The Lion wears Bata - Part 2

Yes, I know CNY had passed like 2 weeks ago and yet I'm still blogging about lion dance which is so lalalala outdated.

But this is going to different, I hope.

I'm not posting up pretty pictures of lion dance nor showing you how pretty fireworks are.

The After-Mess

Traditionally, the lion was regarded as a guardian creature which summon and fortune and good luck, and with the drums, cymbals and fire crackers, it wards off back luck and exorcise evil spirits.

But nowadays, you can see trucks and trucks of young men at the back of a pick-up truck with printed association names house-hopping along a street from one end to the other. Talking about over-commercialized huh.

Owners of the houses invited them to "dance" for auspiciousness and later reward them with an attractive angpao, with an official receipt given back. 

(Of course, the more "cantik" the content in the angpao, the longer the lion feels "motivated" to dance)

And few weeks ago, a friend (I feel that I can no longer freely put their names and pictures on it because they felt slight disturbed when the public recognize them) of mine invited Theen and I to his house to watch lion dance.

I guess we're only 4 years old in his eyes. I mean, do any of your friends ask you to go to his/her house and watch lion dance? That's why my friend here is Si-Peh-Cer. 

Maybe he thought we still get excited over 2 men faking, I mean mimicking a lion barging blindly at every corner of the house.  I said "blindly" because I witnessed the lion bumping its head on to a pillar... Damn funny you know! It was caught on video too but I was too malas to get it from SL.

... crap. Did I just mention his name?

1 sec late to snap the "head-bumping" incident

The pillar, the lion and the laughing man

So normally what the house owner will do is prepare from fruits, normally mandarin oranges (kam) and pomelo for the lion to do some "magic" out of it.

How I wish someone could use durians and watermelons instead...

*evil grin*

Some leave it nice on a plate and put it on the floor, whereas some hardworking and more "pantang" one has them all arranged nicely resembling any auspicious Chinese characters like 吉or 福.

 

大吉

And later the lion "eat" up one by one (with a human hand stuck out from its mouth) and later "process" it with its abdomen.

Must be damn hot and humid inside

Like hatching an egg, I mean kam.

And we waited 10-15 minutes for it to finish.

The End Result

福 in a square

So nice right the way the feel off the skin. Maybe can create a new record in Guinness World record leh. Fastest kam-peeling lion in the whole world. 

The thing is... I didn't see any leftover skins nor white piths on the floor after the lion moved away! 

Call me sakai or sua-ku if you know where are them but... seriously, I always thought it will miraculously disappear on its on like magic trick I saw from the TV. I knew it is hidden somewhere but I didn't have any clue.

24 and naive, I am.

Until that day.... I finally knew the answer and quickly snapped a picture and showed it proudly to my friend. 

They all called me silly and didn't want to layan me when I told them that I finally solve one of the biggest mystery in my life. "Ah-Duiiiiiiii......... Don't tell me you don't know where all the skins go har? How old are you oh?"

Told you I need new friends didn't I?

Just kidding lar.. I love them to bits.

Dang Dang Dang Dang

*cue drum rolls*

So, other than mimicking a lion... I guess this young man can go do a kangaroo show too.

=p

Please, leave our families alone

I received a not-so-friendly comment from an anonymous chicken yesterday.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Kaizen Sushi (Seria)":

i fuckin' disagree ,the foods taste way much better and the looks and designs of it is better too , than other sushi restaurants in Brunei !! try it out before saying a no no from some retarded post . excapade good ? they blows and sucks cock . most foods aren't fresh and healthy , the reason why kaizen took a long time to cook some meal is because they are newly cooked , excapade just simply recook it in my opinion.

to all the No no cockshiners , suck ur grandmom's saggy boobs

It was such an eye sore, having comment from someone who is foul-mouthed.

It's fine with me if you think Kaizen is better than Excapade and defended them by saying they took long time to serve their food because its all freshly cooked.

But, do you have any evidence to support your words?

"excapade just simply recook it in my opinion."

That's not an opinion, that's an ASSUMPTION.

Everything I blogged wasn't based on assumption, it was what I experienced and came across that night. Their service was bad, their serving was slow and the food was cold, I was there and those were what happened.

