syiok sendiri KL: It's Alive

There is this video entitled "KL: It's Alive" that has gone somewhat viral on Facebook and You Tube. Watch it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF-Q1lCToiI. It depicts KL as a vibrant city with quirky boutiques, quaint little cafes, people in Vespas, cycling at wee hours in the morning and other activities that hipsters usually indulge in. I must have been living in another planet all this while because for all the years that I have been staying in KL, I have never come across a Vespa much less a group of people in their Vespas.

I am very surprised that a lot of people have given their seal of approval on the video with some even suggesting that this should be the tourism advertisement for the nation. Is this really how we want to present KL, the capital of Malaysia, the pride and joy of our country to the entire world? A hedonistic society exhibiting self importance and pretension, a frivolous city devoid of culture and heritage. Are we so obsessed with the Western culture that we only seek to imitate? Even the people featured in the video (i.e. coffee joint owner, fashion designer, indie singer) spoke with a pseudo American accent which should not come across as a surprise. I mean, the entire video reeks of unoriginality. It is an ostentatious display of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. It is out of touch with reality and could not possibly resonate with the average Malaysian. Perhaps the video was not intended to reflect the "real" KL with it's filthy streets, horrendous traffic, scorching heat and torrential downpour. It is "their" (hipsters, rich and famous, Western wannabes) version of KL in all it's grandiose, glamour and glory. After all, the video was produced by Mercedes Benz; a symbol of wealth and affluence in an increasingly money driven Malaysia.

If you want a more accurate potrayal of KL, I suggest this video entitled "The Chair Project". Watch it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8ZwBr0e67w. It may not have garnered as many hits as "KL: It's Alive" but to me, this video has heart and soul, attributes which were sorely lacking in "KL: It's Alive". The Chair Project features the efforts of 2 Malaysians who built chairs at the Kelana Jaya waiting line and concluded with them successfully petitioning to the local council for public seating. The people shown on the video are ordinary city folks from diverse races; Malays, Indians, Chinese and some foreigners (Thai, African). They speak in languages that I comprehend - English without a trace of American accent, Cantonese and Bahasa Melayu. The efforts of the 2 Malaysians felt genuine to me and they striked me as a couple of young boys who are creative and innovative with a sense of civic consciousness. Nothing in that video felt fake to me, if anything I thought it was heart warming, beautifully shot and it managed to convey their message in a simple manner. And most importantly, the video felt trully Malaysian to me. Which is much more than I can say for "KL: It's Alive" which for all it's bright colours and psychedelic music, felt shallow, superficial, flat and so obviously lacking in depth.

hello kitty latte

I am on a quest to hunt for the best hot chocalate within the vicinity of Selangor D.E. So far, Delicious is at the top of my list but we shall see what the future brings.

Anyway this is a shot of coffee art at it's finest - Hello Kitty on a fresh cup of latte! Too adorable to consume.

gastronomic delights

Weekends are for filling tummies and expanding waistlines. Although I have been meaning to go on a diet thanks to my increasingly large hips, I am unable to resist food (glorious food especially). I think I will just stick to exercising. I will commit to exercising at least 3 times weekly (2 days of jogging and 1 day of swimming) and I may reduce my dessert (cakes and ice creams) intake. I will not become a fatty, I will not!

(Top to bottom: California roll, sushi platter with udon, salmon terriyaki with rice at Miraku, scones with raspberry jam and cream, hot chocalate, h20 at Plan B; Paradigm Mall)

lest we forget

So I finished watching The Pacific yesterday and I confess, I currently have the hugest crush on Joseph Mazello who played war veteran Eugene Sledge. His performance was heart breakingly beautiful and I cried real tears at the scene where he went hunting with his father and decided that he could not hunt anymore, after what he'd seen in combat.

Whenever I watch a war movie or simply re-enactments of battles, I often wonder about the people in the background who fell to their deaths, killed by artillery, mortars or snipers. Of course in television and movies, they are merely actors. But I wonder about the real wars that have taken place in the past, and also the present wars that are being fought. These brave soldiers who enlist themselves and sacrificed their lives - I wonder who they are. I think about a girlfriend or wife who will never see him again. A mother or a father who received a telegram simply stating that their son has been killed in action. But that he died a hero. I think about all these young men, their sufferings and misery, their lives shortened and their deaths, so random and senseless. And I wonder, at what cost does freedom come?

We often forget that less than 70 years ago, the world was at war. I guess people do not want to be reminded of a dark time in the history of mankind. It is simply easier to pretend it never happened and get on with our lives. After all, life in the 21st century has never been better. We have amazing technology that enables us to buy things without even physically stepping out of our homes, communication with the click of a button. Why should we concern ourselves with an event that occured 70 years ago and the people who were involved? It is important for me though. I want to remember our soldiers and the price they paid for our freedom. Their lives and subsequent deaths should not be reduced to mere statistics - each and everyone of them was someone's son, husband, father, brother. By forgetting them, we are doing injustice to the sacrifices that they made, which led to the world that we know of today.

foooood