Happy Deepavali!

To all My Hindu Brothers, a Happy and Joyous Deepavali!

Selamat Hari Raya!

TO ALL MY MUSLIM BROTHERS, SELAMAT HARI RAYA & HAPPE EID!

Bolehman Comedy Theatre - Minister

Gods Gift...

It has been a long time since i wrote something.I have been lazy so lazy, well i decided to pen something when a fan of mine has asked me to write Its nice to know someone appreciates what you write.
Well, my last post was actually in June!,that shows how lazy I am.So many things have happened since June.Wish i got it all written down somewhere.One thing for sure is becoming a father for a second time.I arrived home on the 8Th of August at 2pm,My parents picked me up and we headed straight back to my in laws place in BB.My wife she was full month pregnant,she always looks so cute when she is pregnant.My daughter, Sonia who speaks clearly now,gave me a hug and would not refuse to leave me.My wife was already in full term so, she was starting to have slight pain.On the 11Th of August about 4am, she started having severe labour pain, and we knew that was it.We left about 4am,drove to Rawang about 30 minutes drive.Luckily it was 4am so there was no traffic and i dint speed at all.As soon as we arrived the Doctor said it will be at least another two hours or so before she would deliver.It was just me and her,i hate to see her suffer in pain.Then at about 7am the pain became unbearable, she went into labour.This was my first time in a labour ward,my first born was a ceaser.I was nervous,but i know my wife was drawing strength from me.I could see the pain she went through,how hard she tried,at exactly 7.37am a baby girl was born.No words can describe the joy we had seeing the new born.My wife was tired she had to be anesthetized.So i waled out of labour room,saw the nurses delicatly cleaning my baby.My mind was on God, how powerfull is God?,a new soul has come to the world.The nurse let me hold the baby,of course i was already an expert now.I held my child gently and whispered prayers in her tiny ears

O God, guide me, protect me, make of me a shining lamp and a brilliant star. Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful.
-Baha'i Prayer-

Then comes the best part, i started sending SMS all over telling them about this wonderfull gift of God,messages of congrats kept pouring in from everywhere.Then visitors kept flocking to the hospital,it was a joyous moment.To be a father for the second time,gives me jitters actually.10 yrs ago i was running around being irresponsible,doing what all other teenagers will do.Now i have two children who will look up to me.I have a wife who depends on me for moral,spritual and financial support.I wish i can be a father to my children like how my parenst brought us up.Its a difficult task to emulate,but i will try.A child is a greatest gift from God, i have many friends who are trying to have a child but not blessed with one,on the other hand there are people who dump and abondon their children for whatever reason, im sure there is a wisdom afterall we are all God's children.

A Note to Share....

Its lunch time now,I have been eating so much of food this past week.All my dinners have been in buffet format,I'm seriously sick of eating.Especially rice!
I have also decided to go for jogging at least three times a week,something that I always plan but fail to do.Not that I'm on a diet or something,but seriously I have to control my food.

Last Tuesday, I had a wonderfull time.I was off from work,woke up at 1pm, had massive lunch and then drove to the nearest Coffee Bean.I also have got this card from Coffee Bean where you buy like 13 coffee and get it stamped then you'll get one free, of course over a period of time.

Well, another reason is because, it has free Wi-fi.I just sat sipping a cold coffee,and listening to Alleycats,through www.youtube.com.I felt really emotional,but it was good.I kept humming those songs all day long.
Nothing much has happened this week, been going out with friends the whole week.Just sitting by the beach,or driving around.One great thing i enjoy in Bahrain is that there is so much time after work, unlike Malaysia, where half the time is wasted on the roads.

I could spend so much of time with my wife and daughter when they were here.A drive from work to home is only 15 minutes during peak hours,unlike in Malaysia a drive from Wangsa Maju to Kepong is almost an hour and half, by the time i reach home I'm half dead.I would just want to shower,eat and sleep.Then its the same routine the next day.

