deadgirlwalking

... and decided I'll post both the look-alikes and let you decide if they really look alike...

I seriously don't understand myself.

I never sprained my ankle when I was in my rhythmic gymnastic classes for so many years.

I never sprained my ankle when I was actively involved in other sports activities.

I think I just sprained my ankle walking towards a vehicle to be picked up...

And this is the second time I have had an incident of falling/ self-injury while walking towards a vehicle...

What does it says?

And it happens one day before CG has a body combat thing to go to.

Was kinda looking forward to it.

Nice. Very nice.

Like I'm not meant to go to the new church building any time soon. I haven't been there, not even for the 1 Jan prayer walk because I was somewhere else...

Hmmmmmmm...

Can I just have a peaceful one year next year without any injuries or illness?

Just a normal year where I can do my work in peace without physical limitations?

I had a dream today. I was in a dark spooky house with someone else. We both needed to pee badly. We were staying with an old couple and slept on the mattress placed on a floor after dinner. It was those kind of kampung houses without fan or air-con.

Both me and the girl needed to pee badly but the old woman warned us not to go to the toilet at night as one of the superstitions. We didn't question them and just heeded their instructions but later, the other girl decided she didn't care and went to the toilet anyway. On her way back, it felt like there were things following her.

The old couple began to tell stories of how there was this little boy  run all over the place to play and a woman who always returned to the haunted place every year. We hear sounds as the old couple spoke.

Then, because of the other girl's bravery, she was chosen for the village task and as for me, I was dismissed and was drinking something white when...

I woke up...

and need to use the bathroom...

Do you know what human trafficking is? Walk along any streets in Kuala Lumpur and ask a random passerby. If not, just ask yourself – how much do you know about human trafficking? The answers you get will reflect the obvious misconception of what human trafficking is perceived. This situation is further intensified when its definition is further diluted and thwarted by the media. Citizens, despite the apparent problem, choose to remain ignorant and indifferent towards this global phenomena.

In an effort to reach out, City Care chaired by David Oh, organized a seminar at City Harvest Church Kuala Lumpur on October 17th , 2010. In this seminar, Subang Jaya Assembly woman YB Hannah Yeoh and Tenaganita Anti- Trafficking In Persons (ATIP) team took this opportunity to inform the people just how bad the situation is in Malaysia and at the same time, educate people of what human trafficking really is.

Statistics

Every year, 2.4 million people are trafficked and 1.2 million of these people are children. In Asia itself, human trafficking is a huge problem. 225,000 victims are from South East Asia while 150,000 are from South Asia.

“While some countries like US, Europe, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia function in either roles – as destination, transit or source of human trafficking, Malaysia acts as all three,” said Tenaganita Consultant and Program Manager Aegile Fernandez.

“The reason the talk is held here,” explained YB Hannah Yeoh, “is because Sunway is a hub for human trafficking.”

To prove YB’s point, Fernandez unveiled a map much later, indicating where various human trafficking activities were held in Malaysia.

Types of human trafficking

At the mention of human trafficking, people commonly assume that it refers to young women being forced into prostitution. Actually, that is only one type of human trafficking happening in Malaysia.

The various types of human trafficking are as follows:

1. Forced Prostitution – young women are cheated to work overseas only to find themselves working as prostitutes.

2. Baby for Sale – young women are brought to Sarawak, raped over and over again until they are pregnant and their babies are sold for RM10,000 to RM30,000. After that, the young women are most probably sold to pimps and become prostitutes.

3. Mail Bride – a few packages available – individual, cash and carry (trial package available ~ returnable if not satisfied with product), certified virgins (non-refundable), tour packages (find a bride in six days – guaranteed), luxury cruises ‘on the spot’ brides; and 3-in-1 (work, do house chores and become sex slaves or prostitutes).

4. Harvesting Organs – Organs like liver and heart are taken from functional bodies.

5. Bonded Labour – Men are forced to work to repay debt e.g. in construction sites. Their wages are food.

6. Fisherman – Young boys or men are forced to become fishermen.

Why human trafficking thrives

Human trafficking is an extremely lucrative business. During interviews with offenders and researches conducted by Tenaganita, the non-profit organization discovered that a human trafficker can earn US$13 billion per person. As a syndicate, 100 girls would mean US$38 billion per year.

