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Why road barricade on the road?

An obstruction in a road? Fallen trees? Road repairs??? In another word, NO using that road.

Passed by a road barricade a short while ago. Unbelievable that some cars still tried to squeeze through the barricade until they saw the big bulldozer in the middle of the road repairing the road. Only then, the driver reversed his car, but then he got blocked instead as another driver had the same thinking as him. Guess both cars had to reverse and use another road .

Soooo, there’s a reason for road barricade and make sure to take heed……

My usual schedule in gym will normally be:-

1) Enter gym

2) Write down name for classes that I wanted to attend

3) Change and go for classes

I believed most people will agree with me that we usually do all that before attending a class. Well with the exception of one.

Met a lady yesterday in RPM class. As usual, RPM class seems to be in demand and the class was full. Before the class started, another guy walked in. Since the bikes were all full, he asked for the instructor to check the attendance list as he has written down his name but no available bikes for him. After the instructor scan through the list, he noted there’s a lady who did not write down her name. Hence, the instructor had to ask the lady to give up the bike. Imagine my surprise that the lady bitch about giving up the bike instead of politely doing what is right. She insisted that she went to gym early, at 6.15 pm and the rpm class started at 6.45 pm, so why should she give up rpm class. Really unbelievable that she can bitch about such issue when she’s in the wrong. After bitching for about 5 mins, she finally gave up and walked out of the class.

I wonder if she realised that people are laughing at her for her attitude. Can’t believed that she can still complain when she’s in the wrong, not writing down her name on the list, pretending to attend the class and still want to argue that she’s right. I will say serve her right for being chased out of the class.

Pro Musica concert started in Penang since 2007 and it has been a yearly performance since then. I managed to attend their concert once in year 2008 and it was a great and fantastic performance during that time. This year, I got the chance to participate in this special concert. In fact, this is the first time they engaged other choir members, hence a few selected PESSOC members joined in.

Rehearsal started 2 weeks back in Penang Hill. As all the trainers and students from International Pro Musica Master Classes stayed in Penang Hill, we have to travel all the way up to Penang Hill for the rehearsal.

DAY 1(15.08.09) - Saturday

The first day up Penang Hill was a disaster. Can’t believed the queue up to Penang Hill using the tram was so long. I was there at 3.15 pm and only managed to get the tickets at 4.30 pm. As the rehearsal starts at 5.00 pm, I was just in time but a few of my friends were not able to get the 4.30 pm tickets anymore. Even thought when I queued up the second round to purchase some tickets for my friends, the tickets I managed to purchase were at 5.45 pm, which was way passed our rehearsal time. Hence, they contacted our Pessoc organiser and arranged to go up Penang Hill using jeep. Some of them have to rush all the way to Macalister Road to follow the jeep up to Penang Hill. Surprisingly all of us reach Penang Hill (Bellevue Hotel) just in time for the rehearsal. During the rehearsal, we were told that one of the Italian song which we have memorised will not be used. Will need to memorise another Italian song instead in less then 4 days!!! Caused quite a panic when we heard that. But once we started rehearsing the new song we sort of cool down abit. At least there’s a lot of repetition. The rehearsal got delayed and we had to stay back till 11.05 pm. After that, we rushed off just in time to catch the last tram which was at 11.45 pm to leave Penang Hill. Reach home at 12 midnight thou…

DAY 2 (16.08.09) - Sunday

A lesson well learned for the journey up Penang Hill. At least the 2nd trip up Penang Hill was more fun as we were more organised. As PY stayed in Air Itam area, she purchased the tickets earlier in the morning before we went up Penang Hill at 1.00 p.m. The reason we went up Penang Hill earlier was to check out the way the trainers trained the students from International Pro Musica Master Classes. We managed to check out Ronny Lauwers and Loh Siew Tuan’s classes. Ronny’s teaching are more of understanding and analysing the song that we sang where else Loh Siew Tuan more about the tactics and apparatus that we use from our body to sing. Guess a real singer will need all those combinations to be a better singer especially the soloist. As the last tram to go down from Penang Hill was at 9.15 pm, we had to rush off ASAP. We reached there just in time for some posing and photoshooting before the tram started to go down hill.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=129690&id=658144001&l=b5aacfab3

DAY 3 (18.08.09) - Tuesday

These 2 days rehearsal for our Pessoc members were rather short as most of us are working and will only be able to attend the rehearsal after work. Hence, the arrangement of jeep to go up to Penang Hill at 7.20 pm and all to meet at the foothill next to Botanical Garden.  The first rehearsal with the 4 Soloists started on that day  as they only arrived in Penang Sunday night. The 4 Soloists are from OperaPlus & The Flanders Opera Studio, Belgium.

