08.30.08
A quiet mind.
I have never been a morning person. Ask anyone that knows me. They would all snicker at any morning-related activities I attempt. But that morning, I felt like walking along the deserted beach and listening to Damien Rice. I have never done it before. Walking by the beach at the break of dawn, that is. So, since the itinerary was going to be a laid back one, I thought, why not.
I woke up an hour earlier, washed the sleep off my face, got dressed, grabbed my iPod and headed off to the beach. The weather has been gloomy at best during my stay on the island, but that morning, the air was still yet not humid enough to make me go into hiding. I took off my sandals and felt the hardened sand under my feet. It was not the best beach, if you ask me: the sand was hard from yesterday’s rain and grey, and the waves were pathetically timid. But it was enough for a quiet time.
The delicate strum of Delicate filled my ears along with the crashing waves. Every beat of the song brought me closer to the ocean until I could feel the lukewarm water lapping my toes. I cast my back to the vast building behind me. Where lovers were still asleep in each other’s arms. Where the pool boys were still figuring out the right amount of chlorine for the pool. Where waitresses were setting up the spread for breakfast.
I saw clouds building kingdoms in the clear blue sky. I saw the edges of the island like arms trying to hold the world. I saw transparent hermits scurrying back to the many holes they have dug. I saw trapped bubbles punctuating under the sand. I saw waves rushing to me like foamy creepy-crawlies, only to reach my ankles with the most tender embrace.
My mind was blank. I tried to pull out a troubling memory to mull over, but the search came up blank. I tried to think of someone I would like to share this with, but I found none that could be more appropriate. It was definitely a ‘me’ time. A time to worry about nothing. A time when time itself stood still, and I was buried between the seconds, where Father Time could not find me.
I walked with The Blower’s Daughter by the shore, and tried to sink away into the Straits with Amie. When Cold Water came, I knew it is time to snap out of it and return to reality. It was with a heavy heart as Eskimo took me back to my room.
It was wonderful.
08.27.08
Moh, balik kampung!
It was like going back to a place I used to call home in the rural kampung area during Hari Raya, where my grandparents still reside in, waiting for my family and my cousins’ family. Well, if ever I was a Malay to begin with, that is. But I suppose I might as well be, what with the places I have been to. I wouldn’t be surprised if I rock up my parents’ door one day announcing my marriage to a Malay. Hah. Actually, I was kidding there.
What with the traditional Malay houses serving as chalets of sorts, I thought Warisan Pahlawan Resort was quite a quaint place to be in. It was a small compound, seeing that they had just started business not too long ago, and we were the first bunch of people to stay there then. There were only about five houses there, each with four rooms or so to their own. You won’t expect air-conditioned rooms, or romantic orange light at this part of town. It was practically like someone’s house, with typical bedsheets and blankets you usually find cheap at the night market. I had to ask for a mosquito repellent because they were already starting to get to me.
But I guess I liked it because you get to experience what it is like cooped up in a typical Malay kampung. The environment. The atmosphere. The culture. It was drizzling the day we checked into the resort, and we had nothing to do – literally, and everyone was just sitting around, waiting for something to happen. Guys had chit chats at the patio while munching on bananas, while girls did their own girl talks outside their rooms. Time just stood still for us city folks for one day, and we were stripped down to our basics. And I thought that was kind of nice.
It was not exactly the best buffet spread out there when meal times came around. There was a nice little sheltered area just underside of the guys’ house, where we had our meals. (Sometimes, we could even hear the guys moving about upstairs). The makcik who owns the resort would cook up something nice for us, one of those typical Malay dishes fit for any Malay kind of dinners, lunches and breakfasts, which were all kind of the same, if you ask the Chinese part of me. But hey, I am not one to complain. I have had so much Malay food that I am kind of used to it already. Besides, I am not one to “live to eat”, as long as it fills the tummy, I look forward to another day.
But one thing you don’t have to worry about is getting hungry, because the hosts were so good to us that they seem to be feeding us every hour of the hour! That night, we had just had our dinner, but probably an hour or two later, they were pulling out their barbecue pits and roasting buttered corns and salted peanuts.
