Adakah Ini Cinta (Is This Love)?

How many of you watched the Anugerah Industri Muzik 2011 last night? I probably quite late, coz I switched on Astro Ria channel almost towards end of the show. Not too bad though coz I got to see the best part; as what people say 'save the best for last'. Yup, the performance by Najwa Latif who sang her famous debut "Cinta Muka Buku" or Facebook Love. One word: splendid. The way it's being performed through acoustic is so very raw and honest, notes by notes are clearly expressed the feeling hidden via a great vocal exuberance; and of course... I love seeing what she wore. A simple white shirt blouse and black skirt, paired with a properly done black tudung - I think that's how the portrayal of a hijabi girl should be, if I may say. (unlike the other singer who claimed to be another hijabi girl, but pakai ketat nak mampus...eeek!) 

Anyway. I love the lyrics of the song, though I have to admit that last night is the first time I heard it in full. Very simple and raw... it speaks the inner voice about a love struck through cyberworld. I know that it is possible to find love thru Facebook, or even the online dating website coz those things are not new these days. But what about thru blog? Or blogging? Can we find love thru blogs too? Is it possible? Could you be attracted to someone just by reading what they're writing about, without even meeting them in person before? Would you take a dare step and ask the person that you 'met' in a blog out for a 'date'....and let the magic unfolded later on? Would you turn a 'total stranger' into a 'total friends' or even, who knows a 'total soulmate'? Would you...?

I dunno whether I have the guts to do that - to initiate the first move and ask the one that I have the 'crush' on out for a coffee. Probably I'm not that brave enough *sheepish*. But I've been on the receiving end so many times. In London, in Malaysia...everywhere, readers asking me out. Why? I dunno. But I have to say I so absolutely flattered! ^___^

Mentioning Cinta Muka Buku, I love this part of the lyrics...

Banyak persoalan yang berada di minda
Banyak tanda tanya dan juga kata kerja
Otak kata jangan hati pula kata ya

Hidup tak menentu adakah ini cinta ?

Adakah ini cinta? Yes. Actually I have found it. The CINTA. In and out of town, up and down the hill... finally I found my CINTA. At Cameron Highlands recently. You wanna see what it looks like? 

Voila! BUAH CINTA. Or Lover's fruit... ha! RM2 for a packet of 5 fruits, and RM5 for 3. Where else can you find 'love' this cheap? :)

The other part of the song...

Banyak soalan banyak juga jawapannya

Kata hati dan rasa tak dibiar saja

Setiap yang berlaku ada kebaikannya

Harus pejam mata dan cuba apa saja

Cuba apa saja.... and so I did. How does this 'love' really taste? Unlike typical 'love' out there that's normally sweet; this 'love' is very sour!! The inner is a cross between a tomato and kiwi fruit. In fact, when my sis' bibik saw it she said ini terung Belanda! Oh, yer ker? No wonder it does look like an eggplant in a glance too. But whatever it is, trying this 'love' would definitely tingle the back of your ears... just like a real love would! [click] :]

Pabila kau katakan kau suka aku

Ku terdiam terkedu tak tahu mana nak tuju Oooo
Itulah cinta yang satu
Cinta di muka buku

When would people wanna write about "cinta laman sesawang"?

p/s: did you watched Najwa's performance with Greyson Chance. Phenomenal!

[credit to intan for posting this in fb]

B'day Weekend Part 1 : Di Alam Maya

Let's kick off my bday celebration this year. I think I am quite lucky that my birthday falls on a Saturday, making a great way to spend my weekend away from home. I've been wishing for so long to spend my b'day night at a chic hotel to 'reward' myself once a year (I know I've been rewarding my self too much on the 'material' part, ahaks! But hotel stay, nope). So, I looked at all the possible 'candidates' on where I should spend a night in KL. Why KL? Though I was thinking of going back to my hometown, yet after thinking that I will balik kampung again this weekend for Eid, I changed my mind. In fact some of my family members are in KL, therefore what better way than to celebrate with them too. And my best mates are also there, and this would be a great time to catch up as well.

So, browse punya browse... I picked one hotel that is very close to the world's most iconic building, KLCC. If last time I've stayed at Traders Hotel by Shangri La, the gorgeous boutique hotel which is located at the corner of KL Convention Center during my time becoming an emcee for a international event there, this time I decided to switch to the other side of Jalan Ampang instead, facing towards the front part of KLCC. It's Hotel Maya which is absolutely stunning.

I've been hearing about Hotel Maya for quite some time. The images in the magazines really lure me to really want to spend a night there. Very plush and modern. Very chic and quite zen too. And it's so very masculine decor is what I really loved about.