The Soloists are:-

1) Sabine Conzen (soprano, Belgium)

2) Ines Madeira (mezzo-soprano, Portugal)

3) Enrico Casari (tenor, Italy)

4) Andrew Ashwin (baritone, UK)

Rehearsal ends at about 9.30 pm.

DAY 4 (20.08.09) - Thursday

The final rehearsal in Penang Hill. Same time and same venue to meet up. The soloists did not rehearse using their full voice as they were saving it for the following day….. “THE CONCERT DAY”. Rehearsal ends at 10.00 pm.

CONCERT DAY (21.08.09) - HOTEL EQUATORIAL BALLROOM, PENANG

We have to go to EQ at around 11.00 am for the staging rehearsal. BUT we’ve to wait till 12.30 pm before the rehearsal started as they’ve yet to set up the staging and lighting. Started at 12.30 pm and ended near to 3.00 pm . Everyone too hungry by then. The first thing, I reached home was to look for FOOD. After a short rest at home, I went back to EQ at around 5.30 pm. Managed to grab some hi-tea before rehearsal start at 6.30pm. The concert started at around 8.30 pm.

There’s some soloist singing, Pro Musica Master Class student’s group singing and a special dance interlude by Ramli Ibrahim & Sutra dancers. Hence, quite a bit of waiting in between. The concert ended at about 10.30 pm and we adjourned to The View for some supper. Lots and lots of desert till I’ve to drag myself off by the end of the night cause stomach too full to move.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=131996&id=658144001&l=09b5dd148d

TRAVEL DOWN TO KL FOR PRO MUSICA CONCERT (24.08.09) - UCSI, KL

As we’ll be too tired to perform if we travel early Monday morning, they set the traveling to the night before. Our traveling started at 10.15 pm as we had to rush back from our theater rehearsal, shower and rush off to Macalister Road for our transport to go down to KL. Seems like a lot of food eating session in the jeep and on the way down to KL. Had sausage bun, fried rice, fruits and some tidbits during the journey. By the time reach KL, was already near to 3.00 am. Had some light desert (Kuai Leng Gou) before all of us went off to bed at M’s place.

Woke up at 7 ish as I’m not use to sleeping in a new bed and the sun too bright to go back to sleep. Proceed to UCSI and look for breakfast somewhere on the way. That’s where I had my kolo handmade noodles from Sarawak.  Noodles was so so only but the cilipadi given was good. Can feel the numbness in my tougue after I took the cilipadi but then wow, I love it.

We proceed to UCSI after breakfast. Rehearsal ended at about 1.30pm and we had lunch provided by UCSI in the cafeteria. They served a mean Carbonara but the spaghetti was so so only.  After lunch, we went off to EQ Hotel, KL to rest BUT since we have 2 hours to spare, we selected SHOPPING. Went to Lot 10 and dropped by in Pavilion for some coffee and donuts - J.Co. and the donuts are YUMMY !!!! It melts in my mouth !!. Got delayed back to hotel as we over enjoyed the food and company. Unbelievable that we can still get ready on time and meet up in lobby at 6.00 pm. The journeyed from hotel to UCSI as expected, traffic jam. The journey took an hour to reach. Had light dinner in UCSI after rehearsal and waited for the performance to start. The concert ended at 10.30 pm. A lot of photo shooting and autography session after the concert. Proceed for supper and started the journey back to Penang around 12 midnight. Reach Penang around 4 am.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=132183&id=658144001&l=4cea12b979

What a journey. Seems like a lot of makan sessions in KL. Need to workout MORE starting now.

It has been quite sometime since I’ve put in any effort in my blog. I guess I’ve put in too much effort in FB and sort of neglected FS. Humm… should I feel guilty about it? I don’t think so. Why should I feel guilty when I’m having so much fun in FB? Hehe… guess most of my friends will agree with me, life without FB will sound depressing.

My blog has been a bit outdated cause my last blog happened to be somewhere in early Dec last year. Hehe…. ages ago. After that final blog, there seems to be so many occasions and functions which have taken over my time. Hummm… will try to recall what were those functions and occasions before I fully forget about it. Bad memory recently:(

• Christmas party at E’s place. In which lots of fun and relaxation compare to the year before. Lots of photos to check out via FB.
• Year end concert - Ludwig van Beethoven (Symphony No. 9 in D Minor Op. 125 - Ode to Joy). A tough 8 days training before THE DAY which was on the 23rd Dec 2008. Concert fully sponsored by Texchem Group. It was the best concert that I’ve ever participated in. The only disappointment was because it was fully sponsored by Texchem, they have a ruling that NO video recording allowed. Hence, those special moments have to be kept in our mind and heart. No remembrance thru recording. Well, at least we managed to capture a few pictures with the Soloists and our vocal trainer (Dr. Martin Ennis).
  
