Gay? I am Not

Dear Friends,

"Amboi, Amboi, Amboi"!!

This is the 'trademarked' salutations TV personality Azwan Ali repeatedly recites. In the newspapers today, he denied being a homosexual.

It sprung up following postings putatively about his gay tendencies he made on his blog. http://silaserazwanali.blogspot.com/

Quote, "Only GOD and my mother knows my sexuality, it is not for me to answer if I am gay or not", unquote. His feeblemindedness for not explicating to the speculation has created even thicker speculations.

Homosexuality is a sexual inclination or tendencies directed towards a person of one's own sex. The prevalence of homosexuality among humans is difficult to determine accurately; studies suggest between two and twenty percent of the population exhibit some degree of homosexual tendency, though in many earlier cultures homosexual relations were highly prevalent. Many homosexuals hide their feelings and activities out of fear of disapproval or violence; they are commonly said to be closeted.

In many cultures, homosexuals are frequently subject to prejudice and discrimination. Closer to home - in Thailand; Kathoey, or "ladyboys," have been a feature of Thai society for many centuries. While Kathoey may encompass simple effeminacy or transvestism, it is most commonly treated in Thai culture as a third gender. They are generally accepted by society, and Thailand has never had legal prohibitions against homosexuality or behavior. There also exists a widely-believed stereotype, even perpetuated within gay culture, that gay men can be identified by a certain accent or way of walking, both of which are perceived as less masculine.

So, Azwan Ali, stop personifying yourself as 'Mak Hayam Gebuss' or 'Azwana Alia'. Personal or imaginary characterizing, you have created an avenue for your own character bashing. You are known in the industry as 'laser mouth' and it is difficult for perpetrators to differentiate what is true and what is over the top.

Can the public accept homosexuality if they are convinced that it is inborn and immutable?

As for me, I think I am 'lesbian' because I still feel for the opposite sex.

Trek Me Down

Dear Friends,

It rained this morning and I thought to myself, the treks are going to be slippery. A group - my hotel mates and I, in a five car convoy made our way to Gasing Hill for jungle trekking. In the spirit of camaraderie, we came in all sizes. Tall, short, fit, unfit, with and without love handles; we came all.

Most city-bred dwellers know this Hill as having phenomenal surroundings for burning calories, toning up and promoting cardiovascular benefits. But uncharted to many too, the potpourri of terrains in the Hill offers much more than merely routine exercise. I am talking about real 'hardcore' trails in the forest. Unless, you are merely seeking for inner 'Qi Gung' potency, practiced by a platoon at a field across the entrance to the Hill. Gasing Hill has been gazetted as a forest reserve for over 44 years spanning more than 36-hectares. This secondary jungle, which was once a rubber plantation has more than 32 species of plants ranging from tropical timber to wild flowers and ferns.

There are variations between brisk walking exercises and jungle trekking for real cardiovascular workouts. Walking needs no concentration unlike jungle trekking. The concept of walking on uneven terrains requires diligence, discernment and ability to negotiate. This constitutes to mental strain on the mind and body to perform well and not getting hurt. When it comes to jungle trekking, the accomplishment needed increases, brought about by the terrain. Out of all the terrains we attempted today, the most challenging I would say will be the 'Stairway to Heaven' which was very steep. This is a climb up a continuous 45 degrees slope and will draw all your imagination, durability and to some even self esteem. At this stage, I was particularly proud of Adele Ang who performed beyond her calibre, even if she was the last to arrive.

During jungle trekking, a pair of specialized hiking boots could help along the way. Nature can be unforgivable at times, so when technology prevails, go for it. Hiking boots are specialized pieces of equipment that allows traversing the most daunting of landscapes. Because of its thick soles and increased ankle support, it absorbs the impact of jumping down terrains or stepping unevenly on stones. It will also prevent sand and thorns from getting into the boots, while also being waterproof for times when crossing swamps or streams. The sole of the boots reflect threads of a car tyre to ensure every probable grip. I use a pair of 'Hi-Tec' hiking boots and it has proven its' worth for many years. http://www.hi-tec.com/

