I'm so blessed this Christmas

And I hope you are too.

My love, kisses and hugs to the ones I love out there. Don, Starr, Bryan, Kesh, Mip, Daniel: wish you were here!

Audience

So, here's the thing. I've been thinking, and this blog's at a standstill right now because I majored and worked in communications.

Let me explain. In PR, we've been trained (very well) to speak to specific audiences. In university, I majored in PR and Journalism and minored in Film & TV. My millions of assignments consisted of writing to the government (lobbying), writing hard news (rape, crime) for a newspaper, writing entertainment 'reports' for thrashy magazines, creating health/ political/ consumer PR campaigns (to name a few) that would attract and make believers out of those who 'heard' us... The list goes on.

Then in my ten years of working in various PR/ Communication departments of major corporations, a lot of my work included writing press releases skewed to either the news, business, fashion, sports or tech media. Writing financial reports for the reviews of either analysts, internal staff, investors, media. Writing speeches or letters for the management team directed to either government bodies, ministers, customers. Planning events to launch a product to the media or to consumers or the government. Planning investor relations activities. Planning staff motivation activities. Planning media relations activities. Planning management positioning activities to the government, community, staff, investors, media. Put very simply, it was all about crafting communication strategies that would effectively communicate a specific objective to a very specific group of people.

Every single piece of work that we had to churn out came with the same sort of information but had to be designed to speak to very different audiences in very different ways. And it might sound like I'm full of myself, but let me tell you - (in my favouritest job of all time, in the 5 best years of my career) me and my very super ex colleagues in the DiGi Corporate Communications team were the bomb when it came to effective communication. We had it down to a T. We were magic. We rocked. We kicked a§s. We were superstar PR-sters. We were cool. We were loved. Admired. Envied. And we got things movinggg! I like to think We ruled the Malaysian telco scene, baybeh.

Sorry. That got a bit long-winded and out of point. Reliving my glorious days as a career woman gets me a bit excited.

Anyway, back to the point. You see, the thing is, this blog started out directed to my friends and family who I wanted to talk to and update since I had moved to a veryyyy different time zone and regular skype calls or gmail chats were just not possible. The tone and manner of my writings was highly personal and familiar, and I could indulge in "telling-all". Which is why I used use my real name anyway. I figured, they all know me, and I'm too lazy it's way too complicated to log in and out of different gmail accounts every single time I wanted to blog. Also, being a google freak who loved to google my old friends, I thought, "it'd be awesome if my old friends (who I might have forgotten to email since I am also highly private on Facebook) bothered to try to google me, they'd find out what I was up to with my little blog and get in touch again!"


But when people I didn't know started visiting this site I guess I kinda froze. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy and absolutely LOVE reading the comments dropped by sweet readers, especially those who I've linked in my 'I Super Stalk' section, and the other anon ones who have been equally sweet and who always make my day when they comment. And to old friends who did find this blog, and read and dropped me emails of support and encouragement, I love you too!!! :)) All of you, known or unknown (yet) have literally become my virtual friends, and if it were just that, I could go on and on blogging away.

The problem is this. In the past 6 months, I've (finally!!!) become very wary of and annoyed with the fact that because Hubs and I are easily google-ble, I'm opening myself up to some very random people which I cannot really talk about here since, you know, I'm starting to realize that I should have started out being more private anyways. And it's always Hubby's name being googled, which makes sense because he is getting quite a lot of media publicity here in my new city and he was also quite famous in our old city. And since his most ordered dessert is named 'He*a ther' and everyone knows it's his wife's name, often, "He athe*r Will ia*m M a*hi" are also the keywords searched. So how am I supposed to blog about our life knowing there may be frenemies, customers, colleagues, media etc etc etc knowing too much about his personal life thanks to my tell-alls?

So anyway, the thing too you must know too about PR is that we stick to our strategies pretty strictly because consistency is key to not derail from the main objectives (which in the case of this blog was "to share stories about my current life with family and friends").

Hence the (almost) radio silence since June. 

