Tuesday, March 30, 2010

please meet my wisdom tooth!




Even my mum sometimes wonders why do i love to visit the dentist. mm... actually i don't... but i have to! because the one thing i learned from the dental nurse in my primary school is that if i loose any of my teeth, it's gone forever...! since then, i decided to protect my teeth at all cause! 

quite a few years back, i need to have one of my wisdom tooth removed in order to avoid any 'future complication'. this sounds serious! especially when the dentist told me that due to the direction of this wisdom tooth was growing, he needs to crush it, cut a 'small' opening so that he can pick and remove the pieces accordingly...! this 'mini operation' lasted almost an hour. I was given 2 extra injections as the standard 2 failed to numb me... to sum it up, it was a painful and torturing experience. but, the 'complication' has just begun!

few hours after that, the pain kicked in. but this was expected. it was still bleeding the next day and it got worse, i could barely speak as whenever i tried to open my mouth or move any muscle in my mouth, i could feel this tearing pain. the pain was so severe, it triggered severe headache too. i surrendered. i ended up playing mute for the whole week, drinking only liquid food as i tried anything i could to ease the pain. the aunty who helps at the food stall where i usually had my dinner finally beaten by her curiosity and asked me," you sure you are just having porridge with soup again today?" ya, that was my dinner for almost ten days. 

i still remember my prayer then- when i wake up tomorrow, please let this pain disappear and let me enjoy a good plate of nasi lemak and i would be the most contended man on earth! 

this could easily be one of the simplest prayer of mine. but i genuinely think that if i can wake up in the morning, in good health and enjoy a simple nasi lemak with my love ones. life has been good to me.

so while this picture might looks scarry and violent to some, it reminds me of the simple blessings of life and always be contented :)


g42

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Monday, March 22, 2010

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Monday, March 8, 2010

g17

UNESCO poster for 2010, international year for the Rapprochement of Cultures design competition


this competition is aim to promote better communication and understanding between all peoples and cultures. the 3 main dimensions defined are: dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation.

i use speech bubbles to craft my entry. it represents the interaction and respect of all the different people and cultures. it's simple yet powerful and has a sense of harmony and peacefulness. wish me luck! i will be heading to paris again if i'm the chosen winner! :)

p/s many thanks to zeen for helping me with the rationale :)



Sunday, March 7, 2010

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Friday, March 5, 2010

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

g9

g8

g7

a salsa soldier

it was another normal saturday night back in the end of 2004... over a nice dinner with a few friends and i learned that there is a new in-thing in town-salsa! with no idea at all what to expect, i ended up at Little Havana - a cuban restaurant cum bar, housed in a colonial style bungalow, situated at changkat bukit bintang. though now they don't organize friday nights latin dance parties anymore. i can still remember vividly my first taste of salsa there! the music is something completely new to me... the beat is swaying for sure... then the dancers... the spinning... completely changed my idea of club dancing! those head banging, loud music on top of the blinding laser beams is never my cup of tea but may be i can do this... salsa! it looks fun and sexy! :)

to strike while the iron is hot. i went straight to Havana Estudio the very next day to find out more info about salsa classes, learning from the dancers that this is where they picked up all the cool moves and this is the best place to start if i'm interested. and i signed up in no time! yes, i was looking to learn something new, to pick up a new hobby but i rushed myself into it so that there is no turning back! i enrolled myself for a 2 month beginner class and all prepare for the worst scenario... give up half way! come on ongtou! it's just 2 month course. sure you can do it! right...!? i must admit that i was doubtful about myself then... my reservation is simple... i can't dance at all... and i'm tone deaf... yes, can sing a little in the bath room... but im really hopeless when it comes to music! i remember one of my uncle who is a qualified piano teacher spotted my long fingers during one cny visit. "you have to let me teach you how to play piano! look at your long fingers! you are meant to be a pianist!" he said. he was so excited... i wasn't convinced but still i gave it a shot. bad decision. my long fingers seem to have problem connecting with my brains, and my eyes and my long legs too... the struggle didn't last long for the PMR was coming so that was the end of my attempt to cennect with music. still many thanks to my uncle for trying :)


salsa is normally a partner dance and it's lively and enjoyable, quite the opposite from the latin ballroom dance which is more formal. i remember i was pretty comfortable with my first salsa class... the environment is warm. the classmates are friendly and my instructor Aisha was super patient and nice too and yes, she can really grooves! the class is one hour and we will normally come earlier to warm up and stay back after class to practise. and just to make sure that i dont embarrass myself in the class, i will practise in the office during lunch time. never mind my colleagues looking at me funny. i was pretty determined! just wanting to keep up with the class! :)

then come the special event! Havana Estudio annual studio party! the highlights was the salsa performances and salsa contest. while everyone in the studio was all excited about the special night and taking part in the contest which was open only to the students. it did cross my mind to take part but then i have been only learning for 4 months then. it was too early, i told myself. i remembered it was the very last day for registration and Aisha asked me casually would i like to participate. i politely replied, "i would love to but i don't have a partner. so may be next time." Aisha just turned and got hold of my classmate, Gina and say, "i found you one." opss...! Gina was really sporting and positive about it. so we were in!