Family time, is very limited.Quality of life is also very poor.I spend more time in the car then at home.Imagine if it rains in Kuala Lumpur during peak hours,this is the worst nightmare.Even with all those Metros,LRT's and ERL, we still cant find a solution.

The floods in Kuala Lumpur recently is really embarrassing,smart tunnel turned out to be not smart at all!.Its not the quality of work that matters,or the billions spent.One thing and only thing can change, its the attitude.When Ministers take responsibilities and officials take initiative and treat work as worship, then and only then things wont fall apart.Well its easier said than done!

Passing of a Legend

Monday 4th of June,a legend by the name Loga passed away.A member of the most famous rock band in Malaysia 'Alleycats'. He was 54, survived by son and a daughter.

Alleycats has been my favourite band ever since i was a young boy.

I had the opportunity to watch them perform live in PJ Hilton,Uncle Chili's.I was a student then.With limited cash I would try to get there every week without fail.Mind you, this is a five star hotel.Nevertheless,I just wanted more of them.My most unforgettable experience with them was when my wife(Then Girlfriend) surprised me by organising my birthday party with them in Chili's.I was shocked,dumbfounded but those memories are unforgettable.

The uniqueness with this band is that it truly represented a Malaysian band,members were of different races and colour the only thing that was connecting them was music.

I'm certainly going to miss Loga,i have seen him playing the flute,providing the vocal support for his elder brother David and sing.

Some of their famous songs; Hingga Akhir Nanti,Sekuntum mawar merah,Kerana Kau,Nokthah terakhir and the evergreen Sampaikanlah Salam.My all time favourite number of theirs is 'Andainya aku peri dulu'....

May your soul rest in peace,you are simply irreplaceable.

My Heros

Will Rule the World!


Something that I wanted to blog about.I was too upset to write anything.My favourite team SriLanka lost the world cup to Australia.The finals itself was full of controversy,a finals that i hate to talk about.Anyway im sure Sri Lanka will win the next world cup.A brilliant team!
Good Luck And All the Best!

Concern

Malaysian Information Minister,Dato Zam has given one of his unnecessary suggestions that, bloggers should be classified as professional and Non-Professionals.Well, nothing suprising coming from an unprofessional himself.
I was abit worried in the beggining, knowing that the blog world is mostly dominated by former journalist.I was worried that the Alliance of bloggers will be divided into two.
I voiced my concern to the Pro tem President; Mr.Ahirudin Attan.

I sent him an e-mail as follows:

Dear Rocky,
I'm writing to you concerning the suggestion by our information Ministerto classify bloggers as professional and non professional. I sincerely hope that as the President of all blogs, you will strongly oppose tothis suggestion as we don't want two divisions in the movement.I'm not a journalist,but I love to read and write, I may not be gifted inthe art of writing like some of you,I'm sure there are so many others likethat.But I too believe In writing fearlessly.Therefore I humbly ask you not to divide us.
Thanking you,
Vishnu Varthana
Proud Member of Bloggers United Malaysia

Within Minutes he sent me a reply:

I certainly don't agree with him. Can I publish your letter in my blog,pls?
And tq for making a stand.
Rocky

Thanx,Rocky for your immediate respons and support.Im sure with you ,at the helm All blogs
will create and shape history.
Letter was also Published in Rocky's blog: http://rockybru.blogspot.com/

The Alliance of Bloggers

There so many things that I wanted to write,just could not find time to put my hands on the keyboard.Well,that's not all i have been a little bit lazy as well.Its been a week since i came back from by Short break.Things have changed in the office as well.For the good or bad only time will tell.
One thing that i really wanted to write is about the birth of the alliance for bloggers in Malaysia,I'm so proud of my fellow Malaysians, who have come up with this brilliant idea and what more can we ask when the alliance is spearheaded by 'Masterwriters'.

