I'm back people...and it's already the month of May. And in Sabah, May is the month of celebrating because it's our Harvest Festival (Pesta Kaamatan in Malay and Tadau Kaamatan in KadazanDusun) month, a cultural event and sure will be lots of FUN! The launching of the Harvest Festival was held at my home town, Tamparuli on 1st of May and this festival will ends on 31st May. There was a 'Tamu Besar' Tamparuli (a grand open-air bazaar/market) held for 3 days and it was pretty happening sight in Tamparuli. The highlights of the event will be the State Level Harvest Festival Beauty Queen Pageant (Unduk Ngadau) which will be held on 30-31 May. Read here for more info about our Sabah's Harvest Festival. And this month...we will be saying this word often - ARAMAITI!
About two years ago, I've posted about our 'Tadau Kaamatan' thingy (read here) and I've put up a picture of myself in my younger days dressed in traditional Kadazandusun costume. And this particularly picture (see below) was used without my permission by quite an established Malaysian company based in Sabah for their 2011 calendar. I guessed they just googled up about the 'Kaamatan' and stumble upon my picture - a Kadazandusun girl (konon). I didn't know about it until some of my friends called me up. I was quite upset that I called the company up but of course I don't have the right to sue them (not that I want to) because I did not do any copyright on my photo (silly me). Apparently they apologized but they didn't give me any $$ and all they could do is sent me few copies of their calendars (haha!) - I think I was too lenient with them because they told me that my picture was the most beautiful (paling cantik) - duh!
The 2011 calendar that unexpectedly featuring the very young me (taken about more than 10 years ago):
Hi there people! I'm promoting this event to everyone who happens to live in Kota Kinabalu (KK), Sabah, who works or happens to be in KK or simply could travel to KK around 28 February to 1 March. My company (there's only my boss and I) are coordinating the US 7th Fleet Band Performances to be held in KK again this year and as requested by the American Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. It's fun that we work closely with them.
Their schedule of performances in KK are like: 28 February 2011 (Mon) @ 7pm - 8pm at the Ground Floor, Centre Point Sabah Shopping Complex 1 March 2011 (Tues) @ 9am - 10am at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah; @ 12noon - 1pm at the Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School & @ 8pm - 9pm at the Perdana Park, Tanjung Aru.
They have two teams of bands - Far East Edition (plays more contemporary music, Jazz, or big band style) and Ceremonial Band. And they are already like 68 years old band (created in 1943) and they are based in Yokosuka, Japan.
Boss and I will be checking the venue at Perdana Park this afternoon. We have invited a few VIPs like the Minister of Tourism, the Japanese Consul General because the band is based in Yokosuka, Japan, the new KK City Mayor, etc to come and see their last performance at this park on 1 March.
Check out their band (Far East Edition team) performing last year in Gaya Street, KK here. Video courtesy from www.budakhutan.com (thanks Budak Hutan).
If you love music band, I'm sure you'll enjoy them - So go check them out and experience their performance! Click on US 7th Fleet Band for more info.
Today was quite a day...a happy one indeed. I just came back from our company's 1st meeting of the year held at Kasih Sayang Resort, which was hosted by Datuk CK Tan, our Vice Chairman and owner of the resort. It was the 1st time we had our Committee Meeting further away from the city and with just enough quorum, the meeting held up there in a cool place was worth it. And we were treated a nice lunch as well after a short tour of the resort which has a health spa too. The funny thing is that my boss and I forgot the road junction where we came out from and we got lost on our way back. Luckily, my boss drove a 4x4 vehicle (Toyota Harrier).
The Main Entrance of Kasih Sayang Resort From a top distant...enjoying the view of Kota Kinabalu city Hang loose take it easy Something unique that you can see around... The Manja-Manja Health Spa
And another thing...yeah! our pay is in...including bonus - wow that's one happy & suprise news for me and my boss (hehe)! Good thing to start the new year huh? - and then I'm planning to buy this and that...oh my, got to do a list! But of course priority comes first - to pay home bills and settle remaining debts (talking about credit cards - will temporarily stop using them this year for sure).
