Jovian leaned over, smiled, and whispered, "welcome to Jakarta."

It's been a hectic week hopping on and off planes and eating far too much and sleeping far too little. This lifestyle is too decadent. But I can't help it. It's my job.

I begin my bumper issue posting with a little guessing game. Guess who these gorgeous British made shoes belong to. Clue: one tall guy and one not so tall but quite brilliant composer/producer. Answer at the end of this posting.

Ning and I flew to Jakarta on Tuesday morning to promote the film DIVA in Indonesia. On the flight were fellow cast members Adam and Balqish. On arrival at Sokarnoe Hatta International Airport, we were met by a television crew who had camped behind the pillars and surprised us as we made our way to the waiting limousines. Paparazzi!

Reporter: Is it true you were paid the highest sum ever for a Malaysian actor to star in DIVA?

Ning: I'm impressed. You've done your research.

Less than 30 minutes in Indonesia and already were we getting a taste of the Indonesian press and their no-holds barred line of questioning. I'm beginning to like this country! Ning, as usual, handled the interview like a professional despite the barrage of fierce questions.

We finally arrived the Grand Hyatt in the centre of Jakarta after enduring two hours of congestion on the road. It took us just as long to get from the airport to the hotel as it took us to fly from KL to Jakarta.

After checking into our rooms, it was time for lunch. My favourite hour. The Grand Hyatt is attached to Plaza Indonesia and we found ourselves at a branch of Sari Ratu, the nasi padang chain of restaurants located in the Plaza.

The typical way to serve nasi padang is to literally pile on the dishes, and if there's no room on the table, you stack them up. And I mean every dish. As in, every single item available on the menu.

You only pay for what you eat and what you don't eat gets recycled on other tables. So it's only polite not to accidentally spit on the untouched food.

After lunch, we did a spot of shopping and Ning picked up a few blouses. Balqish picked up an allergic reaction from eating those prawns and had to rush to a pharmacy.

Me: Darling, I hate to be nosey but I'm afraid I have to tell you that there are very large red bumps appearing all over your neck, ears and face and it's looking quite alarming.

Balqish: I know. I'm allergic to prawns.

Me: So why the hell were you eating them, child? Don't you realise that in less than 4 hours you will be standing in front of a hall full of vicious reporters just waiting to tear you down?

Balqish: It's Jakarta, it's nasi padang, and those juicy grilled prawns were begging me to eat them.

Me: Honey, are you insane?

Balqish: No. Just hungry.

Me: Someone take this child to a pharmacy right now! And I mean NOW!

Four hours later, Balqish looked exquisite. And the cast of DIVA made their debut with the Indonesian press.

Ning understands a little bit of Indonesian and I understand practically none. So it got very difficult trying to understand this reporter who was barking questions at spit-fire speed. And she didn't know how to slow down despite Ning and I giving her blank looks. Thank God Jovian kindly stepped in and became our translator for the night.

Ning: Perempuan gila, kamu di mana?

KD: Gue on the way!

KD was running late. I didn't mind in the slightest. She's a goddess and you never question a goddess. As far as goddesses are concerned, they are never late. Everyone else are simply early.

Indonesian stars also came to the Gala Premiere and this hunky actor trailed Ning all night long like a lost puppy. So cute. But I can't remember his name.

Then Ning performed the soundtrack song, Bintang Impianku. The room went hush except for the clicking of cameras. A lot of cameras. Waaay too many cameras. But I wasn't complaining. The more the merrier. So many nice people. (Boy, was I way off track.)

The only time I can ever remember seeing this many press and media at any one event in Malaysia was at Datuk Siti's wedding. But apparently, this number was considered the average turn-out. Wow! There were at least a dozen television crews, two dozen photographers and far too many reporters for me to memorise their names, faces and respective desks. And we're talking paparazzi. Hard-core paparazzi the likes of which Malaysia has not seen. I'll explain why in a minute.

Ning wore a Jovian Mandagie dress. Fans will remember Ning wearing the same dress for GLAM magazine's gala several months back.

Reporter 1: Why Ning? Why not Siti Nurhaliza?

Reporter 2: We haven't watched the movie but based on what we saw from the trailers, we think your movie is confused. Correct?

Reporter 3: We only want to watch movies spoken in the Indonesian language and accent. Why should we watch DIVA which is spoken in two different accents?

Jovian leaned over, smiled, and whispered, "welcome to Jakarta." And these questions were asked even BEFORE we entered the halls for the screening. Matilah mak lari jauh jauh lepas wayang habis nanti!

So what I've been warned about the viciousness of the paparazzi was all true. They shoot from the hips and they don't care if you cry. In fact, they love it if you cry. In Malaysia our press is kind and polite. Some stab you in the back GENTLY only if they've had a bad hair day, which is not often. Call it a scratch, in comparison to the Indonesians, who twist the knife and add plenty of lime and salt for good measure to see you squirm and writhe.

So I decided to play dirty. Well, since it's every man for himself and only the slimiest survive, I told her to answer questions in her Malaysian accent because that always distracts them. For some strange reason, Indonesians find our accent cute and funny. Ning revved on the charm, smiled like Mona Liza and gently played with her words in the purest and kindest Malaysian accent I have ever heard her speak, and before long the scathing torrent of cutting questions simmered to give way to mild acquiescence. As for me, I was ready to lempang them. But Jovian plied me with drinks to calm me down.

Jeremy Thomas, the hero of the movie, did a remarkable job saving Ning and the movie with his suave and elegant answers. I like Jeremy Thomas.

After the pc, we marched in and sat in the hall. Everyone of the Malaysian cast looked terrified. Jeremy the gentleman assured us that the rip-you-apart-and-slice-you-down-to-size-inch-by-painful-inch session by the press was normal. "Normal", katanya! I have the greatest respect for Indonesian stars after that. If you can survive a press lynching, then you really are a star, honey.

The movie started and I fell asleep. I've watched the film a million times already and I didn't get much sleep the night before. So forgive me. KD the goddess arrived, cried, laughed, cried some more and left before the lights came on. I woke up to thunderous applause.

Reporter: You made me cry. So many times during the movie. I ran out of tissue. And I love your accent. And your voice. Thank you for making me cry. I haven't cried in a long time.

Ning: So does that mean you'll do a good review?

Apparently, they liked the movie! I dare say we have a hit on our hands.

And this is where the paradox arises: the Malaysian press who have been politely pussy-footing around their reviews of DIVA mostly gave it a low rating for all sorts of 'clever' reasons but the in-your-face Indonesian press who hammered us mercilessly at the beginning ended up liking it!

And don't ever try to imitate the Indonesian accent if you're a Malaysian in Indonesia. They hate that.

Click here to read Harian Metro's Ellyna Ali's review of the Gala Premiere in Jakarta.

I went to bed happy. Ning too. Her first film in Indonesia was received well by a majority of the press. Many remembered her from the duet she did with Indonesian singer Heidi Yunus many years back. Those who didn't, knew anyway because they did their research. Paparazzi with brains.