Further in their research, Tenaganita discovered a material revealing a disturbing quote of a British Columbian man convicted of human trafficking explaining why he did it: “ Once a drug is sold it is gone, but a girl can be sold over and over before she collapses, has gone mad, committed suicide, or died of disease.”

“The reason why human trafficking is thriving is because there are demands,” said the Pusenthi P. Manaim, a team member of ATIP. “People are quick to blame syndicates running human trafficking but fail to see that demand is also the reason why the business is thriving.”

You can make a difference!

“Keep your eyes opened!” said YB Hannah Yeoh. “Human trafficking is happening all around us, when we walk in the streets, in the malls.”

“If you suspect that somebody is a victim of human trafficking, call Tenaganita and inform them.


Spread the word


Remember, we cannot fight a war without knowing what the war is about. Let’s learn about human trafficking and how physically, mentally and emotionally damaging the trauma is for victims then spread the word to create awareness so that more people are on a lookout. If there’s anyone who could put a stop to human-trafficking, that person could just be you.


Also present was Liva Sreedharan, member of Tenaganita Program Officer – ATIP Liva Sreedharan , who also gave her share of thought on the matter and SJ Echo reporter Cindi Loo who covered the story for next month’s issue.

Stories: Side bar 1

Give Your Maids Day Off

At the beginning of the session, YB Hannah Yeoh asked: “Whom of you have a maid at home? Do they work seven days a week?”

It was followed by several nods or heads shaking in response to her question.

Upon the response, she made her point: “Please, if you have a friend who has a maid, an uncle or aunty who has a maid, or you have a maid at home, please give her one day off in a week. Sometimes, I work seven days a week too and I feel so tired. Sometimes, you have to work seven days a week and you are tired. Imagine, your maid!”

Stories: Side bar 2

Tales from Tenaganita: Still in Malaysia

A mother of 2 from Indonesia came to Malaysia and told her agency that she will only work for two years. The agency agreed and assigned her to take care of a family house.

After two years, she told her employers that she wanted to go home.

“Wait a little while more,” they replied.

And she did.

She waited for another year and asked again. The same thing happened.

Then, another year passed. She waited, asked and the employers said the same thing.

By the time the fifth year had come, she has grown impatient.

When her employers asked her to wait again, she threatened to kill herself. Alarmed, her employers promised to send her back home the very next day.

However, the agency, instead, provided a boat which was off shore and she had to swim to the boat which will take her back to Indonesia. It wasn’t easy because she was also carrying her belongings and all her money and she didn’t know how to swim. She swam anyway and almost drowned.

Fortunately, she didn’t die. When she regained consciousness, she found herself covered in banana leaves. Whoever who have found her must have thought she was dead. She also lost her belongings and 5 years of her working wages – RM1,000.00.

A good Samaritan brought her to Tenaganita. It has been 7 years now and she is still in Malaysia, trying to go home. Her children were only 3 and 5 years old when she left. Now, they are 10 and 12 years old.

Written for CHC Website (Writing Ministry)

Today is cook whatever day again. 

I was going to cook something proper but I had a horrid battle with ants so I thought, by the time I was done, it would be 3 something and my bro would be home.

Nope, 4 something, he still wasn't home. Soooo, I decided to cook something, whatever that is in the kitchen.

It's too late to defrost the meat and I am hungry... so, I did something any sane person would do... see what's in the kitchen and cook whatever there is. There's kinda lots of food in the fridge and freezer but potatoes are the easiest to cook and very tasty too.

Peeled 1 potato, chop them up, peeled an onion, chopped them up...

Throw them in a heated pan so that the water is all drained, add oil...

Oh, look, there's oyster sauce, put a little in...

Oh, look, there's soya sauce. Ermm, just put like a tiny drop. Typical Chinese cooking.

Needs water, add water... quick, get the filtered water and pour a bit in...

Ahh, there are three bottles of spices on the rack. Thyme leaves, Cumin and Black Pepper. I tried Thyme leaves before, they smell good. Let's try something else.