Alia, one of us bunch, was holding her piece of corn, waiting for it to cool when she turned to us and said, “Cam balik kampung Alia bile Hari Raya, kan?” (“Feels like I’m back in my own hometown during Hari Raya.”) I looked around me: there were kids running around, while fathers stood by the pit watching the corns and peanuts cook, with mothers and sisters sitting on swings hung from the underside of the house chattering away. It was pitch black beyond the perimeter of the resort. If there were fireworks going off nearby, it could have fooled me that it was the festive season indeed.
The next day, before we were treated with some household “performances”. There came a house of old ladies out of nowhere (they just suddenly appeared off the road along the resort), dressed in uniformed red and blue baju kurungs. After breakfast, they set up station at the empty compound outside of the resort for their tumbuk lesong performance.
Tumbuk Lesong is actually a kind of job the villagers used to do back in the older days. Not many people know how to do that now, and the only ones left were these old ladies. And as modernisation took over, all they were left making money out of this, is making a performance of it.
The procedure is like this. The rice grains are picked from the field and they will be soaked in a bucket of water for a day. Then, the grains will be cooked in a frying pan oiled with a thin layer of cooking oil. When the grains started dancing and popping on the wok, it is time to move them over to a bowl (of sorts), where the grains will be hammered down flat. These flattened grains are like oatmeals, and they are usually consumed with shredded coconut. Now, it may seem easy when the three elderly did the hammering, but when it was our turn to try it out, we were so out of rhythm I think the makciks would have died of heart attack sooner then waiting for her turn to hit the grain.
While waiting for the next performance to set up, we even managed to squeeze in a durian eating session, what with the durian season around the corner and all. Heh. Besides, the resort has an orchard of their own, so why not? Like I said, you will never go hungry in a Malay kampung.
Next, was the silat kura-kura performance, which is only available in Kampung Menerung of Hulu Terengganu. As suggested by the name itself, the silat takes in the form of movements of a tortoise – shrugging shoulders, craned necks, hesitant sliding steps, half-balled fists, half-closed eyes and hissing sounds. Amusing, but entertaining all the same.
Although we have only stayed there for one night, but it felt like we have stayed there for much longer. I thought it was quite an original tactic to have cultural performances during your stay at the resort. I mean, sure there will always be plenty Malay cultural dances to go around, but it was interesting to see something different like tumbuk lesong and silat kura-kura. Something that is only available in Terengganu and nowhere else.
++
Warisan Pahlawan Resort
22 Kampung Pauh
21700 Kuala Berang
Hulu Terengganu
Terengganu
Malaysia
T: +6 09 612 0751
E: ej_tourism@yahoo.com
08.21.08
Miss Busybody, can I pencil you in?
For any kind of traveller – big or small – there will always come a time when travelling just gets too much for us. And all you want is to just have the best hotel to go back to and sleep the hours away.
Luckily, for the many business executives in the heart of KL, there is the Parkroyal KL’s brand new Orchid Club wing to kick back and relax. And lucky for me, I got to play pretend for one night, as if I am some big shot CEO coming into town for some business meeting, lugging my little carry-on and suit to the hotel ready for a good night’s rest.
For some reason, their check-in reception is not only away from the general check-in counters, but way up on the top floor of the Orchid Club wing. As I made my way to my room, I passed by the Zen Atrium, which is quite cool in some sense, but I thought to be quite pointless in another. Maybe if you stare at the changing lights long enough, you would actually feel zen. I don’t know. Heh. But I guess, I could not imagine anything else filling up that space either.
When I got into my room, I just loved every corner of it. A very inviting king-sized bed with plush pillows and the thickest comforter I would ever dream of having. Compared to my tiny single bed still left on the floor because I have not gotten around to buy a bed frame yet, this is like Heaven. So, yes, there is a big LCD TV screen, where more important people can watch CNN and NBC and ABC. But what pleased me that day more than the bigass TV and an emperor’s bed, was something as simple as having free Net access in the hotel room. Ah yes, I am indeed a geek. Heh.