I understand that it's unfair because it was their opening day and I shouldn't judge so quickly. But I did said that I will go there again after maybe 3 months time giving them another chance to prove me wrong.

And not everyone was "disturbed" by my post. I had friends and blogmates who read that entry but still went there and gave it a try. I didn't stop them and in fact, I asked them how was their dining experience so that it can give me some clue when shall I visit them again.

Just because we have our own preferences then we shall all "suck our grandmom's saggy boobs"? Please, finish your kindy level before commenting. Can you be more childish than this?

No one insulted your family just because you like Kaizen so leave ours alone.

p/s: You have one day left to vote for your favorite restaurant.

Mission King-Possible

Remember this sad post?

This entry is sort of like a... sequel of it. I guess?

Note to all friends and.. friends? From today onwards, your Chalieness is on a strict mission, i.e. saving $1k a month. Save for the freaking "ONE YEAR OF RAINY DAYS"!

(Don't make me go ranting again... I think all my friends had enough of it and some even gave some really absurd "suggestions" or "alternatives". Silly goose.)

Maybe it seems nothing to you out there who's earning $3k and above, living in your parent's big bungalow, driving the latest Merz and still have extra to spend on luxurious dinners and outings.

But not for me who has to pay the monthly installment for the car, insurance premium, give mother some "allowance" ,pay for utilities such as E-Speed (which is so bloody expensive compare to most countries) and still have a big dream of buying a house with my own money in 10 - 15 years time.

It's not easy.

(I personally think that its still a rip-off, the new E-speed Time. Seriously, $29.90 monthly and only free 100 minutes, and $0.05 / minute after free traffic exhausted??? Its like, paying $0.299 per minute where as cybercafe only charged average $1 an hour, which is $0.0166666 per minute! And I do know some cybercafe even charged as low as $0.50 to $0.80 per hour. "Wan-Ban" meh)


After countless attempts of calculating, it's confirmed... I'm only left with a measly amount of $150 ~ $180, to spend!

And this money excludes the fuel for traveling to and fro work, easi recharge cards and normal socializing makan-makan + gossip-gossip tea time with the kanasaiers.

$150 seems a lot to those age under 15. No need to worry about school fees, no need to worry about food and living. All they need to do is study and pass their exams (not by cheating) and think what new mobile phone to buy and bring to school show off to friends. Bug parents to buy recharge cards so they can download the latest ring tone and also MMS/ SMS silly things. And also buy the latest Lollipop or Avril Lavigne CD or any other ojipala merchandised products.

*puufffffff* ihatespoilbrats!

So there, it's official now.

Your Chalieness will be banned from Excapade, boutiques, shoe shops, bag shops, and gelato stalls and not even pasar malam tongkeng stalls, for 2 years! Imagine that!

(Unless any kind souls out there are charitable enough to buy me Salmon don or double-chocolate gelato. *flash puppy eyes* If only I can charge $0.10 per page view from my blog. )

Every single penny is important to me now.

Last time I see $0.10 big like bicycle tyre.
Now, I have learn to see $0.01 big like LORRY TYRE!

Don't mess with a crazy poor woman on a shopping-diet I tell you!

But, so far so good lah. I had only spent $8.30 for the past 2 weeks. On food.
Sigh. I'm so kasian can die now!

If only I stay in BSB, I'll go to the Donut place and work as a professional QUEUER!
Queuing up for people who wants to buy "now-the-in-thing" donuts.

Hmm.. how much should I charge ah for an hour queue har?

(Really so nice kah? I have not been there nor I think I have the chance now. Parking fee is not cheap and I cannot sabar waiting so long for DONUTS! Anyone tapao some for me perhaps?)


Okay lah. I admit lah. I'm less kasian compare to those who doesn't have proper shelter, clean clothes and decent meals.

I'm still eating healthily (Mum's food, what else. No KFC, no DQ, no Cadbury, no Lays.. of course healthy lah!), channel surfing with my Astro controller and blogging in my air-con room. I'm luckier comparing to 46810354 people out there. (Numbers simply hamtam-ed. I have no idea what is the total population of the third world countries)

Still, for those who itemize out a bloody "WISH LIST"...

