The Man + Istana Budaya + YOU = Phenomenon

Ahh.. I think quite a few people are still reminiscing about THE concert. Me too, of course. Two days. Istana Budaya. Festival Muzik Kuala Lumpur.

The preparation were, as expected, endless. Song selection. Concept. Song arrangement. Meetings. Meetings. MORE meetings. There were so many things to do, and soo not much time. The fact that the RM25 and RM80 tickets were sold out after THREE days of ticket sale added to the excitement, and the nerves too.

Bosses have been going back and forth for meetings, discussions, rehearsals, what have yous.

S and I started going over on Monday.

Alah Cik K, tak yah la banyal songel. Jom tengok gambar saja.

The pictures below were of the rehearsals a few days before the concert. I love, love, LOVE the string section. I present, Orkestra Simfoni Kebangsaan, di bawah pimpinan Encik Mustafa Fuzer Nawi.

Ah-ha. The band was also there to add to the atmosphere. Those who have been to previous performances would know who they are.

I was around backstage area you know? where the dressing rooms were? tetiba ada pulak bilik labelled with this. Entahla bilik sapa. (Duh)

Then there were stage rehearsals. To see that the montages were in order, the screens were working and all.

Can you just SEE the determination?

AND THEN.

After sleepless nights preparing this and that, we were at the actual concert. Although I was working, I was actually able to be in the Auditorium itself, among the crowd. (Ok, ok, so at back of the crowd. Be petty, why don’t you).

It is actually very difficult to describe how I personally feel during both days of the concert. Even after all these years, and after so many performances attended, I would never fail to enjoy myself. I still get that… you know the rush, and the tingly bits up and down your spine? (I don’t even know how to describe it) when Mungkin and Ketulusan Hati were rendered. Padahal dah dengar bertahun-tahun.  There would always be something different about the way the songs were delivered, the feeling it brings, and the feel he exudes as he delivers the songs.

MY personal favourite would definitely be the 80’s tribute. I first heard them during  the runthrough. As luck would have it, S was freezing so she kinda took over my duties for awhile, giving me the opportunity to RUSH to the front of the stage and lose myself in the songs. Mengaku saja la, lupa diri terus. S was like going ‘WHERE the hey were you, i needed help and then I saw you shaking your booty nuuun kat depan sana!!!!‘

Ehem.

I still get goosebumps when I think of it. How he can deliver them in such a different way yet Still retain the feeling of nostalgia, I seriously have no idea. And i got the rush for 3 days straight, starting from the runthrough, mind you!

Honestly, I think, I wasn’t really working on the two days. Well, i WAS at my station la. But as soon as Kaulah Satunya comes on, I was shaking like an erupting volcano on my seat. Not to mention during Permata, Bila Resah, Suria & Siarra and Kau Bunga Cintaku, the laptop was untouched. Untouched, since i was busy shakin’ and movin’.  Bakal je the space was limited, and i really didn’t want to end up on lap of the guy in front of me lah kan. Then only nak kelam kabut locating my place on the laptop.

I am sooo losing my job after these admissions kan?

And the crowd was FANTASTIC. You should be proud of yourselves, fans! You REALLY know how to shake it and enjoy yourselves!

The first day crowd was very.. mobile. They were shakin’, they were moving body parts, they were crying shamelessly during some songs.

The second day crowd weren’t moving so much, but they were more vocal, which was also inspiring. (Eh wah, macam akak yang buat konsert ni). Obviously IN LOVE. (hik, sorry, couldn’t resist).

But I think what warmed my heart the most was how the whole auditorium reverberated (is this the right word even?) in harmony, singing to some of the songs. THE most beautiful singing I have ever heard.

I wanted to share this pic, because of the picture on the left and right. It was a newspaper clipping from several years back, and it reads “All Rise for Anuar Zain”.

We did. Both nights. because it WAS a Phenomenon.

Next day, the office was like ‘Dawn of the Zombies’. We couldn’t remember what we talked about, what we did, what we ate even (which is unusual for me ok?).

Be-rapa lama, harus ku nanti, dapat pergi konsert lagi?

I get asked this question again and again.

My apologies to some I wasn’t able to meet, chat, and lepak-lepak with. Penat dow.