While checking in I was contempt that I'm gonna get the room facing towards KLCC, as mentioned in my booking through Agoda.com. But the receptionist told me I've been upgraded to a bigger studio room, and the bad news it'll be facing KL Tower instead. Though quite disappointed not getting the KLCC view, yet to be getting much bigger space to spend a night away for a birthday weekend - what better could I ask for. Plus, it's KL Tower, one of the icon in Malaysia too!

What can I say. If I mentioned the word 'amazing', it'll be just an understatement. But that's the fact: it's amazing! Not just about the zen look of the reception area, but the room itself is fantastic! It's beyond my expectation. It look quite simple, but modern and very chic. Just like my bedroom at home, ahaks! It's a huge studio room - with an area for the workspace on one end, a big chaise lounge in the middle, and a king-size bed towards the other end. The windows open up to the entire view outside, by which my room is at 10th floor, making the look is even fantastic.

Oh, when I said modern, you've gotta see the seamless transition between the bed and the bathroom... which is as if they're one. Not for anyone cuppa tea coz there's only glass window separating those two, making it transparent for others to be seeing you taking your bath or shower inside. Good for any exhibitionist of you, but for some you might've that eeek! factor lingers inside. Think you might freak out? Don't be coz there's a curtain to cover the space.

The studio room truly exceed my expectations. They got everything that a travelling executives need : a huge desk for your workspace (by which a part of the table is movable) with free high-speed internet connection (and wifi, though mine doesn't work!). There's a coffee machine in the minibar, plus the iron and ironing board ready in the closet. There's even an umbrella throw inside, which is quite a surprise. But one exception though: what's with the CRT TV? Isn't supposed to be LED these days? Hmmm....

Anyway, the best part is the bath area: the big, free standing tub facing towards the living area, and the rain shower. Fantastic! What more can you ask for than having your shower while seeing the view of KL? (I've just gave you such a dirty thoughts, huh? Ahaks!). Anyway. Enjoy the pix that I took around the room.

Oh, btw. KLCC is just 5 mins away from the hotel. But being lazy myself, I drove there instead of walking since it was a scorching hot weekend. You think I wanna sweat in my very ranggi outfit when I go shopping there? Wrong answer. Ha!

the kingsize bed! (but the mattress is not 'springy', ouch!)

very wide open space

look at the view!

very modern minibar, in glossy piano black enclosure.

(but a CRT TV, are you kidding me? you call this modern?)

tea, coffee, coffee machine... what else do you want? oh, slimming tea, ahaks!

oooh, sexy bath tub... facing the view of KL.

what better feel than to wake up and seeing the KL Tower. (ko tak nampak, aku jer yg bleh tgk. ahaha!)

bubbly tub, ready for some action!

the choice of soaps...

the shampoo, the bath foam, etc...etc...

so, you forgot to bring a toothbrush? not a problem, sir...

the work area, so chic and modern....

ooh, someone's getting this present.... :)

there's even ruler, pencil and a sharpener inside the box. and an eraser too?

for the Muslims, not a problem coz the kiblat direction is shown in the drawer...

call the hotel's 'One Call Center', and they'll bring me the prayer mat....

think you might wake up late? there's an alarm clock by your bedside...

what a view!

KL view, towards the Legends Hotel....

the KL Tower, right before my eyes...

thanks to my telefoto lens... it's power zoom!

Masjid India. Batik Malaysia

The previous weekend, a continuation after attending my cousin's graduation ceremony and going to the Big Bad Wolf booksale event; me and my entourage (that's my nephews and nieces, to be exact) went to the heart of KL to jalan-jalan. It was quite late in the evening, in fact it was already almost Maghrib when we arrived to the Central Market. Actually it was my niece, Hanis, who asked me to drive there coz she wanted to go to the Jalan Masjid India to find some hijabs. She said there's a lot of choices around, as what she was informed by her friends at UniMap. I said, okay fine... let's we all go there. Actually it was a last minute plan, coz we're all supposed to return home as all of our family members wanted to have a makan-makan gathering at Putrajaya. But being me who is always a spontaneous person, I'm always up for anything - especially shopping!

I was quite excited to go too coz...erm, I actually never been to Jalan Masjid India, which is famous for its street market day and night. And to be honest too, I've never even been to Masjid Jamek which is just around the corner from Central Market. Pity me for being too ignorance of my own capital city. But Petaling Street... aha, that's different coz I've been there quite a couple of times before since it was so famous with the tourist! (though in reality, the roads are all very close nearby).

