The Nizie Experience

I will never forget that one fine Sunday morning that changed my life forever. It was a nice breezy lazy day for us and I woke up feeling positively different and it felt good. I got out of bed and went straight to toilet to check my urine test. I couldn’t believe this moment was really happening. I am pregnant!

A jumped into bed and woke my other half. He was half asleep, half awake. It looked as if sleep is the only thing that matters. I told him what I discovered and totally ignored me. But, that did stop me from feeling on top of the world.

The day went by fast. By dusk, hubby insisted that I do another test to confirm of this pregnancy and I did. Within minutes, the second line appeared. But this time, it was more prominent than before. With that, hubby happily concluded that we are both fertility fit and healthy.

This July would reach our 4th year as a married couple. And to finally have a little one in our lives just made us on top of the moon. That is no exception to my darling hubby. Happily he brought the pregnancy kit everywhere he went, flashing the kit to our friends and proudly announcing he will be a father soon. The happiness we felt was indescribable!

Our happiness kept flying when we confirmed with our obstetrician. I had a yoke sach at 5 weeks implanted in my uterus and it was prominently visible through the ultrasound scan. The obstetrician confirmed too that my uterus had expanded showing that is preparing for my babies future cozy bed that he will be sleeping for 9 months, hopefully.

I am currently reaching my 8th week of pregnancy this Monday and already I felt a speedy roller coaster ride and slow and steady lump going through a narrow path in my belly. My darling mother, who is a nurse and midwife by profession and my beloved father who is a pediatrician, confirmed that my baby made his first movement indicating there is a heartbeat and it is alive!

It is 3.30 pm on a wonderful breezy Friday. From my office window at level 9, I see the sun shining proudly down at me making me feel like I have touched the sky. The journey of motherhood is still a long way but just the thought of me being a mother to-be gives a wonderful sensation on both side of the fence. But most importantly, I am just enjoying every moment of it. And the weekend is just about to begin…

Some say love is like a piece of art  as the smallest things can be so beautiful. Others may think love is a fruit in season at all times, within reach of every hand. Likewise, Malaysia Ceremony distinguishes the details for all your sentimental celebration in any occasions be it wedding, anniversary, dinner or event launches.

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This is it. This is perfect. This is Malaysia Ceremony.

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When I heard birds chirping this morning, I knew I had to go outside. It was amazing to enjoy the fresh morning while watching my green garden come to life. Looking at my blooming cempaka tree, while enjoying another wonderful day off from work seems so nice!

Having breakfast at my own pace was another heaven feeling too. Halmi and I knew this is the opportunity to revisit our favourite breakfast joint at SS3 and the chee cheong fun is still delicious as when we discovered 10 years ago. And to meet Shie again was like the old times. Reminiscing the youthful foolish days! Haha..

My day continued to be so colourful when Halmi and I discovered Sean Ghazi’s Semalam Album at Amcorp Mall. The minute I heard his debut song ‘Semalam’ I knew we had to grab it, instantly! The multi-talented London trained actor, musician and dancer Sean Ghazi with his breathtaking performance it this artistic melodious album is amazing. With two AIM Awards in hand, including Best New Artiste 2007, Sean Ghazi is back with the 2-disc DELUXE EDITION of his debut album SEAN GHAZI SEMALAM, featuring 2 new bonus tracks - a stirring rendition of ‘TANAH PUSAKA’ to commemorate Malaysia’s 50th and a sizzling medley of the P. Ramlee classics – KWEK MAMBO and BUNYI GITAR, just give me the goose bumps.

With the same stunning big band, swing and orchestra arrangements giving the classic Malay song a new breath of life, the DELUXE EDITION also features music videos of the hit singles ‘SEMALAM’ and ‘KU IMPIKAN BINTANG’ and an exclusive autographed poster. I personally love the GETARAN JIWA. His English songs are my favourite – I HAVE DREAMED and SOMEWHERE MY LOVE. It is so captivating!

Recorded in Sydney, Australia and released last November 2006, Sean’s debut album was met with critical acclaim and led this year’s AIM nominations with 8 nominations in 5 categories — Best New Artiste, Best Male Vocal Performance, Best Engineered Album, 3 nominations for Best Musical Arrangement in a Song and 2 nominations for Best Music Video. Bravo!

Anyways, it is half past midnight already and I am still enjoying the moments…And I hope to continue enjoying the moments when we catch him as a leading role in P.Ramlee- The Musical to be staged next month at Istana Budaya. Can’t wait!

Oh My Goodness!!!