 

 

 

Homst is where the tummy is

There are a few things that i’ve just realized (ok, I’ve realized this for quite awhile now, i just haven’t bothered to put it in writing):

1. I always, always get inspired to blog when taking photos of food but

2. when i actually got home, the actual writing of the post needs a whole host of inspiration to get me going.

3. It used to be, my pre-writing preparation would be to have several ciggies, make coffee, browse through the TV channels and such. Now it’s play with my virtual pets, harvest my virtual crops or attack another sorority house.

4. AND, as my own server loads up slower than the local post (if i sent a letter to my virtual plantation via snail mail i think it would arrive first), i end up finishing my various business way past bedtime (yes i DO have a bed time, although it may well be the rise n shine time for you normal folks eh?).

But hey, here i am, trying to finish a post before my ciggies run out and there goes another inspiration factor.

Yes there is yet another thing i’ve realized. There are some really good places to eat in TTDI. I mean hey, Nicks was telling me the other day about this article in The Star about street burgers? Please, burger dekat Shell station TTDI juga sangat mengancam ye? Otai, yo.

But I digress.

But I always do.

Anyways. *gulps Iced coffee, puff puff ciggy*

I haven’t been to Homst , the Chinese Muslim Restaurant, in quite awhile I must say. Perhaps its relatively new status of a non-smoking reastaurant threw me off a bit (since i usually go for dinner after work  and i would like to pollute a bit you know?). But I was there before they opened up their new chains, when it had a more kopitiam atmosphere, and the chef would come out and ask us for comments on the food (at that time, masin, tapi sedap). Well, look at it now. So elegant already tau.

Menu pun dah glamer. No more print print from PC & laminate ones.

The other day, going to Homst was like going home indeed. The prodigal stomach returned as it were, as the abangs and kakaks went ‘Lama tak nampak, mana pergi?’. Terharu perutkus.

And that night I actually remembered to take pictures!

ok, the merepek stops here. On to serious business. What We Ate At Homst, TTDI.

I had Chinese Fried Rice. Simple, but SO sedap.

So berangan if you thought i only had the fried rice k? My greed knows no boundaries. My partner in tummy-tucks had the White Rice & Sweet Sour Fish set, which of course I had to dip my grubby fingers into also lah. And we had Broccoli with Oyster Sauce. Again, not so complicated food, but taste? Aiseh, cannot describe the kesedapans.

This is the first time I had this, the Oyster Omelette. Ok ok la, didn’t quite get to taste the oyster. But then again I did have Fried Rice and all those other Lauks eh?

Ah-ha. *Takes a loooong pause to wipe drool, etc etc, the usual activity i had to do when i do food posts*

I have been having this ever since the shop opened. Claypot Tofu. Firm favourite, this one. But.. weelllll…. it has changed over the years lah. The gravy is a bit thinner, the taste a bit different, and dulu-dulu they used to put in these yummy soft egg tofus in. Now the tofu is still yummy, albeit a bit keras-er lah.

And of course, we usually have our meals with either Chinese Tea Hot/Cold, or

Limau Asam Boi.

Do I even have to say it?

Hungry.

NOW.

ANUGERAH PLANET MUZIK 09 – VOTE FOR ANUAR ZAIN!

vote Anuar Zain for Most Popular Artist (Malaysia)

KONSERT LELAKI INI ANUAR ZAIN

It’s alllll happening at Istana Budaya gang! 1st & 2 nd July 2009. See you there!

for tickets, go to  http://ticket2u.biz

too glamourous to be a makcik – Lace Knit Top

waaaaaah. Suddenly The Knitwit is in the mood to blog.

But she needs to get into the zone, u know?

*looks around messy room inclusive of unmade bed* Ambience? check.

*checks ciggy stock* Inspiration? check.

*MTV’s I love 80’s & 90’s on TV*  Body-shakin mood enhancer? check.

Alrighty, I should be raring to go.

The title of this post came from this quiz that i did, “What Kind of Makcik Are You?’.

And of course I Am “Too Glamourous To Be A Makcik” la kan? Thank goodness. I was apprehensive about doing this Quiz at first, for fear that i’ll be placed as “Makcik Icon of This Century… and Next”….

Soooo anyways.

I started knitting this piece months ago…. In November I think. I was going to wear it at an event, and since i needed to be uniformed in white, i made it in white (which is sooo not my colour ok?). But of course, the event was in January, so I was literally fooling myself that I could have it done by then eh?