However, I would not recommend looking out the windows. I bet the hotel staffs are aware of that too, because the blinds are always tightly shut. Now, if you must know, Parkroyal KL is situated along Jalan Sultan Ismail, one of the bustling streets at the heart of KL. And if you are familiar with the beat of this city, it is not healthy and has been diagnosed with all sorts of heart problems available to a metropolis.
When I looked out my window, it was like hell on the other side. A bumper-to-bumper gridlock, and a monorail squeaking past overhead. I had a chance to peak out the windows of their Executive Suite, and I found myself face-to-face with a demolished building across the street. Yes, windows closed please.
But, you have to give them credit for creating such an euphoric atmosphere in the midst of such havoc. Besides, which businessmen would like to stare out the windows of a city-based hotel anyway?
After checking in to my room and settling my stuffs down, I got an appointment at the St Gregory Spa. The last time I had a spa treatment was years ago, and it was wonderful to be welcomed back to the aromatic rooms. All I remembered of that session, was the masseuse running her thumb up my spine, and cracking it on the way. After that, I was slowly drifting off to sleep, hearing the faint traffic buzz outside the thick walls.
When I got back to my room, I realised that someone had came in and flipped my bedsheets for me. That was the first for me. Because throughout my life of staying in hotels, I have never had an invisible butler flipping my bedsheets before I go to bed. I would not be surprised if he happened to stand next to my bed when I wake up the next morning. Or pop out from the wardrobe when I ring a bell.
The bathroom was awesome in some sense. For one, it has a rain showerhead. And. That is about it, really. But yes, a rain showerhead. First encounter in my life.
I parked myself at the desk to use the free Net access before bed. The air-conditioning was cold as hell as it was directing right at me. Got myself logged in to chit chat with my friends online and had the TV tuned in to So You Think You Can Dance – not because I watch it because the Malaysian candidate sucks compared to the Americans, but because there is nothing else on TV. After that, I looked so defeated lying there on my new king-sized bed. But contented, nonetheless.
I would have slept till the following afternoon, but alas, I had an appointment to go to. And it was with a heavy heart as I packed my bags and left the room. But, as always, the fun part of being in a hotel stay, is the complimentary breakfast the next morning. I love myself some variety of cereal and eggs and buttered toast with a glass of orange juice.
The last highlight of my stay was when the waiter came up to me and asked how would I like my eggs. Scrambled, please.
++
Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur
Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
T: +6 03 2147 0088
W: http://www.parkroyalhotels.com
08.13.08
Spending some time with the Cutie.
Event: Death Cab for Cutie concert
Date: August 12, 2008 (Tuesday)
Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore
It could not have gotten any better with the concert seats we had. Front row seats with the stage merely one step away, with nothing obscuring my lacked of height’s view but the flattened wires and speakers in front of me. And when Ben Gibbard came out and decided to stand at the microphone just right in front of us, we went down on our knees and thanked the good Lord of Indie-hood for our fortune. It was worth every fucking penny we forked out.
The lights dimmed and the crowd went absolutely bonkers. Ben appeared on stage sporting new sideburns with no glasses, followed by Nicholas Harmer and Chris Walla with their guitars, as Jason McGerr slid to his seat at the percussion. Without wasting any time, they dove into the familiar intro of Bixby Canyon Bridge – which I realised some days ago that it sounded like Marching Bands of Manhattan’s – and the entire concert hall just lost it. Fuck the comfy seats, practically the entire crowd was standing with their hands in the air. When Jason came in with his heavy beats that seemed to guide the heartbeats of every fan in the room, I just know my legs would have to fall off first before I stop tapping along to their contagious thumps. From then onwards, Ben Gibbard and company were Gods, and we were their worshippers.
They performed songs from all of their albums. Touching the three older albums, in case there were fans out there who were familiar with their older stuffs. And indeed, there were. Playing the new ones from Narrow Stairs for the new fans hopping on the death cab. Not forgetting Plans, but still biasedly leaning a hell lot to Transatlanticism. This, my friend, is a bittersweet thing for me, but I shall get into it later.