These three words perfectly express what I think of Brian Culbertson’s seductively titled "It’s On Tonight" CD.

This CD, although mostly containing songs completely without lyrics, comes extremely close to being explicit. I mean it just drips track after seductive track with some of the most intensely suggestive smooth jazz you’ll ever hear.

It starts off HOT with track 1, Let’s Get Started and only gets hotter.

Track 4, Sensuality, he should have just flat out named "Sex". It’s that good.

These days it’s a very rare CD on which every single song is good or better than the one before it. This CD is certainly one of those rare CDs.

Smooth Jazz music fans will recognize some of the well known guests that have been assembled to play along with Culbertson on several of the tracks. Artists like Boney James, Kirk Whalum and the incomparable Chris Botti just to name a few.

Fans of smooth vocalists will enjoy the contributions made by Will Downing, Patti Austin and Marc Nelson to songs on this CD as well.

If you’re a Brian Culbertson fan this is a CD your collection flat cannot be without. In fact, this is one of those CDs that you don’t even have to be a fan of Culbertson, or even smooth jazz to know is good. It’s just good music. Period.

The standout tunes are The Way You Feel [track 5], Dreaming of You [track 7], and Secret Affair [track 9]. My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 4, Sensuality. Wow! Be very careful who you’re in the room with when you press play on this one. Unless of course…

Very talented Smooth Jazz artist Brian Culbertson has released his latest album titled Nice & Slow and Wow! It’s really a good one.

Brian Culbertson has been a super star in the Smooth Jazz genre for
quite a while now and Nice & Slow is an excellent illustration as
to why.

These days it’s a very rare CD on which every single song is good
or better than the one before it. This CD is certainly one of those
rare CDs.

Overall Nice & Slow is outstanding from beginning to end. One of
those CDs that after a few listens the songs are just etched into your
memory. A must have for the Smooth Jazz fan. Really sensational from
beginning to end.

Brian Culbertson originally released Nice & Slow on Jun 05, 2001 on the Atlantic label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Just Another Day - (featuring Herb Alpert/Jeff Lorber)
2. Get It On
3. Nice & Slow - (featuring Sherree/Trey Lorenz)
4. I Could Get Used To This - (featuring Dave Koz)
5. Without Your Love
6. Someone - (featuring Kenny Lattimore)
7. Prelude To Together Tonight
8. Together Tonight
9. All About You
10. I Wanna Know - (featuring Kirk Whalum)
11. Someone - (Bonus mix, featuring Kenny Lattimore)

Personnel includes: Brian Culbertson (trumpet, trombone, piano,
Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, bass, synthesizer); Sherree, Trey Lorenz,
Kenny Lattimore (vocals); Dave Koz (soprano saxophone); Kirk Whalum,
Jim Reid (tenor saxophone); Herb Alpert (trumpet); Ricky Peterson
(Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Jeff Lorber, Eddie Miller (Fender
Rhodes piano); Steve Lu (keyboards, synthesizer); Tony Maiden (acoustic
& electric guitars); G. Moe, Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Michael
Thompson (E-bow); Richard Patterson, Alex Al (bass); Donnell Spencer,
Jr., Oscar Seaton, Jr. (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion). Producers
include: Brian Culbertson, Donnell Spencer, Jr., Scott Steiner, Steve
Lu, Craig Bauer. Engineers include: Brian Culbertson, Steve Lu, Scott
Steiner. Digitally remastered using HDCD technology.

Clyde Lee Dennis, a.k.a. “SmoothLee” is an AVID smooth jazz music fan and in addition to writing CD Reviews for http://www.iLoveSmoothJazz.com he also hosts an Online Radio Show that can be heard daily at
http://www.NewYorkSmoothJazzRadio.com

In the world of faces, yours definitely made an impression on me. I miss you Zie and even though life goes on, I’ll cherish you in my heart, forever….

Reading between the lines, my heart just sank thinking of the wonderful days with one of my loveliest best friends, Baby Windu Mustika, who currently resides in Dubai. My mind drifted back to the bubbly Indonesian lass that was always there when I needed some girly cheering.

At the same time, I thought of the penguin feet, Fenny Theresia who never knew the word shame. I could still hear her screams, “VUT must be win” across the football field. Over the years her English improved and with a twang of an Oz accent. In fact, Fen and I were laughing over coffee just simply but reminiscing the moments in college, this time last year in Bali.

Then there was Radzman who was the cool dude in college who had everything figured out. Man, who was my other partner in crime, was the one who brought Halmi and I together, 9 years ago. Thanks, Man!