Pro-tem committee:President - Ahirudin Attan, Vice President - Jeff Ooi, Secretary - Nuraina A. Samad, Treasurer - Tony Yew, Council Members: Patrick Teoh, Bernard Khoo, Syed Azidi Syed Abdul Aziz, Syed Jamal al-Idrus, Rajahram Ramalingam, Annuratha K, Emy Husni, and Soon Li Tsin

Though i don't know anyone personally but their works tells volumes about their personalities.
My sincere hope is only one, that the Alliance remains independant and fearless.
I wish I could have been in Malaysia,for this historic event.
I'm a proud member of Bloggers United Malaysia.
Good Luck

Hoooorayyyyy!

I'm Blogging from the American Express,Dilmun Lounge at the Bahrain International Airport.Sitting in this porch lounge sipping a bottle of mineral water and munching a chicken burger bought by my good friend by the roadside just before i got to the airport.
Finally I'm heading back home,just for two weeks.I know its really short but what to do.
I miss talking to my wife, just sitting down having coffee with her,watching my daughter run around.
In exactly 20 minutes time i will board my flight to Abu Dhabi.This is the first time I'm flying with Eithad Airlines,I have heard lots of good thing about this airlines.Hopefully I will have a pleasant flight.I had some bad experience with Gulf air,though it's direct flight to Kuala Lumpur.I rather take a longer route and enjoy my flight.
Well,before i know i will be back in Bahrain again.
Happy Holidays to me,myself and I!

Long Time No See....

I have not wrote anything for the past one month.I have been caught up with so much of work,or just being too lazy to write.Work is getting hectic day by day,sometimes I wish I just could retire and sit by the lake and watch the birds flying.I think that dream is still along way to go.April has arrived,like any other month it will fly and before you know you will be crossing the half year mark.Im looking forward to head back home in exactly a weeks time from today.Though its a short break, im going to make full use of it by spending time with my loved ones.
I have been hooked to the cricket world cup .A game I thought I would never like,but now im a craze of this sport.Watching most of the game till wee hours of the morning.
I would definitly miss the game when im back home.Hopefully i can find sometime to watch it in some mamak shop.
As for now,I will be busy sorting out things before I head back home.

Bahrain..

Many people have bad perception about Bahrain or the middle east.I have come to like and love this place more than anything else.Some pictures here to prove you that Bahrain is a nice place to live.

I have no idea where is this,Im sure its in Bahrain

The Sitra Bridge,traffic crawls during peak hours

The sea by seef our favourite place to bunk after a heavy briyani

Beside Avis,is a placed called Shawarma x-press,the best food you can eat,One advice.Never order Shawarma with Bahraini Sauce,if you want to know why ask Rudy!

Photos Courtesy of Rudy

Self appointed official photgrapher of this blog

forgets his camera during important occasion or is simply to drunk!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Its the festive season in Malaysia,I particulary like this one since young.Growing up in a predominantly chinese area,I get excited everytime its CNY.I miss my home ,Mambau.The sound of firecrackers blasting at the stroke of midnight.The offerings my neighbours put on the table outside their houses and the best part,the Lion dance.We had one every year at the entrance of our housing area,the acrobats outdoing each other with their performance.If you are unmarried you also have the perks of getting an 'Angpow' which is some amount of money put in a red packet and given to you as a gift.I particulary enjoyed this one,the amount varies from RM2 to RM100.

All this makes me proud of Malaysia,celebrating all festivals regardless of race,religion and beliefs.This is our greatest asset and its our duty to sustain it forever.

To all my friends,wish you Happy Chinese New year and prosperous one ahead.

'GONG XI FA CAI'

This one is cool..

This is a briliant letter of resignation.Might use it some time soon...

What a Week!

