Of Reunions & Surprises

PARENTAL ADVISORY

This is gonna be a long post.

My Fri nite ended at 5am on Sat morning. And my Sat morning began at 11+AM, with a phone call from eFinZ, my long-lost buddy,partner-in-crime,1 of my best frens,brudder,VS classmate and current Danielle tv star calling me to say that he's shooting at the block next door and so come on down Hikam let's do some catching up! So I wet my hair, brushed my teeth, and rushed down to meet the ole rascal.I didn't even have time to bathe or eat breakfast.

My boy eFinZ didnt look an inch different from the last time we met up, which was many moons ago. We met, we hugged (brotherly hug mind u) and we lepak-ed at the staircase.And henceforth began the conversation, featuring topics like NS, girls, Taiwan, training, Army, girls, Danielle, auditions, girls, poly, guitars, tabla, girls, gay, cross-dressing ex-classmates who've gone openly homosexual and probably transsexual very soon, girls, Taiwan girls, trouble, getting into trouble, girls, gigs, friends, girls, cousins, dating older girls, dating younger girls, girls, GPA,pay, love lives... and did I mention girls?

I was also introduced to his friend and apparently his band member Shamil (hey there man u bloody skillful guitarist) and then he also partook in the conversation stated above. I tell you, when given the right topic(s) to talk about, even strangers become friends in seconds! Men will be men.

Had to leave meboi eFinZ 'cos I had to look for a present for my sister's birthday next week, but not before promising to go to his gig at Esplanade later at nite with the last, but not least of us Three Musketeers, the one and only Mama and Honorary Mat, Samuel Rajkumar aka Pastor/Father Rajkupong. (VS people will know wad I mean)

Left for Plaza Singapura, and I enlisted the help of my elder cousin Kak Muni to help me get ideas for gifts to give my sis. After all, only women know what other women want. So in the end of it, I decided to give my sis a mish-mash of colour-coded small gifts, given in a box amounting to 1 big gift. Spent hours amongst various shops there, wondering what gifts are suitable.
At the end of a long day shopping (it is shopping after all), this is what I bought for my sis :

The colour-code is Dark Brown (to match my sis's room decor)

1) a small brown novelty box in which to put all the rest of the small gifts below
2) a set of 10 coffee-scented brown candles
3) a tiny cute mini-book of quotes about 'Being True to Yourself'
4) a fridge magnet with quote 'There is no friend like a sister,and there is no better sister than u'
5) a Brazil Nut shower gel from BodyShop
6) Caramel Popcorn
7) Starbucks chilled Frappecinno
8) mini-birthday card
9) reddish/brown Spanish moss for stuffing

Wow. I didn't know it would cost me such a bomb. But for my sister, it's worth it.
Bak pepatah Kak Muni, "Beli presents macam belikan matair sey!Padahal kakak'.... Haha.

After I'm done shopping, we went to Anatolia's for some Turkish ice cream and fries, and then its off to liaise with Raj at CityHall. Ohoh Raj! The fella looks as I've always known him, still with that cheeky face. Some things just never change. Of course, Raj is also another one of my long-lost buddies,partner-in-crime,1 of my best frens,brudder and VS classmate. Together we made our way to the front of the Esplanade, and was just about to settle down when suddenly I heard 'Zul, Zul!' from the row of seats behind. And lo and behold, it was Mukminah & family! Wow eFinZ's gotten his entire family to come along.

And no wonder. For a self-confessed amateur band ('anak-anak', in their words) they were incredible. Playin one cover of Maroon 5 and the rest being originals, they rocked the crowd. Their originals were what impressed me though and I particularly enjoyed the last song, with both guitarists Shamil and this Slash wannabe/lookalike displaying great technical skills and good musical sense, drummer and bassist both driving a good rhythm section, the vocalist resembling Izzat Exists and sounding like him too, and of course my man eFinZ tapping and hitting his tablas with great passion (must be all that hitting of tables in VS playing the Mama Music eh pin?)

After the performance, me n' Raj went backstage to meet up with eFinZ and friends to congratulate them, only for us to be confronted by the sight of groupies (yes, groupies) surrounding them. Sheesh. eFinZ had better give me a free copy of his band's album once its ready.

and OH YEAH. eFinZ HAS A GIRLFRIEND. and he didn't even inform me!
Thanks arh man. You're out of The Bachelor's Party buddy.

Went for a late dinner with Kak Muni at some coffeeshop where she gets her favourite avocado juice. Halfway through, loud explosions erupted all around us, and we ran out of the coffeshop. Boom, boom, bing bang bing bang bing, boom boom boom! "What's going on, I thought". As it turns out there was a fireworks display going on, and we were treated to an electrifying visual display of vibrant colours in the dead of night.

Wotta way to end a fruitful day.