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.