Anyways, i picked this very cita-cita tinggi berangan tak sudah Short Sleeve Knit Lace Top pattern.

It’s actually not too difficult a pattern. But as always, I get a bit bored of repetetive patterns, yet get irritated if I have to change pattern too often, just when I was about to get the flow of the pattern? *Sigh* Such is human nature I suppose.

Anyways, i knitted, I abandoned, and i knitted.

So yes, it was completed. Tapi kan, you see the original picture? Quite nice kan? Sekali Bila Aunty K yang pakai….. VERY makcik makcik k? No matter what i tried to match it with….ayo.. like very tak sesuai lah you know?

Hm.

i WAS going to put the finished product here.. but cannot lah… too embarrassing.. Geli.

Benzene Bag

So here’s the 411. I’m working on my first big project for Nicks. Nicks of course, supportive as ever, rolls her eyes and started counting my other big projects that never came to fruition.

Well.. it got started. That’s something innit?

Ok, let’s recap (with Nicks sniggering over my shoulder)

ah-ha. See that tiny arrow? those straggly bits are the only ones not done yet ok? (er.. yes they are STILL straggly bits not weaved in as we speak)

AH-HA. There is a sad, sad story behind this one (whacks Nicks as she breaks out laughing). I was working on.. Gawd i can’t remember now what I started this as. But it was from a free booklet, and you like knit squares with different patterns and then join them together? So anyways, I was knitting the squares, and carrying them around with me.. and i lost them. The bag, the needles, the yarn, the booklet. *Sigh* So in the end, i just thought I’d join them together anyways, and give them to Nicks so she can selimut-selimut herself at the ofice like nenek-nenek omputeh gitu. But if you noticed the ghastly stitching I did? So i wanted to cover them with the I-cord (note arrow). Yeah… the bankie STILL looks like this as we speak.

So aaanyways *glares at Nicks*. I am currently working on a cardigan.. my first ever seh! And well, my knitting has always been… sporadic and subject to mood.

As it happens, the one day that I felt like knitting, That was the day i left my knitting at the office.

But I sooo wanted to knit, you know? (Tetiba gatai tangan tu namanya). So I simply simply picked out a pattern off the net.

Ta-dah! Hexagon Purse.

cute right? Fairly simple, just increases and decreases, seed stitch at the opening and strap.

So I used my 6.5mm straight needles, number 66 and 20 Minlon Yarn 40g (because single yarn would be way too thin for my needles) and got started just as Akademi Fantasia came on.

And a week later (i.e. yesterday), Voila!

Tapi kan, macamana the pattern says “Purse” and akak punya turned out to be “Bag” ntah, akak pun tak tahu.

I did make the strap extra long, that’s true. Instead of the 100 stitches, I probably did something like 150 or more (I basically casted on until the needle could take no more), tapi itu pun when i sling it over, it nestles somewhere right on my tummy (NOT a fashion statment k?), i.e still a bit short.

But i thought it looked nice. I’m still waiting to try its strength though, as I hadn’t bothered to line the inside or anything.

But it was a relaxing, nice short project that actually looked functional.

I have plans for this pattern. (eh wah).

Oh and i called it the Benzene bag because the benzene ring is a hexagon. (Sila rujuk buku kimia organik anda, sekian)

Tummy Tuck – Steam It Up!

my yarn has decided to get itself all tangled up. *glares at yarn*

Must be the heat.

Not only that, this yarn decided to invite my other yarn for a tangling game. *sigh*.

The air-cond doesn’t seem to be cool enough. *glares at air-cond remote*

Yeah, must be the heat.

I’m feeling irritable.

Definitely the heat.

But I digress.

But i always do anyways. So hey, what the hey eh? *irritable tone*

I’ll confuse myself if I want to. *blissfully irritated*

Aaaaaaaaaanyways, been awhile eh?

I actually have been going places to eat, but i what i haven’t done is take pictures. Because i only usually remembered after I’ve eaten, and the plates were polished to a gleaming shimmer. So the point of the pictures were.. well.. kinda lost eh? What is there to write about a clean plate?

But I digress again.

A few weeks ago, my partner in food adventures and I went to makan. True, we have been lazy. We’ve simply eaten what was in front of us (usually what Bibik made lah kan). So that one time, we actually ventured out of our cosy haven and decided to get some fresh air and fresh tastes.

Far we travelled, long we searched (all of 15 minutes).