Took the Cumin spice and sprinkled it out. It was hardened.

Forget the Cumin, get the Thyme.

As soon as the Thyme leaves were sprinkled, nice aroma of the Thyme leaves almost completed the potatoes.

Hmm, I feel like margarine.

Ran to the fridge to get margarine.

Throw a bit in it...

Let it melt...

Stir a bit.

After awhile, the potatoes are ready.

It actually taste all right.

So much for random cooking.

Yes, when mummy's not around, this is what I do.

Random cooking.

There's too much oil though. I think I will not put the oil in and put in the margarine in future. I didn't know that I was going to put in the margarine until I was half way through the process.

Will modify the recipe because it looks so... plain. Could be richer...

So yup, dare you try it?

Ohhhhh! This is sooooooooooo awesome!!!! I spotted another look-alike via FB. This makes my second!

This girl - Her name is Candice Chua...


This girl, her name is Samandy Sam. I totally do not know her. Spotted her from a friend's friend's friend's FB:


Whaddaya think? Do you think they look alike?

Okay, maybe not 100% ... but... still... I think the resemblance is amazing.

(Yup, I told her... I was also itching to post this up)

Btw, with me posting stuff like that, it's not offensive right? Is it against the law or privacy issue or whatsoever?

Have you ever wondered if you have a look a-like twin living somewhere?

"Shadow," the girl plucks her flower petals while pouting. "Somebody misses you."

The Shadow is much wiser now. He chooses not to say anything. It has been a few tough months since Christmas and the girl has been rather moody. He somehow finds himself hating the girl but attached to her at the same time.

Aren't all shadows attached to the object? the Shadow thinks, wondering why he is so cautious with his words. He wonders why he cares. What does he want?

"I hate you!" the girl screams. "We haven't talked since Christmas. Did you miss me?"

Of course he did. The Shadow bites his lips. He is determined not to let her know that. From the day the Shadow swallowed the girl to the day she went insane and wanted to kill him to fulfill her New Year Resolution but fortunately failed, he knew that there is a sort of attachment they both felt, the hatred for each other which kept them alive and well, like a parasite they ate and fed on, a form of ignorance that has turned to almost something else he couldn't put his finger on. If he had any, that is. Did he? He plays with whatever was supposed to be his fingers anyhow.

It's only when you have almost lost something that you would find how much it meant to you. The Shadow stares at the girl, wondering what is on his own mind.

He turns behind and sees the-girl-who-never-sleeps standing behind him, smiling.

I had a dream today.

My parents and brother were working at our front porch today and I was standing outside, looking at the sky. On the right, I could see a cloud of rain coming.

"The rain is coming!" I shouted and everyone ran to take cover.

My brother ran to the car to get something rather important.

It was parked opposite the house and the gate was opened.

Then he wanted to go back but the gate was closed.


The cloud went as low as our roof level and went through it. And then it went away to the neighbours.

"Open the gate!" my brother called.

I quickly went inside and I saw part of the clouds in my house, diagonally covering our power box and I didn't dare to touch the auto gate button as I might get electrocuted and I tried to do all sorts of things that will help me reach out to the button so that I can open the gate and let my brother in. It was still red and green (our older auto gate buttons).


Later, somehow, my brother was inside and someone had opened the gate.


He asked, "Why didn't you open the gate when I asked you to?" In my knowledge, he should have gotten drenched but he looked dry to me.

"I was afraid I would get electrocuted," I replied. "I tried hard to look for a way."

"You won't get electrocuted la!" my brother told me and showed me an experiment how I would not get electrocuted if I opened the gate while it rained.

The sight of the clouds penetrating my roof top and the top of my house, btw, was awesome, mesmerizing and scary. The sight of the clouds passing by our house was equally mesmerizing and scary.

I can't draw well so I can't do justice to what I have just dreamt. Some dreams are just so pretty despite being scary sometimes.

All that crazy preparations for CNY has completely driven me bonkus.

Two days before, as the holidays were coming closer to an end, I wrote on my Facebook: During CNY, our stomach is overnourished while our brain is undernourished... it usually shows on the first day of work.