When Ben exchanged his electronic for his acoustic guitar, we knew something good was about to happen. After finishing Soul Meets Body, the lights went an oceanic blue and he introduced the next number to be a “love song”. As if already memorised the Death Cab Bible from back to front, the crowd cheered as Ben went into the opening chords for I Will Follow You Into The Dark.
The fans can sing along all they want, but my attention was all for Ben only then. My eyes could not leave his drenched form, and my ears heeded every single syllable coming out of his lips, words I have heard too often to sing me to sleep. When it came the time for the most brilliant line of lyrics in the song, my eyes started to water: “You and me have seen everything to see / From Bangkok to Calgary / And the soles of your shoes…” If I were to drop dead then, I would have died a happily comforted and loved girl.
Followed close behind was the song that brought Death Cab back on track with Narrow Stairs, I Will Possess Your Heart. Judging from the lengthy opening for the song from the album, one would expect something phenomenon on the brink of happening when they performed live. How one by one, every instrument joined in and slowly built up a memento for Ben’s first verse: “How I wish you could see the potential / The potential of you and me / It’s like a book elegantly bound but / In a language you just can’t read”. Hearing it on the album was like an appetiser. Hearing it live was like a fucking gastronomic main course.
They did a faux exit, just like every band performing live would, after The Sound of Settling. While the fans screamed for an encore, I sat in my seat calling for the Gods of Indie Rock once again to please, please, please, have What Sarah Said on their encore set. Time was already running out, but my favourite song had yet to grace the blessed mouth of Ben Gibbard. Every time he – or Chris – headed towards the keyboard by Jason’s percussion set, my breath would pause only to let go in disappointment when they started off on something else. And this also did not happen often, as they preferred strings to keys. I have gotten so desperate that whenever Ben approached the microphone, I screamed out “Ben, play Sarah!” Alas, he did not even look up or acknowledge my call of despair.
Death Cab For Cutie came back onstage with their oldest number for the night: Your Bruise, from their first studio album, Something About Airplanes. I admit, I have only gotten on the bandwagon completely when I heard Plans, and before that they were merely name drops for me. So, yes, I did feel bored when they hit on tracks I have not heard before like Live Here, Company Calls, Title Track and this. Heck, I even decided to head to the ladies’ when they performed Expo ‘86. But, I would have to say, this is probably the better one that night from their older numbers. And that is saying a lot, because I have yet to find a common ground with their old sound just yet.
Then, came Title and Registration, a song I have learned to adore with the lovable line of “The glove compartment is inaccurately named” alongside side the cheeky melody of the song. After No Sunlight, followed Tiny Vessels. As Ben’s heart aching lyrics went “She is beautiful but she doesn’t mean a thing to me” alongside the lonely strums of the guitar, I held my face in my hands like I would cradle my heart. And when the opening of Transatlanticism so gracefully followed suit, I knew Ben would not be telling us who was going to watch him die that night.
But I guess I could not totally hate them just yet, because Transatlanticism was also a favourite of mine. I could be downhearted and disappointed all I want, but the moment Ben sang “The distance is quite simply much too far for me to row / It seems farther then ever before”, my heart melted and I found myself on the brink of tears again. The lights bathed him again in the hues of the Atlantic, the crowd quieted down to listen to the powerful words of “I need you so much closer”. Till this day, it is still a mystery to me how these six simple words could be so gripping just by repeating themselves again and again. Hands raised above heads as eyes closed to dip bodies in the ocean, and the melody built up one last time to a powerful climax, to a powerful finale. I could not find a better ending to a Death Cab concert, if it were not the prolonged buzzing semi breve of this song.
All in all, I cannot say it was the best concert I have been to. (Sorry Ben, but Damien is still holding the top spot). But I would say it was still a nice experience. All concerts I have been were great experiences. None really sucked just yet. But for this, it would have been a better one if they communicated more with the fans, and make the concert more interactive. The only times they ever spoke to the crowd was just to say hey, or ask if we were doing OK. Well, no, Ben, I was not doing OK. You literally brushed me off when I was certain you could hear me loud and clear when I asked for What Sarah Said. Heh. And yes, the concert would have been a couple of notches better if he had somehow fitted Sarah in the list.