And here we are.

Silver Pot Chinese Muslim Steamboat Restaurant, TTDI.(Jauh la sangat kan?)

It was quiet when we arrived. Al-maklum lah baru bukak for evening. The kakak lari-lari from the back of the shop to greet us. AND it’s a smoking restaurant. I liiiiikeeeeeeeeee.

We had the Lover’s Set. I suppose it’s called that because the stuff comes in twos or fours.

Haaa now can see better.

I think the hunger got to us, though. We became so tamak and ordered extras.

Scallops and fish fillets (this is only a third of it ya?)

And i present.. my most tamak moment… The vegie fried rice.

Reminiscent of my Fatty Crab days, really.

But seriously, with such a lot of food, the rice was one that I couldn’t finish. (Knitwit not finishing rice is a feat on its own ok?).

Ah-ha. And here’s my boat, bubbling away.

I guess the trend nowadays is to have individual boats eh? which i like. Because i always liked the plain soup, whereas my friends prefer the tomyam. So this is like, perfect.

Gone are the days where you put those last two prawns into the big boiling pot, (sup tomyam pulak tu), waited patiently for them to be ready, blinked one nth of a second, only to find them in another’s plate, while the Tuan Punya plate goes ‘eh, this one your one ah?’ while happily munching away on my one.

Not that I eat prawns mind you.

Yes, the last word. Sedap.

Tummy Tucks – Hail To The King

there is this kedai in TTDI.

nondescript, small, and only people who knows, knows.

But sells one of the best sup i know.

haaaaaaaaaaa. Raja Sup. I guess it’s overshadowed by the mamak at the end of the row. I was here a few years ago, but sort of forgot about it after that. So one day, for the sake of variety, we went here.

One of the reasons i like Raja Sup is because they have this array of goodies to put in your soup.

Mari mari tengok tengok.

Haaaa…. all also got. Tongue, tripe, tail, mushroom, broccoli, cauliflower…

lung… and i dunno what this giant2 parts are.. but i remember this is like the one in Singapore eh?

soo first you pick pick what you want in your soup. I always like tongue, tripe and lung and loads of mushroom.

Then order limau ais, telur dadar and nasik putih.

Thennnnn they come out with your soup.

Haaaaa…. you see you see you see…..

And the soup is really good. With white rice and omelette….

way to go Raja Sup! (i’m trying to avoid saying ‘I hate doing food entries’ ok?)

Anuar.. Piano… & Magic

haaaaaaaa

I think for once, I will try to be current.

hah currentlah sangat.

aaanywayssss… 6th of February 2009.

A magical date. The zenith of a few months of planning, selling tickets, etc etc.

Frankly I was exhausted that night. We were at Concorde Hotel, KL, on the move from morning up until the end.

This was basically, a private, intimate affair. No press, not much publicity, only the fans. It was only advertised on the net, and was only briefly mentioned in the newspapers a few days before the event was to go on.

But it was worth it.

Because it was a fantastic night. The man gave his best. The crowd was responsive, enthralled.

To me, what was magical about the event was that… everything was different than the ‘usual’ Anuar Zain performance.  Even the decor was different. The concept is of course, not like your normal Secretaries’ Week do. This is more personal. It is after all Anuar.. piano.. & YOU.

And Anuar Zain was in his element. Every song was delivered in his own inimitable style, making them his own. My favourite would be Kain Pelikat all jazzed up (was it jazz or swing or big band?). Impromptu, and so different that the audience only realised what it was during the la la la part. Ingenious.

I love this picture, because it proves the unity of the fans. Almost everyone in almost perfect angular position holding their phone/digicam/recordable watch. Or else, they have this rapturous look on their face. The ballroom may be dark, but you can still see the glow on their faces.

So that was how it went. The evening ended past midnight, song after song after song after song.

And there WERE a lot of songs. So if you happened to not enjoy Anuar Zain (i assume you are in denial), you would enjoy the decor (sangat gojes la Z).

Magical.

Tummy Tucks – Naan of my heart

Wooohoooo! This is one of my favourite tummy tucks!

ahhh i had this for dinner just now. This is Mumtaz Naan, and as far as i know, can only be found at Mosin, TTDI.

It’s creamy, salty, naan-y…

A firm fave!

And Mumtaz Naan always reminds me of someone delicious! Woowoooo!