When The Night Comes

I awoke with a start, the primal instinct taking over as the first thought that urged my body to move was 'RUN!' And I ran, all the way to my mom's room, hammering away at the door, which she had locked.

Before anyone starts thinking that I'm a mommy's girl, let me de-mist the situation.

A few nights ago, when I had finally drifted off to sleep at 2 a.m., I was jostled out of my slumber by a very loud, very long thunder. Mingled in with my instinct to run was my rational (or irrational, whichever you may please) thought saying, "The end of the world is here. The monster has awaken from the land." (For those who don't understand, ask a Muslim about the monster that is supposed to emerge when the end of the world is nigh). In all my life, I have never heard a thunder that sounds so much like a monster roaring at the heavens, and I have been through some of the worst rainstorms to hit my area.

I couldn't sleep for an hour after that. I had to psychically and mentally calm my body down, which was unfortunately still on edge at every single sound, the muscles twitching in preparation for leap. I woke up a few hours later, exhausted and tensed. It was not a good feeling. :-((

It makes me wonder whether anyone else has a problem like mine. My house used to be extremely sensitive to thunder and lightning so the slightest thunder vibration will automatically shut the whole house's electrical system, engulfing us in darkness. Ever since I saw a ghost in my room at the age of 14, I wasn't able to sleep without a light on after that and so, somewhat as per Pavlov's classical conditioning, whenever there's rain at night, I will wake up scared. Why? Because rain = thunder = electricity off = darkness = something I don't want to see!!!

Yeah, yeah, call me a baby. :razzmad: But can I help it if it's been imprinted in me? I'm only fine if someone is sleeping with me but since I'm not married and I don't have any siblings staying with me, I have to make do by kidnapping my cat to sleep with me on my bed. Which he doesn't mind, by the way, since he's scared of thunder as well. :-D

Food Review: Pannaz

This week's food review is one of my favourite haunts, partly because of its food choices and service, and partly because it's the restaurant I feel most comfortable in that is near my boyfriend's office. Let's get hot with Pannaz!!

[caption id="attachment_1406" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Pannaz Restaurant"][/caption]

Still less than a year old at the time of this post, I have watched as Pannaz improved itself constantly as it attempts to survive longer than the predecessors that were located at the same corner of G-8, Ground Floor, Jln PJU 8/3A, D19 Damansara Perdana, Bandar Damansara Perdana. One thing is for sure, they're doing a good job.

While the prices may be higher than its surrounding eatery-neighbours, the quality of the food is well worth the price tag. Serving mostly Western food with some choices of local dishes, Pannaz never fails to add its own unique flavours and special presentation to its cuisine. Every menu item I have ever sampled was always nicely presented and made with fresh ingredients.

I usually take my own pictures of the food I eat but since I eat here all the time, it never occurred to me to photograph their dishes, and I do not wish to encrouch on any copyrights Pannaz might have on their food images. So kindly check out Pannaz's menu at their website, http://www.pannaz.com.my. You can even download their menu for your perusal and for catering purposes.

My favourites at Pannaz are the Sauteed Button Mushroom in Garlic Butter Sauce served with soft bread (Tapas, RM11.00) and the Grilled Pitta Mayo accompanied by french fries (Deli, RM11.00). Another recent favourite of mine is a new menu item they introduced just a short time ago, the Pannaz Lamb Burger (Deli, RM13.00). Their mint relish sauce transformed the taste of what would be a normal burger into something exquisite. However, some might find the sauce too thick for their taste so I advise a light spreading of it before eating.

[caption id="attachment_1411" align="alignright" width="210" caption="Braised Lamb Shank with Mashed Potatoes & Asparagus"][/caption]

Another menu item that you might want to try is my companion's favourite, the Nyonya Fried Rice served with grilled chicken, egg & fish crackers (Main Course, RM12.90). My companion also tried their Braised Lamb Shank (Main Course, RM36.00), however, his comment was that it was only satisfactory.

Here's a warning to busy people, some of the dishes might take some time to prepare, up to 20 minutes. So if you're in a hurry for lunch, you might want to try their RM9.90 Set Lunch of one main course (pick one out of four pre-chosen dishes) and one drink (pick one out of two pre-chosen beverages).

We love :inlove:  Pannaz's Iced Cappucino. When it's a hot day and you need something that will put some light in your tired eyes, this drink is the way to go. If you're not a coffee drinker, you can always try their Frizzy Ribena Longan or their new selection of mixed flavoured drinks.

I'm not much of a dessert person (I'm trying to watch my weight) but if you love sweets, you'll surely love the Warm Chocolate Cake with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and strawberry compote. It is truly delicious!!

As usual, I always comment on the quality of service for every eatery I've been to because to me, the service from the employees reflects the image of the restaurant, and for once, I have nothing to complain.

The Pannaz staff never fails to greet their customers. Whether we are stepping inside or just passing by, they are always ready with a cheery 'Hi'. The moment you step in, they will be ready to hand you their menu and wait patiently a few feet away for your order. Usually, they will serve you a free glass of water but there are times when they forget. One of the waiters often checks with me on the food I order and is open to any suggestions and comments I might have.

For those who are always on the go, never fear. Pannaz offers free Wi-Fi so you can eat your breakfast, lunch or dinner from Monday to Saturday, 10am to 10pm, and still do your work or surf the Net. You can also just chill out and watch TV there. Though they are located opposite the ongoing noisy renovation of the second phase of Metropolitan Square, their ambiance is still cozy with their red comfy couches and dark wood furniture.