On the average, I burn about 2300 calories after a two and a half hours jungle trekking session. This is complemented with a burn of at least 45% fats. I gather these readings from the heart rate monitor which I wear while jungle trekking. This monitor checks and guides me to a suitable intensity while jungle trekking. For maximum fat burn, I keep my intensity at an average 80% of my maximum heart rate per minute which is also classified as aerobic. At times, it does escalate to over 90% of my maximum heart rate per minute which enters the anaerobic zone. This is when the heart is pushed to its' maximum for strength and heavy panting could be experienced. This level should only be attained at times and not practiced often as it could be strenuous and detrimental. I normally experience this when I trek on the 'Stairway to Heaven' - 45 degrees continuous slope. For reliable and effective heart rate monitors, I recommend http://www.polar.fi/

Good jungle trekking tips are needed to ensure a soothing and successful hike. Amongst them are to use good judgement on personal fitness levels required for a particular trek and know personal physical limits. Take plenty of water and pack easy to eat snacks to keep energy levels high. Cover legs with long trousers to ward off mosquitoes and to provide protection against thorny plants. Choose sturdy footwear with proper ankle support and good traction.

In the jungle trekking activity today, I realised that the common goal my team has is to succeed. But, I also recognize that each individual has different competency levels, in terms of physical fitness and mental strength. As long as the need to excel be actualized with much determination, we will go far.

Remember this; when jungle trekking, we only take memories and photographs from the treks out with us and the only thing we leave behind are our footprints.

King of POP-ping Pills

Dear Friends,

The initial post-mortem of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

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8st 1oz, no food just pills in his stomach, bald, bruised, his ribs broken by CPR, 4 needle wounds near his heart ... THE horrifying state of pop superstar Michael Jackson in his final days can be revealed by The Sun today. Harrowing leaked autopsy details show the singer was a virtual skeleton — barely eating and with only pills in his stomach at the time he died. His hips, thighs and shoulders were riddled with needle wounds — believed to be the result of injections of narcotic painkillers, given three times a day for years. And a mass of surgery scars were thought to be the legacy of at least 13 cosmetic operations. Experts found the distressing evidence of Jacko’s physical decline while investigating his startling death in Los Angeles last week. The examination showed the 5ft 10in star — once famed for his on-stage athleticism — had: PLUNGED to a “severely emaciated” 8st 1oz. It is understood anorexic Jackson had been eating just one meagre meal a day. Pathologists found his stomach empty aside from partially-dissolved pills he took before the painkiller injection which stopped his heart. Samples were sent for toxicology tests. LOST virtually all his hair. The pop pin-up was wearing a wig when he died and pathologists said little more than “peach fuzz” covered his scalp. A scarred section of skin above his left ear was entirely bald — apparently the result of a 1984 accident when his hair caught fire as he filmed an ad for Pepsi. SUFFERED several broken ribs as frantic rescuers pumped his chest after he collapsed in cardiac arrest. Four injection sites were found above or near to Jacko’s heart. All appeared to result from attempts to pump adrenaline directly into the organ in a failed bit to restart it. Three of the injections had penetrated the heart wall — causing damage — but a fourth missed and hit one of the 50-year-old star’s ribs. The autopsy also found unexplained BRUISING on Jackson’s knees and on the fronts of both shins. And there were CUTS on his back, indicating a recent fall. The King of Pop’s once handsome face bore a network of plastic surgery scars, while the bridge to his nose had vanished and its right side had partially collapsed. As inquiries into the tragedy last night focused on the star’s personal physician Dr Conrad Murray, a source close to the Jackson entourage said: “Michael’s family and fans will be horrified when they realise the appalling state he was in. “He was skin and bone, his hair had fallen out and had been eating nothing but pills when he died. Injection marks all over his body and the disfigurement caused by years of plastic surgery show he’d been in terminal decline for years. “His doctors and the hangers-on stood by as he self-destructed. Somebody is going to have to pay.” Cardiologist Dr Murray was thought to have given Jackson the final injection of painkiller Demerol. He is facing serious questions about his resuscitation attempts, which began when he started CPR as Jacko lay unconscious on a bed. Basic first aid guidance says patients must be face-up on a hard surface before compressions.