I had lunch the next day with Pak Erwin. We had the buffet. I also ordered a plate full of crispy roast duck and he finished two plates of assorted sushi followed by the lamb and plenty of desserts.

Erwin Gutawa and I have two things in common: music and food, and that's a very good way to start any relationship.

Ning continued speaking her sweet Malaysian accent. I tell you, it works.

After lunch, Ning had a photoshoot with a local magazine called NURANI. It's a religious magazine and they wanted to photograph Ning wearing a tudung. How interesting. The first ever magazine in Indonesia to photograph Ning was a religious magazine and her first ever pictures to appear are of her in a tudung. God does have a sense of humour.

After the shoot, Ning checked out and returned to KL with the rest of the cast and DIVA team. Joe and I decided to stay another day. He wanted to shop and I needed to meet more industry people. Jovian insisted that we stay with him at his Grandma's as her guests rather than spend more money at a hotel. We didn't disagree. And then we went shopping.

Now every Malaysian who comes to Jakarta will shop at Plaza Senayan and end up buying nothing because everything is just too flashy and expensive or readily available at Starhill and Mid-Valley at more or less the same price. Or spend the entire day at Mangga Dua buying fake Guccis and LVs. Jovian, instead, took us to where Indonesians shop for the best bargains. And I mean dirt cheap bargains. Pasar Baru has almost everything Mangga Dua has but at half the price. Now you know Jakarta's best kept secret.

Drag queens will think they have died and gone to heaven. Sequins and massive Swarovski rocks that will blind you and make you weigh 10 kilos heavier, wigs that only invincible goddesses like KD wear, eye lashes the length of your fore-arm and enough cosmetics and fabrics to stage the show of your life-time. A thousand times over.

In the midst of all that shopping, Joe spotted this signage that intriques me till this day. I mean, what on earth is a 'chicken church'?

If you look carefully, that's Joe snapping a picture of me snapping the signage.

After Pasar Baru, Jovian took us to Ivan Gunawan's boutique. Ivan is a celebrity host and actor. And also one of Indonesia's top designers. And Jovian's guru and good friend. Ivan Gunawan has dressed everyone, from goddesses to rich Indonesian matrons who can afford his gowns and dresses. Ivan has also dressed Datuk Siti.

I brought along a copy of Selagi Ada...Ning and Erti Pertemuan and left it at the boutique as gifts. Yes, I want Ning played in Jakarta. And yes, Ivan Gunawan has kindly agreed to dress Ning in Indonesia.

Warning: These designs are copyrighted. No copying please. And if you're a designer and the thought of plagiarising these designs are playing in your mind, DON'T. I repeat, DON'T.

After gushing over Ivan's fabulous collection, we went for dinner at Kemang. Kemang is basically Jakarta's Bangsar. And there I learned many colourful Indonesian words. For example, this young man in yellow, who was one of the waiters at the Kemang Food Fest (a bit like Hartamas Square) is what you would call a laykong.

A prettier and younger version of him would be a brondong. And a saykong would be someone who would love to ngewong, nempong and ngesong with said laykong. And would later describe the whole experience as endang. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, never mind. Because it's all quite obscene.

We also went clubbing. We went to Indo China in Kemang and that was atrocious. A very straight version of Blue Boy with a bit more class and lighting. We had to see Stadium, Jakarta's 24 hour club somewhere along Hayam Wuruk. Seedy and wild and practically everybody except us were on happy pills. I flitted from corner to corner to get eyefuls of laykongs up for sale! We also did the plush playground of the rich and famous at X2 and I went wild ogling the brondongs and laykongs.

Jovian: He's an actor. Oh, and he's with a model who's also up for sale. We call it 'freelance' and someone who freelances like him is a 'kucing'.

Me: I love Jakarta.

We crawled into bed at 7am.

Before I forget, try to buy Samson's Dengan Nafasku (wow!), Erwin Gutawa's Rock-Estra (wow! wow! wow!) and Anggun's latest Greatest Hits album with songs re-arranged and re-recorded (wow habis!).

The best part of my food experience the entire trip must be the Menado feast Jovian's Grandma served us for lunch the next day. Jovian's paternal family hails from the island of Menado and their cuisine is exquisitely spicy and delicious and something I would fly to Jakarta for. Seriously, it's that good. If you're an Indonesian or living in Jakarta, then you must know of Beautika, Jakarta's best Menado cuisine restaurant. And guess what? Jovian's family owns it.

Me: Om, KD brought us to Beautika Restaurant a year ago. And I loved the food there. Better than nasi padang Sari Bunto at Hayam Wuruk. (Bukan propah ok.) And I so wanted to go again this trip but now you've made my dream come true!

Om: Shut up and eat, young man.

Om Jovian is one fantastic lady and hostess. She fed us, and fed us, and fed us. And told us that the next time we come back to Jakarta, we must stay with her.

I had three helpings. I have no shame when it comes to good food. None whatsoever.

That was Jakarta this time round. Every time I visit I get a different feel and mood and taste of the city. So the traffic jams are horrendous and yes, the city is quite dirty. But all that is forgiven when you dine on the various cuisines, shop at the right places and party all night long with gorgeous brondongs and laykongs all around you. Welcome to Jakarta indeed!

Finally, the answer to who own those pairs of shoes: Singer Syed Azmir and composer/producer Ajai. Taken at the KAYANGAN soundtrack celebration party at Iketeru Japanese Restaurant, KL Hilton, a few hours ago.

Ning, Nikki, Yanie and I are off to Singapore in the morning where we will be joining Pak Erwin and his daughter Gita at Christina Aguilera's concert. Ning will drive because she says that if I drive, we will reach Singapore on Monday. One does not argue with a diva. Period.

DIVA

Opens in cinemas nationwide today.

And in other news...

We just got back from Jakarta. Though my hotel room had internet access, I simply just didn't have the time to update this blog. But keep refreshing this page as I'm working on a sumptuous posting of the Jakarta trip.

Anyway, remember my Monday posting of the painting of a DIVA?

I commissioned an oil on canvas painting from a young and promising artist, Megat Eusofe. I told him I wanted a portrait of Ning. But not an exact portrait. An abstract impression of Ning. How he would see her through his mind's eye.

Megat decided to title it DIVA, and I gave him a completely free hand. No directions, no ideas, no suggestions. Almost a month later, this is Megat's DIVA.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DIVA!

NingClix celebrates Ning.

Ning celebrated her 32nd birthday a few days early yesterday with her fan club, NingClix. It was a good and tight turn out with her closest and dearest fans at Rebung Restaurant, Bangsar. (Actual birthday 28th June.)

In fact, the word 'fan' wouldn't be appropriate to describe anyone of them. I prefer to use the term 'family'. They 'grew up' with Ning and most of them were there with her right from the start of her career, through thick and thin, good and bad. And I really mean through thick and THIN, good and BAD.