There is only one con I have found with Pannaz so far. For non-smokers, like me, there is no partition to cover yourself from cigarette and cigar smoke. You can only pick a spot far away from the crowd and hope that the people sitting next to you won't start puffing like chimneys. The only saviours for non-smokers are Pannaz's wide open doors and many high-speed ceiling fans.

Pannaz is a place where you can experience quality food and service for a fraction of the price you might pay to experience the same things in a 5-star restaurant. I love eateries that serve great food with excellent service but most importantly, I love eateries that make me feel comfortable, and I am happy to find one that have all my requirements just a short drive away. Enjoy!! :beauty:

Why I Continue Writing

"You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

What is it about that blank piece of paper that calls out to me? What is it that makes my heart lift in an unexplained emotion whenever I pick up a new notebook? What is it that fuels my creative fire whenever I open up the Microsoft Word?

For most creative writers, we can find inspiration and stories no matter where we are. Sitting in a cafe, we can glance up, catch someone rushing somewhere and come up with a storyline. For some, the pitter-patter of rain can stir up an emotion which we transform and convey into a piece of writing. Even relaxing in bed, a simple thought can stimulate the creative juices and mold the starting of a plot.

I noticed that I don't write as much creative writing as I used to. I remember my brain being filled with dozens of stories itching to escape my brain, through my fingers and onto my ever-ready notebook. There were times when I lost stories that were important to me and it felt as though I have lost a wonderful friend, blown away by the forgetful wind before I could grab onto the trailing tendrils.

There are times when I feel disheartened with the world. How many times have writers heard discouragement from the people around them, telling them that creative writing is not a way to make a career? Sure, there are many needs for writers out there, but the difference in writing business articles and imaginative stories are as far apart as night and day. And so, many artistic lights die out before they can even be forged into a raging fire, all believing that it is hopeless before they even begun.

Yet...we still write.

Quietly and secretly, we rekindle the flames of our imagination, hiding its light from those who scorn us. Then, when we can no longer hold it back, we simply let go and watch as it grows bigger and brighter in the hopes that by chance, our writing will touch the hearts of those who need it, those who understand it, and those who, like us, are trying to keep our creativity alive.

I love the above quote and have often recited it to myself. Recently, however, while I still believe Fitzgerald's saying is right in a way, I also believe that we write because of both the reasons; we want to say something because we need to keep our writing hopes alive, and we have something to say because we are constantly fueled and inspired by life.

Here's hoping that creative writers and storytellers will never fade away in a world so concerned with business facts, political statements, commercial information and financial details.

Socializing in Pet Society Part 5

It is still Easter in Pet Society and by now, I'm sure many of the players have been scrambling around the trees in their neighbourhood to search for those shiny decor eggs and buying up the White Chocolate and Chocolate Egg Surprise from the Food Shop.

[caption id="attachment_1357" align="alignleft" width="148" caption="White Chocolate & Chocolate Egg Surprise"][/caption]

Incase you don't know what the decor eggs are, kindly refer to my previous posting at Socializing in Pet Society Part 4. As for the Egg Surprise, I only found out recently that your pet will get a prize when you feed these eggs to your pets. Apparently inside these gigantic eggs, which costs 250 coins each 8O , is a small, teeny tiny toy.

[caption id="attachment_1360" align="alignright" width="164" caption="Baby Animal Toys"][/caption]

There are only 3 of them, which are the Baby Bunny Toy, Baby Hedgehog Toy and Baby Chick Toy, and it depends on your pet's luck whether you can get all three. So far I've managed to get 2 Bunnies and 3 Hedgehogs. :( I still want that Baby Chick, or is it Baby Duck? Anyway, this might be the last week to obtain these rare toys so you better get cracking and save up as much money as you can to buy these eggs, or get one of your friends to give you any extra ones they have. :D

I finally managed to complete two of the scenery backgrounds obtained from the Toy Mystery Eggs. Here is how Deep Trouble is supposed to look with all its toy vehicles in place.

[caption id="attachment_1363" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="The fully completed Deep Trouble"][/caption]

Okie, some people have been 'googling' on what the giant squid does. Unlike the other monsters, the squid just blinks its eyes, instead of trashing around like an angry seamonster. Well, the reason it blinks its eyes frequently is because the pirate ship is shooting cannonballs at it. However, they seem to simply bounce off its body and not causing an ounce of hurt anywhere. Maybe that's why it's not reacting. Also, if you look closely when you activate the scenery, the submarine seems to be stuck and it looks like it's struggling to free itself from the squid's tentacles.

Now, here's the completed Alien Invasion. The airplane and the helicopter were the hardest to get. The F-16 Jet is the easiest to get among the four toy vehicles in this scenery. By the way, the UFO is essential to this scenery because as it turns out, the UFO is actually a part of that robot alien.

[caption id="attachment_1365" align="aligncenter" width="257" caption="The fully completed Alien Invasion"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1368" align="alignright" width="60" caption="Army Tank"][/caption]

As for the King Kong scenery, I still haven't completed it, but I finally saw the last piece of the toy puzzle in my pet friend's house, which is the army tank, and which is SOOO hard to get. :( But I will prevail.

[caption id="attachment_1373" align="alignleft" width="124" caption="The New Mansion"][/caption]

Has anyone noticed that Pet Society has increased the maximum level for your pets? I'm not sure what is the maximum level now (it used to be Level 34), but those who have passed the treshold of Level 34 have now transformed their house into a bigger red-roofed mansion with a current maximum of 9 rooms.