The easiest thing to do would be to shut this down and move on. But I love the collection of posts I've accumulated and detest the idea of moving to another address, and I've really got sooooo much good stuff to talk about and pictures to show off share. So bear with me as I find ways to stay true to my objectives and gab to you in the familiar manner I love whilst finding a way to remain slightly more private and cryptic when dealing with this new audience that is not (yet) in my friends or family group.

Oh! And Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you have a good one and that your presents are as awesome as mine (yes, I peeked) :p 

HelloOoooo

It's hard to explain my absence. I have tons to say, yet don't know where to start.

Don't worry though. I'm doing super duper good.

So I'll start with a little video. For you peeps who tell me you miss my Malaysian accent. Hee hee.

Love,
The Lazy Blogger

Nar Suyu

That means pomegranate juice to you non-turkish speaking peeps out there. It's something I loveeee about living in Istanbul. Freshly pounded pomegranate juice on every street corner. Now everybody, drink up and go "ahhhhhhhhh..."

Internet

Life's been good for us here in Istanbul. Almost 3 weeks ago we moved from the hotel into our very awesome apartment which I feel very lucky to find. And while I had some withdrawal symptoms from being waited on hand and foot and mouth, it's nice being 'home'. And a very pretty home at that :))

So it's been all good. Except the small, little, huge problem we've had. The internet. Or to be more specific, NOT having internet. 

But that's all fixed now, and I'm finally connected to the world. *Waves hello to everyone*.

Not having the internet can be a good, good thing. I've done and socialized much more than I usually do since I couldn't spend my time living vicariously through other people. My head's clearer, hubby and I laugh and talk to each other much more since we're not glued to our screens. I can entertain people who come by properly since I'm not checking on mails and/or whatsapp every two minutes. No internet's been great, really.

Now excuse me while I catch up on blogstalking, facebook stalking and online shopping. I've also got some whatsapp messages and emails to respond to.

On the streets

And loving every minute of it.

Away

While the hubs takes my place on the sofa :))

Lazy

You know how life just rolls by as you laze around? And how plans and the bestest intentions just stay in your head day after day?

Well, that's me, lately.

A look at a typical day in my life:

10:00: Wake up
10:15: Order two pots of coffee, wake hubby up.
10:30: Drink coffee, check email and facebook. Also make sure little Lola (who is my blond alternate self on the Sims-Social application on facebook) is well-fed, clean, socialising and earning simoleons.
11:30: Poop and shower.
12:00: Head over to hotel resto for buffet lunch and binge.
13:00: Back to room and watch whilst hubby gets ready for work. Mentally plan to go to gym and sauna.
14:00: Try to talk myself into changing into gym clothes as I lie on the sofa and channel surf.
14:30: Stalk blogs. Love chocolate cookies & candies and raising rockstar and feather factor's recent posts. Should leave comments. Maybe later when I'm feeling wittier.
15:00: Convince myself that gym in the evening would be MUCH better cos there's a pilates class at 8pm. Give myself pat on back for smart decision, and feels no guilt for postponing gym plans. Go for coffee and a walk.
16:00: Walk around the neighbourhood. Everything is beautiful. Mentally plan blog post about life in Istanbul.
17:00: Stop for coffee. Cannot resist scoffing down two truffles. Plan yet another blog post about my love for dark chocolate.
18:00: Back in room. Call room service for snacks so I can be 'ready' for pilates in 2 hours. Order tomato consomme and garden salad with egg. Plans blog post on how good life is and how much I love room service.
18:30: Check on Lola while I eat and congratulate myself for ordering such healthy food.
19:00: Lie on sofa. Feel slightly sick. Maybe I overate. Shouldn't have had the bread and butter.
19:30: No way I can get to pilates. I'd get appendicitis. Maybe I should write a blog post instead. After I haul myeslf off the sofa.
20:00: I knew I wasn't meant to go to gym. Just got call for dinner at the Jap resto here. Ahhh... I love sashimi.
20:30: Dinner time. Not hungry but there's always space for sashimi and teppanyaki.
22:30: Back. Marvel at how clean the room is. I love turn-down services. Lie on sofa and unbutton jeans. Why oh why did I eat the rice?
22:45: Haul self for shower. Teppanyaki hair makes me feel sick.
23:00: Back on sofa. Tummy up. REALLY shouldn't have had the rice.
23:45: Hubby's back. Try to get him to order something different from room service tonight but he insists on his usual grub - entrecote medium rare with blue cheese sauce, fries, goat cheese salad, chocolate fondant and vanilla ice cream. Nag him about why he doesn't change his orders once in a while. Get a kiss in response. I love my hubby. Shoo him to take shower.
00:15: His food arrives. I sit with him and sip on decaf. He inhales everything except the fries. I feel pity for the poor wasted fries. I eat them. Also daintily dip them into the leftover blue cheese sauce. Also scrape the bowl that holds the remnants of his vanilla ice cream.
00:30: Back on sofa. Rub tummy and blame hubs for making me fat.
00:45: Redesign Lola's house. She needs a new playroom.
01:30: Ordered to bed by hubby. Bid goodnight to Lola, but not before I make sure she's earned enough money today.
01:40: Lie in bed and check gym class schedule for tmrw. Ah! There's a yoga class at 16:00. Perfect timing! Yoga's better than pilates anyway.
01:50: Shift hubby's arms to my neck when he tries to hug my bulging tummy and drift away to dreams of me stretching and yoga-ing and having svelte body.