When things got rough for Ning, they stood by her. When her English managers absconded with millions and left Ning penniless and everyone else laughed at her, they cried with her. When the entire nation was chastising her for daring to talk about her fantasies, they stood by her. It must have been very hard for them to have stood by their idol and defended her when everyone else were on the righteous bandwagon. But they did. And because of that, they have my admiration and respect.

When Ning finally bounced back again with her comeback album SELAGI ADA...NING three years ago, it was interesting to see new fans come... and go. But the faithful few have remained to this day, stalwart and steadfast. Now that's a true fan. Proven track record of loyalty in the face of the worst controversies ever to hit any Malaysian artiste.

I remember like it was yesterday how NingClix sat on the left side of the Dewan PWTC on the night Ning won AIM three years ago. Ning's moment of glory was also NingClix's moment of vindication. Finally, their DIVA was accepted back into the music industry and given her due recognition. They cheered and cheered and cheered their lungs out every time Ning was announced the winner that night. Ning cried. I cried. And NingClix cried with us.

When Ning won the top award of Anugerah ERA the same year, the entire arena in Genting exploded in applause. NingClixers everywhere felt what Ning felt in her heart. And I still recall how Ning, teary eyed, announced as she received the trophy that she dedicated the award to all NingClixers.

NingClix may not be a huge fan club and it may not boast members all over the country and beyond but what it lacks in quantity it well makes up for in sheer quality. NingClix is a family. As these pictures will tell.

Miss President doing the honours.

Falsetto session.

The Queen of Falsetto shows how it's done.

Pics by Halimi Saidi and the complete series can be viewed at the pics section of www.myspace.com/rajanorashikin.

DIVA in the making

Lintang pukang.

Hari ini aku malas nak tulis memanjang. Terlalu banyak benda bermain di fikiran. (Kalau grammar BM aku lintang pukang, abaikan. Janji ko paham.) So instead of regaling you with my adventures, aku nak letak gambar gambar menarik yang aku curik dari blog kengkawan aku.

Gambar pertama aku curik dari blog Juan. Gambar adik adik aku mengumpat katanya.

Gambar kedua aku curik dari Ajami. Matilah aku dipanggang hidup hidup oleh orang ini!

Gambar ini aku ambik sendiri malam tadi kat Kampung Baru. Entah, macam kelakar. Kalo aku rempit, pedulik apa aku amaran camtu, kan?

Malam ni Ning ada show kat sebuah hotel terkemuka di Kuala Lumpur. Yeay! Aku boleh add to my collection of large, high quality, fluffy cotton towels.

Oh puh-leeze don't pretend to be shocked or disgusted. You steal hotel stuff too when no one's looking!

Last but not least, aku nak letak gambar mereka yang bertungkus lumus di belakang tabir to ensure that my girls look absolutely fabulous. Aunty Stella (mak Ning), Nikki, Rizman, Ning, Ruzaini, Yanie dan Azmie (PR manager Artistes United Records). Ko ado?

I really have to stop bumping into Gang Starz finalists.

I swear, everywhere I go I just happen to meet them! Two nights in a row is just too much of a coincidence. People are going to start wondering what is going on.

So, what was Infinatez doing and why were we in the same studio? They were auditioning for a spot on a big musical that's due to hit Malaysia. I can't say more than that. It's still confidential.

And you're wondering why was I there too? Doing the job of a manager and lobbying for my artistes. No, not for Infinatez. They're not my artistes. For my girls. But I lobbied for Infinatez too lah, because they suit the part perfectly. See, I can be nice.

Talking about nice, I had a nice lunch today with adik and his dad, YB Dato Ismail Sabri. I really, REALLY wanted to take pics of the heavenly Thai cuisine and share it with you here but segan lah pulak to flip out my camera and go snappy happy. Maklumlah kan.

We chatted about Dafi's career, the fan club and what it's really like to finally enter the REAL music industry. I'm proud that adik is well prepared for the challenges ahead, and I'm confident he will do well.

Later in the evening...

I read this posting and decided that I should share it with you. It's about Yanie, and although someone accused me of being negligent, tak pe. Yang penting, selebriti terkenal akan berjumpa dengan produser tersohor di Jakarta minggu depan. Ko ado? Nan ado katanya! Matilah lari sebelum disula!!!


Much later in the evening...

As I was reading about 'cerita ikan dan kolam' which is very the menarik buatku tertarik very da bomb, and you should really read it if you're an artiste thinking to sign up with a recording company or an artiste management outfit, I received a phone call from the writer himself! Terkejut berok like telepathy! (And my best friends know this happens to me a lot. I think I'm psychic but that's another story.)

Pakcik: Ko tak nak ambik Shawal ke, Vern?

Me: He has a delicious tone but his sumbangness is bukan setakat melintas laut but menjelajah ke gurun Mesir sambil bersiar siar di perkarangan the Nile River tak balik balik and you know that would just kill me off. And I've told him myself.

Pakcik: But tone sedap, lemak dan berkrim, kan?

Me: Undeniably. As I said right from the first concert, Shawal has the best tone of all the boys. Commercial with a capital C. And he has that Korean thing going. But his technique is horrendous, and he himself knows it. Is he taking lessons to correct his technique?

Pakcik: Tak tahu lah.

Me: Nasihatkan adik panjang aku tu belajar dulu. His biggest problem is keeping pitch, and that's the biggest sin in singing. Everything else is more or less fine. But don't take too long to belajar. Every minute wasted is a minute lost, and let's be honest, the sell-by shelve date of an AF artiste is getting shorter and shorter after every season. Aku sedar dia diheret ke hulu ke hilir buat show ini show itu and he's probably enjoying the buzz and has no time to take classes but he needs to realise his popularity won't last forever. If he doesn't prepare now and establish his foundation, he can forget next year. That's the REAL reality of 'reality artistes' in the industry.

Pakcik: Panjang sangat cerita ko. Is that a yes or a no? Ko ambik lah Shawal.

Readers, what do you think?

Suddenly, I feel Indonesian...

Off stage, these two ladies are well known for their big and colourful personalities. And when these two divas get together, habis. One calls the other perempuan gila and the other calls her banci'. (If you still don't know what banci' means, ask an Indonesian. And no, it's not benci and doesn't mean hate.) And they go on and on and on for hours.

And the banter not only happens off stage but also continues on stage. So when Ning and KD did the duet CINTA, you can just about imagine two big voices going at it full throttle.

Ning, who was invited to sing at the Malaysia - Indonesia Investment & Finance Summit held in Jakarta on Monday night, sang for half an hour and KD took over and closed the show with half an hour of her hits. They were backed by the Jakarta Symphony Orchestra. Very the kelas, ok.

Ever wondered how a Michael Ong would look on top of a Jovian Mandagie? Take a look. Kelas habis.

That was Monday night. Tuesday night, we were back in Kuala Lumpur for the Gala Premiere of DIVA at Cineleisure, The Curve. All the cast members from Indonesia came and it was a riot!