[caption id="attachment_1376" align="alignright" width="73" caption="Recycling Bin"][/caption]

There's also a new, urm, I don't know what to call it, 'stuff to do' (?). Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that Pet Society has put in a recycling bin into your pet's storage chest. You get points for recycling stuff you don't want or need anymore. Once you reach a certain amount of points, you will get a gift (I don't know what it is) as well as a trophy.

Well, I'm glad for anything new in Pet Society. At least I won't get bored with the same thing over and over again. Now, I need to get more coins to buy those Egg Surprises. I must have that Chick!!

A Uni Story

Okie, enough with the serious posts for now. It's time to look at the funnier side of life with a story I remember from my university days in Perth, Australia.

You know how it's wrong to drink and drive? Well, you might get away with it in Malaysia but in Perth, the policemen are much more dutiful and are not at all susceptible to bribes.

Anyway, a group of guys decided to grab a bite to eat at a nearby burger joint in the wee hours of the morning. They had been up all night drinking and were all totally sloshed over. However, even in their drunken state, they still managed to think about their safety (and the huge fine for drinking-and-driving), and so they appointed the least drunk guy to drive.

Since it was very early in the morning (or very late at night, whichever you please), only the drive-through was opened. Just as they reached the burger joint, one of them, who had been staring out the window in a hazy daze, saw a police patrol car parked right beside the drive-through. They stopped the car, fearing that the police might pull them over. Some of them thought maybe it was best to just turn around and go elsewhere but the others were too hungry. And so, they came up with a clever plan.

One by one, a car would pull up to the drive-through, order and drive off. In the middle of the lined-up cars was a lone man, waiting patiently for his turn at the drive-through counter and nonchalantly walking up to place his order. The counter guy and the police must have been used to such weird sights in Perth for they didn't even bat an eye.

Grabbing the take-out bags, the guy made his way back to his companions where they ate in the car until they were sure one of them was sober enough to drive them all back to their student housing.

Not bad for a group of drunken guys. It proves that your brain still functions even though it's intoxicated by alcohol, or maybe the alcohol actually helps. 8)

'Sisterhood'

Anyone who has watched the comedy series 'How I Met Your Mother' (which is awesome, by the way), would know what I'm talking about when I mention 'The Bro Code' *cue dramatic music*.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="The Bro Code (from http://www.tvweek.com)"][/caption]

Neil Patrick Harris plays the playboy Barney Stinson who created this rule book for all men, which covered almost every situation under the sun, and was titled as The Bro Code *cue dramatic music again*. Anyway, one code that caught my attention was in Season 3, episode 17, where Barney said, "The Bro Code clearly states, 'No sex with your bro's ex.'" That got me thinking, maybe we should make a Bro Code for women.

Why? Because just like some men, some women seem to have no boundaries when it comes to relationships. The first and foremost rule for the 'Chick Code' (still working on the title) should be 'No affairs with any man who is married or currently in a relationship', which should be applied across the world, not just limited to the people you know.

There have been many times when conversations turned to men who cheat, how they tricked and lied to their spouses/partners just to have an affair, a mistress or a second, third, fourth, how many more, wife. However, women who have complained about these men should also look at the women involved in these two-timing sessions.

I will never understand how a woman could even think about stealing another woman's man. There are SOOOOO many single men out there, why must you go after or entertain or flirt back with a man who already has a partner?

Some women reasoned that the man was the one who chased after them. Others often said, "But I truly love him." Some claimed that it was just an innocent fling. A few cruel ones answered, "All's fair in love and war." I admit there were times when I wasn't a loyal girlfriend. I have had my own share of affairs and cheats (usually because my ex-boyfriends treated me like dirt) but I am proud enough to say that I have never went out on a date or had a relationship with a taken man. Once I find out that the man has a girlfriend (I'll never go out with a married man), boom, that's it, adios, amigo. I may cheat but I won't hurt another woman in the process. Hurting the man is bad enough.

My step-mother knew that my father was married yet she and her family still went ahead to pursue and 'persuade' my father into marrying her. I had a friend who complained about my ex-boyfriend constantly when I was still in a relationship with him, only to up and date him after we broke up (this doesn't really count because we broke up but it's still a sign of betrayal between fellow chicks). I know people who are dating married men (dating as in watching movies and holding hands, not going out for innocent drinks at mamak stalls) fully aware that these men have a wife. I also know women who know that the guy has a girlfriend yet they still chase after him with the stupid reason, "They're not married so it's fair game."

I also hate people answering, "But they aren't happy with each other anyway" when they try to 'legitimate' their actions. Excuse me, but unless they are truly broken up and categorize themselves as single or divorced with fully signed papers and all, then fine, you can stick in your desperate nose and cling your sticky claws into the man. But before that, he is still another woman's man.

I believe in karma; you do something bad, something equally bad or worse will happen to you.  Look at me, I cheated on my ex-boyfriend and sure enough, my next boyfriend cheated on me; it's karma, fair and square.

I'm writing this post because I am worried. Someone I personally know is going out with a married man and what's worse is that she knows he's married. If the man were to ever divorce his wife and marry her, how can she be sure that he won't do the same to her later on? How can she live with herself, knowing that she is part of a reason behind a divorce?  Or is she willing to be a second wife, or God forbid, a mistress? If I myself am feeling ashamed at her actions, how would her family feel?