ZzzzZzzzzZzzzzzzzz.....

THAT's my tummy. In dreamland.

Onboard the Russian Destroyer - Admiral Panteleyev

So, when I was visiting Phnom Penh recently, three Russian Navy ships bound for a mission in Somalia made a stop at the docks of Sihanoukville. My friend, who is, like, super duper important, was invited by the Russian Military to visit the monster Destroyer. Lucky me got to tag along. and behold are some very cool pictures of me on this nuclear powered machine.

I can't really give you a good commentary as our guide had a very thick Russian accent, and I was more concerned about not tripping and falling and getting good photos than listening to military talk. I can tell you though that the four round things (numbered 1,2,3,4) are one of the many nuclear weapons onboard. And the chair I was sitting in was the Captain's chair, and the men aboard the boat were not going to see land for the next 6 months as they parole the straits of Somalia for pirate activities. Oh, and that pic of me squished between two men whilst grinning awkwardly? On the left's the Russian Military General or Colonel to Cambodia, and on the right's the Captain of the ship.

The rest, je ne sais pas. I so would not be a good spy.

 

Full of expletives (good ones)

So, it's official - we've moved from Luxembourg to Istanbul. And boy, I can tell you it's a HUGE change. Goodbye quiet living and hello 'WOAH!'.
I'm filled with mixed emotions, of course. I adore Luxembourg for all the super duper amazing people I've met and come to love and I'll miss the quiet serenity of this charming little city town, but it's hard to not fall head over heels in lust with everything Istanbul has to offer.
Hustle, bustle, colour, vibrance, life, smiles... It's a shock to the senses. In a good way, of course. For now. Everything is so amazing, and I'm impressed at every turn.
But to keep me on my feet and to show you that I'm not completely blindly enamored, I must also say the traffic is horrendous and the internet connection everywhere really sucks.
But other than that, I now know why everyone who's been to Istanbul loves it the way they do. Food is great, service is smooth and smiley, shopping is AWESOME, restaurants are chic, architecture is SUPER and the views are DIVINEEEE!

  (at just two of the many restaurants we tried. Can you see how amazing the views are?)

I could go on and on, and I'd really have loved to show you better pictures but none of my pictures does the stunning views or architecture any justice whatsoever. So, since I have no job (for now), I may fill my time by taking up photography classes and getting myself hooked up with a nice, big ass camera to while my leisurely days away.

The other could-do's in the meantime, in no particular order are:

1. enroll in some jewelry making classes and have an excuse to trawl the souks for some super sized stones and dress myself up in all the bling I see the women everywhere around me sporting.

2. make a baby.

3. blog regularly.

4. take up yoga.

We'll see :)

Any other ideas?

The view

From my new home

Guess where?