That's Jeremy, the hero of the movie, on Ning's right and Sheny, who plays me, on Ning's left. Yes, me. Ning's on-screen manager. Matilah berangan!

Clark 'Ash' Kent also made an appearance and sat in front of me. He has nice hair. Matilah lariii!!!

Now, as the manager of the lead star in the film, it's almost given that I would gush about the movie. And that would be boring for you to read. So go here, here, and here for unbiased reviews.

Today was quiet. I had just one meeting in the afternoon and then I went to meet Joe at Dome, KLCC. Guess who we bumped into?

She wasn't wearing red today.

And then Syazwan and Fendi walked past. Of course, cat-calls and a lot of cackling ensued. We invited them to join us. Turned out it's Syazwan's birthday today, so I offered to treat him to an impromptu birthday dinner at The House of Sundanese. He politely declined but I insisted. OK lah, I threatened. You see, I like feeding people. Especially my friends.

We were joined by Mendua (Diana, Pungki and Shasha) whom I had also invited for dinner at the spur of the moment as Shasha had called and said that she was in KLCC. So I told them that Indonesian cuisine was waiting for them upstairs. They flew over!

Was the food good? No. It was EXCELLENT.

After dinner, we met up with The Lima and Pianka who were shopping downstairs. I felt bad I didn't invite them for dinner. Nevermind, I'll take them out when I'm in Jakarta next week. Yes, Ning and I are off to Jakarta AGAIN on Monday for the Indonesian Gala Premiere of DIVA.

Whilst driving...

Me: Pak Erwin! How are you?

Pak Erwin: I'm good! I'm good! Are you in Jakarta?

Me: No, next week. Monday onwards. For a few days. Would you be free to have dinner with Ning and I?

Pak Erwin: Of course!

Indonesia's top music director, arranger and producer, Erwin Gutawa, is a really very friendly person and I want to feed him too.

Dafi signs up with KRU Music Group today

Congratulations and good luck adik! You will always have my support. I believed in you right from the beginning and I will continue to believe in you for as long as you work hard, stay focussed, remain humble and prove your detractors wrong. Do your best to be the best!

Decisions, decisions.

Berat jugak the trophy. So boys, when are we going to eat nasi padang? You're all millionaires now in Indonesia. By the way, sape ada perasan bulu Taura EXACTLY the same as bulu Ning? Jeng jeng jeng! (Hmmm...somehow that sounded quite obscene.)

On my right, Erwin Gutawa, Indonesia's top music director. On my left, Maple Loo, Malaysia's top choreographer. Me? Malaysia's top penyampuk and penyebuk.

Maple: You saje wanna put your hand on my shoulder to show off your sakit hati sleeve, lah?

Me: Honey, nevermind the sleeve. Check out the ring!

All pics above taken by my friend Minaq Jinggo.

And the pics below were all taken by me on my lousy phone camera because I forgot to bring my camera. It was a star-studded evening hosted by TV3 and Rafflesia last Friday at Le Meridien to introduce their finalists for Persona Nona and the food was simply exquisite. Ning and I sat right in front of Dato Farid, CEO of TV3 and Media Prima. So I segan a bit la to take pics of the glorious gastronomic delights that were served. But I did manage to take these pics.

Ning and Jovian showing off her purse inscribed with her name.

And if you flip the purse, you find the designer's initials, as demonstrated by Fahrin. Now look carefully at the picture. Who do you see far in the background?

I love Sazzy because she always gives me a terrific pose every time I photograph her!

Clark Kent, Ferhad and Lelaki Melayu Terakhir. Matilah lariiii!

Soul sisters. Often misunderstood but hey, really talented people often are.

Yes, last week was a week of tv appearances, events and dinners. All part of the glamorous lifestyle I have come to accept as normal routine, business as usual. And this week will be no different. Starting tomorrow night, I will have no respite but just plenty of engagements. So when Joe called at 7pm to ask me out to dinner followed by a lepak session with other friends, I agreed.

I had a simple dish of linguini pasta with chilli and prawns.

Joe had the sinfully scrumptious garlic bread...

And a large pizza. So large it didn't fit into my camera frame. Matilah carut!

After dinner we went to lepak with Anita on the set of Apa Kata Hati, a new movie by Tayangan Unggul directed by Saw Teong Hin, with Awal as one of the leading cast members.

That's Osman Ali who also decided to come join us for a very long session of lepak. Teong Hin was famished and helped himself to the catered food. Mee Goreng.

Just after midnight, I decided to leave. Need my beauty sleep. Tomorrow is Ning's big day. The press screening of DIVA in the morning followed by the glittering Gala Premiere in the evening. What shall I wear? Decisions, decisions.

Do you know what it feels like to win USD$100,000?

Sape tak datang rugi. Memang Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam, gempak, walaupun macam macam bau masam ada.



Hakim hakim pun gempak siot! Siap ada sorang hakim iteww memperagakan baju overdose liplap liplap meletop outshine peserta dan artis. Thank you Jovian Mandagie for making people hate me more! (Yes, aku memang berangan. Suka hati aku lah. Duit aku. Ko ado?)



Drama! Korang perasan tak, sikit lagi berlaku drama atas pentas. Topi vavavoom vast melets berbulu ayam hutan sorang iteww hampir nak jatuh! Kan mak dah cakap, berat sangat. Tapi nak jugak!



Takpe. Janji baju Rizman Ruzaini meletop letop sampai sakit hati bernana nana pondan pondan berangan! Thank you Man (Dolce) and Wan (Gabbana)! Sape perasan masa rolling credits kat penghujung show ada kata baju Ning, Nikki dan Yanie oleh Rizalman? Rizalman? Typo ke sabo? Kepala hotak mak bapak nenek datok diaorang! It was Rizman & Ruzaini lah! The Dolce & Gabbana of Malaysia. Takpe nyah, karang kita buat cover story pakai baju korang. Publisiti meluas.



Satu lagi korang perasan tak? Masa tiga tiga anak ayam mak menyanyi muka diaorang semua berangan kekwat diva divaness macam show malam iteww diaorang punya konsert. Berangan kan? Habis tuuuuu! Memang pun grand nak mampos tiga ekor anak ayam mak. Ko ado?



Joe mak ayam besar (and I mean that in a literal sense, as in 'LARGE') was instrumental in coming up with the concept. He also went shopping for the props. Yes, a hat THAT big is no more an accessory. It's a prop. Ko ado?



Walaupun ada kala ke laut, melintas Selat Melaka singgah kat Bali makan angin, make-up dan show tetap melets. Sembah ratu!



Encore!



Niat suci dan bersih, rezeki datang bergolek golek.



Sekarang korang dah kaya, belanja aku. Cepat! Nasi Padang kat Hayam Wuruk tu. Cepat!

Marilah kita berspekulasi...

Tarikh: Sulit



Tempat: Sulit



Acara: Sulit

Jawapan betul dapat hadiah. Hadiah apa? Sulit.

It's a tough life being famous, I tell you.