Seeing how my mom suffered because of some floozy waltzing into my father's arms (and stupid father who agreed to marry her) and seeing my aunts who experienced the same thing with their husbands made me hate affairs. I don't ever want to see that hurt on any girl's face, married or not. I hope 'she' realizes in time that she's hurting a wife and mother before it's way too late.

Wishes Do Come True

Ever since I entered college, I made up a list of things I wish to do, places I wish to see and people I wish to meet. Thus far, I got quite a bit done, a few major ones and many minor ones, but I've never managed to meet any of the people I admire.

Many times whenever a conversation turns to people that my friends and I would most like to meet, the answers received were more often than not actors, singers and other celebrities. When it came to me, my answer has surprised some people because I said, "I would love to meet Tun Dr Mahathir. Just being able to shake his hands would make me very happy." Why is this shocking? My friends and family know that I'm not much of a politics fan and that I shy away whenever the elections come, sparking fights and arguments even among family members. My own mother was surprised at how excited I was at being able to finally, FINALLY, shake his hands.

[caption id="attachment_1318" align="alignleft" width="237" caption="Tun Dr Mahathir (from his Facebook group)"][/caption]

Yes, after 27 years, I finally managed to shake the hands of my country's fourth (and in my opinion, best) Prime Minister. I have often envied people who managed to take pictures with him, talk to him, even be in the same room as him. My own boyfriend was photographed sitting right beside him during a dinner event in Japan. I thought I would never be able to have the chance to speak to him, especially after he fell ill. But God is kind, and so is my boyfriend for inviting me to the dinner yesterday night (April 10, 2009) where Tun Dr Mahathir was the special guest.

I admit I was acting like a star-struck stalker that night. I took many pictures of him and when the emcee announced that he was returning to his home, I rushed to try and shake his hands. Unfortunately, so did everybody else. For a man who's almost pushing 90, his sight is still sharp. Even though many men were pushing me aside to thrust their hands to Tun Dr Mahathir, he still noticed my hands and allowed me to 'salam' with him.

When I noticed that there was an organized line forming outside the hall, I rushed to line up as well and managed to not only 'salam' with him again but also managed to wish him a long happy life. When my aunt found out that I rushed to 'salam' him twice, she SMSed me, "Aaah, he would be most flattered."

I myself was taken aback by my happiness at the event (I still jump up and down when I remember the moment), and the reaction I've gotten from my family members. Most of them said the same thing to me after I happily told them my news,"I never knew you admired him so much." They don't understand.

I was born during the time when Tun Dr Mahathir was already Malaysia's Prime Minister and I lived majority of my life under his 22-year reign. I was in Australia when he announced that he was retiring, and I still remember the shock and uneasiness I felt at the news and how sad I was that I was not in my home country when it happened. No matter what wrong he did, what mistakes he committed, what hurtful remarks he said, he did alot for our country. He fought for us, for his home, when crisis comes a-knocking but many people don't see or remember that. Having a mostly-absent and negligent father, Tun Dr Mahathir was not just a father of modern Malaysia but a father figure for me to look up to.

[caption id="attachment_1321" align="alignright" width="205" caption="A funny moment with Tun Dr M and his beloved wife (from his Facebook group)"][/caption]

I'm not crazy over him, like some people are when it comes to the celebrities they love. I'm not going to stalk him and steal his underwear or whatnot. He is just a man I admire because he paved the way for Malaysia to join the rest of the world. Just like a true father, he guided us when we were lost, he scolded us when we weren't thinking properly and he praised us and joined in the celebration when a goal or dream was achieved. Through thick and thin, he has been with us. He also proved that he's human, like everybody else, making mistakes along the way but he has always apologized when he truly felt he was in the wrong. That is more than I can say for most of the past and current politicians.

I disabled the comment page for this post because unfortunately, certain Malaysians are not mature enough to handle blogs and articles supporting Tun Dr Mahathir. There have been cases whereby troublemakers just drop unconstructive and abusive comments just because they dislike the person and disagree that some people support someone other than their own choices.

Although I have said it to him, I still wish Tun Dr Mahathir a long, happy and healthy life with his beloved wife, children and grandchildren. May God watch over him and his family.

Food Review: New York, New York Deli

New York, New York, the place so nice, they named it twice. :D

[caption id="attachment_1275" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="New York, New York Deli"][/caption]

And the place is so nice, you definitely want to come back again. But you don't have to go all the way to America to get a taste of New York, we have our very own version right here in Malaysia; New York New York Deli, 1 Utama.

Instead of starting with the food as I usually do, I'm going to start with the service and ambience.

When you first step in, they'll immediately seat you (depending on the hecticness at the time), set your menu down and discreetly wait for your order a few feet away. This way you'll get your privacy and time to drool over the menu without them hovering over you, seemingly hurrying you to order. What I like most about the waiters is that they are constantly available and on the alert. This is one of the few eateries I've been to that I didn't have to constantly wave my hand around like an idiot just to get their attention.

With white walls, white tables and white counter all around you, you get a sense of freshness as you sink into the comfortable, yet weird-mane-coloured, round chairs. The chairs are kind of heavy, though, so it's best if your boyfriend or husband helps you in your seat. One problem with the location of the shop is that it faces Cold Storage. Depending on where you sit, you have to endure stares and glances from shoppers who are waiting for their parents/spouses/children outside the grocery market and those walking by. So there's not much privacy for you to enjoy your food unless you sit way inside the restaurant.