I wrote it to reflect the state of our brain on our first day of work, completely ruined by the holidays. Instead, the more popular perception was food related. Funny how two different people view the same coin.

I digress. Anyway, when I wrote that statement, I clearly have no idea what I was about to experience...an undernourished brain was an understatement. No, not even close. It is, in fact, extremely irrelevant. As I entered my office today, boy, ...

Tonight, I added a new comment on my Facebook: The levitation of gravity, crossing over to outerspace. Completely weird. Completely surreal. The air become thin. People become strange. Somewhat familliar. When long holidays become Mondays. Sorry, where am I again? Where was I?

As I took my usual seat at my office desk and there was this guy sitting in front of me. I know that I knew him but he appeared to me like a shadow. He was strange. And he was strangely familliar. It didn't help too that he had a haircut.It was probably a good thirty seconds before his face ceased being a shadow and I finally recognized who he is. In my memory, as I recapture the detail of things around me, every image seem to stretch out of proportion like the funny mirror in the Hall of Mirrors from seasonal fun fairs.

Where am I again? This is where I work?

This is not what you call 'still-in-a-holiday-mood'. This is what you call 'completely-lost- in-the-holidays'. You didn't return. Only your body did. What were you doing while your body was in the office?

As the office began filling in with people, I tried to remember who these people whom I know I knew and recall the memories I had with them to place where I stood among them.

I found myself trying to distant the memories of the running water, the pair of hands washing plates, placing bowls, mixing drinks, children playing games, the uncles and aunties, the Hokkien, refilling the Chinese tea, the smoking cooking wok, the knife chopping veggies and slicing chicken, the sauces mixing...

Focus. Focus on the faces of colleagues. You are in the office. I was somewhat relieved it was the end of those washing and cleaning and cooking but I seem to have a little problem adjusting. It was an emotional week as well and it is not surprising as this much of workload is enough to drive you up the wall. It makes you think about parents and how they cope. And God, you feel like a monkey standing next to a ballerina. Okay, that doesn't sound right but you get my drill.

Anyway, I'm glad to be in office again. Although my memories seem to be playing tricks on me. I'm back.

"Shaaaadoooowwww!"

Silence too deafening to ignore. Followed by a peace-shattering voice piercing through the silence, followed by a fading echo:

"Shaaaaaadoooooooow!"

Weeping bitterly, the girl crawls slowly towards the corner of her room, hugging her colourful patch quilt for comfort. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. I don't mean what I said... I miss you..."

The redness of Chinese New Year were like blotches of blood dripping from the season of her life.

"Shadow, I have only been too proud... I... love you..." the girl said in between sobs.

"The doll could never ever replace you. I lied. I like your ignorance although I don't understand why. But you are the one of the kind. My holiday season is just not the same without you."

After she wept for a long time, the Shadow appeared. She couldn't see him but she felt him, smiling towards her, teary eyed, although he was nothing but total blackness, she knew that.

"Shadow..."

"Cause you are sad, that's why!"

"I like being sad! When I'm sad, I'm with you. When I'm feeling extreme, I'm with you. You are part of me, don't you see? When I'm sad, it is when I'm truly happy."

"You are sad, all the same, and so very confused," said the Shadow but he loved her as well.

They needed each other.

The girl went to hug the Shadow and once again instead went through his body.

She found herself instead hugging someone else who was standing behind the Shadow. She screamed when she thought she finally got to hug the Shadow. When she realized it was someone else and that she has scared that person as well, she glared angrily at the Shadow.

"Shadowwwwww!!!!!!" she was screaming this time. "I won't let you go this time!"

The Shadow deliberately did this. He stuck out his tongue in glee. The girl couldn't see it but she knew it.

"I told you you were sad!!!" The Shadow said as he fled, laughing.

The girl ran after him, irritated, but wanting to laugh at the same time. And the world continues to revolve again once more.

I want to SCREAMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I fell in love yesterday...

You know... I've blogged before about Amazon Kindle. I've heard about e-ink, e-paper and all... but to see it for the first time............

When I held it in my hands yesterday, when I saw the e-ink and the e-paper, I really, really wanted to scream.

Oh. My. God. It's sooooooo beautiful!