My mind then focused on Izmir who currently resides in Sacramento, the ladies man with a smooth charmer and the neighbour who just be just there when you need help on fun!. Not forgetting the Malaysian version of Chandler of FRIENDS, Ayie who currently reside in London, another jester of mine. Also Azmah, the lovely petite girl who was continuously quenching her eyes cutely in college and yes girl will meet you up before you fly off to Perth.

And to the rest of you all around the world namely Eva in Leceister, Ganesh in Dublin, Nora, Roza and Ween in Melbourne, Mark Rotella in Waterbury,CT and Farah Merican in London, please keep in touch. I am dying to hear some news from you.

Realising how far my mind had drifted, I just smiled to think time has flown. We are no more the childish teenagers who felt the world owed us a favour. We are now full-fledge grown ups that have thousand and one things running through our minds. Challenging as it may seem but it is all inevitable. I believe we all should stay foolish yet stay hungry so we eventually connect the dots in our lives .

Dato’Hamid Adventures….

I would not have noticed this book had it not for my mother in law, who insisted this is a feel good book. From the minute I studied the cover of the page, preface and right to the end, I was just capitivated with such humour and to know these events  happened during my parents time, it was very hard to comprehend. But yes, Kam Raslan’s right. In the preface for his new book, Confessions of an Old Boy: The Dato’ Hamid Adventures he writes that we’ve known Dato’ Hamid all our lives. Seeing as my own dad is an old boy of MCKK andntells me of the characters found in Kam’s book. It really does feel like I’ve known Dato’ Hamid all my life.

Dato’ Hamid is a civil servant of the Tunku Abdul Rahman generation. He is the sort of person you rarely see nowadays, a fine example of the anachronistic Malay. This generation, groomed in the ways of the colonial British would be out of place not just in 21st century Malaysia , but in Britain too. And yet, Dato’ Hamid, in all his snobbishness and patronising ways, is essentially a Malaysian. Without people like him, our country would probably never exist at all. At least not like we know it now.

I’m glad that Kam Raslan decided to capture this "Malaysian-ness" in the character of Dato’ Hamid, because it is through his eyes that we are able to see Malaya as it was, Malaysia as it is and a Malaysia as it could be. Through his eyes, we see a bold satire of many Malaysian elements - royalty, civil service, idleness, corruption, idealism.

The novel itself is actually a collection of short stories and these stories cycle from short anecdotes to a murder mystery (very Agatha Christie) to a dialogue between old friends about what it means to be Malaysian. All of them are different in style from each other, but all of them are equally worth reading. I personally loved the one set in Switzerland where we learn how ruttish Dato’ Hamid can be.

If there ever was a book that deserved to be called The Great Malaysian Novel, I think Kam Raslan’s book deserves to at least be in the running. Confessions of an Old Boy is not only Malaysian, it is also a very great read. If you haven’t picked it up already, you should.

I would like to thank my thoughtful mother in law for giving me a copy to read. I enjoyed it very much! But Mom, Halmi has not read yet, He is too busy with The Monk Who Sold His Ferarri!!! And to all of you out there, add some spice to your life, grab a copy today!

As all of you know,Eva got married on the April 2,2007 and this post is long overdue. Since I am back2blogging I would like to share with you my poem recited especially Mr and Mrs.Parsons. As a newly wed, we are all happy to know that she returned to England at the side of her loving husband, Scott and it will be quiet a while before she return to KL.

On another note, I would like to give my thanks on the opportunity to present my poem which really came from the heart of 7 years of friendship. It was an honour to be up on stage and share the happiness with the newly weds and their guests. Eva,hope you will keep in touch and dont miss us all too much :P.

In the meantime, enjoy one of my thoughtful masterpieces….

Now here’s a daunting task ,to choose just what to say

That sums up darling Eva, for all of you today

As I’m the chosen one

To stand up here this minute

I cant wait till I’m done

Cuz Im feeling nervous, damn it!

Eva and I are best of friends

Like a sister, yes, it’s true

We always have the greatest times

No matter what we do

She’s altogether so bubbly,

So happy, filled with glee

The kind of girl who’s shine brightly

with golden hilarity

She loves to go to heritage row,

And to Savanh, it’s a bet.

If it’s fun, it’s sure to glow,

On that you’ll never fret

But good as life its been for her,

It got much more than better

When she met Scott – a spark was lit

And he set out to get her

Their close encounter started

On a fateful day in England

They saw the future coming,

They knew its meant to happen

There she was in Langkawi

On a vacation trip,

He had a plan so lovely.