Now, on to the delectable eats. We started with the Broadway Tomato Salad (RM9.50) and the Fisherman's Clam Chowder (RM9.90).

[caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="Broadway Tomato Salad"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1279" align="alignright" width="155" caption="Fisherman's Clam Chowder"][/caption]

The tomato salad wasn't much to shout about. A dish of lettuce with tomatoes and slices of chicken ham, it was big enough to eat alone or for two. The salad dressing was the only factor that made it different from any other salads with its dark colour and sort of tangy, sour-y taste. The clam chowder, on the other hand, was a bowl of creamy joy with small bits of clam. Not too thick, not too salty, not too creamy, it was just perfect. :D

For our main courses, I ordered the Smoked Salmon Velvet Sandwich (RM14.90) while my companion had the Juicy Burger Supreme (RM16.50).

[caption id="attachment_1290" align="alignright" width="218" caption="Smoked Salmon Velvet Sandwich"][/caption]

I love salmon so I enjoyed my sandwich tremendously. Instead of just one sandwich cut into two, as most Malaysian eateries do, I was surprised to see that they actually gave two entire sandwiches, talk about value for money. Below the salmon was layers of mixed vegetables and tuna, which actually tasted quite good but at times tasted.....'different', probably because of the mixture of veggies with its eggplant, lettuce and a yellow cucumber-thing that I don't recognize. Maybe I'm more of a plain lettuce kind of girl. ;)

[caption id="attachment_1292" align="alignleft" width="216" caption="Juicy Burger Supreme"][/caption]

The Juicy Burger Supreme is actually one of the recommended dishes on the menu, and though it looks like any plain burger with cheese, mustard and sauce, the meat is not any ordinary, fastfood processed meat. Soft and juicy (I'm not kidding), the thick slab of beef seemed to break down in your mouth for easy chewing. The small side of salad is actually for you to decide whether you want it as a side dish or if you want to put in on your burger, so you don't have to waste time pulling those unwanted onions off your burger. The fries, in my opinion, had too much salt and was nothing special.

If you're not much of a burger or sandwich fan, don't worry, there are lots of offers available. There are pasta, chicken, pizza, fish and chips, breakfast, seafood and beef dishes just to name a few. The biggest thing, and I do mean big, on the menu is their humongous burgers, The Giant Yankee Burger. It's eight inches wide and four inches high with two, count 'em, TWO pounds of chicken or beef meat!! This is the way to burger heaven. *drool*

The choices for dessert are heaven as well, offering pancakes, crepes, brownies, ice cream and many more for your sweet tooth.

[caption id="attachment_1300" align="alignright" width="115" caption="Ultra Rich Hot Chocolate"][/caption]

For drinks, I had the healthy Green Tea (RM5.90), which was served with packets of sugar. 8O I have to say this is the first time anyone had ever brought sugar with my green tea. My companion tried the Ultra Rich Hot Chocolate (RM8.90) which was topped with a mountain of whipped cream and a few mini minty marshmallow. However, my companion said it was too sweet!!

Unfortunately, at this point in time, Malaysia only has two branches, one in 1 Utama and the other way in Kota Kinabalu's Hypermall. But it's definitely worth the trip to try any one of their menu items. If you don't have time to go there, you can always check out their website at http://www.newyorknewyork.com.sg (Malaysia doesn't have a website yet). Enjoy!! :D

Phone Etiquette for Salespeople & Tele-marketers

If you have been besieged by telemarketers and salespeople before or even by any other unknown callers, then you would have experienced the many types of people and their 'conversation style'. My brother, mother and I have had our fair share of these unwanted callers and truth be told, I have to say I wonder how their company trains them in phone etiquette. Here are some manners I wish 'customer support' people would learn.

• I know that for certain companies, they would never tell their call centres to start with 'Is it convenient for you to talk at the moment, sir/madam?'. The reason behind this is that once the caller asks that, the customer is then able to straight away answer, 'No, I'm not free. Call me later.' Well, it's rude of you to assume that we're free and not ask for permission to set aside our valuable time for you. Thus far, I've only had ONE company whose caller asked that after introducing himself. This doesn't just apply to telemarketers, it's also a good habit to adopt for anyone who has to call people, whether friends or business associates. (1) Just because you're free to talk, it doesn't mean that the person on the other end is free to listen. They may answer the phone but they may, in fact, only have a minute to spare. Put yourself in their shoes and think about that.

• Some callers wouldn't dare to be rude to their customers. This is mostly because they have to introduce themselves and the company so the name and contacts are available, but the main reason behind their politeness is that their conversations are often recorded for 'training purposes'. A telemarketer once called my mom to promote something and she told him over and over that she wasn't interested. He finally yelled at her that she was 'uneducated' and slammed down the phone. YOU are the one calling US, YOU are the one wasting OUR TIME with your job which you are being paid for, we are YOUR CUSTOMERS of which you are trying to sell us something, and that is how you treat us? (2) Should you decide to be rude to your customer, remember that there are now caller IDs, Internet search engines, Internet forums and newspaper complaint pages. A salesman from BMW Glenmarie decided to leave a very rude voice-mail on my phone and I not only called back to chastise him, I went straight to the office in question to make a complaint. Either be polite or risk having your and your company's image ruined.