OI! I'm not interested lah! You don't have to put there and tell everyone what LV bag, Nike shoe or MAC eye shadow you want okay. Why do you have to constantly "remind" everyone what you want kan? Somemore have to keh-si keh-si show off and strike it off telling everyone "I have that liao luuuuuuu~".

(If it's for your birthday or Xmas I faham lah. Make it easier for your friends mah. Else.. you bloody show-off-ers, sod off!)

What? Hint hint your non-existence secret admirer to buy for you hia? Wait till langsat ripe and fall down liao, the item you listed become outdated liao also don't have ah. Chewwwwww.


*Pfffttt* Sour-grape power rules!



Warning: You're reading a Shopping+Excapade-dieter's blog.
All content posted in this entry varies from what blogger is in real life. Am still very nice and sweet for the moment okay.


And.. I just spent B$8.00 for my car's fuel (Phew~ Lucky I live in a peaceful country which exports Oil and Gas), leaving me a grand total of B$172.00 to survive until the next pay day.

Wish me luck!

I need plenty of motivation and encouragement now.

Introduce you to my good friends,

Miss No-money-inside cheapVincci Wallet and Mr. One-Eighty-Calculator

Don't leave me alone please you two. You're very very very important to me now, both controlling my shopping-urge and remind me of my

MISSION KING-POSSIBLE!

Stay away from me you evil CREDIT CARD! You're useless from now on!

p/s: Before you peeps out there go guessing wildly that the money might be for my non-existence wedding, NO! WE'RE POOR AND HAVE NO MONEY TO KAHWIN! Happy now? How many times do I have to repeat that har?

(And don't you dare go curse me to give the buy-1-get-1-free package ah! Don't understand? Aiyooo.. Pregnant before kahwin lah!)

p/p/s: Any helpful tips on saving money or earning money, share share lah~ Can? Pwease~?

p/p/p/s: I'm not asking for your sympathy. I'm not broke, I'm just saving money.

Setting up the bird trap...

(Post edited with comments replied)

.. I mean nest, really.

There's an interesting article posted up in BB last weekend that really caught my attention.

This one. (CLICK IT LAH!)

How to catch your bird before she flies.
By Kartini Knox.

(Okay.. three links already. You better go read it ya)

Finish reading?

And now I can start setting up my bird trap nest.

* * * * *

Because I have a good buddy who's not bitter when seeing us all in pairs and doesn't mind to be our rubber-tube (substitute) when we have no one to go out with.

Because he can cooks, does laundry and irons, bake cookies and cake and most importantly, he doesn't use a guyliner nor wear lip gloss.

Because he can be a good partner for movies and soapy dramas telling and recommending ou-xiang-ju that you don't even feel like watching just by hearing the name...

Because he's good in ranting and can make funny comments when you feel down or bad about something or someone.

Because he's a good boy who helps out his mother doing 80% of the house chores and bring his aunties out shopping. He can also tell you where to find cheaper detergent or toothpaste.

Because he's a good brother who irons for his younger brother and paid his uni fees and bought him a new phone when his phone costs only less than $300.

Because he's coming 26 and have never fall in love...

(Kasian right......?)


Regardless of you being a male or female, heterosexual or homosexual, married/ single / divorced/ widowed, tell me... based on the above facts, how many of you are interested in knowing such guy?

Or at least, thinks that he deserved to end his singlehood and shut mouths of "caring aunties" questioning him the pedas question, "Why still single har? What's wrong oh? Want auntie help you or not har?".


If you know how to play lami (rummy tiles) and doesn't mind your boyfriend constantly going out with 3 girls (who have long-term boyfriends, and some more one is getting married soon) and don't get jealous easily, feel free to drop a comment.

You can use anonymous identity lah. I just need to know if a guy like him is still considered a good catch for the 21st century ladies.

