June (Part 5) Siti Nur Suzuki!

June 16

As time passes by, I realized I needed a transport to move around. School is far away, someone is far away, everything is far away. And adult public transport fares were killing me. I was topping up $20 every 2 days or so. Crazy. My family had a car, but everyone in the family has a driver's licence, so chances of being able to use it was slim.

And so, 2 years ago I enrolled for a motorbike licence, and Alhamdulillah, I passed =) Not without much reluctance from my mom to give her blessings though. Anyway, my dad was willing to sponsor my first bike, just like how he sponsored Beg Mal's. It was going to be a birthday present for me from him! As long as the priority was to use it for convenience to go to school and other beneficial uses, he gave his blessings. So what bike did I choose?

As a student, I had to factor in economy. Sure in the long run motorbike saves me money, but there was still the petrol, bike upkeep and maintenance, road tax, COE, parking and insurance costs all to factor in. I was leaning heavily towards the Yamaha Spark for its excellent fuel efficiency, until Beg Mal suggested a model of scrambler which was also very economical in petrol. And so, after doing much online research, I decided on the Suzuki DR 200SE, a well-known workhorse, rugged with a bulletproof engine, minimal maintenance, and fuel-efficient 4-stroke dual-sport scrambler with the maximum engine displacement my licence allows me to ride (2oocc) ensuring I also have good power. The plus point was that as I was buying a scrambler, I could also have off-road fun at hand! That's why it's designed as a dual-sport scrambler, designed to be street-legal and for urban riding, as well as capable of handling trails and off-road excursions. As it turns out, it was Beg Mal's first bike too! He had excellent experiences with it, despite it being an older model and in run-down fashion when he got it, and that's why he recommended it. And so, I became the proud possessor of Siti Nur Suzuki! (Yeah that's what I named her). Fortunately, the particular bike I bought, the first owner had already done up the cosmetic changes that I planned to make to the bike, thus saving me some money. The stock bike is brutally ugly in my opinion.

Left profile

Right profile

With box!Front viewCockpit and Instrumentation panel
The unmodified stock bike. Ugly rugged little thing....and this is what a scrambler can do!

$4850 total cost inclusive of road tax, 1 year's insurance and 8 years left of COE, for a hardly-used 2nd-hand 2 year old bike which would otherwise cost $7500-$8500++ first-hand? Good deal I'd say. Alhamdulillah. Thanks, Ayah.

June (Part 4) Gemini Man

GEMINI MAN

A man in this Zodiac has a thin, long and proportional face. He has a high forehead and is very clever. He looks like he cannot stand or sit still - a very fast person. His nose is just right in size, thin lips, talks fast and is very talkative. He can think faster than he talks, but once he starts talking, he will talk non-stop as if God has gifted him with that special talk machine mouth. He likes to cut his hair short and he is very athletic. He is tall, slim and every movement of his is "Fast" or can be nearly called "Hyperactive".

He has long fingers and is always tapping on table or moving his fingers as if he is trying to grab something. He is the type who will write or scribble on paper, he never stay still. His hair is always well-combed or neat. He will spend a long time to comb his hair. He will keep his manicure and pedicure clean. He is a well-dressed and clean guy, so if you like cleanliness, you will love him.

He will keep all his clothes in big closet, and will never throw away even shirts that he never wears anymore. Yet he still keeps buying new clothes and make sure he is in style. He knows how to dress well even with a low budget. He gets bored easily with his favourite clothes, cologne etc. He is very picky, so soap and his cologne even have to be in the same trend or same scent.

If you date this kind of guy, you might think you are dating 2 guys. You will have to guess his feeling and emotions. Is he doing this thing because it is a duty, or is it because he wants to?

He changes his mind as fast as he changes a new pairs of shoes. He can pick up a book and roughly read through and understand it's contents. So if you see a Gemini man who reads the whole book, then he must be influenced by other Zodiac.

He hates to set fix schedule, and dislike a boring same routine job. He could hardly be on time, and can only keep time if it is of complete importance and necessary. He does not come late because he forgets, but because he always finds other attractions along the way. He likes to act opposite to what he wants to do. He is a very good speaker and makes a very good politician. He can easily persuade other people and present himself well in public; a real charmer. If he is a writer, he will write the best seller.

He always searches for truth and constantly studies himself. He is never satisfied about his fame, his reputation or money, because he thinks he deserved more. He will keep searching even he is not sure what is his ultimate satisfaction.

Woman in love normally wants to feel secure and stable, but if you fall in love with this guy, be prepared to be alone. He will come to see you when he feels like it. He won't even know how he spent his days everyday, so adjust yourself if you love him.

Dating him is like dating 2 guys, so today he can tell you how much he loves you, but tomorrow he might call you to cancel your date. When he is upset, he could tell you he hate your dress, even it is the same dress he used to tell you make you look very sexy. Do not ask him why he is that way for he won't have any explanations too. When he is back to normal mood, he will take you out again and forget what just happened.

