Estoy de vuelta!

I am back from my one month cultural adventure in Spain.

I've got photos and some funny stories and I shall update the blog very soon...until then!

Hasta luego. :)

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Maid of Honour on an Adventure

After months of anticipation, finally my cousin Rena got her big fat Malaysian wedding today.

As Maid of Honour, I had the privilege of helping her get last minute preparations done and sort of the finer details at her wedding/reception. Interestingly enough, her wedding has taught me that I do like attending and being a part of weddings, as long as the people involved are close to my heart. And Rena, being one year younger than I am and who was my confidante and partner in crime as a child, is indeed very close to my heart. I wish her and her new husband Paul every bit of happiness together.

Now it's time for me to have my adventure - a little Spanish affair. Wish me luck, keep me in your thoughts (and prayers). Universe, let's have a good time, you and me. Drink a little wine, learn a little Spanish, see some sights and make a few friends, have a few new experiences...I know you want to!

Until I blog again...adios y hasta luego. (Bye and see you later).

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Adios MM!

And my stint at The Malay Mail is officially over.

Today flew by in a haze (and daze). Needless to say I didn't get much work done. I spent most of my time chatting with my colleagues and at the end of the day, taking photos of people I have grown to care about and become my friends. At the end of the day, when it's time to go off into the unknown, you take all the professional experiences, life lessons and fabulous friendships with you as you set off to the next journey. Boy, what experiences I've had!

The funny thing is I applied for the post of sub-editor at The Paper That Cares in 2008. I always had a love for words but being quiet and reserved I didn't think that I have the right qualities to be a journalist. However, at the interview with the Editor In Chief, he said I'd have to gain some experiences on the field as a journalist first for a month, before becoming a sub-editor. I accepted this and was looking forward to my new career in the publishing line.

I was pretty much thrown into the deep end of the ocean of journalism in the first week I started there. I had no choice but to swim so that I didn't drown, all the while thinking that I was going to be a sub-editor in no time. Life had other plans for me, though. A respected editor saw that I could write and asked me to continue to write for the paper. For eight months I was at the news desk, chasing MP's in the late night, interviewing residents about irrigation and drainage and working from 10am to 3am.

Just as I was about to sink, life threw me a lifebuoy in the form of a transfer to the Lifestyle and Entertainment section. It was just what I needed. A chance to inform and educate readers with a touch of creativity. An amazing experience right from the start, still there were many bumps on the road but I sailed through until a few months ago - I knew it was time for me to move on.
But I will always be thankful for this job and the confidence it has instilled in me, the opportunities I've been given and mostly for the ability to express myself using the written word.

Among the countless assignments I've been for I will always remember:

*Asking Jason Mraz a question at the press conference when he was in KL (and he looked straight at me when he answered it!)

*Meeting/interviewing theatre personalities Jo Kukathas, Gavin Yap, Edwin Sumun and my childhood heart throb Hans Isaac.

*Interviewing Ne-Yo when he was here in KL before his concert last year (and he remembered that I had asked a question at the press conference the day before)

*Extracting the DNA of a strawberry at a skin care launch. ( I wore the obligatory lab coat too!)

*Going on a hot air ballon at the Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon earlier this year.

*Attending the Borneo Jazz Festival in Miri (this assignment changed my life forever)

*Made my dreams of going for the Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching come true.

*Not to mention interviewing many ordinary people who inspire others to be productive, healthy and positive in everything they do.

I've had an enriching experience and am sure I will continue with more insights in my next professional adventure.

P/S- Maybe now I'll have time to write that post about my Indian trip. ;)

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Announcement!

Instead of writing about my India trip (don't hate me Smeeta!), I have decided to make an announcement instead. Two announcements actually...here goes!

1. I resigned from my position as Writer at The Malay Mail last week. My last day is on September 12.

2. I will be leaving for Spain enroute London on October 12 and will be back in Malaysia on November 19. I will be in Sevilla for 3 weeks studying Spanish and making a few detours to a few cities after that.

And no, I haven't gotten another job just yet.

Am I crazy? Possibly. But from the bottom of my heart I know that this is something I need to do right now. For the past 3 years I've been eating, breathing, sleeping work and I think it's time for me to step back and do something different. I am also confident that I will be able to get a job soon.

Why learn Spanish? Only my family and close friends know that I've studied the language before, first in Melbourne and then in KL. I also passed the first level (A1) test while studying at Help College. So this is not entirely new for me, although making my dream come true is something new. I've been wanting, aching even to go to Spain for a few years now...and it's coming true.

And yes, I'm doing this on my own...Scary and exciting all at the same time.

Anyways, so that's the deal. Wish me luck! :)

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DiGi Dear Malaysians: Official Video

Touching and realistic, we all have something to be sorry about...

I'm sorry I've never helped the blind cross the busy KL streets. I've always wanted to, but am just too shy to make the move. I must try harder.

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I did it again!

Once again I'm a little slow on blogging about my recent Indian trip. Bah! So many things to do, so little time to do it - is my excuese.

For those (i .e.) Smeeta who is probably waiting for me to update the blog, I guess I will have to keep you in suspense for a little longer. :P

But I promise more exciting news in my next post.

Until then.....

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