Guess who these three musketeers are?

Adik, aDek, and Adik Panjang.

Yup. My two kid bros and new little sis. I brought them bersiar siar (walkabout) at a night market. Why not? These kids are cool and night markets, surprisingly, stock cool stuff.

Ajami: Ko sanggup mencemar duli kat celah ni, nok?

Me: Why not? Just because I shop in London, Milan, New York and Paris and buy cinema halls doesn't mean I don't buy cool cheap rubber slippers.

Ajami: Sembah ratu, nok! Mak sembah ratu!

It was a busy day. Ning, Nikki and Yanie had studio rehearsals for their Gang Starz performance this coming Sunday. Rehearsals were followed by a tv appearance for Ning on Astro's Wayang Kita to promote her latest film, DIVA. I also met up with a film producer and director to explore the possibility of another film, and then I went to a quick meeting with Adik's fan club who are organising their first ever event this Saturday.

By 11pm Adik, aDek and I met up with Adik Panjang who was with his fan club at the Restoran Kampung Pandan along Jln Yap Kwan Seng. Very glamorous. Well, err...we made it glamorous.

After about an hour, Joe called and we arranged to meet at the night market. So we all got into our cars and Juan led the way.

We had fun browsing through the many stalls and it was even more amusing watching the shocked and stunned faces of the stall-keepers and shoppers.

Of course, the kids were recognised immediately and as expected, had to pose for pictures. It's a tough life being famous, I tell you.

In the end, the kids didn't buy anything. I, on the other hand, bought a pair of cool cheap rubber slippers for RM10. I didn't bother to bargain.

It was already into the wee hours of the morning and I was absolutely famished as I hadn't eaten all day. So we found a nearby stall and I ordered telur dada (Omelette, and is that how you spell it?), kailan ikan masin (Kailan Vegetable with Salted Fish) and ayam goreng kunyit (Crispy Fried Chicken with Turmeric). Adik tucked into the Chicken, so I ordered another plate.

Adik Panjang: Abang, Shawal nak gi tengok Gang Starz Final lah. Macam best je. Ada tiket tak?

Me: Berapa adik nak?

Adik Panjang: Bagi dua je kot. Dafi ngan I. Dafi, ko nak ikut tak? Ikut lah. Jom!

Adik: Boleh gak. Ada Agnes Monica!

Me: Dekna?

aDek: Dekna balik Penang. Tak sempat nak pi Gang Starz.

I'm now uploading this post and killing time because in two hours, I have to be at Sri Pentas for an appearance on TV3's breakfast show, MHI. It's a tough life being famous, I tell you.

Kelas, tak?

Once in a while, I like to indulge in a bit of extravagance. Excessive, perhaps, but I think we all should pamper ourselves. Once in a while.

After a long and drawn out day of meetings, brain twisting and a very stressful but fruitful business dinner, I decided I felt like watching a movie. Any movie. Especially a movie where the need to use one's brain would be extremely minimal. You know the feeling, kan?

And since I was only a hundred yards away from a cinema, I thought, "why not?" So happened Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer was premiering tonight at midnight. And plenty of eye-candy on screen.

But then a horrid shuddering came upon me. I suddenly remembered why I rarely go watch movies. Noisy ah bengs and their ah liens. Rempits and their minahs making their own movies when the lights go out and the hall gets dark. Smelly couples. Fat people squeezing through the narrow space in front of you to get to their seats. Rude parents who insist on bringing their little brats who end up crying or yelling or both and killer instincts well up in your bowels.

But I really, really needed to unwind. I would have bought a seat at the Gold Class except it was already fully booked and sold out.

Me: Which hall is Fantastic Four playing in?

Ticket Counter Girl: Halls 10 to 17.

Me: OK. Hall 17 please. I would like to buy the entire hall.

TGC: Sorry?

Me: I would like to buy the entire hall please. You know, give me all the seats. All. How much?

TCG: Please don't joke.

Me: I never joke about money. Especially when it's my money. The entire hall please.

TGC: Are you serious?

Me: Why would I want to waste your time or my time? Now, can I buy Hall 17 please?

TGC: Wait. I call the manager.

After 10 minutes of slowly and carefully explaining my intentions, I got the entire hall. All to myself. No crying babies. No fat people. No smelly and noisy couples. Just me and the silver screen. And fresh air.

I bumped into Joe and Red Mummy whilst waiting for the movie to start. Of course, I invited them to join me, although technically one is rather large and the other perhaps a bit smelly after her bowling and therefore were on the list of people I wanted to avoid but hey, they're friends, so I didn't quite mind being generous. Plus, we had the entire hall to ourselves, so they could sit wherever they like.

Joe took up the offer. But Red Mummy went home. I should do this more often.

A very irreverently JAHAT and BERANI MATI posting. Berbuih buih some more.

Yes, that's Yasmin with Nani, bald and shaven. Joe was at the shoot and took the above pic. I wasn't so I won't pretend I was. Go to Joe's blog and read all about it there.

Anyway...I received this sms from Jovian a few minutes ago.

God, your Gang Starz FINAL jacket sangat meletop! I think u gonna outshine everyone!

And I replied.

That's the plan. And if the press or anyone says I'm gila glamour, I'll reply, "right on, bitch!"

Yes, I am jahat (for the benefit of my non-malay readers, jahat means 'bad', but read it in the context as Michael Jackson would mean it). And I hope the suit that Jovian is designing for me to wear at this Sunday's Gang Starz Final will be just as jahat. So what if people think I'm gila glamour (again, for the benefit of those who don't understand malay, gila glamour indicates a behaviour exhibited by crazed individuals desperately and unjustifiably seeking peer approval) ? Besides Saint Mother Teresa and Gandhi, and that's disputable, who isn't gila glamour? At least I have the balls to admit it.

Jovian Mandagie has designed more than 15 outfits for me. In fact, every suit you have seen me in on Gang Starz was designed by him. And I love everyone of them. I adore his designs because Jovian works with what he has (and as you know, I don't exactly have male model proportions) and comes up with amazing designs that reflect my personality. Not just what he wants to do (as most berangan designers who syiok sendiri would do), but what he thinks would work for the client, yet remain true to his vocation as a designer. Now that's a designer. Go to him. He's not cheap, but hey, you really should own a Jovian Mandagie. (Jovian, for that advertorial, I expect a discount on my next outfit, or more Swarovski.)

(Berangan means behaving like old, overweight, jaded and campy talk-show hosts who think extremely highly of themselves and despite their obvious prancing around like drag queens make silly announcements of wanting to get married, and syiok sendiri means indulging in preposterous amounts of masturbation.)