I have been wanting to write, so many times.But recent events just kept me so busy.I also realised that to be able to write the mind should be calm.The past week, I have not had enough sleep and for the first time since i started driving,I was not able to change a flat tyre.On 22nd December on a cold night I was stranded without a car,my tyre went flat so i thought 'what the heck' i will just change it,but i was so wrong after Jacking the car and unscrewing the tyre,the tyre just refuse to come out the rims,i was pulling the Tyre as though my whole life depended on this one wheel.After an hour,alone at 8 degrees almost midnight,I gave up.
The next day,I called a guy to tell him that my car tyre was flat.Guess what the guy said:'You don't know how to change a tyre'!, I almost killed that guy!,after explaining to him in a rather harsh manner,he knew i meant business.So he came after 15 min,tried the same thing i did,how smart!.Then he picked a big hammer and smacked the hell out of the tyre!.Finally,after 48 hours and few unpleasant exchanges the tyre was replaced.I felt bad for that guy, but what the heck,i needed to get the job done.So, I thanked him and he drove off just waving at me.I'm sure he would have cursed me the whole night,because I kept coughing.
Since my wife and daughter have left for vacation, I have been spending a lot of my valuable time with my TV and DVD player.The other day i watched a movie called BORAT.I have been a fan of ALI G since the time of my University days. But this movie about BORAT ,who is from Khazakistan and is travelling to America for the first time.This movie is an insult to intelligence.Its funny,but in a stupid way!Its also disgusting at times.At the moment I'm half way through watching The Interpreter,so far so good.
What a Week!

This is how it started...

The Sensintrovert: NST Sues Mr Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun and Mr. Ahirudin Attan For 'Bloody Death' Post?

Statement from Bloggers United

My Fellow Bloggers in Malaysia are being sued,this is totally unacceptable.If We let them sue, then we are setting a bad precedent.Lets stay united and boycot NST,make them realise that they indeed are fools.My Support to Jeff and Rocky,May The Force Be With You.
Below is the statement from Bloggers United,an intitative from Sheih and Susan.
I'm proud to be a member of Bloggers United.


This is the official statement of Bloggers United. This statement is jointly drafted by Susan Loone and Sheih of Kickdefella. All those who believe in justice and right to free speech, please sign on and put this up in your blogs. Spread it around; let it grow far and wide. The fight is on! See also kickdefella.
We are a group of Malaysian bloggers who believe in justice and right to free speech. We, who endorse the Bloggers United movement , unanimously condemn the action taken by media conglomerate NST against bloggers Rocky Bru and Jeff Ooi. The action by the newspaper against the duo is an action against all bloggers who believe in their right to free speech, freedom of expression and justice.
The recent event may seem like a grave development in the path of bloggers, but it can never and must never impede or stop us from defending our right to speak, to express, to write and to tell the truth, to be the watchdog, eyes and ears of the people, or simply to share our view, and give fair comment on any subject which involves and affects us as humans, as rightful citizens of this country.
The recent event may very well give the government owned media the opportunity to dictate the so-called ‘truth” but such actions only prove that bloggers must unite , continue to uphold the right to free speech and freedom of expression, fight for justice, even if it is not our own, be more alert, committed to the cause of free speech, relentless and persistence in the face of such persecution like the one which had befallen on the two of us.What YOU do to any of US, is what YOU do to ALL.
As responsible bloggers, we demand and claim our space on the blogosphere for free and fair comment, where important national issues and prominent personalities are discussed.
Although it may seem as if the NSTP defamation suits will have a chilling effect on freedom of bloggers, as litigation can be expensive and may jeorpadise a blogger’s economic position, we will not be cowed or silenced by those who have no regard for free speech.
If you find our post offensive, you may refute us with correct facts and figures and fair comment, in the spirit of free speech.
The first two cases will have grave impact not only on the internet, but country as a whole as the country celebates VMY2007. The healthy, mature and democratic growth for free speech and expression in our midst is at stake.
The reputation of the nation as it strives to promote our multimedia supercorridor and love for IT will be a national joke for all the world to feast on.
We demand for a level playing field in all action meted out to bloggers and in particular in the defamation proceedings particularly in terms of financial resources and capabilities, and secondly, that the legal rights of bloggers et al are properly protected in keeping with the imperatives of an information society and knowledge economy which Malaysia aspires to become.