But still, it was a mission accomplished for me. Since l heard Plans, I have been wanting to see them live, envious very much of the fans getting to attend their gigs almost every day in the States. Although they decided to stop by Singapore instead of Malaysia, it was still worth it. Like I said in the beginning, try to top my concert seat, because it ain’t getting any better than that.
Note: More pictures will be up soon.
08.05.08
MTV Asia Awards 2008 : Backstage
Event: MTV Asia Awards 2008
Date: August 2, 2008 (Saturday)
Venue: Arena of Stars, Genting – City of Entertainment
After the artists and the mosh pitters have been escorted into the Arena, we media were left out in the foggy cold for a little too long – yeah, just a little too long – for buses to transport us to the photo and press rooms. Which was a shock to us, because we were expecting the two rooms to be just beside the Arena, where winners would proceed to upon receiving their awards to take pictures and get interviewed.
Food. Glorious food lining the buffet table the moment we got into the media area. After being left in the cold for too long, and not having anything since breakfast, I stomached down as much as I could while watching the award show from, alas, a television screen. Well, at least it is live. Heh.
After that, photographers and journalists parted ways to go to their respective rooms, whereby one was not allowed in another unless applied prior to the event. Right about then, I wished I had applied for both press and photo rooms. Because no cameras were allowed in the press room. Period. Meh.
We were halfway through watching the show when the person-in-charge came in to announce our first interviewee for the night. Li Yu Chun, who had just won the Favourite Artist of Mainland China Award.
Being from China, it was only natural for us to post questions about the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, which is just a few days away. She, and a few more subsequent Chinese artists were bombarded with their involvement in the Olympics.
Next came Leo Ku, winner of the Favourite Artist of Hong Kong Award.
I did not know he was even in the awards show until he went on stage with Stefanie Sun and Show Lo to present some awards. It was only later that his present became an understatement when he won the award. By then, it gradually dawned on us that only the winners of each award category showed up. Great suspense, that was. It was a cheap thrill for me to hear some of the Chinese journalists calling him by his nicknames: “Har Kau” and “Kei Chai“. Don’t ask me, apparently it is something the Chinese Asians have been doing for a very long time.
Nobody knew anything about TOR+ Saksit when he came in with his win for Favourite Artist of Thailand. But according to him, he seemed very skilled in classical piano, and he already has like, five albums released in Thailand – three instrumental and two vocal. And he was probably the first Thai who spoke English fluently, without the usual Thai accent. Quite impressive. Yup.
The moment we all been waiting for came when the person-in-charge announced that OneRepublic is coming in next. And she totally snubbed out our excitement when she said, “6 questions only”. What. The. Fuck. Man.
With that, the moment they sat down with their Best Hook Up Award, they were attacked with questions. Don’t bother raising your hand because some other media person would just rush in with his own question. How rude.
They all seemed to have a marvelous time, being new in the music scene and being so popular and all. Very excited in every question they answered, and even made a promise to come back to Malaysia for their own concert. And they even stressed that they “don’t break promises”. Well, you guys better live up to that or else it will definitely be too late to apologise. Heh.
Trust me when I said nobody actually expected Nicholas Teo to win the Favourite Artist of Malaysia Award, being in the same category as Faizal Tahir and hello, Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza. But it helps when you have the typical emo-like Cheenabeng hairstyle and a cute face. And it is a voting category, so you should know by now how wrong things can get. Someone from the crowd even went on to ask him how the hell he could win the award because he isn’t exactly famous in Malaysia. Ouch. It’s the face, my friend. It’s the face.