And it's not even Amazon Kindle yet.

It's Hanlin V5.

I felt myself mesmerized by the size of it. I didn't expect it to be so small. It was just the size of a wallet. The navigation was confusing but that's only because I'm new to it (I hope).

I also expected the cover to be black. It was brown.

I was so mesmerized by the thing that I forgave the customer service representative for not understand the coolest product in the world - the e-book reader!!!

I was screaming inside me all the way.

Oh. my. God.

This. is. SO. NOT. real.

I was so stunned as I tried to click my way around the 5 inch gadget.

I was so mesmerized by the screen that I didn't even look at the design, the frame around it.

As the person has reviewed in one of the websites I read, the v5 is more functional than pretty.

I have to agree with that. You just want to read the e-book, that's about it.

But, I don't mind in future we can browse through websites like that... this thing might replace books for all you know! Save the trees or something.

Then it was time to go and I didn't want to leave the bookstore. If I leave the bookstore, it means that I have to return that gadget back to her.

I did my research tonight just to understand Hanlin V5 against Amazon Kindle and Sony which are named the best e-book readers in the market. (Amazon Kindle already has 3G capabilities but 3G in Malaysia is almost equivalent to no internet or expensive and limited internet connection). 

Even Sony has its own glaring problems (you can see your own reflection in the touch screen which defeats the purpose of having an e-reader)

Hanlin V5 is one of the best e-book reader in the market, the lightest and the cheapest, although it comes from China, it has earned quite a reputation itself.

Although I had some confusion over its name, it was previously known as BeBook 2 and ProBook, I am not sure if the flaws I read about BeBook is applicable to Hanlin V5 which is the battery problem and USB 2.0 and USB 1.0 downgrade of an e-book downloading problem.

It has already made it in my shopping list. Do you remember the one I did, say, ermm.... three years ago? Yeah, that's a long list, but this might come before the rest.

Dream on, darling, dream on.

Guys, as you have all known, the tragedy that struck Haiti's capital Port-Au-Prince on Jan 12, 2010 has taken many, many lives away. In Martin Khor's column on Global Trends in the Star, he quoted Centre for Research on Globalisation researcher Stephen Lendman stating that even before the earthquake, most Haitians had no running water, electricity, sanitation, or other public services. Khor stated that Haiti is a country most ill equipped for a natural disaster.

It is estimated that at least 200,000 lives are lost in the Haitian earthquake that went to 7.0 degrees on the Ritcher scale. Many countries are pumping in money and medical supplies to help as much as they can to help Haiti. While that is being taken care of, the island also urgently needs lots of manpower to aid the rescue work.

Malaysia is sending in teams of doctors and surgeons to contribute the rescue work in Haiti.

If you know anyone who are doctors and surgeons who are able to help and can commit ten days in Haiti, please come forward and arrangements will be made! Spread the word.

Let's do whatever we can do to help and for those of us who are unable to do anything but read the updates and news daily, do continue to pray for the people there, the rescue efforts and that they have sufficient supply whether it is food, medical necessities and other basic requirements. Pray for those who have lost their love ones to be strong to continue this journey of life. That itself can make a difference.

Read Martin Khor's article here: Tension rising in quake-hit Haiti

Luv,
deadgirlwalking

P/S: If I have gotten any info here wrong, please, please correct me. Thank you.

The Shadow could feel the intensity in the air. The girl has gone completely insane. Perhaps she had too much sugar during the New Year countdown celebration.

He could hear her screaming at the top of her lungs at the anguish of having lost him in her pursuit against him.

He knew the only place to escape is to paint himself invisible and in order to do that, he must not exist. The Shadow has never felt so afraid before in his life.

Slowly, he disappeared from the atmosphere, little by little till he was no more. The girl caught the last glimpse of him and roared wildly.

She had wanted to kill him to fulfill her New Year Resolution for 2010. As she realized that he was gone from her life for good, she began to miss him very much but she knew that it must be done.

She turned her head and saw a doll instead. Aye, that will do. That will really do.

In his invisibility, the Shadow still watches, a tear falling from his eyes when he realized how frail his friendship has become between the girl and he.