Anyway. Talking about Jalan Masjid India, I am so surprised to see many, many, many stalls lining up the pavement, by which a permanent roof has been built to allow the visitors walk in ease comes rain or shine. And of course, there're many people shopping around as well, especially that day which is a weekend. For the locals, they should've known that there're many things sold at that street market - from the hijabs, to the makeups stuff, accessories like brooch, bags, wallets, etc...etc. You just name it. Though at first I said to my kids (my kids? rasa cam tua la plak!) we should be there only for just half an hour; but with a lot of stalls to visit we end up spending almost one hour and a half! And Hanis, though she's the one who's insisted to go there in the first place; didn't find any hijab coz unfortunately the sizes are too big for her. Hmmm... banyak la sangat kau punya choices yer? Maybe next time she should go to Jalan TAR instead.

On the way back, while we're leaving the place I suddenly spotted a stall selling batik and pelikat sarongs. I was totally gobsmacked and utterly speechless coz the fabrics on display are absolutely stunning! Though most of the batiks are actually for the ladies, I am somehow becoming like a kid in a chocolate factory - so enchanted with the beauty of the art and craftsmanship of the batik paintings. I am a big fan of Malaysian art, that's why it's my weakness when I came across with anything artsy like that. I took a look at the sarongs one by one that's hanging alongside the wall. I asked the salesguy, from where does those batik are from and he replied, Terengganu. No wonder they're beautiful.

When I asked him about the price of each, I was expecting the answer would be more than a hundred ringgit. But when he uttered 'RM 20' - I was absolutely ecstatic! RM 20? Are you kidding me? For the beautiful batik painting like that? A big OMG! I told my nieces, there's no way I'm gonna leave Jalan Masjid India without taking those home.

And I did. I took one home - the batik sarong in purple with the golden-outlined floral motifs. It was the most attention-grabber compared to the others hanging there. (The others are actually equally stunning, by which I'm gonna get them all when I visited Jalan Masjid India again, soon!). When my niece asked me, are you gonna wear it coz it's for the ladies?

I said, No. It's for the wall art. 

With that kind of batik design - which is quite out there  compared to the batik sarongs seen on my mum and my sisters - it is too beautiful to be worn on somebody. This one deserves to be displayed as a wall art!

Oh, btw. All of us missed out to go for makan-makan coz it's already too late. We end up having our dinner at Nando's in Mid Valley Megamall. A spontaneous decision by me, again. Upon taking order, I told my other niece, Atiqah, "Tikah, waiter tu muka dia macam penyanyi Shinee!". "Yang mana satu? Taemin?" "Ha ah, yer kot tu nama dia..." And then we all gelak!

Balik2 jer kat rumah, semua org terbongkang penat....

I'm doing the impression of what the fishermen wear in the East Coast....but hi-fashion style, ahaks!

Weekend Break

Packed and ready to go. Tapi malas la plak nak travel...especially to drive all the way. Hmmmm.

Still, can't wait to spend time with the lovely ones. :)

London Trip : Day 1, Part 3

Continuation again from the previous post.

After you visit the London Eye, cross the Westminster Bridge towards the Westminster tube station. Take Jubilee Line again, and head to Southbound (or probably Eastbound this time) to the next stop - London Bridge. Just to remind you, this London Bridge is not the one that you think. The other London iconic landmark is actually Tower Bridge i.e. what people in Malaysia thought it was London Bridge.

Anyway, you need to go to take London Bridge coz District and Circle line (green and yellow tube line) are not in service this weekend. Anyhow, if you exit London Bridge tibe station... you'll see the other view of London. And also the tourist site - the London Dungeon!

When you exit the station, look for sign to Tower Bridge or Hays Galleria. Take that route. And you'll pass through the Hay's Galleria, with its signature quirky pirate ship fountain. There's also shops around as well as some stores.

Head down to the end coz you need to walk by the riverbank. The walkway is called the Queen's Walk.

While you take a stroll on that path, you'll pass by the Naval ship called HMS Belfast (not that important btw, ahaks!) And right before your eyes you gonna see the Tower Bridge. Tadaaa...!

Nothing much to say, just enjoy the view. It's awesome, and make you really feel I'm in London!! :)

Enjoy the view while you take a rest on the famous Potter's Park, the green open space by the London City Hall.

And you should took a night trip here too. If you're lucky, you've gotta see the middle of the bridge is elevated, to give ways to the ship thru it. A chance not to be missed.

Okay, time to cross River Thames via the bridge. Head down the Tower of London on the left side of the bridge. What is Tower of London you ask? It's actually a prison, where some of the famous names are also being executed such as Anne Boleyn. It's also the place where the Crown Jewels is kept safe.

Walk on, and it's time to shop at the Tower Shop!

Oh, to get into the Tower you need to pay. Or if you don't want to... just go into the Tower of London 'Welcome Center' instead, and see the faux Crwon Jewels in there.

Tired? Now you need to take the path at the back of the 'castle' and go to the Tower Hill tube station. You need to take the bus to get to the next destination...