Ning is in Brunei as I write this post. Performing for the Royal Family there. I didn't go. I sent my staff instead. I'm currently in recovery from the 'too-much-flying-around syndrome'. I'm off to Jakarta next week, AGAIN, and only because the food is heavenly along Hayam Wuruk and KD expects me to be present and one does not deny a goddess her commands, so please try to put yourself in my shoes. Planes and airports are exciting when you're 5 years old, but not when you're practically living out of your suitcase and your puppies at home start barking at you because they think you're an intruder. Plus, who wants to drive for millions of hours to the airport and back and often times at unearthly hours of the morning three times a week? You know you really should stop flying when the Immigration Officers know you by name without looking at your passport. (Then again, I don't suppose they watch Gang Starz?)

Please, puke, if you must. But honestly, I am loving every minute of my 'fame' with what little airtime I get every Sunday for the past few months. I used to get stopped by Customs and asked to open my luggage. Now, they wave me through and shout out, "lima bintang!" Only last week, I didn't have to queue to make my new Identity Card which I had carelessly misplaced. I got dagger stares from the hundreds waiting in line but I wasn't complaining when the makcik (aunty) in a pretty tudung (head scarf) beckoned me over to her counter to process my application. All she cared about was if the Gang Starz Indonesian groups were really using black magic to win. So I regaled her with made-up stories just to get my application done within the hour. Makcik and her camera wielding colleagues got their hour with a minor celeb (matilah aku kena carut lepas ni) and I got my IC done in an hour. I'd say that's a fair exchange. One thing I still can't figure out, though: why would Government Servants have cameras tucked away in their drawers/handbags in the first place?

Come on, everyone secretly loves to be famous. As long as I don't abuse what little recognition I get and as long as I don't shove it down my friends' throats (except for the occasional gloating when necessary), I think it's fun and amusing. There is nothing worse than a berangan perasan over-rated divo wannabe. Whoopss...did I just describe myself?

No, I'm not a preening peacock. Far from it. I like to think of myself as a shy and self-effacing person. In fact, I really am shy and self-effacing. Though my friends may disagree. The picture of the peacock on the left owes its presence to the conversation I had with a friend earlier today who suggested that we go for a peacock theme for the outfits that one of my girls will be wearing at a certain show not too long away. I am in a quandary. I am still trying to figure out and visualise how peacock feathers will be attached to her dress without making her look too Deepavali. No offence to my Hindu readers (you know what I'm trying to describe), and certainly none meant to my friend, but it really is figuring quite heavily on my mind. How do you make peacock feathers look fetching without being burlesque/theatrical/comical? I am so gonna get butchered now.

I blame my loose tongue tonight on the intoxicating effect of the far too many shots I downed at Michael Ong's launch. He forced fed me shots of Jack Daniel's, cheap tequila, Bailey's and some cherry tasting liquid. And we're talking plenty of shots. Followed by bottles of delicious red wine. Jahat. No surprises why I'm just gushing away like there's no tomorrow.

Ong launched his new club called Say Yes. (Why name a club Say Yes? Let's not even go there. Figuratively speaking.) It's on Jalan Padang, just behind Overseas Restaurant on Jalan Imbi. The place is a cross between a cafe, a club, a pub and a feng tau joint. Very Bangkok. I can't say it's totally plush because the blank CDs pretending to be chic decor tiling the walls were falling off in the toilet. But I love the chandeliers. Michael made them himself. From the looks of the entertainment provided, you can just about guess the clientele he's pandering to. Lots of bumping and grinding and gyrating on stage by the beautiful muscle boys. No peacock feathers. I recognised Ikuyo and Justin by their very jahat six packs, and both gorgeous boys came up to me after show-time to say hi. Of course they remembered me, I paid them well when they used to dance backing for Ning. I've been around too long.

I had better shut up and go to sleep before I make a complete idiot of myself. Or maybe watch porn and get it over and done with. Here's another phrase for my non-malay readers: berani mati. Use it to mean 'I can't be bothered'.

Post-script.

1,801 readers came to my blog yesterday but of that only 16 added me as friends at MYSPACE. How sad is that?

This is my MYSPACE address...

www.myspace.com/vernonkedit

Find me and let's be friends!

Anugerah Planet Muzik in Singapore - Part 3

CORAT CORET BACKSTAGE.

Me: Hi Dato. Hi Datuk.

Dato: Hello Vernon.

Datuk: Hi Vernon. Kak Ning sihat?

Me: Sihat, alhamdulilah.

Me: One hair stylist and two make-up artists working on you. You better look a million dollars.

Yanie: Janganlah pressure aku, Tuan Pengurus.

Jac: New hairstyle ar?

Yanie: Ya. You like?

Me: New hairstyle ar?

Yanie: Bodoh!

KD: Sekali lagi, ulang sekali lagi korusnya! Waduh, gua gementar!

Yanie: Mbak, usah gementar! Mbak Goddess. Salah pun tak pe. Dah nasib baik mbak sudi nyanyi lagu gua.

Yanie: Ko nervous tak?

Diddy: Nervous giler!

Me: Cepat, pose. Nak letak kat website Dafi. Dua penasihat Dafi FC berposing sakan. Show dah nak start. Cepat.

Nana: Ko giteww lah, kan?

Lyn: Is my lipstick too red?

Me: No, your foundation is too light.

Me: Ko buat apa kat sini?

Cheryl: Menyebuk. Ko?

Me: Aku kan Raja Menyebuk.

BERMULANYA ANUGERAH PLANET MUZIK 2007. SEDUTAN GAMBAR GAMBAR MENARIK MASA SHOW.

Taufik and Syed Azmir (Sasa) performed a meshed-up arrangement of their songs. Brilliant.


Taufik and Syed Azmir (Sasa) helping Irwansyah sing in tune.

"Dafi nyanyi 100 kali lebih sedap." Sms dari orang ini.

Jac stole the show with a glorious dress and excellent control of vocals.


Estrange did us proud. Rich sang very well.


Zainal Abidin received the Anugerah Cinta and Hady Mirza (2nd season Singapore Idol) paid him tribute by singing Hijau.

"Aku nak album Hady jugak! Pasti lazat dan berkrim," katanya.

The Goddess, holding mic in one hand, trophy in the other and the entire stadium worshipped her gorgeous dress and heavenly voice.


Sorang ke laut, sempat singgah kat New Zealand dan balik, siap bawak biri biri. Sorang lagi shoot ke angkasa lepas. Best.


Datuk Siti, Gita Gutawa (13 year old daughter of Indonesian music director Erwin Gutawa) and Taufiq paid tribute to the nominees of Best Song.


Yanie and Diddy featuring The Goddess and Hady Mirza. Finale, beb! Satu penghormatan buat Yanie dan Diddy, ok!


At the Post-Party...

Sazzy Falak


Kudsia, Marlia and Datuk Tom.



More candid pics here and here.

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Lagu Paling Popular
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Transkripsi Siti Nurhaliza

Anugerah Cinta APM 2007: Zainal Abidin

Anugerah Khas: Kris Dayanti

Anugerah Planet Muzik in Singapore - Part 2

No, we didn’t fly to London. That’s Harrods in Takashimaya. Yes, we’re into Day 2 in Singapore and what better way to start the day than with shopping.