i do have some experience on the stage. i mean i did some story telling and acting in secondary school but... dance on a stage in a competition?! i could manage my own fear but what was really killing me was the thought that i might fail my partner and make her looks bad on the stage! i started to regret and quitting was all over my mind... the pressure was just too immense and suddenly salsa is not fun anymore... 

it's very unusual and very rare for me to loose my sleep over anything. but the night before the big night, i struggled on the bed! how i wish i... twisted my angle now! hey! stop that ongtou! this is so irresponsible! this is no just about me anymore. Gina has been the best partner i could ever asked for and i know i wanna do this! it was tough but i convinced myself...


we were the first couples out on the stage. the dried ice, the spot lights, the crowds, my friends who came just to support me, the routine, the fear of making myself and Gina look silly on the stage, all flooded in my head. the music started and it was like really really long... everything eventually come to an end. it was such a relief! we didn't win but i heard we looked pretty cool out there! :D what an experience! looking back i'm really grateful that Aisha encouraged me and Gina to do it. the experience enriches me not only as a dancer but as a person too :) and yes, salsa is very fun again! ;)

i continue to go to class and find myself in intermediate level after 8 months. i realize i'm not a beginner anymore when Sam and Aisha told us that we are going to perform in Malaysia Salsa Festival and the next annual studio party. Malaysia Salsa Festival is a big event in malaysia salsa calendar, where the very best local and international salsa instructors will gather to conduct workshops and to perform. we will get to dance with them and participants from all over asia too. 

this is the video for my very first salsa performance for the 2007 Malaysia Festival and also the Havana Estudio 9th anniversary celebration. this is the fruit of the labour of tones of hard work and pails of sweat from Sam and Aisha and the team. i remember what Aisha told me after we finished the performance on the stage of MSF, "when you first started in the class, you were marching around like a soldier! and look how far u have come!" haahaha... Aisha never told me i dance(march) around like a soldier before! and she is right i can really be proud of myself! :) despite the short coming in music talent, fail attempts to play a music instrument, i can dance salsa! :) salsa has not only enriches my life, it equipped me with confidence, better posture and a sense of pride. i hope that my humble experience here will convince anyone who think that they are born with two left feet to give salsa a go if the latin beat has being playing in their head for some time already. i think salsa is one of the best gift we can share with our friends. it's cool, sexy and absolutely healthy :) 

a good dance really make life beautiful! the salsa soldier will march on and look forward to learn and enjoy himself on the dance floor. :)

last but not the least, million thanks to Sam and Aisha, their passion and love for salsa are really inspiring. and my teammates too for all their support and cheers. :)


p/s this is the poster i did for Havana Estudio 9th anniversary celebration :)

Monday, March 1, 2010

g6

cny 2010

cny this year is good, i spend almost all my time with my family, as always. and the bonus is i'm the very lucky winner again of our ong family black jack and porker session :D but like what my aunt paulina said, it's not about the thrill or the money. it's about the quality time we get to spend with each other (even if it's on the gambling table!). i sure agree :)

cny is the time of the year i look forward most to. i normally book my air ticket 6 month in advance to ensure im heading home to kuching for cny. i still remember the first year i was here in kl, studying at limkokwing, i failed to get a ticket back due to delay in booking. i decided to make full use of the one week cny holiday so i went to mc d for a part time job since i needed some money to get myself a port folio bag. yes, they pay double during that period but... it was one of the most miserable cny i had... i was sent to the toughest link in the kitchen - the grill section. it is hot there and the burns from hot splashing oil, though little, still enough to kill me! - someone who never help in the kitchen at home... not to mention how much i misses home... SO i have decided! im celebrating cny with my family no matter what since then.

indeed, the true meaning of cny is for everyone in the family to get together. that's why i keep reminding xin hui - my super tall and most beautiful cousin, who has a american dream that no matter where she is heading in the future or where her goals and dreams bring her, she should make an effort to come back to be together with her family during cny. i'm sure this will make my aunt and uncle very happy and i will be very happy to see her too :)

to go back home and see the broad smile on my mum and sister's face is priceless... im missing cny already! well i will be going back to kuching soon! in april to celebrate my mum and sis birthday! im glad that my bro is coming back from japan too as this will make my dearest mum the most happy person on earth to have us all back. and yes my dearest mui mui, u don't have to bake cake yourself again this year for yourself and mimi. we will buy from this bakery your friend recommended even though i think you bake the most yummy cake in kuching ;)

cny might be the best time to get together with our family but it's only once a year! for us who work and stay away from home, we can always call or plan a short trip back or a holiday together. after all mummy's smile is the most precious present i can have and give her and i wish she wears it every day. may we all cherish and love our loves one. i love u mimi, muimui! (lo tao n seng too :))