On keeping it low key

Guillaume Nery, I doubt his ability to free dive up to a certain ear-drum-ruptured depth is based on a machine operated lung.

Michael Phelps is taunted as the fastest swimmer on earth. How does he able to do that; did he attribute his achievement to his teeny speedo? Or his goggle and swimming cap?

Doubt so.

These people are able to achieve such tremendous achievement due to their own determination, drive, passion, yada yada. Not because of their dazzling sponsorship, state of the art equipment and the likes.

Point is, find your passion and live up to it. I personally dont think that in order for you to enjoy your hobbies, you’d need fancy gears and expensive equipments.

Unless, of course you have monies lying around that you dont know what to do with it.

Say if you’re into travelling. You have time and passion, yes. However if you’re anal about hotel preferences, mode of transportation (i.e taxi over tuk tuk, MAS over Air Asia), food, then it’ll be difficult for you to enjoy your trips. Often times you’ll be complaining about your hotel, the foods that you eat and worse, the local people that you meet along the way. My advice, go for vacation instead of travelling. You suit better as a tourist rather than traveler  Go have your pictures taken with every sign boards that you see. Enjoy yourself in the comfort of economy class in MAS. And yes, people like you may only go to London and Paris for vacation, and leave the remaining 90% land for the common travelers.

Say you’re into diving. First ask yourself, why do you want to dive? To test your underwater ability / to experience different world underwater / to observe marine wildlife / for good cause (i.e save the sea) / or sadly, to showcase your fancy equipment? Reality check for you, you’re able to do all the above, without using any fancy equipment. Utilising dive shop’s rental non fancy fins, mask, BCD would not be a hindrance for you to go diving and experience the best that the ocean can offer.

It somewhat irks me to witness all these gadget flaunting people with hobbies. I mean, it’s great that you found yourself some hobbies, be it golfing, bowling, paintballing, diving, biking and the likes. But c’mon, where does it say that one needs to equip himself with the latest gadget in order to enjoy such hobbies? It’s like you passed your diving lessons today and the next day you’re out buying the latest model of underwater camera. (and you know shit about photography). What does this tell you then? Are you in for the passion or for showing off?

Let’s be real people. Enjoy your hobbies (but try to keep it low).

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The Big Durian

Kota Lama

Had an impromptu weekend trip with the girls at work to the Big Durian. We booked Air Asia a week before the trip, therefore had to pay exorbitant fees; amounting to RM424 per person (plus our share of 25kg luggage). But nevermind. The sole purpose of this trip was just to release and have fun with the friends.

Trivia:

• Since we opt for weekend trip, we had to rush to the airport immediately after work. Being close to monsoon season, it rained heavily every afternoon, including that fateful Friday. There was no taxi willing to pick us up, therefore we had to walk under the drizzling rain from our office to KLCC. From KLCC we took LRT to KL Sentral and then KLIA Express to Salak Tinggi and then a shuttle bus to LCCT Airport. Phew!
• Bargain, but do not overdo it. In certain shopping areas like Tanah Abang, bargaining is a norm and expected. However there is no such thing as to ask for 70% reduction; the sellers won’t entertain you. Express your bargaining skills moderately.
• Bajaj or the motorcycle trishaw charges similar fees to taxi. Use this when you’re in a hurry. It has the ability to maneuver through narrow passages and between vehicles. Your safety, however, is never guaranteed.
• Jakarta is also one of the dustiest (if not the most) city that I’ve ever been. Use face mask when you’re expose to the vehicles on the road, hydrate well and use toner every time after cleaning your face.
• Cheap food can always be found on the roadside. Similar items sold at the mall’s food court are priced thrice as much.
• Being a huge city, its not always easy to go to places such as spa or hair salon from where you’re at the moment. Therefore its better to plan ahead and let the taxi drivers know exactly where you want to go; give them the exact location
• Shopping experience at the malls are not that enticing. I think Indonesia is a bit late when it comes to sale season. The items in Forever 21 & Top Shop that are on sale in KL, however are sold at normal price in Jakarta.
• We shop a bit at Martha Tilaar..I bought a lipstick at about RM10.
• We ate too much nasi penyet and JCo donuts.

Places that we’ve been in a span of two days:

• Tanah Abang
• Mangga Dua (Pasar Pagi and the Mall)
• Monas
• Taman Anggerik Mall
• Grand Indonesia Mall
• Kota Lama area (the railway station, Museum Wayang, Cafe Batvia)

Whatever it is, I love the city and its vibes. Won’t mind to re-visit this huge city again soon. Next time perhaps to venture into South area, such as Kemang, which I heard its the city’s trendier area.

Total expenses (minus flight) – Rp1,600,000 (RM457.60 @ 0.000286 rate on 18.10.2013)

Film Analysis: “Gravity”

My feelings exactly

The Cinephile Fix

Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity is shaping up to be the best-reviewed film of the year. The bulk of the praise is going to the groundbreaking photography and Sandra Bullock’s moving performance. As the posters will let you know, everyone in Hollywood is over the moon for this film. Some have been calling it the best space film ever made. Quite frankly, I’m not so sure they got the whole point of the film. It does portray space in a very realistic manner, but it’s far from a “space film.” In fact, it’s more of a psychological drama; it just happens to be set in space.

Gravity is one of the most inspirational motion pictures to come out in some time. It hits a chord with the subconscious mind and it’s not because of the master-class of cinematography unraveling before your eyes (it does help though), but it’s because it aims to…

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