Sigh people... please prove the theory "男人不坏女人不爱" wrong.
Good man also deserves to be love~

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


anonymous #1 said:

you better hide him ... FAST ... A MAN who can cooks, clean house, good to his mother and family ... AND willing to go out with you without complaints ... HE'S A GEM! ... this is my personal view BUT ... he's precious, trap/nest whatever ... can he fix minor car engine trouble?, change tyre? fix home fixtures / plumbing ... I WANT HIM .... wrap him up and fedex to me pronto!

Answer:

Car engine trouble I don't think so. But... he studied E&E engineering back in his uni days though. Change tyre should be can la.. Even I can do that. As for plumbing.... I think he can pay the wages for a plumber.

You WANT him? Let me ask him first yeah.

Gabby said...

LAWL...didn't know such a guy even existed in belait district. i'm guessin he's from belait since u stay there =)..very good catch..unless of cos he doesn't how to catch a lady's heart or even flirt..or maybe he's just too nice..some girls prefer guys who r more challengin..'play hard to get'..etc etc..

My reply:

Yeap. He's from Belait and true, I think he doesn't know how to flirt and let us bully all the time. But I think "play hard to get" kind of men are not husband-material. More like a ONS or short-term romantic lover.

Vote for Good men!

BaBy JeE said...

NonnieEE, I want leh!! can he eat well??? ehehheh...Post up a pic of him!!!! => hehehehe

My Reply:

You'll see the headline, "Blogger murdered after posting friend's photo" if I do that.

And YES. He can eat well. He's our "Rubbish Bin" when our boyfriends are not around. Not only that, he's quite adventurous too in trying new drinks and food.

JaMiLLa said...

(JaMiLLa is raising up her hand on spot)

Yes, I am interested too!!!

Because the reasons are....

1) I am not the type of staying up at home doing the chords all the time. I dont know how to cook and bake all these stuffs. Cook maggi mee also not sure when I shd take it out. By watching at "HIM" doing that, it makes me feel like joining him but not always. At least I learn something from him.

2) I love the couples who can be enjoying the movies and tv drama together, of course chit-chat which one is nice and lauyah.

3) I enjoy listening people's funny comments. This is what girls need when they are in a bad mood!!!

4) I like guy who is good and loyal to the parents and has a close relationship with the family. I dunno where to find cheaper product so he can help me this!! Hehe! *Lazy Me*

5) For sure he is a loving and caring person who can put people "his brother" in the first place other than himself. *Thumbs Up*

6) It's ok if my bf go out with his BEST GIRL BUDDY ...as long as I know who they are. I have learnt to trust in the relationship.

7) I come to prove that the theory of 男人不坏女人不爱 is WRONG!!!! Good man deserves more love than bad guy, definitely!!!

My Reply:

Wah! So long your comment.

But..... I think.... You're taller than him wor. You would have met him during my birthday dinner if he's not away for his family trip.

Bobby said... (Note: Totally irrelevant from the blog post)

*Ahem...I can fry egg on toast and *cough cough...don't forget the black-peppered sauce chicken that I made for you and not to mentioned chicken porridge and salted vegetable soup.

*Pat pat Nonnie on the head. "It's ok, sometimes people are forgetful but I understand." says Bobby with a weak smile.

My reply:

Egg on toast I never eat. Black peppered sauce chicken the flavor from the bottle one. Chicken porridge and salted vegetable soup your auntie help one wor.

Make me something your auntie don't know how to cook lah~

Anonymous said...

eh wen here that's a reli good write up.. i agree he is a reli good catch too.. will recommend to all singles or anyone who thinks their bf is crap.. this one is better, somemore non-smoker non drnker too??

My reply:

Eh darling ah... He bought a limited edition Vodka that cost 99 pounds for his last trip to UK wor. But, the vodka he "pai-mei" only. Don't drink one.

Anonymous said...

Nonnie King - matchmaker extraodinaire

My reply:

That's what friends are for ;)

The Seven-Storey Pagoda, Sibu

Happy 24th National Day Tanah Air Ku, Negara Brunei Darussalam

I was digging some old pictures from my semi-ruined photo albums and look what I found.

(Photo taken 20 years ago... I think?)

Apparently I was too young when I got the chance to visit the Churchill Memorial. And when I was slightly older and asked my mum about it, it was already taken down, in 1991.