• CNY celebrations - Guess this year, was rather pack with visiting (in and out of Penang Island) and dinner reunions… Well, the worst time in the year cause the easiest time to EAT, EAT and EAT… Haha… finally over already.
• E’s surprise dinner party - Guess I’m quite use to organise parties or events, hence a bit of a control to myself, trying hard not to overtake the whole planning… hehe.. maybe I’m a bit of a planning freak …But overall quite happy with the turnout especially with the surprise expression;)
• Cancellation of the concert with the Australian Army Band. Guess the downturn of economy has reduce the Army Band into canceling their anniversary celebration here in Penang. 2 years back, it was a huge success when our choir combined with the Australian Band performed in Fort Cornwalis.
• Next month - There will be another concert which will be held in Dewan Sri Pinang on the April 18. This is in fact a charity concert. Further info about the incoming concert:-

A Charity Concert featuring top local classical musicians entitled “A NIGHT of HOPE” with details as below:-

Date    :   18^th April 2009 (Saturday)

Time    :   8.00pm - 10.00pm

Venue :   Dewan Sri Pinang

Expected turnout   :   1,200 people

Target amount:RM 120,000

Proceeds from this event will go towards setting up of a Mobile Clinic to provide quality medical treatment to the rural poor. Hoping to co-ordinate consistent trips to various rural communities to provide quality medical consultation & medication. Also target various ‘Orang Asli’ Settlements. These are communities that normally may not have access to basic & quality medical care.

Well, I do hope the target collection amount will be able to achieve from the incoming concert. ….

When matters are not in details, conflict will occure. I guess now I’m feeling a lot of conflict of emotions.

Excited cause Music Camp will start next Monday. Going to be slightly different this year cause the management will engage a few soloist to participate. They will also engage someone professional all the way from UK to coach us in this Music Camp. All fully sponsored by Texchem. Guess that’s why it’s a close concert.  

Depressed cause will have to miss gym. Have been attending gym weekly and out of the blue not able to attend gym for more than a week… A depressing thought
Panic cause the schedule for Music Camp which is suppose to start next Monday is still not out yet. Heard from our Chorus Conductor that the starting time will be from 2.00 pm. (WHICH IS MY WORKING TIME !!!!) Also the Camp will last till 22nd Dec…. Ouch !!!! Work wise another campaign launch by client.

Hope I’ll get the schedule real soon to enable planning for work plus Camp training.  Well…. would be good if I can slot in at least a tiny bit of workout. Humm…. am I being to greedy and asking for too much?????

POLE JAM - 1st time here in Penang and organised by Celebrity Fitness (CF).

Thanks to E, I get the chance to attend the Intro Class in CF.

The opening ceremony started with Belly Dance by Azlina (CF Instructor). After that there was a performance held by Lola and her 2 assistants from Viva Vertical showing us how to dance firstly on the floor and finally moved to the pole and dance on the pole. 

Here’s some photos of the hot lady from Viva :-

After the pole performance by Lola, we started off with warm up, then some dancing steps with the whole group. As there were only 3 poles and about 24 of us (23 ladies and 1 guy). We were split into 2 groups. First group practiced using the pole while the second group practiced the dancing steps. After about 20 mins, we exchanged. Well, as there were only limited poles, each of us took turn to practice. I guess when having fun, time really flies cause after a short while, time’s up for playing with the pole and it was time for us to perform instead. Yeah…. all of us sort of PANIC !!!! Can see from everyone’s expression including mine… hehe.

We were split into 3 rows. When the music started, a person from each row will walk to the middle of the floor to dance and slowly walk to the pole for pole dancing after that… Seems a bit of solo dancing to me. Anyway, each of us get 2 changes to do all that. First round, everyone panic…. second round, humm it was quite fun as the excitement started to kick in….. too bad no more third round. 

Well after the class ended, I noticed that there were bruises on my knees and arms.  Guess now I understood what my friend mean by getting those bruises when go for pole dance. Can’t avoid all those especially if you are new. But overall it was quite fun. That’s why time flies even without us realising it.

What is in our mind when we think about designer? The first thing that came to my mind would be creativity. Designers are usually responsible for developing the concept and making sure those drawing are outstanding. Each and every colour uses will have meaning for whatever is design by them.

Recently I’ve just seen some samples of logos design by a designer. Got a shock to see that this designer can produce such a horrible logo design. 

Sample of design :-

1st Design

[Company Name] - This oval shape logo above the company name

2nd Design

[Company Name] - This logo cutting off the company name into 2 and the alphabet “L” missing.