Scarlet Sheets

Dear Friends,

Sacred as it may sound, there is no eluding when death comes a knocking. As a noun, it means the time at which life ends. My colleague, Luan Luan Joey during the recent first year memorial service of her mother in law, mull over how she wanted her wake to be, if she were to pass on before her time. To quote her composition on Facebook - "Not trying to curse myself here either; life and death are unquantifiable abstracts and part and parcel of nature’s course, which we often don’t have control over. This may sound eerie and 'pantang' to some but death shouldn't be a taboo topic because only when we start acknowledging it can we embrace life wholeheartedly - which I’m trying to, besides being grumpy, naggy and full of complaints on certain occasions. Ignorance is definitely not blissful in this matter." - unquote.

The past month has been 'traumatising' for me. Sam, a gym friend I have acquainted recently, in my 'Spinning' cycling class at California Fitness collapsed without regaining consciousness, just 15 minutes into the session. We cycle at least three times a week in a group under the watchful eyes of an instructor. And yet it happened. The night before his death, he was just boasting with me on how he managed to push his heart rate up to 90% of it's maximum. The post mortem revealed that it was heart failure and he was just 47.

As I am blogging this, I see a hype of activities happening at my neighbour's. Later to find out, this 'irritating' neighbour that constantly parks his car at the fringe of the road, has just passed away.

In the news, David Carradine, who became a TV icon in the early 1970s starring as an enigmatic Buddhist monk with a flair for martial arts in "Kung Fu" and more recently played the head of a group of assassins in the "Kill Bill" movies, has been found dead in Bangkok, Thailand. He was 72. Carradine was found hanged in his luxury hotel suite, Thai newspaper - the Nation reported on its website, citing unidentified police sources. They claimed it was suicide.

What constitutes death? It is clear enough that people die when their lives end, but less clear what represents the ending of a person's life. One of the saddest way to initiate that is suicide. Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with hurt. Suicide victims are not bad people, or crazy, or weak, or flawed; just because they feel suicidal. It does not even mean that they really want to die - it only means that they have more pain than they can contend with. It was just two weeks ago that I was told of the suicide of a 29 year old Thai lady in a renowned hotel in my vicinity. Married to a Swedish expatriate with a son, she swallowed ninety painkillers with beers, gripping a picture of her son and sliding into the deepest sleep she had ever knew.

I remember a suicide case that I had to deal with in 1996. I was in Jakarta, Indonesia as a hotel expatriate. We were in the midst of an early morning meeting when a panic-stricken front office staff burst into the conference room. “A guest slashed her wrist!” she exclaimed in Bahasa Indonesia.

Blood drained from the faces of those in the room. With a sickening fear creeping up my spine, I hurriedly dialed for Security. Together with the General Manager who was present at the meeting, we made our way to the guest’s room. The 65-year-old General Manager of Dutch descent, Rudy Schouten, was an experienced hotelier and must have seen much in his time, but even he was visibly quaking. The walk down the corridor towards Room 839 was the longest I have ever experienced.

The Security Manager, had arrived there with 2 of his men just moments before us. One of them was trying to calm the hysterical maid sobbing at the doorway. She must have been the one who discovered the guest. We had been forewarned of the sight that awaited us, but the limp body tangled in scarlet-soaked sheets and the smell of blood that permeated the room brought me to the brink of nausea.

We approached the bed cautiously to see a Chinese girl in her late-20s. Her lifeless demeanor led us to presume that we were too late. But suddenly, a twitch of her eye! Pandemonium broke loose. “She’s alive! Call an ambulance!” “Her wrist is still bleeding! We need to stop it!”

Someone grabbed a towel from the toilet and pressed it against her slashed wrist. The blood adamantly soaked through the towel. In desperation, I pulled off my tie and tied it around her wrist. Slowly, the blood ceased to flow.

Calm soon resumed after that. We suddenly realized that she was only clad scantily in a T-shirt and panty. The security personnel spotted a pair of shorts and gently pulled it on her, an attempt to return some measure of dignity. No one spoke much, but the unspoken question that ran through our minds were ‘what could possibly drive a young, pretty woman to such desperation that the only way out was death?’

We decided it was faster for a hotel van to send her to the hospital than an ambulance, so we arranged for one to wait at the back of the hotel. We bundled her up in a clean blanket, and gently led her, semi-conscious, through the service corridors to the van. The official statement would be that she was suffering from acute food poisoning.

Once she was safely en route to the nearest hospital, I began checking our hotel records for her reservation. She had been living in the hotel for six months but the room was booked under a gentleman’s name – Aming. We called him and he rushed over in a panic, claiming she was his friend. We directed him to the hospital to which she had been taken. Before he left the hotel, he paid the bill in full and requested that we throw away all her belongings.