• Many people on the Net have been complaining, asking and commenting on these MLM companies in Malaysia. There's one in particularly that just pissed me off, peaklifestyle.com or enjoygreatlife.com. Stupidly of me, I filled in my contact number at their website to get more information on their 'home based business', which I totally forgot after that. The woman who called me was brisk and sharp, making an appointment for me to 'meet up with them' without me even knowing who or what they are. At the end of the conversation, I asked where she had actually gotten my contact and she said, "I only have 2 minutes for you." What the hell? To me, you are being dismissive and rude like a sergeant to his wayward soldiers. (3) Today's customers cherish their privacy. Yes, we DO want to know who leaked out our contact and yes, we DO want to know what you're selling before we attend your seminar. When you don't offer at least a little bit of information to peak our interest, why should we believe anything you say? For all we know, when we go to your 'seminar', you might just sell us off as slaves or something. :P

• When we say 'no, we mean 'no'. I had the people of Fitness First calling me up again and again, and there were all different callers. One will call me and I'll tell them I'm not interested, only to have another call me up the next month. (4) You have a customer database, so when a customer says 'no', just jot that down beside their name and move on. If you keep calling the same disinterested customer, you're not just irritating them and marring your company's name, you're also wasting your time, energy and money.

One day, if I'm really irritated, I think I'd do exactly what my brother did; play with them. My brother got so fed up that every single telemarketer who called him received a very long round-about conversation. :twisted:

Movie Review: Fast & Furious 4

*Ye be warned, ther' be spoilers ahead.

As I was writing the first draft of this post, I could hear the roaring engines of souped-up, modified and sports cars as they zoomed pass on the nearby highway, and I realized.....there was an increase of speeding cars and screeching tires ever since the opening of the speed-o-rama Fast & Furious. It was past midnight and I had already heard four rounds of engines being pushed to the limit. Then again, it could be the after-effect of the F1 race we just had at Sepang. :?

Anyway, back to the movie at hand.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="194" caption="Fast & Furious"][/caption]

The scene is set 5 years after The Fast & The Furious where we last saw Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) 'escaping' from undercover agent, Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) and just before the start of The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift. Well, the duo are back in this latest installment rejoined by fellow actresses, Michelle Rodriquez (resuming the role of Dom's lover, Letty) and Jordana Brewster (resuming the part of Mia Toretto, Dom's sister).

I remember watching the first 5 minutes of the film, transfixed in my chair, as the opening scene pumped up my adrenaline with a high-speed chase and theft of a valuable commodity to all speedsters everywhere; a liquid gold called petrol. Trying to visually track the cars in the following hour-and-a-half scenes of mind-boggling and highly impossible car chases and races as they zoomed throughout the cinema screen proved too much for my eyes. Instead I ended up contenting myself with glimpses of flashing lights and shiny metal bodies followed, of course, by the cursing honks of innocent drivers.

However, I have to say that unlike Tokyo Drift, whereby I can relate tons of scenes at the drop of a hat from my first viewing, I have to think extra hard to remember Fast & Furious. At this moment, the foremost scene at the top of my head is at the beginning when the truck driver jumped out from his soon-to-be-doomed petrol carrier but not before saving his pet lizard. :| Of course, the car chases are always the best parts but other than that? It seems that the filmmakers just wanted to stretch whatever they could out of the first 3 movies, such as patching the plot hole of how Han (played by Sung Kang in Tokyo Drift) met up with Dom and simply continuing the story of what Dom was up to after he 'escaped'.

Although the film wasn't the best of the four, you have to give credit to the filmmakers for their ingenuity in adding new flavour to the races; by way of GPS. Yep, you guessed it, instead of using it to find your way when you're lost, Fast & Furious used it to outline the race course, through the busy city streets and facing oncoming traffic.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Brian O'Conner's choice of 'weapon'"][/caption]

Is it worth watching? Hell, yes, but only one time. :) I would only watch it again in the near future just to see Han's face and maybe in the further future just to refresh my memory of the storyline. In my opinion, it's not a must-watch-over-and-over-until-I-die film like I did with Tokyo Drift. For the men, this film is a non-stop orgasm of fast cars and skimpily-dressed women. Drool over the lovingly-constructed engine by Letty, and look on in jealousy as Brian O'Conner picked not one but three compounded speedsters just for his mission (and wince in agony as he inevitably wreck them). For the women, we~ll, unless you like cars and speed or an action-packed movie, the only thing that might keep you going is the male actors. *shrug*

It is in my opinion as a former media studies student that the filmmakers did one major mistake in this movie; they killed off someone. No, I won't mention the name but I still think it created a sort of standstill in making future installments of the movie. Perhaps the filmmakers thought that it would help add some spice or help to push the movie in another direction if there will ever be a Fast & Furious 5.

For my fellow Malaysians, there are not much scenes that require censorship so watching it in the cinema is A-OK.

So, as usual, here are the list of goofs courtesy of the Internet Movie Database. Truth be told, I didn't notice any goofs so they must have worked hard to edit in as much action scenes as they could to make any mistakes unnoticeable, ahhaha.

Best quote from the movie:

Brian O'Conner: This is where my jurisdiction ends.
Dominic Toretto: And this is where mine begins.

Socializing in Pet Society Part 4

Many Pet Society players have been asking around about these mysterious colourful eggs that pop out from trees that their pets bang into. Well, guess what. Easter has arrived at Pet Society!!

