I had to wake up at 6:30 in the morning today.
6:30 AM.
AM!
And not for a flight for a holiday or anything.
“What time’s your shoot?” asked AdamPoserPan.
“7:30 -_- I cannot be late…”
“Yeah, you can’t be late!”
I had numerous alarms to ensure i’d wake up.
One on each mobile phone = 2.
RowdyRudy offered to call me to make sure i didn’t lose the plot since he’s already awake at the time.
And my old school alarm clock set last for good measure.
The first thought in my head while i forced myself to get up was, “There must be something illegal about getting up this early…”
With all the previous jobs (and current one), i’m not used to waking up at the same time i had to when i was in school, alright.
I’m a night person. Not a day person.
Managed to drag my ass there on time, before the make-up artist, hairstylist or stylists arrived.
So yay for me!
I can do those shoots where you just put on some make-up, do my hair and i pose (amateurishly) a bit.
But this was the first one where a more artsy concept was involved so i sat there for hours, with layers of make-up, crystal, vaseline and kitchen products spread all over my face, arms and chest.
And i couldn’t scratch.
And oh how it itched!
But woe should i scratch… some bits would come off then they’d have to redo it.
0_o
So i tahan-ed… and tahan-ed… and tried to think of happy thoughts to get my mind off it.
And fell asleep while at it -_-
I’m sure Matt and Ashley had a lot of fun with my hair, though it was extremely disconcerting when they were sniggering “Hee hee hee!” during the first two minutes.
After seven hours, we wrapped up and i drove home straight away to get all the gunk off.
Washed my hair four times, and my face thrice, but someone still managed to pick remnants of glue off my ear.
>.<
By 7pm i was struggling to walk properly and saluted Rudy feebishly, “I don’t know how you do it. How the hell can you wake up at 5am and still be okay at night. You know what, i feel really bad now for those nights i dragged you out drinking!”
“Yeah and you know what. The worst thing is to sleep at 3, wake up at 5, be on the show at 6, and every three minutes have to sound like most enthusiastic person alive!”
“… Oh god.”
Salute.
In a little while, i will be visiting toon town again.
Just checked my bank account to ensure that a cheque cleared, and noticed extra money came in from somewhere.
I have no idea where from.
But heck, if magic money wants to appear in my bank account, by all means.
***
I promised myself i wouldn’t shop after i return from Thailand, which i’ve managed to do after previous trips to Bkk.
Only this time round, i happen to come back when it’s End Of Season sale everywhere.
“Guess what…” i plopped myself down for lunch in Pavilion.
“What.”
“I was walking past Marc Jacobs and they’re having sale!”
“… Andddd….”
“And a bad bad thing happened…”
Fail.
***
Went for long-overdue dinner with PassedOutBen. Who made me laugh so hard, i burrowed my face into my inner arm on the table and cried.
We were talking about biographies and which to exchange with each other.
“I just read the Manson one, damn good.”
“Oh hey! Is it yours?”
“Yeah.”
“I read it halfway in Zaidi’s room last time while they were busy jamming or something, then i left it.”
“Last time… damn long ago right. That was my book okay. -_- The book went around like hai then only i get to read.”
“Hahaha!”
Daddy still doesn’t get why women need so many shoes and clothes and… things.
We were walking around IKEA and i pointed out some shelf with hooks that would be great to store my abundance of bags.
“See, right, we wouldn’t have to worry about all this if you didn’t have so many bags in the first place.”
“It’s… not… that... many… *mumble*mumble*…”
“You know, i thought of fixing up some shelves for you while you were away. Only problem was, i couldn’t even get into your room.”
“Oh, COME ON!”
My father is exaggerating. Totally. I got my dramatic genes from him.
Went for a nice dressy dinner with the girls at some party last night.
Wore one of my new BR dresses and couldn’t decide which shoes to match it with.
So i asked Daddy.
“Does this match?”
He squinted at them.
“If you didn’t have so many pairs, you wouldn’t have to think so hard!”
-_- I’ll never hear the end of this.
After dinner and cocktails at Rick’s Cafe, the girls and i headed out to twenty.one for two more cocktails before calling it a night.
It was pretty crowded and i was petrified someone would accidentally burn my silk dress.
“I swear…” i seethed to Dhanya, “If anyone burns my dress, i’m going to make them pay for it.”
She laughed.
“I’m serious! It’s like driving a car. What if i’m driving a nice car and this dumbass kancil bangs into you? Takkan you cover the cost of something you paid for but someone else ruined!”
***
Yoga Tabby was staying at one of the guesthouses in Chiang Mai and happened to stretch miang-ly when my digicam was aimed at it.
***
I adored the first junk sale which i took part in. Will try to blog about it this week before the sale itself.
I remember that all the money i made from selling my lap sap went to buying beer and other people’s lap sap -_-
***
Sorry haven’t been blogging much.
Too busy spending time with the ones i missed while i was gone.
I used to play dress up as a child with my cousins. We’d pull on over-sized dresses from the 70s that belonged to my aunt, and parade around the master bedroom in them, making up ‘lands’ and which land belonged to who as we went along.