(Resources from here)



And that's me doing hide-and-seek with the pole.
Too much Bollywood movies, too little Tom and Jerry back in those days I guess.

I do feel like visiting Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque again. You know, with the Kampung Ayer boat rides but none of my friends wanted to do it. Like I said, I need new adventurous friends who won't pour me cold water whenever I voice out my thoughts.

Brunei, you still look pretty as ever.


* * * * *


I had lost count the number of times that I'd visited this magnificient Buddhist temple. And to be honest, I never get sick of it.



I wouldn't skip any chance of visiting it and I still find it fascinating.

Each year I'll get disappointed by the tear-downs of features or landscape, or get excited by the newly built constructions.

Like this Kuan-Yin statue,

...it was already gone years ago and replaced by parking area, then now some sort of a garden.

(Sorry for the blurry picture, what do you expect from a 15 years old picture? I'm too lazy to scan so I just snap it with my FX8)



Even after so many years, this temple still looks as beautiful as ever. I bet there's a lot of maintenance work unnoticed behind the scenes and also the generous sponsors supporting all the projects.

And these,

are the infamous bamboo sticks that has number written on each of them. People would grab hold of the Cim-Tong (Bamboo Tube/ Cup) with their palms, asked a question in their heart and started shaking them.

In Mandarin, its "Qiu-Qian".
Cantonese, "Kau-Cim".

(Bet most of you had seen it countless times from the TV)

Mum asking about her "liu-nian"

*cough* Liu-Nian (流年 - Luck for the entire year) .. Not Liu-Lian (Durian) okay

So after several shakes, one of the sticks would fell out from the bamboo can and the next procedure will be "asking for confirmation".

Ask again if that is the correct "Qian" by throwing the wooden thingie.


I have no idea what do you call it. Not even the Chinese name to be honest. I know the Hokkians called it "Pua-Poi" lah and how it works.

(I used to think that it is made of Mango seed, and later painted. What? Looks like it what~)

Again, you hold it between your palms. Asked and throw them and see what the "answer" is.

If one is facing up and the other down, that means "OK".

Else, its a "NO".

... or something like that.
(I tried Googling and Wiki it but not much of a result)


After it's a confirmed "Yes", next is taking your "Qian" from the cabinet according to your number.


And the qians have grades themselves. 上签, 中签 ,下签

My mum's

If you don't understand the poem, nevermind... Get some help form the temple priest or usually, it's the "Miu-Juk" we look for.

The uncle who take cares of the temple. Yes, the one who ring the big bell every time someone donated.

And this uncle asked us to help ourselves by passing us the explanation book. Oh well, save our angpao... My mum was planning to give him a small angpao as a token for helping us explaining but since we read and agak-agak solve it on our own.. I guess I deserve the angpao more.



I was teasing my mum with the last sentence.


It says, "Withered tree will blossom once again".

*cough* So.. Is that a hint of me getting a baby sis or bro? *cough*

Just kidding lah. I know it's impossible already. Mum had her "fertilization factory" removed years ago.

Na Tuk Kong

This Na-Tuk-Kong lives on a tree house.

So cool right?



Vendors selling beads and bracelets

My mum pointed me sign board of a shop and asked me to have a look.

LOL! MY COMPANY EH~

Saw the first Chinese letter from the left. That's my surname fyi.
And now you know how much I suffered back in my kindy years writing my Chinese names.

My surname has 22 strokes, and my name 3 and 15 strokes.
Making a spanking total of 40 strokes!

Don't play play.

The Infamous Teh-C-Ping Rejang River

Wanted to have boat trips but they're not operating..
It was the second day of CNY that's why.

Last but not least, whenever I show my friend this (last) picture.. everyone just laughed and find it difficult to answer my question...

What is ASTRO doing in a BUDDHIST TEMPLE?

(Long overdue) CNY post

Tomorrow will be the last day of CNY and I have to wait for another year for munching goodies at the buddies place, long lami session with only 10c bet and angpao collecting (which is depressing because people tend to ask, "When are you getting married oh?". Aiyaaaa.. save your $2 lah my fellow aunties if you so kan-bu-kai. If forcing me to give you an actual date or making my life difficult by admitting we're poor couple who can only afford handmade cards for important dates berbaloi for that $2, you can keep it la my dear. I belanja you tea).