I tell you, it’s was a pip!

At 702 degrees above sea level,

She just had to stop,

Not just by the view to marvel

But the question he had pop!

She burst her heart with happiness,

And how her soul did sing.

When Scott proposed eternalness

And gave a beauty ring.

I hope that Scott will always see

The babe I’ve described today

For if he sees the way we see

His great love will never sway.

And me? I’m just on cloud nine

Amidst the brightest sun’s beams

Cause Eva, the best friend of mine

Weds Scott, the man of her dreams

Congratulations & Smooth Sailing…

Lots of Love, -nizmi-

“Once upon a time, in the heavenly kingdom of Kayangan there lived two princesses, Santubong and Sejinjang who were in fact inseparable sisters. Santubong and Sejinjang were very beautiful and were much sought after by handsome suitors from all over the earth including the Crown Prince, who fell in love with both of them and announced his attention to wed both sisters. However, both princesses refused to be joint wives resulted, them banished to earth and turned into to mountains, which is known today as Mount Santubong and Mount Sejinjang. Because of this infamous legend, Mount Santubong became of one the most visited places and more tourists came year after year.” I listened carefully to Bob, our informative chirpy tour guide who brought us from the Sarawak Cultural Village, the Orang Utan Sanctuary and finally to Santubong.

The minute I stepped foot on Damai Beach , I knew this is exactly where I wanted to be. The majestic Mt Santubong starts off as a tiny anthill in the distance and rapidly dominates the skyline, which is magnificent to my eyes. Being by the foot of the mountains feeling the oceanic breeze massaging my face is just perfect. It feels good to leave my worries and stressful regime back home for now. I am on holiday, I kept reminding myself. There is nothing to rush except enjoying every single minute of luxurious time I have compared to back home. I am always bogged down with endless projects and this week will be different. I want to be free and relaxed so dressed in my beach wear, I marched happily down to the shoreline with my beach bag filled with a towel, shades and a book in hand.

Wow, the sky is so magnificent. From my beatle shades, the cloudy patterns and the sunshine just enhanced the sky and I found art just looming as if the horizon was the canvas of God’s creation. I looked around and saw the Europeans just enjoying the view as much as I was, or you could say even more – lazily sun tanning with their favourite books in their hands just never wanting for the moment to have to end.

But the day was slowly ending as dusk was about to set in and at quarter before 6.Something that does not happen everyday in Peninsular Malaysia. But, come to think of it is so much better than having the sun go down at 9.00 pm on the Australian hot summer days.

A few hours after, it was time for dinner. The food was amazingly delicious, coming from two people who practically went across the country to the hilly long Iban houses duringt the day.Exageration, you might say, but it felt hell of lot like it! The mouth-watering Laksa Sarawak, the juicy fresh grilled fish with Sarawakian sambal belacan was excellent combination. However, the slow service was not as good as the food. I felt the service was a little too slow in my standards so we left a comment on our disappointment of the service so the next time we revisit Santubong, the service level would improved, hopefully.

Nevertheless, my disappointment on dinner vanished as I discovered the gym the next day. It was a mini bungalow covered with long clear glass. From the inside, I could see the greeneries, the oceans of the South China Sea and the magnificent view of the mountains. I was actually inspired to make my workout better than back home. Though the gym had basic equipments, it was remarkably cozy with the shady plants all around. I enjoyed my workout so much I was pumping the irons and pushing up my cardio to the next level twice a day. I even had a gym buddy, who shared my views as much .Later on, I felt reenergised, as the true meaning of the word!

Feeling reenergised was not enough for my other half. He thought I deserved some pampering so he suggested a beach massage will electrify the senses of the body. And yes, he was darn right about it. As we walked towards a spacious pergola hut, we noticed the massage deck was nicely arranged with flower petals, massage oil and scented candles. It was arranged by partners in crime masseuse, Esther & Tuya, who were bubbly as ever. What we didn’t realised was they had magical hands that people came all the way from Maldives and Germany just to experience their pampering massages. We felt very pleased with their work complementing with the rhythmic ocean washing the sandy beach just made us totally hypnotised by the calmness of the air.

Before we knew it, our 1-hour beach massage ended, Halmi and I agreed that, it felt as if heavy pounds of stress, worries and negative vibes were extracted from our system. Whoaa!! It was better than the Bali spa we had before. I remembered Awin mentioning a good massage comes from a good masseuse. But for me, it was the sweetness of santubong that made our massage, our stay and our first cultured visit to Kuching an experience of a lifetime.