Long time..

Havent blogged for a long time, been very busy with work.Weather is still a pain.Im blogging from a Restaurant.Just cant sleep....hopefully this tea will help...

Great Start..

I logged in to the Gulf Daily News,Bahrain's local english paper , I nearly jumped out of my chair when I saw my article published.What a start for a great year, Im going to continue writing,and ensure atleast one article gets published in a month.Im so excited that it got published,but im even more excited that it got published unedited...

Barney-Mania

The arrival ,great weather , sunny but occasional cold breeze

Check the crowd,I thought Michael Jackson was coming......

Yeahhh...Give me your money.....


I Love you , you love me.....

Just a couple of pictures folks,Come to think about this purple thing..i don't know what the heck it is.But Kids just go crazy over this purple dinosaur.No one knows why it has green spots on its back,some allergy i suppose...well,overall we had a great time.

Goals...

5 days has passed since the start of 2007, looks like its going to be another speedy year.Since like yesterday we celebrated New year, till today I'm busy wishing everyone New year greetings.Well, the cold has not subsided, and the war for heater is getting more intense.If someone breaks into your house,make sure your heater is locked up.Don't worry about the cash, jewellery or even life.Just make sure your heater is safe and secured.
December has been a stressful month for me,so many things happening at one time.So far the start of the year has been good,I actually dare not say that,don't know what to expect when.
Well, every year my wife and I at the stroke of midnight before New year,we would sit down and write down our resolutions for New year,and see how far we have achieved what we have planned for the previous year.A practice that i learned from my parents.
Looking back at 2006, we actually had a great year, no complains.we achieved 6 out of our 9 resolutions that we made, that's not too bad.So, now in 2007 we made our goals.Always remember to make reasonable goals and put your heart and soul working on it.My wife and I have one common goal as a family ,then we also have individual ones.Usually the individuals one are secret.In University, i remember one time a friend of mine told me write down your goals and paste it in front of your bed and look at at it all the time, you will achieve it one day.I guess he forgot to tell me that you also have to work on it...Well, now that we have come to a more serious phase of life, where insurance agents,banks and mortgages take control of your life.It is really important that we plan our financial needs.To live within our means and also to spoil ourselves sometimes.So goals can consist of material needs,financial needs,spiritual needs,physical needs and others.If you fail to plan , then you are planning to fail....

Joy...

During this festive season, dont forget the underpriviliged.A simple gift can put a smile on their face....

Striving To Do Better In The New Year

New Year, new resolutions. Almost all of us strive to be better than yesterday. Just like sales, let us compare our progress compared to last year. How have we grown financially, spiritually, academically, health wise, job wise? If we are better than what we were compared to last year than we have made some progress. Looking back at 2006, not all of us would have a memorable year; some might have lost loved ones others would have lost their belongings, whatever it is there will be sweet and bad memories. Good or bad it is us that decide how the coming year will fare for us. Here is my wish list for 2007:
I wish that, people will not be known as Hindu’s, Muslim’s or Christians but rather as human beings,
I wish Palestinian’s and Israeli’s will look at each other as human beings,
I wish money is just used as a trade tool and not corrupt one self.
I wish people would value life and think about the pain a mother has to go through, delivering a child before taking anyone’s life.
I wish education is available to all regardless of race, status or colour of the skin.
I wish leaders will think rational rather than being emotional,
I wish that people will love each other for the sake of humanity and accept the fact that God has made all of us different.
I wish that the nature is treated with respect
I wish for a borderless world.
The list can go on; it is you and I than can make this world a better place to live in.
I hope it’s not too much to ask, let us pray that the Almighty will bless us for continuous glory and peace and remind each other we are all children of God regardless, of race, religion or where we come from.

( This article was published in Gulf Daily News,Middle east Based news Paper on 7/01/07)