Happy New Year, the Shadow whispered inaudibly that was only translated to a soft gush of wind. They could now only be enemies; as always.

"Christmas is almost here," said the girl as she tried to reach out to the peak of the Christmas tree as far as she could to put the star right at the top.

The Shadow watched from behind her.

The girl took a step back and pouted. "It's so ugly. How do you train yourself to be visually creative? The stuff you do to your room, put flowers, pictures and all? Now, the Christmas tree... where to put the strings, the stars and the balls..."

The Shadow snickered silently, mocking the little girl.

The girl gave a look at the Shadow and made a face. "Like you can do anything at all with your non-existent self!"

It was the Shadow's turn to make a face.

"It's too bad you'll be missing the presents and Christmas meal like you always do every year," the girl said, smiling triumphantly. "Even if the Christmas tree looked really ugly, I guess, the more important things are the presents you will never receive and the Christmas turkey you'll never get to eat."

The Shadow didn't say a word.

The girl got more excited and in extreme irritation and jealousy, the Shadow swallowed the girl.

How's Christmas going to be like for the two of them this year, one would wonder.

Working in the kitchen is different. Fun. Convenient. Many years ago, as I browsed through the IKEA catalogue, I could not understand why on planet earth would anyone want to have their workplace in a blaring hot kitchen where stuff are getting cooked and soup is getting boiled. It makes no sense at all.

Yesterday, because my parents were at Genting Highlands,  I practically had the whole house to myself. My bro and sis-in-law is out at work. I needed to fix lunch and I settled for something less nutritional the day before in a form of packet noodles and sausage bread in the morning.

Heck, how am I going to convince my mum I can cook if I get too lazy to cook? Then I would be proving her right. I've gotta cook. So, I took my laptop downstairs to work on a report while I cooked and did some washing along the way.

My so-called six-minute pasta became 45 minutes long because I put too much water in it. I thought two mini jugful of water would do so that it can absorb the flavour in. Apparently, it doesn't work on powder form so my pasta was bland (and bloated, I think). I did cut up some broccoli and chuck it in, make sure it is soft and nice.

The in-between waiting was too long of course to just stand around and check on the water level so that was practically the best time to work on the report without being too far away. If anything should happen, the smell of the kitchen would tell you what is going on in the wok.

After I finished the report, with the occasional breaks checking on the water level, I seemed to have choked on something. Then I realized it was smoke. Maybe the water has finally dried up. I went to check and I was right. No, it's not burnt, just the-water-is-dried-up kind of smoke.

But when I tasted the broccoli pasta, it was bland. Needed something. I looked for tomato sauce and there wasn't enough to mix in the whole bowl. Apparently I poured too much pasta in enough for two meals, just like my mum had warned me not to do. Proportion is not my best subject.

My mum bought sausages and a crate of eggs so I decided to mix them in the pasta. I think it tasted okay after that. Not the healthy-Popeye's-favourite-dish kind of pasta anymore. The saltiness of the sausage and the mushiness of the scrambled eggs saved the dish. I still think that it would taste better with tomato sauce.


While typing the report out in the kitchen, I looked around me and realized what luxury I live in. I was three steps away from water. Five steps away from fixing a meal. No wonder people work in the kitchen. I wonder if the grease and smoke would actually get to the laptop, in between buttons, on the screen and that is what exactly stop me from bringing in gadgets to the kitchen.

I know kids do homework on kitchen table all the time so their mothers can keep watch on their kids while busying about the kitchen. What about the adults?

What about you? Do you bring some of your work to the kitchen so that you can fix your meal or meals for your family at the same time?

Would this be your ideal kitchen?

*Picture 1 & 3 taken from google image.

deadgirlwalking: Got this in my mail...

Date: Monday, September 28, 2009, 8:44 PM

Dear fellow dog lovers & friends & family,

We found a very sweet dog today at Jalan TP 1/2 (near USJ3), Subang Jaya. It looks like a mix poodle. Anyone who has lost a dog in the vicinity which looks like the one in the photo please contact 016-2743125 or 012-3138737 as soon as possible. We will put the dog for adoption if the owner does not claim it in soon.

Thanks & regards,

Another dog lover