Yanie wanted shoes, skirts, accessories and all things girlie. So Orchard Road it was. Accompanied and led by our very own personal tour guide Sopi who kindly took 3 days off just to spend time with us (THANK YOU SOPI), we started at Ngee Ann City, meandered our way through Wisma Atria and ended up at Heeren. Any Singaporean would know that’s a good slow walk. And Yanie was in the mood to pose for my camera.

Then it was lunch time. “Stop feeding me! I’m supposed to be thin, remember!”

After lunch, we returned to the hotel just in time to deposit our shopping bags in our rooms and then scramble onto the coach that was waiting to take us to the stadium.

At the stadium, we had segmented rehearsals. This meant we didn’t have to wait around for too long. Up first was Irwan Shah and his girlfriend Acha, singing a medley of their hits from the soundtrack to their movie, Heart. Now everyone knows that both kids are not singers but gorgeous and lovely and sweet actors trying their best to sing. So we forgave them. How did they do?

Sorang ke laut, sempat singgah kat New Zealand dan balik, siap bawak biri biri. Sorang lagi shoot ke angkasa lepas. Best.

Then the DIVA arrived. A hush fell over the hall and we all looked and followed her every move with awe and excitement.

“Diddy and Yanie up next!” yelled the producer.

The song began and the DIVA made her way to the side of the stage. Diddy and Yanie looked nervous but I gave them a re-assuring smile and mouthed the words, “Do or die.” You can’t get a more caring manager than me.

"Hmmm. Banget. Bisa menyanyi."

"Tuan Produser, STOP. She is overshadowing me."

Walaupun lirik terabur dan melodi ke utara dan selatan, nevermind. It’s Kris Dayanti. The DIVA. I am honoured that she’s singing Yanie’s song, even if what she’s singing doesn’t sound remotely like the song at all. Heck, she can sing whatever she likes. It's her prerogative. She’s the DIVA!

KD: VerNON, mana dia? Mana dia?

Me: Dia di Kuala Lumpur. I'm sorry. She’s got a show tomorrow night in Penang.

KD: Banci! Dan yang ini satu lagi siapa?

Me: Anak didik dia. Yanie.

KD: Sungguh manis ya. You have a lovely and big voice, Yanie. Kamu tulis lagu itu?

Yanie: No, no! Audi Mok dan Nur Fatima. Kak KD, saya suka lagu baru Kak KD.

KD: Anang, sila hadiahkan Yanie sekeping album. Now. Let me sign it first. (30 seconds later...) VerNON, ini buat kamu dan ini buat dia. Nanti kita jumpa di Jakarta next week for the other show, right?

Me: Yes. You’re fine with the duets we chose for the big show next week?

KD: Kita goreng saja. Kalian harus call me when you check in at the hotel ok. Then supirnya akan pick you guys up for dinner at the same place. Bilang sama dia ok.

Me: You’re too generous, darling.

KD: No, I’m just crazy like you both! Banci!

After rehearsals, we hung out the back waiting for the coach to pick us up. It’s always heartening to see famous faces just chilling by the stage door like normal people waiting for the bus. There’s hope for mankind yet.

Irwan and Acha hadn’t eaten, so we offered to take them to Nasi Padang River Valley. Makan lagi.

During the meal, the girls bonded.

Yanie: I need to get a pair of stockings. And socks, maybe.

Acha: Shopping?

Yanie: Ya.

Acha: Ayuh.

Three hours and several more shopping bags later, we found ourselves back at the stadium for the full dress rehearsal. More famous faces arrived, and the show began. I particularly enjoyed this segment featuring Taufik, Geeta Gutawan (Erwin’s daughter, and she can whistle!) and Datuk Siti.

Yesterday I mentioned that SALING TERPESONA was a special feature. Actually, I got it wrong. Or rather, I was misinformed. The duet is the FINALE! What an honour! So, we had to sit through the entire show before it was Diddy and Yanie’s turn to close the night with Hady and KD.

Diva tetap Diva. Lirik lagi belum dihafal. Nevermind. She can sing anything she wants for all I care. It’s the DIVA! You don’t complain when a DIVA acquiesces to sing your song. Period.

Meanwhile, I was the social butterfly. I love awards shows. It’s one of the few times when industry insiders, artistes and the people who matter are actually gathered in one place with nothing better to do than talk shop. And talked shop I did, gathering juicy insider information and gossip as I went along. Soseh-Soseh, if only you knew what I know. Bliss.

Jac, Tom Saufi and me.

If you think we had eaten enough, you’re wrong. After rehearsals we went to Newton Circus for supper. I was disgusted. The food was bland, touristy and over-priced and the place has lost its charm ever since the refurbishment. I am never, ever coming back here again.

And if you think Yanie has done enough shopping, you’re so wrong. We went to Mustafa, the 24 hour department store at Arab Street. At 1am in the morning.

This trip has made me realise one very important fact: Yanie, Ning and I have one thing in common. We are serious about our shopping. Good.

But on a serious note, I am really, really proud and happy for Yanie. How many singers in Malaysia can claim to have sung a duet with Kris Dayanti? Not many. But Yanie can. How many singers can claim to have had Kris Dayanti sing their songs? Probably none. But Yanie can too.

It’s now 4am and I’m still paying far too much money for internet connection. Nevermind. I hope to win the Blogger Paling Gigih Award next year. Yang penting, Hady autographed a copy of his album for me and that made my day. Yeay!

ANUGERAH PLANET MUZIK, tonight, Friday 8th June, live on Astro RIA (channel 4) at 9pm.

Note: Some of the dialogues are REAL whilst others are more or less FICTIONAL. Go figure.

Anugerah Planet Muzik in Singapore - Part 1

Me: Are you excited, Yanie?

Yanie: I still can’t believe it!

Me: Believe it, honey. And I promise you this will not be your first and last visit to Singapore. There will be many, many more to come.

The flight to Singapore from KL took 55 minutes but it felt much shorter. Yanie will be performing at the Anugerah Planet Muzik (APM), the annual awards show showcasing and celebrating the best musical talents from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, this Friday (Channel 4 Ria, Astro).

Watched by millions in three different countries, APM is the region’s most prestigious awards show. I’d say that’s a very big deal for a girl who is only just stepping out into the music industry. Yanie and Diddy’s duet SALING TERPESONA has been chosen as a special feature for the show, and what a feature it will be. The duet will become a quartet as two big names join them midway through the song. But more about that later.

Our first stop was, of course, lunch. Nasi Padang River Valley no less. Badrul, Shonny and Diddy joined us.

Badrul decided that we should have ‘centre portion’. “What’s ‘centre portion’?” I asked him. “Hidang lah!” he barked back at me. And so we had a very lavish spread of ‘centre portion’.

After lunch, we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon doing what everyone who comes to Singapore does: shopping. And Yanie was in heaven! Far East Plaza, to be precise.

Yanie: So many things! So many pretty, beautiful, precious things!

Me: I know, sweetie. And so little time. I have the same problem, hons.