Valid

I promise, there's a valid reason for my absence... :)

Will be back soon with exciting news.

Silence of the lamb

I keep a very low profile when huge changes are going on in my life.
So, as you can see from the lack of posts in the past two months, MANY life changing things are happening at this point. I can't share much here now, but thought I should at least document the bits and pieces of the past two months in my recent very colourful life as I turn 32 today.
Yes, I've turned 32. It's a little scary when I look at that number, but I can honestly say I still feel 21. Young, gawky and oh-so optimistic.
Anyway, come what may, here's to blue skies, rainbows and happily ever afters for me, Beyonce, and everyone else born today. :p
And to all of you reading, thanks so much for being a part of my journey - literally or virtually, you're all so very appreciated :)

Circa Aug 2011. The Malaysian Buddy Bear in Berlin. The Buddy Bears were 'born' and founded in Berlin. Countries from all over the world paint and decorate their respective bears, and then the bears go on tour all over the world promoting unity and solidarity. They've been in all five continents and are now back in Berlin. I was so excited when I managed to catch the bears on a recent trip to Berlin again, and went in alphabetical order to look at each and every single bear. I saw all bears from America to Zimbabwe, but could not find the Malaysian Bear. To say I was disappointed is really a gross understatement. Then one fine day as we were driving past the Malaysian Embassy in Berlin, I see this boy standing in front of it all alone, far far away from all his friends. I was thrilled and took this picture, but to this day still wonder why in the world does our Buddy Bear stand in solitude whilst all the other Buddy Bears are all together so happily, promoting world unity?

Circa Aug 2011. Friends in Phnom Penh. It's a small, mixed up world. In a table of 4 people, blood, cultures and ties of Cambodian, French, Moroccan, Malaysian, Filipino, Chinese, Lebanese, Scottish, Luxembourgish and Portugese are represented.

Circa Aug 2011.

I love love. 'Nuff said :)

Circa Aug 2011. Included in this post just cos (I think) I look pensive and reflective.

 Circa Aug 2011. Berlin Streets. And I love my tee.

Circa July 2011. Super daddy at one of our lovely dimsum jaunts at home/

Circa July 2011. I heart tom yum mee hoon. Despite the terrifying MSG aftermath, I still salivate looking at this pic. I've said this before but I'll say it again. Yum yum tom yum :)

Circa July 2011. At our fave sui-jiow and wo-tie shop.

Circa July 2011. I love this pic. Shiny shiny star bright.

Circa July 2011. Coconut water on a hot afternoon after a massive MSG attack = life saver.

 Circa July 2011. Pan Mien at my current fave kopitiam in KK.  Love good food and leisurely breakfasts with Super Mi and my Sario clan.

Circa July 2011. Le final Harry Potter in 3D. So sad it's over and they're all grown up now.

Circa July 2011. When I played model and caught up with all my beloved old friends.

Circa July 2011. Camhoring, and caught red handed by the reflection of our sunglasses.

 Circa July 2011. Reminiscent of a breezy and perfectly lovely sunset experience @ Sunset Bar.

 Circa Aug 2011. Cousins reunited in Luxembourg.

 Circa July 2011. Woai my sisters. So dearly. 

 Circa July 2011. An almost perfect long haul flight (when unable to fly on Business or First) = emergency exit seats, funny socks, flight blankie, thrashy magazine and hubby's shoulder to sleep on.

Circa Aug 2011. Another one of the one I love most ardently, my most exemplary vegetable (inside joke).

 Circa August 2011. Trees in a Luxembourg Park. Birds chirping, kids laughing, slight breeze, blue skies. Pure bliss.

 Circa Aug 2011. Corn on cob at a friend's BBQ session on a cool Luxembourgish summer evening. Days like these make me feel so so blessed.

Circa Aug 2011. How I ended up in the Museum of Video Games in Berlin. A story for another time.

 Circa Aug 2011. Card games with Luxembourgish besties. Stress. Fun. All rolled in one.

Nom. Nom. Nom. Nom.

Everyday of my life.

And this pic is here just cos I love my dress so much. :) :) :)