The bloodied room underwent a major cleanup. For many months after, I could not look at our clean white sheets without imagining it decked with dirty scarlet stains.

It was very much later that I found out who Aming really was – a human trafficker who brings in women from China illegally. But Aming fell in love with one of his ‘goods’ and set her up at the hotel, promising her that a better life laid ahead for them. Somehow, she found out that he was already married and she decided to end her life.

Did she do it because she honestly loved him? Because she was in a foreign land, dependent on a man who would eventually sell her on the streets?

No matter what the reason, I pray she is living the better life that she hoped for.

"Harro , I am GeeTee Queen"

Dear Friends,

Hajimemashite!
(It's my pleasure)

I had to labour last weekend and I didn't complain. I turned chaperon to two Japanese ladies who spoke no English. I could get along with some conversational Japanese but I was perpetually relying on my I-Phone's translator feature. These 'babes' are young and were selected from amongst 200 entries in Japan to be laureled this years 'GT Queens'. The 'Queens' have a huge following in Japan and some have proven to be even more favourable in comparison to the GT race drivers.

Last week, Sepang International Circuit (SIC), the event organizers for the Super GT International Series Malaysia 2009, had their event launch at the Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa. During the launch they also acquainted their promotional 'materials' – 'GT Queens' Sana Yuki and Nana Shibata. I am humbled to say that I was instrumental in securing 'Official Hotel' status for the GT event this year. For the foregone six years, the teams had always stayed in the city centre. My acknowledgement to my friend, Razlan Razali who was recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Sepang International Circuit. He made this possible by introducing the management of GTA, Japan to me early this year. And the rest, as they say is history.

Established in 1994 by the Japanese Automobile Federation, the Super GT series is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association (GTA) and recognized by the Federal Internationale Automobile. (FIA). Races are held as part of a yearly series and take place on well known Japanese race tracks like Twin Ring Motegi, Fuji Speedway, and Suzuka Circuit.

The race cars and racing equipments; the drivers and teams, and their 'GT Babes' will be arriving at the Sepang International Circuit during race week. I am told that the teams and drivers are all exhilarated to come to Sepang for the race. Sepang has always been special to them because it is the only round outside Japan. More importantly, it is the most challenging race in the entire GT racing calendar. Sepang is the mother of all the GT battles every year. The cars are fractioned into two groups: GT500 and GT300 (cars with no more than 500 and 300 horsepower). They race simultaneously, with a total of 34 souped up cars on the grid for the race engaging plenty of adrenalin throughout the 54-lap race. A unequaled event combining mean machines and gorgeous 'GT Babes' in bringing a truly Japanese carnival-like atmosphere to the circuit. Malaysia will host Round 4 of the 2009 championship, which will also feature some of the best regional races as supporting events. To be held from June 19 to 21, Sepang International Circuit hosts the only international round of the championship, which provides a sexy combination of stylish sports cars and gorgeous Japanese grid babes. The babes will be dressed in skimpy outfits emblazoned with logos identifying the respective teams and their sponsors. Their roles are to add 'spice' on race day and also to meet spectators. These Japanese babes are gorgeous, friendly and some are current top models in Japan. 'GT Queens' 2009 - Sana Uki is currently an actress whilst Nana Shibata is a businesswoman.

Incomparable to the GT championships, race fans are allowed to visit the paddocks on qualifying and race day to mingle with the various team's 'GT Babes' and drivers. They are also allowed on the starting grid on race day by purchasing special pit walkabout passes. Tickets for the Main Grandstand can be purchased at RM100. SIC is also offering a special family package at RM250 for four Main Grandstand tickets. It is free for children below seven years old. Passes for the main race day pit walkabout, where fans not only can get up-close to the racing cars and drivers, but the 'GT Babes' as well, are sold at RM100.

There will be a Japan Super GT celebration on the 19 June 2009 from 9.00pm onwards at Ministry of Sound - Euphoria at Bandar Sunway. For further information, call Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa at +60 3 7492 8000.