Because it's a happy day today, just to share something that I heart..ya, I heart Gwyneth Palthrow - she's a sweet person and she can SING! Here's a lovely cameo plus singing performance of her in Glee..cos I love this song!
Shot this view of Mt. Kinabalu with my simple/cheap digicam very early this morning, right in front of my house doorstep. I just love the cold morning breeze we have here in Tamparuli and today is another lovely morning.
I missed climbing up Mt. Kinabalu. If I ever climb again, it will be my 6th time. Luckily I've climbed and conquered it before the fees have ridiculously increased like hell now.
So this is my everyday natural and orginal poster of Mt. Kinabalu....
This is highest hill in Tamparuli Town - Bukit Perahu. If you want to train yourself before climbing up Mt. Kinabalu, climbing this hill is the best training place to build up your stamina. Without zooming, this is the actual view from a distant...muahahaha. Seen from the left is Bukit Perahu and on the right is the majestic Mt. Kinabalu.
1) I love the month of May...especially whenever the Kaamatan (Harvest Festival)holidays comes around and besides that I love lurking for unique etnic stuffs at Kaamatan Bazaars. One of the bazaar, which they had it like annually prior to the Tadau Kaamatan is held at the Centrepoint Shopping Complex.
Here's what I've bought: Just love the green shades...a green lil handbag with matching coin purse Unique bracelet..just love the color A handmade cloth hand purse (see how long it can tahan after I used it) ...and some cute collectible earrings (sorry no pics).
2) I received a sweet email from my husby on an inspirational video presentation "The Interview with God" and I heart the beautiful screen photos which you can also download as screensaver - COOL! They have other inspirational videos on their websites too (including Susan Boyle). But I adores this particular video that I have also copied and pasted on my blog (to watch, kindly check at the bottom of my blog's page)so I can read it as a reminder whenever I want to, you can do that too:) Although I'm so unholy and not really a rajin church goer but I still have that special spiritual relationship with God in my heart (only GOD knows)..wink^*
3) I'm inspired to write song and loving jazz music more and more and more! I'm SO inspired with the likes of Katie Melua and Zee Avi (a rising Malaysian singer-songwriter, guitarist & ukelele player, originally from Miri, Sarawak, and who got discovered from YouTube by an indie music label 'Brushfire Records, which is partly owned by Jack Johnson and now based in the US - lucky her!) The thing is I WANT TO write songs like these songs....
Nine Bicycles in Beijing by Katie Melua
There are nine million bicycles in Beijing That's a fact, It's a thing we can't deny Like the fact that I will love you till I die.
We are twelve billion light years from the edge, That's a guess, No-one can ever say it's true But I know that I will always be with you.
I'm warmed by the fire of your love everyday So don't call me a liar, Just believe everything that I say
There are six BILLION people in the world More or less and it makes me feel quite small But you're the one I love the most of all
INTERLUDE We're high on the wire With the world in our sight And I'll never tire, Of the love that you give me every night
There are nine million bicycles in Beijing That's a Fact, it's a thing we can't deny Like the fact that I will love you till I die
And there are nine million bicycles in Beijing And you know that I will love you till I die!
My Aphrodisiac is You by Katie Melua
Some people say That oysters make you come on strong, But I don’t buy it, I don’t believe my diet turns me on. Won’t take no pills, That’s the last thing that I need to do, I can’t deny it, My aphrodisiac is you. Alright, I could sniff some powdered rhino horn, And go to bed in rubber gloves. But I don’t need no stimulation, Potions, balms or embrocation, I’m in love, In other words: Don’t smoke no grass, Or opium from old Hong Kong, That hubble-bubble Just makes me see you double All night long. Don’t waste my time With Spanish fly and roots to chew, They cause me trouble, Because my aphrodisiac is you. Alright, I could sniff some powdered rhino horn, And go to bed in rubber gloves. But I don’t need no stimulation, Potions, balms or embrocation, I’m in love, In other words: Some people like To read the khama sutra first, But I don’t need it I think if I should read it I’d be worse; Don’t ask me why, ‘Cause baby, I ain’t got a clue. I just concede it, My aphrodisiac Is you.
