With no disrespect to the above, i believe alcohol has been the most influential “invention” of all time when it comes to the human experience. Be it spiritual (in every sense of the word) or emotional. It’s also historically significant. With the risk of being blasphemous, turning water to wine was Jesus first miracle. Making a starting mark to his ministry *this may be grossly taken out of context.

Observe the following.

Chinese wine, red / white wine, single malt whiskey, tuak, tapai, vodka, bourbon, tequila and the occasional tody.

These are all alcohol with roots from different cultures and races. Also consider,

When you’re depressed you drink to forget your sorrows, when you’re happy you drink to celebrate your joy. Alcohol permeates through every cultural fibre of the mankind.

*this post has not been sponsored by any alcohol brand in whatever form possible.

I returned to Kch for a short break to catch up with the family and some friends. It was  a refreshing time. “refreshing” would be the last thing i’d described Kch say maybe 5 years ago but i am beginning to see a potential implosion of many opportunities. One of my best friends reckon i return to be a political assistant. I am gonna pass on that for now.

Keep your head down, work hard and sniff out for a good opportunity. Thats the plan for the moment. There are some massive tasks ahead. Lots of the days now “i dont know” seems to be the answer to a lot of questions. Hopefully that will change soon.

Money makes the world go round and you’d want to be spinning with it. Make lotsa money and risk losing yourself in all of it. Dont make that much money and risk killing yourself in the midst of it. Either way you’re f*****

The highlight though was our last stop for the day in a quaint bar far removed from the city bustle and over enthusiastic crowd. The kind of place that would be perfect for a lazy rendezvous. The decor was Balinese inspired but the ‘feel’ of the whole place somehow was not coherent with its dressing. There were pockets of people makin light chatter as the group of us plonked ourselves at one corner.

We ordered our poison, talked, joked, played some games and talked some more. Lounge music was playing in the background. As the night grew old so did the music. A soulful female voice replaced the electronic tones which seemed like mindless beats compared to the proceeding serenade.

Pseudo classic chinese songs made its way into the bar space. I could picture myself in olden Shang Hai times with my references purely based on the period chinese shows that i’ve been watching over the years. Friendly hostesses, jazz music, mistresses with their walkin “piggy banks”, chinese men clad in western suits and the group of chinese triad presiding over their turf.

I find myself wondering and thinking what it would be like to live in that era. Music can be a good time machine, an escape into your own mind though it only last  a few fleeting minutes. A few fleeting minutes later it was ” limm laaaa…limmm laaa *censored* *censored* *censored*. Good times.

Woke up on the first morning of Chinese New Year sipping hot coffee watching some tv, though not payin attention to what’s on. Friends who are with their families, based on their twitter outputs are quite exasperated with family interrogation of their relationship status and future plans. Guess thats what families are for. Painful reminders about things you do not really have answers to.

Opt not to go back this year. To hectic. I miss the family but i am sure i will be back to visit soon enough.

Its nice that this year there were no gruesome reports of some major accident along the highways. I am sure there are some accidents but i am just glad it did not dominate the front pages like previous years. It helps the feel good factor.

The year officially starts now and hopefully the bunny year will be good for all.

Apart from self assurance and peace, this year i hope to see some financial growth. Not just stability but growth. It doesnt have to be instant but it has to be in an upward trend. Looking and deliberating at some ideas and opportunities but without actions these will remain just as that, ideas and opportunities.

This year i have a sneaky feeling will be a major leap for me and for all the friends around me. Not a slow crawl to maturity or adulthood, a major leap. Important life altering decisions, sacrifices and incidences that will influence the life that we live in as a whole.

I look forward to this. I am optimistic of things to come. It will not be without challenges but its challenges i’m more than willing to endure.

One little milestone is to start guitar playing again. No, not Jimi Hendrix nor Santana but brushing enough playing competency to soothe the soul. This year the soul should be happy for when the soul is well, most will be well.

This year should also be a year less filled with anger but a quiet confidence and assuredness that surpasses the negativity that surrounds me, myself and i.

It was a little hard to kick start into the working groove but the coming week promises to be better in picking up where i left off in 2010. I pray and hope that i keep myself to achieving my milestones. I used to and still (though not to a great degree as before) pride myself in being a man of my word. As the year begins to quietly dash to another end, hopefully i’ll be happy with this year’s results when the annual reflecting is due.

I am no different albeit i did it quite fleetingly and briefly as the answer was obvious, or maybe i was already contemplating way before the year was drawing to an end. 2010 was a year of lessons. Lessons in maturity, career, relationships and personal well being. It was like a math tuition class where i had to painstaking listen to get the answers, and at the end of it you’re still not sure whether the answers are correct. Time will tell.

I’d like to believe i did learn my lessons. Doesnt mean i won’t make the same mistakes (hopefully not), just that when it happens it will be totally incidental and careless. Who is perfect.

Last weekend was potentially life changing, “potentially” being the key word. The key verb now would be to “wait”> Not the chilling sort of wait, more of a lion lying in wait for a prey. I am quietly determined (though this blog negates the being “quiet” part) that 2011 will be a year of action. Taking the reins and live to the fullest. Living to make a difference in my own life and the people around me.

May this year not be frivolous but a year of effectiveness, in all things. salute.

When thoughts were naught and will was void

Should men be as Gods to rule over this realm

A pure thought but evil took helm

The fruit was taken and men weaken

ideas of self indulgence  bore the famine of purity

As men made and fashioned all things to be

The material wonders and fame for eyes to see

Pride comes before a fall and fall men did

From grace from live from everything that was meant to be

This little gem was called Online Pub. A very updated name i would say for an ol skool joint. The owner probably had foresight or online could mean other things rather than the conventional trawling of the world wide web.

As we finished our food, two guitar wielding Slash aspirants took up court on the proverbial stage (it was just a floor in front of the bar). “When we get hungry, love will keep us alive” ….i gave out a cynical smile when they sang that line , i dont know what song it is but that line provoked my thoughts at how naive that line can be. Or perhaps it was just innocence that the song wanted to convey.

In today’s world, lots if not most of the time, love takes a back seat to practicality. There is no more steely determination, no more living off each other’s companionship, dreams or hopes. More of Gucci, Prada or a fine piece of property developed by the likes of Mah Sing or SP Setia .

Back to the band. They had mad guitar skills. They seemed full of character, people who love their trade and music, not bothering about the riches of the world. Simple living.Sometimes looking at them i admire their courage, nonchalance and ignorance, refusing to conform. I do not think i have or can have that kind of courage. My heart jumped when they played the intro to Hotel California. damn fine song.

It seemed nothing could have swayed them. Who knows if they are actually rich bastards living off old money but at that moment it looked like when they are hungry, love would actually keep them alive.

Well in short…i screwed up a few announcements and inadvertently “chased” out the guests before desserts was served. Sorry Sheena for making you take to the mic! LOL. Feel totally utterly bad about it. My only consolation is that some find it a comic relief…i was lucky to get out of there alive haha

The wedding was great stuff…mostly cos of the catching up with old college friends and a baby in tow. Sheena’s husband was in a way a breath of fresh air..the “chung kuok choinese” ok ..pure breed from the motherland. I cant tell you his job, i’d be on a hitlist *imagines bullet right through the middle of my forehead*.

The wedding has reminded me that self depreciating humor is still a good ice breaker tho not to have it excessively. It was a good trip and a good night. So urmm anyone wanna hire a stand up comedian for their wedding?