The 'GT Queens' repetitive singing of, 'Anatano Sekshi' (You are sexy) is still lingering and rewinding in my mind. "Dozo Yoroshiku" (Nice Meeting You)

Sparkling Korea

Dear Friends

"Anyonheseyo"

Last month, I flew into Incheon International Airport on a chilly spring Monday morning. The temperature was about seven degrees celsius and it was graceful with all the cherry blossoms in bloom. This was my second trip to Seoul after a sixteen years lapse.

Korea is difficult to depict - to experience it is to understand it. It is an inhabited nation of about 48 million people. Koreans are primarily from one ethnic family and they only speak one language - Korean. With distinct physical features, they are believed to be descendants of several Mongol tribes that migrated to the Korean Peninsula from Central Asia. I found it hard to converse as English was rarely spoken. I found the Koreans to have very solid cultural traditions. Everyone bow to their elders and superiors. Not only listening to them, but doing exactly as the last word was spoken. No questions asked. I was amused at one of their traditions. Kim Jong Eun (state coach for the Penang bowling team) my translator, taught me the proper way of pouring and toasting a drink. It is rude not to take a sip when being toasted by a peer.

Seoul is a busy city. It doesn't matter what time of the day it is, the streets are jam-packed with vehicles and people everywhere. This is one of the cleanest cities I have ever been to. Not having much of a chance to explore it on my own, my itinerary was packed as the host wanted me to see the best the city could offer. One of the tourist attractions that I visited was the 'Gyeong Bok Gung' Palace or also known as the 'Palace Greatly Blessed by the Heavens'. It was built in 1935 and served as the main palace. This was a symbol of national sovereignty and was demolished during the Japanese occupation. Other than this national heritage, I also visited the Korean Folk Village. In a natural environment of 243 acres, I saw the different traditional houses and cultures of the Koreans. I could feel the ancestral experience from the many performances watched.
I flew to Korea for one reason and that was to bowl. At the invitation of Seong Nam City, a total of 21 of us made the trip. I found the lanes and the alleys different compared to home. The conditions were brutal with exceptionally slippery approaches. My team member, Chloe Tay slipped and fell next to me and I was mentally affected. With a high score of only 196 and a piteous low of 120, it was devastating. We bowled for two consecutive days and all I wanted was to at least bowl my average (of 185). It was not the winning or losing. I thought about it and realised that this was part of bowling. To be strong mentally and psyched up is needed for game maturity.They had some great talents which included bowlers from the Korean Professional Bowlers Association (KPBA).

Each day that we were there, our meals were provided. At local restaurants, we were served 'Korean' for all three daily meals . It was alright for the first two days but it got to me after that. Dishes are served at the same time. A typical meal normally includes rice, soup, and several side dishes, the number of which vary. 'Bap' or rice is the staple food for Koreans, it is eaten with almost every meal.(breakfast included) Korean rice is often sticky in texture, and sometimes it is combined with beans, chestnuts, sorghum, red beans, barley or other cereals for added flavor. Another must have at every meal is 'Gui'. It is marinated meat barbecued over a charcoal fire. The most popular gui dishes are meats, such as bulgogi and galbi. At every meal, a must have is definitely 'Kimchi'. Kimchi has been scientifically proven to be high in nutrition and is always eaten as a side dish. Cabbages and other vegetables are soaked in salt water, then seasoned with different spices before being fermented. There are many different types of kimchi, such as cabbage kimchi (the most common), cucumber kimchi, radish kimchi, cubed radish kimchi, green onion kimchi, and more. One of the lunches, we were served 'Samgyetang'. A young chicken is cleaned out then stuffed with various ingredients before being boiled to draw out a delicious broth.

On the last evening of my visit, I had some time to do last minute shopping. We were brought to a market area called Dongdaemun. Dongdaemun Market has been one of the major markets in Korea. Specializing in wholesale clothing, the market has grown large, having more than 20 shopping malls. The main street seperates Dongdaemun Market into two sections. Section 1 is on the side where Doosan Tower is found, and Section 2 is on the side of Dongdaemun Stadium. Huge shopping malls in Section 1 basically sell wholesale and retail goods, but mostly deal with general customers and tourists at retail prices.

Seoul is filled with wonderful scenery, from the brightest lights to the pretty cherry blossoms. The five days spent here was magical. I truly enjoyed the spring and the people. After all, it is a "Sparkling Korea".

Pictures of places I saw and friends I met could be found below this post; Scenic Seoul and Faces of Korea.

Scenic Seoul