On our first day in Chiang Mai, IceCalvin spotted this lovely little teahouse next to the guesthouse we were staying in.
Chirpy walls of canary yellow and dusky pink, white wrought iron garden furniture, serving only teas and desserts… it was so very English country garden!
“Let’s dress up for breakfast tomorrow!” IceCalvin suggested.
“Dress up… like how?” I thought about the skeleton mask and helmet he had bought.
“Like all nice for tea.”
“Can! I’ll wear my new hat!”
“I can wear my jacket!”
“Hee hee let’s do it!“
Now when you dress up as a child, it’s perfectly acceptable. People (read: adults) let you play make-believe and get on with your thing, because hey, you’re 8 and imagination is good for the child’s brain, right.
But if you dress up as an adult, people stare and laugh because, hell. You’re supposedly an adult now alongside the expectancy of behaving like one.
Sometimes you mustn’t care what other people think.
Because it will do so much as to squash your soul.
IceCalvin and i didn’t give two hoots and bright and early the next morn, we donned new things, bits and bobs we got in Bangkok.
Whom better to play dress-up with other then a fashion stylist.
Then we trotted merrily next door, grinning back at every one who grinned at us – these two kookies decked in afternoon tea party clothes.
Hat bargained down till RM30 on Khao San Rd., necklace from Kenya’s vintage shop in Bangkok, al cheapo dress with embroidery for RM20, Khao San as well.
IceCalvin’s insanely flamboyant scarf of sorts from a local designer in BKK.
His – Custom-made. Leather. Siam Square. 2,000 Baht.
Hers – Size 37. Chunky beige. 900 Baht. From Spain ended up in Chatuchak.
We had warm raspberry tea…
I had some blueberry tea + yogurt shake…
Along 5 mini-desserts…
… and blueberry cheesecake with baby mounds of fresh cream all around…
… and poached pear in red wine with vanilla ice cream…
All for 500 Baht/RM50.
“Fuck, damn cheap right!”
Vieng Joom On Teahouse
53 Jaroenraj Road
T. Watgate A. Muang
Chiang Mai 50 000 www.vjoteahouse.com
I’ve been all flushed and hot, ever since i got back.
So i’ve been chucking Panadol and Neurofen down cos i really don’t want to fall sick!
I called DatinTini up to ask how work was going and that i’ll be seeing the team the next day.
My welcome reply courtesy of Tini: “You’re going to die. We have damn a lot of work to do.”
… Dammit.
On the very same day i got back from Thailand,
I went to Milca to get my hair done, and we ended up discussing what we’ll be doing in Vietnam,
Then i met up with RowdyRudy for drinks and we impulsively plotted for Bali.
I was thinking that since i’ll be really free (and jobless) in February, i might as well eat and live elsewhere for the time being.
RowdyRudy and i were having oyster shots and merlot in Flam’s on Changkat BB, giggling and listing all the colourful things we’ll bring to Bali when i felt a wave of 100% glee wash over me and went, “You know what! I feel i have the best life in the world right now!”
Only two pieces of Pai for you to see.
This internet cafe we’re sipping apple tea at, also has insanely slow connection.
Oh, how i shall embrace high-speed internet and not take it for granted anymore!
This was at a river in the mountains, just on the outskirts of Pai.
Isn’t it bloody gorgeous.
There was a huge lawn on which i flopped myself down unto. The whole scenario reminded me of autumn, cold with warm sunshine that wasn’t too scorching, with lots of leaves and grass to roll around in like a kitten.
This morning, IceCalvin and i went to the market, then to Art Gallery again to chill out in the garden.
Before finishing Scar Tissue, i’d already bought a second-hand book from one of the many book stores here.
So i started on Primo Levi’s If This is a Man, while Calvin strummed away on a guitar and made up lyrics along the way on how i liked reading depressing books on holiday.
After two coffees each there, the owner (Happy Sun) asked us to join him and cooked us lunch.
I’m taken aback by the friendliness and generosity of the people here.
When if your life have you, upon meeting them for the second time, have them invite you for lunch at their dining table without charging you?
He made us a simple but awesome lunch of non-spicy soup with seaweed from China; a peppery stew of mushrooms, basil leaves, chillies and other unknown ingredients; fried egg with chopped giant chillies, and crispy fish that we couldn’t stop taking.
They were like mini ikan bawal stuck to each other by the sides, so that they formed a crispy fish pancake of sorts.
Then there was this naturally salty freshwater fish (but not as salty as ham yee) which i adored the most, and know i’m going to miss it back in KL.
We sat in the bottom garden, had more coffee and played with the cats after lunch.
I’m dreading the difference of life when i fly back already.
Instead of wearing sun dresses all day, i have to look like i belong in the city (or maybe i could be in denial and continue dressing like a tourist).
Instead of taking in the fresh air on a bike, i’ll be maneuvering through traffic and staring at red lights from the back of a car in a jam.
In truth, i don’t miss the city yet.
I just miss my friends, especially my girls.
Though IceCalvin can be bitchy enough for three girls… ha ha!