After several hours and far too many shopping bags, it was time to head back to the hotel to freshen up and make our way to Kallang Indoor Stadium for sound check. As with all rehearsals anywhere in the world, downtime is common. You just sit around and goof about and wait your turn. And Syed Azmir, Yanie and Diddy had plenty of downtime whilst Taufiq and Hady (the two gorgeous Singapore Idols) sang their hearts out on stage.

Then it was Diddy and Yanie’s turn, and midway through the song, they were joined by Hady who took over Diddy’s part in the 2nd verse. He has a deliciously yummy tone. I totally fell in love with his voice the moment he opened his mouth. I have resolved to buy his album. What a voice!

The Diva who is supposed to sing Yanie’s part in the 2nd verse is still in Jakarta. She only arrives tomorrow. Who? Come back here and read my next posting to find out.

After the collaboration, Yanie only too happily posed with Hady Mirza, the 2nd season winner of Singapore Idol. I must say, Yanie is doing pretty well. She’s not showing any signs of nervousness or the jitters. She’s just probably very excited and the enormity of the entire event has yet to sink in. Good for her. She needs to just let go and enjoy her moment in the limelight.

Here's the youtube of his 'legendary' performance of Sheila Majid's LAGENDA, just in case you've never heard of him.

By midnight, we were all sung out and ready for a big supper. Sopi, the President of NingClix Singapore, and his best friend Tom met us at the lobby of the hotel and took us to Lau Pa Sat, the late night al fresco eatery down the road. And we feasted on mixed satay, grilled prawns, fried rice, and fried noodles.

Notice anything strange about the meal? The first reader to tell me the correct answer gets a surprise gift from Singapore (no, NOT a Merlion keychain or fridge magnet, I promise).

What a day it has been. Food, shopping, music, hunks with angelic voices, what more could I ask for? Free internet connection, perhaps?

No such luck. I am now in my hotel room uploading this posting and cursing at how I am being extorted of a lot of cash to just have internet connection in my room. $5 for 15 minutes! Welcome to Singapore.

The Datin and the Director - Spoilers Part 2

Big hair


Red lipstick


"Dato... Dato suka tak rambut palsu Datin?"


"Oh look! Isn't that Vernon hiding behind the bushes??"


"Might as well make good use of the sprawling verandahs!"


MUALLAF

The Datin and the Director

On location for the filming of MUALLAF

Ning: Where are we staying at in Ipoh again?

Me: The Majestic Hotel.

Ning: Where???

Me: The Majestic Hotel. The annex to the Ipoh Railway Station I think.

Ning: Where that?

Me: Lucas says it's the place where you go to rent a room for one hour.

Ning: THAT type of hotel?

Me: Yasmin says it offers 'sprawling verandahs'. Anything 'sprawling' is good. Anyway, you never question Yasmin Ahmad. People kill to be in her films. Period.

Ning: The things I do for art.

And in other news, Infinatez made it into the final for Gang Starz.

copyright mSTAR Online

Worth blogging?

For some inexplicable reason, I have just not been inspired to write lately. Even now, I sit staring at the monitor screen of my laptop with no words at my command.

It's not like my life has been boring for the past week. Hardly. I've been to parties and dinners and lunches and meetings and fittings and rehearsals and more meetings and honestly, what I did in this past week alone would probably fill up another person's social calendar for a year.

Take for instance the lunch I had on Thursday at Marmalade, Bangsar Village 2. Just another lunch. Food. Worth blogging? OK, maybe to me it's just another lunch with my girls, but voyeurs like yourselves probably find it fascinating. Who would want to know how the avocado salad that Nikki had tasted like?

Or the mixed fruit and vege salad that Ning is totally in love with?

Or would you care if the beef lasagne dripping with cheese that Yanie and Ning shared was scrumptuous?

Surely the lamb shank swimming in a sea of tangy gravy with paprika rice that was served in front of me wouldn't interest you in the slightest?

I don't know.

Gentle reader, do you really, really want to know every aspect of the life of a manager? I find it all pretty mundane after a while. Clockwork. A routine that pulsates through my blood. Don't get me wrong. I love my job. I love my life. I even got a new TV this week, with attached speakers that only deaf people would need. I refuse to think I am jaded. That's so last season.

I think I just need a good and long holiday. Or a new piece of jewellery. I also probably need to expand my sphere of friends. People I can just call up for a chat and banter when I'm stuck in the jam. For instance, these two lads.

Dafi: We've never taken a photo together. You hate me.

Me: No, I don't hate you. Let's take a photo now.

Shawal: Abang Vernon, kirim salam kat Kak Ning, Nikki dan Yanie, OK?

Me: OK.

So much happened last week and I really want to blog about all those colourful and frivolous moments and then link the blogger friends who were there. It's only polite, and I like to think that I am a courteous gentleman. But my brain's too fuzzy at the moment to script out the complex html codes for all those links. Yes, it's my prerogative to be lazy once in a while. Maybe tomorrow. But I better add the links for Joe and SM and my friend who is blackmailing me for a DIOR bag, or I'll never hear the end of it. There, now I don't feel so guilty anymore.

Oh dear, am I meandering? Before this post goes completely down the drain, I think I should stop.

But here's a youtube I simply must share with you. It was Jovian's surprise birthday party last Friday (I was the decoy) and one of the guests was Faizal, a huge fan of Ning. Poor Faizal is afflicted with the malady commonly known as latah (go google echolalia and echopraxia). And we took full advantage of it.

Me: You sure you're not related to Azwan Ali?

Faizal: Sumpah lilah I'm not!

Faizal, now you're famous. By the end of the day, at least 2,000 people would have seen your antics. Me bad. Blame Jovian. He said it's ok to post the vid. Matilah lariii! (Yes, it's hard to actually visualise 2,000 people all over the world coming to this blog, but that's what the stats counter records on a daily average.)

This post is definitely slipping into the abyss of the "bloggers' blackhole". I really should end now. I think I will leave you with some pretty pictures as atonement.

Notice the top that Ning is wearing in these stills from the film DIVA (shot a year ago), out on 28th June.

Check this out.

Yes, that's Dekna at the Final of AF a month ago. Siapa nak jawab?

Have a great week ahead, gentle reader. I shall endeavour to find inspiration to write again. And knowing me, when it rains, it pours.

Post-script.

Pssst...here's some gossip. Agnes Monica will be singing at the Gang Starz Final on 17th June (free tickets available at TV3's guard house at Sri Pentas). So will Ning, Nikki and Yanie. And guess who's designing their outfits for the new-look DRAMA? Makan hati, nyehhh!

Happy Gawai Dayak dan Tadau Kaamatan!

Saribas couple photographed by Charles Hose, circa 1900

To all my Iban, Bidayuh, and Orang Ulu readers and friends: a very happy, merry, loud and noisy Gawai Dayak!

And to my Kadazandusun readers and friends, I wish you a noisy Tadau Kaamatan too!