3rd Design

[Company Name] - This logo above the company name , on top of 2 alphabets.

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the designs were :

1st Design - Funny oval shape on top of company name

2nd Design - How can this designer cut off the company name into 2? Especially for those who believed in superstitions, it’s like killing the business before the business started.

3rd Design - A tree on top of the logo? Oval shape not enough? Some more must have tree shape?

In fact, I don’t think I have much creativity but after looking at those designs I think this designer’s creativity is worst than mine.

Got stuck in Gurney Plaza car park last Saturday. Worst kind of jam ever and the worst thing was that the traffic jam was in the car park itself. Can you imagine my friend and I got stuck in the exact spot for 45 mins? Unbelievable ya? After being stuck for so long, my friend and I gave up trying to follow the rules. We went against the traffic and went down from level 7 to level 6 via the going up lane. I know, I know it is illegal but then hey there’s no police to give any summon. So why not???

After we went down to level 6, we cut in the lane near to the parking ticket machine and slowly wait for our turn to insert our packing ticket in the machine. All those took us an hour plus. Just from 7th floor to 6th floor. Traffic were quite smooth after 6th floor.

What is the cause of the traffic jam?

• Incompetency of Gurney Plaza management in arranging for the security guard to handle the jam. Especially when opening the new wing, should make sure proper planning were done to avoid such jam from getting worst. 
• Only saw 1 security guard overall from level 7 to level 6 when the queue was so long and all cars were in the non moving situation.
• As the receipt card can only last for 30 mins, those who get stuck in the jam with their receipt card more than 30 mins will have to wait for the security guard to give clearance before the car were able to pass the automatic barrier. All that action took about 5 mins each.
• Only 1 way up and 1 way down even when they have extended the parking space. How not to get jam??? More input but no extra output !!!!

In fact I’m quite thankful for my friend’s quick action which enable us to finally went off Gurney Plaza in an hour plus. If not, I believed I might be stuck there for another hour or two just because of the management’s incompetency.

Hopefully, Gurney Plaza management will have a better planning in future. If not sooner or later there’ll be some article about Gurney Plaza’s bad management. Full blast in promoting bad image for Gurney Plaza… BAD NEWS !!!!!

Read an article today about this “One Hot Superwoman” from New Strait Times (NST) and wondered how come that lady looks so familiar to me. Questions suddenly pop up in my head. Where, when and how I met her? Guess that triggers me to read the article…

Ah ha !!! Only then I remembered where I met her. Went to Nandos last Sat and managed to chat with Chung Lynn for a short while.  Remembered her saying that after the airport outlet closed off they are now looking for another place for new outlet. She said that they might open the outlet in E-gate but then their target markets are those who worked in Bayan Lepas area. I did suggest to her Krystal Suites which is in Bayan Lepas but then there’s also another outlet in Queensbay which is not that far away. Ah well, I hope she’ll manage to get a good place for their new outlet. 

At first, I thought Chung Lynn’s just a Manager who works there. Anyway, she doesn’t mind to work along side with the staffs there, clearing the tables, taking orders, serving customers etc. But then another of the supervisor in Nandos mentioned that she’s the boss from Nandos. Came all the way from KL for the opening of Nandos back in Gurney Plaza. So I told my friend WOW !!!! she’s such a friendly and humble boss. Even thou she aggresive in work wise and made sure customers were happy with the services but then my friend and I are comfortable in chatting with her. She’s just so friendly and comfortable to talk too.

I guess NST should amend the headline and make it “One Hot And Friendly Superwoman”.  Hehe… maybe I’m a bit bias.

A week has passed by in which I’ve really put in effort lots of effort in gym.  I guess I broke my record in attending gym. Attended 6 days in gym last week instead of my usual routine which is 3 to 4 days. Bearing those muscles ache last week but still brace myself for more workout.

Till the final day of the week which is on Sunday. I thought I should put in my maximum effort for the workout. Hence I attended 3 classes back to back - Body Pump, RPM and ABT. Well, during my final class which is ABT, my stamina went downhill. But then I’ve been expecting those aches to follow the next day cause I’ve been putting in a lot of effort in Pump and also RPM. However, surprisingly I don’t feel any aches, even after the 3rd day. I’m now wondering if I’m getting immune to those same weight which I’ve been using or maybe the consistency of me attending gym working out those muscles from being sore till it went off. Huummm…. those kind of non pain aching muscles sort of giving me a feeling of non satisfaction. Wondering if I’m a sadist… haha..

Ah well…. finally decided today is time for me to increase my weight in Body Pump class. Guess I should know by tomorrow if those aches will attack me or not…..;)