I'm not quite over my depressed mode yet to be honest. If you happened to see me lately and I'm not smiling, please do not have the thought that I'm kambang or mean or anything like that.

So far the only person who managed to make me really laugh out is none other than the boyfriend, with his silly jokes and his creative but illogical theories.

And to you darlings whom I'm meeting up this Friday, get some cotton buds ready. I'm going to have a loooooooooooooooooong rant. Uncle Shim, I'm counting on you for the sambal kueh tiaw. Thank you. Lois or Mama Jewelle, lemon ping for me can?

So here, I'd posted up photos taken during my last trip to Sibu.

Enjoy.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A bunch of irrelevant people to have CNY eve dinner with.

I was pretty pissed at them because they're mocking at my mum for being a vegetarian.

"So stupid one be a vegetarian. This cannot eat that cannot eat. So silly can die."

Yes, that is what they freaking said about my mum when seeing her pathetic plate. Excuse me you frogs under the well, no money to study and get knowledge also spend some money buy newspaper or television to gain some knowledge!

I don't know narrow minded people like them still exist in this world. Why do people tend to think that Vegetarian = unhealthy = skinny monkey = STUPID?

I personally know a dozen of vegetarians who's healthy like a bull and buff like kingkong.
*puuffftttt*



Yes, that was all what my mum ate. Fruits and cakes. And right after the stupid dinner, we went to my auntie place and finally get to eat some decent meal. Still, its just rice + eggs + vegetables.

As long as she's happy and full, I couldn't care less.

The buruk car

Saw this car parking at my uncle's place. I have no idea how this car managed to get its roadtax though. Don't they check the conditions of the car? Don't the traffic police stop it on the road and inspect the car?

The car is imbalance for God's sake!

Mum feeding my grandma

It's really sad to see my grandma in this state.

She can't really see and is too weak to walk. I'm really happy that I managed to spend CNY with her this year.

That's me helping out with the last minute decoration

Oh, we're staying in the kampong. Have to cross the teh-c-ping Rejang river to get to the city, or town I'm not sure. Typical wooden house with chickens and ducks quacking at the back yard. Air con just pasang-ed few years back. Only TV1,2,3 with the help on antenna and of course, no internet.

My uncle doing his stunts...

Dangerous kan? We all asked him to get down but he insisted on hanging the fake singing fire cracker there. Oh well, his house.

My first meal for CNY
Mien-Sien.

Real Foochows eat and love that

Yeap, no meat. Only egg and vegetarian wheat meat. But still very delicious. Oh ya, I don't add rice wine into it too.

My new shoes

My one and only CNY outfit

My mum and I

Don't tell me that we look more like "sisters". Not funny.


My auntie (mum's eldest sister) and her classic kampong type kitchen

I don't know why but I got really fascinated by the kitchen, old but very tahan. It's all wooden and self made. A wave of nostalgic.

The classic wooden cupboard

That's me blogging in my cousin's room, with on-screen keyboard.

The beautiful but not over the top chandelier

Poser

My younger cousin and I

Apparently, some blind people thought that I was his girlfriend when I was helping at my auntie place serving the guests.

I'm 5 years older than him okay!

The only explanation to this absurd comment was, I look 17. Hehhehehheee.
(Don't you dare puking in front of the monitor I warn you.)

Dings

The kiddy fire crackers that I dare to play
(because my younger cousins were too timid to light it..)

Table cloth burned after eating...

Don't ask me how did it happen. I as not sitting at that table and my uncles who was sitting there had no idea the cloth caught fire until we showed him this.

Ridiculous I know.

Eat till burn a hole... Steady leh?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before its too late,

Happy Birthday Xiang!
(Better known as Jamilla)

My dream of graduating for the second time with my fellow CIS18 shattered into broken pieces yesterday.

I understand the famous quote "Life is unfair" and I'm not going to whine anything about it. Instead, I'll gladly take the challenge and strive my best to save as much as I can for the "rainy days".

I need some time to readjust my feelings now.

Bye.