You cannot expect him to be the same person now, and forever. His changes will depend on you, for better or for worse. If you like to take risk and dare for challenges, you will get along with him fine. He keeps his emotional secretly as if hiding it, so you will not be able to see if he crazy in love with you, or does not give a damn at all, but be calm and patient.

He will never leave you if he thinks you are a puzzle, then he will spent times solving this puzzle.

Hmmm. Can anyone tell me how true this is of me?

June (Part 3) My 24th Birthday!

June 15

Happy Birthday to me! As always, I've made up all kinds of excuses to other people so that I could keep this day free for me to be with someone =) Nothing beats spending time with the one you love. And what a day I had too! Someone brought me to eat for the first time at Manhattan Fish Market at Marina Square, an upmarket eatery right next to the Seoul Garden which I brought HER for her 21st birthday! Again, another first for the both of us. She's taken so many of my virginities (figuratively speaking... not literally), its got to be some kind of personal record! We spent the rest of the evening walking around, exploring the yet-to-be-fully-opened-Double Helix Bridge, visited Marina Bay Sands, and sat the Fountain of Youth (is that what it's called?) at Suntec City, where she surprised me and presented me with my present... a customized red hoodie, just what I've always been looking for! =)=)=) I love the gift and really appreciate the effort she put into adding her personal touch on the hoodie... having my name on it, in cartoonish blocks, complete with a teddy bear! Its just a pity the bear was wearing a football jersey with no 8 on it instead of my favourite no 7. Haha. Thanks dear. Your company really made for a wonderful birthday to remember. Love the gift, but most importantly, love the person =)

The alphabets being put in place by pins before ironing... poor bear has a pin in his head! =/

Preparing to be pressed permanently onto the red hoodie with the hot iron... and who's foot is that? o_O

Finished product! =)

Dinner at upmarket Manhattan Fish Market! My first time! =)

No wonder I was smiling

Just for the 2 of us! =)*Burp* Alhamdulillah

At the mini-park next to the Double Helix Bridge!

Marina Bay Sands Hotel

Double Helix Bridge! With Marina Bay Sands in the background

Celebrating your birthday, great food, lovely night, scenic views, with your sayang beside you... it's a good time to be thankful for all your blessings. Alhamdulillah =)

Urm. Incomplete section of the Double Helix BridgeMust Hug and Kish my present first!

Present-opening in progress... who's hand is that on my shoulder? o_O

Wonder what can it be... Who's legs are those o_O?

My very own red hoodie! Adorable right? I'm impressed! =)

A very tired but happy man at the end of the day =)

Kak Muni and Hubby also gave this gift to me. She said the first thing that came to both their minds when they saw this shirt was... me. I wonder why. Thanks anyway!

Bola Kampung!

...And I actually wore this to school that day. O_O

June (Part 2) Khai's Wedding

June 13.

It's finally happened: The Clan has its first official married member!

Khairul married his sweetheart since Junior College, M, and in the process, they became the First Couple of The Clan. As one of the longest, if not THE longest-lasting relationships in the Clan, it was apt and not unexpected, seeing that Khai remains the only Clan member not to have hit a ''snag'' in his academic life. As this was a very special occasion for us Clanners, we had high expectations of ourselves as the 'orang kuat' (strongmen) on Khai's behalf. Therefore the wheels of planning were set in motion...

Presenting... Khai's Ops Order.



... the document detailing each Clanner's roles and responsibilities.

This was the on the day of solemnization, the nikah... we were dressed in traditional Malay baju kurung... The couple took photos in the CBD area... we tagged along of course. Hahah

On the 2nd day, the day of bersanding, or the day when the couple get on the dais, we the Best Men were dressed in white smart attire. Cousin Aizad was appointed as the Best of the Best Men, in truth, representing us the Clan... and oh yeah. We The Clan also somehow gained another name that day, and became known as The Props... see the photos to understand why...

The groom and his entourage making their way to the bride's placeThe 'Toll' station manned by the bride's male relatives
The Muka-Please-Stoppit-While-Doing-Silat-Can? Pose

The Clan Formal (with errr a Future Clanner?)

The Clan Informal (with errr a Future Clanner?)With TKH (Team Kental Habis) and the WAGS (Wife and Girlfriends... and Kids)

Guys and Girls Go Good Together

The combined Jumpshot Pose... I get the feeling the boys were more enthusiasticThe Clan (The Props?) setep cool poseThe-Why-Are-U-Squatting-in-the-Middle Pose

The You're-Not-Gonna-Steal-Our-Khai-From-Us Pose

The You're-Still-Not-Gonna-Steal-Our-Khai-From-Us-Despite-Reinforcements Pose

The 4U2C Pose

The Berani-Buat-Berani-Tanggung Pose

The Uh-Oh-Cikgu-Dah-Marah (Uh-Oh-Teacher's-Angry) Pose

The Obligatory Jumpshot Pose

The Evolution of Man Pose