The Chinese journalists went wild with questions when Show Lo came in with his Favourite Artist of Taiwan Award. (And yes, the face helped for him too; he was from ROMEO, after all). Questions were a little off. Things like “how long did you take to practice that line of English you spoke on stage” and “how long did you take to dress up for the night” came up. But well, again, maybe it is the Chinese Pop culture, so I am not going to say much about it. Just know that it is not exactly the kind of road I would like to go down.
The Script was well-loved in the press room despite them not being nominated in any category. Like OneRepublic, they were quite excited just being there to perform their hit song “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved”. Hailing from Ireland, a country that have spawned quite a few musicians of my choice, I wanted to ask questions relating them to U2 and Damien Rice. But I decided to let it go after hearing them talk about the influences being The Street, Stevie Wonder and Brian McKnight. Not to say those are bad musicians, but well, I thought I saw a spark of hope in them. I was quite impressed with their performance.
There came another bout of frenzy when Leona Lewis came in with her Breakthrough Artist Award. Everyone was excited, but me, I was not fucking impressed. Out of all the interviews that night, hers probably sucked the most. Her gentle way of replying our questions with her bright smile, ain’t buying it. Her replies were mere “yes” and “no”, before proceeding to telling us fabricated things like how much music meant to her and yada yada. Yes, tell me something new, Leona. Because I have definitely not heard that one before.
Other interviewees included Stefanie Sun, with her Favourite Artist of Singapore Award. It was quite amusing throughout her interview when her Singlish slangs started letting loose. Heh.
Also, Chicosci, winner of the Favourite Artist of the Philippines Award. Quite a happy bunch too, especially when they talked about hugging The Pussycat Dolls.
Karen Mok and Jared Leto came over when they finished hosting the award show. According to Jared, he was tired as hell, which I kind of doubted because he was later spotted in the post party. Despite that, he still managed to pull some jokes out of his hat once in a while.
Lastly was Yuvie & Nuno with their Favourite Artist of Indonesia Award. By then, everyone was more than ready to go home. They were on the stage for what, a minute, then the person-in-charge wrapped things up because everyone just stared back at them like students would towards a dull lecturer. They were not really a talkative bunch either.
So, yes. Not exactly the funnest interview session, I would say. The person-in-charge was such a party pooper. Heh. But well, it was still a nice experience to be in the same room with MAA winners and international acclaimed stars like OneRepublic and Jared Leto. Would have been nice if PANIC! were around, but ah well, beggars cannot be choosers.
Photo credits: KennySia.com
08.04.08
MTV Asia Awards 2008 : Red Carpet
Event: MTV Asia Awards 2008
Date: August 2, 2008 (Saturday)
Venue: Arena of Stars, Genting – City of Entertainment
After nearly missing my bus to Genting by a second, going on an unexpected ride on the Skyway – which sort of messed up my time calculation, almost missing my time to get my media pass, and stressing out over the slow hotel check-in while everyone was being escorted to the red carpet, (not even bothering to find time for lunch, may I add), I finally made it there myself.
The mosh pitters lining the stretch were already pumped up as I find myself a nice spot behind the barricade opposite theirs. They broke into songs by practically all of the international nominees that night, singing and cheering just to keep the mood going. As they sang along to those famous hits, I could only smile at them and wonder if I have gotten too old for all of this. Or maybe, their kind of fun is not my cup of tea.
MTV VJs Denise, Taya, Utt and JUJU graced the red carpet around 4PM as expected. The first thing that came to my mind as they strolled down the red aisle was fuck, Utt is short. Haha. I expected him to be taller. If not taller than Denise, at least at the same height as her. But he looked dashing in his black tux, so it was all good.
The moment the VJs appeared, the crowd went wild and the photographers rushed forward to get good shots of them. Me, being short, had to remain on the platform a little behind from the huddling bunch and managed to take only bad shots. Granted, it was my first time at the red carpet and I was not supposed to be the photographer then. So, taking shots without looking through the lens was not something I have gotten a hang of yet. Out of the bunch of shots I took, this was the best. The rest were just of their bodies, or with other media in the way. Bah.
Next came Jabbawockeez.
Then Ella. Probably the only artists there who were not there just to win awards.
