraline. Mmmm....I liked the name Coraline:P

Be careful what you wish for!

'Puppy Love'



This video was at Yahoo! today. Oooh..I wish I could have one of these lovelies. I'm sure Carmen will go nuts about it - she loves kitties & puppies.

Funny looking dessert

I've mentioned in my earlier post about the dessert at my last function (MICCI Sabah Annual Luncheon). Okay, here's a picture of the dessert ' Strawberry Cheese Cake with Wild Berries Sauce'. I thought it was a pretty presentation but then I realized that it actually looked rather funny and odd. What is the pastry chef thinking? For me it looks (sorry, I'm not sure what the exact words to describe it) 'sexual'...don't you think so?


The long thing in green is a harden sugar syrup which is pointing/placed through the round thing (white chocolate) and the sauce looked like a sperm. OMG! I don't know if I'm just being too imaginative or is it the chef trying to symbolise something?!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

My last event?

Finally today, our company's major event this year, our Annual Luncheon is over and done with and probably my last event with MICCI. Phew after nearly 9 years I'm leaving MICCI - maybe not for good yet cos they (the bosses) do not want to let me go just yet and they offered to increase my pay but it's still lower than the new offer in my new workplace which I'll be starting my new duty as Administration Manager this coming Thursday. I will miss MICCI tremendously but I will try out this new post first. The good thing is (with this new job) I'm gonna have a secretary of my own to assist me...that's something new and good step to climb up the ladder in the corporate world - so wish me luck people!

Today at the Annual Luncheon, it was chaotic-ly busy as usual but so glad that the Chief Minister (thank goodness the State Assembly Meeting finished early) did turn up but a few Cabinet Ministers did a no show which is so frustrating to those member companies who hosted them. I was too busy to even take photos of the food except the last course - the dessert (Strawberry cheese cake with wild berries sauce - yummy and beautifully presented). We in the Secretariat table sat with a young Japanese businessman who came all the way to Tokyo just to attend the luncheon. Since he called us at the last minute and the VIP table was already filled up, he doesn't mind seating with us. He was so super friendly, humble and speaks good English.

Anyways, since my card reader is not working (shucks!), I'll post some photos later ya.

I'm really, really gonna miss organising/coordinating events after this. Just imagine all the contacts you can get. This difficult decision is for my family and for my own good. I hope things will turn out well.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Sudden Interest

Just recently, my twin sis, Debbie, got me into reading and listening to her researched stories on Mt. Everest, particularly of those stories that linked to the worst disaster in the history of Everest - the worst storm that hit Everest on May 10, 1996 where 8 people/climbers perished including the two world renowned guides, Rob Hall & Scott Fischer. It's interesting, inspiring, motivating & heart-wrenching. I was so focus on listening of her well-explained details that my head was full of imagination which makes me want to know more and what happened next. As if she's an expert climber already that she knows what and where is 'Hillary Steps', 'Khumbu Falls', 'South Col', the 'Death Zone' and blalala. And she even list down in one of her goals in life to climb up Mt. Everest one day, well at least reach 'Base Camp' (yeah right / as if) and that IF only she can afford to do so. She is so ambitious despite my warnings about frost bites and all. Well it's good to dream such a dream and I'm happy for her that she wants to live life to the fullest.

For more details about the May 10 storm, read here, from the journal of Cathy O'Dowd, the 1st South African woman who reached the summit of Mt. Everest. She recalls the experiences she had during the aftermath of that very tragic day.

And here are some photos of the Himalayan mountain range and Mt. Everest taken from the plane by a friend of Debbie's while on his flight from Sweden to Hong Kong. So beautiful!




I'm SO MOVED now to do something BIG in life - something that is unforgetable and memorable that people could/might remember me for (aiseman).

Keep dreaming Mama Rock!