Written by Mike Batt Published by Dramatico / Sony Music Publishing From the album 'Call Off The Search'
Zee Avi's "Bitter Hear"
Sun rays come down as seen when they hit the ground, Children spinning around till they fall down down down. I wait for you: it's been two hours now, You're still somewhere in town, Your dinners getting cold. I rest my case you are always this late, And you know how much I hate waiting around 'round 'round, Bitter heart, bitter heart tries to keep it all inside, Bitter heart, bitter heart shadows will help you try to hide, Bitter heart, my bitter heart is gettin' just a little fragile, Bitter heart, bitter heart of mine. And then you come and tell me the same reason as you did yesterday, So tell me whats her name. Doo doo da dum, doo doo da dum, doo doo doo doo doo doo da da dum dum, da da da da dum, da da da da dum, da da da da dum. Bitter heart, bitter heart tries to keep it all inside Bitter heart, bitter heart shadows will help you try to hide, Bitter heart, my bitter heart is just getting a little fragile, Bitter heart, bitter heart of mine, of mine, of mine, of mine, of mine, of mine.
4) I badly need a new hairdo! I want my new hairdo to be like Meg Ryan's cute kinky ringlet (as seen from her recent movie 'The Women').
I'm so fed up of bunning my hair like this all the time but I can't stop buying these cute hairclips & hairbands either
5) I yearn to go for an adventure (like I used to do in my younger days) (a notebook made in China I guess (from my notebook collections)...I giggle when I read it, very the broken - this is sekadar gambar hiasan sahaja)
Brought Carmen to the beach at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort, Tuaran last Saturday evening. It's been quite awhile that we have not been out at the beach and get to see a spectacular sunset such as these...what a beauty! Unfortunately, I don't have a VERY GOOD camera so this is all I could shoot for now (pity huh?...but I'm working on getting one very soon). Anyways, Deb went jogging/brisk walking there, Carmen joined her for awhile and enjoyed running, playing the sands and sea water & feeling the breeze after that. The sky also looked like an art masterpiece - a spilt splash of watercolour...COOL! We intend to do this kind of outing pretty often...its great for Carmen.
After SO LONG, I've finally updated and put up these old,old posts (a few months back history). I just thought I should cos it's still part of my journal this year.
If interested, be free to read but if not...it's okay.
Well, there's a few happenings the past few weeks like one of Tamparuli's old shophouses were on flames (read friends Romeo and Lola's blog)....I feel weird because two days before the fire, I went to buy a double-sided tape at 'Kedai Ru Lim' the only book & stationery shop there..like suddenly after so many, many, many years (probably almost 10 years) that I never shop at Ru Lim. It's like a sign...going there for the last time. And there was chicken pox outbreak in my neighbourhood and my little girl Carmen got it...but thank God it's only a mild one that I could count her chicken pox blisters around her body, arms and legs only.
This morning I get to see the Powerboat Race...racing for the qualifying rounds I guess from a window outside my office. The Sabah 2008 F2 World Cup Powerboat Race starts today until the 14th. Spectators can come and see from the KK Waterfront and there's lots of tourist around right now...bah apalagi. I might also go and see it this weekend with my family.
And I got an SMS from the Kompleks Asia City (KAC) management that there's a Sabah Supermodel & Man Hunks 2008 Live at KAC's Event Hll at 2pm tomorrow, 13 Dec. If you want to see some hunks and drool at their body...why not...go check it out.