That's right. For this Easter festival, the people of Pet Society have hidden eggs around your pet's neighbourhood. The only way to get them is to go through the trees in hopes of getting some of these decorative eggs. Or you can always get your friends to give them to you as presents. :D

What do these eggs do? Can they be eaten? Are there any prizes for them? The eggs are purely decorative. You can put one near your pet but they won't pick it up or try to eat it or anything. You can sell each egg for 1 coin or you can give them to your friends. So far I've only gotten four different designs. I'm not sure if there are other designs or if Pet Society will put new designs in the new week. Or they could be a piece to a bigger puzzle, who knows what the Pet Society people are up to.

[caption id="attachment_1226" align="aligncenter" width="256" caption="Different Designs of Easter Eggs"][/caption]

I'm not certain but there seem to be a limit to how many eggs you can get. Once I got 12 eggs, no matter how many trees I banged, I couldn't get anymore for the day. One good thing about this Easter Egg Hunt is it encourages the pet to walk around more, ahhahah. :D

Let's move on to the Toy Mystery Eggs. As I've written in an earlier post, I will try to update if I can get anything new for the backdrop toys and so far, I've only managed to get the submarine required for the Deep Trouble scenery.

[caption id="attachment_1229" align="aligncenter" width="218" caption="The newly acquired submarine for Deep Trouble"][/caption]

And I've also managed to get the helicopter that has been eluding me for the Alien Invasion scenery. I'm only one toy away from completing all three of the available backdrops.

[caption id="attachment_1231" align="aligncenter" width="248" caption="The helicopter is finally in the Alien Invasion"][/caption]

By the way, contrary to what I wrote in an earlier post, you cannot give the toy vehicles away to your friends. You can remove them from the backdrops and put them elsewhere in your home or sell them off but you cannot give them away as presents. I guess the Pet Society people want to make it a little harder to complete the new toys.

In my earliest Pet Society post, I mentioned the many different, non-cheating ways to get coins and points. Here's another hint in getting more Paw Points for your pet. Instead of buying a 15-coin meatball to feed your pet, buy 3 5-coin fruits to feed it. Why? Look at it this way. Everytime you feed your pet, or other pets, you get 17 points. So if you feed your pet the 15-coin meatball, you only get 17 points. However, if you feed your pet 3 5-coin fruits, you will get 17 points for each fruit with a total of 51 points and it will still only cost you 15 coins. The more you feed your pet, the more points you'll get.

The same applies to the other pets. When you visit them and if they're hungry, feed them only 5-coin fruits (the cheapest of all the food) and get 2 coins and 17 points for each fruit you feed them. That is one of the fastest way to get points. :)

Food Review: Krispy Kreme

This week's food review cannot be said as a true review as I have never tasted it before. However, based on the comments I've gotten from those who have, they dubbed it as one of the best doughnuts, or donuts (whichever you please), they've ever eaten. Ladies and gentlemen, let us all welcome yet another doughnut franchise coming to Malaysia, Krispy Kreme.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="278" caption="Glazed Doughnuts (from charlielovett.com)"][/caption]

I know that last year, many people have been talking about Krispy Kreme coming to Malaysia but we never did get wind of when exactly they were opening up here. But the story is that we might welcome it in a very short while. Last month, as I was browsing through the classifieds in The Star paper ,I saw that Krispy Kreme was hiring baristas and store managers for their upcoming branches and were asked to report to Berjaya Times Square. Most likely, in my opinion, the first branch will be in Times Square, but don't start groaning that it's too far. Berjaya is opening an estimated 20 stores throughout the country, as reported by Bernama back in August 2008 here.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="280" caption="Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Variety (from www.boogspace.com)"][/caption]

But I'm getting w~ay ahead of myself. What is Krispy Kreme? Owned by a US company, Krispy Kreme is a chain of doughnut stores with a wide variety of these doughy treats, but is especially popular for its glazed doughnut. It's much like Big Apple Doughnuts, but some has dubbed Krispy Kreme as the mother of all doughnuts. One of my friends who ate it in Australia related that it practically melts in your mouth. *drool*

Malaysia's Krispy Kreme has already set up their website at http://www.krispykreme.com.my/ and according to the site, yes, it has been confirmed that their first store is located at Berjaya Times Square at the Ground Floor, Lot G-08A. They are open from 10am to 10pm. I assume they are operating daily but it isn't indicated in their site. Newsflash: my friend checked them out and told me that the Berjaya Times Krispy Kreme branch will be opened on April 27, 2009. YES!!

Of course, when you have donuts, you must have drinks, right? Well, Krispy Kreme is not going to play second fiddle to Big Apple and J.Co in their coffee range with choices of espresso, hot chocolate, iced beverages and chillers. Unfortunately, most of the drinks are coffee-based with only hot chocolate, iced chocolate, hot tea, Fruity Chiller and Kremey Chiller to add other flavours to the beverage menu.

The website even showcases some Krispy Kreme collectibles such as T-shirts and mugs, but I'm unsure if they'll be available for sale at the store.

I haven't gotten wind of whether they are officially opened but you can check it for yourself by calling their store at 603-2119 7373 or e-mailing them at enquiry@krispykreme.com.my. By the way, the official name for the company in Malaysia is Berjaya Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Sdn Bhd and their office is located at Lot 09-26, Level 9, Berjaya Times Square. All these contact details and more are available at their website, which I mentioned earlier.

When they are open, those who have eaten it overseas simply must try it and tell the rest of us whether it tastes the same. This is so we know if the quality is as good or better (or, God forbid, worse) than the predecessors. Enjoy!! :D

Does Anyone Still Want To Use Taxis?