When word went round that The Pussycat Dolls were next, the guys went gaga. Everyone started pulling out their camera phones and uncapping their sharpies as they gazed down the end of the red carpet anticipating the slightest glint of the Dolls’ flashy outfits and hair.
Their last performance in Malaysia was a great hooha mainly because of their exposed outfits. So, I was quite surprised they were still invited to perform at the MAA in Malaysia this year. And as an opening act too. Definitely something to wait upon when the red carpet was done.
It was the girls turn to go completely insane when Super Junior walked down the aisle. There were flashy LED signs of their name waving around, and the signs seemed to shadow them as they made their way towards the Arena.
I mean, what is the deal with them anyway? Just another boy band (with like, 12 fucking members, what the hell) with good looks and over-trimmed eyebrows. And what is with that hand thing? Talk to the hand? Sheesh. As they hogged the limelight, I could only try to tune out the deafeaning screams as I try to get good shots without barfing over their flawless physique.
By the time The Click Five came, I managed to squeeze myself up against the railing for good shots, and even have a leverage to boot. Heh. For some reason, the photographers standing in front of me disappeared to somewhere. See how close I was? It was sort of scary, having these boy bands walked up to us. Yes, emo-looking boy bands scare me. Let them out to get me if you do not want me close to you.
Ah, the moment I have been waiting for when Jared Leto came down the red carpet with his co-host of the night, Karen Mok. Again, another surprise when it was announced back in May that Jared Leto will be hosting this year’s MAA. A Hollywood star with a line of weird films to his credentials, and a screamo band that is not exactly up to the liking of the typical Malaysian music scene. But I guess girls will find it hard to look away from his striking eyes. I mean, look, he looked at my camera. Heh. And fuck, his legs are skinny. Jealous much.
Now, it was already hard enough trying to get good shots with photographers coming in from left and right. Heck, someone from behind even had his camera over my head. Not that I mind that much. I will tell you what I mind more.
These people.
I mean, come on, you guys have already gotten the best shit being the only media in front of the barricade. The only media who got to stop the artists in their tracks and interview them. Must you guys stop in front of us poor photographers restricted behind the railings?
Whenever a new celebrity sprung out, they would rush up to them, and with that, block our view. We had to try our best to take shots over their freaking shoulders. And they were not exactly short, you know. But, I guess someone said something because later during the event, we found them stuck at one spot a few steps away from the “photographing point”. So, yeah.
Leona Lewis and her fans.
So, I was just taking a breather after she moved on down the red carpet, when I looked up and saw this quiet guy standing there.
Show Lo. It was a moment of awkwardness because his presence was totally snubbed out by a more popular Leona Lewis. He just popped out of nowhere and just stood there, like “hello, take a shot of me, goddammit!” Heh.
Then, came The Script.
And Stefanie Sun.
And Li Yu Chun. Whom we had no idea who she was until later in the night.
Flip it to the opposite sex and from black to white and you have…
Nicholas Teo. Heh.
The crowd went on a frenzy again when OneRepublic finally showed up. They started singing Apologize and Stop and Stare again, and I wondered if those were the only songs the fans knew of. Sad how these popular singles silenced the better songs in their album.
And apparently Ryan Tedder was too good to be in my picture. See how he ruined the perfect group shot I could have taken. Hmph.
Ah, the good ol’ PANIC! At the Disco, looking stylish. Nice hat. Reminds me of Eric the Hat Collector in Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium for some reason.
Also, walking the red carpet are Pop Shuvit.
TOR+ Saksit. Who looks a lot like Mike. Heh.
And Chicosci.
And also, Jacklyn Victor. The first Malaysian Idol. When your album does not do well, don’t worry. There will be a foreign fiance waiting for you.
I would say it was a pleasant experience being at the red carpet with a camera. The challenge for a good shot and all. Because believe me, things sort of went downhill from then onwards.
08.03.08
A divine M-tervention.
I will see your lucky MTV Asia Awards ticket, and raise you my MTV Asia Awards backstage pass. Heh.
08.01.08
A death note.
There used to be a CD store I frequent to stock up on my CD collection. After finding out about the place years ago, I found it hard to step into another Artist Gallery or Tower Records.
All along, it is hard to find CDs beyond the commercialised airwaves, and there are not enough indie music stores out there to get what we truly desire. For an avid music fan like me, it is downright disappointing to only find Avril Lavigne and The Pussycat Dolls on the shelves when I am looking for something with more depths.
In my journey to musical discovery, I managed to stumble upon Evanescene and Maroon 5 way before they hit the Malaysian shores with Bring Me to Life and Harder to Breathe, respectively. And back then, lacking popularity, you don’t see them on the shelves yet.
I do not remember how I found Disc & Dat, but I did. Tucked in one of the shop lots just a stone throw away from Penang’s Island Plaza, there was the most humble CD store I have come across in Penang.
The first time I stepped into the CD store, I was greeted by rows and rows of abundantly filled CDs of all genres. Dimly lit and always with something soothing coming from the surround speakers, it was like stepping into a heaven where rocked out souls go to rest. Sitting behind the counter was either Ivan, the store owner, or a lady who will both always greet their customers with familiar and warm smiles.
Every time I stopped by the CD store, I would take my own sweet time to browse the shelves meticulously and pick whichever CDs I would like to purchase for the day.
I remember the day Ivan pointed our Maroon 5’s debut, Songs About Jane to me. It was a wonderful feeling inside of me because I was just looking for that particular CD. And to hear him say what a breakthrough album it was during that period of time, I was happy to find someone as thorough with music as I was.
Sure, now Maroon 5 is everywhere, but just think about it: back then when they were merely silent whispers and not many people know of them yet, it was like hitting a goldmine.
I have bought some of the best CDs I am proud to have from their store. Sure, a trip there will cost me near to hundreds (CDs in Malaysia range around $40 and above), it was still nice to tear open the plastic in my car still parked outside of the store, pop the CD into the stereo and listen to some good music you don’t hear on the radio airwaves.
Of course, it was not all the time satisfying. I remember going to them to ask for Switchfoot’s The Beautiful Letdown, again, before they got so big. I have to end up buying the CD on Amazon instead.
I guess I miss Disc & Dat when I left for Australia. I will not deny that I have found better CD stores over there (ie. Rocking Horse, JB Hi-Fi and HMV), and if I do say so myself, my demand for better music got to a whole new level. I still miss the fact that the CD store is near invisible, and there are only so many customers that the owner can recognise you every time you visit and will introduce you to the right kind of genres for new stuff. The towers of CDs I like to browse through and smile whenever I see something I recognise or like, just the idea of knowing the bands I like are still hitting the shelves here, which can be quite rare.
The last time I went back there was after I got back from Australia. I have seen the store closed down their vinyl section and became a smaller store. This time, Ivan had on a grim face instead of his usually cheery one. I decided to ask if the business had been good, knowing that his customers do not come like rushing currents, merely the few loyal ones.
“Hmm, business isn’t doing well,” he had said. “Sometimes, it seems alright, but really, it’s not.”
You can kind of sense it that something is not going well anymore.
It was around June when I called him up to help JoeVern ask about Death Cab for Cutie’s Narrow Stairs. The first thing Ivan told me was they aren’t taking in anymore new stocks. Apparently, they were closing down and till the end of June there will be a clearance sales to get rid of everything. Something tugged my heartstrings to hear him so downhearted on the line, and I know not much people will know some little good in Penang is going to be gone forever.
Alas, work calls in KL and I cannot return back to pay him one last visit. Invite him for a cup of coffee and maybe ask him what is his next move. By the time I returned to Penang in July, Disc & Dat is already in renovation to make room for something else, and Ivan, as I know it, has disappeared.
So, Ivan, wherever you are, it was great to have met your acquaintance. It was nice knowing there is a place where I can go to look for good music, and a place where I know I am welcomed without the corporate big shots. Wherever you are now, I wish you well, and I do hope in the foreseeable future, we will bump into each other again. I still owe you a cuppa.