Yesterday, as I was slurping up some Wan Tan Mee for brunch, I read what may have been one of the worst suggestions ever made regarding our 'dear' Malaysian taxis. As I'm sure most Malaysians, and a few unlucky tourists, know, we've been having problems with our local taxi drivers, what with the lack of using the meters, refusal to send passengers to certain areas, and of course, marking up the fare. :x

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="262" caption="Malaysian Taxi (from Getty Images)"][/caption]

So, in The Star paper yesterday (Wednesday, 1st April 2009), a short article by Lester Kong was highlighting these rogue taxi drivers. The Road Transport Department, better known as JPJ, was going to "send show-cause letters to 612 taxi drivers", demanding them to respond within three weeks in regards to their "offenses of not using meters, overcharging, not displaying their driver cards and refusing to pick up passengers." Would you believe that a JPJ operation showed that only 15 out of 627 drivers followed these regulations? It definitely explains the mistrust we have towards Malaysian taxi drivers in general.

Anyway, the article continued on with some suggestions on curbing this irresponsible and unprofessional behaviour, and here is the suggestion that I mentioned earlier. "Taxi drivers and associations have suggested to the Government to increase the starting meter fare from RM2 to RM4 if they want taxi drivers to behave."

What the hell??!!

Do you know what that sounds like? It's like asking the public to pay the taxi drivers so that they would behave. It's like, "Hey, I'll give you two additional ringgit if you'd switch on your meter and send me here during the most jammed time." It's like what Malays often do to little children to get them to start fasting, i.e. a ringgit for each day they fast. Are they going to try and use it to the snatch-thieves as well? "Let's give all snatch-thieves RM5 so that they won't harm the public anymore."

Look, regardless how much you raise the starting meter, it would not work. What's the point of gaining an extra measly RM2 when you can gain at least RM5 to RM10 more by overcharging passengers or putting a fixed rate to go somewhere? I had one taxi driver asking me to pay him RM25 for a journey from KLCC to Lake Garden without his meter. Hello??!! I doubt the journey costs that much.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="204" caption="Malaysian Taxi Driver (from www.daylife.com)"][/caption]

Moving on, one of the interviewed taxi drivers claimed that the starting meter rate was set 13 years ago and that it should be reviewed as prices for most other goods and services were raised parallel to the economic growth. Personally, the rate that should be increased is the rate per kilometer, not the starting meter fare. That, in my opinion, is more fair and makes much more sense what with our up-and-down petrol prices, wear-and-tear of the taxi and other factors that I won't go through here.

Look, there's always a root to every problem. Based on the articles, voiced-out opinions and forums I read, the root is so diverse and points to many directions. Some say the taxi drivers' moral values should be questioned for using such underhanded tricks. Others point the finger of blame to the taxi companies that imposed high rates for the lease and permit on the drivers, a number which they are unable to meet. Then, of course, there's the story (which I don't know is true or not so don't ask me) that the private taxi companies are owned by 'cronies of certain organizations'. A few people complain that the Government is at fault because the public is suffering by paying these 'additional rates', not the Government, thus the reason why the Government is not reacting. So, which is the root of the problem? All or them? None of them?

Whatever it is, I think it is best for the moment to avoid taking unscrupulous taxi drivers. If the taxi driver refuses to use a meter, refuse to ride with him. He'll then have to waste precious time and wait for another passenger to consider using his service. At the airport, PLEASE take the taxis that use the coupon system, not the ones that hound you as soon as you leave the arrival hall. Be safe.

April Fool's Day Story

It's April Fool Day, or is it April Fool's Day? I never did get the hang of the spelling of this humourous day. Anyway, a few people were making a big hoo-ha of April Fool's Day on Facebook and it reminded me of a prank my housemate back in Australia did to our mutual friend. I don't know how it started though so I can only relate the parts I was physically there.

I slid the glass door open and entered my student housing's living room. From the voices I heard coming from the first bedroom, I guessed that my housemate had company. I yelled out a simple 'Hi!' as I dumped my sling bag and books on the dining table.

Muffled footsteps made their way towards me and I looked up to see my friend, Edwin. However, I don't think he noticed me as he was staring intently at a light bulb he was grasping with both hands.

He stopped a few feet near me and I asked him quizzically, "What are you doing?"

Without looking up, he answered, "Azreena told me that she can light up a bulb just by concentrating her energy to it. She said I can do it too if I focus, so I'm trying it now."

His grip slackened momentarily and he let out a soft sigh before firming his grasp on the bulb again. I could veins sticking slightly out of his forehead in his effort.

I stared at him, my mouth slightly opened in disbelief, but I kept silent. More muffled footsteps sounded and the 'kinetic' woman entered the room with a mischievious smile on her face. I moved towards her and asked in a whisper, "How long has he been doing that?"

"5 minutes," she replied with a soft snicker.

By this time, Edwin must have realized that something was amiss based on our whispered conversation as he looked up from the bulb at us and noticed the grin on Azreena's face.

"You were pulling my leg, weren't you?" he yelled. "I thought it was impossible but since you said you could do it, I thought I'd try too. I can't believe I held the light bulb that long."

"I can't believe you didn't realize it when she said it," I replied, joining in Azreena's laughter.

That's only one of a long list of stories I could relate from my university days. I wonder what pranks people will be doing today. Have fun, but please remember, pranks are meant to be fun, not mean. Laugh with the people you are joking with, not laugh at them. Enjoy!!